Today, I came into possession of a letter from Scott Daniels, Vice President of Internet Operations for Genext, one of the providers of Internet service on the Grant County PUD Zip fiber system. It is disturbing in that it outlines the levying of an illegal tax on users of the Zipp Fiber Optic system here in Grant County by the Washington State Department of Revenue.
As you know, many years ago Congress made it illegal to charge sales or use tax on Internet users and that law is still in effect today. The State of Washington has chosen to violate that law by levying a tax on fiber users. It is not taxing any other broadband service, only fiber.
As many of my readers are fiber customers, I thought you should be made aware of this. Although I am publishing this letter from Genext, I am not one of their customers, nor do I in any way recommend their service. But, I must commend them for writing to to their customers in such plain language and letting them know how they feel. I hope some of you will take action as I know I will.
Here is the letter:
As you may have read in the Columbia Basin Herald over the past several months, the Washington State Department of Revenue has decided to place a 'Sales and Use' tax on the Fiber Internet Service that customers receive via the Grant County PUD Fiber Network. At a time when the FCC and our Nations Congressional leaders have protected the Internet from taxation, the Washington State DOR has decided to go against this federal policy and place
a tax on PUD fiber access. It is our understanding that this tax is not being levied on other Internet access services like DSL, Wireless or Cable wholesale services, only PUD Fiber!
Starting July 1st, 2005, Service Providers on the Grant PUD Network will be charged sales tax on the wholesale services they purchase for subscriber access. We feel that the State has no authority to place a retail sales tax on a wholesale communication transport service; however, we are highly compelled to comply. Regrettably, in response to this increase in cost, we are forced to increase the retail price of our Internet Services in Grant County, as of August 1st.
We have been battling this tax issue fiercely and up until official notice from Grant County on June 23rd 2005, we have held firm against charging taxes on Fiber Internet Services.
In spite of the fact that Genext will begin accruing taxes starting July 1st, we are providing 30-days advance notice as a courtesy to you, our valued customer. As of August 1st, all Grant County Fiber Connections will be charged a $2.50 flat rate 'recovery' fee. The monies generated as a result of this fee does not cover the entire expense incurred by Genext.
New rates are as follows:
Residential Internet Access
1 Mbps Internet Service $37.50
2Mbps Internet Service $47.50
Business Internet Access
1 Mbps Internet Service $47.50
2 Mbps Internet Service $57.50
Special VLAN's
10 Mbps VLAN $47.50
This is the first time since July of last year that we have been forced to increase our rates on Grant County Fiber Services and we have worked to offset these costs by offering additional value added services such as our E-Mail Security, as well as additional email addresses; now 5 included with your broadband account with increased storage upon request!
We sincerely regret this obligatory rate increase and feel that the Department of Revenue has gone far beyond their legitimate authority. If you, too, feel that this tax is improper and unwarranted, please contact your state legislative representative and let them know how you feel. Exercise your rights, voice your thoughts, contact your representative. Thank you for your understanding and support in voicing your thoughts to your Representative. Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call for more information.
We appreciate your support and continued patronage and look forward to continuing to provide you with exceptional service and reliability for years to come.
Regards,
Scott Daniels
VP Internet Operations
Genext, LLC
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
Supreme Court Rules Against File Swapping
The Supreme Court handed movie studios and record labels a sweeping victory against file-swapping, ruling Monday that peer-to-peer companies such as Grokster could be held responsible for the copyright piracy on their networks. In a unanimous decision, the justices ruled companies that build businesses with the active intent of encouraging copyright infringement should be held liable for their customers' illegal actions.
"We hold that one who distributes a device with the object of promoting its use to infringe copyright, as shown by clear expression or other affirmative steps taken to foster infringement, is liable for the resulting acts of infringement," Justice David Souter wrote in the majority opinion.
The decision comes as a surprisingly strong victory for copyright companies and stands to reshape an Internet landscape in which the presence of widespread file swapping has become commonplace. The ruling will give the recording industry and movie studios immediate ammunition to file lawsuits against other file-trading companies. It could also be a boon for legal music services such as Apple Computer's iTunes, which could see their strongest competitor, freely downloadable songs, driven further underground.
It won't immediately shut down access to the trading networks, however. The court's ruling will send the case back to the lower courts, which will review the evidence against Grokster and co-defendant StreamCast in the light of Monday's decision.
The file swapping industry has vowed to fight on, in spite of the expected onslaught of legal actions. Said StreamCast Chief Executive Officer Michael Weiss. "We're staying in this for the fight. We're going to continue to innovate and come out with new products."
"We hold that one who distributes a device with the object of promoting its use to infringe copyright, as shown by clear expression or other affirmative steps taken to foster infringement, is liable for the resulting acts of infringement," Justice David Souter wrote in the majority opinion.
The decision comes as a surprisingly strong victory for copyright companies and stands to reshape an Internet landscape in which the presence of widespread file swapping has become commonplace. The ruling will give the recording industry and movie studios immediate ammunition to file lawsuits against other file-trading companies. It could also be a boon for legal music services such as Apple Computer's iTunes, which could see their strongest competitor, freely downloadable songs, driven further underground.
It won't immediately shut down access to the trading networks, however. The court's ruling will send the case back to the lower courts, which will review the evidence against Grokster and co-defendant StreamCast in the light of Monday's decision.
The file swapping industry has vowed to fight on, in spite of the expected onslaught of legal actions. Said StreamCast Chief Executive Officer Michael Weiss. "We're staying in this for the fight. We're going to continue to innovate and come out with new products."
