Apple is going to have to rename it's AirPort for the Japanese market because of a previous trademark already issued for the name. They're going to call it AirMac instead. Hmmm... Seems to me they could have put a bit more oomph into it, like AirThang or AirConnector. Must have been pressed for time to get the thing launched.
posted by grant
on Jan 28, 2000 -
1 comment
What's more refreshing than the blue screen of death? The Professor Solonin Vodka Company recently launched a new beer using a variation of the infamous Microsoft trademark -
Windows 99. Russian trademark law allows registration of similar, if not identical trademarks as long as they are in different product categories. If Microsoft decides to litigate, it's basically a whack of free advertizing for these jokers.
posted by grant
on Jan 3, 2000 -
0 comments
With all this preoccupation with Y2K and the march of time lately, this doesn't seem to be too out of place. British Prime Minister Tony Blair figures it's time for the UK to
start capitalizing on GMT as the standard timestamp of worldwide e-commerce. Personally, as goofy as it is, I'm starting to warm up to Swatch's
internet time concept. By the way, this was posted @ 831.
posted by grant
on Dec 31, 1999 -
0 comments
Ever noticed that the also-rans who have yet to be acquired by one of their peers seem to glom together like cornmeal in water?
Take a look at who Be is partnering with for their Stinger internet appliance software:
Bitstream - clearly a runner-up to Adobe in the typeface technology department; and
Opera - who are trying desperately to be the alternative browser of choice. Who's next? Corel, and their latest BeOS port of WordPerfect?
posted by grant
on Dec 9, 1999 -
0 comments
iCraveTV is streaming free, live network television feeds using RealNetworks software, and the big guys are steamed. The broadcasters are citing copyright infringement, but the guy running iCraveTV, William Craig, says he's perfectly legal. I think it's pretty ballsy, but legal? Apparently, since he's 'casting from Toronto, Canadian cable laws allow the retransmission of broadcast signals sans the licensing fees, as long as the signal doesn't get altered.
posted by grant
on Dec 6, 1999 -
3 comments
I know you're all probably missing that old mini-mainframe you used to program on as a kid, right? Ok, maybe that's just me... But darn it, I can do it again using
this PDP-8/E simulator for the Mac. You can even write your own simulated DEC I/O devices like paper tape readers via a plug-in API. And for the techno-frankenstein in me, it'll run using
SheepShaver on my BeBox too.
posted by grant
on Nov 30, 1999 -
0 comments
Should Apple change its name? After all, they changed the way we use computers. They changed the way we design. They recently changed their logo. That would certainly be thinking different now, wouldn't it? Personally, I'd like them to change their minds and release a six-slot G4 chassis...
posted by grant
on Nov 28, 1999 -
0 comments
Ted Nelson rocks! This article from Interactive Week is a month old or so, but it was so enjoyable, I re-read it recently and had to post it. The HyperTextual Man writes and rants about breaking free from the conceptual shackles of interfaces and metaphors. Let the web do its own thing. Let anyone program. Of, course he's talking in terms of his
Xanadu project, but nevertheless, some provoking commentary.
posted by grant
on Nov 24, 1999 -
1 comment
A browser emulator. Now we're all set. We've got a program to emulate software which was designed to simulate and display multiple, linked text documents dirived from printed matter that runs in a virtual data-driven environment made up of digitally created window-like containers that are part of an interface based on the desktop metaphor. I think I'll go buy a book.
posted by grant
on Nov 22, 1999 -
1 comment
SGI is going to dump Cray at a Wal-mart price, after a tormented merger and an unfocused relationship. A source within Cray said it was like 'if your sister married your worst enemy...' SGI is looking at selling Seymore's baby to
Gores Technology Group which touts itself as 'a technology acquisition and management company'. Translated: We don't build anything, but we can wave around lots of money.
posted by grant
on Nov 22, 1999 -
0 comments
Uncle Bill's other hobby is collecting the digital rights to millions of images that basically make up a large chunk of the visual history of humanity. Gates, via
Corbis,
Adobe and others are charging themselves with bringing digital imaging to the people. The best snippet: 'In addition to the delectable link sausages served at breakfast, Mr. Gate's keynote speech spiced up an otherwise bland show.'
posted by grant
on Nov 18, 1999 -
2 comments
Streambox says that it has broken the encryption used on the RealNetworks streaming media format and they have released
a tool that converts RealAudio to MP3. This would probably be more useful if the actual quality of RealAudio files made it worth ripping them to my Rio.
posted by grant
on Nov 14, 1999 -
0 comments
What will future interfaces look like? Steven Johnson, the author of Interface Culture, asked this question of a few presumably knowing souls. There are some interesting points regarding the interaction, rather than the interface in this oh-too-short article.
posted by grant
on Nov 14, 1999 -
0 comments
There's something truly bizarre about the Zappos.com
Measure Your Foot page. You download a
PDF which contains the image of a traditional foot measuring device, print it out, and step on it to get your shoe size. I'm all for combining the best technologies, but...
posted by grant
on Nov 10, 1999 -
0 comments
Green is an alternative email client for the Mac. Tightly coded, immaculately clean interface,
Appearence Manager savvy, and free. I may have to finally let my copy of Claris Emailer rest in piece.
posted by grant
on Nov 7, 1999 -
0 comments
Is PDF the Java of digital content? Not that Java comes even vaguely close to fulfilling it's 'Write Once, Run Everywhere' promise - but
Adobe's PDF has a chance to become the universal, interchangeable, cross-media delivery boy it should be. This article by Robert Morgan explores Adobe's options around a PDF future.
posted by grant
on Nov 6, 1999 -
2 comments
