107474254
submission
markjhood2003 writes:
In an essay published for LibrePlanet March 23/24 2019, Richard Stallman of the FSF advocates for an explicit recognition and tolerance of the devil of non-free software at install fests:
Install fests invite users to bring their computers so that experts can install GNU/Linux on them... This presents the install fest with a dilemma. If it upholds the ideals of freedom, by installing only free software from 100%-free distros, partly-secret machines won't become entirely functional and the users that bring them will go away disappointed... My new idea is that the install fest could allow the devil to hang around, off in a corner of the hall, or the next room. (Actually, a human being wearing sign saying “The Devil,” and maybe a toy mask or horns.) The devil would offer to install nonfree drivers in the user's machine to make more parts of the computer function, explaining to the user that the cost of this is using a nonfree (unjust) program.
50935189
submission
markjhood2003 writes:
According to a story published in USA Today, an anonymous source at Google familiar with the plan has revealed that Google is developing an anonymous identifier for advertising tracking, replacing the function of third party cookies currently used by most major advertisers. The new AdID supposedly gives consumers more privacy and control over their web browsing, but the ad industry is worried about putting more power in the hands of large technology companies. Sounds like the idea could have some promise, but at this point the proposal is not public so we will probably have to wait until Google reaches out to the industry, government and consumers to provide the details.
33285209
submission
markjhood2003 writes:
Fresh on the heels of Slashdot's discussion of the lack of browser choice on mobile devices comes the announcement of Yahoo's new web browser Axis. According to VentureBeat, the browser runs on iPad and iPhone as a separate standalone browser and as an extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, with support for Android and Windows Phone coming soon. It actually appears to bring some innovation to mobile search, displaying results and queries on the same page for more productive navigation between the two.
17657328
submission
markjhood2003 writes:
The MP3Tunes cloud-based music storage and search engine service is facing a lawsuit from EMI. Opposition briefs are due on Wednesday and oral arguments will start in January. From the article:
"Among the key issues is the â½ÂÅ"safe harborâ½Â provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which protects Internet service providers like Google, Yahoo and Facebook from copyright liability if they promptly remove infringing content upon notification. Last Tuesday several influential digital rights groups filed a brief supporting the defendant in the case, MP3Tunes, urging the court to uphold the â½ÂÅ"safe harborâ½Â provision, lest online innovation be stifled.
For MP3Tunes CEO and founder Michael Robertson this case is personal. He is named as a defendant and if he loses, he could be personally be held liable for massive monetary damage."
17153688
submission
markjhood2003 writes:
The Wall Street Journal reports that "ABC, CBS and NBC are blocking TV programming on their websites from being viewable on Google Inc.'s new Web-TV service... Spokespeople for the three networks confirmed that they are blocking the episodes on their websites from playing on Google TV, although both ABC and NBC allow promotional clips to work using the service". Google has responded, "Google TV enables access to all the Web content you already get today on your phone and PC, but it is ultimately the content owners' choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content on the platform." Is the opening shot in the media companies' bid to end network neutrality?
