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Armchair Philosophy
A blog to cover interesting and underreported news from around the web, along with the occasional rant or musing on whatever pops in my head...
posted on 10/03/2008 12:57 PM
Looks like those days in debate camp were pretty productive!
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Playboy.com Goes Mobile with iPhone-compatible Version
posted on 04/04/2008 11:02 AM
Playboy, America’s favorite magazine (for the articles), just announced an iPhone version of the Playboy.com website. The site features an iPhone-esque UI and includes a HotorNot clone, a nightlife adviser, and Playboy Radio, an MP3-based online radio show.
Read more
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Microsoft offers $44.6B for Yahoo
posted on 02/01/2008 07:16 AM
Microsoft Corp. has pounced on slumping Internet icon Yahoo Inc. with an unsolicited takeover offer of $44.6 billion in its boldest bid yet to challenge Google Inc.'s dominance of the lucrative online search and advertising markets.
The surprise offer of $31 per share, made late Thursday and announced Friday, comes with Sunnyvale-based Yahoo in a vulnerable position.
In a statement Friday, Yahoo said it will "carefully and promptly" study Microsoft's bid.
With its profits steadily sliding, Yahoo's stock slipped to a four-year low earlier this week and a new management team has been trying to steer a turnaround but sees more turbulence through 2008.
The announcement sent Yahoo's share price up 60 percent in premarket trading, while Google fell 8 percent, weighted down by a fourth-quarter earnings report that missed Wall Street expectations.
In a letter to Yahoo's board of directors, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer indicated the world's largest software maker is determined to bring the two companies together.
To underscore its resolve, Microsoft is offering a 62 percent premium to Yahoo's closing stock price Thursday.
Since reaching a 52-week high of $34.08 in October, Yahoo shares have fallen 46 percent. Yahoo climbed $10.40 a share, or 54 percent, to $29.58 in premarket trading. Microsoft shares fell $1.40, or 4.3 percent, to $31.20.
Ballmer revealed in the letter that Yahoo had rebuffed a previous overture a year ago, saying it had a turnaround in the works. But he pointedly noted Yahoo has instead deteriorated significantly.
"A year has gone by, and the competitive situation has not improved," Ballmer added.
Microsoft's previous offer was rebuffed by Terry Semel, who stepped aside last year as chief executive under shareholder pressure.
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Apple Announces iTunes Movie Rentals and new AppleTV
posted on 01/15/2008 09:56 AM
iTunes Movie Rentals
Steve Jobs announced today the launch of iTunes Movie Rentals at the annual MacWorld conference.
"We have every major studio supporting us with iTunes Movie Rentals." - Touchstone, MGM, Miramax, Lions Gate, Fox, WB, Walt Disney, Paramount, Universal, and Sony.
- Over 1000 films by end of Feb, availible on iTunes
- 30 days after DVD release.
- Watch anywhere. Mac, PC, all iPods, iPhone.
- Watch instantly. 30 second start time with broadband.
- 30 days to start watching it. 24 hours to finish watching it once you start.
- Can transfer to device while you're watching.
- Start on computer, finish mobile.
- Rent library title: $2.99. New releases, $3.99
AppleTV
- No computer required to use is, but still syncs to computer if you like.
- Can rent movies directly from iTunes using AppleTV.
- Can rent HD with 5.1 sound, or DVD quality
- Podcasts right from Apple TV, Photos from flickr and .mac, videos from YouTube.
- Over 50M videos.
- Can buy TV and music directly from TV, and will sync back to computer if you like.
- Can play iTunes content from computer.
- HD pricing - $3.99 for library titles, $4.99 for new releases
- Entirely new UI for AppleTV.
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iPhone Feeds - Feed Reader App for iPhone
posted on 06/16/2007 3:05 PM
iPhone Feeds is a proof of concept for a Feed Reader iPhone Application.
Simply hit the "+" sign to add the URL of a feed. Feeds can be removed by hitting "edit".
Built with PHP, AJAX, and MagpieRSS.
Please leave your feedback in the comments below.
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HOW TO: Access your Mac from anywhere
posted on 02/11/2007 1:23 PM
This is Part 1 of a series of articles about setting up services on your Mac that you can access over the internet.
Have you ever wanted to get a file from your Mac, but it's at home and you're at work? How about listening to your iTunes Library when you're at a friends house, or better yet starting a small online radio station your friends can tune into?
This article will walk through the steps of pointing a domain name to your Mac at home, whether you have a single Mac or a home network full of 'em, and access your files remotely. This is only recommended for those people on a high-speed connection, at least DSL or Cable - a dial up connection probably won't work well for most people. Future articles will include discussions about setting up an online radio station, and controlling your computer remotely.
