Many consumer advocacy groups, web companies and startups are ranting about the perils of losing net neutrality. Net neutrality, they say, is what made the Internet what it is today by giving small companies the opportunity to become big companies, and it rightly puts the user in full control of what he views on the Internet.Huge telecommunication companies like Verizon, and cable providers like Time Warner, however, could potentially profit a good deal from charging websites like YouTube for priority treatment and faster loading times. They argue that prioritization is necessary for a functional internet and that regulated net neutrality will stunt innovation. Thus the battle between the two groups has commenced.A federal court decided in April that the FCC lacked the authority to impose net neutrality. The FCC fought back in May by deciding to reclassify broadband transmission as a regulable telecommunications service. Verizon and Google spurred additional controversy this month by releasing a joint proposal for a legal regulatory framework.Both sides - those opposed to FCC regulation of net neutrality and those who think its necessary - proclaim that their defeat would be Armageddon. But should we really be this worked up about this? The following are the worst-case scenarios that might emerge from how the conflict could pan out.1. Government Regulation Makes the Internet More Like TVWhen the FCC starts regulating an industry, it has a tendency to continue to add regulations. Some fear that if the FCC starts enforcing net neutrality it would open the door for the FCC to decide what is appropriate content for the web.The government already attempts to determine whats appropriate for you to so see, like R-rated movies during prime time, says Dave Farber, a former chief technologist for the FCC and a professor of computer science and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University. You could see a future FCC doing the same thing with the Internet.2. Provider Discrimination Makes the Internet More Like TVIf the FCC doesnt regulate net neutrality, theres still a chance that the Internet will increasingly end up functioning like television. The fear is that if priority access becomes available, only giant companies will be able to purchase it. Whereas now consumers have infinite choices of Internet content that loads the same way, there will be limited sites available that will enjoy superior access.It could be like cable: A company delivering mediocre content and ads to your home for an inflated fee, says Chris Riley, a policy council at a public advocacy organization that promotes net neutrality called Free Press.Art Brodsky, the communications manager for consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, says that this sort of content restriction would most likely take the form of a select channel section of the Internet. I dont know if they would prevent anybody from surfing, he says. But they could do it the opposite way and say, here are the best things.3. Government Regulation Stunts InnovationA technological detail that many miss in the net neutrality debate is that some web services require differential treatment in order to be functional. Faber, who says he switches between defending and attacking net neutrality based on his mood and the definition in use, points out that innovations like voice over IP would be useless if there were no way of prioritizing that traffic.Wireless, too, has different technological hurdles than broadband Internet that a strict net neutrality policy might make impossible to clear. Opening up the ability to purchase better access times would pave the way for innovations that require superior bandwidth, like high-definition or 3D video. Restrictions on net neutrality, however, could cut off these potentially profitable new innovations.We want the broadband infrastructure to be a platform for innovation, argued Verizon and Google in their joint blog post. Therefore, our proposal would allow broadband providers to offer additional, differentiated online services It is too soon to predict how these new services will develop, but examples might include health care monitoring, the smart grid, advanced educational services, or new entertainment and gaming options.4. An Unfair Playing Field Stunts InnovationGiving priority treatment to companies that can pay fees also raises some concerns about fair play.It freezes out the potential for the next innovators and puts the smaller guys at a disadvantage, Brodsky says. And as we know, its the smaller guys who made the Internet what it is today. And they had a chance to grow into big guys because the Internet is an open place.Instead of becoming the next Google, the fear is that the next Google will instead have to pitch their idea to Google itself. Startups wont be able to afford the fast-lane fee themselves.5. Consumers Pay to Access Internet ContentAs with cable TV, its possible