Technology, Books and Other Neat Stuff

More fun from AppleGeeks.

For many years I used a Sony MiniDisc recorder when I was at meetings or conducting interviews. Unfortunately I could only use my recordings through a MiniDisc player, and despite being able to download music from my PC onto my MiniDisc, I couldn't do the reverse. It wasn't a problem with the device - Sony actually made a MiniDisc data drive for a while - the hardware had been deliberately crippled, thanks to Sony's influential content division. There would never be a Walkman-branded product with upload capabilities - or for that matter, without the strong DRM features of their ATRAC compression technology.

Now Sony has finally admitted that this was the wrong decision to have made - and as a result the Walkman has been virtually frozen out of the rapid growth MP3-player segment. But it's probably too late. Devices like the iPod have stolen brand awareness from Walkman, and other MP3 devices are offering full recording capabilities (like my new iRiver H320). It's a market Sony may never get back.

Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer Entertainment has said "It's just starting. We are growing up."

But it may be too late. How about starting by opening up the UMD format for the PSP? Or allowing third parties to write code that can work with non-encrypted ATRAC?

...we've got Titan. Liquid methane, hydrocarbon dirt and ammonia volcanoes.

Spectacular images captured by the DISR reveal that Titan has extraordinarily Earth-like meteorology and geology. Images have shown a complex network of narrow drainage channels running from brighter highlands to lower, flatter, dark regions. These channels merge into river systems running into lakebeds featuring offshore 'islands' and 'shoals' remarkably similar to those on Earth.

Thus, while many of Earth's familiar geophysical processes occur on Titan, the chemistry involved is quite different. Instead of liquid water, Titan has liquid methane. Instead of silicate rocks, Titan has frozen water ice. Instead of dirt, Titan has hydrocarbon particles settling out of the atmosphere, and instead of lava, Titanian volcanoes spew very cold ice.

Wow. Time to order up a more sophisticated (and faster) probe.

Interesting speculation from Robert X. Cringely on the role of the Mac Mini in the Tiger world - a world where HDTV, the Mac Mini, Quicktime and iTunes Store become the keys to a movie distribution network...

...about Sony "How about starting by opening up the UMD format for the PSP? Or allowing third parties to write code that can work with non-encrypted ATRAC?"

codepope points me at this Gizmodo piece: "Sony has submitted the UMD optical disc as an official standard for movies and and software, allowing other companies to produce content that will play on the Sony PSP (as well as new devices that would support the format)."

So, a qualified note of approval from here..

...as Korg have brought out a Linux-based synthesiser platform.



Now I can go open source "chopsticks"...

A rescued baby pangolin at the LA Zoo...



Teh teeny-tiny cut3n3ss!