Free Software

In our class discussion on free software, the topic of illegal music downloads came up. Currently, I do not download music illegally. I buy my music on iTunes, usually using gift cards that I have received from the holidays or birthdays. I try not to use my credit card that I have registered on my account. But the fact that I buy my music does not mean that I haven't downloaded music illegally before. When programs like Napster, Kazaa, and Bearshare, were still up and running, I was an avid user, even though the threat of being caught and fined was possible. I know of other websites now that are illegal music sharing websites, and a lot of people that I know use them avidly. I could easily download one of these free music softwares and save a lot of money but I choose not to because when I used those websites before my computers would get so many viruses. I had to bring my computer to get fixed and cleaned out three times, each time costing me 60 dollars, and all of my songs had to be erased. On iTunes I could have had 180 songs with the money I spent getting my computer fixed.

In the long run, free software becomes expensive software because of the uncertainty in its security. Someone in our class mentioned that one of downsides to free software is that there is no customer service if something goes wrong. Paying for a legitimate software program is a good idea because your paying for the service, which can save you time and money.

"iBrick"

In Jonathan Zittrain's article, "The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It", Apple's iPhone was discussed. Launched in 2007 he thinks it is both a generative and tethered device, or in other words, good and bad. Stating that it was a device that wasn't only for hobbyists, like the Apple 2, and could be used by anyone in this age, he says it was a generative invention. However, he also says that the iPhone has its downfalls which also makes it a tethered device. For example, the first version of the iPhone only allowed the Apple company to create the applications on the phone. Therefore, the owners of the cell phones were not able to tamper with the handheld computer/phone, which did not allow for the growth or advancement that is needed with such a new and innovative technology. Also the fact that if the touch screen on the phone broke it would literally be useless, (with the coined term iBrick), makes it a tethered device.

After reading Jonathan's article, I began to think about the Blackberry phone that I just ordered on eBay. Although they just came out with a touch screen version, and many phones now are becoming touch screen, I personally would never want one, and many other phone users feel the same way. According to the reviews of the blackberry touch phone online, many people have gone back and returned for the older version because of the annoyance of the touch screen. This reminds me of our discussion on the procrastination principle, which was defined by Bill Thompson. Apple, along with the creators of Blackberry, puts new things on the market and fix the glitches as they go along, which is annoying at first, (tethered), but can eventually be to our benefit, (generative)

Olympic Divide

As I was watching the U.S. ski team compete in the olympics, they interrupted the race to go into a prerecorded story about one of the ski team members. During the 3 minute segment which included pictures and videos of the skier's life, I began wondering if other countries did the same thing with their own sports team members as much as America did. Thinking about our discussion about the digital divide in class, and what has been said in another media class about America's "turn with-in" when it comes to movies and television, I realized that it is very possible that our country has managed to focus on the individual in one of the most united world events. In other countries I'm sure that they show more footage of competitors from different countries, instead of coating it over with dramatic profiles of their own team members. Although we may be a very technologically advanced country, I feel we have not used many parts of it to our intellectual advantage. In a way it is like we are creating our own digital divide between us and cultures around the world.

Stumble Upon College In America

As I was using the amazing website that is StumbleUpon, I stumbled upon something that reminded me of a discussion we had in class about the Youtube video we viewed in class. Entitled College In America, it is a page dedicated to scary, and even funny college statistics. For example, the website states stupid classes that are offered in some universities such as one entitled, "The Art of Walking"

http://www.copytaste.com/oj774ayp

The student made video which we viewed in class, that showed scary statistics regarding American colleges and universities quite frankly freaked me out and inspired me to spend less time on useless websites like Facebook. I personally believe that every college student should view that video because they can all relate to it and maybe be inspired to change there habits along with me.

Social Networking Outfit?

As I was watching the Grammy's pre-show on E Sunday night, one celebrity's outfit became my inspiration for this post. No it wasn't Lady Gaga's future-esque Tinkerbell costume, or Snooki's revealing tube top dress. Instead it was an electronic outfit worn by the singer/songwriter Imogen Heap, that literally had a live Twitter feed. In an apparent effort to honor her fans while on the Red Carpet, Imogen wore a digital necklace attached to a small television in the shape of a purse, that displayed videos posted by fans. Going wireless on the Red Carpet with the tag being #twitdress, Imogen wore what people are now calling the "Twitter Dress".

Although I am not on Twitter, I very much understand the idea and good intention of the Social Networking ensemble. Walking the Red Carpet is a form of social networking regardless and why not simultaneously give credit to those fans that put you there? Ashton Kutcher, during the MTV Video Music Awards did a live Tweet while on stage presenting and even posted a video of himself while on-air. Celebrities are catching on to how powerful these social networking sites are, even to there, already, successful careers.

Being a girl that unfortunately follows Celebrity culture, I am learning that social networking sites aren't just for the weirdo's that I've been warned of on the news. Joining Facebook only two years ago, I am relatively inexperienced when it comes to these social sites. But realizing that almost every celebrity and politician are now involved in some sort of online community, and have outwardly expressed how beneficial they can be to them, makes me think that I should expand my networks online as well...