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<title>Haaze.com / fafuab / Published News</title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 23 Mar 2011 07:10:44 +0000</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Does Apple's iBooks need to go Android]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=does-apples-ibooks-need-to-go-android</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=does-apples-ibooks-need-to-go-android</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Mar 2011 07:10:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fafuab</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=does-apples-ibooks-need-to-go-android</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Amazon asks, &amp;39'What if you switch&amp;39' Apple doesn&amp;39't.(Credit:Amazon)Not too long ago I wrote a post about the iPad 2 as an e-reader. Recently, I read through some of the comments and noticed one that caught my attention.&quot;I refuse to buy books from Apple that can only be read on Apple devices,&quot; declared a CNET reader who goes by the handle GSOgymrat.I pulled that quote out from a longer comment (see full version here), but I thought it was pretty telling. One of the big things that Amazon and Barnes &amp; Noble have been playing up is the fact that their apps--and your digital book libraries--are device agnostic.Amazon's app motto is, &quot;Buy once, read everywhere&quot; and it ran a series of What if you switch-themed TV ads promoting the concept. Barnes &amp; Noble's app page screams: &quot;Read what you love. Anywhere you like.&quot; It doesn't have quite as many app choices as Amazon, (B&amp;N is missing WindowsiPhone 7 and Amazon has announced a Kindle app for HP's Web OS), but it's pretty close. Kobo, too, has a set of apps for a wide variety of devices.iBooks, however, is relegated to Apple iOS mobile devices (we assume an OS X version is in the works), which is fine for all those people who just own Apple devices, but might seem limiting to those who would consider the possibility of dabbling in other platforms.While I haven't bought any e-books in the iBookstore (OK, one, but buying your own book doesn't count), ironically, I have bought several books from Apple--as apps. The books I buy from Apple are almost all children's books--and they're cheap. Like a lot of other people I picked up a bunch of Dr. Seuss books during the sale celebrating Seuss' birthday. They all cost $1.99 or less. For those prices, I figured what the hell, I have aniPad, iPhone, andiPod Touch, my kids are pretty covered. But I've had a Galaxy Tab out on loan from Samsung and now I kind of wish I could put those books on the Tab without having to rebuy them. I can't. At least with the Kindle or Barnes &amp; Noble apps, I can shift my text-based e-book purchases over to the Tab.iTunes account conveniences aside, you're still left with the restriction of not being able to move your library from device to device.Today, Amazon's Kindle Store leads the pack in terms of the overall user experience and selection. Barnes &amp; Noble isn't far behind and Apple is Apple and after a flashy but sputtering start in the e-book realm, it's starting to get more serious. Random House is now onboard with all its titles, so the iBookstore doesn't have the big selection hole it once did. Also, I expect the overall shopping experience will improve as Apple puts more resources toward iBooks now that it's taken a greater interest in the e-book business (if you remember, back in January 2008 Steve Jobs famously told the New York Times that, &quot;The whole conception [of the Kindle] is flawed at the top,&quot; because &quot;People don't read anymore.&quot;).As the iBookstore continues to improve, so, too, will competing e-book stores, and Amazon obviously needs to get into the color game if only not to cede too much ground in the ever-growing interactive e-book genre to Apple and Barnes &amp; Noble, which has launched its Nookkids platform for the Nook Color (and as an app for the iPad). It's already taken a big step forward in that regard by launching its Amazon Appstore, which has those same Dr. Seuss books I bought in the Apple App Store and plenty of other picture books. Right now, it's very unclear who owns what percentage of the e-book market and whether e-book apps are counted as e-books or not. Last year, Ian Freed, an Amazon vice president in charge of the Kindle, told me that Amazon had around 70 to 80 percent of the e-book market. More recently, during Barnes &amp; Noble's last earnings call, William Lynch, the company's CEO, said Barnes &amp; Noble had captured 25 percent of the e-book market. That doesn't leave much room for Apple, but it's probably in third place right now (if you count all the e-book apps), with Sony and Kobo rounding out the top 5. The Google eBookstore is just a tiny sliver of the pie. iBooks will grow simply