Web Professional Minute

According to CNET, the Pew Internet Project has some interesting numbers on wireless and broadband in the home. I sense these numbers are accurate based on the number of people I see mulling around the wireless routers and broadband modems at our local Wal-Mart. Note to self, do not hire me to do market research.

According to the report, 34% of Internet users have logged on wirelessly. 27% say they have logged on wirelessly from a place other than work or home.? 

Starbucks if you’re listening, stop charging? us to use the Internet at your shop.? We already pay you five bucks for a cup of coffee. Look up Wi-Fi at Wikipedia and learn about some of the? projects you can get involved in now to help us? free the information.

From Aloha Workshops where access is free within a quarter mile of the tree house, this is Brent Norris for the World Organization of Webmasters and the Wow Technology Minute.

Additional Resources

One-third of U.S. Net surfers have gone wireless
http://news.com.com/One-third+of+U.S.+Net+surfers+have+gone+wireless/2100-7351_3-6161989.html?tag=ne.fd.mnbc? 

Facts about Wireless Use
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/203/report_display.asp? (pdf report)

Watch out for a variant of the Storm Worm planted last month. If it has trojaned into your email it will try to appear in a post you make to a blog or forum as a link to a malicious website.? 

CNET is also reporting A French company as saying Microsoft? Vista has a vulnerability that can? be exploited if if an attacker were to lure a victim to a malicious Web site and then persuade the user to enter the address of a trusted site into the address bar. C’mon using a telephone could be more harmful than that.

YouTube is getting a big up from the NBA. They are planning to create a new National Basketball Association channel where players can attack fans? with comments -just kidding. I love the NBA.

YouTube also signed a deal with Windup Records. Windup is and independent label distributed by Sony/BMG Entertainment.

The deal YouTube was hoping for with CBS has apparently fallen through. All the links are at wowtechminute.com.

Finally, Apple TV is experiencing delays.

From Aloha Workshops on the Big Island of Hawai`i this is Brent Norris for the World Organization of Webmasters and the Wow Technology Minute.

Note: The podcast (mp3) portion of today’s “podcast” will be included as soon as I get a new video card installed. We don’t have many choices here on the Big Island so it looks like a trip to Wal-Mart is in my day -ugh!

Additional Resources

Storm Worm variant targets blogs, bulletin boards
http://news.com.com/Storm+Worm+variant+targets+blogs%2C+bulletin+boards/2100-7349_3-6162623.html?tag=nefd.top

Microsoft probes IE 7, Vista bug reports
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+probes+IE+7%2C+Vista+bug+reports/2100-1002_3-6162313.html?tag=ne.fd.mnbc

Flaws in tech support tools open PCs to attack
http://news.com.com/Flaws+in+tech+support+tools+open+PCs+to+attack/2100-1002_3-6162278.html?tag=ne.fd.mnbc

YouTube has new fans in league offices
http://news.com.com/YouTube+has+new+fans+in+league+offices/2100-1026_3-6162538.html?tag=nefd.top

YouTube signs streaming deal with Wind-up Records
http://news.com.com/YouTube+signs+streaming+deal+with+Wind-up+Records/2110-1027_3-6162574.html?tag=st_lh

Apple TV launch put on pause
http://news.com.com/Apple+TV+launch+put+on+pause/2100-1041_3-6162317.html?tag=ne.fd.mnbc

Google is now offering premium versions of their free software. They haven’t stopped giving software away and they aren’t running from their ad model but they are offering apps for money. “What,” you say, you thought Google gave everything away and advertisers paid for it all? That was yesterday.

With 450 million Office users and revenue at around 3.5 billion, there’s probably money in selling Google apps. It looks like Google will try and charge fifty bucks a year. Not bad but the apps are all online and there’s still a major gap in the mind of users between desktop and online apps.

You will get administration controls to enforce some of your business rules, like sharing documents outside the company. A few more features include 24/7 support for administrators, 10 gigs of storage per user and APIs to help you further integrate your email and data migrations.

I guess all that’s left now is for Microsoft to watch, listen,? improve? and release their own online version of Office.

Additional Resources

Google Press Release
Google Introduces New Business Version of Popular Hosted Applications
http://googlepress.blogspot.com/#117215450803411768

Google Vs. Microsoft: The Smackdown?€™s On!
http://www.megatechnews.com/google-vs-microsoft-the-smackdowns-on/

Google to launch new office tools in challenge to Microsoft
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article1421520.ece

Google Apps Premier Edition
http://www.ginside.com/2007/789/google-apps-premier-edition/

Google Apps Gets 24/7 Phone Support, What About…
http://www.codeandcoffee.com/2007/02/23/google-apps-gets-247-phone-support-what-about-google-checkout/

Office Live Will Be A Huge Productivity Tool
http://www.techcrunch.com/2005/11/02/office-live-will-be-huge-productivity-tool/

? 

? 

Holy legal battles! I’ve been reading various perspectives concerning today’s? court order for Microsoft to Payl Alcatel-Lucent 1.5 billion for? using mp3 technology in? their operating system. Basically, Microsoft and nearly every other company in the world has been? licensing mp3 technology? from Fraunhofer. The court ruling says they all have it wrong? and they should have all been paying Alcatel-Lucent all along.

With that said, I’m not sure if any court has gotten a technology verdict right on their first try. Look for more on this later in appeals. personally, I don’t really understand all of the implications but I’ve gathered as many resources as possible for you to use and piece together your own opinion.

Perhaps more importantly, The Supreme Court today is hearing oral arguments in a potentially larger case dealing with overseas patent law and Microsoft. As a designer, this stuff is about as fun as commenting a thousand lines of code but it’s? important and we’ll continue to provide resources and updates as they become available.

From Aloha Workshops on the Big Island of Hawai`i this is Brent Norris for the World Organization of Webmasters and the Wow Technology Minute.

Additional Resources

Note: Today’s podcast? was edited with Adobe Audition?®? sound editing? software.? The mp3PRO?® audio coding technology is licensed from Coding Technologies, Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson Multimedia by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Check out Adobe SoundBooth?® is an easy way to editing sound.

>> Alcatel-Lucent? MP3 Patent Case? 

Microsoft hit with $1.5 billion patent verdict
http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-6161480.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-5&subj=news

Microsoft slapped with $1.52 billion payout in MP3 suit
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/94424806/

Jury orders Microsoft to pay Lucent-Alcatel $1.5B fine
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/02/22/HNmslucentpayment_1.html

Microsoft ordered to pay $1.52B in patent dispute
http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/22/technology/microsoft_alcatel.reut/index.htm?section=money_topstories

Microsoft Hit With $1.5B in Damages
http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/M/MICROSOFT_ALCATEL?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Microsoft to pay over MP3 patents
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/6388273.stm? 

>> Overseas Patent Case? - developing story

Microsoft v. AT&T Oral Arguments:? from the Patently O blog
http://www.patentlyo.com/

Why Microsoft Played a Low Ball Before the High Court
http://feeds.ziffdavis.com/~r/ziffdavis/MicrosoftWatch/~3/94284682/why_microsoft_played_a_lowball_before_the_high_court.html

Supreme Court skeptical that U.S. patent control expands beyond borders
http://techdirt.com/articles/20070221/182753.shtml

After watching a ship burn and sink yesterday there off the coast of Waikiki Beach, I read another article about Adobe’s new “Green” offices in San Jose. An amazing contrast in perspectives, for sure. A recent National Geographic cover story talks about Places We Must Save. The Hawai`i islands were mentioned. Stay with me for a minute.? 

On Friday at Tech2007,? here on Oahu,? along with the World Organization of Webmasters? we met with educators and students and talked about educational opportunities in Hawai`i relative to technology.? 

Many of us here? including Governor Linda Lingle? believe technology education is critical. I believe technology can play a major role in reducing our dependance on tourism by tapping into the creative capabilities of Hawaiians and the people that share these islands.? Learning how to? harness? the digital economy? is critical for many reasons.

Of course I’m not alone in my thinking but I’d like to ask you for some specific ideas. If you’re already working on similar projects or if you have similar beliefs, we’d like to know. Just as Adobe is taking responsibility for themselves, I’d like to promote? the idea that? everyone here has a? responsibility for the future of Hawai`i Nei and technology can be a facilitator in keeping Hawai`i green.

From Honolulu on the Island of Oahu, this is Brent Norris for the World Organization of Webmasters and the Wow Technology Minute.

? 

Google AdWords has some new optimization tips on their blog for web marketers. Part One went live last week.

Viacom is using FlashCast in Spain in some trials. Look for some sweet mobile Flash apps later this year.

We’ve got a link to Tim Berners Lee, Mobile Web keynote at the 3GSM conference.

If you’re using a router at home and you haven’t changed the default password, you need to according to Robert McLaws. If he says do it, do it.

Yahoo! Pipes are Hot! It’s safe to say that if you’re not at least trying Yahoo! Pipes, you’re falling behind. Yahoo! Pipes allows pretty much anyone with moderate developer skills to slice and dice RSS feeds in anyway you want. Developers can add data sources and interfaces to the data and output RSS all on the same screen. This is a sweet app. Go try Yahoo! Pipes now.

From Aloha Workshops on the Big Island of Hawai`i, this is Brent Norris for the World Organization of Webmasters and the Wow Technology Minute.

Check us out at Odeo: My Odeo Channel (odeo/cbc290a7b7a60e50)

Additional Resources

Viacom?€™s MTV Networks and Adobe Showcase Mobile Applications at 3GSM
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070211005078&newsLang=en

Adobe FlashCast Overview
http://www.adobe.com/products/flashcast/productinfo/overview/

FlashCast showcased at 3GSM
http://mariamdh.blogspot.com/2007/02/flashcast-showcased-at-3gsm.html

Tim Berners Lee keynote at 3GSM
http://opengardensblog.futuretext.com/archives/2007/02/tim_berners_lee.html
Full Text of Speech at W3C.org
http://www.w3.org/2007/Talks/0222-3gsm-tbl/text.html

Change Your Router Password Today!
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WindowsNow-RobertMcLaws/~3/91457078/change-your-router-password-today.aspx

Go Try Yahoo! Pipes Now!
http://pipes.yahoo.com/

Feedburner made some nice improvements to their free feed stats product.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is now shipping.

