Michael's Minute

Cloud Video Is Legal, How About Cloud Music?

Tue, Aug 05 2008 10:49:04

In a stunning but welcomed reversal, a New York appeals court has overturned a Judge's ruling outlawing remote video recording and playback. It's a huge victory for consumers because they'll get a cheaper DVR type of service, but it also sets a sturdy leg

Preparing for a life after Pandora with PiMP

Mon, Jul 28 2008 15:43:54

At MP3tunes we decided to build a Pandora-like system that won't get crushed by labels and also didn't have the nagging limitations of web radio like no rewind button, limited song skipping, no song look ahead, etc. We call this service PiMP.

It's Getting Cloudy in the Technology Business

Thu, Jul 10 2008 10:55:58

A seismic shift is underway in the technology sector as companies big and small embrace the "cloud". The cloud is another name for the Internet, but instead of a simply thinking of it as a set of dumb cables connecting computers together....

Xandros Buys Linspire

Wed, Jul 02 2008 07:38:45

This week Xandros Inc. is buying Linspire. Xandros has done more than any company to put Linux in front of users by powering the innovative eee PC so I'm excited to see the Linspire, Freespire and CNR technology go to a worthy competitor. Linux is going t

The Record Labels Want My Minivan

Wed, Jun 11 2008 13:49:57

This week in a New York court attorney's for EMI made the argument about why I should be personally liable as CEO of MP3tunes. They are suing not only MP3tunes, but also me personally and are going after my home, cars and kids college funds in their suit.

$20 Million Dollar Experiment to See if You'll Rent a Song for 10 Cents

Tue, May 27 2008 11:02:21

A music experiment will soon begin with the ambitious attempt to reinvigorate people to buying music online. For just 10 cents you'll be able to select a song to add to your Music Locker to play whenever you like. These aren't obscure or unknown Indie b

Napster Goes MP3 With a Big Catalog But 8 Years Too Late

Mon, May 19 2008 23:52:55

Napster is now selling MP3s for more than 6 million songs. This is quite a change. 8 years ago the labels had the possibility to channel the enormous Napster audience into a fan friendly cash-register-ringing store. Instead, 3 of the 4 refused to work wit

College Myths

Tue, May 06 2008 08:17:19

Here is my list of college myths: Myth: Colleges are poor. Myth: Colleges aren't businesses. Myth: You must go to college to get otherwise secret info to succeed in life. Myth: Name brand colleges justify higher prices. Myth: Colleges care first and

World's Smallest Wifi Phone - Nokia 6300i (and yes, it runs Gizmo5!)

Thu, May 01 2008 01:36:59

I want to hear what you think about wifi phones! Take our super quick survey and get a chance to win a Nokia 6300i wifi phone! Nokia just released the 6300i mobile phone. At first glance it looks like a small but unremarkable candy bar shaped phone. B

Defend Your Digital Rights - Support MP3tunes

Wed, Apr 23 2008 12:03:57

Let me start by saying that as the CEO of MP3tunes I appreciate all your support over the last few years. Our customer's suggestions and patience have helped us build the Locker system we have today. We just launched AutoSync -- making the management of

Fast IM, SMS, and Email on ANY mobile phone/PC in one program - Gizmo5

Mon, Apr 14 2008 13:54:21

Like many people, my computing time is shifting from my PC to my phone (many young people are skipping the PC step altogether). What's bothersome about the phone is that it's slow to handle all my communications. Some people communicate via SMS, some via

Court Ruling Denies EMI Access to Millions of Personal MP3 Files

Wed, Mar 26 2008 13:46:33

A New York Judge has denied a request by EMI to force MP3tunes turn over all music files for its 125,000 users. For now, this means the contents of personal music Lockers will remain private.

EMI vs Google, AOL, Microsoft (The Entire Internet)

Fri, Mar 14 2008 10:54:49

Many of you are probably aware that the major record label EMI is suing MP3tunes. While MP3tunes has the obligation to pay 100% of the legal bills, we are really defending the entire Internet. This is because the actions EMI is complaining about are also

Everyone Shouldn't Go To College

Thu, Mar 06 2008 00:20:10

Recently College Board presented to congress a report which concluded that college is a "high yield" financial investment for all attendees. My preliminary analysis raised several questions about the methodology used to arrive at that conclusion. I subseq

Why "My Yahoo" Ain't Really "My"

Mon, Feb 25 2008 20:18:48

I'm a fan of My Yahoo (my wife likes igoogle). I like being able to log onto any computer and get fresh news. The problem with both is that they're really not "My" stuff.

