With 30.000$ and a little PR, you can do a lot of things.
Microsoft choose the blogger’s path. Sent some letters, sent some 3.000$ laptops packed with Windows Vista and then gave the letters to one that didn’t get one. All hell broke loose, people pointing fingers at Microsoft and at the bloggers, claiming bribery and unethical behavior.

I didn’t get a laptop. If i was considered for one, i would ask some questions. Like “what are the terms”, “why”, “do i have to give it back”, “do i have to disclose”, do i have to write a review”, you know, that sort of things.

But the greedy bloggers grab them and roll with it. Now that is out, they try to weasel  out of it.
Marshall K says it almost broke his, cause it didn’t wok. Now it doesn’t work, rite, Apple fanboy? Before people finding out you didn’t consider it…You took it and loved it…
Others gave reviews, most of them good (the laptops are a fine machinery), altought MS did ask them to write, if they will, honestly. Because a honest opinion is worth more then a paid one.

There are many things to consider here.
Companies will always want to send gifts. To keep you informed. It’s their job. And they rely on people’s greed for free stuff. They are not to blame here. The greedy and sneaky bloggers are, ’cause they accept to be the companies little whores.

Eduard, where is my laptop?

While testing Windows Live Writer, i was wondering why Macromedia/Adobe does not put out a small application that facilitates blog publishing?
They got Dreamweaver, Acrobat Reader, Flash, will it be easy to create a good tool that provides me with a better experience for blogging?

Let’s say you launch a product in 2001. After a successful marketing campaign, a lot of people buy your product. Five years after, sales start dropping. Where is the problem?

It’s logical, goddamn it!

How many iPods you think people buy a year? 2? 3? One, just one! Maybe one every two years, but that’s kinda it!
Of course, what is logical for some people, is not for others.

Bram Cohen, the creator of bittorrent technology, who announced on Friday he has bought µTorrent? This guy smells something, he keeps doing weird distribution deals with media networks, but i really don’t know anyone who is using his company’ service.
Just to make sure, save old µTorrent versions, you can never know.

Fox, Viacom, CBS and NBC, that are talking about creating a rival for YouTube? I guess if Yahoo or Microsoft joins the club, we will have an interesting battle for offering even better services.

YouTube, who is launching new features on the site, the newest being the possibility to upload recordings directly fom a video camera video or a mobile phone.

They all have their problems. Cohen must fight torrent sites like piratebay, youtube must fight video processing time, which in some cases exceeds a few hours. And the others must bring something new or something better. Cohen has a revolutionary technology, YouTube has a money giant, FOx and Viacom have tons of content.

ps: pornotube, one of my favorite contestants, lost when it failed the bandwidth test. they had a chance, but it needs money to create something great.

New and shiny interface, some changed menus, faster loading…good job!

Download it from here (20mb) and read the specs here.

I tryed to use the new site zamzar.com, that allegedly converts media to other media. The idea is great and i think a lot of people will be pleased to hear it.
So…
The procedure is very simple. You upload the file, select what type you want it in, enter your email adress and they will let you know when it’s done.

The first time I tried to convert an avi to a flv. After 2 hours i got an email, went to the link it contained and i got a 0b file. Great. I guess it doesn’t like XviD or vbr audio.

The second test was with an 3.8mb mpeg. After 20 minutes i got a link and downloaded a 4.1mb avi. From a 3.8mb mpeg i got a 4.1mb avi, which is supposed to be smaller and more compressed.
Wait, the fun is not over yet. Upon further checking, i’ve discovered what they used for coding my mpeg. They used MPEG 1 codec. Great!

Screenshots: