a piece about an author who wishes that her publisher would allow Google to index her work and wishes that the publisher wasn’t party to the suit that has been launched against the technology company: Book author to her publishing company – your lawsuit is not helping me or my book. Be sure to check out the comments – they’re very good (if I do say so myself, as one of the commenters).
Archives for October 2005
Several links pointed me
to Rough Type, a blog by Nicholas Carr in which you’ll find a good article about the new Web (aka Web 2.0), and in particular about Wikipedia: The amorality of Web 2.0. It’s mostly a good, if muddled, piece, and in the comments you can see the (many) extremes of reaction there are to any criticism of Wikipedia.
I like Wikipedia a lot and think that in general it’s pretty good – but that the standard must be higher than that. As such, then it should neither be considered a wholesale success or failure.
Peter Merholz asked
the rhetorical question, “Is Lab Usability Dead?” in peterme.com yesterday. I think he makes an important point – computer usage is anything but sterile and disconnected these days (and this has been true for a while). Studying usage habits and patterns must not assume a single-task model in a pristine environment if it is to be useful.
Mark Cuban
has written an interesting post about the Video IPod and offering TV content for $2: How Bob Iger Saved Network TV. I think he’s right on the money with a lot of his analysis.
I think what people have to realize is that no single format can or will dominate – just as old media can and do coexist with new media, new formats don’t necessarily displace old formats. Rather, they all readjust to a new balance. DVD versions of TV seasons, for instance, won’t displace the syndication of TV series’ – I think they can easily co-exist. The target market for them is different. Until the Tivo, TV was always about scheduling AND serendipity – viewers who just happen upon a show. So the DVD addresses one market – people who know a series well enough to know all of the episodes and want to choose a specific one to watch in the future (a few months after the whole season has already aired). Syndication – that’s for people who just click through to see what’s on. VIpod clearly has a place – and a non-cannibalizing place – in the mix.
It’s Thanksgiving weekend
here in the Great White North and we’re planning two, count ’em two, feasts. Tonight the menu starts with chèvre and tomato salsa croutons, then potato and leek soup followed by confit duck legs with a wild mushroom risotto and brussels sprouts on the side. I made some pumpkin squares which we’ll have for dessert. On Sunday night we’re starting with little rye bread, cream cheese and smoked salmon canapés, a carrot and parsnip soup, then turkey with mashed potatoes, a yam casserole, and broccoli sides. All of that will be followed by a cheese plate and yummy dried cranberry, dried apricot, and white chocolate squares. All of that will be punctuated with several nice wines we have kicking around, including possibly an Amarone della Valipolcella that I have been saving for the right occasion.
