June 21, 2007
Sony’s disconnect
Bit Player
LA Times columnist Jon Healey writes about Hollywood’s love hate relationship with high tech.
“Well, that’s one way to address the DRM incompatibility problem. PaidContent.org reports that Sony is all but killing its online music and video store, dubbed Sony Connect. Evidently, the new Sony gives up more quickly on misbegotten initiatives than the old Sony, although frankly I’m surprised Connect lasted even this long.”
China becomes leader in CO2 emissions
Daily Tech
Michael Asher wonders if we should start to worry about the China’s environmental record.
”Officials were quick to point fingers elsewhere. The UK’s top climate change official, John Ashton — who has spent years blaming Western nations for emissions — says there’s “no point” in blaming China. Greenpeace director John Saueven went further, saying ultimate blame for this lay not with China, but with those Western nations who buy its cheap products.”
Mr. Google goes to Washington
Tech Dirt
Joe Weisenthal comments on the recent anti-trust spat between Google and Microsoft.
“Considering the fact that the tech industry hasn’t typically had much lobbying clout, the move might be regarded as smart. But on the whole, this can’t be regarded as a good development for the industry. Cato Institute director David Boaz has a good essay on how Google is getting sucked into what he calls the parasite economy (via Tech Liberation Front). As he puts it, more of Google’s talent and money is now being used to marshal support from Washington, rather than direct competition in the marketplace, which is a losing scenario for everyone (especially consumers) in the long term. You might think that pursuing antitrust issues is a corollary to the fight against the messed up patent system, which has the effect of creating monopolies. But it’s just the opposite. Pursuing antitrust cases, like aggressively using patents, is a way of using the auspices of government to stave off the competition. As Google is clearly demonstrating, Microsoft can do very little to stop its advance, and thus its very success undermines any claims that it’s up against unfair competition or needs government support.”