internet

How Google hides free copies of public domain books while directing people to pay-for reprints

Admin | Sunday 28 April 2013

Google has been allowed to scan hundreds of thousands of out-of-copyright books from libraries around the world and supposedly this is a wonderful free resource for all of us. But, over the last year or two, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to find the free versions while Google Books presents reprints to buy. Here’s an … How Google hides free copies of public domain books while directing people to pay-for reprints

Data costs threaten social networking sites

Admin | Monday 29 December 2008

Recently I wrote about the closure of free video-hosting services at both AOL and Brightcove. I suggested that no free hosting service can be relied on to be around forever, or even a year from now in the current economic crisis. Today the Daily Telegraph reports that social networking sites, such as Facebook, face a … Data costs threaten social networking sites

AOL pulls the plug on its user-generated content site

Admin | Tuesday 18 November 2008

AOL is to close its user-generated content site on 18 December.

Content theft by reelstreets.com

Admin | Wednesday 13 August 2008

Free wifi wireless hotspots in Manchester

Admin | Sunday 25 February 2007

A useful map of places that offer free wifi in Manchester city centre. There’s talk of free wireless internet across the whole of Greater Manchester by next summer. Which will be great if they can do it. It would totally change the way that I work, that’s for sure. Though I wonder if restricting it … Free wifi wireless hotspots in Manchester

The Power of Nightmares

Admin | Friday 17 November 2006

If you haven’t seen this fascinating three-part BBC documentary series, you can download it from the Internet Archive:

Part1 | Part2 | Part3

It explores ‘the origins in the 1940s and 50s of Islamic Fundamentalism in the Middle East, and Neoconservatism in America, parallels between these movements, and their effect on the world today.’ And it shows how politicians have used the terror threat to restore their power and authority in a disillusioned age.

It’s a brilliant use of archive film of all kinds, combined with interviews. Give it a look even if you don’t usually watch this kind of subject, because it’s interesting to see how Adam Curtis the producer combines such diverse visual material.

If you have problems playing MP4 files, just grab the free VideoLan player.

Democracy Player — internet video player

Admin | Wednesday 12 April 2006

‘Democracy Player is a new kind of browser for watching videos– grab webpages with video and video RSS feeds (including podcasts, video blogs, and BitTorrent feeds), and watch them full screen, one after the other. It’s free and open source.’

I’ve tried this kind of software before. But yesterday, when I installed Democracy Player, for the first time I really saw where this is all going. I think due to the neat way it presents the channels.

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