Web Archives - Page 22 of 38

Web Browsing B&N Nook as iPad Killer?

I admit it, I got a little excited when I read the Nook would be getting an (official) web browser. And the Barnes and Noble’s 1.3 software update hit yesterday. In addition to that (beta) web browser, the Android-powered Nook sees some performance and UI enhancements, along with a pair of games, and B&N in-store … Read more

Death of an Internet Meme

A few days ago YouTube started taking down those Hilter parody videos. You know, the ones where folks layer on their own English subtitles as Hitler vacillates so expressively (in German) between anger and despair. Quality has varied, but a number of submissions have been both timely and amusing. Well, the movie studio that owns the content (Downfall) … Read more

NBA lands on Roku, NHL on Boxee

Good things are happening in the over-the-top sporting video realm this week. Boxee and the NHL have launched a port of the GameCenter Live computer-based video streaming service. Like MLB.TV, a subscription ($20/mo or $80/yr) is required and grants you access to all of the (out of market) hockey – games, live or archived. Of … Read more

All Your Tweet Are Belong To Us

While I was preoccupied filing taxes last week, the Library of Congress announced a deal with Twitter. Basically, Twitter will donate all public tweets, past, present, and future, to the LoC for archival purposes. Twitter elaborates:

It is our pleasure to donate access to the entire archive of public Tweets to the Library of Congress for preservation and research. […] after a six-month delay can the Tweets be used for internal library use, for non-commercial research, public display by the library itself, and preservation.

I’d think the publicly funded and lofty Library of Congress would have more meaningful projects to prioritize ahead of rescuing Twitter from their inability to provide more than a few days of searchable tweets (without bringing down the server farm). But what do I know, there’s probably quite a few needles in this pop culture haystack that we’ll reflect on years from now.

I do have a few logistical questions for the parties, though. Not because I’m personally concerned, but to stimulate a dialog as we engage in this new era of open online communication.

No New 13″ Macbook Pro For Me

Like many, I was anxiously awaiting the Macbook Pro refresh. And, like many, I was disappointed that 13″ model didn’t see the more significant processor upgrade that its 15″ brethren were treated to. The new 13″ MBP features astounding battery life, on par with the iPad, that I’d most definitely appreciate (along with a backlit keyboard and SD slot). But my primary complaint with the current 13″ unibody Macbook (late 2008 model) is that spinning beach ball. Something I’d hope to see significantly less of with an Intel Core i5 processor. Incidentally, this same sort of Apple decision is why we don’t own a 21.5″ iMac. The fact that I don’t want a larger screen shouldn’t imply that I don’t want larger processing power.

ZNF regular Greg Glockner suggests my response is one of a fanboy. However, I imagine a true fanbois would be one who thanks Steve Jobs for his insight and makes a purchase without evaluating his computing needs. I had a buyer lined up for my current 13″ model at half of what I originally paid, never minding those Snow Leopard and 2GB upgrades (bringing me to 4GB total). But I can’t justify the ~$600 out of pocket expense for marginal improvement in processing power… especially when I could find a similarly equipped Windows laptop for much less. Then again, Apple’s portable laptop hardware is generally more thoughtfully designed than the MS contingent.

Irdeto and Content Security for TV Everywhere

Although it’s fashionable to consider DRM evil (Note: I was a major proponent when Amazon MP3 debuted DRM-free music), the fact is that without content protection, there’s no way the TV Everywhere movement will ever get off the ground. Along those lines, news surfaced earlier this week that Netflix will go a step beyond standard … Read more

More Widgety Widgets from Verizon

Okay, so I’m a little behind on my FiOS TV widgets. In the last few weeks Verizon has introduced two new ones, bringing MLB and Yelp into the FiOS fold. The new widgets do pretty much what you’d expect. MLB brings you news, scores, stats, and player updates, and if you’re an Extra Innings subscriber you can also get customized alerts for up to ten different teams. Meanwhile the Yelp widget offers a local business directory with customer ratings, and details on venue pricing, parking, etc.

The big question here: do users want this stuff on their TVs? I’ve generally been a fan of Verizon’s widget work in the past, but TV widgets are now in direct competition with ever-present apps on smartphones, smartbooks, and (smart?) slates or tablets. Users may not always have a mobile or computing device nearby, but when they do, it’s often going to be the better choice for looking up specific information or engaging in social interaction. Think about it. Are you more likely to tweet on your TV or from your phone?

First look at Opera Mini on the iPhone

As announced last night, the Opera Mini web browser is now available as a free download from the iPhone App Store (iTunes). This is one of the first real alternatives to the Safari web browser that ships with the iPhone. While there are other browsers in the App Store, they all use the same WebKit … Read more