Patent lawsuits, the refuge of the sore loser, constitute Apple's strategy for market success.

Apple thinks it owns the concept of the touchscreen Web phone and it wants other cell phone makers to pay for copying the iPhone or to stop altogether. » read more »

The recent announcement of Apple's iPad product has got me thinking about slate computers.^* At this point, I know two things: I don't want an iPad, but I do want a slate device. While there are many things to like about the iPad, the lack of multitasking and the fact that it is not an open platform rule it out for me. With that in mind, I think it's worth considering which characteristics are important in a slate device. I have already mentioned two that are must-haves for any device I would consider purchasing. » read more »

I am testing a new feature of TuscanyCircle. When complete, this is how it will work: » read more »

• I start broadcasting from my phone or webcam.
• TuscanyCircle will automatically be updated to announce the live broadcast. This will be done via a new blog entry.
• Twitter will then be notified of the new blog entry.
• Those so registered (via Twitter) will be notified via SMS of the broadcast. Of course, all the standard means of following TC content will be updated, but Twitter's SMS is the fastest mechanism to date.

I've had a few days with my Magic Mouse and its capacitive touch surface. While the mouse is indeed pretty cool, I've noticed some very annoying anomalies associated with the capacitive touch surface. This being my first lengthy experience with capacitive touch, I can now compare and contrast it with resistive touch surfaces. I can say in all honesty, not just hypothetically but empirically, that capacitive touch's success is purely based upon hype. It's cr@p compared to resistive touch. » read more »

Score one for life. A recent study has shown that some patients with severe brain damage, while thought to be vegetative, actually show not only brain activity, but evidence of awareness. Using a diagnostic tool called a functional MRI, scientists were able to illicit responses in patients by asking them to use their brains in specific ways, which are then detectable on the MRI. » read more »

We've discussed the pitfalls of RFID on TuscanyCircle in the past. It's a really stupid technology that employers, banks, and others have latched onto like it were candy. For those who are clueless, RFID is generally an unpowered chip with a unique ID programmed into it. It also includes a small antenna, usually loops. When an RFID read is brought into close proximity, a small amount of power is wireless transferred to the RFID chip, which then dutifully transmits its contents to the reader. Businesses use these in the form of ID cards ("badges") to enter secure areas. » read more »

Anybody been reading about the iPad this week? (I have.) Here is an interesting comparison between the iPad and another product:

Twitter is right on.

Micro-blogging site Twitter is developing technology that will prevent government censorship after Iran and China moved to censor its users.

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Last year Twitter was used heavily in reporting first-hand post-election oppression in Iran, and subsequently used to organize rebellion.

My new webhoster has screwed up TuscanyCircle by corrupting its databases. I'll fix them as soon as I can. So far, the symptoms have been mild. I hope nothing more drastic shows up as a result of their idiocy, but keep me informed if you see things are messed up.

Some privacy organizations' analyses of Facebook's new policy have triggered both the Canadian Privacy Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to launch investigations of their own. Facebook's new privacy [sic] policy reveals FB's leadership to be either malicious and evil or grossly incompetent. (I'd wager it's both.) I look forward to seeing the fallout from Facebook's stupidity.