NevOn

Moving towards Google's EPIC

Still thinking that the Google Grid and the Evolving Personalized Information Construct are pure fantasy, just a history lesson from 2015? From The Times yesterday:

Google is working on a project to create its own global internet protocol (IP) network, a private alternative to the internet controlled by the search giant, according to sources who are in commercial negotiation with the company.

[...] A leading content provider, who did not wish to be named, told Times Online: "We are in discussions with Google to provide content for their alternative internet service, to be distributed through their Google Cube product. As far as I'm aware they have been conducting negotiations with a number of other players in our marketplace to provide quality content to their users."

[...] Contacted by Times Online today, a spokesperson for Google denied that it had any such plans, before adding its customary rider: "It's Google's policy not to comment on speculation concerning products before they are launched."

[Technorati: Google Grid, EPIC]

The rigmarole of Norton Internet Security

Notwithstanding the Dell Hell saga of last year, I love my Dell Dimension XPS Gen 5 which I bought in August. From a hardware point of view, it works perfectly. No issues whatsoever, so I'm a more than satisfied Dell customer.

I wish I could say the same about some of the software running on it, especially Norton Internet Security 2006 (NIS) for Windows.

I've been a user of Symantec's Norton product line for at least six years (and from long before that, when Peter Norton first rolled out Norton Utilities for DOS in the early 80s). So Norton is a brand I like, respect and am willing to lay out hard cash for.

Yet NIS drives me nuts.

Organizing for the New Year

Housekeeping's on my mind today.

After enjoying Christmas in the UK with family, and being almost wholly switched off from the blogosphere for the best part of a week, I'm finding it quite refreshing to sit in front of my desktop PC today and think not about blogging but about hardware, software and sorting out a few things.

So with clients on holiday and little work pressure for another week or so, I'm focused on spending some quality time on re-organizing my computing environment as well as playing around with some cool toys I picked up while in the UK.

First up, putting in place a better file backup system than I currently have. I bought a new external hard drive, a Western Digital Essential External USB2 Hard Drive, 160 gigs capacity (but will that really be enough?). My first purchase of a WD hard drive: I've always bought Maxtor until now. Mind you, I'm still keeping it in the family.

Already installed - literally, just plug it in - and the first full system backup done with Norton Ghost.

Ghost isn't the software I'll use for regular file backups, though. A great review in PC World magazine took me to SimpleTech and their StorageSync product which fits the bill nicely for easily backing up documents, images, podcasts, video, etc. I'll also be able to access the WD drive from other PCs on my network.

Which takes me to my next housekeeping task - sorting out my home network.

Understanding Web 2.0

This afternoon, I was in a Skype discussion with an old friend in the UK and part of our conversation strayed into a discussion about Web 2.0.

My friend thinks it's just meaningless marketing hype and similar to all the talk that we heard in the late 90s dot-com era (or Web 1.0, as I pointed out to him) and early 00s on how everyone would make a fortune and change the world with things like web services, e-commerce, and sticky websites.

You could even go back a bit further into the mid 90s when we heard about the Information Highway (remember that?), ubiquitous video on demand and the networked computer. If you were around in those days, you may remember Larry Ellison of Oracle proclaiming that this was the age of the networked computer and the end of the PC as we knew it. A great concept but quite some years ahead of its time.

In trying to explain to my cynical friend why I don't agree with him, I was actually a little stumped at one point in recalling some simple ways to illustrate why Web 2.0 is different to Web 1.0.

Yes, we have blogging and other social media. And I've seen lots of posts and other online content talking about Tim O'Reilly's Web 2.0 Meme Map. This type of illustrative description isn't really helpful to cynics like my friend who say they've seen it all before (and who said, incidentally, that the image helped confirm his negative opinion about Web 2.0). I don't like it much either, as it is very similar to such diagrams in the 90s - they weren't called "meme maps" in those days - that hyped how e-commerce (for instance) was what you just had to be in.

So is Web 2.0 just a load of old cobblers as my friend would say?

That meme map was part of "What Is Web 2.0," a lengthy article in September by Tim O'Reilly in which he goes into some length to explain how he sees Web 2.0. I think it's a very good article which should be a starting point for gaining a better understanding of how the technologies and tools we're using today (which I'd call Web 1.5, perhaps even 1.7) are evolving into what, I believe, will be Web 2.0.

Yet stuff like this can seem a pretty dense read when what you want to see more easily is the wood amongst all those trees. Tim O'Reilly's article actually does contain a way to do that which was probably over-shadowed by the snazzy meme map.

Here's how to get a sense of Web 2.0:

This is perfect for a right brain individual like me. This I can explain. How about you?

And by the way, here's a neat quiz that will help you determine whether you're left brain or right brain (although if you're left brain, you probably already know that).

Anti-piracy measures now include Windows Update

BBC News: Microsoft has stepped up its fight against software piracy by requiring users to verify their copies of the Windows operating system. Anyone downloading updates for Windows XP will be required to check that their operating system is genuine.

