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Across the pond, Bebo leaps ahead of MySpace?

Some interesting ComScore numbers have just been documented by CNET's sister site ZDNet: social-networking site Bebo, always more of a presence in the U.K. than stateside, has soared ahead of global leader MySpace on its home turf. In the month of July, the ComScore statistics say, Bebo logged 10.7 million unique visitors in the U.K. and MySpace trailed with 10.1.

This marks the first time that ComScore's statistics have shown Bebo ahead of MySpace. And it should be noted that these pertain to unique visitors, not registered users or page views.

In third place, … Read more

Quincy Jones doing video podcasts

Quincy Jones has launched a series of video podcasts with behind-the-scenes looks at some of his projects with famous artists.

As part of the new series, the music, film, theater and television-producing legend has relaunched his MySpace page to include streams of the videos, as well as a list of his achievements and music selections to listen to while you visit.

Jones has technically been a member of MySpace since October 18,2006, according to his profile.

The video series can also be subscribed to via the podcast section of Apple's iTunes store. But can the icon make a … Read more

Say what? Nevada judge loses post over MySpace 'bias against prosecutors'

Apparently, what happens on MySpace doesn't always float in Vegas: A substitute judge in the North Las Vegas Justice Court got sacked last week because of some nasty stuff he said on his social-networking profile about prosecutors.

The 34-year-old criminal defense attorney, Jonathan MacArthur, had been appointed as a judge pro tempore in anticipation of a full judicial post that would be available in 2009. Unfortunately, MacArthur wrote on his MySpace profile that his interests included "Breaking my foot off in a prosecutor's a**...and improving my ability to break my foot off in a prosecutor's … Read more

The Internet's infinite memory...and your next job

Google remembers everything. Like what you wrote on your Facebook page that seemed so funny at the time. Until the hiring manager discovers that site and you don't get the job.

The Christian Science Monitor cartoon above refers to the kind of things you search for online going into personnel files, but much about us can be gleaned well before we're offered the position. As the article above notes:… Read more

System mixes drinks so you don't have to

As impressive as the "Vin au Verre" was and is, we always thought it was a bit, well, low-tech. There's no law, after all, that says bars can't join the digital age.

Enter "MyFountain," a wonder machine that stores up to a dozen beverages, all accessible (and, more important, dispensible) by a touch-screen color LCD that features pictures of said libations. Great for beginning barkeeps.

It will even mix drinks according to your requests, according to BornRich, a feature that would come in increasingly handy for an imbibing host as the night wears on. … Read more

DropMyRights part 2: Installing and configuring

This is a follow-up to my previous posting about DropMyRights, where I tried to make the case that every Windows XP user should use it.

You can download DropMyRights either from Microsoft or from CNET's Download.com.

What is downloaded is an MSI file rather than the usual EXE. Double-click on the MSI file to start the DropMyRights setup wizard. The wizard is pretty standard--you agree to the license, then select an installation folder. Interestingly, it defaults to installing DropMyRights in a subdirectory of My Documents (MSDN\DropMyRights) rather than the usual C:\Program Files.

After final … Read more

The open-source community's double standard on MySQL

Deja vu. Remember 2002? That's when Red Hat decided to split its code into Red Hat Advanced Server (now Red Hat Enterprise Linux) and Fedora. Howls of protest and endless hand-wringing ensued: How dare Red Hat not give everything away for free?

Enter 2007. MySQL decides to comply with the GNU General Public License and only give its tested, certified Enterprise code to those who pay for the service underlying that code (gasp!). Immediately cries of protest are raised, How dare MySQL not give everything away for free?

Ironically, in this same year of 2007, SugarCRM received universal plaudits (from me, as well) for opening up part of its code base under GPLv3. Groklaw crowed, "SugarCRM Goes GPLv3!" People everywhere flooded the streets to wax fecund and celebrate by multiplying and replenishing the earth.

This smacks of a perverse double standard, one that is neither fair nor warranted.… Read more

Eight (and a half) free Web music players

If you're the sort of Web surfer who hangs out on social-networking sites like MySpace and Facebook or someone who frequents MP3 blogs, you've surely seen and used one of the free Flash audio players in this article. All of the Web-based apps below let you add a functional music player to your home page or blog with no muss and very little fuss.

In this article, I am focusing on Web software that lets you create custom playlists with specific songs that you want to include. I also include Last.fm (the half in my count) because I love it, but its embeddable player works by offering a personal radio station based on your musical preferences. The music is fantastic, but you can't pick specific songs to add to your playlist.

I have compiled my own mixes using all of these players at a new blog. (I even used MyFlashFetish twice!) Go to MP3 Playlist Overload on Blogger to listen to some of my favorite music and try out the Flash players. I'm sure that there are lots of other free, embeddable music players online, so please tell me about your favorites in the comments.… Read more

Eight (and a half) free Web music players

MySQL caught complying with the GPL! News at 11!!

The SHOCKING news from today's LinuxWorld is that MySQL is a business and sometimes makes business decisions, as Linux.com reports. The headline screams that MySQL is closing off source code access to the community.

The truth is completely different.

As Kaj Arno notes on his blog:… Read more