Overheard Online

Ted Dziuba on Web Technology

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:53:32 +0000

What about OpenID, the best damned federated authentication scheme the world has ever seen, but nobody in the world can figure out how to use? If not, surely you must have heard of Google Gears. This was the Firefox plug-in that was supposed to establish Google as a first-rate operating system vendor, even before Chrome was supposed to do the exact same thing? I’m still waiting for these technologies to change the world…any day now.
Ted Dziuba on Web Technology

Why Does Everything Suck on Social Media

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:49:09 +0000

Just for context, please remember that there is actual precedent for creating value for people with technology. Think of word processors, databases, spreadsheets, web browsers, web publishing, search engines, email, etc. Social media is the first major computing revolution that as far as I can tell, has produced essentially nothing. But the social media craze is perfectly fitting in a society where producing nothing has been in fashion for years. Mortgages without credit. Profit without product. Riches without risk. Oops.
Why Does Everything Suck on Social Media

Cosmic Variance on McCain

admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:49:45 +0000

Eight years of Bush have not been kind to science. And given the challenges we are facing (e.g., how to sustain well over 6 billion people without destroying our planet), this is not the time to short-change the scientific enterprise. Sadly, there is much evidence that McCain will carry on the Republican trend. Picking a running-mate that believes the Earth is 3000 years old, and that humans have nothing to do with global warming, does not inspire confidence.
Cosmic Variance on McCain

Additionally @randomperson who commented: Thank you so much for the compliment, we really appreciate your words of encouragement. If you ever have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to let us know. Once again: you rock!

GigaOM on Wireless Broadband

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:13:40 +0000

Wireless broadband has limits (and is certainly more expensive when it comes to transferring bits), but the real threat to wireless broadband isn’t that data use will overload the network, but that carriers won’t be able to walk the line between delivering compelling services at a price point that makes them money and keeps users surfing.
GigaOM on Wireless Broadband

A VC on the Economy

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:59:44 +0000

So let’s not flip out too much about this brokerage bust. It’s going to hurt in the short term here in NYC and the effects will be felt on main street and even in the venture business. But in the long term this is all good. That’s why we need to be careful with all of this bailout activity. It’s not just moral hazard, it’s propping up bad businesses that need to fail so talent and capital can move to more productive efforts.
A VC on the Economy

Daring Fireball on Microsoft

admin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:08:20 +0000

But the spots were undeniably successful in one important regard: they were noticed and discussed. I suspect what sparked the panic is that the Seinfeld ads were too good, too accurate at capturing just what it is that Microsoft, as a company and brand, stands for: nothing.
Daring Fireball on Microsoft

Dare Obasanjo on Password Recovery

admin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:00:58 +0000

The fundamental flaw of pretty much every password recovery feature I’ve found online is that what they consider “secret” information actually isn’t thanks to social networking, blogs and even Wikipedia. Yahoo! Mail password recovery relies on asking you your date of birth, zip code and country of residence as a proof of identity. Considering that this is the kind of information that is on the average Facebook profile or MySpace page, it seems ludicrous that this is all that stops someone from stealing your identity online.
Dare Obasanjo on Password Recovery

InfoWorld on Windows 7

admin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:51:27 +0000

I still believe that Windows 7 will be a flop. Why? Because of the company’s continued indifference to the legions of XP holdouts. Whether due to pride or stubbornness, Microsoft’s refusal to create a more accessible migration path from XP to Windows 7 is simply inexcusable. In the end, it will be its undoing.
InfoWorld on Windows 7

Technosailor on Politics

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:32:30 +0000

But my point is this: quit worrying about everyone else and worry about yourself. Take care of your families, jobs and responsibilities. Go and vote on issues, not personalities. Remember, we have to live with whoever we vote into office in November. There are much bigger things to be concerned with during this very difficult time than lipstick and moosehunting.
Technosailor on Politics

Techdirt on Music Sharing

admin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:36:08 +0000

Is it really that difficult for folks in the industry to at least admit that many, many people discover new music through file sharing? They don’t have to say that it’s okay or that it’s legal. But if they’re going to come up with something that really competes, they should at least be willing to admit what’s really happening in the marketplace. It’s great that they’re trying — but pretending that file sharing doesn’t exist isn’t how you respond to the market threat.
Techdirt on Music Sharing