RSSAOL Instant Message Maybe Not A OK
For those who use AOL IM or for those who may plan to in the future you may want to take a real good look at this. Privacy would seem to be a thing of the past.
America Online, Inc. has quietly updated the terms of service for its AIM instant messaging application.
The revamped terms of service, which apply only to users who downloaded the free AIM software on or after Feb. 5, 2004, gives AOL the right to “reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote” all content distributed across the chat network by users.
“You waive any right to privacy. You waive any right to inspect or approve uses of the content or to be compensated for any such uses,” according to the AIM terms-of-service.
With such drastic changes by AOL one would think that they would make a more concerted effort to inform the INTERNET users. Privacy has always been a trademark of the INTERNET with email and instant messaging. AOL does not seem to think so these days. The revised AOL terms can be read here.
The privacy issue be breached is bad enough but ownership and the right to reproduce, this is chilling:
“In addition, by posting content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this content in any medium,” it added.
It is hard to imagine that AOL will also make such changes to their business programs or premium packages, then again its pretty hard to fathom that they tried to pull this fast one.
Hat Tip: Drudge Report
How weblogs could open the window on government.
There was a report issued by Ipsos-Public Affairs (data not available yet) and covered by the AP today that came to the conclusion that “Americans feel strongly that good government depends on openness with the public, with seven out of 10 people concerned about government secrecy.” I agree that the more disclosure that is available the better government serves the people. The political junkie in me agrees, but the Tech guy in me asks how can that be done?
I think that I have an answer that would cost a mid sized or smaller municipality less than a $1,000 dollars a year, and provide all of the information on meetings and government services that any citizen could want or use. The tools used would be Weblogs, RSS and Podcasts.
If you are interested, look below the fold for my take on it.
Read the post, go to the letter, sign the letter
This is the time for the left and right to come together. The McCain Feingold Protection Act has been interpreted by a Federal Judge to include the internet. So far McCain has said that they will not enforce it, the FEC has said they will not enforce it, everyone has said they will not enforce it.
It sounds like speed limits. Almost every one does not enforce them, unless it is in the authorities interest to enforce the rule a specific time. You may have annoyed the officer previously by taking his machine at the gym. Or you are a stranger in town and they are low for their budget that month.
You can never trust a rule on the books that is enforced selectively. That gives too much power to those who take issue with your actions. And never leave a rule that can empower someone when they need that extra bump to get over the edge.
So what can you do? A collection of bloggers from every part of the blogosphere has come together with a letter imploring the FEC and the politician to define the campaign finance regulation regarding the internet specifically so there is no room for interpretation. Please sign this letter.
You can help send a message. If you have a blog , sign the letter. If you read blogs, sign the letter.
We thank you for your support now. You will thank those that put this together in the future.
Writing a book, it used to be a private thing
The image of an author, writing in solitude as he crafts his next book, is one that may fade into the past. Robert Scoble is writing his new book on corporate blogging in true blogger style. Through his weblog.
Everything that he and his partner, Shel Israel, are writing is on the weblog. Most of the conversations and interviews are also made available. This is a brave and noble venture, in my humble opinion.
Here is a brief description of the guys:
You might want to check out where we came from. We’ll be moving things in here today and setting up the furniture and all that. Making this new place a home. The two authors are Shel Israel (he has done a bunch of stuff with a bunch of Silicon Valley startups) and Robert Scoble (he is an evangelist at Microsoft). Our old Red Couch site is on MSN Spaces. Great place to blog, but couldn’t handle multiple authors, which this site needs.
Most of the vistitors to this site are political bloggers, but there is another who world of technical and business bloggers that are out there also. These folks watch there niches as carefully as most of us watch politics.
Robert’s and Shel’s book is aiming to teach the corporate world how to blog. So if you are thinking about being the corporate blogger for your company, or just want to post about what is happenning at the workplace, here is a great site to visit.
Red, here is what you can get me for my Birthday!
Forever being the techno geek, I am always looking for the next toy.
Here is the dream, playing Battlefield 1942 on this bad boy.
Samsung to present 82-inch TFT LCD panel – world’s largest
Samsung said it has finished development of world’ largest TFT LCD screen – an 82-inch panel that will be showcased at the upcoming CeBIT 2005 exhibition in Hannover, Germany.
This huge 82-inch panel features a contrast ratio of 1200:1, 600 cd/m ² brightness and a response time of 8ms. It is made using Samsung’s S-PVA technology.
It will be made at Samsung’s new seventh-generation plant which is a joint venture between Sony and Samsung.
