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BetaNews.Com (8 non lus)

Google gives the floor to advocates of its controversial book deal

Publié: septembre 3, 2009, 11:56pm CEST par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

Google reached a settlement last October with the Author's Guild, the Association of American Publishers, and several independent authors that filed a class action suit against it three years ago. Once this agreement is approved, Google will be able to greatly increase the number of books that can be searched, previewed and purchased in Google Books. There are currently some seven million books available.
"We hope and expect that this leap forward with our friends and partners in the publishing industry is just the first of many. We love books at Google, and our fondest dream is that Book Search will evolve into a service that ensures that books, along with their authors and publishers, will flourish for many years into the future," Google said in an announcement earlier this week.
On Tuesday this week, Amazon filed an almost 50-page statement to the New York District Court in charge of approving the deal. Within the document, Amazon makes a strong case against the Google deal, and says it will give Google a monopoly over "orphaned works" (those books whose authors can't be found or who have opted out), that it creates a price-controlling cartel of authors and publishers, and "Even more egregiously, the settlement releases future claims against Google for types of infringement expected to be undertaken for the first time after the Effective Date of the Settlement. These actions are not part of the identical factual predicate of the litigation, and the Court has no power to bar Class Members from suing over the nearly unlimited array of future actions Google may take." This includes all new revenue models such as print on demand, customer subscription models, abstracts, and more.
Amazon is now part of the Open Book Alliance with Microsoft, Yahoo, the Internet Archive, and others who have opposed Google's $125 million agreement. Because tomorrow was scheduled to be the last day for comments on the deal to be filed in court, the final statements are being made all around. However, the deadline has actually been extended to next Tuesday because of scheduled maintenance to the court's servers.
Today, Google held a press conference with supporters of the deal, which included civil rights groups and advocates for the disabled.
Chris Danielson of the National Federation for the Blind today said, "Even with existing services, we probably have access to only 5% of the books that are published each year in the United States...[this] will give us access to millions of titles, thereby giving blind people more access to more books than we have ever had in all of human history. It is critically important that this be considered in any discussion of the Google books project."
Professor Lateef Mtima, founder of the Institute of Intellectual Property & Social Justice at Howard University, a Historically Black College has repeatedly spoken about the opportunities this project offers at bridging the yawning technological chasm between classes. "Whereas many Americans enjoy a fascinating new access opportunity in the realm of copyrighted information and other forms of intellectual property, many segments of American society were stranded on the other side of this 'digital divide,' lacking access to this new media...and new form of communication," Mtima said in July.
Today, Mtima reiterated that point, saying "The obvious social justice and social utility impact that the book project is going to have ... are getting lost in the discussion."
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009
Cloudy forecast? Gmail outage shouldn't cast such a chill over Web apps

