Last updated on April 24, 2007
This week’s 4cast:
1. The Vista War’s a-Raging
Is your library thinking of upgrading its machines to Windows Vista? The battle over whether the new operating system is worth the upgrade is still raging, with opponents questioning everything about it, especially its enhanced security features and built-in DRM technology.
- Windows Vista Launches To Mixed Reactions (Slashdot)
- Vista Month: Welcome To The DRM? (Monkey Bites)
- Don’t be misled by these 10 Windows Vista myths (Tech Republic)
- Hidden Costs of a Windows Vista Upgrade (PC World)
2. Is Apple a Devil in Disguise?
Speaking of DRM, Apple CEO Steve Jobs made a big impression last week when he wrote an essay that claimed Apple was fundamentally opposed to the DRM technology it disseminates through its iTunes music store. Who’s to blame? According to Jobs, it’s the music companies – but not everyone is buying that claim.
- Will Steve Jobs drop iTunes DRM in a heartbeat? (Boing Boing)
- Steve Jobs speaks out on Apple DRM (LibrarianInBlack)
- Doing the DRM Dance (WXPNews)
- Is Apple the New Evil Empire? (Rolling Stone)
3. The Spawn of DOPA
Remember DOPA? Just when everyone thought it was dead and gone at the end of 2006, it’s apparently making a comeback – this time around, it’s called the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.
- DOPA returns: this is important for all libraries (LibrarianInBlack)
- Lifting the Hood on DOPA Jr. (PBS TeacherSource)
- Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act: DOPA Jr, DOPA Extra, or Just Dopey (BlogHer)
- MySpace and libraries fate now in Senate Committee (LibraryLaw Blog)
4. Yahoo! Lays Down Some Pipes
Yahoo! recently unveiled a new service called Pipes. Pipes allows users to take bits and pieces of web feeds that they like and combine them into a brand new feed with more focused content.
- Yahoo! Launches Pipes (TechCrunch)
- Make your own mashup with Yahoo! Pipes (Lifehacker)
- Yahoo! allows users to mashup web data with Pipes (Ars Technica)
- Pipes and Filters for the Internet (O’Reilly Radar)
