CNN seems to be undergoing a redesign. Is it just me or are all redesigns looking very similar? I do like it though.
Archive for June, 2007
CNN redesign
Saturday, June 30th, 2007Cian returns
Friday, June 29th, 2007Cian has posted some pics from his recent adventures in China. So that’s what these young ‘uns do during their summer between college years – feck off to China for a month.
Wouldn’t have happened in my day.
Designer Enzyme Cuts HIV Out of Infected Cells
Friday, June 29th, 2007Looks like progress. Here’s hoping.
Scientists have constructed a custom enzyme that reverses the process by which the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) inserts its genetic material into host DNA, suggesting that treatment with similar enzymes could potentially rid infected cells of the virus. In tests on cultured human tissue, the mutated enzyme, Tre recombinase, snipped HIV DNA out of chromosomes.
Padraig Flynn on the Late Late
Friday, June 29th, 2007Does anyone have this clip? Wouldn’t it be nice to have it on YouTube?
Class act indeed.
Update: I got a copy of it, digitised it and uploaded:
Das Leben der Anderen
Friday, June 29th, 2007I went to see it last night. One word.
Stunning.
Google Apple merger
Friday, June 29th, 2007Some of you may remember that as far back as August 2005, I speculated that Google and Apple seemed like a good fit, and could potentially merge at some point. I was heavily criticised for expressing the idea.
But watching stuff like this really makes me wonder. The partnerships between the two firms continue to grow, and Schmidt hints at more announcements in the coming months.
As I said before, in terms of pure philosophy at least, Apple and Google share the “technology anyone can use” idea. While there are no synergies per se, you must remember that Google at least is heavily reliant on its core philosophy, as outlined in it’s SEC filing before it floated. If their aim is to organise the world’s information, I don’t see how owning or merging with Apple would interfere with that idea, in fact I imagine it would assist it.
This remains in the realm of speculation, but I do remember Schmidt himself, when the iPhone was first announced, jokingly speculating as to what a merged Google/Apple would be called. Applegoo? He laughed. Hmm.
Murdoch on newspapers
Friday, June 29th, 2007Time have a cover story this week on media mogul Rupert Murdoch. That MySpace deal looks eye-wateringly cheap looking back at it. As for his thoughts on where newspapers are going: (my emphasis)
When Murdoch talks about the future of newspapers, you get a sense of how contemporary he really is. Circulation and advertising revenues are ebbing away everywhere, he notes, proportional to broadband penetration. “You’ve really got to worry,” he says. “Tribune Co.’s revenues [in May] dropped 11% across broadcasting and newspapers. That’s huge. The Times dropped 8.5%. Half of men under 30 aren’t reading print newspapers, and there’s no sign that they come back as they age.”
How does he respond to this bleak picture? By musing about investing even more in newspapers. “What if, at the Journal, we spent $100 million a year hiring all the best business journalists in the world? Say 200 of them. And spent some money on establishing the brand but went global — a great, great newspaper with big, iconic names, outstanding writers, reporters, experts. And then you make it free, online only. No printing plants, no paper, no trucks. How long would it take for the advertising to come? It would be successful, it would work and you’d make … a little bit of money. Then again, the Journal and the Times make very little money now.”
Ouch. For those of us working in the newspaper industry these are pretty harsh words. But then I and many others have been harping on about the decline of print newspapers for several years now. Increasing broadband penetration = declining newspaper buying. What is the cheapest way to publish? Online. Where are people increasingly reading? Online. Where should you be driving your readers? Online.
The traditional print industry is in real crisis in countries where broadband is increasing – the NYTimes figures speak for themselves. Online seems like the most obvious place to go.
But why does Murdoch want to buy the WSJ then? What has the WSJ got that Murdoch wants? Brand recognition, loyalty and history. He believes he can make money from it too. Online.
Since Ireland is so behind in the broadband stakes, it seems clear that Irish newspapers have extra time to adjust to the coming shift in readership. I just wonder if they will be ready.
Charity Meme
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007Bill tagged me, so…
Hmm. I tag:
Tullow again
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007Ghana to be become African Tiger?
With the help of now “UK-based” Tullow. Technically true, since they have offices in London. Though they have offices all over the world, notably also in Dublin.
Neokast beta
Monday, June 18th, 2007I’ve been invited to test out Joost rival Neokast. It’s in very early beta, and I have been having some difficulty streaming some videos. It is also not yet compatible with Firefox.
Tullow Oil
Monday, June 18th, 2007
And there was me thinking Tullow was an Irish company. Does that mean all firms listed on UK exchanges become UK companies?
Paul Potts
Saturday, June 16th, 2007This has been the sensation on YouTube this week. I caught it on telly last weekend, but it seems to have proven a hit with the US audience, especially given Simon Cowell’s huge praise for Paul. Mr Potts will go far no doubt.
Going by the various comments and hits on YouTube, we must be looking at the first YouTube Superstar – well over 2 million 3 million views in a week (now 6 or 7 million in two weeks). Favourited over 10,000 times. Some detractors say he had voice training, but how could you get a voice like that without training?
First audition:
Semi-final:
New MacBook Pro arrives
Friday, June 15th, 2007Finally got it today, though I hear of backlogs. Looks like I got in early.
So far so good. It’s really nice, thought haven’t tested battery life with the new LED screen yet. It’s nice and fast though, with the same amount of RAM as my Dell 9400 running MCE. Bootcamp shall be installed, and as you can see from the pic, I already installed OpenOffice, VLAN Player, Mac Messenger etc.
Mr Puds approves:
Covestor
Thursday, June 14th, 2007Via Jeff is this CAPS-like service of watching the investment portfolios of other people. The bonus is that successful pickers get financial rewards. Definitely a winner, and definitely going to be bought out by a bigger firm.
I’ve signed up to the beta, looks nice so far. Better than Stockpickr, but not quite as good as CAPS yet. I guess CAPS does have 30,000 players.
Bush’s watch
Tuesday, June 12th, 2007This higher definition video makes it appear that Bush’s watch was stolen in Albania. The White House is saying he put it in his pocket. Hm.