Archive for December, 2007
RIAA makes last-minute bid for “dumbass of 2007″ award
Sometimes the RIAA reminds me of an unpopular child who grows up to become a minor official in something bureaucratic: now he’s got a little bit of power to abuse, he can wreak his terrible revenge by being really annoying and petty. The Washington Post reports:
In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.
And it is, technically (well, it is in the UK. Is it fair use in the US?). But actually trying to enforce it when piracy is rampant is just dumb.
Netscape RIP
AOL’s focus on transitioning to an ad-supported web business leaves little room for the size of investment needed to get the Netscape browser to a point many of its fans expect it to be. Given AOL’s current business focus and the success the Mozilla Foundation has had in developing critically-acclaimed products, we feel it’s the right time to end development of Netscape branded browsers, hand the reins fully to Mozilla and encourage Netscape users to adopt Firefox.
Of course Netscape has been dying for years, but it’s still a shame. For me (and millions of others) it was the program that introduced me to this internet lark, and I can vividly remember what I thought when I first used it: “The internet is rubbish! And brilliant!”
The easy way to stop smoking - permanently
Want to stop smoking permanently? Then why not kill yourself? According to the Daily Mail, the stop-smoking wonder drug Champix can make some users suicidal.
It’s not a big surprise if true - I tried the previous wonder drug, Zyban, and stopped taking it after a few weeks because its side-effects terrified me - but I don’t know whether Champix has similarly suicidal effects. It’s hard to tell: I took it before and shortly after Baby Bigmouth was born in an unsuccessful attempt to stop smoking, and I did indeed feel like hurling myself under a lorry. But then, all new parents feel like that, don’t they?
Merry Christmas, everybody
Thanks to everyone who’s read, commented or sent large sums of cash in unmarked envelopes over the last year. Here’s hoping you all have a very merry Xmas.
Anyone want to see Sugababes in Glasgow?
I’ve seen Sugababes live twice and I was looking forward to seeing them again in March when they play Glasgow. Unfortunately due to a calendar cock-up I won’t be in Scotland that day. Arse!
So I’ve got two tickets for the gig on the 26th March 2008 (in the stalls, really close to the stage). Anyone fancy it? Rather than put them on eBay or similar I’d rather sell ‘em at face value. Drop me a line…
Mac owners more likely to buy music, wear polo-necks
Interesting press release from the NPD Group: 50% of Mac users pay for downloads compared to just 16% of PC users. They’re also more likely to buy CDs.
While there are demographic differences between Mac and PC owners (anybody got a link to reliable stats on that? I think it’d be fascinating), the most obvious explanation for the big difference in paid-for downloads is that the PC download market is a frustrating, confusing pain in the arse.
Thunk Secret
Apple rumour blog Think Secret is no more:
Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides. As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher, said “I’m pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”
The lawsuit dates back to 2004, when the site leaked news of the Mac Mini.
What it’s like to work for a holiday club sales firm
A wee while back I ranted and ranted about firms flogging holiday clubs. John - not his real name - has been in touch to describe what it’s like to be the person doing the phoning. He’s a 21-year-old student who, like many students, decided to get a part-time job to help make ends meet.
Over to you, John…
I was first aware of something strange on arrival. I stood outside in the rain, completely soaked, and wondered why there were no markings indicating the company name. No sign. Nothing. And I was worried about being soaked, partly because I was attending a job interview and looked like a twat, and partly because I was afraid I’d drip water all over their computers if I had to do a data entry test.
Turns out I didn’t need to worry, because there were no computers and there was no interview. Well, almost. It lasted about 30 seconds, and if I’d quacked like a duck or baa-ed like a sheep I’m confident I’d still have been offered the position.
There’s a small office at the front - with computers! - but I’ve no idea what actually occurs there. It was never mentioned. The main area is one large room and it’s the call centre. One lonely computer sits on a desk at the front manned by a manager, who’s about 20, and the rest of the room is filled with scabby desks equipped with two phones each. There is a complex filing system consisting of state-of-the-art cardboard pigeon holes randomly dumped on the floor, each one overflowing with sheets containing names, addresses and telephone numbers. Random coat hangers decorate the wall.