CNET.com is reporting that over half of U.S. homes now have broadband.

Blackberry users will want to download a Daylight Savings Time patch before March 11th. The same goes for Windows Mobile users. Same for Palm Treos running the Garnet OS.

Russia is attacking software piracy by attacking Microsoft. “We are constantly fighting against unlicensed use of software, but we need to fight not with the consumers but those who develop the software,” said Deputy Russian IT minister Dmitry Milovantsev. I wonder if Microsoft has the right to refuse service to an entire country?

Google is buying AdScape and Princeton University has joined the Google Library Project and there’s a new update available for Google Checkout.

All the links are right here at wowtechminute.com.

From Aloha Workshops on the Big Island of Hawai`i, this is Brent Norris for the World Organization of Webmasters and the Wow Technology Minute.

Additional Resources

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Now Shipping
http://weblogs.macromedia.com/labs/archives/2007/02/adobe_photoshop_1.cfm

Quick Enhancements to Site Statistics
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BurnThisRSS2/~3/91347630/quick_enhancements_to_site_sta.php

Broadband adoption passes halfway mark in U.S.
http://news.com.com/2110-1034_3-6160422.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-5&subj=news

Gadgets caught in daylight-saving switch
http://news.com.com/2300-1041_3-6159869-1.html?part=rss&tag=6159869&subj=news

Deputy Russian IT minister Dmitry Milovantsev
http://news.com.com/2100-7348_3-6160083.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-5&subj=news

Microsoft Speaks Out On Russian Piracy Prosecution
http://feeds.ziffdavis.com/~r/ziffdavis/MicrosoftWatch/~3/88333719/microsoft_speaks_out_on_russian_piracy_prosecution.html
Google to buy AdScape for $23 million
http://news.com.com/2061-10802_3-6160088.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-5&subj=news

Princeton University Joins Google’s Library Project
http://googlepress.blogspot.com/#117069504728582191

Google Checkout update
http://googlecheckout.blogspot.com/

? 

We recently reported (also see here) that eventually broadcasters will want to kill their deals with YouTube after they think they’ve successfully created their own video portals. They still seem to think they can do a better job? and perhaps they even think that the video portal is more important than the community it facilitates. Google (YouTube.com) gets it. Broadcasters still don’t but they’re figuring it out much faster than the music industry did. Especially Viacom and Comedy Central according to CNET.com.

Steve Jobs is facing new questions, this time at Pixar. Did he upset the wrong person or what?

There’s a prerelease version of the new Flash Media Encoder up at Adobe Labs along with a new Flex Tag Library for JSP.

Oh and I noticed that Paris Hilton has a community next to ours over at MyBlogLog.com. Check it out if you have a few spare cycles to throw in the can.

Jobs now faces options questions at Pixar – SiliconValley.com
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/16663109.htm

Viacom moves on without YouTube
http://news.com.com/Viacom+moves+on+without+YouTube/2100-1026_3-6157821.html

Flash Media Encoder Released on Labs
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/fme/

Flex 2 Tag Library for JSP Released on Labs
http://weblogs.macromedia.com/labs/archives/2007/01/flex_2_tag_libr.cfm

Paris Hilton on MyBlogLog
http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/paris_hilton/

Cisco has apparently purchased Five Across, Inc. a Social Networking company. It’ll be interesting to see? how John Chambers moves forward with the acquisition. CNET.com has a interesting take in their podcast.

The Feds are rethinking their decision last year to force certain voice over IP providers. The taxes forced on VOIP providers would require consumers to pay an extra couple of bucks every month. The money goes into the Universal Slush fund for something or other. The money is supposed to get spent on telephone service in rural and poor areas that probably already use VOIP to save on their long distance bills anyway.

According to a CNET report, PC retailers are seeing spikes in sales and they’re attributing them to the Vista release. There’s also a few patches you should know about for XP.

From the top of the Hilton Rainbow Tower with Diamond Head for a backdrop, this is Brent Norris for the World Organization of Webmasters and the Wow Technology Minute.

Additional Resources

Cisco Announces Agreement to Acquire Five Across
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/corp_020807.html?CMP=ILC-001

Five Across, Inc.
http://www.5across.com/index.html

Federal appeals court weighs Internet phone taxes – CNET.com
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6158048.html

Yesterday’s taxes stalk tomorrow’s telephones – CNET.com
http://news.com.com/2038-12_3-0-topic.html?id=6190&name=VoIP+and+IP+telephony&tag=st.topic

Tax us whatever you want. – Comment at CNET.com
http://news.com.com/5208-1028_3-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=24924&messageID=237566&start=-1

Tougher penalties may be on the way for people stupid enough to commit a crime and post a video of it on YouTube.

The engineers at Google Book Search are creating some interesting search results by combining maps with relevant data.

BrandChannel has the top five brands broken down by global, North American and European. Google is the number one global brand. The other four in each of these areas might surprise you.