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Bob Olsen on May 23rd, 2008

Is your Internet connection really broadband? You can find your actual up and download speed by visiting a Web site and running an online JavaScript. Speedtest.net has become a respected baseline test. The results for my Comcast home connection are posted below. The dirst is from a mid-day Friday test.

The second is from mid-morning on […]

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Bob Olsen on May 22nd, 2008

I could tell you horror stories about dealing with Charter’s alleged "Tech Support" for the business account at my wife’s library that would curl your toes. This puts the last nail in their corporate coffin as far as I am concerned.
It’s one thing when Google uses your search for boobs to deliver targeted ads for plastic […]

Continue reading about Charter to Sell Your Browsing History

If you use the Internet or libraries, you can be proud that at least someone is standing up for your constitutional right to privacy.
The ACLU won a hard-fought victory in another legal challenge to the national security letter (NSL) provision of the Patriot Act. As the result of a settlement agreement, the FBI this week withdrew […]

Continue reading about FBI Withdraws Unconstitutional NSL Served on Internet Archive

Bob Olsen on May 5th, 2008

Common Craft has created a great series of videos that explain some complex technology in “plain English”. This one explains the concept of Podcasting.

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Bob Olsen on May 2nd, 2008

A federal district court in New York ruled Wednesday that the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is owed “reasonable license fees” by online media powerhouses AOL, RealNetworks, and Yahoo for the music streamed and distributed on their sites.
Currently, music streamed by sites owned by the three companies is advertising-supported and no dividends are paid […]

Continue reading about Big Online Services Must Pay For Past Song Use

Bob Olsen on April 29th, 2008

Lifehacker.com readers recently contributed their nominations to a list of the most unpleasant software in the post What Apps Should You Never Install?. The alphabetized “Crapware Hall of Shame” includes:

Almost any browser toolbar
Anything by Norton, Symantec or McAfee
Anything that you are offered from porn websites
Anything with the name of a hardware manufacturer in the title
AOL Client
Bonzi Buddy
flyakiteOS
iTunes
Java Runtime Environment
Limewire
Microsoft Internet Explorer (6 and 7)
Microsoft […]

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Bob Olsen on April 20th, 2008

Lord, save us from Clear Channel Communications and others of their ilk’s lowest common denominator approach to radio music programming. Unfortunately, CCC owns most of the radio stations on the planet. OK, it just seems hat way, but they do own SEVEN of the Detroit stations, as an example. If you are like me and […]

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Bob Olsen on April 1st, 2008

I can’t decide who is more stupid; the company that does not first check for the existence of a “fictitious” e-mail address, or the person who ignores the admonition to “Do not reply to this message”.

When businesses want to communicate with their customers via e-mail, many send messages with a bogus return address, e.g. “somethinghere@donotreply.com.” The […]

Continue reading about What Don’t You Understand About Don’t?

Bob Olsen on March 11th, 2008

Why are so many people atwitter about Twitter, the online social networking application? The people at Common Craft have produced a short video that explains Twitter in Plain English. It may also help to explain the phenomenon.

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Bob Olsen on March 8th, 2008

In case you are one of the shrinking numbers of people who are still using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, this will be of interest.
Wondering what you’ll love (or hate) about IE8? I’ve put the beta through its paces, and I’ve got the goods for you. I’ve found some nifty new features, and one that spells annoyance. […]

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