Being the heavy user of Last.fm I was a little concerned when techcrunch broke the story that supposably, last.fm had given the RIAA, information pertaining to users who had scrobbled any tracks from the Upcoming and undrealeased U2 album. The fact I can't stand the rose tinted glasses wearing, Irish Hypocrite is beside the point.
Firstly, what got me there was no mention of the Data Protection act fair enough last.fm is a CBS company, but its still based in the UK (for the most part) and that would mean the passing of this data would be illegal. You cannot pass data to a third party without consent from the data subject.
Also it seems like there are alot of people and blogs posting unsubstantiated rumours to get traffic and therefore ad revenue etc. I know its always been there but it seems like everybody is at it even big news companies, what little credibilty these sites have is been quickly ruined by hastly researched stories and a all too trigger happy publish finger.
Hot of the presses a car factory in the UK is close to closing. I love how we think the UK still has a car industry, and we now have the go to phrase we need government support.
Car companies are making less money and don't need such output from their respective factories. These business are too big even for the good times, getting money off the government can only help for so long. They will still loose money and still lay-off or even close the factory. Business are categorically not big enough to fail, and if the companies or unions associated with those companies believe that all there prayers are answered with a handout. They should be forced to close.
We are already as a nation up to the neck in debt, yet we seem content to believe what the government says and continue borrowing and spending as if money is going out of fashion. Business isn't a business if it isn't making money from its products and ultimately it ends in failure.
Look at the US auto-industry, GM has announced that it is going to cut 50,000 jobs and needs at least $12 billion to keep going. The first round of bailout money was meant to put a stop to this and ultimately the business is so big and loosing money from so many outlets, the company as a whole is un-viable. A bank wouldn't lend to GM in the good times under those conditions so why should a Government under the same ultimatum.
In an interesting twist, Computer World is reporting that a federal judge ruled last week that the Mac clone maker Psystar can continue its countersuit against computer maker and Mac OS developer Apple Corporation. Neowin
So what is Apple's next move, well thats quite simple. If you can't beat them fairly beat them unfairly. I can see Apple taking some of that Cash on Hand, and buying Psystar outright and effectively putting them out of business.
NAMM was a couple of weeks ago now, and there have been some major announcements in the music industry. Roland have managed to push as many new products onto us as I can ever remember at least over the last 5 Years. The most interesting of which is the newest addtion to the V series of instruments the V-Piano.
What is so special about this is the keyboard itself models the sound of a keyboard, meaning the computer generates a fake piano in every sense, the casing the hammers, dampers and strings. In minute detail, all this means you can replicate the sound of a piano so realisitically you would find it difficult to tell the difference. It also means you can customise the way the piano plays, for instance changing the coating of the strings, and the hammers for a particular octave(s) of the keyboard. Making a truly unique sound.
I cannot wait until I get a go on one of these Roland is set to have a production Demo at MusikMesse Frankfurt at Easter.
Well at least some stores are banning the popular social networking sites from the instore computers. While alot can be said including that its an evil move by a big corporation. Although it is since been found out that Apple is not doing this by a policy and it appears only a handful of stores are operating the policy.
I personally think that Apple will enact such a policy across all stores soon, they want to stay profitable after all and time is money. The time spent dealing with questions and people who a clearly not there to buy only to check their gmail account has to stop. Apple has a massive retail presence based on quality of staff, if they are to keep the quality of staff high and thus maintain this appearance through the oncoming storm, they have to draw the line at some point.
