Ono says, 'Oh No!'

Originally posted at SilverlingingOpticians

Growing up on of the first gadgets that I became enamored with was my father's stereo and record player. The records the wall unit's recessed shelf became my own treasure chest of classic rock, Motown, Stax Records, and The Beatles.

At this time in my life I was drawn to The Beatles' Yellow Submarine album (I'm sure it was the album artwork - tripping on acid and being 6 are eerily the same) and it instilled a deep love for music. Today, more than ever, I continue to be a Beatles fan as I dabble in music production/engineering - their recording techniques truly changed the way music was made and heard.

So no surprises I've been keeping up with the ongoing soap opera that is downloading The Beatles records legally via an online music store. Well if you've been waiting for the day (as I have), you can pretty much continue to wait. In what I can only describe as an effort to ensure no one will ever be able to make legal digital downloads of the Beatles catalog available to fans (new and old), Yoko Ono again cites an impasse (though never says what it is) in their dealings with Apple's iTunes Store.

Although, to be fair the deal would have to get approval from two living members and the two surviving widows of George Harrison and John Lennon, Ono (Lennon's widow) has been the most vocal of her resistance to making the catalog available for digital distribution. Hell to be honest I'm amazed that Beatles Rock Band ever made it for sale. Time and time again, Ono has alluded to John somehow being against the conversion from physical media to digital distribution (often being quoted as it being "what John would've wanted").

As a music lover, an iPod owner, and having spent too much on more than one "re-release" of the Beatles catalog, Yoko here me out for a second: If John were alive, he'd want a divorce and Olivia Munn.

via 9-5 Mac

Saudis Drop the Banhammer on RIM

Image via cameraphonesplaza.com

Hey there PoorMacs using a BlackBerry device (it's for work right? RIGHT?), planning on visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia anytime soon? Well don't be surprised when some of your BlackBerry's functionality doesn't work.

According to The Bangkok Post, at midday local time BlackBerry messages stopped functioning. The KSA recently announced it's plan to disable BlackBerry service earlier this week after the United Arab Emirates announced it's plans to shut down the service citing security concerns (read: They want unrestricted access to user's information). The UAE will reportedly shut down BlackBerry on October 11th.

Though RIM has vowed to fight both the KSA and UAE's decision to block the service, and getting the attention of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, neither of the Arab States seem to be backing down.

Via Bangkok Post

Review: Ostrich for Safari

Apple's recent update to Safari brought us a number of enhancements to their browser; among one of the most notable additions has been extensions. Folks using Firefox or Chrome are already familiar with extensions and how they add functionality to your browsing experience. Ostrich is a Twitter extension for Safari that allows a user to keep up with their Twitter account without logging in on a tab/window or using a separate app like Tweet Deck or Twitterific.

So how does it fair? Here's what makes it work for me; if I'm browsing the web I tend to want to focus on the task at hand (i.e. I should be finishing this post) instead of obsessively checking to see if there are any updates - jumping between tabs or apps. Sometimes firing up Tweet Deck is a bit over kill; I don't plan on staying on my computer long enough to justify starting an app solely for Twitter when I should be checking my e-mail. Ostrich gives me the flexibility and a discrete enough footprint to do what I have to and indulge on my Twitter habit.

When a new tweet comes through you get a visual notification on your toolbar. Simple. Non-intrusive.

Clicking on the Ostrich button will bring down a drop down "window" displaying your timeline, mentions, and favorites. No fancy animations or graphical frills here - just a utilitarian interface that puts the info you're looking for in front of you.

Ostrich isn't for everyone though, if you're looking for a hardcore twitter extension that includes access to your lists, trending topics, followers, statistics then you should really consider using HootSuite. Again, Ostrich's strengths lie in its simple approach - have your timeline available to you even when you're not technically logged into Twitter.

Another feature that I'd like to see in future versions of Ostrich would be hyperlink shortening. I mean an extension that allows you to browse freely should incorporate the ability to (over?)share with everyone that follows you on Twitter. ("Hey guys I feel for a sandwich. http://bit.ly/9Zz3N3")

Overall, it's a solid extension that's worth giving a try. Ostrich may not have it all but it's a damn good start.

UPDATE: Check the gallery for some more screen shots.

Ostrich for Safari 5

Holy Hot Dang Batman! IPhone 'Jailbreaking' No Longer 'Illegal'

This one comes in from the U.S. Copyright Office, a ruling was released today stating that "jailbreaking" your iPhone is not, as Steve Jobs had once put it, "illegal." The ruling clearly address the installation of "non authorized" software such as firmware, software, DVD content, and E-books!

I make that determination at the conclusion of a rulemaking proceeding conducted by the Register of Copyrights, who makes a recommendation to me. Based on that proceeding and the Register’s recommendation, I am to determine whether the prohibition on circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works is causing or is likely to cause adverse effects on the ability of users of any particular classes of copyrighted works to make noninfringing uses of those works. The classes of works that I designated in the previous proceeding expire at the end of the current proceeding unless proponents of a class prove their case once again.

Hooray for consumers' rights!

via U.S. Copyright Office

No No Apple is not Giving away free stuff

Well apparently someone mistook Samsung's generosity as Apple's and decided it would be a good idea to smash-and-grab $22K worth of merchandise from an Apple Store in Suburban Square, PA. The burglary occurred at 5:18AM, the thieves ran off with " 11 laptops and three iPods plus iPhones, including the iPhone 4"

These smash and grab burglaries have gotten the attention of multiple police departments; although there doesn't seem to be any link between the robberies, law enforcement officials have begun sharing information in hopes to create a multi-State dragnet of sorts.

via Cult of Mac

Shots Fired! This is heating up.

Hey all you PMBs out there, 9-to-5 Mac is reporting that Samsung is so confident in their Galaxy S that they will give any iPhone 4 customer one for free if they're willing to switch. That's more than just big talk, that's calling you out then trying to eat your lunch.

According to the data on 9-to5, each 16GB phone nets Sammy $50 while each 32 GB phone nets them $75; this ain't peanuts we're talking about. So act now kiddies, if you're willing to give up your iPhone, as Samsung's UK twitter indicates there's only a few left.

Samsungukmobile (twitter) via 9-to-5 Mac.

Samsung to Apple: "Helllllo"

Shots fired.