Thursday July 17, 2008
David Shipley - 12:43 PM ADT
SAN FRANCISCO — A disgruntled city computer engineer has virtually commandeered San Francisco’s new multimillion-dollar computer network, altering it to deny access to top administrators even as he sits in jail on $5 million bail, authorities said Monday.
Terry Childs, a 43-year-old computer network administrator who lives in Pittsburg, has been charged with four counts of computer tampering and is scheduled to be arraigned today.
Prosecutors say Childs, who works in the Department of Technology at a base salary of just over $126,000, tampered with the city’s new FiberWAN (Wide Area Network), where records such as officials’ e-mails, city payroll files, confidential law enforcement documents and jail inmates’ bookings are stored.
You can read more at ZDNet.
Just when you think you're having a bad day, you find something like this and you're grateful you're not a San Francisco City IT guy.
Wednesday July 16, 2008
David Shipley - 10:45 AM ADT
From The Globe and Mail's Technology section:
Mr. Balsillie made it clear that RIM isn't sweating the iPhone.
"The key thing is just to charge ahead," he said. "If you look back you lose your forward momentum ... the only thing we can control is getting better products out sooner."
I wonder if a deer caught in a transport truck's headlights sweats before it gets hit?
The only thing RIM is charging ahead to is hard times. RIM isn't going to disappear overnight, but it's decline will likely mirror that of the once-great Palm. The Blackberry will remain a strong player in the corporate and government sector for some time to come, but it's about to get smoked in the consumer market. Meanwhile Apple's iPhone will make slow, steady inroads into the corporate world.
A problem with RIM's plan of getting better products out sooner is it assumes you can build something better than the iPhone without violating the boatload of patents Apple has on their latest gadget. Apple, having learned some hard lessons from the early days of the OS wars, has prepared thoroughly for the roll out of the iPhone.
Another problem is it also assumes Apple isn't already developing future generations of iPhones that leap even further ahead, making it hard for RIM to match the iPhone, let alone surpass it.
The iPhone isn't going to crush its smart phone competitors because its hardware is sleeker (although it is) and it's not going to beat them because its software is more intuitive, powerful and easy-to-use (which, again, it is), the iPhone is going to win the most important technology battle of the 21st century because the iPhone as a platform (hardware, iPhone software, iTunes and the App Store) represents an unbeatable combination.
You can read the Globe story here.
*Going tharn (from Wikipedia):
Tharn is...a fictional word used to describe an animal frozen in terror.
In Richard Adams' novel "Watership Down" the term is used when the main characters, which are rabbits, see the headlights of oncoming cars and are frozen in place.
Hat tip to Stephen King. I've been re-reading several King books, including my favourite The Stand and Firestarter. Going tharn and Watership Down are mentioned in The Stand. I haven't had a chance to read Watership Down, but it's on the summer reading list.
Wednesday July 16, 2008
David Shipley - 10:21 AM ADT
Here's a few random thoughts on the iPhone.
1) It's the perfect tool for journalists.
The iPhone can help you find event locations using GPS-enabled maps while a 99 cent download will turn it into a voice recorder for interviews. The iPhone's camera is sufficient for taking immediate on scene pictures to help writers remember how things looked and can be used to quickly take shots of documents in a pinch. Quick web access lets you check facts on the fly and its improved e-mail options make it easier to send story drafts and updates from the scene.
2) Battery life.
I managed to get 10 hours of use between charges from the iPhone. I did web surfing, e-mail, some video, used the Facebook app and used maps extensively. I only had about 25 hours of standby however. To get better battery life, I've turned down the screen brightness and turned off Wi-Fi until I need it.
3) Rogers voice and data plan confusion.
Rogers has made it far too confusing for customers and even for its sales reps. Customers are still getting inconsistent responses when they ask about keeping their existing voice plans (particularly if they are couples or family plans). They're also getting some downright misleading answers about the need for a data plan. (Some have reportedly been told that if they use Wi-Fi they'll be charged for it, which is untrue).
Monday July 14, 2008
David Shipley - 11:46 AM ADT
This quote from a CP story underscores how many people, including iPhone 3G purchasers, don't understand the device:
"I feel kind of lame, but kind of awesome all at the same time,'' said Christian Meagher, who was the first to buy one of the $200 smart phones.
"I think it will be cool, but I think a lot of people are making a bigger deal than need be right now. It's just a phone, a cool phone, but just a phone.''
The iPhone 3G is a mobile computing platform that happens to include a phone, not the other way around. If you look at all of the features on it from GPS to e-mail, from weather and stocks to full web-browsing, from music and video to phone, it's clear the iPhone 3G is the world's most elegant, easy-to-use mobile computer.
That's why people are lining up for the iPhone.
Here's how the iPhone is going to change the world:
1) Long tail economics. The iPhone is the perfect platform for showing how simple, useful software with mass appeal that's priced at 99 cents or a few dollars can rake it more money over a longer period of time than over-priced bloatware that costs $100 a pop.
2) Next-generation advertising. Google already has a lucrative web-based advertising business. Imagine what would happen if it sold premium map placement or identification for a fee. For example, on the iPhone, if I use the map app and search for coffee shops, I get dozens of hits showing me nearby establishments. Imagine if somehow those that pay Google get a more prominent colour or some way of distinguishing a premium-paid site from ones who don't pay. Cha-ching.
3) Mobile gaming / casual gaming. The iPhone may turn out to be a goldmine for simple, casual games. Combined with an easy method of delivery (App Store) and innovative user controls (motion sensors, touch interface), the iPhone could be a serious money-maker for game developers. It's no surprise that big players like EA have jumped on the iPhone. But the amazing thing is with the iPhone SDK, it may be possible for smaller players to make major inroads as well.
