The Swedish Pirate Party (Piratpartiet), a political party whose main platforms include copyright and patent reform, have recently taken their efforts one step further and have launched an ISP (internet service provider). Dubbed “Pirate ISP,” the service seeks to offer anonymity to its users and to provide financial assistance to Piratpartiet.

Born out of the controversy surrounding the BitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay, Pirate ISP was deemed necessary to ensure that competition flourished in the Swedish ISP market and that users who wished to file-share would be protected against the efforts of the Swedish anti-piracy lobby group, Svenska Antipiratbyrån. The piracy topic has been a hot-button issue in Sweden over the past several years, stemming from the popularity of The Pirate Bay as a source for copyrighted material. Because of the growth of the website, the United States government, along with trade associations the MPAA and the RIAA, have pressured Sweden and their ISPs to take action against file-sharing. This resulted  in the 2006 raid of the website’s Stockholm location by Swedish police, which put the site offline for three days.

The issue of file-sharing is not just a heated matter for Sweden, however. Various countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia (among others) have adopted their own political parties in order to attempt reform of copyright and patent law. According to the Swedish Pirate Party’s website, “The Pirate Party wants to fundamentally reform copyright law, get rid of the patent system, and ensure that citizens’ rights to privacy are respected. With this agenda, and only this, we are making a bid for representation in the European and Swedish parliaments.”

So it seems this isn’t just about being able to get free stuff on the internet, but about policy reform and privacy. Many would argue that copyright has been perverted over the years, through abuse from large corporations. In addition, the market for internet service providers has become a near-monopoly in most countries and freedom of choice has been severely limited not only by lack of infrastructure, but also lobbying efforts on the parts of major telecom companies who posses a stranglehold on the market in many cities.

Personally, I would welcome this kind of change to our system in the United States if for nothing more than open debate of the issues, something we as a country are severely lacking.

It is the end of your second semester and first year of your private university. You have this pile of $1000 worth of textbooks sitting in your basement, untouched, unscathed. What do you do?

You learned from first semester that you CAN actually get $.25 back for a book. (Yes this ACTUALLY happened to ME). At this point, something has got to give, so  you explore your options. Then, BING! Amazon.com becomes your new best friend.

Here is how it works: you create a selller profile by first establishing  a seller name. Here are some suggestions (of course you have to chose a unique name that is not already is use!):

• Wildcat Booksellers
• Textbook Trader
• ABC Textbooks
• Reliable Reads
• TextRex

Next, you decide what you want to sell, which in this case is textbooks. You then search for the textbook by ISBN number or Title to see if it is already listed in Amazon’s catolog. If and when you find your book, you select it and then enter the condition, condition notes and price of your book. Here are few tips when completing the aforementioned:

• Be honest about the the condition. Even if the book was only used by you twice, and you barely shuffled the pages, is it still a USED book but would qualify as Like New.
• If there is writing inside, state that in the condition notes. Buyers look for as much specific details as possible.
• For pricing, be realistic. Are you looking to make back the origional cost of your textbooks or just make some cash back quick? In order to sell your items fast…I would open up a separate window and run an independent search on your book. If it is a used book, find  the lowest price of that book used and price yours just below it. This means if the lowest listed price is $94.00, you can charge $93.00-$93.99 because it will be still be under $94.00 and users will likely look at this one first.
  • Just another persoanal note, I listed my textbooks this summer and within two days I had 2 sold using the above strategies including pricing.

Before you seal the deal, make sure you read and agree to the terms and conditions about Amazon’s comissions and shipping credits. Also, do not forget to privide proper account information for payment.

Overall, Amazon offers a secure and popular place to sell items, new or used. Thus far, I have no complaints as a buyer or as a seller!

Keep in mind that textbooks are not the only thing that Amazon sells! Check this out for more information: http://www.amazonservices.com/content/sell-on-amazon.htm?ld=AZSOAMakeMAmznServ#showTab

Now that the iPhone 4 has had some time to circulate around a bit, I thought that I would go over some of the most common complaints about the iPhone 4. Although I am sure that Apple will probably fix most of the bugs in a free software update in a few months, they are still worth mentioning.

