Rosie the robot from the Jetsons?

This is so cool. 

http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-software/042910-a-robot-that-balances-on-a-ball

Can an actual Rosie be that far behind?

Out with the old

I was talking web development with a colleague the other day and a thought popped in my head.  Six years ago an example of cutting edge javascript code was the broswer_sniff.js.  Now if I find something that sniffs browsers I want to make it go away as fast as possible. Amazing how techniques change over time...

This guy knows what it takes to ship software

Although he is writing a RPG and I write enterprise software I think our views on reuse and pushing out a product are very similar. 

http://jeff-vogel.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-i-saved-gaming-industry-overnight.html

You have to ship it to make money.

Convergence is here

As new versions of the iPhone, iPad and iTouch get cranked out we are seeing a refinement of these devices in fulfilling it's primary function - as a music player / phone / simple computing platform.  What the world has yet to understand is that these devices are about to become interwoven into every aspect of our lives. At some point an iPhone has enough storage to store your movies, music, files and any thing else that is digital. Your iDevice will be a transportation mechanisim for you to have your data with you everywhere you go.  What is missing right now is the interfaces to plug into to let your iDevice control your house AC, Dim the lights, remote start your car, or turn on your TV and change the channel.

What Steve Jobs needs to do right now is contact ViZio, Sony, Samsung and any other player in the AV industry that wants in on the ground floor of this ubiquitous new controlling technology.  Have them add a slot where the iDevice can plug in.  It could be with a USB type connection or a cradle or an actual slot that the device fits into.  This would work with mobile electronics too.  Contact the car entertainment manufacturers and have the same interface added. As the OS gets better at multitasking your home computing station ends up being just some large monitors you plug the iPad into. 

Why should anyone pay for a DVD/Entertainment system in their car anymore?  For $1000 I can by two iPads that will keep the kids happy for hours.  http://apple.slashdot.org/story/10/04/21/0747242/The-iPad-As-In-Car-Entertainment-System-Killer?from=rss

Android will follow suit, but the vertical integration is not there.  The winner here will be the consumer and Apple Computer Company.

Buy Apple stock now

By any other name would smell as sweet.

This is copied from somewhere, but is so funny I had to share

Everyone knows that if you are going to operate a business in today’s world you need a domain name. It is advisable to look at the domain name selected as other see it and not just as you think it looks. Failure to do this may result in situations such as the following (legitimate) companies who deal in everyday humdrum products and services but clearly didn’t give their domain names enough consideration:


1. A site called ‘Who Represents‘ where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name… wait for it… is www.whorepresents.com

2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at www.expertsexchange.com

3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at www.penisland.net

4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at www.therapistfinder.com

5. Then of course, there’s the Italian Power Generator company… www.powergenitalia.com

6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South
Wales:
www.molestationnursery.com

7. If you’re looking for computer software, there’s always www.ipanywhere.com

8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is www.cummingfirst.com

9. Then, of course, there’s these brainless art designers, and their whacky website:
www.speedofart.com

10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at www.gotahoe.com

I'll make you an offer you can't refuse.

So I'm just thinking out of the box here.  What if in this world of malware you could pay for protection? I'm not talking about purchasing Auntie Virus or malware scanners. I'm not talking cash but computer time... Botnets are essentially cloud resources created through the unknowing installation of malware.  Large companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are ramping up their cloud resources. What if a new business model came out that said I could give my allegiance (computer spare cycles) to an organization that would protect me.  Would this serve an incentive to provide a solution for safeguarding my PC?  How would this manifest itself?

We already know that botnets for different organizations have attacked each other.  What if this were some how commercialized?  Kind of like the business owner in the bad part of town paying protection money to the local hoods and then the Boss moves in.  Don't think it would not happen at a Geopolitical level either. We are pretty sure China has their resources.  Google is trying to challenge them.  Which is bigger?  Which will win?  Will this kick off the cyber arms race?  Each side ramping up more and more resources waiting for the day to press the button and corrupt the other side?

Patently Unpatentable

Are you kidding me???  IBM is attempting to patent optimization of a software program by trial and error.  Don't believe me? Look here http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=vYLJAAAAEBAJ&dq=refactoring+software. What's next, copyright on the binary 1?  How about patenting the process of determining if your PC is locked up and using Ctrl Alt Del to restart...

