The Tallies: Steve Jobs & Bill Gates

I guess its time for me to jump on the bandwagon and post my commentary on the life of Steve Jobs like everyone else on the web. Originally, I resolved to keep my mouth shut, but after seeing this article on Forbes, I decided to comment on an angle most seem to be ignoring. Now before I get to far, I am sorry about his untimely passing, and I’m certainly not pulling a Stallman. However, as pasbesoin states on Hacker News ”…there needs to be room for a larger conversation. In part precisely because and as a reflection of this influence, there are important matter to discuss. Not all aspects will be flattering of Mr. Jobs. But that is the nature of the position he inhabited and the decisions he made.”

Bill Gates & Co helped made a product (Windows) which can be used on almost any computing device. By that, I mean you can go down to Best Buy, buy all the pieces you need, and build a Windows computer (shut up Linux users: you require too much tinkering for the average Joe). This helped bring the personal computer to the masses. For a number of reasons, this brought Gates tremendous wealth. Now, certainly, Jobs & Co played a role in that as well, but their paths diverge quickly.

Some make the argument that Job’s contributions to the world made it a better place. The iPad didn’t make the world any healthier or smarter. Perhaps the developers who created applications to use on the iPad did. The only world that Jobs really improved with his products are the worlds of those who directly benefited from the money tree. Is there anything wrong with this? Absolutely not. I only take issue with those who praise him as the savior. Let’s just refer to him as what he really was: Jobs was an excellent capitalist.  He spent his time figuring out how to create another piece of consumerism plastic with built-in obsolesce. I don’t buy into the “genius” of Jobs. He wasn’t by himself, sitting atop of mountain, stepping down once a year to give us mere mortals a piece of hand-crafted brilliance. He had an excellent team of creative individuals who probably endured an immense amount of stress as Jobs thought himself perfect and demanded the same everyone around him. For whatever reason, Apple decided to create an image of an ultimate, infallible leader. Corporations don’t put creative geniuses at their helms, they put cutthroat capitalists in those seats. Jobs was celebrated for working, right up to the end, on creating more wealth for Apple’s shareholders. Then, it happened. Consumers around the world wept. Why? Because they weren’t sure they were going to get another cool product to spend too much on. Jobs was stinking rich, and he knew it. With his over-reactive legal department suing anything with a fruit on it, he attacked Android for stealing everything from him. Apple’s entire culture is built around exclusivity, being a walled-garden with complete control over what you can do with what you own. You can’t play unless you pay. Windows has to play with everyone, lest they be taken to court again. Apple can force consumers to use iTunes with their iStuff. Meanwhile, Microsoft has to be cut up into several business units and pander to governments around the world because of “anti-trust” issues. Apple’s no underdog, nor a champion for them, they just have a better legal department.

Since stepping down as Microsoft’s CEO, Gates now spends his days literally giving away his wealth which saves lives around the world and teaches computer literacy to children who would otherwise never have the opportunity. And, not just giving the money away, but taking the time to research and invest in long-term strategies to better the lives of the underprivileged.

Which of these men is worshiped?

It says a lot about who we are as a people.

There, I’ve said it.

I’m Stealing Your Car, and that’s Okay

Many YouTube users have a profound misunderstanding of copyright law, copyright infringement, and fair use. Assuming copyright laws and fair use guidelines remain constant over the next 10 years, my children will know why people who say these things need to be educated:

No copyright infringement intended?? That’s like saying “no offense, but…” right before you say something that’s really offensive.

This one is like stealing a neighbor’s car then becoming indignant when he confronts you for stealing it. “What? I told everyone I didn’t own your car while driving it, so I’m good to use it for anything I want, right?!”

And my favorite:

The pissed off YouTube user with an incredibly misplaced sense of entitlement and absolutely no clue about how advertising, copyright, marketing,  or really, anything works in the real world. “This is YOUtube, the place where we can post OUR videos that we make with YOUR music, YOUR video, and YOUR imagery using the free Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premiere that I illegally downloaded!”

Idiots.

Discover:
Copyright Law
Fair Use

Why Hulu Plus Isn’t Worth It

Hulu is great, Hulu Plus isn't (Click to enlarge)

I don’t want to send the wrong message here, so to be clear, Hulu as a advertising-supported service is great. I was never sucked into watching shows for seasons at a time until Hulu and its time-shifting video. Between working full-time, volunteering at church, class in the evening, and just having a life, television certainly wasn’t a priority. When Hulu rolled around, I cut the cable and never looked back.