Perhaps one of the biggest issues that has been causing a lot of buzz is the antennae issue. The point of having the antenna wrap around the phone was to give users more service and because putting the antenna inside of the phone would mean that the phone would have to be bigger. However, many people are having poor reception issues when they hold the phone by its metal sides in two opposite places. Steve Jobs, who actually knew about the design flaw back in the development phases in 2009, merely told users that this problem is not an iPhone problem, but that the users are at fault. The statement released about this problem suggested that users should not grip the phone by the lower left corner in a way that it covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band.

They suggested that users should use a case and in a press release on July 16th, Apple announced that they would offer a free iPhone bumper in order to solve this problem.  Yes, Apple is offering the more than 3 million people who have already bought the iPhone 4 and new buyers through September 30 free iPhone bumpers. If you have already bought a bumper (valued at $30), you can qualify for a full refund.

Alright so that is the main problem, but it is definitely not the only one. Here are some more examples of the malfunctioning iPhone 4:

• Some users claim that their rear-facing camera does not work at all; the shutter will not even open
• Many have noticed a yellow tint on the iPhone’s display. However, by the looks of it, after a few days of use this should go away because it may have to due with the manufacturing process.
• The iPhone’s case scratches easily– okay, the thing is glass on both sides, what do you really expect from it?

And I’m sure that’s not all…

For those who don’t know, Reddit is a social news website that was launched back in 2005. The website operates in the vein of sites like Digg, where users are able to submit stories and either vote them up (to the front page) or vote them down (to oblivion). The aim is to have the best and most interesting stories appearing on the main page.

I have been a follower of Reddit for many years now. Even though the website is owned by Condé Nast Publications, it always struck me as a less-commercial (and slightly more mature) Digg. So imagine my surprise when I saw this post on their blog today. It describes the pains of four folks running a website that garners millions of hits daily with very little in the way of a budget, and what they hope to do to fix the problem.

The more interesting part of this isn’t the Reddit blog post itself, but the comments section’s first post. A poster in their mid-twenties by the name of Nodex is proclaiming that he (or she) wants to buy Reddit and has the funds to do so. Of course, many posters laughed at the offer. “This guy seems legit,” and “Are you from Nigeria?” were two such posts that questioned the legitimacy of the offer. But not everyone was as skeptical; Reddit administrator Jedberg replied to the post, requesting proof that Nodex was indeed serious about the offer. From there, the public conversation stopped and we could only assume that discussions were taking place behind the curtain.

What would it mean for Reddit as a brilliant source of news if it were to be bought? As we’ve seen before, when Reddit was purchased by Condé Nast in 2006, not a whole lot. The only thing that really changed was the footer of the site, and who really pays attention to that anyway? It’s likely, however, that Reddit would gain more speed and stability. That is, of course, if Nodex does have the funds and is serious about providing the website with the budget to function on a large scale.

I’ve emailed the Reddit administrators for comment, but as of yet have not received word back on whether or not there are actual dealings to purchase the site beyond those in the comments. I’ll be keeping an eye on this story and if it develops, I’ll post an update.

Apple’s new iMac represents the best forward-thinking in the desktop computer market. The sleek, all-in-one unit could easily be mistaken for just a monitor, but the entire computer – monitor, cpu, disk drive, and ports – is built in.

The first thing that caught my attention when I went to set up the new iMac was that there was one cable, the power cord, connected to the computer. That’s it. The keyboard is wireless. The mouse is wireless. The printer, the internet connection, everything is freestanding with no wires connecting back to the computer itself.

We went with the 21.5 inch screen, even though the 27 inch is just $200 more (put into perspective, that $200 is about a 13% difference in total price while the extra 5 ½ inches is more than 25% increase in screen size). The larger model, gorgeous as it is, won’t fit on a standard desk with a hutch. Unless you’re doing some serious video or photography work, or maybe spending way too much time online gaming, the 27 inch seems like overkill.

With the iMac, we’ve finally broken the terabyte barrier. There is a 500 gigabyte version, but with the current rate of memory growth in the computer market, it pays to buy the bigger memory now. It will pay off in the long run as the computer won’t become obsolete as quickly.