This has to be a late April Fools joke right?

WIRED Marketing Fail

So I am a subscriber to WIRED.  I am also a IT professional. I am fairly security conscious, not likely to fall for any phish. I see adverts and custom email campaigns all the time for different offers.  Here is one from WIRED that struck me as an opportune way to spear phish IT people.

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view

.

		Dear WIRED Reader, At WIRED, we strongly value our reader's opinions. That's why, as Vice President and Publisher of WIRED, I'm personally inviting you to complete this online survey for our Preferred Subscriber Network™, an exclusive group of readers to whom we turn first when we want to get helpful feedback or to share the latest information on new products and services we think you'll enjoy. As a thank you for completing this survey, you will be entered into a sweepstakes giveaway for a chance to win $50,000 *. And, after completing the survey, you can enjoy all of the benefits that come with membership - including invitations to special events, private sales and new product announcements. Simply click on the link below or cut and paste the link into your browser. http://cnsurvey.biz/Instructions.html?magID=37&id=10000110175654790&w=2138&b=s Thank you and welcome to the Preferred Subscriber Network™. Sincerely, Howard Mittman Vice President and Publisher WIRED

*NO PURCHASE OR SURVEY COMPLETION NECESSARY. To enter and for full rules, including alternate method of entry, click here . Starts 12:01 AM ET February 16th, 2010 and ends 11:59 PM ET June 30th, 2010, when all entries must be received. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States/DC, 13 years of age or older (18 or older in Maine), except employees of Sponsor, Administrator, Promoter and their immediate families. Odds of winning depend on the number of Creative Presentations. If this Creative Presentation is selected, the odds of winning depend on the number of entries received through this Creative Presentation. Void outside the 50 United States/DC and where prohibited. ARV of Grand Prize: $50,000. Sponsor: ePrize, LLC, One ePrize Drive, Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069. Administrator: Equation Research, LLC, 453 E. Wonderview Avenue, #250, Estes Park, CO 80517. Promoter: The Condé Nast Publications, 1166 Sixth Avenue, 15th Floor, NY, NY 10036. To remove this e-mail address from future communications regarding WIRED, click here . To view our privacy policy, click here . Privacy_administration@advancemags.com Condé Nast Publications 1313 North Market Street Wilmington, DE 19801

Note the link they want you to click.  I almost did. What is waiting for me at cnsurvey.biz?  Check this out, when I mouse over this cnsurvey.biz link it actually wants to send me to http://links.mkt636.com/ctt?kn=1&m=2905913&r=MTM2ODQ5MDYxOTAS1&b=0&j=MTc1NTg3ODU3S0&mt=1&rt=0  Talk about disingenuous! Now my alarms are really going off.  Now I mouse over other links in the email.  They all point to links.mkt.636.com. Sure appears phishy. So time for some more research.

Here is the whois for cnsurvey.biz
http://www.domaincrawler.com/domains/view/cnsurvey.biz
Hmmmm...  Not a whole lot here indicative that this is run by WIRED or Conde Nast.


Here is the whois for mkt636.com...
http://www.domaincrawler.com/domains/view/mkt636.com
Check out the bit down near the end

MarkMonitor is the Global Leader in Enterprise Brand Protection.

Domain Management
MarkMonitor Brand Protection™
AntiFraud Solutions
Corporate Consulting Services

http://www.markmonitor.com/contact/index.php

Ok so obviously this is someone who thinks they are doing a service for WIRED and not a phish.  I disagree the they are protecting WIRED's mark by putting out a survey email that looks like a phishing attempt.  I also disagree that they understand a whole lot about fraud if they make mistakes like this url swap.

But consider this.  What if the phisher can conduct his look alike campaign at the same time that the genuine campaign is going on?  Now when a suspicious recipient calls they can be reassured by Wired's very own customer service to go ahead and click. Wow!

If you are going to do email marketing make sure the links point back to your domain.

Don't do screwy link substitutions. Show the links. 

This is almost as tempting as the 2 GB USB drive I found in the parking lot....  Not!

BTW.  I love the magazine.