There are few ways of endearing yourself to the geek world more quickly than writing a song like “Code Monkey.” The developer-friendly track was one of 52 released as part of Jonathan Coulton’s year-long “Thing a Week” project and was later adopted as the theme song for a similarly-titled G4 program. The songwriter was just adhering to that old adage of “writing what you know,” having worked as a full-time computer programmer prior to giving the music world a go — though, as he readily admits, he still keeps it real by coding for his own site. We sat down with Coulton as part of this month’s
Engadget Show, discussing his midlife crisis-driven decision to quit his day job and the journey that the internet played in making him a star. We also discussed the musician’s favorite tech, his love of Creative Commons and using gadgets to make music. Coulton also treated us to three songs, including “Still Alive” from the
Portal soundtrack and two tracks off his brand new record
Artificial Heart. Video of all that after the break.
Continue reading Jonathan Coulton talks coding, Creative Commons and becoming an internet rockstar (video)
Jonathan Coulton talks coding, Creative Commons and becoming an internet rockstar (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Welcome to Growing Up Geek, an ongoing feature where we take a look back at our youth and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. Today we have our very own Contributing Editor, Jesse Hicks.
I’ve never been one for nostalgia, but if I I had to choose a Proustian element from my geeky childhood — a singular sense-memory that evokes a whole constellation of related feelings — I’d pick the eerie keening of a 28.8 modem. That high, quavering sound, for me, conjurs up the earliest days of my geekdom, when computers were slow, landlines were king and the internet was young.
I was twelve when my family got our first computer: a 486DX that first appeared without a hard drive. My mom had found a great deal at a computer show…or so it had seemed. That missing 120MB hard drive, as you may have guessed, severely limited functionality. But once that problem was remedied, I was off and running with DOS and XTree, happily deleting essential system files. The learning process had begun.
Continue reading Growing Up Geek: Jesse Hicks
Growing Up Geek: Jesse Hicks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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At the same time that kindly
Mr. Vodafone released the
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S to the children of the world, it announced a new program that helps you gauge your mobile data needs. Data Test Drive gives you three months of unlimited, kid-in-a-candy-van access for as much mobile
Tweeting,
Spotifying and
YouTubing as your eyes and ears can handle. At the end of that period, the company will let you know if your current data plan would cover your usage and provide the option to increase if necessary. The program’s only open to new customers, and there’s no mention if you can down-shift your charges if you sip miserly at your data. Still, it’s better than getting a slap in the face with the wet fish of a penalty data charge.
Vodafone Data Test Drive enables users to experiment with data, see what tier fits best originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We told you it was only a matter of time and, honestly, it took a bit longer than expected. Verizon has officially filed an appeal to the FCC’s net neutrality rules, which are set to take effect on Novemeber 20th. It wasn’t until the regulations were published in the Federal Register on September 23rd that they became fair game for legal challenges — a technicality that resulted in Verizon’s previous attempt to block the rules being tossed out by the US Court of Appeals in April. While Verizon senior vice president and deputy general counsel, Michael E. Glover, assures netizens that the company is “fully committed to an open Internet,” it none-the-less takes issue with the FCC’s attempt to institute new “broad” and “sweeping” regulations on the telecommunications industry. We’re sure this is only the first of several cases that will be brought before the courts challenging the commission’s authority. Stayed tuned to see if and when MetroPCS re-enters the fray, and to find out the ultimate fate of net neutrality here in the US. Check out the brief statement from Verizon after the break.
Continue reading Verizon appeals net neutrality rules, let the legal wrangling begin
Verizon appeals net neutrality rules, let the legal wrangling begin originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Old Uncle Sam seems determined to crack down on botnets, but he still needs a little help figuring out how to do so. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published a request for information, inviting companies from internet and IT companies to contribute their ideas to a voluntary “code of conduct” for ISPs to follow when facing a botnet infestation. The move comes as an apparent response to a June “Green Paper” on cybersecurity, in which the Department of Commerce’s Internet Policy Task Force called for a unified code of best practices to help ISPs navigate through particularly treacherous waters. At this point, the NIST is still open to suggestions from the public, though Ars Technica reports that it’s giving special consideration to two models adopted overseas. Australia’s iCode program, for example, calls for providers to reroute requests from shady-looking systems to a site devoted to malware removal. The agency is also taking a hard look at an initiative (diagrammed above) from Japan‘s Cyber Clean Center, which has installed so-called “honeypot” devices at various ISPs, allowing them to easily detect and source any attacks, while automatically notifying their customers via e-mail. There are, however, some lingering concerns, as the NIST would need to find funding for its forthcoming initiative, whether it comes from the public sector, corporations or some sort of public-private partnership. Plus, some are worried that anti-botnet programs may inadvertently reveal consumers’ personal information, while others are openly wondering whether OS-makers should be involved, as well. The code’s public comment period will end on November 4th, but you can find more information at the source link, below.