that some of the cost to put websites on the Internets fast lane will be passed on to the consumer.Suppose someone set up a system where, if only I paid a certain amount of money would my IP address get through a sort of cable-ization of the net, Brodsky says. The worst case scenario is that if you want to go to ESPN, it will cost you so much.Faber thinks its more likely that the fees would be passed on to consumers in the form of a micro-increase in the prices of advertisers products. For instance, the price of a bottle of Coke might go up a cent because the websites that Coke advertises on are paying a fee for priority treatment.6. Wireless Networks Overload, the Internet Slows DownVerizon and Google included a phrase in their proposal that allows service providers to engage in a reasonable network management. This would include the power to reduce or mitigate the effects of congestion on its network.Which begs the question: What would happen if the FCC created regulations that banned service providers from mitigating these effects? Would the Internet overload?Well, actually yes, according to some. Steve Largent, the president and CEO of CTIA, the trade association of the wireless communications industry, argues in an editorial for USA Today that the wireless Internet has a finite amount of spectrum that needs to be managed.7. Super Mergers Control the WorldSome fear that without net neutrality, an Internet provider would be able to merge with a media company and make its own content the fastest to access, leaving the consumer with a choice between a long download or viewing that companys content. Some fear that it could get even worse than a collaboration between provider and media company.It might not be Comcast and NBC. It might be Microsoft, Comcast, and NBC, Riley says. Theyd control the software, theyd control the content, and theyd control the pipeline that delivers that content to you.Others, like Faber, argue that a super merger would violate existing Federal Trade Commission regulations and anti-trust laws. Also, aligning with one media company wouldnt be the most profitable route.I just dont understand the economic motive to do it that way, Faber says. If theres any competition at all, thats not going to work.Faber says he has no problem with some companies buying priority treatment from Internet providers as long as all companies have the opportunity buy equal access. As long as everyone can have it, he says, its fair and far preferable to government regulation.Now that youve read the worst that can happen, what do you think? Will any of these become reality? Is the future rosie? Tell us in the comments below.More Tech Resources from Mashable: - HOW TO: Self-Publish Anything Online - 5 Innovative Tech Camps for Kids and Teens - 10 Great Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses of Google [VIDEOS] - 10 Fun Microsoft Facts You Might Not Know - Can Robots Run the News?Images courtesy of iStockphoto, CostinT, Camrocker, subju, titaniumdoughnut.Reviews: Google, Internet, YouTube, iStockphotoMore About: Art Brodsky, Chris Riley, Free Press, Google, net neutrality, public knowledge, time warner cable, verizonFor more Tech coverage:Follow Mashable Tech on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
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Net Neutrality: 7 Worst Case Scenarios
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/net-neutrality-worst-case/
August 27 2010, 12:46pm | Comments »
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Computer Wire Dress by Tina Sparkles
http://laughingsquid.com/computer-wire-dress-by-tina-sparkles/
Systems Supernova, a dress made out of recycled computer wires created by Tina Sparkles for the Keep Austin Beautiful Recycled Fashion Show.
Made mostly of recycled computer wiring, the Systems Supernova dress addresses the growing problem of e-waste in American culture and explores the concept of systems thinking as it relates to our ecosystem. Each computer wire is situated in a closed loop system that interacts with all the other systems within the dress. Movement within one system influences other parts of the whole.
photo by Andrew Sterling
via Craft
This is a blog post from Laughing Squid, subscribe via RSS, Email, Twitter, Facebook & Tumblr.
Here are a few other possibly related posts you might enjoy:-Vintage Computer Festival 10.0, Honoring Computer History
-The Brides of March, Wedding Dress Stroll Through San Francisco
-Computer Software in Plain English by Common Craft
-Postmortem Portraits of The Wire by Blake Hicks
-The Greatest Quotes From The Wire
August 27 2010, 12:40pm | Comments »
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Google's Latest Acquisition Is All About Facebook
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/angstro-google-me/
Google has acquired Ångströ, a service for delivering intelligent search results about a person’s professional network.
