Dec 7, 2007 | Amazon, Apple, audio, business, DRM, Microsoft, mobile, phone, web_services
The music industry is in complete disarray; the shift away from CDs is irreversible and most consumers simply expect music to be free. The recording industry’s hostility, arrogance, and litigation tactics have alienated everyone, making it harder for the...
Oct 25, 2007 | audio, network, video, wireless
Wireless technology is a blur of confusing acronyms and frequent frustration, but we are making progress and there continues to be hope that more and more wires will disappear in the future.Wireless Internet connections for our computers are slowly becoming more...
Oct 16, 2007 | audio, DRM, file_sharing, law, video
The first rule of Usenet is, you don’t talk about Usenet.Careful observation of that rule has allowed Internet newsgroups to avoid getting involved in the entertainment industry’s freakish litigation war on its customers. Now a new lawsuit suggests that...
Sep 25, 2007 | Apple, audio, DRM, mobile, phone
Apple’s rollout of the iPhone and updated iPod line generated impressive buzz, giving the impression that Apple is an unstoppable force. At the same time, though, Apple’s efforts to lock down its control over its users created uneasiness.Two things...
Sep 18, 2007 | Apple, audio, DRM, Microsoft, phone
It’s hard to make the stereotypes fit.Microsoft is reviled as the big monopoly. I don’t want to suggest that Microsoft is a huggable teddy bear, but it’s worth noting that much of its success comes from the work of thousands and thousands of hardware...
Sep 5, 2007 | Apple, audio, hardware, Microsoft, video
Apple demonstrated again today that it can run circles around everyone else with its handheld devices. There will be lots of news coverage of the updates to the iPod line – here’s one article, here’s photos, and here’s an exhaustive rundown of...