Letter to College Board Asking For Clarification/Corrections

Thu, Feb 14 2008 18:01:31

Dear Ms. Baum, I am writing in regards to the "Education Pays" report that you co-authored for the College Board. I appreciate the College Board attempting to get information distributed about the financial value of a college education. I think this is

Microsoft + Yahoo = IM Giant, Plus MySpace Goes GPL

Thu, Feb 07 2008 04:49:15

I believe Microsoft will buy Yahoo after prolonged dating. Both companies are getting trounced by Google in search, but there's more to the world then just search. Yahoo has enormously valuable net assets which, when combined with Microsoft, will create a

Dealipedia - The Business Wiki Now Open For Business

Tue, Feb 05 2008 06:04:32

After continually getting frustrated that I couldn't find historic data on business deals or easily keep track of new deals without reading a dozen different publications I decided to remedy the problem by launching Dealipedia - a business wiki for merger

Backdoor Dialing - Free Calling to Millions of US Phones

Wed, Jan 23 2008 10:56:56

Telephone companies such as Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, and others have quietly been connecting their phone networks up to the Internet. Working with our telecommunication partners, Gizmo5 is launching an experimental service to place calls from

RIAA and EMI - All Your Music Are Belong To Us

Fri, Jan 11 2008 09:30:53

Recently an article in the Washington Post by Marc Fisher said the RIAA claimed users didn't have the right to rip their own CDs. A deluge of net articles and commentary chastised the RIAA for this attack on consumer's rights. The only problem is that isn

Imeem Gets License And Death Sentence

Wed, Dec 19 2007 08:15:27

The press recently gushed over Imeem signing a deal with Universal Music Group -- the last of the four major labels to grant them a license to stream complete songs to visitors to their popular web site. The NYT said, "..[it] might be the breakthrough the

SIPphone Becomes Gizmo5 - Now For Your Mobile Phone Too

Thu, Dec 13 2007 04:45:39

Today we're announcing a new product and company name - Gizmo5. You can now transform just about any modern phone into an instant messaging and file sharing device -- simply type your mobile number and Gizmo5 will load directly onto your device.

Your Music on the Wii, PS3, Windows Mobile and More!

Thu, Dec 06 2007 05:06:21

My vision for MP3tunes is that your music library will play at every electronic location in your life. You won't have to remember to lug your music around -- instead your Music Locker will automatically be wherever you are.

Behind The Scenes - EMI Sues MP3tunes

Wed, Nov 14 2007 08:16:57

On Friday, November 9, 2007 EMI sued MP3tunes. For those who don't know, MP3tunes is a service provider that offers a personal Music Locker and runs a search engine called Sideload.com. I thought I would share some background as this will be a very import

2008 - Year of MP3, Demise of Windows Media, TuneWatch

Wed, Oct 10 2007 09:02:51

My goal when I sat down to pen this Minute was to write about TuneWatch - a fantastic new feature from MP3tunes that automatically puts any song or album you purchase directly into your personal Music Locker. But first I want to tell you about a high powe

My Business Failure - AnywhereCD

Mon, Sep 24 2007 04:31:19

My newest business, AnywhereCD, is unfortunately on its last flicker of light before it officially flames out in a few days (my contract expires at midnight on September 30th so check out the close-out sale here where you can get a CD and instant delivery

The $10,000 Music API Challenge

Thu, Sep 20 2007 04:51:48

MP3tunes is having a music contest. You won't have to sing or perform to win. You won't get an American Idol record contract but you could have a bigger impact on the future of music than any media-manufactured star.

Your Computer. Leave Home Without It - ajaxWindows

Mon, Sep 10 2007 08:20:34

Today I'm launching ajaxWindows - a complete virtual PC you can experience using only a browser from any web connected computer. If you would like to see it in action, check out the online demo or the video. Remember that everything you see is happening w

9 Things an iPhone Can't Do

Thu, Sep 06 2007 11:49:03

Most reporters are too busy hugging their MacBooks to write a critical piece on the iPhone so let me fill the void and add some clarity to the situation. Here's a list of 9 things I can do with my Nokia e61i which can't be done with Apple's iPhone.