The iMac features a 4 gigabyte memory, a 3 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and amazing 1920 x 1080 screen resolution. I don’t know what ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics with 256 MB means exactly, but it sure looks good on that 21.5 inch screen.

Of course, iMac comes preloaded with Mac OSX and Mac standards like Rock Band, Safari, and iTunes. It also includes a built-in webcam. There’s no software to install and minimal setup required to get your iMac up and running.

Best of all, it just works.

Alright so it’s a little bigger than a gadget, but I thought that this blog’s readers would enjoy an article about Terrafugia‘s Transition. You have probably already heard about this “big boy toy”, but just in case you have not, it is a flying car. Or maybe it’s a driving plane? I think I would classify it more as the second option. Terrafugia does not want it to be called either and would like to see it called a “roadable aircraft”.

Yes, at about $200,000, you too can reserve your own roadable aircraft. It is a two-seater vehicle/plane that was developed by MIT engineers. Certified as a Light Sport Aircraft because of its weight, the Transition will require a Sport Pilot license (20 hours of logged flying time) or higher to fly. Actually, this plane/car is 120 lbs over the weight limit for a vehicle of its class, but the FAA allowed it to pass as a Light Sport Aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 1,420 lbs. So really, anyone with money and a brain could get the chance to make use of this plane – I mean, “roadable aircraft”.  It can take off or land at any public-use general aviation airport with at least 2,500 feet of runway.

Honestly, I just see it as a plane that can fold its wings up and become a car that can go about 90mph at a respectable 30mpg on the highway. In the air you can cruise at about 115 mph and should get you at least 400 miles per tank while you are in the skies. Yes, it is pretty cool, but I do not think it is something that is too revolutionary. Now you can buy one piece of machinery that functions as both a car and a plane, but I am curious to see how many people will use it as a multifunction form of transportation. Also, not only is the actual car/plane expensive, but think about all of the airport fees that you would have to pay!

As for some more fun facts, it has:

• “Front wheel drive on the ground
• Automotive-style entry and exit
• Two place, side by side
• Automated electromechanical folding wing
• No trailer or hangar needed
• Cargo area holds skis, fishing poles or golf clubs”

Oy.

It is no secret that I am an iPhone fan.  The saddest day of my gadget geek life is when I had to give mine up because AT&T is garbage. Now that I have seen the new iPhone 4, I am tempted to put up with the 20 dropped calls a week.

Every time I watch someone use an iPhone, a little piece of me dies.  I went to the Droid Eris about a year ago, and it is not the same.  The Android software was better than the iPhone software because you could customize the phone in any way you want; however, the hardware couldn’t compare.  I drank the customization Kool-aid happily until last week.

One of my coworkers was playing with his phone, and a small crowd had gathered.  I was intrigued.  As I got closer I could see the screen clarity from 10 feet away.  It made all others look like watching a closed circuit camera television in black and white.  Just seeing the screen took me back to the first time seeing HDTV, it was really that good.

Then I watched him turn on the HD video camera.  He was able to zoom with no noticeable image quality issues.  He then showed me a video of another coworker who was acting a fool not knowing he was being filmed.  He was able to go from camera to video to the album and back to the camera instantly.

And then he turned the phone over to me.  As I was looking at the screen I saw myself on the video.  This is part of the new iPhone 4′s video chat feature.  You can talk to another iPhone 4 user in a web conference.  Very cool feature.

Speaking of multitasking.  There is another major function worth noting.  By clicking the home button again, you bring up a scrolling menu across the bottom of the screen.  Here you see all the apps you had opened from the most recent and on.  It is a cinch to jump from task to task.

AT&T wireless service is terrible, but they do have this going for them.

Ever feel overwhelmed with all of the options on the internet? After all, it is called the World Wide Web for a reason! Recently, I came a across a very helpful site that did all of the sorting for me. The site is called All My Faves: http://www.allmyfaves.com/.

