The BBC's iPlayer is at last available for MacOS X and Linux users as it has now been released as iPlayer Desktop which runs under Adobe's AIR technology.
Adobe AIR has been available for Windows and MacOS X for some time, but it's just been released for Linux.
This should satisfy some of the critics of the BBC as iPlayer has been available for Windows XP since 2007.
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22 Aralık 2008 Pazartesi
UK Frequency Allocation Table 2008 | Ofcom
UK Frequency Allocation Table 2008 | Ofcom
Ofcom has published the UK Frequency Allocation Table for 2008 covering spectrum from 9 kHz to 275 GHz.
There's also a link to Roke's nice PDF which shows who's using them and what they are for.
Quite a useful resource for any wireless/radio heads.
Ofcom has published the UK Frequency Allocation Table for 2008 covering spectrum from 9 kHz to 275 GHz.
There's also a link to Roke's nice PDF which shows who's using them and what they are for.
Quite a useful resource for any wireless/radio heads.
15 Aralık 2008 Pazartesi
11 Aralık 2008 Perşembe
10 Aralık 2008 Çarşamba
Devices for Developers - Android
Devices for Developers - Android
Google has released an unlocked version of the T-Mobile G1 for developers costing $399. Shipping to the UK is expensive at around $170 (but this includes import duty).
The phone is both SIM unlocked and the bootloaded is also unlocked so developers can load any version of Android their want i.e. they can build a custom version of Android and use that (T-Mobile's G1's have a locked bootloader that will only run T-Mobile's signed versions of Android).
Google make most of the source to Android available here. Some parts can not be open sourced as they interact with the hardware and as such could effect the GSM networking itself, which means the phone would never get FCC or other approvals.
Google point out that this is a developers' platform and not and end-user phone. Currently they are limited sales to single device to developers registered on their app platform.
Google has released an unlocked version of the T-Mobile G1 for developers costing $399. Shipping to the UK is expensive at around $170 (but this includes import duty).
The phone is both SIM unlocked and the bootloaded is also unlocked so developers can load any version of Android their want i.e. they can build a custom version of Android and use that (T-Mobile's G1's have a locked bootloader that will only run T-Mobile's signed versions of Android).
Google make most of the source to Android available here. Some parts can not be open sourced as they interact with the hardware and as such could effect the GSM networking itself, which means the phone would never get FCC or other approvals.
Google point out that this is a developers' platform and not and end-user phone. Currently they are limited sales to single device to developers registered on their app platform.
9 Aralık 2008 Salı
IWF statement regarding Wikipedia webpage
IWF statement regarding Wikipedia webpage
As expected the IWF has backed down on the blacklisting of the Virgin Killer album cover on Wikipedia.
It is highly likely that the image is in fact illegal according to UK legislation, unfortunately it's also available in lots of other places like Amazon and Google images.
The IWF didn't really have an option but to back down, or blacklist all the other sites too which would have caused the transparent proxies run by the ISPs to fall-over or at least respond incredibly slowly.
The way the blacklisting works is for the site IP address to be checked first and if there's a match, then redirect the web request through a transparent proxy which will then URL match.
If something like Amazon or Google get on to the IP list, then EVERY request made to those sites will go through the proxy and they are designed for that level of traffic.
As expected the IWF has backed down on the blacklisting of the Virgin Killer album cover on Wikipedia.
It is highly likely that the image is in fact illegal according to UK legislation, unfortunately it's also available in lots of other places like Amazon and Google images.
The IWF didn't really have an option but to back down, or blacklist all the other sites too which would have caused the transparent proxies run by the ISPs to fall-over or at least respond incredibly slowly.
The way the blacklisting works is for the site IP address to be checked first and if there's a match, then redirect the web request through a transparent proxy which will then URL match.
If something like Amazon or Google get on to the IP list, then EVERY request made to those sites will go through the proxy and they are designed for that level of traffic.
8 Aralık 2008 Pazartesi
Virgin Killer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Virgin Killer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It seems that the album cover (which features a naked "child") has been blocked by the IWF (or Internet Watch Foundation).
The IWF maintains black-lists of URLs which relate to child pornography, terrorism and other "unsuitable" material for the general populace.
If the material is hosted in the UK, the IWF will warn the ISP or hosting company and then report them to the Police, if it's outside the UK, it goes on the blacklist.
ISPs have implemented a system that was based on what was BT's Cleenfeed. When a URL is posted by the IWF, the ISP's system will initially check the IP of EVERY http request and pass see if it matches the site referrenced in the offending URL. If so the request is passed to a transparent proxy where URL checking is performed. If the URL matches the ISP then blocks the content (and the error returned differs from ISP to ISP, Virgin seem to respond with a 404 Content not found, while Demon respond with a 403 saying administrivally blocked).
Wikipedia noticed the block when suddenly a lot of requests from the UK started coming from a few transparent proxies located on various ISP networks (as the initial check is IP based, every Wikipedia request would go through the proxy).
Now Virgin Killer has become one of the most searched requests on Wikipedia !!! Of course the album art is available on several other sites which haven't yet been blocked.
It seems that the album cover (which features a naked "child") has been blocked by the IWF (or Internet Watch Foundation).
The IWF maintains black-lists of URLs which relate to child pornography, terrorism and other "unsuitable" material for the general populace.