Freespire 2.0 - Finally Multimedia Friendly Linux

Thu, Aug 16 2007 15:19:17

Freespire and its commercial cousin Linspire install in a remarkable 10 minutes and offer out-of-the-box support of a wide range of multimedia without the tinkering that is commonplace in Linux. Plus, they come with CNR which lets you install software and

Battle of the Buttons - Will the iPhone Succeed?

Thu, Jun 28 2007 06:04:43

The press is in over-hype mode on the forthcoming iPhone from Apple. It's the most hyped technology product I've ever seen. Brace yourself for mountains of stories about Mac-heads lining up in advance to buy it. iPhones will sell simply because of the nov

How the New Lala Service Operates - A Deeper Look

Fri, Jun 08 2007 07:58:52

Lala has made Mac/MSWin software which runs within your browser but requires a traditional software download and install. After installation it scans your computer's iTunes or 'My Music' directory for files. It uploads these files to an online locker.

Why Buy CDs From Amazon When You Can Buy MP3 Albums??

Thu, Jun 07 2007 04:20:00

Don't buy another CD from Amazon. CDs are simply not a good value. The problem is a music CD is cumbersome, fragile and expensive.

Infinity Times Infinity - Telephone Numbers Should Be Free

Thu, May 31 2007 07:10:37

My VOIP company SIPphone decided to build a system that would give people free local telephone numbers in countries around the world for free. No monthly fee. No per minute fee. No setup fee. To do this we had to come

Forcing Honest People To Be Dishonest

Fri, Apr 27 2007 10:34:02

Often times the rationale for using DRM is "keeping honest people honest". Perhaps that�s true where a hurdle impedes people's behavior and steers them in a different path. But what happens where there is NO legitimate path?

Squeezing My Music

Wed, Apr 25 2007 07:15:33

Logitech, a world leader in personal peripherals, is announcing its innovative Squeezebox music appliance will connect directly with your MP3tunes Music Locker to play your songs and no PC is required.

MP3 is Back!

Thu, Apr 12 2007 06:54:19

Today I'm happy to announce the launch of AnywhereCD - a new music store dedicated to selling MP3 Albums and CDs. MP3 Albums are now available in a licensed, legal, and reliable manner along with a physical CD for one reasonable price. This isn't a couple

GizmoSMS - Free SMS To Any Mobile Phone

Thu, Mar 08 2007 04:38:01

A trillion is not a number you hear very often. But last year there was nearly a trillion SMS messages sent. 946 billion to be precise and there are sure to be over a trillion messages this year. Globally phone companies made $47.5 billion in revenue

Unlimited Storage Free Music Lockers

Mon, Feb 12 2007 17:11:28

MP3tunes is announcing free, unlimited storage music lockers for everyone. Oboe - our music locker technology - has been out for more than a year. We've refined the process and are ready to invite the world to come create an Oboe music locker. Sign-up now

MR's Response To Steve Jobs' Call For MP3

Thu, Feb 08 2007 14:47:22

Dear Steve, First let me say that your iTunes/iPod success is unprecedented and awe inspiring to me. Your impact on digital music is astounding. I read your open letter to the music industry and wanted to respond.

GizmoCall.com and My Strategy for Zero Cost Calls

Tue, Jan 30 2007 13:08:02

Making phone calls from a computer should be as easy as typing a URL, and with the release of GizmoCall.com - a new service from SIPphone - it is. Typing http://gizmocall.com/18005551212 is all it takes. And it's not just easy, but free.

Apple Wiffs With iPhone, 'er aPhone

Fri, Jan 19 2007 05:03:46

Since the announcement of Apple's non-shipping iPhone, the press has fawned over the device incessantly with dreamy write-ups in everything from online tech sites to daily newspapers and magazines. The same outlets that criticized Sony for their expensive

Before You Order Office 2007, Try ajaxPresents

Fri, Dec 15 2006 05:12:11

Desktop software programs are slowly dying and being replaced by web based programs as the world moves to "the cloud" (the net). The best example is communication programs such as Eudora and Outlook which are being replaced by Gmail and Yahoo Mail. B

The Biggest Gamble of Your Life (Is College Worth it?)

