Thrilla in Manila..

.. actually, contrary to the ad, my April has so far been rather more a case of ennui in Hacknee – although the SOS gig really was held in the very stadium where Ali fought Frazier on that famous night in 1975..

Anyway, less chatter – from now on, this is how I’d like my name to be announced, please..

The name of the OS

Umberto Eco, September 30, 1994

“The fact is that the world is divided between users of the Macintosh computer and users of MS-DOS compatible computers. I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant. Indeed, the Macintosh is counter-reformist and has been influenced by the ‘ratio studiorum’ of the Jesuits. It is cheerful, friendly, conciliatory, it tells the faithful how they must proceed step by step to reach–if not the Kingdom of Heaven–the moment in which their document is printed. It is catechistic: the essence of revelation is dealt with via simple formulae and sumptuous icons. Everyone has a right to salvation.

“DOS is Protestant, or even Calvinistic. It allows free interpretation of scripture, demands difficult personal decisions, imposes a subtle hermeneutics upon the user, and takes for granted the idea that not all can reach salvation. To make the system work you need to interpret the program yourself: a long way from the baroque community of revellers, the user is closed within the loneliness of his own inner torment.

“You may object that, with the passage to Windows, the DOS universe has come to resemble more closely the counter-reformist tolerance of the Macintosh. It’s true: Windows represents an Anglican-style schism, big ceremonies in the cathedral, but there is always the possibility of a return to DOS to change things in accordance with bizarre decisions; when it comes down to it, you can decide to allow women and gays to be ministers if you want to.

“And machine code, which lies beneath both systems (or environments, if you prefer)? Ah, that is to do with the Old Testament, and is talmudic and cabalistic…”

What the hell is happening with the Dollar?

$2 to the pound? Bloody ridiculous. Good job I decided a couple of years back to hang onto dollars, on the basis that, y’know, it couldn’t get any worse, could it?

In other news, we’re now the proud owners of a new studio computer – a Macpro, which I’ve named Remington as he appears to be constructed entirely out of steel. So, here’s Jorge Luis Borges to say a few well-chosen words in honour of Remington:

“This was the first time Remington rifles were used in the Argentine, and it tickles my fancy to think that the firm that shaves me every morning bears the same name as the one that killed my grandfather.”

Apple of my EMI

iTunes Store will sell ENTIRE EMI CATALOG DRM-free!!11!1ONE!: “Cory Doctorow:
“Hallelujah! Apple and EMI just announced that they will be selling DRM-free Apple songs through the iTunes Music Store. The songs will cost 130 percent of the price of the existing crippled songs, and you’ll get to choose. Weirdly, Apple seems to have sold this move to EMI by saying that the DRM-free version will be a ‘premium’ offering for audiophiles who want higher-quality music. I think that audiophiles are probably the people who have the least trouble keeping up with the latest tips for efficiently ripping the DRM off of their music — the people who really need DRM-free music are the punters who can’t even spell DRM.

“This is some of the best news I’ve heard all year. DefectiveByDesign is soliciting ideas for a thank-you gift to Steve Jobs. This may just be a sneaky way of hiking music prices, but hell, it’s a whole lot more than I thought we’d get. What’s more, Apple pricing DRM-free music at $1.29 means that the $0.79-0.99 DRM-free MP3s from competing indie music stores will get a huge price advantage.”

‘What we’re adding is a choice–a new choice–and people can choose whichever one they want,’ Jobs said regarding Apple’s decision to make available two levels of sound quality and DRM restriction. Nicoli cited internal EMI tests in which higher-quality, DRM-free songs outsold its lower-quality, copy-protected counterparts 10 to 1.

Link

(Image ganked from Engadget)

(Via Boing Boing.)

Of course I’m all in favour of the removal of DRM, but, as far as I’m concerned, 256 AAC, which they’re now offering at a premium. should really have been the standard in the first place – good news all the same..

Interesting schoolmates

.. and doesn’t the young Adolph already look such a well-balanced little fellow?

(Also – it’s not alluded to in the photo caption, but the two young chaps seated next to Ludwig would later go on to star in the hugely successful “Ich bin ein Mac, Ich bin ein PC” advertising campaign..)

Konichiwa, I’m a mac

Hello?

Last night’s Oscars iPhone ad. Of course I’ll be first in the queue, although in the UK that’s probably a year away..

One for Paula