Archive for February 2008
Negroponte: OLPC Machine Will Be $50 in 2011
Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 2:32 PM by Malcolm
"The target has been $100 ... And we'll get there before the end of 2009," Negroponte said. "(The price) will get down to $50 in 2011."
Edited on: Sunday, June 15, 2008 11:58 AMWhen the world's great scientific thinkers change their minds
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 2:31 PM by Malcolm
One hundred and sixty-five eminent thinkers, researchers, and communicators, at the annual request of the edge.org website, answered the following question: "What Have You Changed Your Mind About? Why?"
What Makes Something "Better Than Free"?
Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 2:30 PM by Malcolm
In a very thought-provoking essay entitled "Better Than Free", Kevin Kelly, Senior Maverick at Wired, probes the question of how thoughts, ideas and words that are so constantly, easily, and casually copied can still have economic value. 'If reproductions of our best efforts are free,' he asks, 'how can we keep going? To put it simply, how does one make money selling free copies?' He enumerates and explains eight qualities that can, indeed, make something financially viable — 'better than free.' A very timely article in light of the constant discussion of RIAA/piracy/copyright issues.
SPORE: Origin and Evolution of Life from Creator of The Sims
Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 2:29 PM by Malcolm
From the mind of Will Wright, the creator of The Sims, comes SPORE™, an epic journey that takes you from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and technology and eventually all the way into the deepest reaches of outer space.
Wired.com got an extensive first look at the latest version of Spore, a grandiose simulation of every stage of life, from the primordial soup to space exploration.
Chinese Professor Suing Google And Yahoo For Making Him Disappear From Chinese Search
Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 2:28 PM by Malcolm
Reported in Techdirt. Guo Quan, a professor in China who lost his job after founding a democracy group and pushing for a more democratic China, is going to sue Google and Yahoo for removing all results with his name in China. Google and Yahoo, of course, have agreed to play by local rules in China, upsetting many. Legally, it would seem like this suit has little chance of success. What this actually does is to call attention to his plight -- and on that front, it's clearly a successful strategy.
Richard Stallman on OLPC
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 2:27 PM by Malcolm
"In an interview while he was in Hyderabad, India, RMS praises for the One Laptop Per Child Project. He is even contemplating making a switch to XO, the flagship machine of the project, from his "old thinkpad". Stallman went on to say that the OLPC laptop has given people a way to use the free BIOS. He is, however dissatisfied with the wireless networking system used in the XO."
How Google Got Its Colorful Logo
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 2:27 PM by Malcolm
In just a few short years, Google's logo has become as recognizable as Nike's swoosh and NBC's peacock. Ruth Kedar, the graphic designer who developed the now-famous logo, shows the iterations that led to the instantly recognizable primary colors and Catull typeface that define the Google brand.