Thu, Dec 07 2006 10:18:04

In 2005, young people (ages 18-25) in the US gambled $67 billion. Not in Vegas or online poker rooms, but on a betterment program called college. Their hope is that the monies they are spending will allow them to earn more money over their lifetime.

My Hero Dies

Mon, Nov 20 2006 12:05:51

Biographies refer to Milton Friedman as a nobel winning economist, but that minimizes his contributions. It's true he wrote works on Federal monetary policy which influenced governments around the world, but Milton was really a freedom fighter. He cham

Next Generation Music Locker - Oboe 2.0

Wed, Nov 01 2006 10:11:29

This week MP3tunes is announcing our next generation music locker - Oboe 2.0 which you can try out with a free music locker. Ten months ago we announced our first Oboe music locker. Since then, we have stored tens of millions of songs and more than 100 te

Getting Zuned

Thu, Oct 05 2006 11:00:02

Now if you're thinking that zune sounds familiar it's because the press has been abuzz about an upcoming MP3 player from Microsoft called Zune. At first glance the features seem compelling but my prediction is it will be the biggest flop of 2007 with less

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled MP3s Yearning to Breathe Free

Thu, Aug 24 2006 10:33:58

I want to store every song in your music collection. And I want to do it for each and every person on the net so I'm swinging open the doors to invite everyone to use MP3tunes today. It's an enormous technical challenge and a big responsibility, but I hop

My $100K Offer to Floyd Landis

Mon, Jul 31 2006 14:05:45

I want to believe you earned your victory through grit, determination and hard training, but I need proof. I would like to offer to pay you $100,000 to take a polygraph test. The test would cover the 2006 Tour de France and your alleged use of banned drug

Call The Pope For Free

Wed, Jul 26 2006 09:37:24

It's now free to call the Pope or anyone else in Vatican City using Gizmo Project. In fact, you can now call telephones in 60 countries for free thanks to a new friends and family type calling program offered by SIPphone.

Wi-Fi Waves Bouncing Everywhere

Wed, Jul 19 2006 20:54:52

Until now Wi-Fi has been used almost exclusively as a way to connect your PC to the internet with no wires, but that's about to change as new portable and home devices also gain Wi-Fi capability. By the end of the year the chips to add Wi-Fi functionality

Diet Soda and Your Music Going Flat!

Thu, Jun 29 2006 15:28:57

My wife got me hooked on diet soda. Each morning I'll grab a Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Pepsi or Diet Vanilla Coke. They stopped making Diet Vanilla Coke which was my favorite so I bought a big stockpile when I heard the announcement. Unfortunately, I learned

Gizmo Project 2.0* (That's the GOOD kind of Asterisk)

Thu, May 18 2006 09:19:55

This week, SIPphone is releasing Gizmo Project 2.0* (note the asterisk), our popular free VoIP software for high-quality, easy-to-use PC calls. Usually, the star-shaped character means there's an exception such as "supply limited", "annual contract requir

TiVo Becomes A Music Machine Courtesy of MP3tunes

Tue, May 09 2006 16:12:48

I recently purchased a second home out in the country so my kids could have a place to throw a football or fly a glider or just run around and be carefree. I'd really like to have my entire music collection available at this house, but I don't want to buy

Desktop Linux Summit Report

Fri, May 05 2006 11:56:03

The 4th Annual Desktop Linux Summit was wrapped up in San Diego last week and it was the biggest yet. This year was host to 800 attendees, 30 exhibitors and sponsors, and three packed speaker tracks with close to 40 sessions. Here's my view from the floor

ajaxTunes - The Everywhere Mini Music Player

Fri, Apr 28 2006 11:11:05

ajaxTunes is the newest addition to the ajax line-up of software services announced by ajaxLaunch. It's a mini music player which requires no installation or download and works in all browsers. This means web sites can do more than just talk about songs o

Halfway to ajax-Excel. Introducing ajaxXLS 0.5

Thu, Apr 13 2006 18:13:15

My son's Little League season started two weeks ago. The helpful "team mom" emailed a team schedule to all the players. Unfortunately, it was an .xls file requiring Microsoft Excel to open the file. This is not unusual. The majority of Microsoft Word, Mic

