OLDaily
By Stephen Downes
February 11, 2004

Firefox
The latest Mozilla browser, Firefix, launched a couple of days ago. I waited for the initial crush of downloading to end, got it yesterday, and have been testing it today. Firefox is the new name for Firebird, the open source browser - yet another trademark issue.

If you sent me mail in the last 24 hours, send it again. My downes.ca mail server died on the operating table last night, and while email has been trickling in, it is evident that I have missed a bunch of them. By Various Authors, February 8, 2004 [Refer][Research][Reflect]

Flickr
Roland passed along this link to Flickr, a 'live chat together with social networks that enables people to share media with one another in real time.' After you register, play around filling out your profile and uploading photos. Then, on your main page, click 'Launch Flickr' and the fun begins - a chat area where people show and trade photos. All the usuals of a social network with chat and content. Still in prelaunch mode, but great stuff. My Flickr profile. Meanwhile, Ben Hammersly today introduced his readers to Dogster. By Various Authors, February 10, 2004 [Refer][Research][Reflect]

Social Nets Not Making Friends
Brief article recounting the (inevitable) backlash against social networks, but without really getting into the heart of it. The best thing about this item is the link to Introvertster, an "antisocial, non-networking community that prevents people from ever bothering you while you're online." By Leander Kahney, Wired News, January 28, 2004 [Refer][Research][Reflect]

Cautious Welcome for FTA Deal
Australia has a new copyright regime, courtesy of a new free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. Commentators, such as this cited here, are calling it similar to the American's Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which has of course been pilloried in these pages. Other critics are warning that the agreement will mean "huge increases in copyright licence fees paid by Australians" for content. "This is literally a Mickey Mouse cultural shift," (ANU law professor Matyhew) Rimmer said. "The US extended their copyright terms recently after intense lobbying by a group of powerful corporate copyright holders, most notably Walt Disney, which faced the expiry of its copyright on Mickey Mouse and other famous cartoon characters." And still others are representing the agreement as an indication of Australia's subservience to U.S. interests. By James Riley, The Australian, February 9, 2004 [Refer][Research][Reflect]

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Copyright © 2004 Stephen Downes
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