Publié: septembre 3, 2009, 9:48pm CEST par Carmi Levy
By Carmi Levy, Betanews

Will this week's Google Mail outage frighten you out of shifting more of your computing solutions into the cloud?
On balance, it shouldn't, as no technology is perfect and failure is part of the landscape whether we keep our stuff in a data center, in a box under our desk, or on some unseen Web server on the other side of the country. But any failure of this magnitude offers up a prime opportunity to discuss -- and hopefully improve -- the weaknesses that can still bite us.
A dimmer forecast
By now, we all know what happened: On Tuesday, Gmail's Web interface took a two-hour siesta and left millions of users unable to access their accounts. Thanks to social media tools like Twitter and Facebook, many users quickly learned that the Gmail application itself was still available, and switched to their iPhones and BlackBerrys to get their webmail fix.
Google, which initially called it a "minor problem" caused by underestimating the impact of taking some servers offline for routine maintenance, later fessed up and admitted what happened next was a pretty big deal. Close to 37 million users in the U.S. doubtlessly nodded their heads, and cloud computing's sunny future dimmed significantly, if temporarily, in response.
This latest outage (Gmail's last large-scale failure didn't garner as many headlines because it happened when most folks were asleep) raises valid questions about the viability of cloud computing, and the vulnerabilities we take on as we shift applications and data from their traditional homes on client PCs and servers to unseen resources on the Web.
Don't toss out the cloud. Yet.
Kindly note that "raises valid questions about the viability" does not mean "should never be adopted." Cloud computing offers up significant advantages to businesses and consumers, and the latest Gmail outage doesn't change what's fundamentally right about this architecture. It does, however, give providers an opportunity to assess how Google could have responded more effectively, and how we, as users, can better protect our interests before the next inevitable failure.
Because the failure started within Google's infrastructure, let's first focus on what the company needs to do to minimize the potential for a recurrence, and to improve response in the event that something happens anyway:
1. Test more effectively. Routine maintenance shouldn't take down a production environment. For a company with as much technical depth as Google, underestimating the impact of load balancing in the wake of taking some equipment offline is a pretty embarrassing goof. Going forward, I'd expect tighter internal processes to better understand the potential impact of any internal changes on external users.
2. Communicate more honestly. Google's initial message -- it's a minor issue -- served only to tick off millions of users already peeved that they had no e-mail. Customer Service 101 dictates that you do not minimize the experience of an aggrieved customer. Understand? Yes. Empathize? Certainly? But minimize? Avoid at all costs or risk the virtual equivalent of a kick in the shins.
3. Suggest alternatives more quickly. The outage affected only the Web interface. If you could access the app another way -- say, through your BlackBerry Gmail app -- you were fine. Google needs to more proactively communicate workarounds like this. At the very least, it gets a minority of those affected sort of back up and running.
And because responsibility is a two-way street, here's what users should do to prepare for the inevitable and ensure they can keep working even if the worst happens.
1. Install Google Gears. This neat code that syncs your mail -- and other Google stuff -- to your local machine so you can continue working when you lose network connectivity, could have saved you some serious headaches this past Tuesday. Google Gears users simply kept working when the Web interface went down, and synced up when everything was fixed. Is it perfect? No. But sometimes good enough is all you need.
2. Identify alternative modes of access. If you've got an iPhone, BlackBerry or Android device, install Gmail. Now. When the inevitable next outage happens, the more ways you have to get in, the better.
3. Avoid the single point of failure. I've got a friend who long ago set up a rule in his Gmail account to reroute all his inbound e-mail to a Windows Live account. Although he's likely Google's biggest fan, even he appreciates the value of not putting all your eggs into one basket. He had never logged into the Microsoft account -- until Tuesday. While everyone waited for Gmail to wake up from its slumber, he continued working.
The promise of cloud-based apps is the same whether they're consumer-focused and free or subscription-based and used to run a business. Specifically, they deliver good enough functionality without requiring the complexity of a local install. For smaller businesses, cloud-based apps let them tap into greater capabilities without having to stretch their IT resources. No huge up-front investments or complex implementation projects. Just subscribe and go. And as the vendor updates the app, the company benefits, too.
But as the shift toward the cloud continues, end users have the right to the same kind of service level agreements that have governed more conventional applications for generations. If your installed version of Microsoft Office goes bad, these expectations are outlined right on the box the software came in. Even though most Gmail users are getting it for free, they nevertheless expect some kind of defined response. For consumers and businesses subscribing to Google's premium services, expectations are decidedly -- and understandably -- greater.
It may very well be that Google's current service levels exceed those that the average customer would be able to achieve using an in-house, server-based messaging solution. But despite this, the optics in the aftermath of Gmail's latest outage are such that cloud computing carries risks, and the poster child for the cloud computing era, Google, needs to raise the level of its game and assume greater responsibility for the impact an outage has on its paying and non-paying customers. A tangible outcome to this outage will further solidify cloud computing's future.
Related Content: Gmail is back up after two-hour outage
Google calls Gmail outage 'minor issue', but thousands beg to differ
Carmi Levy is a Canadian-based independent technology analyst and journalist still trying to live down his past life leading help desks and managing projects for large financial services organizations. He comments extensively in a wide range of media, and works closely with clients to help them leverage technology and social media tools and processes to drive their business.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009
Diebold finally rids itself of electronic voting business