by Apple selling more iOS devices. The one advantage it has over competing e-book stores is that you can use your iTunes account to buy e-books. You can argue over how significant an advantage that is, especially since a lot of people already have Amazon accounts they can use to buy Kindle e-books as soon as they download the Kindle app onto any device. But the convenience of Apple device owners working off one single account certainly has its appeal and shouldn't be underestimated. (Side note: One of Google's stupid moves with the Android Market--and why a lot of people just download free apps--is that you're not required to sign up for an account and input a credit card number to download something for free. As a result, many people don't bother setting up an account. In contrast, Amazon's new Android Appstore requires you to have an Amazon account to download free apps, which then puts you one click away from paying for apps.)The iBooks shelf would look good on other tablets and smartphones.(Credit:Apple)But iTunes account conveniences aside, you're still left with the restriction of not being able to move your library from device to device. That's certainly what's kept me--and a lot of other people--from buying books through the iBookstore, even if those e-books look and cost the same anywhere you buy them.And that's why Apple should make the bold move of creating iBooks apps for Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Web OS, and any other platform where Kindle and Barnes &amp; Noble are playing.Sadly, I have my doubts Apple will take this route. Instead of letting the wall down, it may instead choose to build it up. A lot of folks are concerned over what will happen on June 30 when Apple will supposedly force e-book sellers like Amazon, Barnes &amp; Noble, and Kobo to modify their apps to make their wares purchasable through Apple's in-app purchasing API, which pulls out a 30 percent cut of the sale for Apple. Today, Amazon and others avoid paying Apple anything by sending users to a Web site outside the app to make purchases.If Apple sticks to that 30 percent number, it will make it very difficult, perhaps impossible, for e-book sellers--and other content sellers--to continue under those terms because Amazon is currently taking its own 30 percent cut on sales from publishers (a more palatable number may be 30 percent of Amazon's 30 percent profit). Apple, of course, is the gatekeeper of its devices and has every right to call the shots.Whether it gets hit up with an antitrust lawsuit is another matter. But Apple built the platform, it sets the rules, and if you want access to all its millions of users, you have to play by its rules or take a hike. However, when it comes to its own e-book app, it would do well to loosen up a bit.  <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[San Franciscans angry over video game balloon stunt]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=san-franciscans-angry-over-video-game-balloon-stunt</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=san-franciscans-angry-over-video-game-balloon-stunt</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 08:10:45 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fafuab</dc:creator>
<category>Gaming</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=san-franciscans-angry-over-video-game-balloon-stunt</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Balloons settled on the San Francisco Bay on Wednesday after being released in a promotion for the new THQ video game Homefront.(Credit:Twitter user seedlingproject)Update (Wednesday, 5:17 p.m. PST): This story now has a response from The Marine Mammal Center and The California Department of Fish and Game about the potentially hazardous effects of balloon litter on wildlife.SAN FRANCISCO--Dozens of red balloons released today as a video game promotion ended up in the San Francisco Bay, causing anger among those who see the balloons as an environmental threat and an immediate danger to fish, birds, and other wildlife.During the Game Developers Conference here, video game publisher THQ released hundreds of the balloons in conjunction with a promotion for its new game Homefront. Many of the balloons had a postcard-size flyer attached advertising the game. People in the downtown area saw the red decorations soaring in large clusters high into the sky, and when many of the balloons came to rest in the water alongside the San Francisco Bay Bridge, some began to express their anger.The anger seemed aimed at video games retailer GameStop, which is a promotion partner of THQ's, and which had its name on the balloons.&quot;Your recent aerial spamming stunt in San Francisco was appalling and absolutely outrageous,&quot; a Facebook user named Teresa Aguilera wrote on GameStop's page. &quot;Latex is biodegradable only after six months, which means the people and wildlife of San Francisco will be reminded of your irresponsibility far after the 'buzz' has faded away for you and your heinous video game.