Some of the news that is fit to print

Mac attack

So conventional wisdom has it that the amazing success of Apple's iPod and iTunes could allow Apple to complete against Microsoft -- at least seriously, amazing 1984 ad not withstanding. Well, if we are any indication (and there is every reason to believe we are not), people are going to be testing the waters. This weekend, we bought an iMac G5. It is an Apple so of course it looks elegant. But it also works... so far anyway. I just need to figure out how to get all my music over from my old PC to the new computer. If you have hits, let me know.

I'll keep you informed.

An Apple a day...

Um, COOL!

Apple yesterday introduced the iPod shuffle -- cheeper and smaller then the traditional iPod. The WSJ sure liked it.

New iPod...

Um... Yipee!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my iPod. And this new one looks really cool.

Newest iPod From Apple Holds Photos and Music [NYT, 10.27.2004] By JOHN MARKOFF The new iPod Photo, priced at $499 and $599, will be able to store up to 25,000 wallet-size images and up to 15,000 songs.

Meanwhile XM is going to have a new portable satellite radio. Slate argues both the iPod and the portable satellite radio have their advantages.

One really disappointing thing about MyFi is that it doesn't let you create customized play lists—you can jump between the individual songs and talk show segments you record, but only in a prescribed order. The biggest problem with XM right now, though, is content. It's got 130 channels that I don't want to listen to. There's no Howard Stern, no Car Talk, no Rush Limbaugh. If XM has ever played Fischerspooner or Trooper, I missed it. If you want your music, stick to the iPod. The million or so tracks available through the iTunes store are only a subset of the millions of songs, shows, and books ever recorded, but that's still an order of magnitude more than what XM can fit on 130 play lists. You can also rip your CD collection onto your iPod, legally.

Related link

A Guarded Contextual Ad [Poynter, 9.10.2004]
This made me laugh. Reading this New York Times story about new allegations that President Bush skipped National Guard duty during the Vietnam War years, I got to the bottom of the page to find a short list of Google-powered contextual text ads. Yes, the ads touted joining today's National Guard. That's not quite as bad as the airline ad on the page with the story about an airline crash, yet it somehow doesn't seem quite right. The other text ad was an anti-Democrat one: "W Ketchup: You don't support Democrats. Why should your ketchup?" Wouldn't that ad fit better with a more pro-Bush article? You've gotta love automated contextual advertising. It's occasionally good for a chuckle.

Seekin' info about you...

As noted on Poynter's 'E-media tidbits'
Blog Readers: Take This Survey

Over at BlogAds, Henry Copeland is conducting a survey of blog readers. He explains why: "With luck, we'll get a fun and semi-useful snapshot of blog readers. If blog readers portray themselves accurately, the aggregate data could be good PR for blog advertising." If you'd like a demographic snapshot of the readers of your own blog, Copeland says he's happy to oblige. Just tell your blog's readers to take the survey and for question No. 22 (Referral), type in the name of your blog. (Caveat: All your readers must type in exactly the same letters for your blog.) I'll take advantage of this for E-Media Tidbits, so if you take Copeland's survey, please type in "E-Media Tidbits" -- exactly like that -- for question No. 22.

You can just type in "CJD's blog"

iTuning in...

REVIEW: New ITunes Boosts Features [AP]
A year after Apple Computer Inc. proved that commercial music downloads from the Internet can be both convenient and legal, its pioneering iTunes software has undergone a revision that offers a flurry of advances — but takes one step backward.

The WP's Cynthia L. Webb wraps it up this way:

Dark Side of the Tune?
Apple's iTunes music service continues to shine with the news that its enhanced service helped set a weekly sales record for downloads on the site.
The company yesterday said people downloaded 3.3 million songs since it launched a version of the site last week with new features including free song downloads, nifty CD case covers and a way for fans to mix and post their music play lists online for other people to rate.
But Associated Press writer Matthew Fordahl (story linked above) noted a most interesting development in iTunes 4.5: "iTunes reduces the number of times the same list of purchased songs can be burned to compact discs. Most people never hit the old limit of 10 burns and probably won't come close to the new restriction of seven. But such rules seem silly given that an audio CD can be easily duplicated. At least the new restriction doesn't apply to songs bought before last week."
And more: "ITunes still sets the standard for music organization software and the ever-increasing population of online music stores. No one has come close to iTunes' ease of use and features. ... The improvements go on: 30-second previews can be saved in playlists that serve as wish lists; users can copy links to songs to e-mail to friends; Apple is even giving away free music each week," Fordahl also wrote. "All the improvements outweigh the tighter copyright restriction, but the fact that the rules are fluid lends credence to concerns that people are losing freedom and control over what's stored on their computers. It also begs the question: What's next?"

