How Microsoft could win the portable player game

I think this looks like a great product.

I hope it can read an RSS feed directly over that WiFi (like a PSP can)! So I can download podcasts too, over the connection (like PSP can).

As well as wifi connectivity (for download) the killer app, for me, would be the ability to record AND upload too. This could be based on something like Nokias old uploader api (which was very easy to implement in any scripting language). Or a simple/simplified ftp client.

If they (MS) offered storage too, along with their desktop client/shop/aggregator based on the account, then they would have it all wrapped up.

Location agnostic consuming and publishing – desktop or mobile device – listening, viewing, subscribing etc. All synced up the next time the device links to the desktop. Full of real statistics, linkage and relevance.

Bingo! You’d have it all.

THEN if your reading AND writing/publishing tools support the core content and organisation XML standards for podcasts of RSS and OPML, PLUS additional support for microformats such as FOAF etc AND OTHER community APIS (though this could be done by any developer community or group of widgetwelders)

If Microsoft did this, they would win – imho

By ‘closing the content loop’ (by effectively flipping one end and connecting it to the other) – publish to receive : AND discover/navigate : subscribe , it would be like APple where things ‘seem’ to be locked in, they wuold have the opportunity to turn the whole network inside out, exposing all the data needed – all the ‘neural’ connections – all the paths, all the people and all the content.

This would ‘connect’ the owners of such devices to eachother, creating the community feel, but also prove they are not going to create a ‘walled garden’ of content – for devices that don’t know (much) about anything else.

[given that i am talking about ‘open’ podcasts here – user generated (argh) – as opposed to music/video/protected shopping/purchases with their own DRM.]

You don’t have to be able to read the ZUNESTONES to see it. Do you?
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ps: When are Google or Yahoo! going to produce a device? They should! πŸ˜‰

pps: people who know me personally, will know that I am a huge love love and passionate user of gadgets. I have been on this crusade for a while. πŸ˜‰

Google Ad(makesno)Sense?

Recently, I decided to it was high time I had a look at Google AdSense. Having never placed advertising on a website before, it was kind of weird, but the Google interface and instructions were very easy to follow.

I have put it on my Second Life blogging system pages at bloghud.com

But, while looking over their system today, I decided to have a look at their AdSense policies page and was rather surprised to see this entry:

“Copyrighted Material

In order to avoid associations with copyright claims, website publishers may not display Google ads on web pages with MP3, Video, News Groups, and Image Results.”

Whaaaa? I’m pretty sure I have seen loads of sites for AV with Google ads on them.

Does anyone out there know more about this? Have I misread it, or are all these people breaking the policy?

Are Apple and Dell banned from Virgin flights?

I just heard on the latest episode of TWIT that Virgin, Korean Airlines and Quantas are banning Dell and Apple laptops from their flights!!!!!!!!! (Funny that now Dell are an advertiser on the Twit podcast now πŸ˜‰ )

WTF!!!?? Does anyone else have more info on this? I really did not enjoy having to pack my MacBookPro into my check-in luggage on my last trip to the States.

Please say this is not true (I don’t even think Virgin have a power adapter for the new magnetic MacBookPros)

Podcast.com Upgrade

Well, after ages of thinking and and coding, I have managed to do a huge overhaul of the podcast.com code, mainly in the directory / feed folder rendering department.

Ever since I built the first rendition of the renderer. I knew I’d have to rethink it somewhat, to cope with many, many users without losing the very cool functionality that I have put in there (for good reason).

Now you will find that the site loads ALOT faster. A quick peek at the OPML for each folder (see the red opml icons – which may change – when you open a feed folder) will show you that we use inclusion at every level now. This helps the whole system to scale.

Also, this means that one user can now link easily to another user’s folder without breaking the ‘tree’. It works with internally generated and managed ‘feed folders’ (creating OPML) as well as external OPML.

When you view a feed, you will also notice with added a link to show ‘where’ this feed appears in our users’ folder structures. (OK.. not so many users as yet, but we hope to add to them by the end of October) Also, you’ll see a button to show single-click subscription methods will a list of chicklets.

Another cool thing you should see is that EVERY folder has a permalink url – also with some links to add to del.icio.us or digg

We want the data here to work EVERYWHERE. We have an opportunity to work with EVERYONE.

We love you guys. Now I gotta do me a podcast! πŸ™‚

Second Life : The Band!

Did you know there was a band, back in 1971 called ‘Second Life’? Nope. Me neither, until I came across a listing in a newsgroup about 70’s music.

Their one and only album, eponymously titled ‘Second Life’ is quite a rarity it seems. The tracks sound very Arthur Lee/Love/Hendrixy/Doorsy with long guitar solos and endless drum noodling. lovely.

Oh, and naturally, long hair πŸ™‚ [which they appear to share] πŸ˜‰

From ‘Second Battle‘ where you can get this on CD :

I would describe this one and only album by SECOND LIFE (same line-up as TIGER B. SMITH) as a “no compromise” hard rock masterpiece, especially because of its self-titled opener, a varied opus of twenty minutes consisting of floating acoustic parts, powerful moments and expanded instrumental solos.”

cosmic!

Chris Anderson : Geekdinner 7/7/06 : London

Watch the video

This is what I could get from the Q&A session after Chris Anderson’s Geekdinner appearance in London.

I stopped the csmera before asking my question, which was "How many flippin’ pages do I have to turn in Wired Magazine beofre I get to the Index page?"

After some voiced hearty approval and acknowlegdement from Chis, we discussed the issue.

To my happy surprise recently I bought Wired, and found the index on page 5 (iirc) and scattered through out the ads which support the magazine.

 

Long tail works!!! :). 

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