Day: October 13, 2007

WorldCat

WorldCat: WorldCat is a publicly accessible online interface to the holdings of all types of libraries throughout the world: currently 57,000 libraries in 112 countries. Tell it what book you’re looking for and your zip code or city, and it will pinpoint the nearest library that has the book. Same goes for magazines and journals, video and audio formats. The ability to locate an obscure book is invaluable; but it’s also tremendously useful for anyone living in a region with more than one nearby library. [Cool.]
Source: Cool Tools

The plantation the TV networks have created for them

The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs: A boring rant: The producers of content don’t like the TV network system but can’t quite see the way across the divide into my digital world. Some musical artists, like Prince, are figuring it out, but they’re isolated examples. Trust me, however, when I tell you that TV and movie people will figure it out too. These are not stupid people. And they are not un-greedy. Which means their desire for more money and more control and more freedom will lead them to apply their energy into figuring out how to get out of the plantation the TV networks have created for them. They will break free. Mark my words. [Er umm I may be on the wrong side of this issue all things considered… bring change from within?]

iMac Aluminum

iMac Aluminum: For those 24″ iMac owners considering purchase of a VESA mount, I’ve posted some photos of a mount I got from Ergomart. I purchased the SAA2415, which handles monitors up to 41 lbs. The SAA2718 will handle monitors up to 33 lbs. The cost of both is roughly the same. The 24″ iMac weighs 25.4 lbs.I decided to go with the beefier model, but now that I see how industrial-strength they are, I might go with the lighter model if I were to do it again. Give them a call and ask their advice, they’re friendly and knowledgeable. [Hmmm. This might work…]

Appliances or platforms?

Staff Roundtable: Apple Should Do No Harm to iPhones: Similarly, although Apple apparently attaches no importance to enabling independent applications, users (like Glenn and Joe, and many others) disagree. Apple needs to understand that the iPhone will be a platform whether or not Apple likes it, and managing that process will prove more effective and lucrative than ignoring it (or fighting it, which will just generate bad press). Perhaps Apple should learn from Microsoft, which listened to its customers and will be selling Windows XP for six months longer than previously announced, due to anemic uptake of Windows Vista. [Not only will Apple lose, but all these appliances can become platforms which can be far greater sources of revenue if only Apple would learn from its past. All sorts of folks can use these things as appliances and enjoy the Jobsian experience. Others can hack and add all sorts of stuff, and make these devices what they want. Jobs has to learn to let go.]
Source: TidBITS

Staff Roundtable: Apple Should Do No Harm to iPhones

Staff Roundtable: Apple Should Do No Harm to iPhones: Now, I hold no truck with the notion that companies have constitutional rights. That’s part of the erosion of personal liberty in favor of so-called corporate rights that began in earnest in the 20th century. (You can read Peachpit Press founder Ted Nace’s book “Gangs of America” on this topic; it’s a free download.) But you have to admire the chutzpah that lets a cell carrier assert a constitutionally guaranteed right to prevent choice among its consumers as a matter of “speech.”

The FCC replied in its rule-making on the matter, “To the extent that a choice of device or application implicates First Amendment values at all, we think that our requirements promote rather than restrict expressive freedom because they provide consumers with greater choice in the devices and applications they may use to communicate.” Well put – and rather radical in its true conservatism. [Chutzpa doesn’t begin to characterize this sort of thing. Which of our presidential candidates has something to say on this issue? I’ve so much research to do…]
Source: TidBITS