Got an e-mail today that Best Buy is now the owner of Speakeasy. Speakeasy was one of the original local internet service providers in Seattle. Speakeasy always had character. Back in the day Speakeasy was a cybercafe in Seattle, and one of the first. They had text terminals, even. Located in an old building in… Continue reading Another one gone: Best Buy buys Speakeasy
Category: Technology
Forcing the clowns to break their fall makes high-wire act safer …
Here’s an example that shows that something is messed up in the way products are priced. The article “Slashdot | Apple Turning Cell Phone Market Upside Down?” observes: Everyone assumed that Apple’s $499/$599 prices for the iPhone was subsidized by Cingular. But, it appears that Apple is not allowing mobile carriers to subsidize the iPhone.… Continue reading Forcing the clowns to break their fall makes high-wire act safer …
People can’t remember URLs
Via an interesting article that reminds us all that “most searched” lists are PR driven, not data driven, “Business 2.0 BETA blog network” is this comment: “They’re using search engines as navigation, typing website names or even URLs into the search box that automatically pops up in their browser.” It’s a funny thing to me… Continue reading People can’t remember URLs
NeXT machines used to spy on people too
Noticed a post “Slashdot | Apple Closes iSight Security Hole” which talks about iSight being used to maliciously spy on a user. But, this isn’t new to Mac OS X hardware. In fact, it’s a problem that’s been around since the black box NeXT days. When I worked at and ISP that used old NeXT… Continue reading NeXT machines used to spy on people too
Phishing goes local
In a post to TESC Crier, there’s a note about a phishing scam that targets Washington State Employee Credit Union members: Two new email Phishing scams are targeting WSECU members. The email appears to come from WSECU. In fact, it comes from an fraudulent source shown as ([email protected]) The two e-mail subject lines are: Enroll… Continue reading Phishing goes local
Welcome to a taste of post-abundance
The PSE outage line reports 700,000 estimated without power in their service area, and days if not a week to restore power to everyone. … but, you know, at least that power generator you bought for Y2K is useful now … as long as your gas supply holds out. Get your syphon ready to pull… Continue reading Welcome to a taste of post-abundance
Firefly will virtually rise again
Via Slashdot, Wired News: Firefly Reborn as Online Universe says: “Like Capt. Mal Reynolds stumbling in after a bar fight, the short-lived but much beloved sci-fi series Firefly will soon make an unexpected return, not as a TV show, but as a massively multiplayer online game.” Okay, but the FAQ for the Multiverse demo client… Continue reading Firefly will virtually rise again
Hello, I must be going …
I had completely forgotten about Hula. But, I see Slashdot reporting, “Novell Dumps the Hula Project.” There couldn’t be any quid pro quo going on here as part of the Novell-Microsoft deal, could there? I remember being pretty excited about the Hula server being released as Open Source, but it fell off my radar. The… Continue reading Hello, I must be going …
2.0 is the new 1.0
Reflecting on Slashdot | iPod Has Nothing To Fear From Slow-Starting Zune, I have to wonder about the vicious cycle Microsoft may be caught in. Here’s my thinking: It has become mythic that 1.0 products from Microsoft are shoddy and bad. So, from a company standpoint, if the perception is that 1.0 is bad, why… Continue reading 2.0 is the new 1.0
And, one more thing …
In a previous post, I speculate about some products and topics related to Apple. But, I forgot one of the features I have realized I want in Apple’s iTV product more than anything else: party shuffle of video playlists. I want to be able to set up playlists or seasons or collections of shows and… Continue reading And, one more thing …
What is up with Zune graphics, anyway?
So, apparently, I ‘m not the only one to notice there’s something strange about the graphics that are being used with the Zune, because Boing Boing notices some installer zen, and some other reader’s comment is linked wondering about the very same porno image I posted about earlier. I know that crappy ads stick in… Continue reading What is up with Zune graphics, anyway?
EarthLink trots out MindSpring as re-branded VOIP software
Interesting to find that Earthlink has brought back MindSpring as a re-brand to some Internet phone software, previously called Vling, which used to be based on Pingtel opensource software. Seems odd to take a swallowed brand that had some cred in the olden days and cast it onto some different service. Well, it’s Windows only… Continue reading EarthLink trots out MindSpring as re-branded VOIP software
Speculation on Apples
It’s not just a hobby, but a professional sport. However, I’m going to step up as an amateur and speculate about some things that Apple might be doing, or at least that it should be doing. So, iTV has an HDMI port. But, no Apple monitor has HDMI or HDCP support, even over DVI, I… Continue reading Speculation on Apples
If you use DSL, you’ve already lost …
I’ve been meaning to write something about this for a long time. This won’t be a perfectly thought out piece. It’s been years since this stuff was in my head, so it is what it is. In thinking about net neutrality, I was remembering back to the early, early days of DSL. At the time,… Continue reading If you use DSL, you’ve already lost …
How to get ahead in advertising …
Okay, so, I keep seeing these ads for the Zune. Other than that there’s a kind of pathetic quality to the ads themselves which just shows how uncool Microsoft is at heart, I swear to you that every time I see this ad I catch myself wondering why [insert mainstream site] is running ads for… Continue reading How to get ahead in advertising …
Whither sprynet now?
Time to track the ownership of sprynet again? Last time I looked it was back in ’99. I sent out an e-mail: So, it’s been fun watching where Sprynet had ended up over the last couple years. Okay, so let me see if I can get this right: Sprynet was purchased by Compuserve Compuserve was… Continue reading Whither sprynet now?
Where to keep movies? Everywhere, of course.
I don’t know who asked, “If you had everything, where would you put it?” However, my answer has always been, “Everywhere, of course.” So, almost under the radar, I find that iPhoto version 5 imports movies. I assume version 6 does also. Also, iTunes holds movies. And, there’s a movies folder which is where neither… Continue reading Where to keep movies? Everywhere, of course.
Jeeves, I’ll miss the way we used to talk …
Via Technology – Industry News, Policy, and Reviews, “Jeeves, You’re Fired“: “NEW YORK I grieve for Jeeves. The butler mascot of the Ask Jeeves search service got the boot yesterday but will always remind me of the pre-Google era when searching online still intimidated most people. Back then, the cartoonish Jeeves helped humanize the impersonal… Continue reading Jeeves, I’ll miss the way we used to talk …
If it isn’t useful, then what is it good for anyway?
Writers Block Live » Blog Archive » The HD Boycott Begins Now “Under pressure from Hollywood, they are engineering a complete removal of the concept of fair use. They are setting up systems that will completely control how, when and where you can use content that you buy. Even worse, they can retroactively change the… Continue reading If it isn’t useful, then what is it good for anyway?
The people for John Kriscfalusi; democratized media; sense of virtual place
Via all kinds of stuff, “George Liquor Stories 1“: “So listen, next step is to get as many more people (not repeat persons, but new people) to comment AND I just found out that the more people who link to me, the better chance I have to get sponsors-and when I do I will make… Continue reading The people for John Kriscfalusi; democratized media; sense of virtual place