David Lidsky's Blog, page 4621

What the Latest "Hot News" Ruling Means for Financial Web Sites - And Maybe Your Blog

The hot news doctrine, created a century ago to prevent telegraphy from spoiling the prospects of East Coast newspapers, is having a resurgence in the digital era. It's just been used to squash publications by financial news aggregator Web sites.

There's a fascinating piece explaining this news over at MediaShift--centering on the federal district ruling from May 18th, Barclays Capital Inc. versus TheFlyOnTheWall.com, that forbids the financial news aggregator Web site from broadcasting daily...

IDEO and Steelcase Unveil a School Desk for the Future of Teaching

The Node chair adapts to the myriad activities that occur in the modern classroom.

IDEO and Steelcase have just announced what might be a revolution in classroom design, a school desk that seamlessly adapts to whatever happens in class.

If you've spent any time in a schoolroom in the last 15 years, you're familiar with the high pitched whine of metal scraping against linoleum, as students rearrange their chairs and desks to whatever activity is going on. It seems like a minor annoyance, but...

Nokia Profit Warning: It's Been Outmaneuvered by Apple

Nokia may be the biggest cell phone maker in the world, but this doesn't insulate its business from market failures. The firm is now officially warning the markets that its grip is slipping, and its market share may be sliding. 

In an alert today Nokia warns that its sales are so far below expectations that it has to revise its second quarter fiscal predictions downwards. Instead of a ceiling of €7.2 billion as it had predicted, Nokia's calculations suggest that the actual net sales figure...

Vivian Schiller on NPR's Test and Learn Culture

Vivian Schiller, President and CEO of NPR, credits an open, experimental work environment for creating new ideas.  How does your company stay innovative?

Apple iPhone 4 Sold Out Until July 2, Pre-Orders Suspended by AT&T

If you missed out on pre-ordering your iPhone 4 yesterday, then July 2 is the earliest date you'll receive one--that is if you manage to pre-order the new device at all.

Demand for Apple's new phone caused Internet chaos--including a gaping security breach that exposed people's credit card details to the world. Add to that a server meltdown at Apple's online store, which now shows the beginning of next month as the earliest available date for the new smartphone.

The security breaches at...

IDEO and Steelcase Unveil a Schooldesk For the Future of Teaching

The Node chair adapts to the myriad activities that occur in the modern classroom.

IDEO and Steelcase have just announced what might be a revolution in classroom design, a schooldesk that seamlessly adapts to whatever happens in class.

If you've spent any time in a schoolroom in the last 15 years, you're familiar with the high pitched whine of metal scraping against linoleum, as students rearrange their chairs and desks to whatever activity is going on. It seems like a minor annoyance, but...

What the Latest 'Hot News' Ruling Means for Financial Websites - And Maybe Your Blog

The hot news doctrine, created a century ago to prevent telegraphy spoiling the prospects of East coast newspapers, is having a resurgence in the digital era. It's just been used to squash publications by financial news aggregator websites. 

There's a fascinating piece explaining this news over at MediaShift--centering on the federal district ruling from May 18th, Barclays Capital Inc. versus TheFlyOnTheWall.com, that forbids the financial news aggregator website from broadcasting daily stock...

YouTube Introduces Simple, Cloud-Based Video Editor

YouTube has unveiled a cloud-based video editor that simplifies the process of cutting clips and uploading them. It's more basic than desktop programs such as Final Cut Express--even Charlie's brother will be knocking his own revenge videos up in no time.

You can trim videos and splice them together using the drag-and-drop editor. And it allows you to include AudioSwap library's music files, although Google Operating System is reporting that using the files may display the ads on your...

San Francisco's Cell Phone Radiation Law: Fear or Science?

San Francisco's cell phone radiation signage law has passed, ready to scare and confuse consumers about the so-called dangers of phones. Why is it confusing? Because there's no scientific consensus that a problem even exists.

As the The New York Times report about the new law notes, it's being heralded as a victory for the consumer by politicians including mayor Gavin Newsom. The actual requirement is that retailers must display a note next to the sales detail of every phone (in a font of at...

The Making of the World Cup Jabulani Ball: The Movie

Jabulani, the official ball of the World Cup, seems to be the focal point of the tournament so far. The $150, eight-paneled
synthetic ball is thermally bonded together, rather than being
stitched, as traditional footballs are. And this is how it is made, in a
factory in China:

[youtube B88iSdBNoik:]

Although Jabulani's maker, Adidas, promised more goals than normal, there have been just 20 back-of-the-net opportunities in the first 12 games, compared to 28 in Euro 2008, and 30 in the 2006...