Step 1 - Find an Available Domain Name
In order to connect to your Mac, you'll need to know its address on the internet. All computers are assigned an IP address while online, but almost all ISPs will assign you a "dynamic" IP, which will change often and with no notice, as opposed to a "static" IP, which never changes. If you're lucky enough (or pay extra) to have a static IP, then this tutorial is not for you. For those who have Cable or DSL, you'll need a domain name to point to your home Mac to get around this problem.
Domain names are registered through a domain name registrar company. You can use any company you like, but for this example I'll be using GoDaddy, where new domains currently cost $8.95/year. The domain name I'll be using for this example is MyMacAtHome.com.
On the GoDaddy homepage, search for the domain name you'd like to register. If it's available, you'll see something like this:
If you find an available domain name that you like, hit the big orange "Continue" button.
Step 2 - Create Your GoDaddy Account
GoDaddy will now ask you to complete "Domain Registration Information", which includes your name, email, etc. This will setup your GoDaddy account. Hit "Continue" when you're finished.
If you already have an account with GoDaddy, you can login here and skip this step.
Step 3 - ZoneEdit and DNS
The next step in the GoDaddy checkout process, "Registration and Checkout Options", is important because we'll be updating some of the settings of this new domain name - namely, the Nameservers. Before we can complete this step, though, we need to setup an account with a free DNS service. I'll be using ZoneEdit.
The DNS record we're about to setup will tell computers on the 'net where to look for the computer that the domain name is supposed to point to. Once someone types in "MyMacAtHome.com", GoDaddy will ask ZoneEdit for the IP address of my Mac, so the request can be sent where it's supposed to go.
On the ZoneEdit homepage, click "Free Signup". Fill out the information, make sure "Select Service Option" is set to "Free Trial", and hit "Sign Up Now" to setup your account. You'll need to check your email to retrieve your generated username and password. Then click the link in the email to login.
Once logged in, you'll be presented with a link to "Add Zones". Click this, and enter your domain name in the text box on the next screen, like below:
Then click "Add Zone".
The next page is very important, as ZoneEdit will now provide the name server addresses you need to enter at GoDaddy.com. The information below is part of the example - be sure you use the information ZoneEdit provides YOU, not the information below:
Now, return to GoDaddy, and click the link that says "click here to set nameservers", illustrated below:
(note: if you took a long time to complete the ZoneEdit signup, GoDaddy may have timed out, at which point you'll need to search again for your domain and get back to the screen illustrated above)
Once you click the "nameservers" link, boxes will pop up in which you can enter the information from ZoneEdit, as follows:
Other options on this page include "Registration length", which can be as low as 1 year, and "Quick Checkout", which skips a lot of extra offers from GoDaddy during the checkout process. Change both of these, then click "Continue".
Finish the checkout process with GoDaddy.
Step 4 - DNSUpdate
So, to recap - GoDaddy will have the record of the domain name we want to use. It will then ask ZoneEdit for the IP address of our computer, so requests to our domain name goes to the intended destination.
But how does ZoneEdit know what our IP address is, especially if it's dynamic and will change often?
Enter DNSUpdate (click to download the latest version) - a small, nifty program that runs on your Mac and notifies ZoneEdit if and when your IP address changes. This way, requests to our domain name will always go to our home Mac, even if our IP address has changed.
Once you download the program using the link above, drag it into your Applications folder, or wherever else you'd like to keep it. Then, start the program. Once the program begins to load, it will ask you to install a daemon that will activate DNSUpdate when you computer starts up. Click Install and wait for the install to complete.
(note: for this to work correctly, make sure you setup DNSUpdate on a computer that's always on. You can't update your IP, or connect remotely, when your Mac is powered off.)
Once the program is loaded, you will see a window like this:
First, hit the "Add User" button. The following window will pop up:
Simply add your account information from ZoneEdit, and then change the drop down menu to the "ZoneEdit.com" option. Hit "Add" when complete. Once your new user shows up in the main window of DNSUpdate, make sure to click the "active" box, which will allow DNSUpdate to talk to ZoneEdit.
Now, you need to add information about your domain name. With your user highlighted, click the "Add Host" button. The following window will pop up:
Enter your domain name in the "Hostname" field. If you have a single computer and no network, leave the drop down menu on "Default Interface". If you have a home network with a router, you'll need to change the drop down to "External", so it reports your external IP address, not your home network IP.
Hit "Add" when complete.
If everything is setup correctly, you should now see your user, and your host, and both will have a status of "OK". If you like, you can return to ZoneEdit.com, click "Edit Zones", and double check that your account is setup correctly. The address you see in the field "IP Address" should match the IP address of your internet connection. To find your IP address, you can use the website ShowMyIP.com to view it.
(note: it may take some time for your new domain to propagate across the internet - sometimes it's instant, other times in can take a day or two. If you have DNSUpdate setup correctly, and have set the correct nameservers with GoDaddy, and your domain name isn't working, it may take some time for it to "kick in".)
