Build a Platform or an Experience

Some interesting thoughts from Scott Karp at Pubishing 2.0

Platforms Vs. Experiences » Publishing 2.0

Apple TV or Mac Mini

(Brady Forrest, O’Reilly radar) “Last week Apple didn’t just release the iPhone. They also released Apple TV, a single use appliance that allows you to play music, watch movies and view your pictures from your home PCs or Macs. When I saw it my first thought was how this would stack up compared to the Mac Mini as a multimedia device. Both are small, both have iTunes — what are the exact trade-offs? Luckily, the Apple Blog has written up a great side-by-side comparison of the Mac Mini and the Apple TV…”

O’Reilly Radar > Apple Tv or Mac Mini

Widgets… All the Buzz

(Scott Kirshner, New York Times) “On his Web log, Pastor Hyatt, the leader of the Evergreen Community in Portland, Ore., has woven in widgets, or mini-applications, that show a selection of book covers from his personal library, present the most recent posts from some of his favorite blogs, and serve up random quotes from the television show “Arrested Development.”“You start small, and it’s kind of like an addiction,” said Pastor Hyatt (his blog is at bobhyatt.typepad.com). “TypePad has a whole section of widgets, and they’re adding more all the time,” he continued, referring to a popular blog-hosting service…”

Some Bling for Your Blog – New York Times

Yet More Social Networking – Shycast

(Michael Arrington, TechCrunch) “New Jersey based Shycast will be launching later this month and will put a new spin on brand promotion and paid contests. Like Bix, which was aquired by Yahoo in November 2006, Shycast will sponsor video-based contests with fairly large cash prizes…”

Shycast: Social Network for People & Brands

What Will Jobs be Bringing to MacWorld?

(Scott Ferguson, eWeek.com) “…Industry watchers say the annual event may bring word of an improved, full-screen iPod and an Apple cell phone compatible with iTunes.

Each year, in the weeks leading to Apple Computer’s Macworld Expo in San Francisco, the rumors and speculation begin circulating about what CEO Steve Jobs and his team will unveil during the major keynote address.This year is no exception…”

Analysts: Expect iTV, Leopard News at Macworld

Apple Forced to Deal with Security Issues

(Ryan Naraine, eWeek.com) “…The MoAB (Month of Apple Bugs) launched on New Year’s day with technical details and attack code for serious holes in the way media files are played on Apple’s Mac OS X and the two researchers—a hacker known only as L.M.H. and Kevin Finisterre—promise to expose similar insecurities every day throughout the month of January…”

Can Apple Overcome Latest Security Backlash?

$100 Laptops for Kids

(Brian Bergstein, Associated Press) “CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Forget windows, folders and boxes that pop up with text. When students in Thailand, Libya and other developing countries get their $150 computers from the One Laptop Per Child project in 2007, their experience will be unlike anything on standard PCs…”

Low-cost laptop could transform learning – Yahoo! News

All the Mobile Video You Can Handle

(Josh Goldman, CrunchGear) “In case you’re really, really hungry for video content on your mobile device, maybe you should check out MyWaves.com. I say maybe because while the site claims 10,000 channels in its lineup, much of the content is of questionable quality. But you can judge for yourself and view the content online without even signing up for an account…”

CrunchGear » Blog Archive » MyWaves Puts Tons Of Video Podcasts On Your Mobile

Pandora is Going Social

(Michael Arrington, TechCrunch) “Tonight Pandora is releasing a additional features aimed at increasing interaction among members. These social features include listener profiles with musical preferences, bio information, etc. (previously listeners had only a list of bookmarked songs), as well as listener search and lists of users who are fans of particular bands…”

Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Pandora Goes Social

The Browser as an OS – here we go again

Interesting observations from Mr. Rapoza…

(Jim Rapoza, eWeek) “Microsoft didn’t jump into the browser wars out of Netscape envy or the sheer desire to be the leader in every category. Looking back, Microsoft was clearly worried about the Web browser becoming the true operating system, which would have relegated Windows to DOS-like plumbing status…”

A Promotion for Browsers?