Editing video in your browser? Try eyespot - the AJAX video editor

Wed, Apr 05 2006 11:12:29

Each week at ajaxLaunch, we're announcing a new ajax program designed to shatter what people think is possible. In the last two weeks I announced ajaxWrite and ajaxSketch. These programs were significant because they load in seconds via a web browser, but

502,174 Documents Can't Be Wrong. Next Up ajaxSketch

Wed, Mar 29 2006 17:35:42

Last week I announced ajaxWrite, a novel Internet-loaded application that looks and operates like a traditional desktop application and allows you to open and edit files like Microsoft Word documents. Little did I know it would trigger a massive wave of u

Bye Bye Microsoft Word, Hello ajaxWrite

Wed, Mar 22 2006 17:17:00

What if there was alternative for Microsoft Word that would install and open in 6 seconds, read and write Microsoft Word .doc files and run on Macintosh, Microsoft Windows or Linux computers? And oh yeah, it was FREE so consumers didn't have to pay $499 f

Sideload 101

Thu, Feb 23 2006 16:49:19

You're probably familiar with the term downloading (moving files from the net to your local computer). And maybe you've heard of the inverse - uploading (moving files from your computer to net storage). Chances are you haven't heard of sideloading. This i

Area775 - Free US Telephone Number Links Mobile and VoIP Worlds

Wed, Feb 15 2006 17:38:09

Imagine having one telephone number that will ring your PC at home or work, mobile phone or land line. Answering the call is easy at whatever location is most convenient and the caller has no idea where you're answering the call - maybe in your car, maybe

Where I'm Spending My Time

Thu, Feb 09 2006 18:09:50

Loyal Michael's Minute readers might have noticed that a couple weeks have gone by with no postings from me which never happens except for the Christmas holiday period.

Google and SIPphone Lead The Way To Saner World

Wed, Jan 18 2006 16:37:15

In the early days of the PC revolution you needed 4 or 5 email addresses to be able to reach everyone. Since none of the systems communicated with each other, you would need separate addresses to communicate with people using different systems. For exampl

CES 2006 Picks and Pans

Thu, Jan 12 2006 11:40:21

Last week I attended the 2006 Consumer Electronic Show (CES), which since the demise of Comdex has become the largest and most important trade show in the nation - not only for electronics, but for all technology.

Locker Envy

Thu, Jan 05 2006 15:30:17

One of the first things I do when I go to someone's house is check out their CD shelf. I think that tells a lot about a person.

Your Christmas Gift Inside - 1� Per Minute Calling

Mon, Dec 12 2005 15:57:12

It's the holiday season and I've got a gift for you...

More on Oboe

Wed, Dec 07 2005 17:35:44

Last week we launched Oboe, an ambitious effort to get your music everywhere. I've spent the last week talking to press and users about it. Here are some of the interesting feedback, facts and questions.

Unfinished Business - Oboe

Wed, Nov 30 2005 15:35:48

Four years ago I sold the profitable MP3.com to the largest music company in the world. A company I started in my living room had become the global digital music leader, helped establish MP3 as a worldwide standard, and made me financially independent. Bu

Five Reasons Why Sony Rootkit Is Good For You

Wed, Nov 23 2005 10:27:53

The last two weeks have seen almost nonstop reporting about the Sony "rootkit" debacle. If you haven't been following the news, here's what happened: More than 50 music CD titles sold by Sony/BMG secretly install deep into your computer in a hidden way us

Moving from Geekland to the Mainland with CompareSoft

Thu, Nov 17 2005 09:26:15

Many of the readers of the Minute have probably heard of Linux, OpenOffice, GIMP and other open source programs. But I wanted to find out how commonplace those products were outside the Internet community. I decided to conduct a survey one lunch hour at a

The Boy Who Couldn't Ride A Bike

Tue, Nov 08 2005 15:00:49

News outlets around the world covered my hiring of DVD Jon to contribute to our soon-to-be announced Oboe project. I actually started assembling the necessary team of engineers long before Jon came to work for me. Another key programmer on the team is...