Step 5 - File Sharing
Now that you can access your computer remotely, you need to setup some useful services so you have something to do once you connect. For all those times you forgot to grab an important document before you left the house, we'll setup remote file sharing.
Fire up your System Preferences and hit the "Sharing" button. Under the "Services" tab, there is a list of services you can run on your Mac, the first of which is "Personal File Sharing". Click the checkbox next to Personal File Sharing to start this service.
To access your files remotely from a computer away from home, do the following:
- In the Finder, go to the "Go" menu, and select "Connect to Server" (or hit Command-K from the Finder).
- In the box that pops up, type in the following: afp://yourdomainname.com
where yourdomainname.com is the domain you registered. - Hit the "+" sign to save this address as a favorite.
- Hit "Connect"
- When prompted, enter your username and password for the account on your remote Mac, and select the drive you'd like to mount.
Also, if you're running a home network through a router, you'll need to setup Port Forwarding on ports 548 & 427 and forward that traffic to the Mac you want to connect to remotely. See your router manual for instructions.
Conclusion
That's it! Now you can access your home computer using your custom domain name, and add, edit and delete files from your home computer. Check back soon for additional articles that use your new remote-accessible Mac to setup an online radio station, and to control your computer remotely.
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11 Most Important Philosophical Quotations
posted on 02/07/2007 3:22 PM
1. “The unexamined life is not worth living” – Socrates (470-399 BCE)
Socrates’ [wiki] belief that we must reflect upon the life we live was partly inspired by the famous phrase inscribed at the shrine of the oracle at Delphi, “Know thyself.” The key to finding value in the prophecies of the oracle was self-knowledge, not a decoder ring.
Socrates felt so passionately about the value of self-examination that he closely examined not only his own beliefs and values but those of others as well. More precisely, through his relentless questioning, he forced people to examine their own beliefs. He saw the citizens of his beloved Athens sleepwalking through life, living only for money, power, and fame, so he became famous trying to help them.
Read the rest...
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Apple's Jobs urges music companies to change piracy stance
posted on 02/07/2007 09:13 AM
Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs Tuesday issued a challenge to the music industry, saying Apple would support an open online music marketplace if the four-largest music companies would drop the use of digital-rights management software. That kind of software prevents the copying of music sold online.
In an open letter posted on Apple's Website, Jobs said "DRMs haven't worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy," and said the music companies receive few benefits from selling 90% of their music on CDs, which don't have DRM software built in, and the remaining amount online with DRM technology.
Apple's iTunes Music Store is currently listed as the world top-selling online music store with more than 2 billion songs sold.
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Favre to play in 2007 (updated)
posted on 02/02/2007 11:38 AM
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre will return for the 2007 season, he told the Sun Herald in an exclusive interview this morning.
"I am so excited about coming back," he said. "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year and that's encouraging.
"My offensive line looks good, the defense played good down the stretch. I'm excited about playing for a talented young football team."
Favre, the former Hancock North Central and Southern Miss star, told the team about his return this morning. He said he'd made the decision after consulting with his family at home in Hattiesburg. His wife Deanna said she didn't want to be involved in the decision-making this time around, though.
His older brother, Scott Favre, found out while working out in a gym.
"He made the decision on his own," Scott Favre said. "Deanna, his wife, didn't want anything to do with the decision this time around.
"He was leaning toward retirement during the middle of the season. Then, the team turned things around and that rejuvenated him to play again."
Favre said he wanted to come back in the locker room after the season finale against the Chicago Bears. Last year, he waited until late April to let the team know he was coming back.
This morning, he called the team then told favorite receiver Donald Driver before calling the Sun Herald.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson confirmed Favre had told the team he plans to return.
"The Packers are excited by his decision and look forward to a successful 2007 campaign," Thompson said in a statement.
The team scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference Friday.
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posted on 01/26/2007 06:58 AM
- That's OK, I Wasn't Using My Civil Liberties Anyway
- Let's Fix Democracy in This Country First
- If You Want a Nation Ruled By Religion, Move to Iran
- If You Can Read This, You're Not Our President
- Hey, Bush Supporters: Embarrassed Yet?
- George Bush: Creating the Terrorists Our Kids Will Have to Fight
- Impeachment: It's Not Just for Blowjobs Anymore
- America: One Nation, Under Surveillance
- They Call Him "W" So He Can Spell It
- No, Seriously, Why Did We Invade Iraq?
- We're Making Enemies Faster Than We Can Kill Them
- Is It Vietnam Yet?
- Bush Doesn't Care About White People, Either
- You Elected Him. You Deserve Him
- Impeach Cheney First
- When Bush Took Office, Gas Was $1.46
- The Republican Party: Our Bridge to the 11th Century
- What Part of "Bush Lied" Don't You Understand?
- 2004: Embarrassed – 2005: Horrified – 2006: Terrified
- Bush Never Exhaled
- At Least Nixon Resigned
- As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. - H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
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