&quot;And an Oakland artist named Camron Assadi said he wrote to GameStop with this message: &quot;The idiots in your marketing department released hundreds of red balloons to promote a video game at GDC. Now those balloons are trash in the Bay. What are you going to do about it Do you have a boat out there collecting this trash&quot;The red balloons rise in the San Francisco sky on Wednesday.(Credit:James Martin/CNET)Twitter, too, was full of anger over the promotion, with dozens of tweets expressing outrage at GameStop over the balloons ending up in the water.But in a statement to CNET, GameStop pointed the finger at THQ. &quot;We understand the concerns consumers have regarding the impact balloons can have on the environment,&quot; GameStop said in the statement. &quot;However, the balloon drop stunt in San Francisco was created by THQ, the publisher of Homefront, and GameStop had no prior knowledge of it. THQ has since informed us that they released soy-based, biodegradable balloons.&quot;For its part, THQ said there is nothing to worry about.&quot;The balloons that were released are completely biodegradable,&quot; said Julia MacMedan, vice president of corporate communications for THQ. &quot;They start the process of biodegrading as soon as they're blown up with the helium. There should not be any environmental concerns.&quot;Balloon with promotional postcard attached.(Credit:Daniel Terdiman/CNET)Asked if THQ was surprised by Bay Area residents' anger, MacMedan said that, &quot;Because the balloons are biodegradable, [people] should not be concerned about any environmental impact from the balloon release.&quot;Further, she said, &quot;We do not expect there will be any danger to fish or wildlife.&quot;A FAQ site from the Balloon Council, a balloon industry trade organization, suggested that some of the outrage over the environmental effects of the GameStop stunt may be unnecessary. &quot;Latex is a 100 percent natural substance that breaks down both in sunlight and water.&quot; reads the FAQ from the Balloon Council, which obviously has a vested interest in people feeling that the decorations are safe. &quot;The degradation process begins almost immediately...Research shows that under similar environmental conditions, latex balloons will biodegrade at about the same rate as a leaf from an oak tree. The actual total degradation time will vary depending on the precise conditions.&quot;Added the Balloon Council, answering the question of what generally happens to the millions of wayward balloons that we see flying through our skies, &quot;Research shows that most of these latex balloons...rise to an altitude of about five miles, where they freeze, breaking into spaghetti-like pieces that scatter as they return to earth. While we do know that animals occasionally eat these soft slivers of rubber, the evidence indicates that pieces ultimately pass through the digestive system without harming the animal.&quot; THQ also said it has retained a cleanup crew to remove any debris from the Bay.&quot;The balloons released at the Homefront rally event today were made from a 100 percent organic product and are 100 percent biodegradable,&quot; THQ said in a statement. &quot;The balloons have no history of causing any environmental pollution on land or in water. Although we're confident that there will be no harm to the environment, we've retained a cleanup crew to remove any potential lingering debris. This was a THQ sponsored promotion and GameStop had no involvement, whatsoever.&quot;But environmentalists are still not happy with the situation. &quot;It's still trash,&quot; said Ann Bauer, the director of education at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, Calif., just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. &quot;It's biodegradable over time, but a bird can still get entangled in it right now. A sea lion could be curious about it, bite it and swallow it. It could clog their stomach and cause them to die--right now. Biodegradable takes time to happen.&quot;And the move could be illegal. &quot;The (California) Fish and Game code 5652 prohibits littering balloons into state waters,&quot; Patrick Foy, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game, said in an e-mail. There are plenty of written stories about the problems associated with the release of balloons and when they are ingested.&quot;A San Francisco resolution that urged the city to prohibit the intentional release of balloons into the air says that, among other things, dead turtles have been found washed up on beaches with balloons hanging out of their mouths and that whales are known to die from starvation by ingesting pounds of balloons and other plastics.CNET's Elinor Mills contributed to this report.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[FlyRuby aims to make booking a private jet easier]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=flyruby-aims-to-make-booking-a-private-jet-easier</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=flyruby-aims-to-make-booking-a-private-jet-easier</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Feb 2011 08:10:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fafuab</dc:creator>