Thursday, June 23, 2005
It's Man vs Machine in Chess...Once Again
The United Kingdom's top chess player is going head-to-head with Hydra, a so-called cluster PC in the United Arab Emirates. The latest battle between man and machine is taking place at London's Wembley Centre, where Michael Adams is the latest player to take on a supercomputer.
In a contest that has echoes of Gary Kasparov's epic encounter with IBM's Deep Blue, Adams and the Hydra computer will play up to six games over the next week, for a prize fund of $150,000. While Adams will be seated at Wembley, his opponent is remaining at its Abu Dhabi base. According to the official tournament Web site, the Hydra project is financed by the Abu Dhabi-based PAL Group.
Some experts are already predicting that Hydra will win the contest. But correspondence chess grandmaster Arno Nickel, who recently beat Hydra 2-0 in a correspondence chess match, has predicted that Adams could secure a 3-3 draw.
Hydra is a clustered system made up of 64 PCs, each powered by a 3.06GHz Intel Xeon processor, although it will just use 32 PCs during its battle with Adams. According to the team that developed Hydra, it can calculate 200 million moves per second and see up to 40 moves ahead.
Adams is the United Kingdom's strongest chess player. He reached the rank of third in the world in 2002. Adams versus Hydra comes almost a decade after Garry Kasparov fought, and beat, IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer in 1996. But the Russian player lost a rematch a year later.
The action should be fast and furious!!
In a contest that has echoes of Gary Kasparov's epic encounter with IBM's Deep Blue, Adams and the Hydra computer will play up to six games over the next week, for a prize fund of $150,000. While Adams will be seated at Wembley, his opponent is remaining at its Abu Dhabi base. According to the official tournament Web site, the Hydra project is financed by the Abu Dhabi-based PAL Group.
Some experts are already predicting that Hydra will win the contest. But correspondence chess grandmaster Arno Nickel, who recently beat Hydra 2-0 in a correspondence chess match, has predicted that Adams could secure a 3-3 draw.
Hydra is a clustered system made up of 64 PCs, each powered by a 3.06GHz Intel Xeon processor, although it will just use 32 PCs during its battle with Adams. According to the team that developed Hydra, it can calculate 200 million moves per second and see up to 40 moves ahead.
Adams is the United Kingdom's strongest chess player. He reached the rank of third in the world in 2002. Adams versus Hydra comes almost a decade after Garry Kasparov fought, and beat, IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer in 1996. But the Russian player lost a rematch a year later.
The action should be fast and furious!!
Update on Google vs. PayPal
Google's top executive has confirmed the story we wrote about in the last blog that the company is planning to expand into broader online payment services, but denied it will compete with a PayPal-like service. In a company-issued statement, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said the company does not plan to offer what he called a "person-to-person stored-value payments system."
One of the main features of PayPal, a division of eBay Inc., is the ability for consumers to store balances in order to make e-commerce payments.
Following a story that appeared in the Wall Street Journal last week, speculation ran rampant about Google offering a PayPal competitor. Instead, Schmidt said that Google is looking to expand its current online payment services, which is largely used to handle payments from advertisers and to Web publishers in Google's popular online advertising programs.
Schmidt stopped short of offering details about Google's next online payment plans or when the Mountain View, Calif., company will introduce a broader service.
"The payment services we are working on are a natural evolution of Google's existing online products and advertising programs, which today connect millions of consumers and advertisers," Schmidt said in the statement. "We are building products in the area to solve new problems in e-commerce."
I am not sure what all this means, but I thought I should write an update to provide more details that were not included in the previous blog.
One of the main features of PayPal, a division of eBay Inc., is the ability for consumers to store balances in order to make e-commerce payments.
Following a story that appeared in the Wall Street Journal last week, speculation ran rampant about Google offering a PayPal competitor. Instead, Schmidt said that Google is looking to expand its current online payment services, which is largely used to handle payments from advertisers and to Web publishers in Google's popular online advertising programs.
Schmidt stopped short of offering details about Google's next online payment plans or when the Mountain View, Calif., company will introduce a broader service.
"The payment services we are working on are a natural evolution of Google's existing online products and advertising programs, which today connect millions of consumers and advertisers," Schmidt said in the statement. "We are building products in the area to solve new problems in e-commerce."
I am not sure what all this means, but I thought I should write an update to provide more details that were not included in the previous blog.
Monday, June 20, 2005
A New Enterprise for Google?
The word on the street these days is that Google is developing an online-payment system to rival PayPal's. People familiar with the matter leaked the news to The Wall Street Journal late Friday, offering few details beyond the most obvious. And in the pages of today's New York Times, an online retailer claims to have been been approached by the search giant to take part in just such an effort. Lending heft to both reports is the new business Google filed to incorporate, not two months ago: Google Payment Corporation.
If you are not familiar with PayPal, it is a company that offers credit card transactions to other companies that have web sites. I use them on my web site as it saves me the expense of having to buy a separate secure web server just to take credit cards and it provides me with all the codes I need to incorporate into my web pages for both a shopping cart and secure checkout services.
For instance, if you want to buy one of my paintings from my web site, you select the painting you want and it is put into a "shopping cart." You can then check out through a secure PayPal web site page using any credit card you want. I am then notified and after I ship the painting to you, I then transfer the funds from PayPal directly into my bank account, minus a small transaction fee.
Some time ago, PayPal was bought out by eBay and has greatly diversified its capabilities. They basically now have a monopoly in the field that Google is trying to break into.
With a full 99 percent of its revenues tied to online advertising, Google is a company in obvious need of diversification. Offering an innovative way for people to transact money online would be an easy way for it to achieve that. Certainly it could potentially be integrated into Google's core advertising program and, beyond that, be extended to target the broader online merchant opportunity.
This could get interesting.