4) Instantaneous news-flow. With the iPhone, average people can become mobile newsrooms, capable of sending photos and stories around the world in seconds. With video a sure thing for future iPhones, citizen journalism is about to gain significant ground.
Monday July 14, 2008
David Shipley - 11:46 AM ADT
From Apple Inc.:
On Sunday, Apple sold its one millionth iPhone 3G, the company announced today. “iPhone 3G had a stunning opening weekend,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “It took 74 days to sell the first one million original iPhones, so the new iPhone 3G is clearly off to a great start around the world."
Friday July 11, 2008
David Shipley - 2:47 PM ADT
After dropping my wife off at work this morning I joined about a dozen others in line in front of the Hughes Communications store on Mountain Road.
I waited about an hour and half until the store open at 9 a.m. and I was the third person to purchase on in the Hub City.
I was disappointed - but not surprised - to learn that as I had a year left in my Rogers contract I would not get the 8 gig iPhone at the $199 price. I ended up paying a bit more for it, but such is life.
The device itself ia a pleasure to use. I don't know what to add to the reviews done by well known tech writers like Walt Mossberg.
What I can say is I think this device - coupled with the AppStore - is going to change our world in hundreds of small ways.
Thursday July 10, 2008
David Shipley - 10:09 AM ADT
Slashdot is report that Ubuntu' Hardy Heron has been on sale at BestBuy stores for about 2 months.
That's a positive development for the open-source community and for Canonical.
From Slashdot:
"It appears that Best Buy is now selling Ubuntu, both through its Web site and in its brick-and-mortar locations. Going by the release on the product page, Ubuntu has actually been available for the low, low price of $19.99 since May 6th of this year. It is being packaged as the 'Complete Edition.' While they don't specify on the site what version is being offered, a quick call to a local store revealed it to be Hardy Heron, the latest Long Term Support version. How did this development fly under the radar for over two months without anybody noticing?"
Link.
Wednesday July 9, 2008
David Shipley - 2:52 PM ADT
Effective July 11, and as a limited time promotional offer for customers
who activate by August 31 on a three year contract, a data-only offering of
6GB of data for $30 per month is being made available that can be added to any
in-market voice plan. For example, with 6GB of data, iPhone 3G users can visit
35,952 web pages, or send and receive 157,286 emails, or watch 6,292 minutes
of YouTube videos each and every month.
New Canadian iPhone 3G customers will also have the choice to select from
Rogers Wireless' existing voice and smartphone data plans and/or additional
features to best suit their needs, or from Rogers Wireless' value bundled
plans specifically for iPhone 3G. Existing Rogers Wireless customers can keep
their current voice service plan and select a separate data plan to meet their
needs or choose from other plans after checking their individual upgrade
eligibility.
Now this is more like it. Rogers has responded to the market in a sensible way. 6 Gigs for $30 is - for all intents and purposes - unlimited data. For comparision, I used 3 gigs of data in May and June on my home high speed Internet.
I think Rogers is in for a big win with the iPhone now that they've set sensible prices.
Here's why (I think) they changed their mind:
1) Negative consumer reaction (petitions, blogs, customer calls) to previous plan.
2) Apple's displeasure over the ensuing negative press in Canada and abroad.
3) Bell's move on the Samsung Instinct.
Regardless of the reason, this is good news for consumers.
Oh, and I'm going to get an iPhone Friday (hopefully). I'll post a review as soon as I get my hands on an iPhone.
Tuesday July 8, 2008
David Shipley - 4:52 PM ADT
I try and stay out of politics (mostly) with this blog, but this CTVNews.ca / CP story just bugs me:
OTTAWA -- A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians want aggressive government action to fight climate change, despite skyrocketing fuel costs.
The findings appear to fly in the face of the notion that Canadians, shocked by record-high oil and gasoline prices, don't want governments to drive up their cost of living any further.
...
Until I see a poll that asks Canadians straight up if they're prepared to pay more for fuel, food and virtually every good they consume in order to fight climate change, I won't be convinced that they're prepared to bear a carbon tax or any other measures.
I'm sure most Canadians will say they care about the environment. It's the cause of the day. But ask if they're prepared to sacrifice and suffer for the environment, it's a totally different story.
Monday July 7, 2008
David Shipley - 10:56 AM ADT
Tech blogs are a buzz with this juicy rumour:
We’ve heard through the grapevine that Apple isn’t pleased with Rogers right now, due to their insanely high iPhone data prices. This isn’t 100% confirmed at the moment, but here’s what is rumored to have happened:
- Rogers hired additional sales staff to handle the iPhone launch, all of whom have been fired effective immediately
- Apple has informed Rogers that they will be diverting a “large percentage” of their iPhone stock that was destined for Canadian shores, sending it instead to their European distributors. According to the rumor, this would leave Rogers with as few as 10-20 units per store for launch day.
Source: BoyGeniusReport
If this is true - and it's a big IF - we could see changes to Rogers plans for the iPhone. I have no major bones with the voice plan, but for $100 bucks (total voice, data, visual voicemail, caller id), users should get "unlimited data" (and if unlimited isn't possible, let's say 5 gigs).
Oh, and for the record, I don't care about the three-year contract. But no unlimited data is a deal breaker.
I've already decided to sit out the iPhone unless the price plans dramatically change. I've saved up $200 to buy the phone and if things don't change, I"m going to continue to save for a new MacBook pro. (Which, over the same three year period, is about a grand cheaper than the iPhone plan cost).
