Linked List: September 26, 2011

Monday, 26 September 2011

Speaking of Facebook 

Nik Cubrilovic:

Facebook are front-and-center in the new privacy debate just as Microsoft were with security issues a decade ago.

Will there be a cottage industry of privacy-protection software for Facebook users? That seems hard to believe.

‘That’s a Load of Crap’ 

That’s Ben Brooks, regarding Mike Elgan’s contention that:

Apple isn’t so much a consumer electronics company as it is a media platform.

Can You Sign Up for Spotify Without Facebook? 

Not any more.

Amazon to Relaunch California Associate Accounts 

Mark Booth has good news from Amazon.

‘Touch Sensitive’ 

iPad-exclusive comic by the absurdly-talented Chris Ware, available as a 99-cent in-app purchase in the McSweeney’s app. So great.

Doug Mataconis makes the case that the Netflix/Qwikster split was caused by our outdated copyright system:

This is the point where Netflix tried to argue that you should only count users that actually connect digitally and actually watch a film. While they originally offered digital streaming bundled with DVD rental, many of the rural customers likely never actually “connect” to the digital product. This argument may have worked for a while, but eventually Hollywood said, “No way. Here is how it is going to work. You will pay us a $/user/month for anyone that has the ‘right’ to connect to our content — regardless of whether they view it or not.” This was the term that changed Netflix pricing.

With the discs-by-mail business, they never needed permission from the movie studios. With streaming, they do.

It’s the Content Providers 

The Angry Drunk:

While the Netflix changes are certainly annoying, and the messaging was less than stellar, we need to make sure to remember where the blame ultimately lies  —  with the content providers. Until they decide to get with the program content distributors like Netflix and Apple will always be at their mercy and customers will continue to suffer.