http://forum.connpost.com/josh/ en Copyright 2009 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:44:22 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.connpost.com/blogs.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/06/new_blog.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/06/new_blog.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:44:22 -0500 Comcast has offered some reasonably fast speeds in my area, but I'm now drooling over the latest announcement from Cablevision. Optimum customers will, within the next month or so, be able to get 101Mb/second connections, the fastest to be offered anywhere nationwide, for $99.99 a month.
The best part? It's uncapped - no download or upload limits to worry about while you're enjoying that massive speed. Comcast, which currently has a download cap of 250GB a month, something I mentioned earlier this year on The Buzz, has a fairly generous limit, while Time Warner recently backtracked on their plans to offer faster high-speed Internet packages because users balked at their putting download caps on their services too.
Not everyone needs this kind of service, nor would need to pay for that kind of plan. Indeed, Cablevision has said they expect light adoption this year. But for those of us who work from home, or need a fast connection for the types of work they do, Cablevision deserves a tip of the hat for bucking the trend of putting limits on Internet connections at the same time they make them faster. Unlimited data at what is an incredible speed is commendable. While I am unfortunately not in a Cablevision market, those readers who are should take a look at this offering if it makes sense.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/04/speed_demon.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/04/speed_demon.html Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:21:18 -0500 The worm spread itself using a security hole in Microsoft Windows automatically without a user's involvement. While not initially programmed to do much damage, many people (and media outlets) worried since an April 1 trigger in the software would allow itself to update into something potentially worse, although no one really knew what that would be. Even now, it has the ability to receive updates that could cause bigger problems for computers that are currently infected, whether it be causing damage to computer files or (more likely) becoming a way for the creators to exploit your machine for annoying possibilities like sending spam E-mail by the thousands, making some money in the process.
The coverage in the media put a lot of focus on ways to find out if you had Conficker, from downloading scanners from security software vendors like McAfee or Symantec. One particularly creative soul came up with the Conficker Eye Chart, which is a nice, clean, visual way to know if you're infected.
But while knowing if you have Conficker is good for the "right here, right now" kind of security, it doesn't help with the larger question of staying secure in general. Conficker took advantage of low-hanging fruit - it exploited something that was known, and fixed, in the Windows operating system. In fact, the exploit that was used to infect computers was something that Microsoft offered a patch for in October.
This means that if you're a Windows user and either didn't update the machine yourself, or set up the computer to update it for you on a regular basis through a service called Automatic Update, you've left yourself exposed. If you were infected with Conficker, you're missing at least six months of security updates.
The eye chart I linked above is a good way to see if you're infected. If you are, the sooner you rid yourself of the problem, the better, as it's likely going to dig deeper into your machine with each update the Conficker worm gets. But more importantly, run Windows Update to get the security updates you've missed.
While at it, also check Microsoft Update. Most people have Microsoft Office on their machine, and security updates and bug fixes are released for them too. However, depending on how your machine is set up, you might not be getting those updates. It's worth checking to make sure you're up to date there too.
One note about these two links: the browser version of Windows Update will only load up if you're using the Internet Explorer browser. If you use any other browser, the Microsoft Update link will offer options for updating Windows as well, but works with all browsers.
While in a security-focused mindset, get into the habit of updating popular Web software that you might use as well. An increasing number of other pieces of software will now prompt you to update their software when updates to the software are available. In some, you can manually check for software updates to see if a new version has been released. For instance, in Firefox, you can click the Help Menu and select "Check for Updates."
Some dubious sorts are attempting to trick people into downloading their dangerous software (formally known as malware) by spoofing the look of a software update prompt, as has been seen in fake Flash upgrade prompts on Facebook. To counter the threat, it's time for a smarter solution.
Security vendor Secunia offers a free online or downloadable scanner that will take over from where Windows and Microsoft updates leave off, checking for updates for thousands of other popular pieces of software. Their comprehensive scan will help you find potential security holes in the software you have on your computer and help you find a patch for it. It will also tell you if a piece of software is no longer being updated, which means you're on your own if a new hole is found.