All My Faves brands themselves as “the ultimate homepage”, which proves to be an accurate title. Whether you are looking for an educational blog or some tips on planning your wedding, All My Faves brings you the best of the best, the cream of the crop. All My Faves showcases one-stop shopping, both literally and figuratively, at its best. For example, if I was planning my wedding today, using all my faves in a matter of seconds I could find:

• Wedding dress
• Invitations
• Bridal registries (Target, Bed Bath and Beyond)
• Wedding rings
• Honeymoon
• Bridesmaid dresses
• Centerpieces/wedding décor
• Hair styles

Here are some of the sites that All My Faves has listed under Wedding’s Faves:

All My Faves offers a unique approach to searching and it presents itself with unique choices made with customers in mind. Companies with this kind of personal touch, understanding that customers live a very busy and often demanding life, earn a gold star in my book.

On the other hand, from an entrepreneurial perspective, All My Faves provides an excellent resource for startups/small businesses. Start-ups can use this site to research and network with people with similar ideas and similar goals. It is also a great place for businesses to get featured! It is clearly an honor to be selected by All My Faves for their “ultimate homepage”.

Whatever your reason may be for visiting All My Faves , it will certainly be a pleasant and efficient experience!

I have to admit, I still cry at night over the loss of my iPhone.  For the record, I only got rid of it because AT&T is terrible.  We had so many dropped calls, I nicknamed them butter-fingers.  So, reluctantly I went with a Droid Eris.

The Motorola Droid is a better phone but too clumsy-looking for me.  I was pleased from the start with the Droid operating system and its ease of customization.  The Eris, not so much.  The battery life is ridiculous and the system is slow.

However, as of recent a minor step was taken to make it all better for the consumer.  The push of the major software update went through with many cool features and boasting of more efficiency which would boost the battery life.  I was not pleased the night it was downloaded because it dumped all of my contacts.  I have since had better days.

The battery life was a tad bit better.  That is, until I downloaded a Task Manager application that kills all the programs not in use at the moment.  It is easy to access as a shortcut on the home page and my battery life has almost doubled.  Awesome!

After this battery debacle, I am most pleased with the Unlock Security feature standard with the phone.  I know it sounds like I need a real life but hear me out.  Up until this Droid, I have never taken advantage of protecting my phone with any type of password.  All the times in the past that I did attempt it, I became annoyed with it very, very quickly.

Who wants to type a four digit code in every single time they need to use the phone?  Not me.  I would want to make the code challenging and that made the situation even more time consuming.

Droid offers an unlock pattern under SETTINGS, SECURITY, UNLOCK PATTERN.  You get a screen with 12 circles on it.  You then create a pattern using at least four of them.  Now, in only a second I can unlock my phone.  Finally, a security system that is smart!

So much has been made of Amazon’s Kindle. The brand name has already become synonymous with the product, like Q-Tips, Kleenex, and iPod. And much of the hoopla is well deserved. The Kindle was a quantum leap forward in technology, accessibility, and user-friendliness.

But that was then; this is now. With the introduction of more and more Kindle clones on the market, is the Kindle worth the premium price?

Sometimes, the original really is better than those that follow. It’s tough to argue that any portable music device that has followed the iPod can match the original in feature and function. But sometimes, the clones are every bit as good as the first entrant into the market, or at least offer a better value. A $400 DVD player is better than the $30 variety at Wal-Mart, but is it THAT much better?

Kindle is faced with competition on a number of fronts. The Augen Book Reader, for example, offers all the functionality of the Kindle and then some. Augen has bundled together a book reader and an MP3 player with a 7″ screen and a SD card reader.

Then there is the $29.99 Nintendo DS 100 Classic Books cartridge. Assuming you’ve already dropped the $150 or so for a Nintendo DS, there’s no better bargain than this on the market. Your thirty bucks gives you the software to turn the DS into a book reader as well as 100 all-time classic books like Great Expectations and Little Women. Such classic characters as Sherlock Holmes and Frankenstein’s Monster are included.

In addition to the 100 books included on the cartridge, there are ten more books available for download. Although Nintendo has not unveiled any expansion plans, the small number of downloads relative to the number of books pre-installed leads me to believe that there will be many more on the way.