Hollywood vs the Future

"This article (rather foolishly) declares the content wars drawing to a close because a technology company called SmartRight has agreed to provide technology that provides total end-to-end encryption for copyright technology, regional encoding, digital watermarks, and every other content control gizmo Hollywood could want. The key to all of this is whether people can put up open content if they want, and if they can (which I believe surely will happen) then every constraint Hollywood puts on its stuff is just one more reason to avoid it. And that's just fine by me.

I'm organizing a panel at the U Chicago GSB technology conference on DRM, and I want panelists to explore how DRM media will compete and cooperate with open media." [winterspeak.com]

Open Source Web Designs

"I have been pointed to a new site that collects together open source web designs. These are freely-usable page layouts and graphics styles, suitable for a range of sites. I particularly like the ability to select designs according to whether they meet W3 guidelines..." [Column Two]

"In the Star Tribune, they write that 'PC games fell 6.2 percent through the first 10 months of this year, making the first such decline ever.' They go on to say that consoles will break record sales this year, and that there is a shift towards console gaming from PC. Is this due to the fact that there are now three major contenders (XBox, Playstation 2, Game Cube) and all the advanced features they offer (DVD ability on the first two etc)? I, for one, will continue with my Battlefield 1942 on my PC." [Slashdot]

Will "Sims Online" Alter Gaming World
"This time, the whole world is paying attention as Wright--creator of 'SimCity' and 'The Sims,' the biggest selling computer game of all time, prepares to offer up 'The Sims Online.' " [News.com]

More articles highlighting the shift in video games that I think will be so important to driving the coming wireless world. I'm posting links to these two as an excuse to tell you what Kate said the other day. I told her that Bookworm is available for Palms now, and her immediate response was, "Good - now I can start using my Clie again."

Even an experienced PDA owner like Kate uses her Clie as a gaming device more than anything else. When I thought about how I use my own Clie, I realized that the the few PDA titles that I've spent actual money on are almost all games. I've downloaded lots of freebie utilities, but I've really only spent money on games. That may be due in part to the fact that I don't have any wireless connection for my Clie, but my guess is that I'd just buy access to online games if I did (although, I would definitely surf, email, blog, and read my aggregator a lot more with wireless access).

Imagine how a teenager must view these devices, let alone the kids that will grow up with the wireless versions.

I just filled out my Settlement Fund claim against the music industry for their price fixing during the last century. You can fill one out, too, if you purchased pre-recorded music between 1995 and 2000. Depending on how many people submit claims, you'll get either $20 (fewer people), $5 (lots more people), or $0 (too many people making the claim under $5 for each person). You have to fill out the form by March 3, 2003.

I probably bought something like 500 CDs during those five years, so even if the record companies price fixed their products by $1 extra, that's $500 I'm out. And let's be honest - that $1 is being stupidly generous. So now I'll get maybe $20. Sure...that sounds fair.

Jon Udell continues plowing forward with his Librarylookup Bookmarklet. He notes the problem doing this with Sirsi systems (and with using ISBNs in general), but he does manage to provide this slick trick for 86 Endeavor catalogs.

Update: I've just barely had time to blog this and Jon's been at it again, this time with epixtech iPac catalogs!

It's that time of the year - The New York Times has posted its 2nd Annual Year in Ideas review of the year that was 2002. It's a fascinating read, littered with technology highlights we'll look back on fondly some day.

Will Your CD Player Tell on You?

"A company by the name of Bandlink is providing technology to record companies that allows a cd played in a personal computer to contact their server and relate statistics such as what track you're listening to and when you're listening to them. This information is then compiled into customizable reports that allow the record company to develop 'User Profiles'. There are benefits listed for the consumer such as cd-specific chatrooms, concert information, etc but the question remains: What's your price for privacy? The only indication that the cd you're purchasing is Bandlink "enabled/disabled" is a small logo on the packaging. There is no mention of a opt in/opt out agreement when the cd is inserted on the website and none was displayed in a personal demonstration.

Favorite quote from their website: 'Virtually any information you want to know about your fan or the quality of your release can be obtained.' " [Slashdot]

As if there aren't enough reasons out there to stop buying CDs (the economy, inferior product, high prices, products that won't play in some computers), the music industry wants to give us one more. I didn't think they had any feet in which to shoot themselves yet again.