It's a scary thought that 8 to 15 million computers got infected by Conficker - that means at least that many weren't patched, and that's just Windows. Even more people might have some other software that's out of date on their machine. As computers get ever more complex, they become more like a car -- regular maintenance and occasional tune-ups will go a long way to ensure that nothing nefarious happens and that it continues to be a useful vehicle to getting where you need to go.
Have a computer or technology question? E-mail Josh and he'll work to provide an answer for you and other readers of The Buzz.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/04/the_trouble_with_conficker.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/04/the_trouble_with_conficker.html Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:03:06 -0500 Facebook rolled out its new design. The tech crowd has been all over it since, bashing it on one hand and trying to explain it on the other. On the surface it looks like it's trying to out-Twitter Twitter. But the more I play with it, the more I'm realizing it's a sideways step.
Things like the Events engine, which people use to nag others about stuff they're doing or attending, are buried deeper down the page. The oddly addictive People You May Know option, which gives you potential matches based on mutual friends, are moved upward. The stream of consciousness that is the status update, of course, is front and center, which competes with Twitter more directly now that it encourages people to use this as a primary outlet.
Facebook applications are still there; the requests are still piling up for me to throw snowballs and pass a beer. For those of us who already got used to using the search box up top to find a friend's profile, navigation hasn't hugely changed.
The fact is, the "stream" that now makes up the front page, while a bit disconcerting, isn't all that big a change from what was available before. I like the fact that you can create your own streams to follow just certain people, not just preset categories. This makes it easier to hone in on the 10-20 people you might see more often, or follow more often, and avoid having to check individual profile pages as much.
But really, in the end, there's nothing new -- it's just more of the same.
Facebook hasn't been the addiction for me that it is for others. I have the Blackberry application for my phone, and it's fine for checking quick things, and like E-mail or text messaging I can find out quicker when someone's trying to find me.
But for the most part, other than having a promotional tool for some of the things I help organize, Facebook is really just the same thing it was a few years ago - quick contact or information about people you don't see much. The stream just brings the latest news aspect to the forefront (even if latest news is that "I'm tired" or "I'm overslept," depending on the time of day).
People want the old look to be restored, but frankly, everything's still here, and whether you're already on the Twitter bandwagon or not, this is where it's all going. We might as well get used to it now.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/03/new_facebook_look_is_well_face.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/03/new_facebook_look_is_well_face.html Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:54:35 -0500 The simplest method, of course, is saving pocket change. My mom made a habit of this over a decade ago, although she only got it half right - she never would cash in the change as it built up over time. Once the change was taking up almost the entire kitchen counter, and after my dad flipped out about it I brought it to the then-new Coinstar machine in our area to see how we'd do. A couple of hours, six machine jams and over a dozen coffee cans later, there was over $1350 in change saved up. That ended up covering a family vacation!
My mom's trick there, as is mine, is to simply not spend the change that accumulates. Whenever a new purchase is made, you always break a bill. I tried the same experiment myself and in about eight months time ended up with $400. She uses it as fun money; I use it as an emergency fund, tapping it only when necessary. (My change cup overfloweth, as you can see by this picture; I'm still deciding whether it goes into the "too easy to access" savings account or if I should just grab another cup.) Banks have caught on to this notion, most prominently Bank of America, whose "Keep the Change" feature will transfer the cents leftover from each purchase into a savings account. Same concept, high-tech twist.
If you follow the financial markets and all the articles that have come out over the past couple of years, the numbers show we've been reliant on credit more than we had ever been before in this country, and the aftermath is now stinging. The fact that savings rates are rebounding are a double-edged sword; we're preparing for harder times, albeit a little late, but our spending less now means the economy's getting smacked around even more. I know I've been doing my part to both spend where it makes sense, and clear out debt, while putting money into a retirement account. The trick is finding the right balance, and that's why I like the change concept for savings - it's not overly intrusive, and it allows you to focus the bigger bucks on other areas where your financial balance sheet needs shoring up.
