peace

This blog comes from Free Culture Blog dated April 2, 2007 by Asheesh Laroia, via a Public Knowledge blog post that Apple is going to sell music from a major label in a non Digital Rights Management (DRM) format.  DRM is the software that restricts what your computer will let you do with music you typically pay for.  For example DRM on iTunes Music Store prevents synchronizing full quality files to portable music players other than iPod.

Consumers pay about $0.99 for a DRM song or $1.29 for a non DRM song.

During the four years of iPod & iTunes Music Store it was thought that Apple had built its empire on the lock-in between the music store and the portable player.

Microsoft had a similar connection with Universal, a major label, through Zune, Microsoft’s portable music player. However Microsoft pays Universal $1.00 per Zune. (Similar to Tune)

Everyone is making money at the consumers expense. Where is the freedom and how much is it worth?

Posted in Commentary,DRM / 4 Comments>>

http://freeculture.org/blog/

peace, Bennie

Second Life is the 3-D virtual world where players communicate through avatars, is about to get a lot noisier. 

Linden Labs, the company behind ‘Second Life’ is implementing voice-over-internet software that will let thousands of people online talk to each other over their computers’ microphones and speakers.

“One key feature is called “spatial audio”. This feature will mimic sound in the physical world allowing the ability to talk and hear conversations contingent on the separation between people in the virtual environment”,  says Joe Miller a technology executive for Linden Labs. 

‘Second Life’ players interact through digital alter-egos called avatars. 

“Testing on the voice system will begin next week and the software will probably debut for the entire game in test form at the end of March, followed by another two months of customer feedback”, says Miller. 

Retrieved March 1, 2007. by Matt Slagle of the Associated Press  updated: 9:20 p.m. ET Feb 8, 2007 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17389286/wid/11915829

peace, Ben 

Prof. Matt, I can see how images can be distorted and even misconstruded from is actual meaing. But learning is equally misconstruded.  Different views determine different outcomes. There may be more than one result derived from an image. This is beneficial to the learning experience. A new or unfamiliar image will be confusing, curious and possibly frightful at the first look, but given time and exploration an honest outcome will be derived.  This is what I got out of your blog on Dithered Image. I guess it relates to the course as well. Look forward to an exciting ride…

peace Ben

The difference between watching the video on wiki and you tube is: you tube shows the entire person where as wiki just shows the upper body and face. It is like watching High Definition TV (you tube) in comparison to regular TV (wiki).

This course has been very challenging. I find myself becomming more comfortable on a daily basis. I am so used to the classroom setting. I always struggled with privacy and security issues associated with on-line usage. I now realize that security is not that big of an issue.

I like the diversity that this class has to offer along with the variety of students taking it. I felt my situation was unique, not having time to continue my classroom study due to work committments, but I see similar conditions by my classmates warrant on-line study as well.

Professor Matt seems very knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, which makes the course enjoyable and challenging. I am sure to be more focused at the conclusion of this course.

The selection of materials are interesting. The Diamond Age, Blogging and Wiki are all new to me. I have some knowledge of Blogs and Wikis but this course was expanded my knowledge and pricked a curiousity that I never knew existed.

Coming from a Human Services/Social Work discipline this course of study is quite different. I however do see some similarities. I feel this course will compliment and enhance that background and open up an interesting future.

I am growing more excited about this course each week and hope to get more comfortable as time goes by

peace, Ben