Stars

Posted on July 22, 2007 by Thomas Purves

Stars’ new album comes out on CD in September, but is available now legally, cheaply and for DRM-free digital download at the arts-and-crafts store $11.86CAD / 10.98 USD / 5.54 GBP / 8.87EUR and just today from Zunior.com only $8.88CAD and eMusic.com cheap if you have a subscription, or free if you don’t. [hint: run don’t walk. so to speak.]

Dashed hopes of jetpacks notwithstanding – isn’t living in the future grand?

Down with CDs.

Did I ever mention Stars is the best Canadian band in the history of ever?

p.s. I am working on another seasonal podcast. honest. Stars will be on it.

Posted in Archive, music | 2 Comments

The most interesting piece of news this week.

Posted on July 22, 2007 by Thomas Purves

Now this could change everything. Will Canada follow?

UPDATE:More from the horse’s mouth (thanks Michele: Our commitment to open broadband platforms – google

UPDATE2:
[FCC Says Wireless Could be America’s “Third Pipe”] FCC responds:

In a congressional hearing on Tuesday, three out of the five FCC commissioners told lawmakers that they are supportive of the open-access standards as proposed by FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, according to Reuters. “A network more open to devices and applications can help ensure that the fruits of innovation on the edges of the network swiftly pass into the hands of consumers,” said Martin, speaking to the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee.

Democratic commissioner John Adelstein specifically noted that an open-access approach “could open these key airwaves to badly needed competition in the broadband space.”

Posted in Archive, Business, connectivity | 2 Comments

Negative Space in Product Design – Value from things that things don’t do.

Posted on July 18, 2007 by Thomas Purves

I figure the single sound that must bring the most collective happiness to people the world over is exactly the sound your alarm clock doesn’t make as soon as you hit the snooze button.

I’ve been trying to think up, ever since my alarm came back on this morning, some other examples of this principle in practical action. In visual design negative space can be as important to a composition as the subject.

1. (When it works) Google search creates it’s value from the search results that it doesn’t return.

2. Desani creates value by not putting all that sugary Coke crap in your Coke water – and just giving you not flavored Coke water in a handy portable container.

3. Of course the iPod shuffle was most distinctive features were the ones it didn’t have.

4. Tokyoflash makes a (awesomely cool) business out of not making it easier to know what time it is.

5. Strategic nuclear weapons

8. What else there must be lots? What softwares or products are handy for features they don’t have or, for features they do have, are handy for the negative not-uses of those features?

Posted in Archive, Business, design, Uncategorized | 2 Comments