Publié: septembre 3, 2009, 9:26pm CEST par Nate Mook

By Nate Mook, Betanews

If you ask Diebold, there is a such thing as bad press. For years, the company has endured brand-eroding criticism about its electronic voting machines, and earlier this year in a hearing, publicly admitted they had serious design flaws.
Now, the company can finally move on from its e-voting debacles, as it sold the business unit to competitor Election Systems & Software, Inc. for a mere $5 million.
Diebold will accept a pretax loss on the deal between $45 million to $55 million, the company said. That's arguably a small price to pay for ridding itself of a business that has linked the once-respected Diebold name with insecurity.
Diebold has been trying to sell its e-voting business for more than two years, and renamed it in August 2007 to Premier Election Solutions in an attempt to distance itself from the bad press. However, nobody was fooled; everyone continued to recognize the business as Diebold's.
Diebold's primary business is in ATM machines and security systems. E-voting machines only made up 2.8% of the company's revenue in 2008.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009
iPod beaten in Japan by 30-year-old line of music players

Publié: septembre 3, 2009, 9:03pm CEST par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

The iPod may be the reigning king of media players, but in Japan, the old king has managed to take back the throne.
Japanese market research company BCN Inc. reports that Sony's Walkman digital music player has outsold Apple's iPod in Japan, according to a Bloomberg report today.
Japan is different from the United States, where the iPod has held more than a 60% market share since 2003, and at times has garnered over 90%. But not too different. The iPod has led the Japanese market for the last four years with roughly a 50% share.
For the week ending on August 30, however, Apple had a 42.1% share of the Japanese market and Sony had 43%. Sony, which 30 years ago championed the personal media player concept with its Walkman portable cassette player, has made it back to the top.
But this isn't a sudden change, Walkman has been in a gradually improving second place place position since Apple took the lead in January 2005. By 2006, Sony had about 20% of the personal media player market. At the same time in 2007, the Walkman had grown to just above 30% while Apple still had around 50%.
What's helping the cause? Experts are saying it's cost, of course...but that may not be exactly why.
In Apple's Japanese Web store, the 4GB iPod Shuffle goes for ¥8,800, the Nano starts at ¥17,800, iPod Classic starts at ¥29,800, and the iPod Touch starts at ¥27,800.
Sony's Walkmen actually stretch into higher prices than Apple's iPods. While the Shuffle-esque E Series cost between ¥7,980-¥12,800, and the S series cost between ¥14,800- ¥19,800, the new X series ranges from ¥39,800-¥52,800.
The Walkman line, however, does offer more options to consumers. with three storage capacities for most of its designs, lots of color choices, and the addition of different form factors, like the W series, which incorporates the walkman into a set of headphones.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009
MMS comes to iPhones on September 25

Publié: septembre 3, 2009, 8:43pm CEST par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

AT&T today said that just a few days after Summer ends, the iPhone will finally get the ability to send and receive MMS messages.
The company has said that the functionality will be enabled with a software update downloadable through iTunes, and will only be available on iPhone 3G and 3GS models.
A message from the carrier today said, "We know that iPhone users will embrace MMS. The unique capabilities and high usage of the iPhone's multimedia capabilities required us to work on our network MMS architecture to carry the expected record volumes of MMS traffic and ensure an excellent experience from Day One. We appreciate your patience as we work toward that end."
"We're riding the leading edge of smartphone growth that's resulted in an explosion of traffic over the AT&T network. Wireless use on our network has grown an average of 350 percent year-over-year for the past two years, and is projected to continue at a rapid pace in 2009 and beyond. The volume of smartphone data traffic the AT&T network is handling is unmatched in the wireless industry. We want you to know that we're working relentlessly to innovate and invest in our network to anticipate this growth in usage and to stay ahead of the anticipated growth in data demand, new devices and applications for years to come."
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009
Labor day nears, MMS and Tethering for iPhone still absent