Hulu Plus, just released to the masses, is a $7.99 a month service (still advertising-supported, I might add) which gives you access to high-definition video (when available) and entire catalogs of episodes from select shows. As it stands, Hulu [free] will typically have available the most recent 5 episodes of any given show. On the other hand, subscribing to Hulu Plus gives access to the entire current season of, for example, Lie to Me and in other circumstances, as in the case of Family Guy, Hulu Plus will unleash the entire run of the show for viewing.

So, why is it not worth it? Right now, you can sign up for a free one-week trial of Hulu Plus. Naturally, I signed up for it, but made sure I placed the cancellation date on my calendar lest I be charged. Immediately, I hop on my new Roku XD with the Hulu Plus channel installed to see what magic has been made available. To my dismay, I find only a handful of shows I subscribe to (out of 19 total) are even available. To see exactly what is going on, I hop on a computer to find my queue has a new column showing what is available and where (see picture above).

I’m still completely blown away by the idiocy of blocking Hulu [free] from being viewed on a  Google TV device, or blocking Hulu [free] from Roku’s line of new media players, but to find out that Hulu Plus (the reason for the blocking) doesn’t even allow me to watch most of my favorite shows from my Roku on a TV even AFTER paying them AND after consenting to watching advertisements, just completely kills the deal.

As it stands… Hulu? The best thing to happen to broadcast TV since color television sets. Hulu Plus? Not worth a dime. I’ll continue using PlayOn to stream Hulu [free] to my Roku, thank you very much.

UPDATE (2/11/11): I just received a marketing email from PlayOn claiming you can add PlayOn to the Roku. Instructions here: http://www.playon.tv/devices/roku

Rant: TV Anywhere

In response to: Charter Starts Internet Video Trials

Charter is the latest cable operator to fire up their “TV Anywhere” Internet video ambitions — a “cord cutter” retention tool that involves giving paying TV customers access to a walled garden of limited TV content. While Charter has yet to name the service yet, last week they launched a trial of their TV Everywhere incarnation involving 5,000 to 10,000 Charter subscribers in St. Louis, Missouri, Madison, Wisconsin, Chicopee, Massachusetts, and Kennewick, Washington. Charter will be running the trial for the rest of the year before deciding whether they want to take the project footprint wide.

The big cable companies, not just Charter, are pushing this “TV Anywhere” as a way to prevent cord cutters. The idea is to offer some online video to subscribers in addition to regular cable to make paying loads of cash for cable service more appealing. The problem? TV Anywhere isn’t “anywhere,” it’s only in your desktop browser, only when you’re logged in, and it’s nothing you can’t already see on Hulu. In fact, it’s probably far less. I saw a preview of a TV Anywhere look-alike through AT&T’s portal. All AT&T had was searchable list of episodes and shows you could watch… on Hulu. Clicking any link simply brought up some AT&T page with a embedded Hulu video.

TV Anywhere is funny to me, because, on one hand you have the cable execs telling the press they’re not losing any sleep over online video. Then you see initiative like TV Anywhere, seeing they’re investing millions into online video hoping that it appeals enough to their subscribers to keep them. Why would you create TV Anywhere if your customers weren’t looking for online video as a replacement for cable?

Next step? Bandwidth caps where TV Anywhere is exempt.

The Credit Crisis, Explained Visually

Having a difficult time understanding why the economy is upside-down? Check out this video from Jonathan Jarvis which gives a wonderful visual overview of the credit crisis and explains how everything is connected. (Video is best viewed in HD and full-screen, of course.)

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

The Short and Simple Story of the Credit Crisis.

Crisisofcredit.com

The goal of giving form to a complex situation like the credit crisis is to quickly supply the essence of the situation to those unfamiliar and uninitiated. This project was completed as part of my thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

For more on my broader thesis work exploring the use of new media to make sense of a increasingly complex world, visit jonathanjarvis.com.

Support the project and buy a T-Shirt! cafepress.com/crisisofcredit

© Copyright 2009 Jonathan Jarvis

Update to WiFi Map & Other Updates

I’ve made a sizable update to the WiFi Scan / Wardriving map adding nearly 1000 new points to the map from areas in Southern California. Though, for some reason, the new points are not showing on the web maps, but show when the KML file is loaded directly into Google Earth. I would figure out what the problem is, but, meh.