Need a little more inspiration? Consider this family. They've been saving change they've found on the streets, floors, etc. for three years now, and have collected over $1,000 into their changepot. Since the money doesn't come out of their pockets, the savings is done without any intrusion into their normal finances. I like the warm fuzzy idea of them donating all the money to charity once it reaches $10,000. Now it's helping others, just for being a little more observant. But even if you simply did it to build your own savings, it shows that a little extra can build into quite a lot.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/03/change_will_do_you_good.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/03/change_will_do_you_good.html Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:05:58 -0500 Launched just five days ago, the bluntly-named This is Why You're Fat attempts to catalogue (with photos!) the egregiousness of our diets.
Frankly, looking at some of this stuff, and reading the descriptions, makes me a bit uneasy. I don't know how we eat some of this stuff, but if it's on a restaurant menu, it's likely because people are daring enough to try it.
As we look at the disaster of the economy's financial excesses, it may not hurt to look at our dietary excesses as well. The articles have flown fast and furious over the years that we're an overweight nation, and each successive generation is more and more overweight. These photos might be a good place to start when attempting to tighten the belt... of food.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/02/is_this_why_were_fat.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/02/is_this_why_were_fat.html Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:23:30 -0500 DataViz.
The software allows you to open and edit many types of documents in the Microsoft Office suite: Word, Excel and Powerpoint. It allowed you to do this without converting the files, which was very helpful when I needed to make changes. It was so useful that instead of spending a lot of money on a laptop for school, I bought a keyboard that attached to my Palm device, and simply took notes using Documents to Go. Since I can type faster than I can write, and my handwriting is atrocious, I was able to take better notes, and be able to read them later. In the classes I did this, it helped my academic career immensely.
The software was powerful, and many people with Palm devices noticed. It was consistently the most purchased software for the Palm, and Palm even started offering a basic version on all of its newer devices, including its smartphone lines. However, as I drifted from my Palm device to a Blackberry more recently, I had to acclimate myself to being only able to open documents when they came via E-mail.
I was reminded of the software when I updated my Blackberry's phone software. Among the improvements and additions was the basic version of Documents to Go. What I came to find out was that DataViz has been expanding its platform support, now offering Windows Mobile and Blackberry versions. Their site also notes development is underway for other platforms, like the iPhone and Android.
For those who use a smartphone to read their E-mail, this is an exciting development. The beauty behind Documents to Go was the ability to make changes to documents without having to be in front of the computer. On my Blackberry, I would from time to time be asked to proof something in a Word document, and all I could do was reply with a text E-mail saying what paragraph needed fixing, and what words. Now I can actually correct it and send it back to the person who asked for my help. The fact that they could retain much of the document's formatting and display it nicely on the screen was a nice touch. The newer versions even save the formatting it can't handle, and keeps it intact when the document is saved and sent back to someone to look at on a computer.
Documents to Go is worth a look, although whether the basic version, included with some smartphones now (of which the list is growing), or the more powerful Professional Edition is needed will come with some research and time with the software, I've found it quite helpful over the years, and recommend it to those who rely heavily on a phone for E-mail.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/02/documents_to_go_my_best_friend.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/02/documents_to_go_my_best_friend.html Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:01:16 -0500 Many times, problems or bugs are found once a phone is made available to a large audience. Like a computer, a phone runs on a pretty complex set of software, which becomes even more complicated if you own a smartphone like a Blackberry or Windows Mobile device. Other times, the manufacturers or software developers find a way to implement new features that they make available from an update. (One such feature will be discussed in my next post.)
It's easy to forget that as phones become more and more powerful, they also share kinship with their larger computer friends. Software updates are now a helpful way to make sure you're getting the most out of your phone. Releases can help with battery life, bugs, and even feature additions. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see a software update a couple of times a year.
