Apple iTunes Ping: Seesmic Ping.fm Issue Aside, Ping Is Panned

Apple iTunes 10 Ping Social Network was rolled out yesterday, and to a broad chorus of "Meh." There are a number of problems right out of the gate that are to due to poor product concept and execution.

The first problem is the name itself: a direct rip-off of Seesmic's Ping.fm social network aggregation system.

That leads to another problem of search identity: a Google Search reveals Seesmic's Ping.fm just two spots over Apple's Ping, and because of the similarities, including the mention of social networking, the the fact that for Seesmic "ping" is a URL destination, Apple's Ping may never over take Seemic's Ping.fm.

That leads to a third issue, that Ping.com Golf drivers are helped by Apple's Ping error.

So, right out of the box, Apple robs itself of the maximum number of users with this online noise and confusion. But that's just the start of a list of issues.

As pointed out on Tech Blogger Robert Scoble's Twitter page @Scobleizer and by a number of friends and followers, Apple's Ping not only lacks integration with Facebook, but finding noted artists, like The Black Eyed Peas, is an improbability. Witness this tweet:

The Who." Fail. "Beatles." Fail. "Elton John." Fail. Just what kind of musician IS in Apple's iTunes Ping? @myspace wins. about 5 hours ago via web

Indeed, Apple's Ping's compared to MySpace, which is still a very relevant social network for the introduction of music artists, and comes up looking very bad. Apple's Ping fail may be the instrument for the rival of MySpace.com Here's another tweet of evidence:

Search on @myspace for "Black Eyed Peas" works. On Apple Ping? Nope. And they were even in an iPod commercial! about 6 hours ago via web

Apple's Slipping

Whatever's going on over at Apple, it can't seem to stop tripping over itself of late.  If it's not the name of the iPad being offensive to women, or the iPhone's antenna issue, or the decision to even name it's new music based social network Ping, and all of its other problems, Apple doesn't seem to be thinking it's product actions through to their logical conclusions.

At the very least, and in a crowded environment of social networks, Apple had many examples to follow.  In Apple's Ping, the firm doesn't seem to have learned anything from them, or followed logic.

If Facebook connectivity is expected, don't avoid giving it just because, "talks fizzled."   If Facebook was being difficult, it would have been better to broadcast that issue and use it as leverage, either for Facebook to cooperate, or to construct a workaround alternative.

Instead, it looks like Apple just said, "Screw what we don't have.  Just release it anyway."

Stay tuned.

16 Year Old Makes Million Following Steve Jobs by Suzannah B. Troy

Gizmodo reports a British teenager, 16 year old Christian Owens, has made his first million modeling himself after Steve Jobs.  This article is as entertaining to read as the news of this ambitious teenager from Corby, Northamptonshire.

Essentially he bought a Mac Book at age 13 and taught himself web design.  Owens than copied "Mac Heist" idea or should I say was greatly inspired but he made it his own calling his product, "Mac Bundle". Sounds like a hamburger special at McDonald's but this ambitious teenager is  bundles applications and he is a smart young man.  He negotiated a deal where he could sell the bundle discounted and if x amount where sold every buyer would get a free application inspired word of mouth sales which of course is the best, another feature Apple is famous for....happy customers.

Read the Gizmodo for how Christian Owens already reinvested his earnings in to another start-up company which sells advertising.  When Christian Owens was asked what is the secret to his success.  His secret to success? There's no secret, he says:

"There is no magical formula to business, it takes hard work, determination and the drive to do something great."

For Apple Lovers here is my blog post from Apple's new release of products that continue to revolutionize our world.  

Michael Douglas Cancer, Paris Hilton Arrest: Celeb Contrasts

On Tuesday night, legendary Actor Michael Douglas was a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman.

It was already publicly known that he had throat cancer, but the news that it was at state IV was a shock to Letterman and the public.

This news and the outpouring of love and support for a celebrity who's contributions to the public good have been well noted, contrasts dramatically with last Friday's arrest of Socialite Paris Hilton.

Michael Douglas Will Beat Cancer

Douglas told Letterman that doctors found a "walnut-sized tumor" at the base of his tongue. According to WebMD.com, that means he likely has oropharyngeal cancer. Douglas said it was caused by smoking and drinking.

Just how much Douglas smoke and drank, and what kind of alcohol he was drinking on a regular basis is not known as of this writing. But Douglas vows he will beat the cancer. The son of he legendary Actor Kirk Douglas said he has an 80 percent chance of survival.

Hope That Paris Hilton Survives Her Drug Bust

That Paris Hilton's in trouble with the law again - having been arrested for felony possession of cocaine in Las Vegas last Saturday morning - is sad news. Hilton has been arrested now three times this year alone, but in different countries: France, South Africa, and the United States.