<category>Gaming</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=flyruby-aims-to-make-booking-a-private-jet-easier</guid>
<description><![CDATA[FlyRuby says it is essentially creating Expedia for charter jet travel.(Credit:FlyRuby)PALM DESERT, Calif.--If you're going to spend the cash to charter a private jet, shouldn't it be easy to book the planeYou would think the industry would simplify things for the wealthy, but that's not the case, according to start-up FlyRuby, which unveiled its service at the Demo Spring conference here today. Indeed, company CEO Michael Leek says that it can often take hours to figure out a suitable private plane charter between two cities. And that's just not efficient.That's where FlyRuby comes in, Leek said. A former U.S. Marine with a passion for the aviation industry, Leek said he wanted to identify the inefficiencies in the industry--and he realized that one of the biggest was that there was no simple way to quickly identify the specific plane that makes the most sense for a flight.Here's the problem, he said: There are thousands of small private jet operators, all of which are vying for business, but there's not been a system that aggregates the availability of all those planes. Now, thanks to a nine-year, $95 million DARPA and Air Force research program licensed by Carnegie Mellon University--and which FlyRuby is incorporating into its software--there's a way. It's an artificial intelligence-based dynamic scheduling system that can pinpoint, what Leek said, is the best available plane that a customer could use to get between two cities, or even make a round trip.To start with, Leek explained, FlyRuby's system tries to find any jets known to be empty that are flying in the same direction as a customer. If none is quickly identified, the next step is to look for planes that are going to be flying empty back to the destination city. If that doesn't return results, then the next step is to look for planes that are already sitting on the ground in the departure city. The result of these searches is that FlyRuby can return as many as 5,000 possible flights in as little as 5 seconds, Leek said. All in all, the idea is to make it as easy to identify and book a private plane flight as it currently is to book a ticket on a commercial airline. And lest you think that there isn't a big enough market to support such a business, Leek said that there is currently about $50 billion a year spent on private jet travel in the United States.Of that, the flight costs alone amount to about $30 billion, he added. Yet about 40 percent of all the flights are empty, meaning that there are many, many millions, if not billions, of dollars that are being lost to inefficiency, Leek said.While FlyRuby says it is the first to put together a system for aggregating private jet charters, anyone who remembers Richard Branson's ill-fated Virgin Charter will know that there have been similar efforts in the past. Then again, Branson's initiative couldn't figure out a way to solve the problem. This isn't necessarily a low-cost play, Leek said. In fact, FlyRuby isn't talking about price, or how much money it can save its customers on the cost of flights, or even if it can do so. The problem FlyRuby is really solving, Leek said, is how hard it is to identify appropriate charter flights. The company is offering potential customers the ability find the right flight in a matter of minutes, not hours. And while it would seem likely that it's usually the assistants of the people doing the flying who are doing the research, it would probably still be a major improvement for these customers if FlyRuby can do what it says.This, of course, is a market that most of us won't ever be taking part in. Even if flights are less expensive, or easier to find, than they've been in the past, private jet travel is still going to be too costly for most. But for those who do fly this way, or for those who own or operate the planes, it's certain that finding ways to streamline the process will be a major benefit. So if FlyRuby can in fact deliver on this promise, it's likely to be a plus across the board--in terms of a reduction in lost potential revenue, lost hours of time searching for flights, and even in greenhouse gases.The next step To find a way to make this industry efficient enough that even those who fly commercial can take advantage of charter jet travel.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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