Publié: septembre 3, 2009, 6:39pm CEST par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

iPhone 3GS users have grown increasingly agitated that they still do not have MMS functionality and the ability to tether their phone to their laptop as a 3G modem despite the fact that these abilities were expected to arrive "at the end of the summer."
Yesterday, New York Times reporter Jenna Wortham called the iPhone "the Hummer of cellphones," burning through bandwidth like the oversized SUVs burn through gasoline. Because of this, AT&T has gotten a reputation for being an inadequate network. Nearly one third of potential iPhone owners are passing on the popular device because they don't want to deal with AT&T. The public has placed the blame for lack of MMS and tethering squarely on the mobile network operator.
This, coupled with the nearly constant stream of apps that users cannot have being dangled in front of them, iPhone owners have turned into a real disgruntled bunch.
But there is always sanctuary in hope (read: rumors).
Because the symbolic end of summer in the United States is Labor Day (Monday, September 7th this year), and Apple has an event scheduled for September 9th, some have begun to speculate that the event dedicated to unveiling this year's line of iPods will be used to also unveil MMS and Tethering for iPhone.
However unlikely it is, at least users can use this rumor to tide them over until September 22, when summer officially ends, and time will be up for Apple and AT&T's promises.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009
Sprint announces its first Android device

Publié: septembre 3, 2009, 4:44pm CEST par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

The highly desirable HTC Hero which was unveiled earlier this summer for will become Sprint's first Android phone on October 11. Not only has the device been re-tooled with an EV-DO rev. A radio for Sprint's 3G network (the world version is WCDMA,) but it has also received a total chassis overhaul.
But looking at the two versions side-by-side, the physical design has been almost completely rethought. Where the HTC Hero was slim and angular, with the now-trademark "chin" cropping up from the device's tail end, the Sprint Hero has been rounded out and flattened. It actually ends up looking more like T-Mobile's myTouch 3G more than the original Hero.
Fortunately, most of what made the world version of the Hero so appealing has been retained: the new HTC "Sense" user interface, the multi-touch capability, the fingerprint-resistant coating, and the 3.5mm headphone jack are all present and accounted for.
This will be Sprint's first Android phone, its first phone with HTC Footprints, and the first U.S. phone loaded with HTC's Sense UI, but there is another factor at play here. With Android in its roster of operating systems, Sprint now offers the most diverse selection of smartphones (by OS) with BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, WebOS, the last Palm OS devices, and now Android.
The Hero will be available in Sprint stores, online, and in Best Buy for $179.99 after rebates, before taxes, and with a two-year contract. Pre-orders are being taken today on Sprint's Web site.
Since we already know most of what made the world version of the Hero tick, we asked HTC for some insight into the redesign, and what brought about the change.
"We realize that the design of any product, especially something as personal as a phone, will always create debate. With the Sprint version of the HTC Hero, HTC worked closely with Sprint to create a total product offering --which includes both hardware and software-- customized for Sprint and its customers. The resulting product has a different, but we believe equally striking, design compared to its global counterpart," An HTC spokesman told us today.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009
YouTube may start renting movies, and the MPAA may finally approve

Publié: septembre 3, 2009, 12:38am CEST par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

The Wall Street Journal is reporting this evening the internet's most popular video streaming destination YouTube is now in talks with movie studios to offer rental streams of new release movies which could potentially be released day and date with their DVD and Blu-ray counterparts.
The site already works with a number of content owners to host ad-sponsored streams of classic television shows and films, but the site has not yet attempted the rental model with these studios. Details are scant at this point, at the WSJ only cites information provided by unnamed sources "familiar with [YouTube's] plans." A $3.99 rental price is reportedly being discussed because that is the cost of a Standard Definition new release movie rental on Apple's iTunes and Amazon Video on Demand.
At that price point, Google and YouTube should have a much easier time attracting movie studios than Coinstar's video rental kiosk company Redbox, which has been battling with studios over $1 DVD rentals which many studios feel greatly devalue their new releases. Not only will the higher price of the streaming rental appeal to studios, but so will the lower overhead. Streams eliminate the DVD production, pressing, and printing cost and replace it with the cost of bandwidth and hosting, at $3.99 per stream, the potential profit is much higher.
As it is now, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) doesn't really stand behind YouTube. It has applauded the efforts of Hulu, ABC.com, Nick.com, iTunes, and Netflix on Demand, but has balked at YouTube because of its problems with monetizing content.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009