August 27 2010, 12:26pm | Comments »
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Facebook Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Like Buttons
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/facebook-class-action-suit/
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Facebook in a Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that the company commercially misappropriated the names and likenesses of minors without parental consent. The plaintiffs are seeking financial restitution for revenues and profits the company and third-parties earned from the alleged charges.In the suit, David Cohen v. Facebook (case #BC444482), the plaintiffs argue that there have been more than one million instances where Facebook has misappropriated a minors name or likeness for profit.At the core of the class action lawsuit is Facebooks Like button, and the Facebook ads that include photos and text descriptions of Facebook users who Like the company or the ad. The plaintiffs believe that Facebook is obligated to get parental consent before using minors Likes for commercial gain.When a teenager sees that their Facebook friends Like an ad, it piques their curiosity, making them more likely to click the ad or visit the page, says Los Angeles plaintiff attorney John Torjesen of John C. Torjesen & Associates. We believe it is a clear case of exploitation of children for the sake of profits.The text of the suit further details, Facebook encourages the participation of children on its social networking website, stressing the authenticity of the experience of communicating with friends. It then markets the names and likenesses of those children for us by advertisers, representing to advertisers that the use of the name and/or likeness of the child as an endorsement of the advertisers product can increase marketing returns by 400% compared to advertising that does not include an endorsement from the name or likeness of a child.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of all Facebook members affected by the companys alleged wrong doing minors whose names and likenesses were used in a Facebook advertisement or landing page.Facebook denies any wrongdoing. We believe this suit is completely without merit and we will fight it vigorously, said Andrew Noyes, Facebooks manager of public policy communications, in a statement provided to Mashable.In 2009, Facebook settled a class action lawsuit for $9.5 million over its now-defunct Beacon program.[img credit: Thomas Roche]Reviews: Facebook, MashableMore About: class action lawsuit, facebook, Facebook Like, lawsuit, legalFor more Business coverage:Follow Mashable Business on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
August 27 2010, 12:06pm | Comments »
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The Little Black Dress of the Future Doubles as a Cellphone
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/cellphone-dress/
London-based fashion company CuteCircuit has just upped the ante in the Little Black Dress category.
August 27 2010, 11:50am | Comments »
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Hands-On: Netflix for the iPhone Brings Big Movies to the Small Screen
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/netflix-iphone-review/
As we noted yesterday, Netflix has just released its long-awaited iPhone app.The app, which is free for Netflix subscribers (subscriptions start at $8.99 per month), works with iPhones or iPod touch devices running iOS 3.1.3 or later. Like its iPad app, Netflix for the iPhone allows users to search for movies and TV shows as well as playing titles already in their Instant Q.The app has not been optimized for iOS 4 or for the iPhone 4, but we expect that some of those updates may come in the future.The app operates very similarly to both its iPad counterpart and the newest Netflix interface on Roku. It makes us curious if an iOS iTV app might not be on the horizon too.The only real downside of the app is that like its iPad counterpart (and like the set-top box Netflix solutions), it isnt possible to manage your DVD or Blu-ray queue from the application itself. This means you still have to use a third-party queue manager to add, browse or re-arrange the order of your physical Netflix titles. It would be really, really great to have that ability built into the official application.All in all, we think this first release is a winner. Although I find myself spending more and more time watching video on the iPad, the iPhone experience is solid enough that it will definitely make longer trips or waits in line more enjoyable.What do you think about Netflix for iPhone?Check out our gallery below for a closer look at the app and our thoughts on its features. Home Screen This is the home screen on the Netflix app. It shows off various releases in television, movies, genres you like and new arrivals and new additions to your queue. Home Screen Continued This is the home screen on the Netflix app. It shows off various releases in television, movies, genres you like and new arrivals and new additions to your queue. Titles Like View On the Home Screen, you're treated to a selection of "titles like X" where it shows you films similar to ones you have recently enjoyed.I'm a big fan of King of the Hill, so the app shows me that Family Guy and Futurama -- two recent Netflix Watch Instantly additions -- are available for me to enjoy. Genres The Genres section is just what it sounds like. You can browse titles by genre and then watch titles or add them to your queue. Search