Archive for March 18th, 2008
Arthur C. Clarke, a visionary science fiction writer who penned more than 100 books on space, science and the future, died Wednesday at home in Sri Lanka. He was 90.
I grew up reading Clarke’s works and, of course, watched “2001 : A Space Odyssey” as well as the follow-up 2010.
Clarke was regarded as a technological seer as well as a science-fiction writer. He was credited with the concept of communications satellites in 1945, decades before they became a reality.
Geosynchronous orbits, which keep satellites in a fixed position relative to the ground, are called Clarke orbits.
Clarke spent his life hoping to come in contact with life from another world, and while I have no such aspirations, I thank him for providing vast universes to get lost in while I was child.
“All explorers are seeking something they have lost. It is seldom that they find it, and more seldom still that the attainment brings them greater happiness than the quest.” - Arthur C. Clarke.
I am not a HUGE wii fan. I have played it several times, and as a geek, I think the technology behind it is pretty cool. That being said, I just can’t see myself playing wii tennis in my living room by myself…
Anywho, this guy below is obviously way smarter then your average bear, and he has done some pretty cool things hacking the wii.
This is a good lesson for companies out there who close off their technologies and prevent people from modding it or hacking it… Apple, I’m talking to you… The masses will always be able to think of way cooler things to do then you can, and by allowing them the access you profit from increase sales and advancement of your tech…
I love the sporty head-mounted sensor bar…. LOL
As a side note… if Nintendo chooses to incorporate this technology into some of it’s shooter games… I will definitely be buying a wii…
In recent months there have been buzz around Nine Inch Nails and Trent Reznor putting his music online and allowing it to be freely downloaded. As it turns out, and pay attention to this RIAA, he made a TON of money doing it. How you ask? He allowed the music to be downloaded for free and then offered premiums with the purchase of hard copies and other mediums for the album. Turns out, that if you allow people to download the music, they actually also want to pay the artist, and get extras..
Now, I am personally not a NIN fan, but I have to give props for the online stuff. Radiohead has also done this in the past and they have also made a grip of money doing it.
Now, R.E.M. is providing the newest single “Supernatural Superserious” as a free stream from [ remhq.com ] . They also are encouraging their listener to mash the video and make their own music video… very cool.
Unlike Reznor and Radiohead, R.E.M. is still under contract with their label Warner Bros. and therefore are limited in what they can offer, but it is exciting to see that they are being backed by the label to do this. Maybe they [the labels] have been paying attention and are learning that they are way behind and have been on the wrong side of the DRM war. Well, that may be wishful thinking, but one can hope.
In the end, props to you R.E.M. for pushing the limits with Accelerate, and you have earned a sale here.
