Toby Still Needs Saving?

That’s right; Toby from http://www.SaveToby.com is still alive! After missing the $50,000, by June 30th, goal, Toby’s owner decided to secretly change the dead-line to Nov 6^th, 2006. I don’t know if this is the first time this has happened. But, I can see how it could have happened numerous times before. I think he should just get out while he is still ahead.

On a more important note, I wonder what it would be like if dolphins had dolphin-made guns. I want this to happen. So, taking a page out of Jared Diamond’s book Guns, Germs, and Steel (http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/), I would like to propose an idea. We could teach dolphins to farm crops, farm animals, and domesticate animals. We could then sit back, for about 10,000 years, and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Update (11/11/2005):

You can now donate to hurry Toby's demise at http://www.killtoby.com/.

The Second Rise of Bittorrent

The weak point in Bittorrent has always been the centralized tracker. But, with the addition of DHT in most new clients, the classic shift from method to application can now occur.Bittorrent can now be positioned as what it truly is, a high-demand file distribution system. Blah, blah, blah. What I’m trying to say is, Bittorrent style downloading will be built into open-source applications for file and media distribution.

Also, watch for Microsoft to code a working copy of it’s Avalanche system and attempt to sell it to enterprise application developers for mainstream application use. (Possibly writing it in one of it’s .Net languages.) Bram Cohen could cut them off if he changed the bittorrent license to allow for any use or charge a small fee for non-open-source applications. I emphasize the word “small” because Microsoft could easily undercut him, or give Avalanche away to encourage it’s use. (i.e. Netscape Vs. Internet Explorer) Honestly, I can see Microsoft doing both, giving Avalanche away for personal/small use, and selling it for enterprise development.This is neither here, nor there, if Avalanche never gets off the test bed. (I don’t care what anyone has said. I’ve seen the powerpoint. It’s just vapor-ware/research.)

Examples of bittorrent empowered applications: Videora, TV Mistress, SwarmTV, and Podcasting

I have even joined the fervor with my own open-source broadcatching program for windows, based on the official bittorrent core. I honestly don’t understand why this hasn’t been done many, many more times before. It took me just two days to get a working alpha version. (Project 16B)

Update (11/11/2005):
Getright 6.0 Beta has support for bittorrent downloads and mirrors. Allowing for downloading file segments via HTTP, FTP, and Bittorrent simultaneously. (Details)

Gizmondo: Mainstream GPS Gaming

This is a great day. Gizmondo, a new gameboy clone, comes equipped with a GPS receiver for location based games. The park down the street is now, potentially, Evilhorn the Evil’s evil stronghold, dungeon, and online Barnes&Noble. Think one step further and the world is now a one-to-one map of the gaming world. The parking lot you just drove into has seven fully grown razer-tooth drazbacs, which are two levels above you. Looks like you will have to put off grocery shopping until you can grind your way up to level 25.

While the GPS feature is amazing, especially for MMOGs, that is not why this is truly a great day. There is finally a way to lure young, pale, and muscularly underdeveloped people into centralized, unoccupied, and out-of-the-way places, and keep them distracted.