I’m constantly reminded that the internet is young, mostly because of new technologies or services, but I hear it being applied to other areas were there’s a lack of agreement. The Ars argument about “…ad blocking is devastating sites you love” reminds me of the later.
One side argues for user rights. I like JaredB’s comment in a recent Google Reader/Buzz thread about the topic:
… I (and every other web user) has absolutely no obligation to justify our actions in this regard. When I request some data via an HTTP request and it comes back to my browser for viewing, I have every right to filter and choose to not see / read any portion of that data that I wish…
I and Ken argue that the effects of doing whatever you’d like hurts,
It can result in people losing their jobs, it can result in less content on any given site, and it definitely can affect the quality of content.
So is the internet too young to decide this ethical dilemma? As everyone knows by now the internet is us, People Magazine called us the people of the year ( ha ha ); maybe ”we are to young” to decide what we want.
I thought we all want a free internet, I don’t think you can argue against that ( unless you’re a repressive government ); internet content creators like Ars are feeling the same pinch digital media struggles with now — but it’s a not exactly piracy.
… [content providers are] well aware of the existence of ad blocking technology when they chose that revenue model, so they were (or should have been) well aware of the risks involved. As a matter of observable fact, they were aware, and that’s why they chose to do it anyway, because it’s worth it for them (according to them, since they’re doing it) even taking the blockers into account.
What the solution then? Pay walls.
Even if I didn’t think ad-blockers are ethically wrong, I’d be worried about the revenue model websites would need to adopt if ads cannot. If sites follow in the foot steps of digital media they’d find DRM isn’t an option but a subscription or mixed model would work.
Ars talked about a mixed model, where content is ad free for subscribers but is that really the future?. I can’t image it lasting, in a mixed model the subscribers are donors and the people with the “right” to filter will not all donate subscribe. My worry, as soon as the provider gets this point the walls will be built.
Instigating pay-walls is counter intuitive to a free internet.
After thinking about my productivity over the last few weeks my Google Reader habits have won the prize of getting neutered.
You’ll see by the chart below I tend to read a lot in between sessions, I thought it was a good way to spend a break but I’m finding out it often leads to 15-20 minute sucks.
My plan is to check it no more than once a day. Probably in the afternoon because I rather get to my desk and start hacking away at work.
Hoping this trend chart changes in a few weeks.
I’ve been having problems with my TiVoHd not working via HDMI since day one. I contacted Tivo.com support and they were not able to help one bit, the told me I had to settle for component cables instead of HDMI. At least after a very long period of trying to explain the issue I had a humorous exchange…
…Chris: If HDMI is not working you will need to disconnect the HDMI cable and use component video cables.Dan Cameron: I don’t understand, isn’t that a flaw in the TivoHD?Chris: Please switch to component video cables and tell me if you see TiVo screens.Dan Cameron: yeah, I get picture and sound ( from optical ) just like I have ( which I explained earlier )Chris: You can try a different HDMI cable or different input on the TV, but the issue is not the TiVo when it is able to dsiplay video using the component. It’s the same output type. Is there anything else I can help you with today?Dan Cameron: If you can help me get my time back that would be great.Dan Cameron: oh well, thanks.Chris: Unfortunately, I do not have the ability to reverse space or time. I would certainly do that for you if I could. Your reference number for this chat is: xxxx-xxxx. Thank you for contacting TiVo chat support, have a nice day!Dan Cameron: ha ha. Thanks. I know it’s not your fault, just a lack of good support docs for this type of problem
What’s so revolutionary about the iPad? Nothing, except…
The Apple touch of simplicity.
Anyone can make a hardware device like this, a lot of manufacturers are trying, but the Apple ease-of-use gives it the ability to be a family device, like the iPhone is already in so many homes. I could imagine having an iPad for everyone in the house to use: my wife could use it as her primary machine, Avery could use it to play on the internet and watch movies and I could use it for reading books and my nightly business email and calendaring on the couch. I strongly believe the iPad will strive as a home/family device not a personal device.
