The community-edited Wikipedia online encyclopedia has found itself the focus of some unwanted attention, courtesy of John Seigenthaler, a retired journalist who served as Robert Kennedy’s administrative assistant in the early 1960s.
Writing in USA Today, Seigenthaler describes how he discovered his biography on Wikipedia (he was probably Googling himself - we’ve all done it!), but was shocked to discover the accusation that he was involved in the assassination of Kennedy in the early 60s.
“John Seigenthaler Sr. was the assistant to Attorney General Robert Kennedy in the early 1960’s,” said the biog. “For a brief time, he was thought to have been directly involved in the Kennedy assassinations of both John, and his brother, Bobby. Nothing was ever proven.”
Seigenthaler eventually got the accusation removed and then launched into at attempt to track down the writer. Wikipedia provided him with an IP address which was traced to BellSouth Internet, but then ISP refused to disclose the identity of the poster citing privacy laws. The only way of identifying the culprit would have been via a lawsuit, which Seigenthaler decided not to pursue.
The nature of Wikipedia is that it relies on the good will of its users to a) not post incorrect information b) edit it promptly when the inevitable errors, planned or otherwise, creep in. In some cases this model is flawed and of course, the Wikipedia brand is one that encourages trust from its readers, making false information very powerful.
Seigenthaler is quite sanguine about the whole business.”And so we live in a universe of new media with phenomenal opportunities for worldwide communications and research,” he writes. “But populated by volunteer vandals with poison-pen intellects.”
December 1st, 2005
Struggling to get watch TV programmes on your PSP? The StorVision miniVCR is a compact low cost solution to record videos suitable to be played on handheld viewing devices such as the PSP, Epson P2000, Nintendo GameBoy Micro, or the iPod Viewer.
The miniVCR enables you to record directly from your television onto a memory card, which you can then simply place in your PSP and watch the recorded programme of your choice. This means that you can record onto Memory Stick Pro Duo Gaming edition and Compactflash/Microdrive memory cards (other type of flash cards via an optional adapter).
With the MPEG4 personal video recorder you can store your favorite movies onto a memory card and watch it anywhere.
Any programme which is shown on TV can be recorded onto the memory card; classic movies, your favorite soaps, football matches, etc…
Equipped with two memory card slots, the miniVCR accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo for Sony PSP, Compactflash / Hitachi Microdrives, or any other type of memory card via an optional Compactflash 5in1 adapter. The miniVCR records under digital MPEG-4 (ISO simple profile) video format to the inserted memory card.
Simply connect the miniVCR to your TV or satellite set up box using the supplied Audio/Video composite cables (you may need a SCART adapter), and record via the supplied remote control your favorite TV programmes and movies. The remote control will also give you the controls to play / pause / rewind / fast forward your stored videos. Both NTSC and PAL TV standards are supported.
It also has a convenient timer for recording along with an enhanced interface for quick timer setup, auto record and scheduled recordings, which means that you will never miss what you want to watch.
The encoder can handle video content in both QVGA (320×240) and 368×208 pixel resolution (16:9 screen ratio) for the Sony PSP and in VGA (640×480) for other uses.
The miniVCR combines an MPEG4 movie player, MP3 music player and JPEG photo viewer in the same compact unit.
You can use the miniVCR to play MP3 music through your TV, view photos stored on your memory card, giving you the ability to share various types of media easily.
December 1st, 2005
Skype today released the beta version of Skype 2.0, the newest version of its software that allows anyone with an Internet connection to make free Internet calls. The software is designed for greater ease of use, integrated video calling, and enhanced features that allow people to stay in touch and express themselves online. Skype also announced its collaboration with global headset and Webcam partner Logitech, as well as partnerships with Webcam manufacturer Creative, and with weblog software and services company Six Apart.
Available in 27 languages, Skype is used by people in almost every country around the world, and Skyping has become a global phenomenon. The latest version of the software has further simplified the Skype interface, making it even easier for people to see and speak with their family, friends and colleagues.
“At Skype we want to make talking over the Internet the most natural, simple thing for people all over the world to do. With the release of our new software, it’s never been easier for people to talk to one another for free, and now they can see each other with video as well,” said Niklas Zennstrom, CEO of Skype.
Skype 2.0 Beta Features
The beta version of Skype 2.0 is available for people to download at www.skype.com. The free software includes:
* Skype Video - see your friends and family on the full computer screen or in the Skype calling window. Skype Video also includes a window to view what you look like to the person you are calling.
* Simplified user interface - an intuitive menu with one-click access to key features and options makes it even easier for the whole world to talk for free.
* Self-expression - broadcast your mood along with your online presence. Let your contacts know whether you’re happy, sad, listening to your favorite music, available to talk or do not want to be disturbed.
* Personalization - personalize your Skype identity with avatars or custom ring tones. http://personal.skype.com
* See your contacts’ time zones - before you wake up your friends, family or colleagues take a quick glance to see what time it is in their location.
* Group your contacts - organize your contacts by grouping your friends, co-workers or family members. Start conference calls, chats or file sharing with the whole group with just one click.
* Real-time contact search - look up contacts in real-time by typing a name into the dialing field.
* Skype toolbar for Microsoft Outlook - one-click calling to contacts from your Microsoft Outlook address book.
Skype Video gives users free, high-quality video calling capabilities. Compatible with almost any Webcam, Skype Video is fully integrated into Skype calling, and can be adjusted to provide full-screen video with just one click. After downloading Skype 2.0, simply plug in a Webcam to start using video for free. Skype-certified Webcams will be available from Creative at select retailers in Europe and from Logitech through the Skype Web store located at http://www.skype.com/store.
“Logitech is a pioneer in video just as Skype has pioneered Internet calling,” said Junien Labrousse, Logitech senior vice president of the entertainment and communications business unit. “Together we are providing a superior video communications experience to Skype’s community around the world.”
Skype Certified Webcams
Skype has partnered with Logitech to jointly market Skype video and offer select Skype-certified Webcams including the Logitech QuickCam Fusion webcam and the QuickCam for Notebooks Pro webcam. The Webcams come complete with Logitech Video Effects software, a 1.3 megapixel sensor, Logitech RightLight technology, Logitech RightSound technology, intelligent face tracking and a Logitech headset, providing a complete package to begin using Skype video right away.
Skype is also working with Creative, who introduced a Skype-certified Webcam for use with its new video-based Internet phone service. Known as the Creative WebCam Instant Skype Edition, this new Webcam comes with a personal headset with microphone, software and a stand-alone microphone for use when several people wish to talk.
People can find Skype-certified products, such as Webcams, headsets and USB phones at www.skype.com/store, at major U.S. retailers such as RadioShack, and at select retailers in Europe.
Express Yourself Online
Skype 2.0 also offers users the ability to show their availability and initiate Skype calls directly from a blog or personal Web site. Skype has partnered with Six Apart, to let users of its TypePad blogging service integrate Skype presence into their weblogs. Skype users, who use TypePad for their blogs, can indicate to visitors on their site when they are online, and allow visitors to easily initiate a Skype call right from the Web page. Similarly, hundreds of companies are integrating Skype’s application into their own services to provide people with enhanced communications tools. For example, Webdialogs is already working to integrate Web presence into its services.
December 1st, 2005