If you are not familiar with PayPal, it is a company that offers credit card transactions to other companies that have web sites. I use them on my web site as it saves me the expense of having to buy a separate secure web server just to take credit cards and it provides me with all the codes I need to incorporate into my web pages for both a shopping cart and secure checkout services.
For instance, if you want to buy one of my paintings from my web site, you select the painting you want and it is put into a "shopping cart." You can then check out through a secure PayPal web site page using any credit card you want. I am then notified and after I ship the painting to you, I then transfer the funds from PayPal directly into my bank account, minus a small transaction fee.
Some time ago, PayPal was bought out by eBay and has greatly diversified its capabilities. They basically now have a monopoly in the field that Google is trying to break into.
With a full 99 percent of its revenues tied to online advertising, Google is a company in obvious need of diversification. Offering an innovative way for people to transact money online would be an easy way for it to achieve that. Certainly it could potentially be integrated into Google's core advertising program and, beyond that, be extended to target the broader online merchant opportunity.
This could get interesting.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Do You Get Your News From A Paper or the Net?
One of the nice things about my stay in Walnut Creek with my friends, the Millers, was that every morning, we would send their white Labrador Retriever, Doc Holiday, down the hilly driveway to retrieve the two morning papers...the San Francisco Chronicle and the Contra Costa Times. While it was great fun to see the dog do his job, the real joy was being able to sit down with my morning cup of coffee and read a real newspaper again.
That really isn't very possible here in Ephrata since we are so far away from the major cities that by the time the paper is delivered, the news is many hours old. Sometimes they are printed so early they don't even have the complete ball scores from the previous night's games.
So, I have got in the habit at home of reading my morning news (with coffee) on the Internet. Oh, I have become very used to it and like the freshness of the news and feature articles, but there is just something special about holding a newspaper in one hand and a cup of coffee with the other. A computer mouse just doesn't give the same feeling.
Which brings me to the point of this blog...according to a new survey, nearly one-fifth of Web users who read newspapers now prefer online to offline editions. The first-time study from Internet audience measurement company Nielsen/NetRatings found that 21 percent of those Web users now primarily use online versions of newspapers, while 72 percent still read print editions. The remaining 7 percent split their time between online and offline editions.
This new study reflects a broad trend in the newspaper publishing industry. U.S. newspaper circulation has been falling as audiences increasingly turn to the Internet for news, both on newspaper-run sites and through companies such as Yahoo and Google, which display news gathered from various sources.
Newspaper publishing revenue is growing slowly, but remains in a prolonged slump. Meanwhile, Internet companies such as Google and Yahoo are posting booming revenue gains on a revival in more traditional online advertising, as well as fast-growing Web search ads.
In response to the increased traffic to news sites, the online versions of many major newspapers often now include frequent news updates, original content, message boards and editorial blogs, items not available in the published edition.
The online edition of the New York Times newspaper is the most visited U.S. newspaper site. It had an audience of 11.3 million in May, up 25 percent from a year earlier, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. USA Today had the second-biggest online reach, with an audience of 9.2 million in May, up 15 percent. Rounding out the top three was the Washington Post web site whose audience in May grew 10 percent year over year to 7.4 million.
By contrast, Yahoo News had an online audience of 23.8 million in May and the audience for Google News was 7.1 million.
So how do you like to get your news?
That really isn't very possible here in Ephrata since we are so far away from the major cities that by the time the paper is delivered, the news is many hours old. Sometimes they are printed so early they don't even have the complete ball scores from the previous night's games.
So, I have got in the habit at home of reading my morning news (with coffee) on the Internet. Oh, I have become very used to it and like the freshness of the news and feature articles, but there is just something special about holding a newspaper in one hand and a cup of coffee with the other. A computer mouse just doesn't give the same feeling.
Which brings me to the point of this blog...according to a new survey, nearly one-fifth of Web users who read newspapers now prefer online to offline editions. The first-time study from Internet audience measurement company Nielsen/NetRatings found that 21 percent of those Web users now primarily use online versions of newspapers, while 72 percent still read print editions. The remaining 7 percent split their time between online and offline editions.
This new study reflects a broad trend in the newspaper publishing industry. U.S. newspaper circulation has been falling as audiences increasingly turn to the Internet for news, both on newspaper-run sites and through companies such as Yahoo and Google, which display news gathered from various sources.
Newspaper publishing revenue is growing slowly, but remains in a prolonged slump. Meanwhile, Internet companies such as Google and Yahoo are posting booming revenue gains on a revival in more traditional online advertising, as well as fast-growing Web search ads.
In response to the increased traffic to news sites, the online versions of many major newspapers often now include frequent news updates, original content, message boards and editorial blogs, items not available in the published edition.
The online edition of the New York Times newspaper is the most visited U.S. newspaper site. It had an audience of 11.3 million in May, up 25 percent from a year earlier, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. USA Today had the second-biggest online reach, with an audience of 9.2 million in May, up 15 percent. Rounding out the top three was the Washington Post web site whose audience in May grew 10 percent year over year to 7.4 million.
By contrast, Yahoo News had an online audience of 23.8 million in May and the audience for Google News was 7.1 million.
So how do you like to get your news?
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
New Windows XP Fixes Released
If you are a Windows XP user, be on the lookout in the next couple of days for a new set of ten fixes designed to fix security flaws in both the operating system and Internet Explorer. Three of the ten patches are listed as "critical" by Microsoft. These fix flaws that could allow a malicious attacker to take remote control of a computer.
One fix deals with vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, while the others tackle problems with HTML Help and Server Message Block in the Windows operating system.
The other security bulletins included four rated "moderate" that affect Windows and the Exchange e-mail server. Three "important" alerts address problems in Windows, Windows Services for Unix, Internet Security and Acceleration Server and Small Business Server.
