Scripting News

That's what I'm talking about!

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 23:58:38 GMT

Niall Kennedy reports on a Nokia video podcatcher.

This is why I say the iPod is nice but it isn't the ideal podcast device. We need more designs that are centered around what we do. USB cables are very primitive channels for synchronization. Way too limiting. I've got a device in my pocket that's got local storage and an always on net connection. Now how hard could it be to teach it how to do RSS? Nokia shows us -- it's not so hard!

It's the flipside of the fractional horsepower HTTP servers that are popping up in so many consumer electronic products. What do you need to feed of all those FHHTTPS? Why its a hand-held podcatcha, of course.

Hey, dat's waht I'm tawkin about!

WNYC spam

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:36:00 GMT

9 times out of 10, I don't give money to public radio stations, because once you do, you never hear the end of it.

A few weeks ago, in response to a request for support from On The Media podcast, I gave $100 to WNYC. I don't even live in NY. Now I'm getting a steady stream of spam from them with all kinds of special offers. This really sucks.

Of course I have asked to be removed from the spam list, and how tacky is it to ask for a pledge less than a month after getting a gift of $100.

Unconference for journalists?

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:40:20 GMT

Reading these notes following the We Media conference in Miami, I'm happy to report that there have been unconferences for journalists -- all unconferences are for journalists (and of course for everyone else too).

We had professional journalists, many of them, at the first couple of BloggerCons at Harvard in 2003 and 2004.

Maybe it's better to flip the question around -- I wonder what is served by continuing the hierarchic speaker-panel-audience conferences, where the action migrates into the hallways? Why keep organizing that kind of conference, when the newer models are so much more effective at sharing information and ideas, so much more inclusive and interesting, and so much more fun!

In any case, if there's an interest in an unconference specifically for professional journalists that's open to all interested parties, I would be happy to help in the planning of such an event. Anything to help my brothers and sisters in professional media embrace the changes that are in process.

Iran IEDs new? Nah

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:50:10 GMT

Dan Brekke notes that the U.S. has been trying to sell the idea that Iran is a source of weapons in Iraq for quite some time. Nothing new here. We're being manipulated again.

Wouldn't it be great if Bush resigned early so we can start fresh with an administration that might not be lying all the time.

Perhaps we could deal with this at an unconference for journalists.

Pre-N perf boost?

Earlier this month Apple shipped its new Airport Extreme wireless router, and compatibility for certain Mac laptops and desktops. By now some people should have them.

Question -- how's the performance? Is it delivering 5 times the throughput? How about increased range?

Thanks for all the info about the Airport Extreme and pre-N routers. This is what makes Scripting News so great, all the smart generous people who are willing to share what they learn.