Most cell phone providers and manufacturers maintain a list of software updates on their Web sites, but a useful site that can let you know if you're due for an update can be found and phonenews.com's Firmware Tracker, that lets you know the current version available for your phone.
Many newer phones allow you to download an update "over the air," which means that those with an Internet connection available to the phone can simply click a few menu links and have the phone update itself. Other phones require a little more work. Blackberry and iPhone users generally "tether" their phones, meaning that you hook it up to a computer and use software to update the phone. This is sometimes preferred, as it can give you the chance to back up your information prior to an update, in case something goes wrong.
It's generally a good idea to check your software version every 3-6 months, or update if you're prompted to on your phone. This can many times help you maximize your phone's potential, and limit your frustration.
DISCLAIMER: I have worked, and continue to do so, in the wireless industry as a lowly sales peon. As such, this and all wireless items will avoid any discussion of carriers, but instead focus on the cool technology that's either coming or has arrived. Frankly, that's more fun anyway.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/02/your_phone_needs_software_upda.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/02/your_phone_needs_software_upda.html Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:54:10 -0500 Ms. Pac-Man than Lara Croft anyway.
As such, when I first got online in the late '90s I was intrigued by the idea of casual gaming, which offered cheap or free gameplay in bite-sized chunks, vs. having to invest hours in the latest installment of Grand Theft Auto (they also generally serve as good all-ages games). Some of the early sites AOL was affiliated with, which is what I used at the time, were Slingo and Boxerjam.
Both services, which are still free and online (and available to non-AOL members too)remain entertaining to play. Slingo, a combination of slots and bingo, offered enjoyable gameplay and was fun to play for hours at a time. The online, multi-player component added to the intrigue, as you fought your way up the ladder.
The same could be said for Boxerjam, which created a series of online multi-player games, some knowledge-based and some strategy-based, that were entertaining in their own right.
Over time, I discovered other great options out there. My current favorite online service is Pogo, which is currently an Electronic Arts subsidiary. EA are the guys behind games like Madden, so they've had a little experience in the gaming realm.
Last summer I signed up for their Club Pogo premium service, which at $40 a year, has been a lot of fun. The Club Pogo membership allows you to earn badges, which are like their equivalent of the XBox Achievements. Hit a certain rank, complete weekly challenges or achieve a certain outcome in a game, and you earn a badge. Special badges are offered at times too. The badge system adds an additional level of addictiveness, and the variety of games (over 100 for Club Pogo members, less for free players) is impressive. They even have online multi-player Scrabble and Monopoly, which are structured to be able to be played in under a half hour. Good stuff.
Another element of casual gaming is the simple, downloadable games. Over the years I've grabbed a game here or there from sites like GameHouse, which have some fun games, many of which can be played free online before purchasing.
I have more recently been a continual fan of Big Fish Games. You can play some of their games online for free, but I like their Game King membership program. For $6.99 a month, you get a credit for a game each and every month. The credits accumulate if you don't use them, so you have time to wait for a game that attracts your attention. They've got hundreds of games to choose from, and they can be installed on more than one computer. Normally these games cost $20 per game, and even with discounts on other sites, I haven't seen anyone come down to that price point. If you want more than one game in a month, you can purchase additional credits, also at $6.99, so really you get as many games you want for $6.99 each.
Casual downloadable games offer varying levels of replay value, so you might tend to burn through them a bit quicker, but given the inexpensive nature of them compared to buying PlayStation or X-Box games, for those who like games that fit into the casual genre, it's a nice way to keep the price down.
Another approach I think is pretty cool is offered by Wild Tangent. There, you purchase coins, and each coin allows you to play a game for up to 24 hours without interruption. Each coin you use reduces the purchase price of a game by 25 cents. So, if you like playing a game occasionally, instead of buying it, you can just use a coin. And if you play a game enough, the price of the game to buy it outright can eventually drop down to as low as $5. This allows for some cool "try before you buy" scenarios that ensure you're happy with what you're getting first, and solves that burnout problem I mentioned before.
