Morse Code Goes Mainstream?

The reintroduction of Morse Code.I wonder what kind of response this will get.

Regarding Open On-line Government

"... The internet is not an end in itself, but a tool. Established (political) parties haven't realised this but younger people who started life with the internet do. They want politics to change - to Politics 3.0 if you like - so politicians talk with them, not about them."

Ben de Biel

Documentary Photographer
Spokesman for the Pirate party in Germany
(which just won 9 per cent of the vote -- 15 seats -- in elections to Berlin's state parliament.)

As reported by: Nora Schultz, New Scientist Magazine, 04 October 2011, issue 2832

© Copyright Reed Business Information Ltd

Public Display of Disaffection

"As ‘cell-fishness’ hits an all-time high, a backlash against mobile devices includes outright bans."

Zero Creatives/Getty Images

I recently took a fresh look at Macleans Magazine, a publication I've often given short-shrift over the years. This time I was pleasently surprised. Among the several articles I found both interesting and useful in the September 19, 2011 edition was this sensitive and timely nugget by Anne Kingston and Alex Ballingall profiling the cultural and political nips and tucks of public PDA etiquette.

"A recent survey by consumer electronic site Retrevo found 10 per cent of people under age 25 didn’t see anything wrong with texting during sex."

Here's a link: Public display of disaffection - Life - Macleans.ca

The Future of Mobile Devices

Soothsayer David Neale was, until very recently, Vice President of Special Projects at Research in Motion: this after a brief stint with Telus and a long-standing, affair with Rogers Wireless.

Now President at Neale and Associates he has much to say about the future of human connectivity and the use of personal devices.

This February 2011 audio interview with Nora Young from CBC's 'Spark' is no exception -- including a very succinct positioning of the tablet in the human rush toward all things digital.

Here's the Link: David Neale on the future of mobile devices.

David Neale illustration - CBC Spark

Mobile Operators Will Lose Voice Services...

The world changes fast, as Android, iOS, RIM, and maybe even WinX, become our environments (mobile platforms) of choice. This short article explains. (Link Below).

"This future is inevitable, and the changes are coming very soon. With mobile platform providers running the show today, carriers simply have no way of stopping the process. "

"Let’s face it, the only two things that still connect carriers to consumers are the voice number and billing for the network access."

Here's the link:

Mobile operators will lose voice services to mobile platforms — Mobile Technology News:

Are apps the evil twins of e-books?

"Apps allow interactive content, but lock readers into a platform that may disappear."

An interesting, enlightening and, thankfully, short comment from one of this planet's most mainline experts in paleoanthropology, genetics and evolution -- of all things! It's worth the effort. Here's the link;

Are apps the evil twins of e-books? | john hawks weblog:
Thu, 2011-09-01 23:31 -- John Hawks

First Googerola Fallout?

Samsung, a major Android partner, appears to be hedging...

...evidenced bythe company's announcement today of three new, non-Android, handsets as a lead-up to IFA Berlin -- Europe's premier consumer electronics trade show opening Friday.

Based upon Samsung's own Bada OS, the three new Wave phones boast NFC connectivity and several other innovative new features.

Could this signal a move away from Android? More likely, a shot across Googerola's bow:

'Watch it Google, we do have options!'

Apple Killer?

Here's an interesting take on the Googerola wars -- from the Globe & Mail too! Imagine: Give it a read!

"... it’s a throwback to a battle over personal computers that Apple found itself involved in – and ultimately lost – 25 years ago."

© 2011 CBS Interactive

Here's the link: Tech News - The Globe and Mail

The Internet's Dark Underbelly

"There is a dark underbelly to the diversity of content and services that the internet has brought us, ... "

... one that leaves it more vulnerable to centralization, not less. The Internet with its uniquely open design has led to a moment when all other information networks have converged upon it as the one "superhighway," to use the 1990s term. While there were once distinct channels of telephony, television, radio, and film, all information forms are now destined to make their way increasingly along the master network that can support virtually any kind of data traffic. This tendency, once called "convergence," was universally thought a good thing, but its dangers have now revealed themselves as well. With every sort of political, social, cultural, and economic transaction having to one degree or another now gone digital, this proposes an awesome dependence on a single network, and a no less vital need to preserve its openness from imperial designs."

From:
The Master Switch : The Rise and Fall of Information Empires,
Copyright © 2010 by Tim Wu, pg 318

Read my brief review.

'Heads' Up!!

Tablets becoming popular bathroom activity, survey finds. (Network World)

"30% also report using tablets at restaurants"

"With the market flush with hot-selling tablet computers, it shouldn't bowl anyone over to learn that many users are taking the plunge and bringing their devices to the bathroom."

Here's the link:

Tablets becoming popular bathroom activity, survey finds:

Navigating Convergence: Charting Canadian Communications Change and Regulatory Implications

"An ongoing point of debate among analysts, consumers and stakeholders is the degree to which regulation is needed to foster sustainable competition." - CRTC

Hot Off The Presses! This new report from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) provides in-depth analysis of many of the trends, opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian telecommunications and broadcasting industries going forward. More specifically, the report:

• Examines the evolution of networks, including both fixed and mobile.
• Considers the impact of convergence on consumer behaviours and the associated challenges with the creation of Canadian content, and
• Outlines challenges and opportunities faced by consumers in this rapidly changing and increasingly complex world of convergence.
• Provides follow-up to the 2010 report of the same name. 

Here's the link to the HTML version:

Navigating Convergence: Charting Canadian Communications Change and Regulatory Implications:

PDF Version: HERE

Says It All

"Wonder When My Motorola Xoom Will Arrive?"