Fans of the popular Flash-to-HTML crunching Skyfire browser on the iPhone (and many other platforms) will be happy to know that the Skyfire team is working on an iPad-specific version. At the time of writing, there aren’t many details to share. Ok, there aren’t any details to share. For a possible release date keep checking back.
So far, my personal experience with Skyfire has been pretty good. The only hiccups were around launch day when the servers imploded under the insane stress placed upon them by countless hundreds of thousands if not millions of users. So stay tuned iPad users, your day is soon coming…
Looking to find that perfect significant other that will fit to you like a piece of a puzzle? There are tons of of dating sites, social networking portals, and other tools for single people to find love in this vast world. For the geeky person however, I don’t know of too many options (please correct me if I’m wrong). If you’re a geek and really want to find that other special geek that ticks the same way you do, the Promimity Sensing T-Shirt is *the* only dating tool you need.
The concept is simple, the shirt beams out a signal. Said shirt will then display via signal bars on the shirt how close you are to other persons wearing the same shirt. Pretty cool. Just imagine, finding the love of your geeky life by literally running in to someone wearing the same proximity sensing t-shirt as you — pretty neat huh?
Available in mens and womens form factors for the low low price of $19.99. Ask yourself, is twenty bucks really too much to ask for if it brings you a lifetime of geek infested happiness? I think now.
[Product Page: ThinkGeek]
Geeky-Gadgets
Getting a good education in todays world is a must if you plan on getting anywhere in life. Those looking for such an education have many fine and prestigious schools across the world to choose from. Here in the states, Harvard is often heard when comparing various top schools as is Oxford for those in the UK. Today however we’re focusing on the latter and one decision in particular that has students bloddy angry. It all involves P2P file sharing, though, not in the way you’d think…
I’ve written about Spotify several times before because frankly, it’s awesome. Compared to all of the music streaming services in the states, it’s simply the best option. Unfortunately, numerous amounts of red tape and corporate push over have so far kept the UK born service out of the states. But a new development at one of the UK’s most recognized colleges: Oxford.
As is similar with most colleges, P2P and any type of file sharing service is banned on campus computers and networks. Up until this point, Oxford students were able to use Spotify anyway. I mean, it is a legal service with the only knock against it (according to the school’s policies) is that it was a P2P service. Like most of you know, P2P use is generally accompanied by hefty bandwidth usage meaning it puts a heavy burden on networks. Oxford’s network is apparently buckling under the load.
Naturally, students who have come to survive on Spotify’s vast streamable library to offset the overplayed and overhyped top 40 that routinely flood the airwaves aren’t the slightest bit happy. Likewise, the school maintains their position on P2P bans pertaining to Spotify.
So where do we go from here? In all honesty it isn’t that big of a deal in the grander scheme of things (read: Haiti). Not to mention, if school related functions on their network are starting to puke because of all this new fangled music streaming stuff, Oxford has every right to maintain the integrity of their network. Still, in the digital world, it’s a pretty big thing I’d say. It begs the question: Is there a better way to handle it? Perhaps time limits tied to a particular school logon — hourly, daily, weekly?
One possible way that Oxford and schools in general can get around this is by using tunneling and other network management technologies to limit how much bandwidth is allotted to applications and services such as Spotify. Doing so would keep school and student bodies equally happy (in theory).
With restrictions and false boundaries comes those looking to get around said limitations in order to get back to what was once theirs. Such tactics to geeks are like an “Independence Day” of sorts, reclaiming lost freedoms. To the IT/school organization however, it can often lead to various punishments including a blanket computer ban and expulsion. So tread lightly.
Any Oxford students or those familiar with the matter feel like chiming in?
Pocket-Lint
- December 11, 2009 6:58 am
Living in China and accessing banned media via online routes may soon be coming to an end. Over the last year, China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) organization has closed down hundreds of file sharing networks and websites citing the normal “to protect the children and the people of China” propaganda. Accessing banned digital media can still be found in many markets via traditional CD/DVD options, but even those are drying up. It seems as if all of a sudden the Chinese government is getting big on IP and copyrights. Rather odd considering some of the highest rates of copyrighted and bootlegged material have originated from China.
While blocking and ultimately closing many file sharing sites such as BTChina — which mind you was up to 50 million active users — seems like a good idea on paper, the reality is that illegal files are not the only files shared across digital pipelines. Many legitimate files such as linux distros and information and content in that are in the public domain are two of the biggest things that instantly come to mind. Then there are other things such as banned media that for whatever reason isn’t allowed to be sold within the country. Remember, getting “illegal” content via a digital cable that comes into your house is easy, fast, and efficient. It gives Chinese a window to the world if you will.
Of course, the whole idea that the government can control you and everything you do is absurd to begin with. Forcing people to believe your way of thinking is hardly the way to rule a nation. But I’m just one blogger, what does my opinion matter?
Unfortunately, the many Chinese who stumble across closed sites will simply think that they’re down for some unforeseen reason that is the fault of the web host or site owner — not the government. With that, they’ll continue going on thinking that the government’s oppressive internet policies and draconian control scheme is actually a good thing. The government needs criticism. The people need sympathy.
If you were bound by an oppressive regime, unable to truly express yourself or access content that you wanted, what lengths would you go to?
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