DVD Jon and Oboe

Tue, Oct 18 2005 16:02:49

This week MP3tunes added a new employee - a Norwegian named Jon Lech Johansen. (He's half Polish - as you can probably tell from the "Lech" in his name.) Most people know him as "DVD Jon" for the software he co-wrote when he was just 15 years old which a

Join the Federation To Take Back IM!

Mon, Oct 10 2005 16:23:59

Today the world of instant messaging (IM) is a disjointed mess, and it's time for a citizen's revolt. Like many people, I use IM throughout the day for business and personal communications. It's maddening when I want to send an IM to a user only to realiz

Brother, Bonds, Title, Lance

Fri, Sep 30 2005 12:12:11

I had a crazy day recently that will surely be one of the most memorable of my life. It started with a long lost half brother. I know that sounds like the start of a bad novel, but this is all true. A few months ago, I met a brother I didn't know existed.

Would You Send Your Mom To Jail To Make Money?

Thu, Sep 22 2005 17:30:16

In a conference room at my office there's a giant photo of a lone Chinese man standing in front of a row of tanks. It's the classic photo from Tiananmen Square on June 4th, 1989, when 100,000 brave students peacefully assembled to protest the corrupt and

$4 Billion In Savings For Businesses

Mon, Sep 12 2005 16:55:45

The average conference call lasts 33 minutes and has six participants. At an average price of 16 cents per minute per caller, businesses are paying $4 billion per year for this essential voice service. Today we're announcing a pilot program to make...

#$%@ Kill Google!

Wed, Sep 07 2005 17:00:57

An intriguing but eventually vicious three-way battle is emerging between Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google for net supremacy. How each is dealing with the competitive threat says a lot about their individual company culture, management and DNA. (If you're won

Google Opens Talks To The World

Tue, Aug 23 2005 18:01:04

This week, I had planned to write about the release of Gizmo Project 1.0 along with a list of spectacular features not found in any other calling software like blasts (amazingly fun sound effects you can play during a phone conversation like a radio DJ),

All About GUPS

Wed, Aug 17 2005 16:46:39

As an undergraduate at University of California, San Diego, I had an internship at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC). At the time, academia was nurturing and popularizing Internet email with many of the primary email servers responsible for all em

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sync, In Perfect Harmony

Wed, Jul 27 2005 14:23:12

My vision of the world is that you should be able to buy music once and listen to it anywhere. Eventually everywhere on the planet will have Internet access and we will be able to stream music from one location - the jukebox in the sky. It will be some ye

March of the Penguins

Thu, Jul 14 2005 10:46:45

With the title of this Minute and the official mascot of Linux being the penguin, you probably expect this to be an article on the inevitable growth of Linux around the world.

8 Observations from Live 8

Fri, Jul 08 2005 12:24:41

I got an invitation last week to be backstage at Live 8 in Philadelphia. I was intrigued by the event and its goals, but decided to stay home and do some research so I politely declined. For those that missed it, Live 8 was a music festival held in nine m

Skype Bad, Gizmo Good

Thu, Jun 30 2005 09:27:56

Legal Battles In VOIP: Vonage and e911

Fri, Jun 24 2005 11:00:24

The world of net calling (referred to as "VOIP" in technical circles) is as disruptive to the telecom business as MP3 is to the music industry. I enjoy these periods because there's major new business opportunities as they go digital and there's never a d

What's our purpose in life?

Wed, Jun 15 2005 10:41:35

Recently, on the way to school my 2nd grader asked me, "What's our purpose in life?" That's a deep question, especially at 7:40 AM, so I thought my best tactic was....

Apple's Colossal Disappointment

Wed, Jun 08 2005 10:32:32

I heard a rumor last week that Apple would announce they are switching to Intel chips. My first thought is that I hoped...

Get Creative to Snag Some Swag

Thu, Jun 02 2005 10:07:12

Since I started Lindows back in 2001 - even before we had a product to sell - we've gotten emails from people asking us when they'd be able to get their hands on some genuine Linspire...

No Nonsense Linux

Thu, May 26 2005 12:14:45

A little secret is that many of the CEOs of Linux companies still use...

$100 Muffin Stumps

Thu, May 12 2005 11:45:06

Once a month an article comes out talking about a $100 PC. Most recently MIT, with a coalition of backers, is talking up an economical PC as a digital necessity for emerging markets. As you probably know, I'm a huge...

