My father recently got his Ph.D. in political science, writing a dissertation comparing the judicial systems in South America. He was appointed by the U.N. as a counsel to the Ecuador Supreme Court. Pretty cool!
Valdosta Daily Times - Professor counsels Ecuador’s top court
Blogged with Flock
I just found this blog about a media store called Cruxy integrating with Songbird. It looks like Cruxy provides lots of different media including music, videos, and still images. I haven’t heard of them before.
It looks like they have a wide variety of content from rock to cooking to comedy. They charge for most content but everything is DRM free. Pretty nifty!
Cruxy and Songbird at People With Ideas
Blogged with Flock
CNET has an interview with Monique Farantzos, DVD Jon’s business partner, discussing their FairPlay software. Apparently, they have something now that will allow online retailers to add FairPlay DRM to their content and have the iPod play it back. They have software in the works that will allow content bought from the iTunes store to play on non-iPod devices.
Breaking through Apple’s FairPlay | Newsmakers | CNET News.com
Blogged with Flock
DVD Jon has apparently reverse engineered Apple’s Fairplay DRM. According to this article, it will allow music from non-iTunes stores to play on iPods. I’m pretty sure iPods play MP3’s from other stores, so I’m not sure what the article means by that.
It appears that Jon’s company, Doubletwist, will license technology to allow other vendors to apply the Fairplay DRM to their content so they can provide the same copy protection as the iTunes store does. I wonder if this will be licensed to music stores or player applications. In the case of iTunes, the DRM is added in the iTunes application, not the store.
Hacker Unlocks Apple Music Download Protection - News by InformationWeek
Blogged with Flock
Here’s a transcript of an interview with Songbird Founder Rob Lord. There’s also an audio recording of the interview. There’s a lot of stuff that’s been covered before, but there’s also a couple new questions and answers.
Interview with Rob Lord, Founder Songbird - CenterNetworks - News, Reviews, Insights and Interviews
Blogged with Flock
Duke university has demonstrated a working invisibility cloak using metamaterials with variable index-of-refraction. The material causes light to flow around it like water flowing around a smooth rock.
The demonstration only worked on microwaves. Practical applications include a doggy suit so you can safely put Fifi in the microwave:)
EETimes.com - Duke takes wraps off cloaking device
Blogged with Flock
Slingbox is developing a version of its player for Symbian based phones. Users will be able to watch their favorite TV shows on their relatively tiny phone screens.
More practically, users will be able to control their home PVR from their phones. They should also be able to listen to home music and view home pictures.
EETimes.com - Symbian helps bring “phase shifting” TV to mobiles
Blogged with Flock
Songbird has already made it to TV, appearing on episode 4 of Shark season 1. I’ve never seen or heard of Shark, but I think it’s cool Songbird’s getting the exposure. Maybe someday I’ll see it on Nickelodeon or the Cartoon channel:)
TV Appearances | Songbirdnest.com
Blogged with Flock
Qualcomm owns Eudora??? Well, that’s news to me. And now they’re going to remake it using Mozilla. Qualcomm says it “has decided not to remain in the e-mail market because it is not in alignment with the core business or strategic goals.” Duh.
It’s unclear exactly what the new form of Eudora will be. Qualcomm’s goal is to keep the Eudora look and feel. More power to Mozilla I guess.
Qualcomm gives Eudora a Mozilla makeover | CNET News.com
Blogged with Flock
Wired has a blog on Songbird. Overall, the post is very positive, saying “I think the hype is justified.”
Blogged with Flock
