Yesterday Apple opened their new store on King Street to a large crowd of people anxiously waiting to see the latest iPhone 3G. Of couse I had to stop by to check things out. The store, formerly Granny’s Goodies and briefly Cumberlands night club looks beautiful. On the inside it’s classic apple, sleek and modern. On the outside it still blends in with the rest of the historic buildings. The best thing about this store is that local Apple users finally have a place to take their Mac or pick up a new one. Before, the only choice was to have it shipped. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get there in time to get a free T-shirt, but that’s ok. I got to play with the new 3G iPhone, an Apple TV and the MacBook Air. Nothing really new, but still fun to play with. That’s the only thing about IT, there’s rarely something computer related at a retail store that’s a big surprise.
Category Archives: Tech
DNA matches, not exactly black and white…
I swear, every time I visit reddit I find something that makes me sigh in disgust. Apparently, the degree to which a person’s genetic profile (which is an extremely small sample of your overall genetic makeup) is unique has been called into question by research performed on the FBIs national DNA database called CODIS. It’s not the fact that DNA evidence isn’t as bulletproof as the FBI has claimed, it’s the actions of the agency in attempting to prevent any such research into the matter that has me steamed. The LA Times article linked to on reddit shows just how far the FBI was willing to go to protect their flawed assertions about the reliability of the information in their database.
MPAA trying to control digital media, again…
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. The MPAA is trying (again) to get the FCC to agree to allow it to implement a type of DRM that would give them total control over your digital media equipment. It’s a system called selectable output control and would give content creators the ability to prevent you from viewing your legally paid for media if they don’t like/trust the device you wish to view it on. If the hardware isn’t blessed by the MPAA, all you’ll get is a black screen. The FCC told the MPAA where they could take SOC back in 2003 and they should reiterate that opinion. (It couldn’t hurt to remind them why…) The EFF is also opposing this ridiculous idea.