WildPresenter is almost there; Why high tech is at fault

* Gearhead: WildPresenter is almost there * Backspin: Why high tech is at fault * The past 7 days on Gibbsblog

Gearhead: WildPresenter is almost there

Pretty much anytime the topic of using Flash comes up in a group of techies an argument will follow. One camp usually argues that Flash is a great creative tool, remarkable information-delivery system and outstanding communications vehicle for almost 95% of Web users. The other camp considers Flash suitable only for the most egregious excesses of advertising and other commercial fripperies.

To read this week’s Gearhead in its entirety, click here.

Backspin: Why high tech is at fault

Ever get complaints about high tech from your workmates, friends and family? Happens all the time, doesn’t it? Your boss gets a new cell phone, and it doesn’t work the same way as her last one, and you wind up being the bad guy, because you can’t explain it to her, and she’s not really interested in the first place.

To read this week’s Backspin in its entirety, click here.

The past 7 days on Gibbsblog

AOL “Glitch” Blocks Critical Site

Articles on Slashdot and Ars Technica this week discuss AOL’s blocking of incoming messages containing links to dearaol.com, a Web site that criticizes AOL’s e-mail “tax” (the much discussed and broadly disliked “pay to send” system from Goodmail).

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Vista’s New and Worrying Defenses

Perhaps the most worrying thing in the forthcoming release of Vista (for those of you living under a rock that is the name of the next version of Windows) is the new anti-piracy features that will be deeply embedded within the core of the operating system.

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Breeding a Better Spammer

In a deal with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the state of California, the people behind an enormous spam operation have agreed to pay $475,000 and The Federal Trade Commission announced last week that Optin Global (yes, you’ve had the pleasure of their spam), Vision Media (them too), Qing Kuang “Rick” Yang, and Peonie Pui Ting Chen (I honestly didn’t make up those names) have agreed to pay a fine of $475,000, refrain from illegal activity, and eat their vegetables.

But there’s a deal involved: The miscreants are not admitting to any wrongdoing!