Posts by gimbal

Design firm sues Microsoft over Bing trademark

Sounds like a particularly Missouri-esque tack on the suit...

...and if it wasn't for the wonky concept that seems to be underlying the suit, now, I might've thought it would make for an interesting lawsuit.

I don't like Microsoft - frankly, I rank 'em with Scientology and ... let's say, some other things in that general area ... when it comes to presuppositions of intellectual climate. Trying to pin evil intention or "evil motive" in a court of law, though? That's just funny.

On the other hand - if there are any other hands left, in this case - I'd like to think that Bing! Information Design would have some rights to litigate about, in regards to "prior art" and so-on - nothing to say of accusing the USPTO of favoritism, if they could find a justifiable case for that. Keeping it simple, though, I wish the lawyers would've kept it simpler, for this lawsuit, without the dramatic parlor tricks (as related in this fine upstanding article from The Reg)

Disclaimer, granted: I'm not a legal expert about trademark law. Like, duuuuuuh...

Heartland to pay Amex $3.6m for massive payment breach

I wonder...

...what brand of database server the Heartland systems were running? Could it it, something Microsoft based? Inquiring minds....

Amazon Kindle International Edition

I'm happy with a Nokia N810. Whatsa Kindle?

I'm not one to stand in the way of the salesman's pitch, but I'd like to mention that something like a Nokia N810 can do pretty well for a user.

Granted, compared to some of Nokia's more recnet N-series models, the N810 doesn't offer cellular network access, but it does have wifi capability. It's a portable computing device - originally branded as an internet tablet - with a sizable screen, still small enough to store off in a sizable cargo pocket. For anything PDF-based, HTML based, or just plain text based, it works just fine -- viz a viz, Project Gutenberg's big storehouse of (free) classic literature, and a whole lot of the rest of the Internet.

I know, though, the N810 doesn't offer Amazon's no-doubt amazing selection of digitized media content. I say, who needs it, though, besides the publishing companies and Amazon.com?

I keep this essential question in mind, in face of these ebook readers: If they can't get it across, to the end user and purchaser, without tying everyone's hands in a DRM cat's cradle on the way there -- for whatever technology the mood strikes them to use, today, for it -- is it really worth it, then?

I don't need a public/private keypair to open up a library book.

Sure, I don't need to stay analog, with every type of document, but when it comes to literature, I think I can appreciate the fine look of a sheet of paper with ink on it - a lot more than the cold face of one of these Kindle contraptions, which may or may not be still containing all of the digital books I would've supposedly purchased?

That said, I'm certain that the Kindle and the other predominate ebook readers will be adopted, over time, into some kind of a niche market. I just think I'll save it all for the computer museum niche - not to discredit the computer museums, though.

N810, laptop, desktop, PDA phone, and paper - I, as a consumer, do not really need to add anything more to this mix. So, I would say: Thanks, Amazon, but you can take your vacuum salesmen and saleswomen elsewhere down the road... I don't need another one of those Kindle contraptions, or a first one either. Neat electronics, though, I wonder how it does for components salvage....

Lawyers claim Palin hack suspect's PC had spyware

Who gets the blame again?

So, Mrs. Palin didn't like how it affected the Republican brand-name. I can understand that.

Now, who was it that set up the cheap, ineffective password on her email account?

Reader and moderatrix, please permit me to introduce my Mr. T voice, in this: I pity the fool who gets snagged because the lady don't know how to set a password.

Google sues alleged work-at-home scammers

I know how we fix!

Hmm, it's all in the planning...

1) Establish a stupendously immense DRM algorithm for locking-down company brand names

2) Set up a microcredit payment system, substracting funds from netzien's accounts, for every use of the company brand name

3) Employ audio and video sensors to extend the system into "real life space"

4) Rake in the dough!

Seriously, I could almost like to feel sorry for the people who got raked into the scam. I guess they fell asleep during "Avoiding Pyramid Schemes 101" in gradeschool.

...but wait, should I feel sorry, though? It looks, to me, like: Some people wanted to get some easy money, so they signed up with this company - this company with the random domain names, google (ad?) linkage whatnot, malware-infected DVDs, and overall *bad* business concept. Caveat emptor.

Swedish bankers punt webcam smut to kiddies

Well that was helpful!

I mean, I'd never heard of webcam.com ... er, wait, did I say that? What I *mean* is, nice that they'd help parents with blocking stuff like that, it should be strictly for the parents of the house, and the pool guy, after all ....

Sony PlayStation network moves into reality TV

So that's marketing, now, isn't it?

Hey why not try to dominate the consumer's entertainment experience, if you're in it to sell game consoles and the whole look-and-feel of the system, to an unwitting customer base?

Data collector threatens scribe who reported breach

Sounds Like Another Case of Mistaken Corporate Responsibility

Sounds like a company scrambling, too late, to cover its lost assets. Clearly, they had missed their own due diligence work, in how they put their web systems together. The blame is not that reporter's right to take, no matter how hard that company tries to push it onto her, and off their ... assets.