iPod nano

Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets. That’s probably a sentence I’d like to write all the time if there’s yet another one of these nifty little things that enhance our luxury life. One of these is already the well-known iPod, but by now, there’s a new stage of development: The iPod nano. This gadget keeps us entertained with the latest technology, and is a really small one, too! With a size of 9 x 4 x 0.69 centimeters and about 42.5 gramm, the USB device with 4 GByte storage will cost about 250 Euro. And those who still planned to buy the iPod mini will be disappointed since Apple apparently removed the item from their iPod-Player list.

But where’s the catch in buying this product? Besides its small size and capacity, I don’t see any benefit from it. Since most CDs are already copy right protected and nearly every copy might be a case of copyright infringement, who should really use it except to carbonize the old CDs for a nice jogging session? The expensive downloads from the iTunes music shop won’t lure me into their customer’s value chains… :(

[via Golem]

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Barbara Bush: What the hell…?

There are many things which disturb me concerning politics of the USA, but this is nothing else but yet another sick form of modern american racism. I believe those who voted for George W. Bush and probably his father, should remember they elect those who hate half of their own country. Now the presidental mother, Barbara Bush, was widely quoted in the news. Why do they still pretend to be interested in the entire issues of humantity, of helping and supporting those who are dying or are already dead?

„So many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway. This is working very well for them.“ -former First Lady Barbara Bush, regarding flood evacuees at the Astrodome in Houston.

Now I’m fond of what we have in the European Union – a political system that would kill off those in power for simply saying such thoughtless bullshit.

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Windows Vista: The Killer Application

I’m back from the beach, and just have to puke on the following question: What do you need to run the upcoming Windows Vista without facing the classic latency problems? Here’s the answer (rumor?) from Microsoft which probably outdates their official statement:

  • Dual-Core-Processor
  • 2 GByte of DDR3 memory
  • 256 MByte RAM Graphics Card
  • SATA2-Festplatte

Since Vista is using 3D vector graphics to calculate the images and graphics on screen, it’s highly advisable to have a high-end machine.

I’ll stick to Windows XP for the near future, and then once I’ve done the Bachelor and actively work on my Master’s degree, I’ll consider buying a new high-end machine. But these requirements above are simply blowing my expenses. The most amazing discovery in concern of DVDs being played on Vistamachines is simply enough of kicking the users: You will probably need a new monitor to watch HDTV since the current systems won’t be truely supported anymore. This means a new stationary PC with a brand new monitor, or a brand new Laptop. On the other hand, I might think of confessing my soul to Apple for this treachery of Microsoft!

[via Teched and Golem]

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The Intelligent Mouse

While using my stationary desktop PC, of course I rely on an optical cordless mouse. This morning I strumbled upon a new gadget from Logitech – the intelligent mouse MX610.

This mouse has an integrated microprocessor, and a bi-directional radio communication. The mouse can warn you about a low battery, new emails or instant messages, and the total of 10 buttons enable the user to specify any other functions if necessary. The Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse will be delivered this month for the price of 49.99 Euros. I believe that’s quite cheap for such a nice gadget. Now this new mouse, and either the Microsoft Keyboard or Optimus Keyboard will integrate my hands with that nifty technology.

Update: Further, the company announced another model, the V400, and by now I’m not sure anymore what to grab up. Either the gadget mouse from above, or the capable mouse which won’t have many problems with different surfaces. I’ve always experienced problems with surfaces, and I’ve been searching for a mouse that could handle it. We’ll see… ;)

[via Golem twice]

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Google Pagerank: Down or Off

Perhaps its just me again, but I cannot determine the current Google PageRank for any website via their Toolbar service. Must be the morning and the lack of caffine, and my love-ramblings probably did the rest ;) And now after yesterday’s re-categorization, I don’t even know where to file this entry. For now, it’s in „Software“, but would „Alerts“ be more useful and userfriendly?

Update
Now its back alive. Am I too fast with these things? I should be more patient and at finally learn to wait five minutes for an internet service to get back online. But then, it is Google? I do believe they have reliable servers – unless the backbones in Germany had to deal with an intense load.