There's plenty of other sites, with other methods of doing this, and I'm sure I haven't seen them all. If you've got a good tip on a good site, let me know, and I'll follow up this post with some of your suggestions.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/02/casual_gaming_some_recommendat.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/02/casual_gaming_some_recommendat.html Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:34:59 -0500 Apple listened. Now you can selectively upgrade your music. This now allows you to skip the songs that you haven't listened to in five years and never will again. Nice move, Apple!]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/update_itunes_allows_a_la_cart.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/update_itunes_allows_a_la_cart.html Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:11:38 -0500 In that spirit, I took a look at Mechanical Turk, a service that amazon.com created to help those who needed large quantities of data verified or created, but in areas where machines can't quite do the job yet. The service has been around for awhile, but seems particularly handy for those with time on their hands right now.
Here's how it works: thousands of HITs, as they call them, are submitted by companies or individuals looking for assistance. Each item takes varying amounts of time; generally speaking, the more challenging, the more the pay per HIT. Some HITs, which require some quick online verification of information or identifying pictures, may take a few seconds, while others, which could involve writing, might pay up to a few dollars per HIT. During the time I've spent on the site, I've seen the number of HITs available range from 45,000 to 72,000, so there's always plenty to do.
You complete the work they request and submit it. If they accept your work, you get paid. The money is deposited into an Amazon Payments account, which can then be used either to purchase items on Amazon, or to be deposited into a checking account.
Since units of work are small, they can be completed during downtime, great for those who are looking for ways to bring in a few bucks. But given the small payouts for each item, it's unlikely that a person will get rich off the service.
Doing the work precisely as instructed is important, as if it's not done well, it can get rejected. Abandoning a HIT after accepting it is also frowned upon, so it's worth being sure you're able to do it first. You can preview a HIT before accepting it.
Amazon keeps metrics of what percentage of your work is accepted, and what percentage of HITs you abandon after starting. Those who post HITs can require that your acceptance rate is at a certain high, and abandonment rate at a certain low, meaning it's important to try your hardest each time.
Also, HITs can get approved quickly, or take days. Out of the first five hits I completed, only one was approved within 24 hours. The others are still pending, and until they are moved into approved status, I don't get paid.
I'm impressed with what they came up with, and there are much worse ways to spend your time online. I was able to get going in less than five minutes, and after doing a few hits, I found myself enjoying the work, not worried about whether I'll run out of time to complete what I'm working on, since they're so short. It's definitely worth a look if you have a bit of computer savvy, especially if you're comfortable with doing work or research online.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/turkish_delight.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/turkish_delight.html Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:35:46 -0500 I went to a concert, which I was reviewing for my college newspaper. Thinking I wasn't allowed to bring a camera, I only had my cell phone. When I realized they weren't stopping people from taking pictures, I shot a few (grainy) pictures, and one was published very small. During our review of the issue with our newspaper's advisor, he commented that "this will be the future of journalism."
Some of us thought it was a bit nutty, but one interesting thing came out of the "Miracle on the Hudson" coverage that was all over the news yesterday. A ferry passenger snapped a picture of the passengers waiting on the plane, and uploaded to Twitter using a service called TwitPic.
The photo got noticed very quickly, and it got passed around in a "snowball effect," as the owner of TwitPic described it, even causing his servers to buckle under the stress for awhile, receiving 500 hits every 15-20 seconds (or about 100,000 an hour). I personally think this photo kicks the pants off of most of what we saw on most news services.
Twitter has been a growing source of information and pointers to information after major news events. One Twitter user was on the plane that skidded of the runway in Denver last month. And others have used Twitter to send out information on events like Israel's invasion of Gaza earlier this month.
US Airways noticed too, and opened up a Twitter account to pass out links and information to users following the news on the service.
