MetaMuse

Microsoft and Claria

So it seems like Microsoft is considering an acquisition of Claria. Bad move. Claria basically invented spyware and the "drive-by download" (illegal installation using known security holes in IE). Their adware applications may be ok, but that's not what Microsoft cares about. They're looking solely at the back-end contextual/behavioral systems that Claria has developed. It's rubbish though. Takes way too many people to run it (Claria has more people running their backend software -- manually -- than the next two biggest competitors have in their whole company.) This is becuase it's a decentralized architecture, with the lists of ads and keywords required to be pushed out to the desktops on a campaign by campaign basis.  If Microsoft is going to look into this, they really ought to look at some contextual/behavioral systems that are more services-oriented architecture and thin client. They have to if they want to utilize this across all their ad-supported sites/software.

Win or Loss for P2P?

In what's being billed as a major blow to Grokster and other P2P file-sharing services, the Supreme Court voted that these companies can be held liable for illegal downloading. Yeah, this sucks for Grokster (whose service hasn't been all that popular for quite some time anyway), but I suspect all the other file-sharing apps are rejoicing because they now have a clearer idea how to avoid litigation.

This just seems like the MPAA justifying its existence the wrong way, through teams of lawyers rather than innovation. Innovation will always outpace the path of litigation, and it's happening right now through legitimate services from Napster and iTunes. Illegal file-sharing will not suffer its death (steady decline in popularity) because of the MPAA. People will stop using file-sharing en masse for the following reasons:

1. The spyware detriment/risk that you get with the apps outweighs the benefit. People are very cautious now, as they should be. Grokster was particularly bad.
2. The subscription model (in lieu of adware/spyware) won't strike a chord with the people that were only interested in free. (And subscription fees won't be able to support these companies, not when they're accustomed to making $.50-$1 per download.)
3. Using these programs is a pain-in-the-ass. It's just not easy, especially when relying on the network of other users, and the networks are being inundated with files that are tainted by spyware.

By comparison, Napster/iTunes type services are fast, easy and extremely affordable. And I'll bet kids that previously used illegal means to download music will more and more just use their Dad's napster account, because he's paying the paltry $10/month for unlimited downloads.

Illegal file-sharing will see a steady decline in popularity, and it won't be because of the entertainment lawyers. It'll be because of spyware and the innovation of a few different companies.

UK Brown Trout

Went back  to Albury Estate Fishery last night for the evening hatch, with intentions to redeem myself. My last trip on May 19 I was skunked, not even a nibble -- because I was using Pacific NW fly patterns. With UK wet and dry flies in hand, visited Weston and fished for damn near 4 hours. I caught three and kept two (not realizing that you *must* keep all fish) -- all brown trout -- 15.5 and 16.5 inches. Didn't put up much of a fight, not like a Yakima rainbow, but they were really hard to catch. Water was clear so I could see them feeding but the bug cycles were changing and I had a hard time matching the hatch. It was sight-fishing, which was fun. I'd see the fish, put the fly in front of them, twitch it and then I had to strike just as soon as they nibbled it. They didn't strike hard, they just sort of slurped it. Fun stuff.

Napster Done Right

So Napster is back and on a legit business model. So what, right? Well, as someone who's experimented with the whole file-sharing thing in the past, it's a value prop that competes with free (yet you pay). It's fast, you get free downloads of more than you can listen to, and it's $10-$15 per month -- cheap enough to just subscribe and let them keep charging you month after month. Then just $.99 (max) to buy a track. Napster To Go looks like it'll give Apple/iPod a little poke in the ass too.

The file-sharing apps are responsible for the festering spyware situation we're in. (Who cares about adware? It's the illegal spyware that we need to worry about.) Nothing is going to fix this other than a better mousetrap, and the music biz has been ungodly slow to innovate. I think this sort of model will prevail, especially once there's open license protocols. If I can demonstrate a license for every CD/track I own, then who cares if my CDs get stolen from my car or I move from Napster to iTunes?