If the material is hosted in the UK, the IWF will warn the ISP or hosting company and then report them to the Police, if it's outside the UK, it goes on the blacklist.
ISPs have implemented a system that was based on what was BT's Cleenfeed. When a URL is posted by the IWF, the ISP's system will initially check the IP of EVERY http request and pass see if it matches the site referrenced in the offending URL. If so the request is passed to a transparent proxy where URL checking is performed. If the URL matches the ISP then blocks the content (and the error returned differs from ISP to ISP, Virgin seem to respond with a 404 Content not found, while Demon respond with a 403 saying administrivally blocked).
Wikipedia noticed the block when suddenly a lot of requests from the UK started coming from a few transparent proxies located on various ISP networks (as the initial check is IP based, every Wikipedia request would go through the proxy).
Now Virgin Killer has become one of the most searched requests on Wikipedia !!! Of course the album art is available on several other sites which haven't yet been blocked.
4 Aralık 2008 Perşembe
Shazam Amplifies Music Database by a Third - FierceWireless
Shazam Amplifies Music Database by a Third - FierceWireless
Shazam is a service that identifies music. Initially a user would dial a Shazam number, hold the phone to the radio or other source and the system would then identify the track. Now Shazam have an iPhone and other clients.
Shazam have added an additional 2 million tracks to their database covering more diverse North American, Asian and European music.
Shazam uses very clever algorithms to compare the music playing with segments in their database.
As Shazam have to have all the music in digital format, they're also a very good source for licensing a digital music collection for download sites and on-line digital jukeboxes.
Shazam is a service that identifies music. Initially a user would dial a Shazam number, hold the phone to the radio or other source and the system would then identify the track. Now Shazam have an iPhone and other clients.
Shazam have added an additional 2 million tracks to their database covering more diverse North American, Asian and European music.
Shazam uses very clever algorithms to compare the music playing with segments in their database.
As Shazam have to have all the music in digital format, they're also a very good source for licensing a digital music collection for download sites and on-line digital jukeboxes.
Carsonified sheds jobs
Another company to be hit by the economic downturn is Carsonified who have just made several of their staff redundant. Carsonified run the popular Future of Web Apps/Design, Future of Mobile, etc. They also develop applications and are a design house.
FOWA which took place in October was packed and there was a really positive buzz, FOM (though targeting a different crowd) was less of a wow.
Carsonified follow Trutap and others who've already announced job cuts.
The future of Web 2.0 may now be consolidation so companies can pool technology and resources and concentrate on making sure the business can support itself.
FOWA which took place in October was packed and there was a really positive buzz, FOM (though targeting a different crowd) was less of a wow.
Carsonified follow Trutap and others who've already announced job cuts.
The future of Web 2.0 may now be consolidation so companies can pool technology and resources and concentrate on making sure the business can support itself.
1 Aralık 2008 Pazartesi
Digg - Six Apart Welcomes Pownce
Digg - Six Apart Welcomes Pownce
Every one is putting a brave face on this i.e. Six Apart has acquired the technology and technology team of Pownce (including Kevin rose as an advisor), but what it means is that Pownce is closing down. Revision3 (another Kevin Rose venture), though still going lost a lot of staff earlier this year.
The credit crunch is hitting start-ups hard and though there's a lot of enthusiasm and hype showing that the start-up scene is still going strong, reality is slowly surfacing showing that the market is worse than people would like to think.
There still are great opportunities for start-ups and tech companies, but they need to have a business model that holds water and isn't technology for technology's sake or they'll start showing leaks and start sinking.
Companies are still beholden to their shareholders and when it comes down to it, that's what counts.
Every one is putting a brave face on this i.e. Six Apart has acquired the technology and technology team of Pownce (including Kevin rose as an advisor), but what it means is that Pownce is closing down. Revision3 (another Kevin Rose venture), though still going lost a lot of staff earlier this year.
The credit crunch is hitting start-ups hard and though there's a lot of enthusiasm and hype showing that the start-up scene is still going strong, reality is slowly surfacing showing that the market is worse than people would like to think.
There still are great opportunities for start-ups and tech companies, but they need to have a business model that holds water and isn't technology for technology's sake or they'll start showing leaks and start sinking.
Companies are still beholden to their shareholders and when it comes down to it, that's what counts.
Trutap - mobile instant messaging, texting and social networking
Trutap - mobile instant messaging, texting and social networking
Trutap is shedding 80% of their staff (from 31 down to 4 or 5) so they can keep the service going while they look for new finance or sell.
Rumours of change we already being whispered at Mobile Geeks of London last week. Like many start-ups Trutap have a great technology, but they hadn't sorted out a clear revenue model (well they had developed an advertising platform, but it hadn't launched yet).
There's still too much great tech out there, with no clear revenue streams and whatever people say, business is all about generating revenue for shareholders and in these economic times shareholders get nervous.
Trutap is shedding 80% of their staff (from 31 down to 4 or 5) so they can keep the service going while they look for new finance or sell.
Rumours of change we already being whispered at Mobile Geeks of London last week. Like many start-ups Trutap have a great technology, but they hadn't sorted out a clear revenue model (well they had developed an advertising platform, but it hadn't launched yet).
There's still too much great tech out there, with no clear revenue streams and whatever people say, business is all about generating revenue for shareholders and in these economic times shareholders get nervous.