US government to beat back botnets with a cybersecurity code of conduct originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We’re still waiting for Google TV products to officially get their big update with Honeycomb and access to the Android Market, but compatible apps are already leaking out. NewTeeVee points out a couple from TNT and TBS (which also allow Google TV streaming from their websites) that briefly appeared and will let pay-TV subscribers stream episodes directly over the internet, similar to the iOS apps both networks have already rolled out. Turner confirmed the existence of the TV Everywhere apps, while Google expressed its hope to see more authenticated apps like these and the existing HBO Go access on the platform, as opposed to simply ending up blocked. That’s bad news for cord-cutters hoping for an online only machine, but with the majority of viewers still hooked into satellite, cable or IPTV it may be the only way to make Google TV a viable platform right now. All signs point to the update arriving at the end of this month, we should find out more about these apps and others like them then.
Google TV apps for TNT, TBS leak out briefly, reveal authenticated streaming on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Well America, on November 20th you too will finally have net neutrality regulations all your own… provided the anticipated pile of lawsuits don’t derail the process. The FCC will publish its “open internet rules” in the Federal Register tomorrow, making the regulations official. These are the same fairly modest proposals that were passed nearly a year ago over Republican opposition and, on that fateful day in November, they’re scheduled to take effect. The rules have already faced challenges from congress, Verizon and MetroPCS, but those suits were dismissed since the regulations technically didn’t exist. After tomorrow though, any and all legal challenges will be fair game. Since the FCC is relying on its ancillary powers instead of reclassifying broadband as a Tier II service (similar to telephone landlines), those challenges could actually meet with success. If you need a refresher, just check out or guide to net neutrality as well as our interview with advocate and law professor Tim Wu. Now, we just have to wait and see what tomorrow will bring.
America may join the net neutrality parade on November 20th, if the courts let it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Not content with creating the possibility of (emulated) Wii gaming on Android tablets, Splashtop continues to spread itself across pretty much anything with a screen, with a Mac-friendly version available now at the Mac App Store. This release allows both Mac OS X 10.6 and Windows to hold hands across the great OS divide — nice to see Splashtop is still beavering away at its “Bridge to Anywhere.” Desktop access to both your most intimate files and programs — through both local networks and the internet at large — are but a $9.99 payment away.
Continue reading Splashtop Remote Desktop now available for Mac OS X, costs but $10
Splashtop Remote Desktop now available for Mac OS X, costs but $10 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Remember that Pandora redesign that we told you about, way back in July? Well, it’s finally done testing, and is ready to bring its HTML5-based goodness to the Internet radio-loving masses. The revamp offers up a number of new features like improved socialization, easier station creation and additional information about artists, including lyrics, bios and larger album art. Coolest of all is the ditching of the 40 hour music listening limit for non-premium users — a welcome change in light of similar announcements from MOG and Rdio.
Pandora rolls out HTML5 redesign to everyone, drops 40 hour listening cap originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Like a giant warlock guarding the gates of the interwebs, financial barriers all too often block our young people from accessing the plethora of awesomeness found in front of those iconic triple-Ws-and-a-dot. In a bid to spread the love more evenly, the FCC and Comcast’s promised Internet Essentials platform is going live — giving low-income families $9.99 / month web access and “discounted” (read: $149.99) computers. The platform that we first heard about in August will also include a Norton Security Suite and computer training for youngsters and their parents alike. The cable provider is accepting participants until 2014, honoring the contract dependent on the child’s status and family income. Like other heavy hitters involved in similar initiatives, the goal is to bridge the education gap and to provide a more level playing field for kids. To get more details on the program, direct your attention to the source link.
Continue reading Comcast and FCC partner to give low-income families access to internet, Nyan Cats
Comcast and FCC partner to give low-income families access to internet, Nyan Cats originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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