Linked List: March 25, 2010

Thursday, 25 March 2010

MocoNews: Google Sharing Advertising Revenue With Android Carriers and Handset Makers ★

Tricia Duryee on Android’s fast growth:

Well, at least part of the answer appears to be that Google is sharing advertising revenues with carriers that use Android, according to multiple sources who are familiar with the deals. In some cases, sources said, Google is also cutting deals with the handset makers. The revenue-sharing agreements only occur when the handsets come with Google applications, like search, maps and gmail, since that is not a requirement of Android. Google declined to comment, and said terms of its agreements with partners are confidential.

So, when handset makers use Windows Mobile, they pay Microsoft. When they use Android, they get paid by Google.

Three Weeks With Steve McQueen ★

The coolest man who ever lived. (Via Coudal.)

Thom Holwerda Says I’m Wrong About Ogg Theora and Patents ★

Worth reading; he makes an interesting case.

I remain unconvinced about an argument like this, though:

I’d like to add another argument to this that further negates these so-called patent threats against Theora. If Theora is so sensitive to patents, as MPEG-LA, Apple, and its supporters claim — than why on earth would one of the biggest technology companies in the world ship it as part of its browser and as part of its operating system?

I’m of course talking about Google. Google has implemented support for Theora in its Chrome web browser, as well as in its upcoming Chrome OS. Do you really think a large and visible company like Google, a very attractive target for patent trolls, would include it if it had even the slightest worries about infringement claims? Would one of the world’s most profitable tech companies willingly paint such a big bulls-eye on itself, especially now that this debate has been raging for so long?

Chrome’s support for Ogg Theora is perhaps an indication that Google’s lawyers believe it doesn’t violate any of MPEG-LA’s patents. I think even if MPEG-LA believes otherwise, they wouldn’t start litigating unless and until Ogg Theora actually became popular. As it stands now, H.264 is crushing Ogg Theora in the market. Why sue now?

Update: Further, Google is an MPEG-LA licensee. Even if Ogg Theora is found to be in violation of one or more patents in the H.264 pool, Google has already licensed the rights for those patents, no?

Pwn2Own 2010: iPhone Hacked, SMS Database Hijacked ★

Ryan Naraine:

A pair of European researchers used the spotlight of the CanSecWest Pwn2Own hacking contest here to break into a fully patched iPhone and hijack the entire SMS database, including text messages that had already been deleted.

NFL Owners Approve Overtime Rule Change ★

Judy Battista for the NYT:

The N.F.L. approved a new overtime rule for the playoffs Tuesday that will give each team at least one possession in the extra period unless the team that wins the overtime coin toss scores a touchdown on its first possession.

The problem with the old rule: almost 60 percent of overtime games were being won by the team that won the coin flip. I like the change, but why only for the playoffs?

Literally, a Web Log ★

“Tracking abuse of the word ‘literally’.” Subscribed.

Update: Fireballed. Here’s the current home page from Google’s cache.

The Opposite of Fitts’s Law ★

Jeff Atwood:

If we should make UI elements we want users to click on large, and ideally place them at corners or edges for maximum clickability — what should we do with UI elements we don’t want users to click on? Like, say, the “delete all my work” button?

Couple of dangerous examples cited from Gmail.

Mike Matas’s Photo Blog ★

Great photos, great design. Navigation works by clicking, scroll wheel, arrow keys, or by dragging the scroll bar.

CBS.com Prepping HTML5 Video Playback for iPad ★

Arnold Kim:

With the imminent arrival of the Apple iPad, it seems at least one major television network is updating their website to provide video playback support for new tablet device — without Flash. CBS.com’s website began displaying a couple of strange “iPad - test” video links, first noted by The Other Mac Blog.

Update: More from Cameron Banga.

Co-Inventors of That New Smartphone Motion Control Patent Work for Apple and Google ★

Curiouser and curiouser. The patent was filed in December 2004, but one of the two, Chris Uhlik, has worked at Google as an engineering manager since 2002. And the other, John T. Orchard, works at Apple — on the iPad.

Wired Follows Up on iPhone App Payola Story ★

Good quotes from Jason Snell.

Highrise for iPhone ★

37signals:

One of the downsides to the initial download is that it can take some time depending on your connection and the number of contacts you have. Waiting for anything sucks, but what sucks more is being bored while waiting.

So we decided to give you something to do while the initial download is in progress.

I won’t spoil it.

Adaptation ★

We’re one week out from the iPad ship date, but Adam Lisagor nailed it back on February 6:

What we want from our technology, in its most elemental form, is to make our thoughts happen. Sure, it’s still very much sci-fi in 2010, but what every calculating machine and telephone and computer and phonograph and light bulb and hammer and every tool ever invented is about at its core is our desire, our evolutionary imperative to control our environment at our will. And we’re getting closer and closer to that happening.