Geek & Mild by Sean Sperte
Link: Firefox 1.5
Firefox 1.5 is out. I opted to use Camino as my secondary browser earlier this year, but this new release makes Firefox worth a second look.
29-Nov 2005
Help: FontExplorer using network home
I’ve got a problem. I’ve finally figured out how to mount a home directory on a file server at work – it’s a bit of a hack, but it works. In other words, my entire “home” directory is actually my user folder on the network, and the Mac mounts it as home. My Library, preferences, documents, music, photos, etc. are all stored and accessed on the network. It works great … except for FontExplorer, which seems to think it’s being launched for the first time, every time. It keeps wanting to go through the initial setup process.
I know it’s still beta, but why can’t it just work like every other program seems to?
Any help/advice/suggestions would be appreciated. I’m stuck.
29-Nov 2005
iTunes variable pricing
For the record, if Apple caves and begins selling songs in a variable pricing scheme, I’ll turn back to Aquisition or LimeWire. The reason I don’t buy CD’s anymore is not because I’m stealing music; it’s because I’m buying the music (or more accurately, the songs) I want at a fixed price.
Apple has achieved a very, very nice balance for music purchasing. I’m not bothered (too much) by the DRM embedded in each song I buy, and I don’t mind paying $0.99 per song. Up that price, though, or change the DRM limitations, and I’m out like trout. I don’t mind saying I’m on the edge and could tip at the slightest shift in environment.
To Apple directly I say this: I understand you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. You want to offer me the best and widest range of content to me at a great price, but those [edited] record labels keep tugging at your money pockets and driving you nuts. Well don’t listen to them. Since when have they done anything for you? Remember, you are who you are not because of the iPod but because of your ideas. You just keep doing what you’re doing – putting the music industry through digital rehabilitation – and let the record labels cough and hack until they’re “well” again.
27-Nov 2005
Link: Fluxiom
From the guys who brough us script.aculo.us now comes a truly intriguing web app: Fluxiom. Watch the video. Wow.
27-Nov 2005
Link: eBay Redux
eBay redux. How to make eBay’s homepage look and feel better. So overdue.
27-Nov 2005
Link: Pandora’s Box (Model) of CSS Hacks
Tantek explains the Pandora’s Box of CSS hacks he unintentionally opened. Must read.
27-Nov 2005
Links: Hicks’ fourth
Jon’s on his fourth PowerBook now. I thought my having to send my first back was bad. Sheesh.
26-Nov 2005
Link: Logos Bible software for Mac
Mac version of Logos Bible software is scheduled for a “Spring 2006” release. Looks nice.
25-Nov 2005
Black Friday
I’m in the market to buy an iPod (as a gift) so I started to get frustrated when reports came in today that local Apple Stores hadn’t dropped prices on iPods … then I realized there’s no incentive for Apple to do so. Think about it, every day is “Black Friday” for Apple (the “black” being derived from the sales numbers being in the black, as opposed to the red). Oh well.
25-Nov 2005
Link: BinaryBonsai
I am loving this site design. Some filthy AJAX power along with perfectionist-like attention to detail. Fery secksy. (Also the source of the CoverBuddy hype.)
21-Nov 2005
Link: PSP as iTunes remote
Ah! Finally a viable reason to get the PSP! And just before Christmas, too! (via)
21-Nov 2005
Link: Sony apologizes, offers to exchange CD’s, asks distributers to pull unsold CD’s
Boycott over! Sony officially apologizes, offers to exchange CD’s, asks distributers to pull copy-protected CD’s and says they care about us! Yay, I can get the PSP for Christmas after all!
16-Nov 2005
Link: LaCie introduces new biometric hard drives
So what if they steal my hard drive and cut off my finger?
15-Nov 2005
Link: The picture of the Sony rootkit infection
Sony rootkit phones home in a big way. Here’s the picture of the infection. I told you this was a mess.
15-Nov 2005
How to Boycott Sony
With last Friday’s announcement from Sony that they were going to temporarily discontinue production of the CD’s that contained “XCP” (the Sony DRM), I wish I could say the boycott is off. It’s not: The announcement was inadaquate compared to the crime, and unethical practices like these must be seriously addressed by the public. That means you. Click through to boycott Sony, even if you’re not fully convinced you need to yet.
First thing’s first, you need to understand the situation. I’ll make this as plain and simple as I can: Sony has knowingly voilated computer-users’ rights by using a method of employing a copy-protection software that is more commonly used in spyware and virus attacks. Need proof?
- Mark’s Sysinternals reports in detail how this software is maliciously installed and masked: Click here to read
- Microsoft is calling the DRM spyware and will remove it automatically in its security updates starting this month (as reported by the Washington Post)
- Sony is facing several lawsuits because of the DRM: From the ALCEI, EFF, and even the state of California
- Programmers and coders all over the world responded with exasperation, asking, “what coder in their right mind would do something like this?” (A “colorful” example)
- Boycotts have been called for, both in the blogsphere and now in the mainstream media
Okay, so you now understand the seriousness of the situation, but what’s it to you, right? Well, I’ll tell you – no, wait, I already told you. If you still don’t think this affects you, then I ask you for you to help the boycott by shear courtesy to me and the rest of the freedom-loving world.
Here’s some reasons I’m boycotting Sony:
- I think what they’ve done deserves an extreme response
- I like my digital freedoms more than I like Sony products, though I love Sony products and own many already
- I want Sony to know that though I’ve been a patron of their company until now, practices like these make enemies
- I truly want Sony to change, so I can continue to buy their stuff
You ready to start boycotting now? Okay, we need to understand something: Sony wants to give consumers a good product/service almost as bad as they want the money consumers pay for it; they’re generally out to please consumers. So the boycott is going to be two-fold in its approach:
- We cease from purchasing goods and services from Sony (this means music, consumer electronics, feature films, etc.).
- We tell Sony what we want
The first step will hopefully tell Sony we’re serious enough about our purchases to trade inconvenience for freedom. They may never fully feel an economic bite, but hopefully the bark will be loud enough to scare them.
Secondly, we must give them a way out. I don’t know how we can deploy a mainstream way of doing this, so I’ve just emailed them directly and told them how I feel (read/download the text-only copy). Feel free to use my letter as a template for your own, or just change the name if you want. It was difficult to find a place to send the letter, so I just used the Sony Music feedback form. I’m considering just using every feedback form I can find on Sony’s sites. We’ll see.
So going back to our first mission, here are some things to look out for:
- Consumer electronics, like radios, CD players, televisions (ugh, this one hurts)
- Mobile devices like MP3 players, cellphones (Sony Ericsson), and digital cameras
- Music from Sony BMG (even online from iTunes, or other music store)
- Feature films like “The Da Vinci Code”, “Zathura”, and “Freedomland”
- Games and the PSP (I know you wanted one for Christmas, but just wait until this is all over with and get yourself the PS3)
It’s not going to be easy, especially this Holiday season. However, I have to believe it will be worth it.
UPDATE: EFF seems to have a better grasp on the steps needed be taken by Sony in order to satisfy consumers: Read “An Open Letter to Sony-BMG”.
14-Nov 2005
Link: Intel-based iMacs and PowerBooks in January?
Intel-based PowerBooks in January? I’ll believe it when I see it.
12-Nov 2005
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