The iPod Killer
The news of the new iPhone is exciting, with probably the only drawback being the required 2-year contract (which we're all so desensitized to, it barely matters).
However, one place it may matter are iPod sales. The new iPhone pricing is now within the realm of iPods. Apple has sold over 140 million iPods, and although sales are decreasing, they are still selling well. In order to avoid cannibalizing their iPod sales, the 2-year contract was introduced.
Even if you don't want the phone part of the iPhone, you would still get a portable player of videos, music, internet and now real GPS and applications (such as games, location aware stuff, etc). It's quite a package. So why would you buy just an iPod instead? A pesky 2-year contract with AT&T is probably enough of a barrier.
In fact, the new iPhone is such a great package that I predict a huge burst in "non-contract iPhone 3Gs" being sold online at places like eBay and Craigslist. It's pretty simple to get out of mobile phone contracts. You can find guides all over the internet on what to say. Awhile ago, I used the excuse that I was moving to Maine (where Verizon service was limited). If they can't provide their service, they have to let you out (with no penalty to me). I'm not sure if that still works, but some simple google searches reveal many other methods.
So the question may be, how many times can you pull that on AT&T? Well there is nothing that says you can't open multiple contracts at the same time, so buy 5 phones (for your family) and then use a contract breaking excuse. Then sell them on eBay for $100 over the buy price (brand new, never used!) and make a $500 profit. Repeat.
Firefly in action
A recording of firefly when Dave Winer added it to his blog. This is just the demo page -- firefly can be added to any site with one line of javascript.
The Clinton Knight
I haven't really chimed in about the democratic race -- but after yesterday, and the lack of concession by Hillary, this is the first thought that went through my head.
Counterfeit crackdown in Chinatown
You're going to have to find fake Prada bags and Rolexes somewhere else -- cops did a major crackdown of shops in Chinatown.
But don't fret too much, there are still a few people walking around, whispering in your ear, "prada prada, gucci, movado?"
Upside-down phone hilarity
I think the iPhone is iconic enough that people can recognize when you're holding it upside-down.
It is especially funny when it's a product placement in a television show. After seeing Minnie Driver hold the iPhone upside-down at least 3 times within the last 2 episodes of "The Riches", I figured I'd post it. Or am I just wayyy too into technology?
Google Error
Here's something you don't see every day. Google was giving me intermittent page errors
Errors usually give a little bit of insight into how sites are being ran. It looks like google is using squid for caching.
Go to Home
The best ideas come from finding something you do all the time, realize you do it, and then automate it.
With me, I discovered that I frequently go to the base domain of a website by going to the URL, highlighting and deleting the junk on the end of the domain name and then pressing enter. I HATE doing it. I also have to do it when websites don't link to their home page.
So here's an easy solution. A bookmarklet!
Drag the link below to your bookmarks bar (or in IE, right-click and add to favorites):
Here is the code:
var url = new String(location.href);var re = new RegExp('https?://([A-Za-z0-9.-]+)');var res = url.match(re);location.href=res[0];
Enjoy 
Email Emergency Alert System
This is an open letter to the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
The current Emergency Alert System takes advantage of tv networks to deliver crucial information in the event of an emergency.
As someone who spends much more time online instead of watching tv, I would like to propose a new system that is more in sync with today's technology.
There should be a national Email Emergency Alert System (EEAS) that people can voluntarily sign up for. E-mailing the list would be reserved only for Emergencies. The user can also optionally give their zip code so that the EEAS could additionally give local emergency information (such as a tornado touching down or a flash flood warning)
The service could also be created in such a way that other departments could initiate an emergency, allowing for a decentralized alert system that can quickly reach the people it needs to reach.
Please seriously consider this enhancement to an archaic system. And please, whatever you do, do not send out test e-mails that test the system. We'll get them.
Sincerely,
Billy Chasen
billychasen.com
About me
I'm an artist and software developer.
Currently, I'm the CEO of a company I co-founded called, stickybits
Prior to stickybits, I co-founded betaworks, where I created chartbeat, a real-time analytics service and firef.ly, a chat service.
You can view my artwork at billychasen.com
Creations
Tweets
- RT @mashable: Reggie Bush Uses Foursquare and Stickybits for Football Scavenger Hunt - http://mash.to/2BqOF
- I declare @peretti to be the first pop tweetist. Carefully crafted tweets low on substance, but high on entertainment
- Definition of lazy: Netflix envelopes across the room, so I opened my netflix queue to see what's at home
- RT @seth: awesome! reggie bush using stickybits to give away an autographed football http://www.stickybits.com/redzones
- View from my hotel in Baltimore. Who needs tickets? http://twitpic.com/2lco45
