del conte-morris

Do we need the Internet for a revolution?

In the last two years I have read at least a dozen books that champion the Internet as the key to personal and political freedom. Scholars and academics have come to see digital communication as a near messiah in power and prescience.

However, I believe that the current revolution in Egypt should temper our faith in the Internet.

The Egyptian government has cut off the digital tools that we have come to rely on. All ISPs are shut down, cell phone service has been cut, and Al Jazeera has lost its license to broadcast within the country.

Yet the people … Read more

Angry Birds of love

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

The FCC is fighting challenges to new Net neutrality rules

Amazon.com may soon launch a Netflix competitor that will stream movies to Amazon Prime customers at no extra charge.

Amazon has experienced some sign-in flaws that expose accounts by logging into a variation of the correct password

New research shows that Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world

New versions of Angry Birds will be based on the animated film "Rio" and on the holiday of love we know as Valentine's Day

Back to pop-ups

Links from Friday's episode of Loaded:

The Internet goes nearly silent in Egypt during widespread violent political protests

News Corp. announces plans to launch The Daily, its iPad-only publication

Gmail offers a new feature to give you a pop-up every time you get an e-mail or an instant message

The new version of Skype for Mac has a group chatting option

Hulu may be planning to rebrand itself as the Internet's cable channel

Apple may be prepping to launch a new lineup of MacBook Pros

LinkedIn has filed for an IPO

New portable PlayStation

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Sony unveils a new handheld gaming device called the Next Generation Portable

Sony also announces that it will bring PlayStation games to Android devices as apps

Amazon.com launches Kindle Singles for short works of literature

Facebook lets you use the site with an extra layer of encryption

The Obama Administration takes to social networks to answer questions

Netflix states its intention to publish statistics about ISPs that are slowing down its streaming service

The New York Times is considering a WikiLeaks-type site of its own

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be on … Read more

Data-retention plan

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

The Department of Justice proposes a very vague Internet data retention plan

Verizon's unlimited data plan for the iPhone will cost $30 per month--for a limited time

Verizon's iPhone tethering option will cost an extra $20 per month

Amazon.com wants to deliver groceries to homes nationwide with Amazon Fresh

Facebook is developing a Groupon competitor called Buy With Friends

Twitter confirms it has been blocked in Egypt amid violent, anti-government protests

Fox Sports will not broadcast the Super Bowl in 3D

The new MLB 11 game from Sony will … Read more

The tax app

Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded:

Verizon is going to sell the iPhone with a $30 per month unlimited data plan

Barnes & Noble may be discontinuing the 3G Nook

Facebook mandates that all games use Facebook Credits

Mobile Gmail users can now print from their mobile devices

The IRS launches an app that lets you track your tax refund, get daily tax tips, and follow the IRS on Twitter

A new site challenges you to do nothing for two minutes.

WikiLeaks, the movie

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Research In Motion announces a program called BlackBerry Balance that shuts corporate administrators out of your personal life on your BlackBerry

McDonalds launches a touch-and-go payment scanning system in the U.K.

Duke Nukem Forever has not been delayed for all time. The game sequel gets a launch date after over a decade of delays.

A JFK historian launches an interactive biography on the iPad

Studio executives have optioned the movie rights to a biography of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

A woman hangs up on Apple when the company calls to offer her a $10,000 iTunes gift card… Read more

A wireless mouse for your couch

Links from Friday's episode of Loaded:

Google's Eric Schmidt steps down as CEO

A new Logitech mouse is designed to work on your couch

Verizon files an appeal against the FCC's Net neutrality rules

HP replaces four board members with five new ones

Google is getting ready to compete with Groupon with Google Offers

A German software program could set an expiration date for your online photos

Angry Birds is being developed into an animated series

The 2011 Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition is released with all sorts of useless gaming facts

Nudity: There's not an app for that

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Amazon acquires LoveFilm, the European equivalent of Netflix

Nintendo announces pricing, release date, and game lineup of the upcoming 3DS

Google Voice now allows you to port over your own phone number

Facebook announces an optimized version of the site for non-smartphones

Verizon offers a $200 gift card to customers who have recently purchased a new phone but want to switch to the upcoming Verizon iPhone

T-Mobile launches an app that will prevent you from texting while driving

The Playboy app for iPad is not an app after all. It is Playboy optimized … Read more