last.fm vs TechCrunch

Being the heavy user of Last.fm I was a little concerned when techcrunch broke the story that supposably, last.fm had given the RIAA, information pertaining to users who had scrobbled any tracks from the Upcoming and undrealeased U2 album. The fact I can’t stand the rose tinted glasses wearing, Irish Hypocrite is beside the point.

Firstly, what got me there was no mention of the Data Protection act fair enough last.fm is a CBS company, but its still based in the UK (for the most part) and that would mean the passing of this data would be illegal. You cannot pass data to a third party without consent from the data subject.

Also it seems like there are alot of people and blogs posting unsubstantiated rumours to get traffic and therefore ad revenue etc. I know its always been there but it seems like everybody is at it even big news companies, what little credibilty these sites have is been quickly ruined by hastly researched stories and a all too trigger happy publish finger. 

Last.fm – Keep up the good work.

TechCrunch Article

Last.fm – “TechCrunch is full of shit”

UK car industry needs support? No.

Hot of the presses a car factory in the UK is close to closing. I love how we think the UK still has a car industry, and we now have the go to phrase we need government support. 

Car companies are making less money and don’t need such output from their respective factories. These business are too big even for the good times, getting money off the government can only help for so long. They will still loose money and still lay-off or even close the factory. Business are categorically not big enough to fail, and if the companies or unions associated with those companies believe that all there prayers are answered with a handout. They should be forced to close. 

We are already as a nation up to the neck in debt, yet we seem content to believe what the government says and continue borrowing and spending as if money is going out of fashion. Business isn’t a business if it isn’t making money from its products and ultimately it ends in failure. 

Look at the US auto-industry, GM has announced that it is going to cut 50,000 jobs and needs at least $12 billion to keep going. The first round of bailout money was meant to put a stop to this and ultimately the business is so big and loosing money from so many outlets, the company as a whole is un-viable. A bank wouldn’t lend to GM in the good times under those conditions so why should a Government under the same ultimatum.

BBC 

thisismoney.co.uk

Twitter Updates for 2009-02-13

  • For once I have a seat on a train that is facing the right way #
  • Peterborough and there’s snow on the platform. #
  • Just passing through Wanker* the best anagram of Newark I can come up with #

Twitter Updates for 2009-02-11

  • its going to be one of those days me thinks. Everybody thinks stuff is going wrong when in actual fact its working perfectly…Coffee. #
  • Shocking Vodafone charge £1 per MB over data tariff #
  • Coffee 2 – The afternoon looks as if its going to be as bad, as the morning. #
  • I Love AIM spam, its so funny. #

Psystar Continues to be a thorn in Apples Side

In an interesting twist, Computer World is reporting that a federal judge ruled last week that the Mac clone maker Psystar can continue its countersuit against computer maker and Mac OS developer Apple Corporation. Neowin

So what is Apple’s next move, well thats quite simple. If you can’t beat them fairly beat them unfairly. I can see Apple taking some of that Cash on Hand, and buying Psystar outright and effectively putting them out of business.

Twitter Updates for 2009-02-07

  • @spotify Woke up this morning all my playlist are empty, stop taking my music away, will I ever get it back? #
  • Why does the Flash Player UnInstaller take years to finish its not as if flash player installs to a million different places on each machine #
  • Putting up a tent is very much like making love to a beautiful woman. You rent her unzip the door put up your pole an slip in to the old bag #
  • @stephenfry are you sure your not in a prison? #
  • Yet another fire with no Smoke or for that matter fire. Fire Detectors can be too sensitive you know. #