This validation process is in place right now as I discovered when I visited the Windows Update site today to install an optional update.

Upon landing on the site, I was presented with a screen saying that I needed to upgrade some components. Clicking OK resulted in a dialog with progress on installing those upgrades, which included software to validate my copy of Windows to show it was not an illegal or pirated copy.

The result was a success as the screenshot shows.

If it had not been a success, the consequence would be no access to any Windows updates except for security fixes.

Thirty-five percent of the software installed on personal computers worldwide was pirated in 2004, according to a recent study by IDC for the Business Software Alliance. The study said that worldwide losses to software publishers due to piracy increased from $29 billion the year before to $33 billion in 2004.

And with Windows accounting for 90% of operating systems sold worldwide, cracking down on the pirates is one of the few ways for Microsoft to expand its business, the BBC report said.

More info on Microsoft's validation system at Genuine Microsoft Software. Also, see the guide on how to tell if your software is genuine or not.

Virtual Earth first looks

Wow! Virtual Earth is impressive. I just went to the website, clicked on the 'Locate Me' button, told it to find me using my computer's IP address, and it did just that in less than three seconds.

What is Virtual Earth? From the FAQ:

Virtual Earth is a new map and search system soon to be released by Microsoft. Virtual Earth brings together a number of components that allow the user to find out "What is here?" and "Where are the nearest things to here?" The components consist of maps, aerial imagery, photos, business directories, ratings and reviews.

Unlike yesterday, when news about Virtual Earth started trickling out, you can actually access the site (well, it's early morning here in Amsterdam and most of the US is still asleep) and the site itself is speedy.

I also tried out the Location Finder application which uses the wireless access points visible to your computer to determine your location (so you need wi-fi for this to work). Equally impressive, although on installing it my PC rang all the alarm bells - Norton Internet Security halted the install to request authorization to run a 'malicious script,' (yes, go ahead) and Zone Alarm wanted authorization to allow it to access the net (yes, let it).

This app looks rather neat. It sits in your system tray so you can use it at any time. I can see value in that when you're travelling as once your location is pinpointed, you can then search for businesses, etc, close to where you are. It works as well in Firefox as in Internet Explorer. And, most importantly, it appears to work fine in locations in Europe - not a typical US-centric application, therefore.

(Heh! Also a great tool if you get lost somewhere - fire up this service and you'll find out where you are. Assuming there's a wi-fi network nearby, of course. I wonder if it would work with a portable hot spot?)

Some people might be a bit uncomfortable with this wording from the license agreement:

In online mode, information about the access points will be sent to Microsoft and the online Location Finder service will determine your location. This information includes the signal strengths and basic service set identifiers (BSSID) of these access points. In offline mode, the Microsoft Location Finder product installed on your system will determine your location. Your location information will not be sent to Microsoft.

A clear choice, really - if you want to use this aspect of the service, agree to this. If not, don't, and let the system pinpoint your location by your IP address (which limits your location options substantially when you travel).

Some people say Virtual Earth is the equivalent of Google Maps. I can't say as I've tried Google Maps just the once. One difference I noted from that experience - Google Maps works only in the US. But you can read what others say.

Detailed info about Virtual Earth (still in beta) at Via Virtual Earth.

On first looks, I'd say very nice work, Microsoft.

Does Europe need an EFF?

If we don't let the politicians know what we're worried about, we'll inevitably end up stripped of the rights we presently have, says Nicole Simon.

Prompted by a call for support for a UK-based tech/civil liberties organization by Cory Doctorow, Nicole has just launched a pledge to garner support for establishing such an organization at a European level.

So Nicole's idea is to try and set up an equivalent of the US Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) in Europe.

Although I agree with Nicole - better to try and do this for Europe as a whole than just for one European country - I have some small concerns about the whole EFF model. And while I would support an effective initiative that seeks to safeguard an individual's rights to free expression, It seems to me that the EFF has some odd ideas on the differences between such rights and the responsibilities of individuals.

I'm referring in particular to the EFF's support for the international bloggers’ bill of rights which includes a list of organizations "...that have fired, threatened, disciplined, fined or not hired people because of their blogs." If only it were that black and white!

I suppose a basic question arises - Do we need a European EFF? Well, if you read any European newspaper at either political extreme, you'd probably say yes. Personally, I don't subscribe to some views that life is just a big conspiracy with all the politicians and Big Business out to screw the Average Joe. Yet I do subscribe to the view that each of us does have the right of freedom of expression. With that right comes some clear responsibilities, too, especially relating to respecting the rights of others. But this isn't a political blog, and I don't do politics here.

Still, I support Nicole's idea which is why I've signed the pledge even though the idea is nothing more than that right now - an idea. You have to start somewhere and if more people are willing to sign on for a concept that has little substance yet, and then be part of shaping it, then maybe this might grow and actually have some influence.

