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Friday, June 28, 2002
NPR gives some ground on links
According to the new policy, NPR now no longer wards off links, unless they (at some point) grant permission. Here's today's re-re-revision:
" NPR encourages and permits links to content on NPR Web sites. However, NPR is an organization committed to the highest journalistic ethics and standards and to independent, noncommercial journalism, both in fact and appearance. Therefore, the linking should not (a) suggest that NPR promotes or endorses any third party’s causes, ideas, Web sites, products or services, or (b) use NPR content for inappropriate commercial purposes. We reserve the right to withdraw permission for any link."
They still have this permission meme floating in there... but this is better. ::
posted by Bryan, 5:12 PM
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Broadband users: new online behaviors, and a desire for the open internet
A new Pew Trust study on American broadband users finds that the experience of going beyond dialup changes usage behaviors. Critically, members of the broadband tribe tend to be active sharers, collaborators, and creators who thrive on an open internet:
"For broadband users, the always-on, high-speed connection expands the scope of their online activities and the frequency with which they do them. It transforms their online experience..."
"[B]roadband users spend more time online, do more things, and do them more often than dial-up Internet users. There are three major ways in which broadband users distinguish themselves from their dial-up counterparts. For high-speed home users, broadband lets them use the Internet to:
• become creators and managers of online content;
• satisfy a wide range of queries for information, and;
• engage in multiple Internet activities on a daily basis."
"Some have raised the concern that a lack of compelling online content, particularly in the entertainment arena, has dampened consumer uptake of broadband. Our research suggests that most early broadband adopters find plenty to do with their fast connections, especially when it comes to creating online content and performing information searches... An open Internet is appealing to broadband users. As habitual posters of content, broadband users seem to desire the widest reach for what they share with the online world. As frequent searchers for information using their always-on connection, broadband users seek out the greatest range of sources to satisfy their
thirst for information. Walling off portions of the Internet, which some regulatory proposals may permit, is anathema to how broadband users behave." ::
posted by Bryan, 10:38 AM
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Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Finally! Amazon Launches Amazon.ca
Amazon today launched Amazon.ca, offering books, music, DVDs and videos in Canadian dollars and shipped from within Canada. ::
posted by Donald Melanson, 8:09 PM
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Warchalking Hits the Streets
 Blackbeltjones proposes warchalking, a method for identifying wireless access points in public spaces. via BoingBoing ::
posted by Donald Melanson, 3:29 PM
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Wednesday, June 19, 2002
NPR versus linking
National Public Radio (NPR) currently offers a policy forbidding anyone to link to their site - to any page on their site - without their express permission: "Linking to or framing of any material on this site without the prior written consent of NPR is prohibited... Please use this form to request permission to link to npr.org and its related sites."
This is an example of the recent movement against deep linking (hyperlinking directly to content on a site, rather than to its front page).
As others have pointed out, such an attitude towards Web content flies in the face of the Web's hypertextual promise: flexible connections between documents and ideas, driven by users as both consumers and producers. For a fine example of coincidence, note this screen capture from Blogdex this morning, neatly snuggling together a story on this NPR foolishness alongside a story on Vannevar Bush's innovative article on hypertext (way back in 1945).
A further irony is that NPR is America's National (and) Public Radio (and other media content). Restricting public, including American, usage of a public resource is foolish, especially for a resource so devoted to education, freedom of expression, and discussion.
The net is picking this story up and running with, and against, it. BoingBoing moved swiftly to the attack, with Cory pointing it out and smacking it down.
Daypop picks up a series of blogs against it. For example, Ernie the Attorney grabs BoingBoing's entry, then hyperlinks it satirically.
Thank you, Glen and Howard.
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posted by Bryan, 10:22 AM
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Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Librarians diverging from publishers on ebooks
A recent New York Times piece shows librarians leaping on e-books, seeing their potential for lending material. At the same time, this is reactivating an old tension between librarians and publishers. for starters, the latter have never been happy with the first sale doctrine.
::
posted by Bryan, 12:04 PM
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Sunday, June 16, 2002
Editor's Note
Sorry for the delay in publishing, folks. We'll be back soon. Promise. ::
posted by Donald Melanson, 12:18 AM
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Tuesday, June 11, 2002
this week's wireless hack
John Markoff reports in the New York Times that Etherlinx can use housetop repeaters to cover the Grail-like last mile of wireless - and for up to 20 miles.
Sifry takes it on. ::
posted by Bryan, 12:51 PM
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Tuesday, June 04, 2002
Reboot
The Reboot conference is going on now in Denmark. Cory Doctorow has a lengthy recap of Howard Rheingold's keynote on BoingBoing. It's almost as good as being there. ::
posted by Donald Melanson, 1:09 PM
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Monday, June 03, 2002
Aibo OPEN-R Released
Sony has released the OPEN-R SDK for the Aibo. Free registration is required to access the downloads, based on a GNU gcc environment. Several months back Sony had clamped down on enthusiast Aibo software reverse engineering attempts. The release of the SDK is a decided step forward in being Aibo enthusiast-friendly. ::
posted by Jim, 11:03 AM
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