Writing on feeds, search, widgets, and the social web.

Niall Kennedy's weblog, newest first. Page 60 of 72.

Bill Gates Distributed Art Patent

Bill Gates today received Patent 6,670,934 for a method and system for distributing art to “multiple display devices within an environment.”…

John Perry Barlow’s new blog

John Perry Barlow, songwriter and EFF co-founder, now has a blog. He chose TypePad as his publishing system….

FBI Issues Alert Against Almanac Carriers

According the the Associated Press, the FBI is warning police nationwide to be alert for people carrying almanacs, cautioning that they could be used for terrorist planning. What does that say about my copy of Mein Kampf and Art of War?…

Wikimedia fundraising

Wikimedia put online a cry for help and gathered $20,000 in about 24 hours. Impressive….

Cheesecake Factory geek dinner

Robert Scoble and Ross Mayfield put together a geek dinner tonight at the Palo Alto Cheesecake Factory. We all braved the rain and even as our party grew from 8 to 12 to 20 we still were able to stay as one long table. Below is a list of all attendees, approximately in the order they were sitting, starting to my left. Niall KennedyScott RaferPeter KaminskiPatrick ScobleAlex ScobleGretchen HundlingCourtney PatuboLisa CanterMarc CanterMimi CanterAndy RuffSteve SloanRoss MayfieldMike MasnickMark FinnernWendy SeltzerEnoch ChoiRobert ScobleMaryam ScobleTantek…

NY Times : Weighing Yourself in the Car

Yefim G. Kriger was rewarded patent No. 6,649,848 for a vehicle system that will regularly weigh drivers and scold them for being overweight….

Fast Company : Steve Jobs, Apple, and the Limits of Innovation

Great article at Fast Company about Apple Computer, where it has been and where it is going. Interesting that the new store in Burlingame has Tuscan stone floors instead of the usual hardwood. The next step for Apple now that the G5 is out and doing well is to introduce a 64-bit OS. It needs to happen soon before Microsoft sounds off another “wait until Longhorn” trumpet. The G5 and Panther are tempting me to switch to a Mac. If I switch I would be giving up free software from Microsoft (I have free copies of Windows, Office, etc.) and…

Jakob Nielsen IM, Not IP (Information Pollution)

Jakob Nielsen wrote an article about the cost of unwanted interruptions. “One of the best ways of increasing the productivity of programmers is to give them individual offices.” Contract and overseas programmers do not have line of business interruptions of a phone ringing or a co-worker walking into a cubicle demanding immediate attention. Can U.S. companies whose primary business is not software handle a queue?…

What professional sports can learn from the 2004 Democratic campaign.

There have been many stories about how the 2004 presidential race in the U.S. is the first to embrace technology and therefore redefine democracy. When I look at the technology used by the Dean and Clark campaigns, I start to think about how similar technology can be used in the world of sports: specifically soccer. Imagine fans of the L.A. Galaxy both in southern California and around the world. They need to be connected and grassroots, similar to political campaign. The key players can only make so many appearances, but a conference call on a Meetup date could involve fans…

Sinulate – Wireless entertainment

Something new to add to your wireless device network at home. USB network controlled vibrators!…

The Deadweight Loss of Christmas

As most of the Christian world prepares for the mass of Christ, modernly known as Christmas, there are always economists to examine the utility exchange of gift giving. I buy presents for my immediate family only. In my case that is six people. My siblings receive small gifts and my parents larger presents. I usually aim for a rarity or something I know the recipient would not buy on their own. I stay away from anything I could partially benefit from just in case my intentions are called into question. And of course anything with a cord comes with my…

Pop-Ups Plague Philadelphia Police

Pop up ads for Viagra appeared on some Philadelphia Police’s mobile data terminals. Yes, pop up ads are a terrorist threat to national security!…

NY Times : eBay Trading Assistants

NY Times covers eBay trading assistants, businesses designed to place your gear on eBay for a 15-35% commission….

Business Week : The Rise Of India

Business Week reports on the rise of India in the services sector. Venture capitalists say anywhere from one-third to three-quarters of the software, chip, and e-commerce startups they now back have Indian R&D teams from the get-go. “We can barely imagine investing in a company without at least asking what their plans are for India,” says Sequoia Capital partner Michael Moritz. Nandan M. Nilekani, managing director of Bangalore-based Infosys Technologies Ltd.: “Just like China drove down costs in manufacturing and Wal-Mart in retail, India will drive down costs in services.”…

Sun Java Desktop System

I just received my copy of Sun Java Desktop System, 2003. 5 software discs and 1 documentation. Version 2003. November 2003, Rev A. I will try out the install later, after I see The Lord of the Rings….

On Search, the Series

Tim Bray’s On Search, the Series….

New York Times : Satellite Radio Extends Its Orbit

David Pogue of The New York Times covers the current state of satellite radio. What is most interesting is the gap in customers between XM and Sirius. “XM now has over a million subscribers; Sirius has 200,000.” I remember reading that 2 million users is the break-even point for both companies. I listen mostly to NPR while I drive. I am not convinced that satellite radio could outperform a MP3 player hooked up to my stereo system….

Google Print Beta

Google has a beta version of its book search service, Google Print, online. Sample search. Standard book URL is http://print.google.com/print/doc?isbn=? ….

LiveJournal Statistics

LiveJornal has posted some statistics on its users. 63.5% female, 94% unpaid. 27.7% updated within the last 7 days….

O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference

I am thinking of attending the O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference, February 9-12, 2004. It will probably be $1200 out of my own pocket. ($766.50 for the conference plus Emergent Democracy Forum, $360 for four nights with shared room at Westin Horton Plaza, and I will be driving there and back from San Francisco) Have you been before? I am interested in learning new things and networking with really smart people not afraid to live life on the technological edge. I was one of the 230 proposals, but not one of the people accepted for the 45 slots. (Similar speaking topic…

Slashdot : Spidering Hacks

Slashdot reviewed Spidering Hacks, giving it good reviews. I even got a highly modded recommendation. Very cool….

RSS and BitTorrent

Steve Gillmor writes about how RSS and BitTorrent might be combined to share the bandwidth burden from a constantly pinged server….

FIFA Rankings

In the new FIFA World Ranking the U.S. outranks Germany….