eBooks on the Horizon for College Campuses

The National Association of College Stores (NACS) announced its Media Solutions Pilot Programming which will involve seven campuses including: San Diego State, University of Colorado, New York University, University of Illinois, University of North Carolina, Bowling Green State, and UCLA. The NACS represents 3,100 retailers, primarily on campus retailers. The Media Solutions Pilot will establish e-kiosks that are capable of burning permanent DVDs, for students looking to purchase a personal copy, and temporary DVDs, for rental uses. The initial program will focus on entertainment content and DVD movies with the expected transition into DVD textbooks as early as next summer. A spokesman from The Chronicle of Higher Education is quoted as suggesting that the DRM technology for rentals won't be software-based; instead it looks like the rental DVD's will employ a limited life-time technology rendering the DVD unreadable after a predetermined time span.

It would appear that there are several potential goals for this project, the first and foremost to enter into the competitive market for DVD media rental and sales. Interestingly enough this announcement comes as congress passed the PRO-IP Act adding additional support for Intellectual Property Rights for Digital Media. With the war on pirated content on P2P networks waging on, the NACS seems poised to take advantage of providing a safe and economic alternative to illegal P2P downloads for college students. At the same time, with increased support for Intellectual Property Rights and digital media, it seems publishers are poised to cut some overhead by testing the waters with eBooks. An inevitable change for the publishing industry that's long overdue. All arguments about Hollywood's newest releases, pirating, and P2P networks cutting into industry profits aside, if the Pilot Program is successful with the DVD sales and rentals, and eTextbooks come to fruition sooner than later, we are looking at an incredibly powerful resource finally arriving. It's eco-friendly, easily searched and cross referenced (if implemented correctly), and maybe we'll even see a little of the overhead savings on our receipts. The only question that's left is what will the the eTextbook viewer look like? Will it be easier on our eyes and wallet, or just the backs of students who no longer carry printed books?

A Reprise for Vista?

While many of us are still recovering from, or continuing to explore, Windows Vista, according to internetnew.com, Microsoft has a target release date on their internal calendar for the latest Windows OS dubbed Windows 7. With their 2008 Professional Developers Conference fast approaching this October, rumors have resurfaced that the release will be announced. While publicly, Microsoft has released statements that their latest OS will not be on the market before 2010, the less than sterling reviews of Vista may be encouraging an earlier release. With 5 years of programing between XP and Vista, and Apple's OS X highlighting everything and operating system could be prior to Vista's release in late 06, early 07, Vista's improvements were reduced to a bunch of bell's and whistle neatly bundled with some better graphics.

The question that comes to my mind, does an earlier release really benefit anyone? The question has to asked if a quality upgrade is being released. Every company needs goals and target dates to function, but the focus needs to be on when the release is ready, not what date is the release. At this point, we may be watching commercials next month for "Windows Mojave is Windows 7," which might make more sense to me than the current line, but only time will tell. For now, if you have XP, be grateful you didn't upgrade to Vista; for everyone on OS X, Ubuntu, Debian, or Fedora- I may be joining you soon.

The Expanding Implications of Moore's Law

Since the advent of Moore's Law computer technology has evolved from a backbone supporting business, industry, and societies infrastructure, and entwined its self with nearly ever facet of our daily lives. Computer technology encompasses everything from the productivity tools providing the foundation for businesses and our economic infrastructure, to latest trend and TechToy that everyone wants to accessorize with. From video-skype conference calls to blogging on our iPhones we are interconnected and surround by the latest technology. With the bleeding edge of technology drawing fresh blood every day, keeping track of today's professional innovations, social discord, techno mishaps, or who's on top in the perpetual NVIDIA - ATI tug of war is a full time job by itself. Fortunately, there are blogs to light the way; sorting, summarizing, and streaming the information we crave.

Since technology encompasses everything from a companies computing infrastructure, SEO , to personal computers, accessories, and the software ruining on them, a little bit of everything is right here. All of the innovation, the associated legal strife, and even some how-to for everyday and advanced users awaits.

Life is interactive, and so is this blog: Comments, updates, and feedback is always encouraged.

Technology: The branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment

Dynamics: An interactive system or process, especially one involving competing or conflicting forces.