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Live at the Chancelor Duel

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Germany’s TV stations distribute the live-feed of the Chancelor Schröder and Candidate Merkel on the web. This is a must-see for anybody who’s being interested in the upcoming elections on September 18th. Until now, both politicians do not offer any useful solution to the problems from which the country is suffering. If at least one side would consider that they cannot undo the problems created by the Kohl Administration in the 90s, and if they would not try to argue with the failures of the other party to reason their legitimation for becoming the government, if and then – then we wouldn’t even have to worry about the stupidity of politics.

Update
The reforms of the taxes as suggested by the CDU seems to be worthless under the considerance of the most basic ideas of economics. They cannot finance their reforms, even if they plot their political and financial course to gain support from the rather non-intelligent voters. Surprisingly, Schroeder has given arguments which simply boost Merkel’s ideas off the paper.

Update – Livechat/Blog
Lautgeben offers a live-blog by using IRC…

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Query: Loonatics


To be honest, I don’t understand why Technorati’s Top Searches for the last hour contains the word „Loonatics“ – what is this all about? Are people just mad? Does the blogosphere evolve into nonsense? And do I have nothing else to do? Now I’m tagging that strange word on my own, and if that’s not going to be something special about the Looney Toons from Warner Bros., I don’t know anymore…

Update: Now I found it… it’s an upcoming show called Loonatics Unleashed. ;)

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Best of the Blogs 2005: Competition Begins

The BOBs - BEST OF THE BLOGS - Deutsche Welle International Weblog Awards 2005The Best of the Blogs competition for 2005 has now begun. Throughout the entire month (September), everybody may suggest your favorite or your own weblog for inclusion in this year’s contest. The categories to nominate weblogs include Best Weblog, Best Multimedia Blog, Best Podcasting Site, Specialprice Reporters Without Borders, and Best Journalistic Blog in different language categories. I’m on this track and have ego-submitted the MikeSchnoor.com… ;)

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eBay’s 10th Anniversary

This weekend marks the official 10th anniversary of eBay. On the U.S. Labor Day weekend in 1995, Pierre Omidyar wrote the code for AuctionWeb, which soon became eBay.

[…] with over 157 million registered users worldwide, and a presence in 33 markets, including the U.S. At any given time, there are about 55 million items available on eBay worldwide, and 5 million are added every day. Over the years, eBay members have left more than 3 billion feedback comments for each other. In the U.S. alone, more than 724,000 professional sellers use eBay as a primary or secondary source of income.

I’ve always enjoyed the eBay-phenomenon, and have sometimes participated in digging up some nice deals. I was addicted to eBay in approximately 2002, but in the long run, I was able to get off that addiction to their service. Enjoy your 10th anniversary eBay!

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International Hatred: USA vs. Germany

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A few days ago, German Minister of the Environment Jürgen Tritten explained his harsh opinion on the rather delicate matter of the Hurricane Katrina in the Frankfurter Rundschau:

Original
Der amerikanische Präsident verschließt die Augen vor den wirtschaftlichen und menschlichen Schäden, die seinem Land und der Weltwirtschaft durch Naturkatastrophen wie „Katrina“, also durch unterlassenen Klimaschutz, zugefügt werden. […] Anzeichen, dass Bush nicht nur der Gegenwind des Hurrikans „Katrina“ ins Gesicht weht, mehren sich […]

Translation (rough)
The american President closes his eyes infront of economic and human disasters. These harm his country and the world economy through natural disasters like „Katrina“ – because of refraining from climate protection. […] Signs of headwind is not only coming from hurricane „Katrina“ increase […]

Now there’s a very interesting read: Not just the politicians, but the readers of the German magazine „Der Spiegel“ have send in their own letters in response to the articles by Der Spiegel including the statement of Trittin. Both Germany and the USA have very different opinions concerning the disaster and the reactions of the politicians. Read the point of view by the US-americans and continue on the counter-view from the Germans. I’m not going to add spice to that soup of false patriotism and propagandistic hatred. The people have suffered enough in New Orleans from that Hurricane, and they clearly don’t need to hear idiotic comments out of the blue. However, if anyone wishes, sure go and write something to Der Spiegel or drop a comment… in the end, Trittin’s comment was not so bold, but the populism by Spiegel kills the frame of international relationships on both political and economical levels.

Update:
As Hokey explained below, a major entry by Lautgeben creates an uproar in the germanspeaking blogosphere. I guess the lack of confidence from which Spiegel suffers each day is just expressed there at best – of course in German.

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