Clearing the brush in my "land of half-finished thoughts", (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2006/10/land-of-half-finished-thoughts.html)I ran across another tidbit about the new version of iPhoto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhoto). In addition to feline facial recognition (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/01/iphoto-gives-me-reason-to-get-mac.html), it may offer geotagging for photos taken from any digital camera (http://i.gizmodo.com/5159087/iphoto-may-use-future-iphone-gps-functionality-to-geotag-with-any-camera) using an iPhone or iPod touch as a geocache.
Geocache, in this case, does not refer to a treasure hunt using GPS data (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching). Instead, I mean a device to capture GPS data. I was pointed to the idea by Fred Biederbeck (who needs a blog or something) in response to my entry about wanting GPS in my next camera (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-next-camera-will-have-gps.html). If this story about iPhoto pans out, I could use my iPhone for that purpose. Of course, then I'd need to get a Mac, but maybe someone can get this working for other apps too. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
I don't read Korean, but from the web address, I'm going to guess it translates to keobuk2 (http://keobuk2.blogspot.com/). The author appears to not be Korean, but that's where he is. I like his experimentation with the format. Currently he's rocking a "crumpled paper" background. Very fun. And his most recent entry is about Gundam (http://keobuk2.blogspot.com/2009/02/gundam-iv-2day.html). Robots and ink blogging, two of my most favorite things. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
A writer and Tablet PC user going by the name alphabete is blogging with pen to screen at Deus Ex Why Zed (http://www.alphabete-noir.com/). I shot a Ramble (http://sumocats.blogspot.com/2009/02/another-ink-blog-find.html) about it a few days ago and meant to give it a real write-up, but I've been strangely pre-occupied (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-kill-trademark-crush-holder.html). And maybe the delay has worked out for the better since alphabete is doing a "reboot" after a lapse in blogging. Hope she keeps it up. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Despite my insistence that Intel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel) is the key player in the "Netbook" trademark dispute (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-kill-trademark.html), I must admit, I did not expect them to take direct action, as they have in the form of a lawsuit against Psion (http://www.gottabemobile.com/2009/02/25/the-netbook-naming-wars-intel-sues-psion/). The tactic has obvious merit but is not without risk.
First, the merit: they could crush Psion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psion) outright. Right or wrong, it doesn't matter. I worked in litigation support. I've seen how a major corporation can smother an opponent in documentation and legal fees. It's a brute force attack that would crush nearly anyone. I doubt Psion can stand against it alone. And that's where their chance lies.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and Intel has made a lot of enemies. This isn't their first lawsuit or attempt to muscle a smaller company. In the low-cost laptop market, they face AMD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amd), ARM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_Limited) and VIA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIA_Technologies) (and probably some other three-letter-named company). If one or more of them decides Intel cannot be allowed to dominate the category, they might step up to help while Intel is vulnerable.
How are they vulnerable? They are now directly involved in a situation where they cannot admit direct involvement. Their lawsuit (http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/02/16/Intel_Wants_Netbook_Trademark_Canceled.htm) cites when the name entered common usage and that it's been widely adopted by media, industry and consumers. What it does not mention is that Intel had any involvement in making that happen. That Intel introduced the term as a generic (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/02/you-want-conspiracy-check-this-out.html) is a matter of public record, yet reading the lawsuit one gets the impression it was formed from the ether. I don't fault them for avoiding that origin, but that avoidance reveals a weakness.
This is why I did not expect their direct involvement and why I consider it a gamble, not a guarantee of success. Still, the safe bet is that they will force Psion to back down. Crush the holder. Kill the trademark. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
To keep the blogging experiment progressing forward, I've moved yet another project off the backburner: cartooning. I'm using a classic three-panel layout, which has inspired the name of the strip, Three Panels by Sumocat (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/search/label/three%20panels). Yeah, I know. Doesn't sound very inspired. But remember, Build 52 sounds boring too, and its name evolved from its purpose as a generator for Links in Ink. With that in mind, here's my ink essay on the origins of Three Panels.
Maybe it was a flaw in Excel (http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/09/serious-flaw-in.html)
Well, well. Back when I criticized Microsoft for laying off workers during the worst economy ever (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/01/ballmer-wimps-out-in-first-challenge.html), I noticed a lot of commentators were sympathetic to Microsoft. We'll see how that turns out in the wake of what appears to be a string of severance errors (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/21/oops-microsoft-asks-some-laid-off-workers-to-send-back-part-of-their-severance/) resulting in underpayments and overpayments for which Microsoft is requesting refunds. Yes, not content with dumping workers in a terrible job market, MS, which earned $4B last quarter, is asking for refunds on botched severance payments. Yes, it is their right to reclaim funds incorrectly dispensed, but again I must wonder how much this can possibly affect their bottom line relative to how much it will affect those workers. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Shooting down old satellites looking REALLY good now
Remember when I commented that the recent satellite collision (http://tinyurl.com/d983qp)"probably won't be a threat to anything"? (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/02/shooting-down-old-satellites-looking.html)Yeah, that might have been extremely optimistic. Since then, there's been talk that the Hubble telescope (http://i.gizmodo.com/5155931/satellite-collision-could-doom-the-hubble-telescope) could be screwed, and now a report that the debris could affect all future space flights (http://i.gizmodo.com/5158213/satellite-collision-may-have-endangered-all-future-space-launches). You think orbital space is a really big area where objects could not possibly collide, but obviously not. Have we apologized to China yet? (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16689558/) [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
The other day, I commented at Late to the Party (http://jezlyn.wordpress.com/) that I love a good tirade (http://jezlyn.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/im-mad-as-hell-movie-weekend/#comments). To me, that consists of protracted monologue driven by emotion yet crafted with intellect. I think her series of blog entries this week against the stupidity of the TV and cable industry were spot on. I loved it!
Likewise, I really appreciate a strong argument. To me, a strong argument is focused, specific to the situation, and logical. And I believe that's what Sam Johnston (http://samj.net/) of Save the Netbooks (http://blog.savethenetbooks.com/) has now delivered.
I absolutely hated the arguments (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/02/save-small-laptops.html) they initially presented, but after a savory debate with Sam, I believe they have an argument that cuts out the fat (https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14494870&postID=6050358343501519387). It is lean and targeted. Doesn't mean it's valid, but I think it requires a strong argument to counter. And it does not involve deliberate, outside genericide (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-kill-trademark.html). No reason to hate it. Every reason to like it, so I do. I like it a lot, and that's a very pleasing outcome. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