Why It's A Mistake For Brazil To Build Their Own Linux

Thu, May 05 2005 10:45:45

Over the last year, several government organizations such as Brazil, China and the City of Munich have stated their intentions to build a version of desktop Linux. While their motivations are understandable, I think...

You Own Nothing

Thu, Apr 28 2005 10:48:22

About a year ago, it was revealed that I was the benefactor for the $200,000 Linux on Xbox project. The goal was to get Linux

Linspire in EU (No lawsuits this time)

Thu, Apr 21 2005 11:53:32

I spent this week traveling across Europe announcing three new versions of Linspire 5 (not Linspire Five-0 as we call it in the US - not sure they'd get the subtle American TV show reference). These are the first translations made possible by the army of

Defying Gravity

Thu, Apr 14 2005 09:56:55

Last week I made my Broadway debut in the smash hit Wicked, and like the best theater always does, it left me with some big life questions.

Watch a Linux TV Commercial

Thu, Apr 07 2005 10:16:10

For desktop Linux companies to be successful, we need to reach people who think slash and dot are just two punctuation terms. Mozilla ran a successful...

Why the Supreme Court is Irrelevant on P2P

Thu, Mar 31 2005 10:37:21

What the world is saying about Linspire Five-0

Thu, Mar 24 2005 11:50:30

Our servers have finally caught their breath from the launch of Linspire Five-0 last week. Thousands of people downloaded Five-0 from Linspire and thousands more used...

3 Years and $20 Million to Linspire Five-0!

Wed, Mar 16 2005 09:51:02

Three and a half years ago I had a vision to make Linux practical for desktop and laptop computers around the world. I wanted to make personal computer software cheaper and better. I knew that doing this would mean taking on the biggest monopoly of my gen

The Man In The Balloon

Wed, Mar 09 2005 10:54:27

I've always admired the Macintosh; in fact my first serious business venture was a Macintosh consulting firm. This week, a tribute to Macintosh pioneer Jef Raskin.

BudgetBeamer and Mystery Songs Revealed

Thu, Mar 03 2005 09:21:21

The response from last week's MP3beamer announcement has been fantastic! It's clear many people want their music collection on multiple devices from any location and that's exactly what MP3beamer accomplishes like no other product. In my own home... Ta

Introducing MP3beamer! (Get a $399 unit for free if you're first to identify one of 3 songs!)

Thu, Feb 24 2005 11:31:10

Desktop Summit - Highlights and Lowlights

Thu, Feb 17 2005 10:05:54

Last week, we completed the 3rd Annual Desktop Summit. If you missed the event you can read several accounts online like at Linuxplanet or there were several great blogs tracking the event. There are even...

I Want My MP3!

Mon, Feb 07 2005 18:21:14

Seven Sexy Summit Secrets

Tue, Feb 01 2005 09:12:03

In 10 days or so, the 3rd Annual Desktop Summit will begin. This one will be our best event ever and I want to share what's happening behind the scenes. You know about the great speakers from the Summit's web page, but there are quite a few other companie

Get out those dictionaries! (Plus 4 other ways you can help)

Wed, Jan 26 2005 15:34:59

We've calculated that there are 168,000 words in the Linspire operating system. All those menus, dialog boxes, and help files add up quickly. Late last year, we announced IRMA - a project to get...

Michael's Minute: Phone Calls Want To Be Free

Wed, Jan 19 2005 17:34:34

The Linspire headquarters are the entire third floor of a building in San Diego. In a small office on the 2nd floor, is another company where I spend...

Michael's Minute: Predictions for 2005

Wed, Jan 12 2005 18:01:37

It's a new year, so time for a predictions column. But first,we'll do a...

10 MUST SEES at the Desktop Summit Feb 9-11th 2005

Wed, Jan 05 2005 16:15:23

This year's Desktop Summit is shaping up to be the best ever with an exciting array of products, speakers and companies on display. Here are some of the highlights of the event you won't want to miss...

A Christmas Story

Wed, Dec 29 2004 16:09:17

Open Bid For Netherlands Government (Or how to save 150 million euros)

Tue, Dec 14 2004 11:54:21

If you've been waiting for the all-time best deal for Linspire, we're offering Michael's Minute readers...