Phones are getting more powerful, and so are the cameras (an iPhone was used to take the picture, with a reasonably good 2 megapixel camera). Text messaging allows people to get information out in a hurry, and paired with a service like Twitter, you can share with everyone practically immediately.
It's a brave new world. Kind of exciting, as long as you don't overload on it.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/the_internet_and_journalism.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/the_internet_and_journalism.html Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:45:54 -0500 Circuit City's announcement that they were liquidating today. I wasn't so much surprised by it, but my life-long connection to the retailer is now coming to an end.
When I was eight, and still living in Virginia, my parents took me there and bought me my first keyboard, which sequed into more than 10 years of piano lessons. (I never ended up being that good, but it was a fun hobby nonetheless). When they started opening stores in Connecticut, I ended up working at one for over three years, starting during the Christmas season of 1998 and all the way through the beginning of 2002. Even during that time, I saw what I perceived to be a slow decline in the stores, especially as Best Buy ramped up and charged the state. They just weren't keeping up with Best Buy, which had nicer looking stores and were constantly changing things around to respond to trends. Circuit City got rid of appliances and did half-hearted renovations from time to time.
A year after I left, they laid off their highest-paid commissioned associates during a painful transition to a salary format. Some close co-workers of mine got laid off for earning too much. Commissioned employees earning too much meant they were selling too much. That, combined with them laying off higher paid employees in 2007 (which were a combination of remaining employees from the commission days and longer-term employees who had more product knowledge) likely did them in, as did their inability to keep up with Best Buy.
What I remember from working at the stores 10 years ago was a close-knit group of people who cared about what they sold, and providing customers with information in a way they could understand. In my more recent efforts to buy products, I found myself doing more research online than in store, especially when attempts to ask questions in their stores failed to yield satisfactory answers.
Meanwhile, Best Buy seemed to be doing exactly what Circuit City used to do - providing well-trained reps who can answer unusual questions. I'm no tech novice, but occasionally I'll be doing something I haven't approached before, and I could usually find someone at Best Buy who knew what I was talking about, and more times than not they'd have a better selection than Circuit City.
But despite the fact that Circuit City was a shell of what it used to be by the end, I'm still sad, in part because they had possibilities of making it work. The store that opened on the Post Road in Milford not all that long ago blew away any of the other locations they had, with a nicer setup, really good employees and a larger selection. It seemed that, had they had planned it out earlier or had more time to turn the ship around, they could have had a shot.
Even in the end, I'd buy an item at Circuit City over Best Buy, maybe out of some loyalty from working at the company for all that time. I also appreciated that they were more aggressive in Internet marketing, so many times I could get a Circuit City gift card as a prize at more recent jobs, where Best Buy wasn't there, or get cash back rewards or points towards things through Web site loyalty programs.
But the death knell has been sounded. While I have no qualms about going to Best Buy when I need something in a hurry, or hopping online to order things if I can be patient, I will miss Circuit City. My last purchase there was the day after Christmas, and I got an incredible deal on a new computer. I worry that somehow without competition, Best Buy might not be as forthcoming with really strong deals. Thankfully, Wal-Mart and Target have been stepping up their game, and the Internet offers plenty of places to get items too, but it feels like a major chapter is over, and I'll miss them.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/circuit_citys_demise.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/circuit_citys_demise.html Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:26:52 -0500 Palm IIIc, a reasonably-sized organizer that had the added bonus of being able to load all sorts of software on it.
I've stuck with Palm over the years. I bought a newer Palm device and keyboard when I got to college, which I used to take notes in class, a boon for me since my handwriting borders on horrific. I most recently purchased a Palm 755, their combination smartphone and organizer, that still had that simple interface I'd grown to love over the years.
While it was easy to use, it's starting to seem a bit long in the tooth. I now use a Blackberry as my main organizer and phone, and as it turns out the 755 is the end of the line for their high-end PalmOS smartphones, with the Centro taking its place and largely being an entry-level smartphone on all the various carriers.
