News and Analysis

And here we go again . . .

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Looks like Anonymous teamed up with Wikileaks to release a load of hacked emails taken from Stratfor.  Admittedly we’re all a bit numb to hack news these days, but there’s a few important takeaways.

  • It’s Anonymous teaming up with Wikileaks.  Even in it’s worn-down state, Wikileaks has reach and this may revive them.
  • Stratfor has some big name clients – I’ve been seeing analysis of what’s come up drift around the internet today.
  • Any security or intelligence company is a target, because of A) clients, and B) being about security/intelligence is seen as some as an invitation to try it out.  That’s a powerful combination.
  • We might see another wave of hacks, the article hints at.
  • Hacking is slowly becoming a norm.  It seems it’s not as unusual anymore.
  • I suspect every hack out there just increases the market for security firms and IT security personnel.

– Steven Savage

 

Media and the Future: What we bought wasn’t what was sold.

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Hollywood's movie number aren't what they seem, SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA have support that is clueless if not malicious.  We're not happy as we decry lousy media, bad law, and bad faith. It seems that people are a might distressed with some media companies – even as we geeks want to work in or with media.

I've been speculating on this divide recently.  We're glad to pay for our media – most of us have a fundamental sense of fairness that goes into "Shut up and take my money" territory.  We're glad to work with media because we like it.  Yet, too many times, various media interests dodge, engage in subterfuge, or just outright try to turn government to their interest and away from ours.

Yes, this is stupid.  Yes there's greed, malice, and inertia, but I think there's a major factor being ignored here.  I think this factor is one reason Hollywood and the rest of Big Media are caught so flat-footed.

They sold us one thing, but we were buying another.

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Tablet News 2/21/2012

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What a fascinating bit of news from Tabletopia!

Nook launches it's new Tablet, which is really the more expensive tablet with less memory, and puts it in competition with the Kindle Fire. B&N isn't quitting, and this does get them some nice attention – and it's intriguing how they seem to be aiming at tablets first, in a way. I almost feel they're downplaying the reading aspect.

TAKEAWAY: B&N is still taking on Amazon (and in a way, everyone else). I'd think their Nook division might be a good place to seek employment, and of course if you e-Publish, you want to be on B&N.

Microsoft appears to have bitten the bullet and released Office for iPad. Now my question here is what they're going to charge for this?

TAKEAWAY: It does show Microsoft is wisely moving with the times – and knows where the money is. What competition will this provide – and face – on the iPad?

– Steven Savage