The Chron.com (The Houston Chronicle’s web site) re-visualized it’s site some time ago, using their new green logo. (Everyone loves to be green)
But their micro image, known as a favicon, seems to be vestigial. I never like the old icon, with a built in pointer on it. I know the pointer was their whole logo, but the favicon could have done without it. And they prob’ly want to “green it up” with the rest of their site.
I encourage you to:
instead of shopping. I’m lusting for a new iPod touch, but I won’t be buying it.
Media coverage of iPhone application development (what? why is media even covering this?!) goes in a stereo-typical cyclical pattern that is almost weekly in its oscillation. This week chiming in is the New York Times: Hoping to Make iPhone Toys as a Full-Time Job.
The Lede on this story sells the Gold Rush, no doubt leading young men West to dig in the dirt.
This article does point out the other side of the story briefly:
But the chances of hitting the iPhone jackpot keep getting slimmer: the Apple store is already crowded with look-alike games and kitschy applications, and fresh inventory keeps arriving daily.
But they quickly return and glorify the Get Ri¢h Story. They return to 6-figure pronouncements and phrases like “minimal skill” and “only 7 days”. It sounds like late-night hucksterism.
There are currently about 2000 apps released in the store per month. Less than 1 a month is a get-rich-quick winner. And those are usually gimmicks and one-offs.
There is a middle ground. A reasonable expectations and reasonable skills balance. But you won’t likely hear that story in the press.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if there were some big boys that back out of the arena in a year or two because of the dilution of perceived value. They spend big bucks on game development and need to reap it back.
Of course, evolution in the hardware available is going to continue to change the landscape.
There was a brief story in the Houston Press about all the broken McDonald’s signs in Houston.
There is an annoyed citizen that has taken his grip to the newest town square: Facebook. He created a Facebook Group to help people voice their shared annoyance.
I joined the group on Wednesday as the 34th member. I suspect if the group gets traction it should be over 1000 people in no time. And if other media in town mention it, it could go well above that. (Or, if it goes no further than here, it could peak at 35 some time next week.)
I think if it gets noisy enough, we could likely get the Houston City Council to do something about it. Continue reading
Ars Technica has an Apple-specific blog. Recently one of the authors provided some analysis of iPhones and netbook rumors. But it’s weak. I don’t really expect more from Ars Technica; I think they promote themselves as more professional than their actual comportment reveals.
The article’s lede includes self promotion, and questionable attribution.
Last month, I posted regarding netbook rumors that were swirling in anticipation of the Macworld Expo. In my write-up, I suggested that in many ways, the iPhone and iPod touch already were Apple’s netbooks. -Ars Technica
The concept of the iPhone being a netbook offering from apple was first suggested half-jokingly on an Apple financial teleconference last fall. For Erica to suggest she has come up with some new analysis of the market by suggesting exactly what someone else has already said is either humorous or sad, I’m not sure which.
If you haven’t noticed, our government hasn’t been regulating things in this country for about eight years. It cuts across almost every agency in the bureaucracy. Mostly they just unfunded the regulators or told them to stop doing their jobs. See recent headlines on airplanes being grounded because they hadn’t been inspected in timely fashion for an example.
You need only listen to the news any given day to be reminded. We haven’t been keeping our government accountable. Neither has our corporate media. So, we can blame only ourselves. Or only our media, if we are cowards. (Yes, I consider ignoring our own failing an act of cowardice. Blaming others is the height of it.)
It was interesting to hear of another regulatory failing on Marketplace on Monday night. This one not of Executive Branch malfeasance, but one of political will-bending in the Legislature in December of 2000.
I’m sure everyone remembers Enron. They went south in a very large way about a year later. But before that they got this legislation passed. Basically, deregulating (and effectively hiding) the trading of about 30% of the energy market.
Recently, we’ve had out-of-control rises in the price of crude oil. All the analysts say we’ve got plenty of supply. So, whatever could be the cause of the price rises?
Well the Legislature has finally fixed their part in this non-regulation snafu. Soon it is of course passing back into the Executive’s hands. What will happen there, only time will tell.
Michael Greenburger, previous Head of Trading and Markets for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission says “many observers believe that because those markets are not being policed, malpractices are being committed and traders are able to boost the price virtually at their will… From my own experience as a commodity regulator, I believe that if the Bush Administration were serious about its regulation, we could begin seeing prices drop within a month.”
If things don’t start moving in a positive direction, let’s make sure we tell our elected employees we aren’t happy about it.