This past week Palm announced the Pre, their next generation phone, with a new OS to go along with it. I've hovered around Gizmodo to see the details, and the more I see, the more I'm excited about it.
Everyone likes to compare any phone to the iPhone, but frankly, Palm's always offered solid smartphones, over the iPhone, which has good features but I find to be more of a fun phone than a business phone overall (although, with their app store, the gap is quickly closing on that front). If Palm can keep the price down and cultivate an ecosystem, just like they did when they created the smartphone market with the original line of Treos, there might just be another chapter in the Palm story to come. I for one can't wait to get it.
DISCLAIMER: I have worked, and continue to do so, in the wireless industry as a lowly sales peon. As such, this and all wireless items will avoid any discussion of carriers, but instead focus on the cool technology that's either coming or has arrived. Frankly, that's more fun anyway.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/the_pre_palms_savior.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/the_pre_palms_savior.html Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:31:49 -0500 When I checked iTunes two nights ago, it showed I had 2700 purchased files over a five year window. While some are episodes of TV shows, it's mostly music. Breaking it down, it's only about $10 a week over the course of the past few years, which is managable (and less than a CD used to cost, on average, before digital services came to pass).
As the service has evolved, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been slowly but surely been making a push to take it a step further and remove those restrictions. He finally got what he wanted, and now the majority of music on iTunes will be free of restrictions.
Part of the change gives consumers the option to upgrade their previously restricted files to an unrestricted version, with the added bonus of having a higher-quality file, which should boost sound quality. To do this, Apple is charging what sounds like a reasonable fee of 30 cents per song, 60 cents per music video (which upgrades the audio quality, but not the video quality), or, if you bought a whole album, 30% of the current going rate for the album's price.
Here's the catch: you have to upgrade all of the songs available at that particular point, or not at all.
When I checked the upgrade page two nights ago, I had 940 songs already available for upgrade; that rose to 983 by last night. You can do the math, but I was close to $250 for the upgrade as it stood last night. That's not cheap, and since you can't cherry-pick, it's an all-or-nothing situation.
People are griping over the price, as well as the all-or-nothing setup of the program, and that's valid. Some will do it because they see a benefit. It's a solution for those who want it badly enough, and I'm considering it (although I'll have to tuck some money aside to make it happen, not easy in today's state of affairs).

But here's a problem I personally have, and it's not covered at all in the articles I've seen on the subject thus far. I have Comcast. Comcast recently rolled out a bandwidth limit of 250GB a month for accessing the Internet. Exceed the limit too many times, and you can be booted off their service for a year. To make it even more cloudy, they have yet to offer a way to monitor this, and almost weren't going to at all, although it looks like one might be here soon.
I've had Comcast's service for over a year now, and have been pretty happy with how things have gone with them. The connection is fast, and provides me with what I need to get work done at home. But the limit means if I want to upgrade my library, I'm using a not-insignificant part of my limit to do this, because of the all-or-nothing nature of the upgrade.
As of last night, the download size was over 6GB (equivalent to a season of a TV show I purchased last week). It will surely go up by the time I have the money to do it, if I want to do it. This means I'll have to crimp in other areas online just to stay under the limit, or risk being booted.
So, it's a Comcast problem and an Apple problem to contend with. I personally feel $250 is a lot to upgrade my library. Apple has said it is to cover the cost of bandwidth, but why would 6 GB of music cost $250 in bandwidth, while that same 6 GB as a TV show be only $19.99 (which is what I paid for that season)? In the meantime, to get a better version of what I have, I have to limit what I want to do for a few weeks, or wait for the Comcast meter.
I'm sure others of you out there have been using iTunes for awhile. Is a higher-quality file worth the 30 cents per song? Are you considering the upgrade, or have done it? Or are you just going to sit back and enjoy what you already have?]]> http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/itunes_music_store_the_dilemma.html http://forum.connpost.com/josh/2009/01/itunes_music_store_the_dilemma.html Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:35:08 -0500