Spammers: 1, Blue Frog: Well, Out Of Business…Enter Okopipi and Possibly WWWWI
If you are not aware of what went on between Blue Frog, an anti-spam company, and a Russian spammer, here is a quick overview. Blue Security (the company that created Blue Frog) would encourage their customers to send replies to the spam they received which would overload the spammers’ servers, essentially rendering them useless and stopping the flow of spam. I believe that this was done automatically with the Blue Frog software, but I could be wrong. Sounds great right? In theory it is, unfortunately there are a couple of glaring problems.
Why Net Neutrality Affects You
Don’t know what net neutrality is? No problem, that just means that the telco’s (eg. AT&T) are doing a good job at one thing…keeping you, the consumer, in the dark. Net neutrality in a nutshell would mean that At&T (or any Internet Service Provider) could make one internet “lane” a fast one and one a slow or normal speed one. So, let’s say you use Gmail and Hotmail (now Live mail). Well, if Hotmail paid AT&T extra money to use the new fast lane, you would be able to access your e-mail quicker and easier compared to Gmail who didn’t pay up. Essentially this is a way of charging companies twice: once to get the service and another time to guarantee that it works. Maybe the next time I go to work I will tell my boss that he is only paying me to be there and that he has to also pay me another fee to work. Make sense?
New Mac Ads Leave Me Less Than Impressed (But Laughing)
So I’m sure you’ve seen the new Mac ads that have been circulating depicting a Bill Gates look-alike (to represent a PC) and a young “hip” teenager who is suppose to be a Mac. If you haven’t seen the ads go here. The one that really sticks out in my mind is the one where the PC guy has a “virus” and is coughing and eventually falls over saying he has to crash. Luckily the virus free Mac guy has a handkerchief for him to blow his nose. Very cute Apple. Let me know how pissing off the virus programmers works for you ok. Also, you are lying and alienating people who are less tech savvy and don’t follow every move between Mac and PC…not to mention the typical Mac user who refuses to believe that OSX is vulnerable in any way. When I see the commercial, you are basically saying that there are NO viruses for the Mac and that it never crashes. Hmm….Interesting article here…and here. Now, are there as many viruses for the Mac as there are the PC? Of course not, but you expect that when Windows is running on %90 percent of desktops out there (and sorry, but Boot Camp is not going to get the masses to switch).
As for the other ads, just check them out, I have to admit that I did get a laugh out of a couple of them. But come on Apple, what is up with you and Google these days? Just keep doing what you do best, making quality, clean-looking software, hardware, etc. Also, Apple…Web 1.0 update, don’t put video on your homepage that automatically plays.
Skype Offering Free Pc-to-Phone Calls
Skype announced that it would be offering free, unlimited calls from your pc to any traditional phone, cell phone, or pc. Now, the pc-to-pc has always been free, but to call a landline, it was about $.02 per minute. I attribute the change of heart to two things. One, AIM has just announced that it will give all of it’s users a free local phone number which would allow them as many inbound calls as they want (landlines, cell phones, and pcs included). The second reason I believe is a business move. Simply, get people using the service and get them used to using it. After that, they will be more likely to buy the service, which Skype refers to as “SkypeOut”, and also “SkypeIn” which allows them to receive calls just like a regular phone. I applaud Skype for the move and can guarantee everyone that I will be making the most of it. If you aren’t using Skype, I strongly suggest you give them a shot (it’s free right?).
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em Apple
Well, the newest court battle between Apple Corps and Apple computer is officially over. Apple computer won the case (surprise, surprise) and Apple Corps just lost a little more respect, good job. If you didn’t hear about the case, you can view my earlier post here. This was a ridiculous case to start with and I’m glad to hear the judge understood that and ruled correctly. Now, there will likely be an appeal, but that will just allow Apple Corps a little more time to realize that they are backwards nobody’s, trying to get a little attention. Try this Beatles, you’ve already made a mint off your music, so just cave in, put it on iTunes and continue to reap the benefits…is that so hard? The case was won by Apple saying it will never produce music by selling CD’s or hard media with music, but will continue with their current incredibly successful model of digital downloads via iTunes. Quick question, how many times have you gotten Apple Corps and Apple computer mixed up? What’s this, you never knew they existed and still wish you didn’t? Find something useful to do with your time Beatles and stop wasting the real Apples.
Read the whole article here
Asia: Spyrate Capital of the World (Even Your Neighborhoods and Businesses aren’t Safe)
I read an article a while back about China being the world leader in software piracy. I believe the number I read was 90% of the software in China was unlicensed. Getting a pirated copy of Windows XP is similar to buying a loaf of bread at your local supermarket. Not only is it easy, but you can probably get it for not quite a tenth of the price. Not too bad. Chinese officials swear they are doing everything they can to undermine the problem, clearly, it’s not enough. Has China ever actually “invented” anything? Or do they pretty much just wait for someone else to do it and then A) steal it or B) make an incredibly cheap and crappy version of it.
Asta La “Vista”
Could Microsoft possibly be delaying Vista again? Research group Gartner Inc. is claiming that Windows will have to delay the launch of the operating system by another three months, this in addition to the first delay…and the second…third, etc. They are claiming that Windows Vista is too complex to meet the November release date for volume licences and the January launch for retail customers. The Redmond company denies that this is the case. Here’s an idea Microsoft: Don’t wait release operating systems 5-6 years apart and don’t turn a blind eye to what’s going on in the marketplace. Mac OS X has been around since 2001 and has been updated 5 times with Leopard coming soon. Bill, please take notes.
If you didn’t read my post about the previous delay, I was upset, but glad that they were taking the time to release a solid, bug-free system. If this is true however, this whole thing is just getting ridiculous and I will be enjoying a Mac Mini very soon. But, let’s all hope that this is nothing more than a rumor (those of you who haven’t already jumped ship) and we will all be running Vista in January of 2007…Just so you know, I couldn’t keep a straight face while typing that last sentence:)
Gaw Gaw Goooogle
So Google made news today for something other than another unfinished beta product. It seems one of the new functions in the upcoming Internet Explorer 7 has got Google crying foul (literally). Microsoft has added a serch bar feature in the upper right corner of the browser that defaults to MSN. But what’s this? In Firefox there seems to be a weird bar at the top right of the window that is used for searching that upon installation defaults to…Google! So whats the problem Google?! Ran out of crappy, under-acheiving betas to release so you thought you would go complain to the Justice Department and EU to stir up the water? Well congratulations, you are now no longer my home page or my “default” search engine. The reason why so many people respected you was because you stayed out of all this stuff and just went about your business making good, clean-looking software.
