The Daily Loper – March 31, 2009

Things Just Happen To You When Your A Hep Guy Edition

Today’s links of interest:

• Selig appoints committee to study Oakland A’s
  No headline has ever concerned me more. Prediction: within a year MLB is talking about contraction all over again.
• Sun-Times Media Group files for bankruptcy
  Sad news indeed, but note some of the core reasons.
• Lost 80′s-Style Theme Song
  Ah, 80′s TV. The gift the keeps on getting parodied.
• From Honda, a Mind-Reading Robot
  Hmm, maybe that very very last scene in BSG wasn’t as anvilicious as we assumed.

The Daily Loper – Mar 30, 2009

Until The War Is Stopped The Battle Can’t Be Won Edition

Today’s links of interest:

• Is Microsoft Set to Abandon its Top-Down Zune Approach?
  Unfortunately for Microsoft this Zune strategy isn’t likely to work either. As long as Ballmer keeps insisting that Windows Mobile is the OS for mobile applications and games, and that Zune is the mobile entertainment platform, Zune is doomed. How can your mobile entertainment platform not run games?
• Skype for iPhone: It’s official
  Hurray! I can finally use my iPhone at home to, you know, make phone calls.
• A costly fly in the TV Everywhere ointment?
  Great concept, lots of complications in making it real. Now get to work. We’re waiting to watch HBO on our iPhones.

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The Daily Loper – March 27, 2009

Bad Karma Thing To Do Edition

Today’s links of interest:

• Charter Communications Files for Bankruptcy
  Too bad.
• TWoP Recap of BSG Series Finale
  We’ve long loved Jacob’s long recaps of Battlestar Galactica on TWoP — even if a lot of our commenters on our Bravo SendsTelevision Without Pity To Hell post disagree. And, for quite some time now, his recaps of that show have been the only reason any of us visit that site. So, despite the fact that we disagree with his grade on the finale, here is one last link in honor of the end of not one, but two eras.
• Space smells funny, astronauts say
  Kinda cool, except don’t you need oxygen to smell something?

The FTC on DRM: Fighting for Consumers or Making Toothless Threats?

The moment digital media consumers have long waited for finally came this week as the FTC held a Town Hall meeting to discuss issues surrounding the use of DRM technologies.

From the beginning it was clear the FTC has heard consumer complaints about DRM related issues and takes the matter seriously. What wasn’t clear is what, exactly, the FTC is prepared to do to ensure that consumers get what they pay for when they purchase digital media products.

Mary K. Engle, Acting Deputy Directory for the Bureau of Consumer Protections, opened the workshop with some tough words for companies selling DRM protected media products, warning, “If your advertising giveth and your EULA taketh away, don’t be surprised if the FTC comes calling.” Further, Engle noted that consumer distrust over DRM makes for an unhealthy marketplace. (more…)

The Daily Loper – March 26, 2009

You Won’t Be Forgotten Edition

Today’s links of interest:

• Clear eyes, full hearts, RENEWED! Friday Night Lights will return
  Hell yes!!
• California May Ban Black Cars
  Racists!
• Phil Spector jury starts deliberating murder charge
  Wow. We had totally forgotten that this was even going on.

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