Microsoft's rating system deems a security issue as critical, its highest ranking, if it could enable a worm to spread without any action from the PC user. Important flaws are those that could compromise people's data or threaten system resources, while the risk from moderate security holes can be restricted by measures such as configuring the default.
Unless you have set your Windows XP system to update automatically, look for an icon to appear in the lower right hand corner of you task bar that informs you that critical Microsoft updates are ready for downloading.
One fix deals with vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, while the others tackle problems with HTML Help and Server Message Block in the Windows operating system.
The other security bulletins included four rated "moderate" that affect Windows and the Exchange e-mail server. Three "important" alerts address problems in Windows, Windows Services for Unix, Internet Security and Acceleration Server and Small Business Server.
Microsoft's rating system deems a security issue as critical, its highest ranking, if it could enable a worm to spread without any action from the PC user. Important flaws are those that could compromise people's data or threaten system resources, while the risk from moderate security holes can be restricted by measures such as configuring the default.
Unless you have set your Windows XP system to update automatically, look for an icon to appear in the lower right hand corner of you task bar that informs you that critical Microsoft updates are ready for downloading.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
The Future of Podcasting
One of the fun parts of being in the San Francisco Bay Area is listening to the local radio stations, many of which I grew up with. I like to hear how they have changed over the years and what they are doing these days. For instance, the local far left wing station, KPFA in Berkeley is still on the air and still airing some of the wierdest radio programming you have ever heard. Sports radio KNBR, which airs the Giants and 49ers and can be heard in the evenings in Washington state, now has a second radio station on the air for sports talk radio.
But the biggest change in the local radio scene, and one I was anxious to hear, was KYCY-AM, 1550 on the dial. Less than a month ago, they switched all of their programming over to podcasting. If you are not familiar with the term, podcasting is like a blog, only it is done with audio. It emerged in 2004 as a web phenomenon, allowing amateurs to distribute audio programming over the Web. Listeners can subscribe to certain programs, download them and play them later on digital music players such as Apple Computer's iPod.
But the phenomenon has spread its wings. Now, talk radio hosts of all kinds are offering their already-aired shows as podcasts. And as mentioned above, amateurs are now having their podcasts aired on the radio.
The podcasts I listened to on KYCY were a mixed bag. Some where downright boring while others were interesting and well done. The best ones seemed two or three people interacting on their themes, such as the fashion industry or high tech. Several had musical themes, the best one being on Irish music. But, usually when a DJ got off on some topic that interested him, they became boring and I usually wound up switching to another station. Fortunately, most podcasts are short and no more than 30 minutes long. All-in-all, it was an interesting experience.
But Podcasting itself has emerged as the Internet's hottest fad, but is it more than just a passing fancy?
Forrester Research estimates that 300,000 podcasts, which deliver digital audio content from the Web to computers or portable media devices, will be available by year's end, growing to 13 million in 2009. That is a big number. But, the number of podcast listeners is more difficult to track; and right now there are so few that research firms like Forrester cannot get an acceptable sampling to survey.
As I discovered, this is partly because there is a lack of worthwhile content and partly because the current user experience is unappealing. Podcasting may sound sexy and easy to use, but downloading the necessary software and searching for compelling programming is anything but.
However, with Apple Computer adding support for podcasting to the next version of its iTunes Music Store, as well as interest from such market leaders as Clear Channel Radio, Infinity Broadcasting and Microsoft, content and ease-of-use are expected to improve. With all of this interest, the music industry is eager to determine how, or if, it should support the new medium.
"It's the Wild West right now, and it's incumbent on anyone involved to look at this now to address the business model and the social implication and come up with some rules," EMI Music senior VP of digital development and distribution Ted Cohen says. "If we just sit and stare at it for a while, we'll end up having to go back and modify behavior again."
Podcasting refers to the software and service that deliver digital audio content from the Web directly to the computers or portable media devices of consumers who request it. The content is delivered automatically to users' computers, with no need for them to search for or download it. The content can then be transferred to a portable device like an iPod (hence the name).
As I mentioned earlier, it was originally adopted by amateur broadcasters, but now is drawing attention from mainstream radio, which is pursuing the technology in much the same way that traditional journalism outlets are pursuing blogging.
"The 'professionalism of podcasting' is what I'd call it," Forrester analyst Ted Schandler says. "The biggest shift under way is from 'homebrew' to professional. There's just so many real companies putting material up."
There are many examples from the nation's biggest radio chains. Clear Channel's mainstream top 40 WHTZ (Z100) New York recently began offering the prank phone call segment of its morning show as a podcast. Premiere Radio Networks in April began podcasting seven of its most popular syndicated shows. Infinity Broadcasting plans to offer free daily podcasts from nine news stations. And NPR has begun podcasting some of its programming.
Shows that contain music are not part of these offerings, however, because of licensing issues. NPR even strips out the jingles that precede programming segments.
As mentioned at the start of this article, Infinity launched the first podcast radio station, KYCY-AM San Francisco. The radio group and Sirius Satellite Radio are using podcasting technology with music, but only to receive guest-DJ programming from listeners.
Others have begun experimenting with using podcasts to promote music. BMI created a monthly podcast of unsigned artists who have licensed their work through the society. Also getting into the game is label Razor & Tie, which launched a series of podcasts from its roster, starting with Danko Jones.
Where podcasting goes from here is anyone's guess right now. But it looks like it does have a future, especially since so many professional broadcasters are jumping on board right now. In a way, its time-shifting, just like using a Sony Tivo to watch TV programs when you want. As for amateurs, they are just having fun and producing programs that few if any can hear, unless they are lucky enough to to be picked up by KYCY. But, with AM and FM radio suffering significant user loss, I suspect we may see more stations around the US turning to amateur podcasts for content.