Many had their theories about how the iPad device would fit into the personal computer scheme of things, it’s apparent the iPad is nothing extraordinary. And with that lack of extraordinary we can forget about “why would someone want the iPad, a laptop and a computer” because it’s going to be used differently than any other device ( clearly ). A device that’s lying around the house, that immediately connects you to the most important areas of computing: Email, Media, Reading and the Internet; is the missing piece of computing that everyone needs ( which Apple is striving for ).
It will take a for the iPad to be considered a device like the home TV or the PS3/XBOX/Wii. Maybe a price drop to $299 will propel it there.
Update: I’m not forgetting the businesses upsides, like healthcare and education, but the success in those areas are dependent on application developers. The iPad out of the box is a device that fits into the daily life of a modern family.
Aside: see my iPad thoughts/review here.
If you follow me on twitter you already know that I’m not blown away by the new Apple iPad. I do believe the device will eventually revolutionize home computing ( I’ll get to that later ) but I’m not sold on the bigger iPhone at $499 right now.
In 60 – 90 days when more developers get their hands on the SDK and start creating apps specifically for it and when publishers start making interactive versions of their content sales of the device will undoubtedly take off. Many will be sold on the device when they see a subsidized version at $299, I will but…
$299 is highly unlikely, I’m willing to bet the subsidized price will be $499. Apple is already preparing us for a high priced subsidized version by having the 3G version almost $200 more. Maybe we’ll see the 3G version subsidized at $399 or $450 and my hope for a sub $300 device will for not.
Here are some more tidbits of speculation, since nothing is certain right now:
I’ll be following up this post with “Where the iPad will Revolutionize“.
After reminding myself how much flash sucks and YouTube’s push for html5 last week, I’m speculating:
Google’s want for HTML5 video embedding was more about mobile than the desktop.
Google’s choice to push HTML5 the week before an Apple Tablet announcement could be a coincidence but I’d like to believe Google knows something we all don’t. Whether it was collaborative or not, Youtube supporting html5 on day one of the Apple tablet’s release ( & announcement ) will help Apple propel their Canvas hardware ( tablet ) as a rich media device even further.
When I came home from some errands yesterday there was a helicopter flying pretty close to our house and a huge downed tree just down the street, I didn’t think they were related but Sara told me that I missed the tornado. Up until last night I just thought there was a water spout and it was a coincidence the tree came down. According to the local news last night ( don’t know why it was on ) there was a small tornado.
Here’s our local paper’s website.
Here’s a map of how close it was to us.
I'm guessing the path was pretty close to us. Too bad I missed it.
If you’re following me on twitter you should be fully aware that I launched my new theme Saturday night, today I put the final design touches on it.
On Friday I had a simple design idea and with all of the ideas and inspiration that have accumulated over the last 6+ months I was obsessed in getting things cleaned up around here.
Here are some important points and areas of focus:
I still have a laundry list of things to do, some of the biggies:
Back in August I started what I called the “Theme Experiment“, 5 months later and I can honestly say it was a bust. My intent was good – finally re-design the site and force myself to blog the “how-tos”.
The major factor for the experiment’s failure was time. Not only was it because of how busy I have been but how I was forcing myself to spend my time developing and designing. Since my intent was to design and develop in increments, then post about them, I wasn’t able to spend an all nighter or even a few hours implementing an idea. Now that I tried my best to work that way I’ve learned a lesson- I don’t work that way.
I tend to start a project and get into a groove. This time I had a simple design idea and I ended up spending Friday afternoon designing off that idea, then it compounded into an obsession that took my weekend. Of course, I love building off an idea, especially if it’s my own 
.
And that’s it, the end of the experiment; throughout the weekend I thought about the possibility of posting some tips and I could say that’s what I’ll be doing that over the next couple weeks, instead I’ll say “it’s very unlikely” you’ll see any how-tos about this theme anytime soon.
At least I have some fresh tires on this thing that I can take for a spin.
I’m a couple days late in writing these but I’ve been thinking about them for a while now.
Most of my 2010 resolutions are centered around my business at Sprout Venture, however, as a “small business” owner I feel my success and dedication effects my family the most. So, while I talk the business talk my family is always first.
.I’m missing a few but these are my primary focuses for 2010.
A 2009 review should be following this post shortly, I know a little backwards but I have a lot of projects to gather and link.