Search works just as it does on the iPad app or on the recently overhauled Roku interface. This means that only Watch Instantly titles show up, so if you want a title that isn't available to Watch Instantly, you can't even find it to add to your DVD or Blu-ray queue. Movie View By browsing through genres or searching through titles, you can find movies or TV shows to watch. You can then start playing that movie or add it to your queue. Rating Netflix's rating algorithm will try to come up with a best guess for you. It's usually pretty accurate, but in this case, it underestimated my love of Gary Hustwit. Post Rating After you've rated a title, the stars are in yellow, not red. Instant Q You can scroll through your own Watch Instantly queue. Tapping on the play icon on the left will resume or start playback, while clicking on the right arrow or on the title itself will take you to a screen that offers more information and the option to select an episode if it's a television show. Instant Q View - Television For a TV show, you'll see the description of the series and an option to resume or start playing where you left off in the series, or to start from the beginning.Scrolling down on this screen will show each episode in the season or seasons and how far along you have watched that episode, with the option to play or resume. Instant Q View - Movies Just like the regular movie view, except it's already noted that it is in your Instant Q. Movie Playback This is the playback screen. It's just like Netflix for iPad and similar to any other iPhone or iPad video app in how the controls are displayed: volume at the bottom, time scrubber at the top, the option to fill the full screen in the upper right. Movie Playback Quality Shots Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good. Movie Playback Quality Shots Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good. Movie Playback Quality Shots Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good. Movie Playback Quality Shots Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good.Reviews: BluMore About: Film, iOS, iphone, iphone apps, Movies, netflix, ONLINE VIDEO, television, videoFor more Mobile coverage:Follow Mashable Mobile on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Mobile channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
August 27 2010, 10:58am | Comments »
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Cannibal restaurant in Germany?
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/27/cannibal-restaurant.html
Ads for a new Berlin restaurant called Flime are requesting people to donate body parts for hearty meals. Naturally, people are flipping out. Of course, whether this is all a hoax remains to be seen. I bet it's a (rather provocative) prank. From The Guardian (sculpture by Leonhard Kern):
"Members declare themselves willing to donate any part of their body," the advertisement reads, adding that any resulting hospital costs will be taken on by the restaurant. They say they are also looking to employ an "open-minded surgeon".
The location of the restaurant if it exists is being kept a secret, as is the identity of the owners and investors behind it. As a foretaste of its menu, Flime is suggesting traditional Brazilian dishes such as bolinho, which it describes as "fried tatar balls with a sweet-sour dip", or feijoada, a main course consisting of "various pieces of meat with black beans and rice". It does not specify what type of meat is used.
The restaurant cites as its inspiration the indigenous Brazilian Waricaca tribe, which once practised the ritual of "compassionate cannibalism", or eating parts of the corpse of a loved one to emphasise the connection between the living and the dead, which was said to help with mourning.
"Cannibal restaurant adverts turn German stomachs"
August 27 2010, 9:37am | Comments »
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Nike Air Maxes get a Wii Balance Board infusion
http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/nike-air-maxes-get-a-wii-balance-board-infusion/
Recently Nike -- a shoe company that seems to enjoy a side dish of tech from time to time -- challenged 78 artists to "hack" its shoes and come up with something decidedly different than your typical Air Force Ones. Now, a lot of the projects were more art and less tech, but that can't be said for entrant Nick Marsh's contribution to the experiment. The designer fused the internals of a Wii Balance Board with a pair of Air Maxes to create a gaming experience that may not be nuanced, but certainly seems capable of making you break a sweat. According to Nick, games are played exactly as they would have been previously, but since you can't step of the board, you're required to lift your foot or sit down when games require you to back off. Nick finished the project in April, but it sounds like a slightly more polished version could be in the offing. Check out a quick video of the shoes in action after the break, and hit the source for a slew of pics.Continue reading Nike Air Maxes get a Wii Balance Board infusionNike Air Maxes get a Wii Balance Board infusion originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink DVICE | Nick Marsh | Email this | Comments
August 27 2010, 8:53am | Comments »
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RT @joehewitt: I didn't say Android is horrendous, I said the tools (Eclipse) are, and the OS is ugly (visually). On technical merits An ...
http://twitter.com/Sharj/statuses/22255165298
August 27 2010, 5:11am | Comments »