Meanwhile...
Apple's iTunes Breaks One-Week Sales Record [Reuters, 5.5.2004]
Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes online music store broke its one-week sales record after the computer maker updated its music player software with new features including the ability for users to publish play lists, the company said on Wednesday.

Back from the MotherLand...

Some stuff from my travels last week. As I mentioned, I was in the United Kingdom -- London to be exact. Earlier, I posted where I was staying at Hampton Court Palace. It was nothing short of amazing. We were staying in the "Georgian House," which was actually used as the pastery shop when Henry VIII was there. Anyway, it was a fantastic place to visit.

I was lucky enough to get tickets to Michael Frayn's new play, "Democracy." Frayn is one of my favorite playwrights who wrote "Noises Off," which was turned into a movie in 1992... but see it on stage...
He also penned one of my favorite plays ever, "Copenhagen," which is the re-imagining of the mysterious wartime meeting between two Nobel laureates to discuss the atomic bomb. It sounds dense, but it is amazing. Here is a link to some reviews.
"Democracy" follows a similar vein. It is about the chancellor of what was then West Germany, who made the initial efforts to reconcile with communist East Germany. Again, it sounds dense, and if it was anybody other than Fryan, it would be, but he just makes this subject sing. The play is wonderfully acted. But it is the way the production is written and crafted that makes this otherwise stoggy subject a dramatic powerhouse.
Don't take my word for it.
Here is the UK Telegraph's review...
The Telegraph's political reporter loved it too...
And a story about Fryan himself...
The NYT did one as well...

Some of the UK news while I was over there...
So you think housing here is expensive????
In U.K., fears that the roof will fall [IHT]
A few weeks ago, a steel magnate, Lakshmi Mittal, paid what is believed to be the highest price ever recorded for a home anywhere in the world, forking over £70 million for a mansion in West London that was previously owned by Bernie Ecclestone, the head of Formula One auto racing.

The big news during the week was British PM Tony Blair announcing that he would change course and put the UK's participation in the EU up for a referendum.
Blair stakes his future on Britain's place in EU [UK Telegraph]

No Reverse Gear, Please [Newsweek International, 5.3.2004]
Blair relishes being a passionate advocate of Europe to his wary countrymen

The Economist opines...
Britain's referendum on the EU constitution [The Economist]
Why Tony Blair is right to propose a national referendum on the draft EU constitution

One UK media note...
UK publisher Richard Desmond went on an extraordinary, anti-German tirade during what was supposed to have been a routine business meeting with executives.

The WSJ actually opines on the issue...
Fleet Street Uber Alles [WSJ, 4.26.2004]

There was tech news in the UK papers as well...
ID card technology trial launched [BBC]
Home office minister Des Browne demonstrates the proposed ID card
A trial of identity card technology was launched on Monday involving 10,000 volunteers.

And, of course, Iraq...
But more on that later... plus more on the AI travesty that occured while I was away.

Overall, a good trip, but I'm glad to be back.

Web favs

PC Magazine has created its list of its top 100 Web sites. They have also updated our Top 100 Classics.

Um, your book sucks!

Amazon Glitch Unmasks War of Reviewers [NYT, 2.14.2004]
By AMY HARMON
A glitch on Amazon's Canadian site revealed the identities of people who had anonymously posted book reviews on the U.S. site.

The Super Blog.. er, Bowl...

So I do not write about sporting events very often, but the Super Bowl is not really a sporting event, is it? It is generally one of the worst games of the year

As you probably know, the Super Bowl is this weekend...
Featuring the New England Patriots vs. the Panthers
USAToday.com has profiles of both the Patriots and the Panthers

There is a ton to read about the games...
ESPN is ready to go, of course...
As is Sports Illustrated...