Coldplay = Brilliant

New Coldplay album X&Y is really good. Can't stop listening to it, in fact -- and this from a guy that hasn't listened to them much before. It's just brilliant creative work. I'm glad it's not being hyped here in UK, but I doubt that'll last long.

6 Best Things About England

1. On motorways, just like in the US, slow traffic is in the left lane and faster cars pass on the right. (Ony here, it's how you're *supposed* to drive.)
2. Even the kids' school summer fair has a beer tent and gambling. (Hunter won £2.75 -- enough to pay for my beer!)
3. Full-length stall doors in public restrooms (increased privacy and comfort improves yer pinch).
4. Pubs close at 11:30pm, which is about the time one should go home anyway (lest one wants to *really* hurt the next morning).
5. Explicit TV, which means you get a much more grotesque and/or naughty experience watching anything at night. (I've watched surgeries and even live dissection of human corpses. Then there's "Badly Dubbed Porn" which takes old porn movies and dubs over a hilarious story line and sound affects. :-)
6. Ridiculously obvious police cars and speed traps. They don't patrol the motorway for speeding cars,  instead relying on fixed cameras with plenty of notice (signage) beforehand.

Back in the Saddle

Doctor says my thumb is healed and now  I just need to get the re-attached tendon bending/working again. Hey, handlebars can help there! So after coercing the nice ladies at the splint room to make me a special splint for cycling (for "transportation"), I was off on my big bike (figured I'd need the cush/suspension). Had to try out the new pedals anyway. Headed to Bracknell Forest and hit *all* the jumps/drops/gaps. Of course I was wearing more armor than anyone, but hey I'm old and feeble -- I've still got the skills. Thought I'd have to hold back, but it felt good, reaallll good, to get back out on the dirt. Quite sore on the thumb, but it worked.

Friendster Follies

Can't say that I was surprised to read that Friendster is still trying to figure out its business model, has lost its first CEO in that effort, feels confident that advertising will be a big part of their advertising model , but doesn't really know how. Know that the "buzz" is gone, their problem is trying to get people BACK to the site and using it, because it's the only way they can make money of course. Also, they're going to have a hard time earning decent advertising revenues unless they change their approach. Their advertising isn't very good, so I doubt their eCPM is strong. Just another decent Web site having a damn hard time making a profit.

The key value proposition of Friendster is the connections (degrees of separation), but is it enough to have people come back to the site. Seems like it'd be a better idea for their audience to take Friendster with them, which is where Whoople comes in.

Date Night in St Tropez

After a beautiful day on the beach, Mom and Dad were gratious enough to take the kids to a creperie for dinner so Jenny and I could have a date. Unbelievably needed! We went into St Tropez, walked along the waterfront (Jenny staring at the art and me staring at the boats/babes), then had a wonderful meal at the harbor across from several 100+ foot yachts.  We then walked all around the town, just taking in the beauty of the many shops, restaurants, galleries, and historic old buildings -- all set within narrow cobblestone streets that wound all over the place. We ended getting a little lost, but then found our way back to the harbor after finding a high point near the citadel. Really neat little town.

More Beach Time

Everyday is sunny and over 80 degrees. For Jenny, the kids and I, it's been wake up at 9, eat, swim in the pool, then leave for a beach by about noon (picking up lunch along the way), hang at the beach for a few hours, grab a coke and/or ice cream, then head back. Swim in the pool a bit more, then off to dinner about 7:30pm. Went to Plage Escalade which is south of the famous St Tropez beaches. Really neat, in a protected rock cove only about 200m wide. Dad hiked down the trail towards the Cape for about an hour. Mom hung out in the shade and read. Both aren't really into beach time so they expore towns, go on driving tours, etc. Also visited Plage Cavaliere, where the French navy was doing a drill. They had a large deployment ship out 1mile offshore with landing boats coming in and picking up numerous tanks, convoy trucks and amphibeous vehicles. Hunter thought all the guns were cool -- boats made a hell of a racket under water. Hannah's been in the sun so much that she has heat rash, really bugging her!