This is a new phenomenon that is not going away.
But the biggest change in the local radio scene, and one I was anxious to hear, was KYCY-AM, 1550 on the dial. Less than a month ago, they switched all of their programming over to podcasting. If you are not familiar with the term, podcasting is like a blog, only it is done with audio. It emerged in 2004 as a web phenomenon, allowing amateurs to distribute audio programming over the Web. Listeners can subscribe to certain programs, download them and play them later on digital music players such as Apple Computer's iPod.
But the phenomenon has spread its wings. Now, talk radio hosts of all kinds are offering their already-aired shows as podcasts. And as mentioned above, amateurs are now having their podcasts aired on the radio.
The podcasts I listened to on KYCY were a mixed bag. Some where downright boring while others were interesting and well done. The best ones seemed two or three people interacting on their themes, such as the fashion industry or high tech. Several had musical themes, the best one being on Irish music. But, usually when a DJ got off on some topic that interested him, they became boring and I usually wound up switching to another station. Fortunately, most podcasts are short and no more than 30 minutes long. All-in-all, it was an interesting experience.
But Podcasting itself has emerged as the Internet's hottest fad, but is it more than just a passing fancy?
Forrester Research estimates that 300,000 podcasts, which deliver digital audio content from the Web to computers or portable media devices, will be available by year's end, growing to 13 million in 2009. That is a big number. But, the number of podcast listeners is more difficult to track; and right now there are so few that research firms like Forrester cannot get an acceptable sampling to survey.
As I discovered, this is partly because there is a lack of worthwhile content and partly because the current user experience is unappealing. Podcasting may sound sexy and easy to use, but downloading the necessary software and searching for compelling programming is anything but.
However, with Apple Computer adding support for podcasting to the next version of its iTunes Music Store, as well as interest from such market leaders as Clear Channel Radio, Infinity Broadcasting and Microsoft, content and ease-of-use are expected to improve. With all of this interest, the music industry is eager to determine how, or if, it should support the new medium.
"It's the Wild West right now, and it's incumbent on anyone involved to look at this now to address the business model and the social implication and come up with some rules," EMI Music senior VP of digital development and distribution Ted Cohen says. "If we just sit and stare at it for a while, we'll end up having to go back and modify behavior again."
Podcasting refers to the software and service that deliver digital audio content from the Web directly to the computers or portable media devices of consumers who request it. The content is delivered automatically to users' computers, with no need for them to search for or download it. The content can then be transferred to a portable device like an iPod (hence the name).
As I mentioned earlier, it was originally adopted by amateur broadcasters, but now is drawing attention from mainstream radio, which is pursuing the technology in much the same way that traditional journalism outlets are pursuing blogging.
"The 'professionalism of podcasting' is what I'd call it," Forrester analyst Ted Schandler says. "The biggest shift under way is from 'homebrew' to professional. There's just so many real companies putting material up."
There are many examples from the nation's biggest radio chains. Clear Channel's mainstream top 40 WHTZ (Z100) New York recently began offering the prank phone call segment of its morning show as a podcast. Premiere Radio Networks in April began podcasting seven of its most popular syndicated shows. Infinity Broadcasting plans to offer free daily podcasts from nine news stations. And NPR has begun podcasting some of its programming.
Shows that contain music are not part of these offerings, however, because of licensing issues. NPR even strips out the jingles that precede programming segments.
As mentioned at the start of this article, Infinity launched the first podcast radio station, KYCY-AM San Francisco. The radio group and Sirius Satellite Radio are using podcasting technology with music, but only to receive guest-DJ programming from listeners.
Others have begun experimenting with using podcasts to promote music. BMI created a monthly podcast of unsigned artists who have licensed their work through the society. Also getting into the game is label Razor & Tie, which launched a series of podcasts from its roster, starting with Danko Jones.
Where podcasting goes from here is anyone's guess right now. But it looks like it does have a future, especially since so many professional broadcasters are jumping on board right now. In a way, its time-shifting, just like using a Sony Tivo to watch TV programs when you want. As for amateurs, they are just having fun and producing programs that few if any can hear, unless they are lucky enough to to be picked up by KYCY. But, with AM and FM radio suffering significant user loss, I suspect we may see more stations around the US turning to amateur podcasts for content.
This is a new phenomenon that is not going away.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Digital Deadline Moved Up
The Federal Communications Commission has voted to move up the deadline requiring television manufacturers to ensure all mid-size sets they sell in the United States can receive digital signals. That date is now less than one year away...March 1, 2006.
As part of an effort to speed the transition to digital television, the Consumer Electronics Association had asked the FCC to move the date up from the original July 1, 2006 deadline. This decision affects all sets made with screens 25 inches to 35 inches. The digital signal is a higher quality signal than the current analog signal that has been used since the inception of television in the 1940's.
However, the FCC rejected another request by the association to eliminate a July 1, 2005 deadline (less than a month away) for the manufacturers to ensure half of those sets with the mid-size screens are capable of receiving digital. Manufacturers had argued that the 50 percent deadline did not work because consumers would end up buying the cheaper analog sets, and retailers were less willing to order the more expensive, digital sets.
The FCC also proposed moving up by at least six months the July 1, 2007, deadline for manufacturers to make small television sets, with screens 13 inches to 24 inches, that can capture the digital broadcasts. Congress and the FCC are anxious for Americans to adopt digital television so the old analog airwaves can be reclaimed and sold for billions of dollars to commercial wireless companies, as well as be used by public safety agencies. The Bush administration also wants the revenue from the sale of the analog airwaves to help stem the federal budget deficit.