Basically I was told that they are a travel agent, and that my job would be to call people who’d filled in a survey and won a free holiday. I was to call them and inform them that they’d been awarded a free holiday consisting of luxury accommodation for up to four people and two return flights. I would then have to arrange appointments for the people to come and collect their prize.
I would be paid £6 per hour, and I’d be paid £10 commission for every person that collected their prize.
I’d done cold calling before and this sounded like a piece of piss. If people had filled in surveys to win a holiday, then surely they’d be well chuffed to have won.
Yes, the place looked like a squat but I was broke - and being fairly well trained on the phone in previous jobs, I was confident that I’d make loads of cash from the commission. And I probably would have done, if anything they’d told me was true.
So it’s my first day and I arrive an hour early for training before starting my first shift. The group consisted of me, one other guy and our manager. After training the other guy bolted for the door with such pace and conviction that he nearly bowled over a poor girl who had arrived for work, still wearing her school uniform. I looked at the manager with astonishment, and he was exchanging looks with another manager - but without any obvious dismay or signs of caring. On retrospect, it occurs to me that it probably happens a lot.
I was directed to sit beside some guy who I was to watch working for the first half of the four hour shift, and then I’d be let loose on my own. I say “watch”, not “listen in”, because there wasn’t a second headset, so I could only hear his side of the conversation.
I watched as he worked his way through - not surveys, but sheet after sheet of names, addresses, phone numbers and credit card details. I’m kidding about the credit card details. But still, it didn’t look as if this stuff came from surveys. He did have the odd survey form, but from what I could gather they were only given out a few times per week and only if you were doing well. I also noticed that half the time he wasn’t offering free holidays; he was telling people they’d won a shopping spree.
For the two hours I was there, he didn’t have much luck. He got through to about ten numbers, of which half hung up immediately. And no wonder, because everything’s scripted. You basically start by saying “Hi, my name’s Gus from X Company, and I’m calling regarding a holiday survey you filled out for us.” You then ask if it’s okay to check a few details to confirm that you’re speaking to the right person. That checking is to see if you’re not married, don’t own your own property, are too old, are too young or don’t earn over £20,000. If you are, we say sorry, you’re not the person we thought you were, our bad, no holiday for you.
Halfway through we get a break, during which two or three people are sacked for not reaching the target of four appointments per hour. You’re warned about this at the very beginning of the shift. Apparently they can’t afford to pay people who underperform, even for just two hours.
The next two hours were the longest two hours of my life. I finished my shift and swore that I’d never again cross the door.
My friend - the guy who’d told me about the job in the first place - quit about a week later over a dispute with his pay or lack of pay. You’re paid cash, so I suspect they’re probably skimping on tax.
In summary, then: if they call you, please be polite - there are human beings on the other end, so don’t lower yourself to the company’s level. Say you’re not interested and if they persist, hang up.
New audio technology brings internet pop-ups to the real world
Just when you thought advertising couldn’t get any more intrusive:
New Yorker Alison Wilson was walking down Prince Street in SoHo last week when she heard a woman’s voice right in her ear asking, “Who’s there? Who’s there?” She looked around to find no one in her immediate surroundings. Then the voice said, “It’s not your imagination.”
Indeed it isn’t. It’s an ad for “Paranormal State,” a ghost-themed series premiering on A&E this week. The billboard uses technology manufactured by Holosonic that transmits an “audio spotlight” from a rooftop speaker so that the sound is contained within your cranium.
Holosonic boss Joe Pompei doesn’t see any problem with the idea.
“There’s going to be a certain population sensitive to it. But once people see what it does and hear for themselves, they’ll see it’s effective for getting attention,” Mr. Pompei said.
The assumption, of course, is that letting advertisers GET INSIDE OUR BLOODY HEADS WHENEVER THEY BLOODY WELL FEEL LIKE IT BECAUSE THEIR STUPID BLOODY CAMPAIGN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR THOUGHTS is something we should embrace.
It’s mental mugging - and it’s not going to be great for people with genuine mental problems either, is it?
[AdAge, via MetaFilter]
[Have I blogged about this before, or are the voices telling me that I have?]
Rearranging the DRM on the Titanic
As if DRM wasn’t confusing enough, Microsoft is rebranding PlaysForSure as Certified For Windows Vista.
[Via Engadget]