Piracy rages on!

Many, including the RIAA and MPAA thought that shutting down megaupload.com would cause a significant dent in online piracy.  Well, many years ago, the industry tried to stop online music piracy by shutting down Napster, then Kazaa, then Audiogalaxy, then....well you get the picture.  It didnt work and apparently shutting down Megaupload hasnt worked either.  Check out this article from the Boy Genius Report.  The newest study indicates that piracy slowed down for a day or two (long enough for everyone to google which service to switch to).  It's back and back stronger.

Microsoft removing the Start button in Windows 8

First they give you the ribbon in Office 2007, not it's removing the start button in Windows 8.  What will we all do with that windows key on our keyboards now?  Oh, here is the link to the story about Microsoft's decision..

Kodak no longer making Cameras? Who would have thought

Kodak has been an institution in American society.  Say the word and all you thought was pictures.  Well the new word is bankruptcy.  For years Kodak made a tremendous living off of selling film.  The margins were so high that they were living the high life (at one point over 60,000 employees).  Now sitting at under 7,000, they are in bankruptcy.  Today, they announced that by the middle of this year, they will no longer make cameras and concentrate on selling printers.  I guess there are nice margins at almost $7,000 dollars a gallon for a typical inkjet cartridge.  Before anyone contacts me asking me about the math, here it is, lol.

Sample Cartridge: HP c6578d @ 34.99

19 ml of ink in one cartridge.
1 gal = 3785.4118 ml
(3785.4118/19)*34.99 = $6971 per gallon :eek:

Back to the story.  Kodak actually invented the digital camera, so why are they in trouble?  Well the difference in margin from selling film to selling cameras is significant, so much so that the company cannot survive selling cameras.  Sad to see them go..

Don't Click that Link!!... not yet

This is how so many get into trouble, clicking on suspicious or unfamiliar links.  Check out this PCWorld article on how to know when a link is bad....

Review: Griffin Beacon Remote Control

Someday soon I may do a review of my Verizon HD service, for the mere fact that I hate the TV Box that verizon gives you.  Until then here is a new gadget that I found to be fun.  The Griffin Beacon does one thing, and does it very well, it turns your IOS or Android device into a remote control for your TV, cable box, gaming system, etc.  The need for this came from my families continual habit of losing the remote control.  Now in order to lose my remote, I have to lose my phone (which aint happening!).  In the box you get a little Beacon device that sits in between you and the devices you want to control.  The Beacon is nicely designed.  It looks like a piece of decoration that you would have on your living room table, sort of like a shiny black rock sitting on a block.  You download the free Dijit app from iTunes or the Android marketplace and you are off and rolling.  The app uses the Internet to identify and program your devices with the Beacon.  The only downside I have on the device is that you works via bluetooth.   Although I use bluetooth, I dont leave it on all day (Battery drain), I have to remember to turn on bluetooth every night to use the Beacon.  But once you use it, it works.  I can control the TV, Verizon box and the XBox.  Additionally, you can program it to work with multiple TV's and devices.  So when I am in the living room, it will work, I take the Beacon upstairs, it works on that TV as well (the Beacon is battery operated, so it is portable room to room).  The app gives you a nice screen with the controls for whatever device you are controlling at the time.  At a cost of about $70, it is a bit pricey, but it does work.  Check out more here.

Review: Logitech MX Anywhere Mouse

If you are looking for a new mouse, I have a fantastic one for you.  Try the Logitech MX Anywhere Mouse.  It's designed to be a portable mouse for laptops, but is slightly bigger than the typical laptop mouse, making it perfect for your desktop computer.  It works exactly as advertised, Anywhere.  Wireless, laser and most importantly, for me at least, works on Glass!  My main working area is a clear glass desk and for years it has been a pain to have to use a mouse pad or traditional mouse because all other optical mice could not work on glass.  This does.  It's a bit pricey at around $60 (I found it for $42 at Sams Club), but it is definitely worth it.  Learn more here.