As part of an effort to speed the transition to digital television, the Consumer Electronics Association had asked the FCC to move the date up from the original July 1, 2006 deadline. This decision affects all sets made with screens 25 inches to 35 inches. The digital signal is a higher quality signal than the current analog signal that has been used since the inception of television in the 1940's.
However, the FCC rejected another request by the association to eliminate a July 1, 2005 deadline (less than a month away) for the manufacturers to ensure half of those sets with the mid-size screens are capable of receiving digital. Manufacturers had argued that the 50 percent deadline did not work because consumers would end up buying the cheaper analog sets, and retailers were less willing to order the more expensive, digital sets.
The FCC also proposed moving up by at least six months the July 1, 2007, deadline for manufacturers to make small television sets, with screens 13 inches to 24 inches, that can capture the digital broadcasts. Congress and the FCC are anxious for Americans to adopt digital television so the old analog airwaves can be reclaimed and sold for billions of dollars to commercial wireless companies, as well as be used by public safety agencies. The Bush administration also wants the revenue from the sale of the analog airwaves to help stem the federal budget deficit.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Shopping at Frys
One of the fun things about coming to the San Francisco Bay Area, or for that matter, the Portland area or the Seattle area around Renton, is the ability to go shopping at Frys Electronic Superstores. They actually started in the Bay Area and have been here for years. It is a recent event that they have expanded to other states.
Frys is like no other computer/electronics store you have ever been in before. Quite frankly, it is huge. Imagine a store the size of a Costco that is devoted strictly to computers, peripherals, and other electronic goodies. It is difficult to image, so I urge you to visit one when you are close by.
I usually go to Frys when I need something, which is most of the time. And before going, I always check their current ads in the newspaper, which usually come out every other day. Sometimes their sale items only last for two days, sometimes a week. Finding one of their ads in the store is next to impossible as they are usually hidden somewhere that is difficult to get to. But they are there. Just ask.
It is worth checking out the ads as many of their ad items are at incredible prices. For instance, when I arrived here, I discovered that I had left my wireless adapter for my laptop back in Washington. I look at the latest Frys ad last Friday and found they had a wireless card on sale for $10. I got one and it works great (if it didn't, I would be unable to be write this blog).
Not too long ago, I purchases a 200 Gb USB-2 external hard drive for $100, after the rebates (which did come in). That was an in-store special rather than an advertised item. I have picked up many items at great prices over the years shopping at Frys, but you need to exercise some caution when shopping there.
Not all their items are well priced. In fact, many of them are marked up at full manufacturer's retail prices and are available much, much cheaper at other places. They use the Wal-Mart practice of offering some things at incredible prices to fool you into thinking that everything in the store is discounted.
For instance, while picking up my new wireless adapter, my friend Paula needed a PCI card with a parallel port. At Frys, they were selling for $39.95. I found them at several places on the Net for $10-12 and at a local computer store for $29.95. As I do a lot of shopping and price comparisons, I am pretty up-to-date on pricing. All I am saying is that you need to be aware of this when shopping at Frys.
But a trip to their superstore is definitely worth the time and effort, especially if you are a computer nerd. They also carry TV, sound systems, books, DVD's, CD's, appliances, candy and sodas, and much more. Stop by there and have some fun.
Frys is like no other computer/electronics store you have ever been in before. Quite frankly, it is huge. Imagine a store the size of a Costco that is devoted strictly to computers, peripherals, and other electronic goodies. It is difficult to image, so I urge you to visit one when you are close by.
I usually go to Frys when I need something, which is most of the time. And before going, I always check their current ads in the newspaper, which usually come out every other day. Sometimes their sale items only last for two days, sometimes a week. Finding one of their ads in the store is next to impossible as they are usually hidden somewhere that is difficult to get to. But they are there. Just ask.
It is worth checking out the ads as many of their ad items are at incredible prices. For instance, when I arrived here, I discovered that I had left my wireless adapter for my laptop back in Washington. I look at the latest Frys ad last Friday and found they had a wireless card on sale for $10. I got one and it works great (if it didn't, I would be unable to be write this blog).
Not too long ago, I purchases a 200 Gb USB-2 external hard drive for $100, after the rebates (which did come in). That was an in-store special rather than an advertised item. I have picked up many items at great prices over the years shopping at Frys, but you need to exercise some caution when shopping there.
Not all their items are well priced. In fact, many of them are marked up at full manufacturer's retail prices and are available much, much cheaper at other places. They use the Wal-Mart practice of offering some things at incredible prices to fool you into thinking that everything in the store is discounted.
For instance, while picking up my new wireless adapter, my friend Paula needed a PCI card with a parallel port. At Frys, they were selling for $39.95. I found them at several places on the Net for $10-12 and at a local computer store for $29.95. As I do a lot of shopping and price comparisons, I am pretty up-to-date on pricing. All I am saying is that you need to be aware of this when shopping at Frys.
But a trip to their superstore is definitely worth the time and effort, especially if you are a computer nerd. They also carry TV, sound systems, books, DVD's, CD's, appliances, candy and sodas, and much more. Stop by there and have some fun.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Still More on Homeland Security
I am trying not to write too much about my criticism of Homeland Security goals and operations, so as not to drive my readers away, but I can't help but pass this one along.
While Homeland Security was keeping us safe from Star Wars file swappers (see blog dated 5/31/05), a report was issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) saying that the Department of Homeland Security has failed to meet a single one of its 13 cybersecurity goals.
According to the report, the DHS has not created national cyber vulnerability assessments or government and industry recovery plans for cyber attacks. Cyber attacks are becoming more and more likely to threaten vital national infrastructure, the report says, and the tools to launch cyber attacks are becoming more and more easy to find.