This is a sad current affair considering her 23-day stay in jail in 2007, and the really embarrassing visit to David Letterman which followed that year. On top of the cocaine bust, now Las Vegas police are reporting they found a "joint" in the car Paris Hilton was in.

The trouble is, while the car's being reported as "Paris Hilton's car," there's no evidence to indicate that's the case. It's more likely that the car belongs to her boyfriend Cy Waits. Thus, to even try to pin what the Daily Mail reports as a "wet" and "unable to be tested."

Moreover, the person police described as "the driver" - Cy Waits - said he just finished smoking. So, pinning that on Paris Hilton is at best piling on.

Hilton herself has responded to that rumor, and others like being banned from the "two Wynn resorts on the Las Vegas Strip" on Twitter. Paris tweeted:

These rumors going around are so ridiculous, untrue and cruel. I'm not going to even pay attention to them, because I know the truth.

Here's hoping the best for Paris Hilton: that she beats the charge and is able to get on with her life.   Hopefully Hilton uses Michael Douglas as a role model for the reformation of her image.

Mike Bloomberg Will Be Mayor Until He Dies by Suzannah B. Troy

CBS News reports that Mike Bloomberg will not leave his third term early to go work at The White House for President Obama. He won't stop being mayor of New York City unless King Mike dies....during his 3rd term.  What brought on this morbid talk?  Page 666, oops, Page 6 of The New York Post ran a provocative piece that rang very false to New Yorkers about President Obama needing Bloomberg's business acumen to help rescue our Country's massive budget deficit.  Hardee har, we all laughed because many of us New Yorkers feels king Mike Bloomberg steals from the middle class and poor to give to the rich!  In fact king Mike is now expanding his thieving ways to steal from the American Indians as well.  Please explain to me why the American Indians should have to pay taxes to solve our economic budget crisis here in NYC?  By the way, the budget crisis here may be as catastrophic as a terror attack not that anyone is paying attention yet but not to worry it won't affect the rich party class that king Mike caters to!  

If king Mike Bloomberg is such a good business man, than why is New York in the verge of a possible economic crisis, perhaps the worse since the Great Depression?  I am not alone noting this economic crisis because it was mentioned in The New York Post in the article about the Seneca and Cayuga Tribes getting a temporary restraining order against Paterson and gang collecting cigarette taxes.  I was so happy to read that someone else other than me is aware and again why should the American Indians have to pay for New York's corrupt, greedy, stupid government bringing the city and state to the edge of the economic abyss and we have tumbled down....just smoke and mirrors Mike Bloomberg and media friends seem to not talk about it much.

Well not to worry because if Mike Bloomberg did pass away I promise you all the greedy developers including the Presidents of NYU, Columbia University and Cooper Union and the great sharks of Wall Street would pump his veins with formaldehyde and prop him up to make sure he finishes his 3rd term.  Who knows maybe they would prop him up for a 4th term!

What a fake piece of public relations on behalf of king Mike Bloomberg courtesy of Page 6.  You know what someone once wrote about Page 6 of The New York Post in Vanity Fair?  Page 6 is like the toilet, everyone has to go.

Well everyone I know thought the post was pure crap because king Mike steals from the middle class and poor to give to the rich....Under his reign we had a record amount of eminent domain abuse here in New York.  Thanks for the laugh Page 6!


The art work above is mine very own political poster lampooning the King of New York.
Thanks for tuning in,
Suzannah B. Troy
p.s.  All 344 YouTubes of mine mostly about king Mike Bloomberg were mysteriously removed from YouTube owned by Google a month and a half before the election.  Norman Siegel represented me and many activists including film makers spoke up on my behalf.  All my work was returned to me 28 hours later with an apology from Google.

James Lee Environmental Mad Man Shot Dead, Hostages Safe By Suzannah B. Troy

James Lee, the mad man that took over The Discovery Channel is dead.  I may have been the first blogger to report the news as it was happening because I was watching ABC News and the reporters kept asking the police is he alive and they did not answer.  The spokesman said we have him in custody.  I believe one of his bombs went off as well as the police shooting him and the reporters kept asking than why haven't you rushed him to the hospital.

See my blog posting  early tonight.  At the time I posted the press still did not have the news whether Lee was alive or not.   Well now we have the answer.  There was no need for an ambulance to rush him to the hospital because he was in fact dead at the scene.  The good news is no one else is dead.

TMZ has a series of reports you might want to check out including the fact that James Lee was ordered to a Mental Institution in 2008.

I am sure there will be a lot of very detailed information tomorrow about his death and the survivors of the ordeal as well as information from law enforcement.

I have highest praise for the brave police officers that clearly did a good job because the hostages were not injured and also for whom ever over saw the evacuation especially of the children at the day care center.

