Digital Millenium Copyrights Act Updated! Yes its legal to hack, circumvent, jailbreak etc *

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I just posted about this as it related to the iPhone and Apple calling jailbreaking "unlawful."

There are some restrictions of course.  

*allow the unlocking of mobile phones to change carriers.
*allow the cracking of video game digital rights management controls to probe security flaws.
*allow the breaking of DVD encryption by professors, students and documentary makers so the clips can be used for education and commentary.
*allow the blind to circumvent locks on e-books to enable read-aloud features.
*allow the bypassing of broken or irreplaceable dongles.

Read More http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/feds-ok-iphone-jailbreaking/#ixzz0vTCjuKm7

If you have a website designed in the 90s - redo it

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So I have an old client that wants a website updated. But it was designed in the 90s using the built-in design templates. The graphics are dated, the pictures are pixelated, the organization is a mess, and the main means of navigation is to click a text link called: "Back"

If this describes your site. Don't pay someone to make updates to it. Dump it.  Have it rebuilt from scratch.

 

Panasonic releasing 3D camera lens for micro 4/3s!

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All I can say is wow!  This was totally unexpected and way cool!  I can't wait to try it out.  

"PANASONIC ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD'S FIRST* INTERCHANGEABLE 3D LENS FOR LUMIX G MICRO SYSTEM** 

SECAUCUS, NJ (July 27, 2010) – Continuing its record of 3D technology leadership, Panasonic today announced the development of the world's first* digital interchangeable twin-lens, making it possible to shoot 3D with an interchangeable lens system camera. As a new member of Panasonic's powerful lineup of interchangeable lenses as part of the LUMIX G Micro System**, the twin-lens will allow high-quality shooting in 3D. Panasonic plans to release this new lens for sale before the end of the year. 

"This year will be remembered as the 'First Year of 3D Era' and Panasonic has already taken the lead by launching 3D-capable VIERA™ televisions and Blu-ray™ 3D Disc Players," said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "With Panasonic's development of a twin-lens capable of 3D shooting, the company is providing consumers with a way to capture their own 3D content, which they can then enjoy watching in the comforts of their own home. Panasonic is dedicated to evolving the 3D ecosystem, letting consumers create and display lifelike 3D images in their homes." 

Currently, 3D shooting with an interchangeable lens system camera is possible only by using panorama systems or by combining two lenses and two CCDs. However, these systems are not ideal and have difficulty capturing moving objects. Panasonic's new 3D lens for the LUMIX G Micro System features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses that are then processed with a 3D image processing system. Thanks to Panasonic's advanced technologies in optical technology, image processing systems, and lens barrel design, the 3D lens will be compact in size. 

This new compact 3D-capable interchangeable lens will be easy to handle and allow instant 3D shooting, without distortion or time lag between left and right images – even when shooting moving objects."

Growing outrage at Blizzard's Starcraft II restrictions, and limited gameplay

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Starcraft II was most definitely a huge launch worldwide.  We already know it's going to be a great game since Blizzard had spent the past 11 years working on it on and off.  But what is the deal with all the limitations?

Here they are in a nutshell:

1. You are completely tied to the internet.  You can't login without internet connection to battlenet.  You have the register the game.  You can only play with your friends if they are connected to the internet.

2. Its 1/3 of a game!  You only get to play the Terran campaign, but yet you pay $60+ for it!  Expect about 20-30 hours of gameplay for the campaign on normal difficulty.  Yes, multiplayer is really where it's at, but at the same time it feels as though you need to play through those campaigns to get a feel for the other races.

3. Network multiplayer requires everybody to own a copy of the game.  You can't just 'spawn' guest copies for your friends to play with you like you used to be able to do with the original Starcraft.

4. Product activation will happen again and again with each new update.

Still, if you can stomach all that, it gives you guys all that you've been craving since Star Craft I and expansions.  It's still 'relatively' cheap entertainment and there's no monthly fees to play on battle.net.  Just make sure you save up the cash for the 2 other future expansions. I'm going to guess its going to be priced at about $40 a piece.

 

 

Yet another "magical" product from Apple

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Apple Magic Trackpad (MC380LL/A) only $65.99

I wonder where all this magic comes from?  I remember back in the 90s, trackpads for desktops were starting to be all the rage.  It used less desk space, and you can navigate with your fingertips - more natural for beginners.

And then, people realized that maybe sliding your fingers over and over again to get to the edge of your big screen wasn't going to cut it.

I really don't understand why it took anybody so long to just simply create a bigger one.  And why it even took Apple so long to create one using their patented multi-touch capability.

But it's finally here!

Pocket-lint already has a review for it here - they give it a 9/10!  Too bad the drivers are for Mac only, and its bluetooth so that your desk stays wire-free.  Maybe someone will hack it to work with Windows.

If only Steve Jobs can work his magic to fix the reception issues with the iPhone 4.

America's Got Talent - Wow!

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There are a few shows that I deem worth watching.  This season's America's Got Talent is on that very small list - well so far I've only got through some auditions, but so far so good.

Start watching it from the beginning - all available online.  Get it on hulu.

You will laugh, you will cheer, you will cringe, you will rejoice, you will be disgusted, and some of you may cry, but you will love it!