Still more from the report...the DHS needs to address several challenges, including more organizational stability in its National Cyber Security Division, better awareness of its cybersecurity roles, and better partnerships with private industry. "Much work remains ahead," the GAO report said. "Until it confronts and resolves these underlying challenges and implements its plans, DHS will have difficulty achieving significant results in strengthening the cybersecurity of our critical infrastructure."
The GAO report will come as no surprise to many IT vendors and trade groups, which have called for DHS to focus more on cybersecurity issues. DHS needs to better work with the private sector and provide cybersecurity leadership, said Harris Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), in an interview earlier this month. The ITAA and other groups have called for DHS to appoint an assistant secretary for cybersecurity, instead of the current lower-level director of cybersecurity, as a way to bring more attention to cybersecurity issues.
Another update to my story on 6/1/05 about bugging cell phone calls on airplanes, the FCC has been inundated with letters, e-mail's and phone calls from thousands of people who do not want cell phone usage to be allowed on airplanes. They are not objecting to Homeland Security listening in on their calls. Rather, they do not want to listen to the guy in the next seat talking on his cell phone on a cross-country flight while they are trying to sleep or read. I could not agree more.
While Homeland Security was keeping us safe from Star Wars file swappers (see blog dated 5/31/05), a report was issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) saying that the Department of Homeland Security has failed to meet a single one of its 13 cybersecurity goals.
According to the report, the DHS has not created national cyber vulnerability assessments or government and industry recovery plans for cyber attacks. Cyber attacks are becoming more and more likely to threaten vital national infrastructure, the report says, and the tools to launch cyber attacks are becoming more and more easy to find.
Still more from the report...the DHS needs to address several challenges, including more organizational stability in its National Cyber Security Division, better awareness of its cybersecurity roles, and better partnerships with private industry. "Much work remains ahead," the GAO report said. "Until it confronts and resolves these underlying challenges and implements its plans, DHS will have difficulty achieving significant results in strengthening the cybersecurity of our critical infrastructure."
The GAO report will come as no surprise to many IT vendors and trade groups, which have called for DHS to focus more on cybersecurity issues. DHS needs to better work with the private sector and provide cybersecurity leadership, said Harris Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), in an interview earlier this month. The ITAA and other groups have called for DHS to appoint an assistant secretary for cybersecurity, instead of the current lower-level director of cybersecurity, as a way to bring more attention to cybersecurity issues.
Another update to my story on 6/1/05 about bugging cell phone calls on airplanes, the FCC has been inundated with letters, e-mail's and phone calls from thousands of people who do not want cell phone usage to be allowed on airplanes. They are not objecting to Homeland Security listening in on their calls. Rather, they do not want to listen to the guy in the next seat talking on his cell phone on a cross-country flight while they are trying to sleep or read. I could not agree more.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Apple Switching to Intel
Talk about turnabout...after years of trying to get people to switch from Intel-based computers to Macs, Apple Computer itself has switched. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has announced that Apple will gradually shift its Mac line to Intel-based chips over the next two years.
Jobs' announcement formed the centerpiece of a keynote speech to Mac programmers attending the company's annual Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco. The conference is a traditional venue for Apple product launches.
Apple will begin moving its systems to Intel processors by June 2006 and will finish the transition by June 2007, according to Jobs. He underscored his point by demonstrating a Power Mac running Apple applications on a 3.6GHz Intel Pentium 4.
The move will be made possible by work that's been ongoing at Apple for some time. Apple's Mac OS X has been leading a secret double life, having been compiled for both for Intel and the PowerPC, Apple's current processor of choice, Jobs said in the keynote. The company will support the PowerPC, which currently uses IBM's PowerPC 970FX chip, for some time to come.
Apple will use dynamic translation software called Rosetta, named after the famous Rosetta stone, to allow applications designed for PowerPC chips to run on Apple's Intel systems.
To underscore the point, Jobs showed Adobe Systems Inc.'s PhotoShop running and opened Microsoft Word and Excel files on an Apple-Intel system. The chief executives from Adobe and Intel joined Jobs on stage to express their rapport.
Apple, which has been maintaining a complete version of OS X for Intel chips, (code-named Marklar) in secret for some time, could not build the machines it wanted with IBM PowerPC chips inside, given their power consumption. Intel won out, he said, on watts. Although he declined to say specifically what new products he had in mind, the implications of Jobs' comments are that IBM's PowerPC roadmap will not meet Apple's needs for notebooks and miniature desktops, both of which are sensitive to power consumption and heat.
Jobs' announcement formed the centerpiece of a keynote speech to Mac programmers attending the company's annual Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco. The conference is a traditional venue for Apple product launches.
Apple will begin moving its systems to Intel processors by June 2006 and will finish the transition by June 2007, according to Jobs. He underscored his point by demonstrating a Power Mac running Apple applications on a 3.6GHz Intel Pentium 4.
The move will be made possible by work that's been ongoing at Apple for some time. Apple's Mac OS X has been leading a secret double life, having been compiled for both for Intel and the PowerPC, Apple's current processor of choice, Jobs said in the keynote. The company will support the PowerPC, which currently uses IBM's PowerPC 970FX chip, for some time to come.
Apple will use dynamic translation software called Rosetta, named after the famous Rosetta stone, to allow applications designed for PowerPC chips to run on Apple's Intel systems.
To underscore the point, Jobs showed Adobe Systems Inc.'s PhotoShop running and opened Microsoft Word and Excel files on an Apple-Intel system. The chief executives from Adobe and Intel joined Jobs on stage to express their rapport.