Apple iTunes Ping, Seesmic Ping.fm : I'm Confused

Loic is being punished for this photo

Today, Steve Jobs announced the new iTunes 10 with a number of special features this space will discuss later.

But the overall question for the day is that Apple iTunes has a new social network that for some reason Apple calls Ping. But the problem is Seesmic also has a social networking site called - you guessed it - Ping.

This blogger is confused.

Ping.fm by Seesmic is designed to allow you to access all of the social networks you're on that it offers.

By contrast Apple iTunes Ping is a social network for music. OK. I get that, but does that mean I can ping my ping?

How did this happen? Well, either Steve Jobs has it in for Seesmic Founder Loic Le Meur, or something else.

Maybe Steve's punishing him for having his photo taken with President Bush instead of President Obama!

Stay tuned.

Hurricane Earl people preparing by Suzannah B. Troy

Hurricane Earl is not going to directly hit NYC and NJ but is expected to cause some trouble so people are on alert.   New York's Dept. of Building is making sure all constructions sites are secure and if not expect fines.  Fire Island in Long Island does not have to evacuate at least not yet.


Right now Hurricane Earl is category 4.   It is dicey whether Earl will be more smoke than fire but let us hope all will be safe from loved ones things we love....

All along the Eastern Coast people are making choices whether to cut their vacations short especially folks in North Carolina where people have been given mixed messages that the storm will barely touch or the opposite.  Rather than be safe than sorry some people are packing it in or boarding up windows to be safe.

Actually in Ocracoke Island on the outer banks of North Carolina there is a mandatory evacuation according to Daego.com.

Here in the NYC area only beach erosion but we will see if there is any fall-out.

Thanks for tuning in....
Suzannah

Armed Protestor Captured, Hostages Released Discovery Channel Building by Suzannah B. Troy

Fox News Channel reports an armed man has hostages in the Discovery building in Silver Spring, M.D., a suburb of Washington, D.C.  The man is a regular protester of the Discovery Channel and the Montgomery County Police are negotiating with him.  His name is James Lee was said to have entered the building with a small gun, took a small group of hostage and has some kind of bomb looking structure front and back.


He was arrested before for protesting the Discovery Channel which he plans as being part of the problem.

As I am writing this channel 7 news reported they have captured the protester.  He went down and the explosive device went off.  James Lee was said to have had a wide range of emotions during the hours of negotiations.

We do not have any information on if the suspect is alive but in theory he is alive because he is in custody.   He may not be removed to be taken to the hospital yet because the building is not yet considered secure.

The 3 hostages are safe!   There were also children in the building at a day care center and they were all safely evacuated.  Repeat every one is safe except for the armed protester who is in police custody.

The shooting happened at 4:48.  He was shot by the police.  There may be more devices in the building -- they may be back packs with bombs.

Apple News Ping Music Innovations by Suzannah B. Troy

Apple has a big meeting Wednesday and is generating a lot of excitement as usual..  I wasn't invited so I can only paste information I have gleaned from articles but anyone who knows me know I converted to Apple 3 years ago and drank the kool aid.

Matt Rosoff followed "Apple's music event keynote live on his MacBook.

The hot item is Ping as described by Kay Moeller from Technology.gather.com"
"Music lovers may be excited about the iTunes upgrade that comes with a built in feature called Ping which works on the iPod Touch and the iPhone and is described as a social network for music. Ping will allow you to follow your favorite music and friends and Jobs described it as "Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes."

And if this is not enough news here is The New York Times blogging live from the event....some people have all the luck, and or a press pass....sigh.

Here is a review from Mac World...

Best from Suzannah B. Troy
NYC, hard core Apple lover, converted 3 years ago....

Dow Jones Index At 10269.47 On Manufacturing Data News

As the economy is the constant focus, the Dow Jones Index today is at 10269.47, as better than expected Chinese manufacturing data leads the way toward robust trading according to MarketWatch.

Why, you ask, is the Dow over 10,000 and increased even as unemployment in America and around the World is so high? Because it's forgotten that the American economy had actually shrank for a period of almost two years until the Economic Stimulus package pumped enough money into the economy to fuel growth in overall Gross Domestic Product.

The United States lost so many jobs and consumer demand decreased so much that what we have now is a smaller economy. The Dow Jones reflects how businesses are doing within the current structure, it doesn't factor in such considerations as long term or short term economic change.

The Dow Jones reflects how investors evaluate the economy at the moment. Today, investors are taking a bullish bet on the economic future of America and the World.

But what the Obama Administration and Democrats need to do is keep trying to pass legislation that helps American small business, even as Republicans vote down the proposals. Also, tell people about those proposals and Republican opposition to them.

And forget the polls, which this corner believes are fixed anyway.

More on that later.

