Thoughts and links from the crew of the On Computers Radio Show as we wander the Web.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Death of DRM Could Weaken iTunes, Boost iPod
I've used the Amazon MP3 downloads and they are quick, easy and show up in iTunes automagically. The are also DRM free so you never have to worry about losing them as long as you keep backups against disaster. There is no reason that I can tell not to use Amazon's DRM free MP3s. The are 256 kbps so are pretty high quality and ususally much less expensive than buying the physical CD. You also get nearly instant gratification.
Be aware that the DRM free downloads are probably watermarked and can probably be traced back to you if you share one with a million of your closest friends. But putting them on the several computers on your home or sharing them on your LAN (check your settings to make sure you aren't sharing with the Internet) should be no problem.
I've done some comparisons and in most cases Amazon costs less than iTunes, however sometimes iTunes includes bonus tracks or materials for the same price. Check it out both places before you purchase and weigh the pros and cons if you are using an iPod. If you use several different players DRM free is the way to go besides buying the CD and ripping it yourself.
Friday, January 04, 2008
500-fold increase in space communications leads SETI@home to call for help
Lots of our community did Seti@Home for a long time, but lost interest when the official client started keeping count of work done in a way that made direct competition to do more than the other guy harder to guage. I, personally, have kept it up, on at least a couple machines.
I would like you to reconsider lending your spare computing cycles to the project. I think it is important scientific work and hope you will, as well.
Jack
Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for January 2008
That said; there appear to be only two patches of significance this month. Details at the link above.
The critical patch applies to all operating systems Windows since W2K. The important one just to those before Vista. Nice to see Vista doesn't require at least some of the patches.
Jack
Antitrust Lawsuit Charges Apple With Monopolizing Online Music
Jack
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Information about certain file formats that are blocked after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3
Jack
The Sears "Community" Installation of ComScore
Jack
iCali | My Top 10 Gadget List for 2007
I'd put the drobo (though its expensive) and the evolve wireless speakers as #1 and #2.
A video version of this list can be found at GeekBrief.TV Cali's daily vidcast.
As an added plus (like you really need one :P ) there's a link to hulu invites at the link below.
--MissM
iCali |My Top 10 Gadget List for 2007
4BAY Drobo Fully Automated Sata Robotic Storage Array USB 2.0 (This is an Amazon associate link, but I plan on sharing any revenue with the bloggers here.)
EVOLVE WIRELESS Speaker system FOR IPOD,MP3 Player (same disclaimer as above)
US-CERT warns of flaw in latest RealPlayer
At least this hasn't shown up in the wild. Yet. To their credit Real is checking it out. Hopefully, a patch will come soon.
Monday, December 31, 2007
The art of software murder
The comments on other applications are equally dark.
Jack
Sunday, December 30, 2007
OnComputers Radio show Podcast 12-30-07
Links from the Gregg Zone!
1) I was reading an article titled
2) I was looking through my books the other day, thinking I would like to start a novel to read off an on, but could not find anything interesting. And so, I thought I would look around for something new. I found an author I was not familiar with, although maybe well known to a lot of you out there. Vernor Vinge referred as “The Online Prophet” how could, that! Not grab me. Evidently, in his Sci-Fi novel “True Names” he predicted the internet in 1981. I am going to look around for it on Ebay; here is a link about the author. http://www.salon.com
3) This is an interesting site for the DYI guy, or gal out there who likes to try building things, especially the off the wall type projects. I like this one quite a bit, because I am a tinkerer at heart. You can build; a solid wood clock, a welder from an old microwave, Tesla turbine from old CD’s (something to do with those AOL’s), a marshmallow gun, well you get the idea. Check it out at http://www.instructables.com
4) I was talking to someone the other day who did not know what the Hubble deep field was, that surprised me so I thought I would put up a very good link for anyone else out there who might not be familiar with the subject. Check out the video it puts things into perspective. http://www.deepastronomy.com
5) This is a link sent to me by Riley a few days ago, thanks for the trip down memory lane. Wow does this site transport me back in time to an era that defined a very large part of my life. The sounds of
Divine Disorder on the Desktop
I've been reading a lot of this sort of thing of late and I find it interesting. I hope you will, too. Please either follow the link in the article to "Bumptop" or use this one.
I also found a sort of history of interactive desktops and/or Graphic user interfaces (GUIs) here that I think you might find both interesting and thought provoking.
Jack