Apple, which has been maintaining a complete version of OS X for Intel chips, (code-named Marklar) in secret for some time, could not build the machines it wanted with IBM PowerPC chips inside, given their power consumption. Intel won out, he said, on watts. Although he declined to say specifically what new products he had in mind, the implications of Jobs' comments are that IBM's PowerPC roadmap will not meet Apple's needs for notebooks and miniature desktops, both of which are sensitive to power consumption and heat.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Last Windows 2000 Update Due Next Week
If you are using Windows 2000, you need to be aware of this. Microsoft plans to announce as early as next week that it is ready to ship a Windows 2000 Update Rollup, the final security patch for the 5-year-old operating system. The Update Rollup, which replaces Windows 2000 SP5 (Service Pack 5), is a cumulative set of hot fixes, security patches and critical updates packaged together for easy deployment.
The Update Rollup will contain all security-related updates produced for Windows 2000 between the time SP4 was released and the date the update ships. It will also feature a small number of important, non-security updates.
The Update Rollup comes just one month before mainstream support for Windows 2000 client and server releases expires on June 30. Microsoft divides its support lifecycle into two phases: mainstream and extended. Once a product enters the extended support period, Microsoft charges for support.
Windows 2000 remains the most dominant operating system used in the enterprise, but once mainstream support ends later this month, analysts expect corporate migration to Windows XP to speed up.
As we wrote in a recent blog, this basically marks the end of Microsoft support for Windows 2000. Someday in the future, the same thing will happen to Windows XP, a few years after the next version of Windows (code named "Longhorn") is released. Just a friendly warning.
PS. I am writing this blog from Walnut Creek, CA as I am down here for an art show. I should have an Internet connection for most of the time I am in CA, so I can write the occasional blog from time-to-time between shows. My first show begins this morning.
The Update Rollup will contain all security-related updates produced for Windows 2000 between the time SP4 was released and the date the update ships. It will also feature a small number of important, non-security updates.
The Update Rollup comes just one month before mainstream support for Windows 2000 client and server releases expires on June 30. Microsoft divides its support lifecycle into two phases: mainstream and extended. Once a product enters the extended support period, Microsoft charges for support.
Windows 2000 remains the most dominant operating system used in the enterprise, but once mainstream support ends later this month, analysts expect corporate migration to Windows XP to speed up.
As we wrote in a recent blog, this basically marks the end of Microsoft support for Windows 2000. Someday in the future, the same thing will happen to Windows XP, a few years after the next version of Windows (code named "Longhorn") is released. Just a friendly warning.
PS. I am writing this blog from Walnut Creek, CA as I am down here for an art show. I should have an Internet connection for most of the time I am in CA, so I can write the occasional blog from time-to-time between shows. My first show begins this morning.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
More News from Homeland Security
I guess the Department of Homeland Security read my plea yesterday about focusing on stopping terrorist as they have come up a new project. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are now objecting to a proposal to permit the use of cellular telephones and other wireless devices on airplanes. Unless telecommunications providers follow a lengthy list of eavesdropping requirements for calls made aloft, the FBI and Homeland Security don't want cellular or wireless connections to be permitted.
In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission sent last week, the police agencies said any rule permitting "in-flight personal wireless telephone use must consider public safety and national security" concerns (as a student of history, I have heard this phrase used many times by totalitarian regimes).
"There is a short window of opportunity in which action can be taken to thwart a suicidal terrorist hijacking or remedy other crisis situations onboard an aircraft, and law enforcement needs to maximize its ability to respond to these potentially lethal situations," the agencies say in their letter.
The police agencies, for instance, want to be able to eavesdrop on conversations no "more than 10 minutes" after the call is made. Other requirements the FBI and Homeland Security are requesting that the FCC mandate include: identifying the seat number of the passenger making the call, making sure police can "expeditiously interrupt" a conversation, cut off service to all passengers except government agents on a plane, and so on.
So, if I understand this correctly, Homeland Security wants to listen in on all telephone calls made from commercial airlines. I am not sure this is what Congress wanted when they passed the Homeland Security Act. While I am all for thwarting terrorism aloft, history has taught us that once you enable a government to invade our privacy in the name of security, they will begin to take liberties far beyond the intent of the law.
I must also say at this point that this administration and Congress are really beginning to make me nervous. I think the best thing to do is to continue to ban cell phone use aloft so as to not give the government more excuse to invade our privacy. Oh, and of course, ban the showing of Star Wars on airplanes as it might be a pirated copy.
In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission sent last week, the police agencies said any rule permitting "in-flight personal wireless telephone use must consider public safety and national security" concerns (as a student of history, I have heard this phrase used many times by totalitarian regimes).
"There is a short window of opportunity in which action can be taken to thwart a suicidal terrorist hijacking or remedy other crisis situations onboard an aircraft, and law enforcement needs to maximize its ability to respond to these potentially lethal situations," the agencies say in their letter.
The police agencies, for instance, want to be able to eavesdrop on conversations no "more than 10 minutes" after the call is made. Other requirements the FBI and Homeland Security are requesting that the FCC mandate include: identifying the seat number of the passenger making the call, making sure police can "expeditiously interrupt" a conversation, cut off service to all passengers except government agents on a plane, and so on.
So, if I understand this correctly, Homeland Security wants to listen in on all telephone calls made from commercial airlines. I am not sure this is what Congress wanted when they passed the Homeland Security Act. While I am all for thwarting terrorism aloft, history has taught us that once you enable a government to invade our privacy in the name of security, they will begin to take liberties far beyond the intent of the law.
I must also say at this point that this administration and Congress are really beginning to make me nervous. I think the best thing to do is to continue to ban cell phone use aloft so as to not give the government more excuse to invade our privacy. Oh, and of course, ban the showing of Star Wars on airplanes as it might be a pirated copy.
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