The Age of the Bargain Quarterback [WSJ, 1.30.2004] There's a simple way to predict the Super Bowl's outcome: For four consecutive years, the team with the lower-paid passer has won the big game.

As you know, some people watch the game mostly for the ads...

Many Watch Super Bowl for the ads [AP, 1.29.2004] The Super Bowl continues to be about marketing as much as sport, according to people who say they watch the broadcast for more than football.

And there is an entire Web site dedicated to Super Bowl ads... of course there is! AdBowl.com ramps up for Super Sunday You can vote for your favorite ads while watching the Super Bowl. (Via AdRants)

Super Bowl Are Ads Less Extravagant [WSJ, 1.30.2004] Advertisers are taking a tamer approach toward this year's Super Bowl, and some agency people think lingering uncertainty about the economy is fostering the more conservative climate.

Super Bowl Remains Must-Buy TV [NYT, 1.29.2004] A preview of the Ad Bowl and analysis of what this year's event will mean for advertisers.

Love, Wisdom and Dentures Star in Super Bowl Ads [Reuters , 1.27.2004] Three things to remember when watching this Sunday's Super Bowl: You can't munch on potato chips without your teeth, finding a new job should feel like falling in love, and sometimes the underdog prevails.

New Crop of Odd Super Bowl Ads to Debut [AP, 1.22.2004] A new crop of contenders will be taking their shot at immortality at next week's Super Bowl, but they won't be doing it on the football field.

Some Ads to Run During Super Bowl [AP, 1.22.2004] The Super Bowl has become as much a competition among the top creative minds in the advertising industry as it is for NFL players and coaches. Here is a preview of some of the contenders for this year's advertising battle...

and a rundown of the ads themselves... ESPN readers rate the best ads MISC Super Bowl links... Most of these come from Poynter's always interesting Al Tompkins Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest day of the year for the fast-food delivery business. USA Today reported: More pizza will be sold Feb. 1, Super Bowl Sunday, than any other day of 2004. Pizza has become to Super Bowl Sunday what eggs are to Easter. Or candy canes to Christmas. Experts say that's no accident. It's not just because pizza marketers are pushing it so hard. It's also because pizza is the one food that seems to best meet three game-day criteria: It's cheap. It's easy. It's social. People eat a lot of guacamole on Super Bowl Sunday. The Santa Ana, Calif.-based California Avocado Commission said avocado sales for the Super Bowl are about five percent of the annual total. "This Super Bowl Sunday," the CAC said, "Americans will dig into 43.5 million pounds of guacamole, enough to cover Reliant Stadium's football field over seven feet deep, end zone to end zone." Here are some low-fat food tips for Super Bowl parties. Super Bowl coverage is known for what ads run each year. Adweek has coverage. The iTunes ad already has leaked out. What's the connecction between the outcome of the Super Bowl and the direction the stock market will take for the rest of the year? MSNBC explains that one. What's the connection between the Super Bowl and sex? A questionable but interesting survey. Canadian researchers have found a significant jump in the number of car crashes after the Super Bowl telecast. The study, published last year, said that people who supported the winning team were less likely to be involved in a wreck than those who rooted for the losers. ABC News reported: The results aren't surprising, says Dr. Tareg Bey, an emergency room physician and associate clinical professor at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. "People have drunk alcohol and are in a 'winner' or 'loser' mood. Both can be dangerous when driving a vehicle," Bey says. However, the study found those in a "winner" mood were involved in fewer accidents. There is no truth to the story that domestic violence increases on Super Bowl Sunday. The Houston Chronicle takes a look at the story. Also the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported just before the Super Bowl last year: Last year on Super Bowl Sunday, 45 incidents of domestic violence were reported. An average Sunday in Las Vegas in 2002 had 53 domestic violence incidents. In 2001, 54 people reportedly were attacked during domestic disturbances on Super Bowl Sunday. That was five more than the average Sunday for that year, according to police figures, but far from the most violent day of the year in Las Vegas households. For more super Bowl Legends and Myths, see "Super Bowl Lore: Part of the Game." Also David Mikkelson of the Urban Legends Reference Pages reviews the same myths in "Super Bull Sunday." I like what MSNBC did with the Super Bowl story. They have a cool little interactive screen to play with. Especially if you have not followed the game much before this weekend, it is a quick tutorial to become "Bowl Literate."