Secondly… I think I was going to say something about how I’m really digging WordPress 2.7 and its built-in plugin updating and auto-install features. So yeah, I really like WP 2.7′s plugin updating and auto install feature.

Third, I’ve recently become engaged. I guess others would use that as an excuse as to why they are spending less time with online endevours. I’m not. I haven’t spent too much time on this site before the engagement, so, no excuses from me you will hear. However, you will be delighted (but probably “meh”) to know that I have not spared my engagement from the nuances of nerdom. I am currently building a site to centralize wedding details, photos, and house a blog where my dearest and I will share our adventures with family and friends. The site will also have a method to accept RSVPs from guests. I thought that idea would get shot down right quick, because it’s “not how it’s done.” But, to my surprise, she was excited about the prospect of saving the postage by not sending return cards to our tech-savvy friends and family (the techno-phobic will still get the tradtional reply cards).

So anywho, that’s some of what’s going on over here. How about over there?

Beware of textbooks-now and bookbyte (Half.com)

Buying used books online, at convenient outlets like eBay’s Half.com, is an relief to college students everywhere who are already cash-strapped thanks to ever-increasing tuition, fees, and abusive, self-perpetuating, overpriced textbook stores (I rant on textbook stores on an older blog). However, a student wishing to purchase books online must be spry.

A required text for a class might be needed the first week of class, though, it’s often not possible to discern what is required, and what’s not, until the first class meeting. Savvy students will visit the bookstore, or an instructors online syllabus to glean the ISBNs of the required texts. If the stars align properly, the student will be able to get a nicely discounted textbook delivered before class even begins.

Then, there are the situations that prohibit such happy endings. Such situations are sometime the result of shady practices by large sellers on Half.com. Namely, textbooks-now, and bookbyte. The problem with these larger sellers is they claim to have a textbook in stock, only to notify you, many days later, that the book is no longer in stock and they will have to give you a refund. In other words, they don’t keep a tight count of stock, and appear to be selling items that they physically don’t have. To make matters worse, instead of the out-of-stock notification coming within a reasonable time-frame (say, 24 hours?) the notices come several days later. But! They give you a refund. Great. But, what about the lost shipping days? Now I have to go find another seller with the book, and hope they aren’t selling something that they don’t have. Sure, it’s only a few days, but when you in the situation I described above, and the book is needed now, the money refund is only a partial solution.

Textbooks-now (aka textbooksNow) claims “Great customer service” in their book descriptions. However, a friend of mine got shafted by these folks and requested my assistance. She was coming down to the wire, and ordered a book that she needed the next week. Even with processing, and sometimes lengthy media mail delivery times, the book would have arrived on time. Two days passed after placing the order, when she received a notice that the book was out-of-stock and textbooksNow would be issuing a refund. After another day, the refund was issue, but only partially; they didn’t refund the shipping cost. Another email to support, and another day, the refund appeared and the reply email requested that we contact Half.com for any futher billing questions because “they process the payments.” Yeah, I understand how that works, being a Half.com seller myself, but that doesn’t give you the excuse to pawn off your irresponsible business practices and shady dealing to a middle-man.

Bookbyte gave me a very similar run for my money. Luckily, I received the full refund immediately. But, the reason was the same. They were selling books they either ran out of, or never had. When they go to pack the book, it’s not there! Whoops!!

Used book dealing can’t deal with that issue like other online retailers. The others, if they run out of stock, can order stock and will usually ship it to you expedited to make up for the lost time. Used book dealers can’t do the same thing, because their stock is dependent on students selling them books (for pennies of what they’re worth).

So, as a hard-learned rule, I avoid sellers with a high number of sales. I’d rather pay another buck or two (I’m still saving substantially compared to the campus bookstore) to a fellow student who KNOWS he/she has the book, and WANTS to sell.

Maybe they were honest mistakes. Maybe my friend and are one of the very few who had a problem. By the looks of these seller’s feedback scores and the comments left, obviously I’m in the minority. All I’m saying is, be wary. Be spry.

UPDATE: The friend I referred to above that suffered the textbooksNow incident emailed me to let me know made an error in the recount of the events. In her words:

“I had to email them and ask where my book was after I noticed that my FOUR books hadn’t come in the mail for over 2 weeks. Then they emailed me saying they didn’t have the books. So it is even worse than you say in your blog.”

I remember it now, because the long delay is why she asked for my help in the first place, since I had a lot of experience with ordering books through Half.com. Indeed, it is worse.