Oakland Election News: Jennifer Pae, Jean Quan, Courtney Ruby

Oakland Councilmember Jean Quan 

The latest Oakland Election News has Oakland Mayor's Race candidate Jean Quan and Oakland City Council District Two Candidate Jennifer Pae and Oakland's current City Auditor Courtney Ruby landing the endorsement of The Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club of Oakland.

The Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club's (WDRC) endorsement process started with a meeting last Thursday night, where members nominated candidates for consideration. For Oakland Mayor, only two candidates were named for consideration: Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan and Jean Quan. For Oakland City Council District Two, only Jennifer Pae was named for consideration and not the incumbent Pat Kernighan. For City Auditor, only Ruby was named for consideration.

The WDRC counted ballots and on Monday announced the votes for endorsements, and released the results on its website on Monday. Here's the full list of Oakland and Berkeley WDRC endorsements:

Oakland Propositions
MEASURE L - Oakland School District Parcel tax -- YES
MEASURE V - Marijuana Taxes -- YES
MEASURE W - Telephone Access Line Tax -- YES
MEASURE X - Public Safety Parcel Tax -- YES
MEASURE Y - Amendment (Restorepolics officer positions) -- YES

Berkeley
Berkeley Auditor: Ann Marie Hogan
Berkeley City Council District 1: Linda Maio
Berkeley City Council District 4: NO ENDORSEMENT
Berkeley City Council District 7 (runoff) -- NO ENDORSEMENT

Berkeley School Board: 3 Endorsed
Joshua Daniels
Karen Hemphill
Leah Wilson

Oakland
Oakland Auditor: Courtney Ruby
Oakland City Council District 2: Jennifer Pae
Oakland City Council District 4 (runoff) -- NO ENDORSEMENT
Oakland Mayor -- Jean Quan

EBMUD Director: Andy Katz
Peralta Community College Trustee: Abel Guillen
Superior Court Judge: Victoria Kolakawski

For more information on endorsements visit the WDRC website at wellstoneclub.org.

99ers Letter to David Axelrod - White House

The 99ers' letter to David Axelrod, delivered to the White House yesterday by Connie Kaplan, was very strong in content. With millions of Americans in desperate need of a Tier 5 UI extension, it was time to take the gloves off, so to speak. The letter may seem threatening to some, but desperate times require desperate measures. Below is the text of this letter:

The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest Washington, DC 20500-0004

Delivered via Special Courier

Mr. Axelrod,

This letter is written on behalf of the 99er community. The purpose of this letter, is to bring to the attention of President Obama the wants and needs of the unemployed Americans who have exhausted all of their unemployment insurance. We have been humiliated in the newspapers, on radio and on television, being called lazy, drug addicts who live on handouts from our Government. A perfect example was the Glenn Beck television show recently, where he said he would be ashamed to call us Americans and even went so far as to single out one 99er, Connie Kaplan by name. We were grateful that MSNBC allowed Connie to appear on the Ed Schultz show to comment on the absurdity of Glenn Beck’s words.

The unemployed exhaustees have waited for 8 months now, to receive any type of help from our government. Although we understand that the Republican party has filibustered most all legislation, the Americans Want to Work Act cannot be a part of this game playing. The 99er community will have a very heavy impact on elections in November. If we cannot depend on the Democratic party, who we are constantly being told supports the American people, there will be no need to vote them back into office in November. Many Democrats are in a very close race right now, and the 99er votes will either make them or break them. Unless the Americans Want to Work Act is passed in September, we will make Barbara Boxer an example of our voting clout and she would be just one Senator we would yank out of office. Keep in mind there were 200,000 exhaustees in California alone as of July 31st and our numbers continue to increase weekly.

The united 99er community realizes that our most valuable asset is our ability to vote come this November. Millions 99ers and the families of 15 million unemployed can unite our collective vote to swing the upcoming election. For any one party to count upon our millions of votes based upon being the lesser of the evils, or to count upon our vote by blaming the other side will not be sufficient. The vote of the 99er community at large is up for grabs. Our community will show up in staggering numbers to vote this November for whichever party has the intelligence and foresight to step forward and help us first. In short, whomever wins our allegiance.

President Obama needs to get involved and in touch with the 99er community by holding town hall meetings and speaking to us directly. These meetings could be held online. The 99ers are angry and our votes will show it in November. No Democrat is safe at this point and a great many 99ers that have already changed their affiliation to Independent, as a direct result of the lack of compassion and urgency thus far to help the 99 community.

The Americans Want to Work Act (HR 3706) needs to be amended to cover all states no matter their UI percentage, passed and signed into law before Congress goes on their October recess. If this is not accomplished, there will be millions of 99ers who will vote with their anger against those that continue to make us suffer. Our lives can no longer be toyed with, we are losing thousands of hard working Americans to homelessness, starvation and suicide daily. This is a national emergency and it is time to treat it as such, or pay the price in November.

Discouraged American voters,

The 99er Nation