Culture

Free Office, Go Japan – News from 2/28/2011

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Intel is supporting LibreOffice, another MS Office OS alternative. That’s a big name signing on to the project, and another reason for people to pay attention. TAKEAWAY: Between Open Office and LibreOffice, and with the move to Apple products and Android, how much Marketshare will Microsoft loose?

Man I love it when the Wall Street Journal uses the word “Otaku.” Japan’s Economy Minister is doing his bit to promote Akihabara. Presented for both amusement, and a reminder of the (seemingly erratic) attempts of Japan to promote itself as a culture engine. TAKEAWAY: I think the culture engine idea actually is quite good for Japan, but someone needs to leverage it much better. That, by the way, is a hint.

– 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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