Obama iPhone Application Leverages Your Swing State Contacts

Once again (OK, I'm biased), Barak Obama has proven himself as a visionary leader who gets it. (OK, that was a bit over the top.) Bringing 21st century technology to the virtual campaign trail, the Obama campaign has launched it's own iPhone application; and, it does more than you might think. For example, it supports you to call contacts in your address book who live is swing states (but without violating their privacy). Pretty impressive stuff.

Details are here in this excellent NY Times write-up, "It’s Obama on the iPhone"

iPhone is Now a Light Sabre

I'm forced, due to time constraints, to wait for the lines to die down at my local Apple Store to get my first smartphone. Yes, me, your virtually favorite techno-dweeb has never owned a smartphone. That's right, no Treo, no Crackberry... But, just in case your confidence in my geeky authority is waning; and to underscore the sincere message that the iPhone is now the ultimate--at least for now--mobile computing platform (thanks to the amazing resources now available via the iTunes iPhone Apps Store)... not to mention just for the giggles... I wanted to make sure that you all know that the iPhone (even the old, slow ones) is now a StarWars-reminiscent light sabre!



Video courtesy of the wonderful geeks at their totally-hysterical super-estore:

Steve Jobs & Bill Gates Together, The Complete Coverage

I don't think there are two better visionaries on the planet (of course, I'm partial to Steve Jobs), and while their joint appearance with Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg was covered in the news, I just discovered the complete coverage including transcripts and video clips (an edit of video excerpts is included below). Good stuff!

Special thanks to Dr. Mac, Bob LeVitus for this link via his most-excellent Mac e-newsletter. You can subscribe here: http://www.boblevitus.com/

Here's the video highlight reel:

New Apple TV Ad

Business 2.0 has a new "get-a-Mac" Apple TV ad before it's release on a day when Apple stock reached new heights, pre-iPhone's release (for which surveys are showing a strong demand). Seems it's a mad, mad new Apple world where the superior platform is even gaining market share.

Apple's Steve Jobs Reopens Free Digital Rights Conversation

Ever since the early days of the Internet and the original Napster MP3 download craze, the issue of digital rights management (DRM) and the security of the intellectual property rights of artists vs the new environment of sharing and collaboration offered by the Internet has been a controversial subject.

For example, I wrote a kind of inflamatory piece in Videography in the year 2000 called "Napster Gets It, Universal Doesn't" where I called the Universal CEO "Bozo Bronfman" and referenced a classic Flash movie "Napster Bad" which made fun of the band Metallica for being money grubbers.

Bottom line, the bad guys were the record companies, and now (fast forward to 2007), they are among Steve Jobs and Apple's best friends.

So the latest is that Mr. Jobs, always on the move, and in the face of the huge financial benefits that Apple gains by owning the platform that delivers by far the most "legal" (read digital rights protected) downloads... and in the face of mostly European gripes about Apple's DRM and its proprietary system (which is not unlike Microsoft's, Sony's etc.), Mr. Jobs has now written a lucid web post encouraging record companies to open up their digital rights.

In other words, he's once again pointing the finger (accurately) at the record companies as the reason that there is a digital rights lock down in the first place; and he's recommending that the best way forward is for these same record companies to get out of the way, for the benefit of everyone, especially consumers but including the record companies and the tech companies as well.

DailyTech explains in more detail why "Apple's leader believes that a DRM-free world would be the best one for consumers."

If you're interested in this subject (and, frankly, I think that everyone should be), I highly recommend Stanford Law professor and digital rights activist Lawrence Lessig's exceptionally well-written, researched and insightful book, Free Culture.

(Addendum: Bronfman responded to Jobs and it still looks like he's a bozo.)

Whoa! Netflix to Offer Free TV Shows to Members

The battle for the distribution of broadcast programming via the Web is heating up. Apple's iTunes Store has made big waves by selling TV shows at $1.99 each. Now NetFlix is rolling out what is essentially a perk for membership. Free downloadable TV shows.

Here's the TechCrunch overview of this announcement and the official NetFlix press release and the NYTimes perspective.

Cisco's Suit of Apple Over iPhone Name May Be Playing into Steve's Hand

Many folks are mystified by Cisco's suit of Apple over the name of Apple's truly sensational, hot new iPhone. And, by the way, I agree with many that this is a true "leapfrog" product that is literally years ahead of the competition and will have a huge impact on the market like the iPod.

I think I know what's going on with this lawsuit. It's just a hunch, but it rings true at least to me. Bottom line, I think Steve is one step ahead of Cisco.

First, think of all the free publicity Apple and Mr. Steve Jobs are getting as a result of the Cisco lawsuit. Second, remember that Apple's new AppleTV product was originally named "iTV." Get it yet? Third, remember that Jobs likes consistency in product names. For example, now and only recently, all the Mac portables are MacBooks.

So my educated guess is that Jobs knew he'd get sued. He anticipated the publicity boost. And, they will change the name of their awesome new product to the ApplePhone! It's got nice alliteration and they'll use the same Apple logo-included name treatment that they are using on the AppleTV product.

You heard it here first! Anybody else think this is true?

Inspiring: Steve Jobs Commencement Address at Stanford

When I first got an email with this commencement address by college drop-out Steve Jobs at Stanford University, I thought it must be urban legend; but, as this link shows, it's for real. And, more importantly, it's quality content. Inspiring even. Jobs speaks of "connecting the dots" in your life, the value of love and loss (using his "devastating" removal from Apple as a powerful positive in his life) and, most profoundly, death as the ultimate motivator, including details of his recent battle with pancreatic cancer. Check out the full text of Steve Jobs' remarks

Apple Back in the Spotlight

As a mac man and an Apple stockholder, it should be clear that I'm a fan of one of the most innovative companies in the history of technology. So, of course, I'm pleased to see Apple back in the spotlight as evidenced by the current cover story in Fortune magazine, How Big Can Apple Get?