Little acorns, etc.

Technorati: DigitalRightsEU, EFF

So much innovation

> A British startup wants to give more consumers more chances to hear about what's in the paper. Otodio bills itself as the "universal, eyes-free document delivery standard." Just as companies like Audible.com enable radio listeners to hear audio versions of best sellers and any number of other books in their car, Otodio plans to offer a variety of daily newspapers and magazines in audio format to satellite radio subscribers and others. The initial target market of car-bound commuters totals tens of millions in the U.S. By one estimate, an average American spends 9% of their "awake time" in a vehicle. Otodio holds patents on its device-independent service, which uses industry standard text-to-speech technology. CEO Peter Bond says Otodio can transmit the text of a typical edition of the New York Times in a few seconds to a satellite radio receiver, MP3 player, or even a cell phone. (Internetnews.com)

> Developers and designers are being encouraged to come up with innovative ways of using TV and radio schedules by taking part in a BBC competition. The competition, announced at the Open Tech conference in London, has been organised by the BBC's backstage.bbc.co.uk developer network. (BBC News)

> The deluge of spam that pours into email inboxes each day could by curtailed using software that learns to identify the routes taken by unwanted messages, researchers say. A team from IBM and Cornell University in New York state, US, developed the anti-spam technique, which they call "SMTP Path Analysis" (PDF). It involves examining information embedded in email messages about the route it has taken across the internet. This allows it to make a good guess as to whether or not a new message is electronic junk mail. (New Scientist)

> Wi-Fi on airplanes just got a lot more entertaining. Boeing this week launched a streaming television delivered straight to your laptop as part of its Connexion by Boeing high-speed Internet service. The video service will debut on Singapore Airlines, and lets passengers watch CNBC, BBC, Eurosport News, and either MSNBC (if you're flying in the United States) or Euronews (if you're elsewhere). (PC World)

> If you have several blogs or other sites that have their own feeds, we'll bet a few bottom dollars you've been looking for a way to easily cross-promote them. Or, perhaps you're a podcaster who would like to list your latest podcast postings in a blog sidebar or other handy garden spot somewhere on the web. The bottom line? You've got feeds you want to get out there where people can see 'em, and you'd like to allow people to see the feed headlines (or content itself) in some compact, convenient format. Enter BuzzBoost. It's the latest publicity and awareness offering for FeedBurner publishers, and it's free. (FeedBurner Burning Questions)

Explaining it simply: Microsoft and RSS

Nearly all the reporting I've seen in blogs and mainstream media during the past 24 hours about Microsoft's support for RSS has tended to be rather techie in its focus, including my own post.

Here's all most people really need to know about it, from a BBC News report last night:

Microsoft's next version of its browser, Internet Explorer 7, will make it easier for people to keep automatically aware of website updates.

IE7 will have an orange button on the toolbar which will light up when it detects a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed on a site. Users can click on a "plus" button to subscribe to the site's feed, as they would with a bookmark.

The new browser is due to be released this summer. It had its public debut at the Gnomedex technology conference in the US city of Seattle on Friday.

Who wouldn't understand that!

Microsoft really embraces RSS

Lots of buzz in the blogosphere and in mainstream media about the news today that Microsoft will be building support for RSS into Longhorn, the next release of the Windows operating system due in late 2006, and not only in the next version of Internet Explorer.

Business Week Online has a good summary of today's news which was released at Gnomedex. Some key points:

[...] The fact that Microsoft is putting so much effort behind RSS suggests that the technology's time has come. Michael Gartenberg, vice-president and research director at Jupiter Research, estimates that about 10% of U.S. Web surfers use RSS readers, software designed to view feeds from Web sites. "This is the type of thing that will bring it into the mainstream," Gartenberg says. "It's going to change behavior, and it's going to do it very quickly."

What's more, Microsoft is going after the RSS market in a very un-Microsoft-like way -– it's making its RSS technology available for free using the so-called Creative Commons license.

[...] Before Microsoft brings out the new technology with Longhorn, it'll make RSS feeds readable from inside its widely used Internet Explorer browser. Right now, users typically have to cut-and-paste Web addresses into RSS readers to subscribe to services. RSS subscribers will be able to read those feeds in a test version of the new browser, available later this summer.

But Microsoft plans to dive much deeper when Longhorn ships. Including the RSS technology in the new operating system will allow thousands of software developers to create programs that take advantage of RSS feeds.

Not everyone see Microsoft's news as good - Nick Fink writing in Digital Web Magazine, thinks Microsoft is taking RSS five steps backwards.

If you want to get opinions directly from members of the RSS Team at Microsoft, stop by Channel 9 and take a look at Robert Scoble's video interviews. Also see the tech details about RSS in Longhorn in the Longhorn developers blog.

Undoubtedly more information - and more discussion - will emerge in the coming days.