Wal-Mart Selling a $498 Linspire Laptop

Mon, Dec 13 2004 17:15:39

Linspire has been working for months on a project that will have a profound impact on consumers and on the Linux market - a sub-$500 laptop from a major retailer. This week, we're proud to announce a new complete laptop available immediately for $498, exc

My Date With IRMA

Wed, Dec 08 2004 16:24:12

I have been having clandestine dates with IRMA. She's new around the Linspire office. My wife doesn't know about IRMA yet, but I don't think she'll mind because...

Thanksgiving Day Leftovers

Thu, Dec 02 2004 09:20:47

Cracking the Monopoly Like A Walnut Using OOoFf!

Mon, Nov 22 2004 12:25:35

OOoFf! is a boxed software package that is now available, which contains the Microsoft-compatible office suite OpenOffice.org, along with the Firefox browser from Mozilla. The double CD collection has software for MS Windows, Macintosh and Linux computer

The Secret Behind Windows Media

Wed, Nov 17 2004 18:13:10

This week we announced the immediate availability of the latest Windows Media audio and video technology for Linspire. It's an important first for Linux, since it means desktop Linux users can now...

I'm certifiable

Thu, Nov 11 2004 23:26:18

A few weeks ago we kicked off our Lraiser program. The website is loaded with amazing graphics that visually demonstrate where desktop Linux is taking...

Who Let The Source Out? OOoFf! OOoFf!

Thu, Nov 04 2004 17:27:04

On February 9-11th 2005, in San Diego, CA the most important forces of the open source desktop business are coming together for the first time, and I invite you to be part of this monumental event. It will be the third-annual Desktop Linux Summit, but thi

Searching Gets Hot for Linspire

Thu, Oct 28 2004 12:12:00

The market capitalization of Google just passed the value of Yahoo. It's a defining moment that search was overlooked by the incumbents (AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft) and they let a fourth member into their exclusive club. Most have quickly caught up to Googl

The $100 PC? No Chance in Hell Without L

Fri, Oct 22 2004 10:15:22

I read this week that Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, is calling for a $100 personal computer. This is a remarkable turnaround for a guy who, when we started selling a $199 computer at Walmart.com, criticized us. Some of you may recall that...

Raising Some L

Wed, Oct 13 2004 23:16:59

My business career has revolved around disruptive technologies like MP3, Linux and SIP. Consequently, I've been accused of "raising hell," and that's probably somewhat true. The biggest advancements in life come through radical change. That change is typi

Why Linspire 5.0 may be outlawed in the United States

Thu, Oct 07 2004 15:56:41

In secret backroom meetings throughout this week, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are deciding the fate of many technology businesses, including Linspire. My sources have provided proposed text to me from the INDUCE Act...

A Minute on Minutes

Fri, Oct 01 2004 11:50:31

Last week I was coming back from a Saturday morning basketball game when a gentleman stopped me in my driveway and introduced himself as a professor of computer science at SDSU and said he enjoyed my last Minute on College for Everyone. I'm always flatter

College for Everyone

Thu, Sep 23 2004 11:54:41

Once it was clear that my former company MP3.com was going to have some success and I could provide for my family, I asked myself what I could do to improve the world. My goal in life is to leave this rock in a better place than I found it. For guidance I

Deviant Behavior

Wed, Sep 15 2004 11:17:10

In 1999, I hosted the 2nd Annual MP3 Summit, which brought together the eclectic software, hardware and music companies all working to build the future of digital music around MP3. At that year's show, a 15-year-old stood out.

Technical Deceit

Thu, Sep 09 2004 10:43:02

As clever as they are at dreaming up new products, technology companies seem equally clever at creating schemes to advertise low prices that deceive the user. Nearly every vendor wants to advertise a low price to appeal to the widest audience. Recently I'

Dell, The Last Domino

Thu, Sep 02 2004 10:58:32

A common question that I get is, "When will Dell start promoting desktop Linux computers?" As the largest seller of computers, Dell is significant (16.5% marketshare), but unfortunately the answer is...

Ads for Desktop Linux Coming To A TV Near You!

Thu, Aug 26 2004 13:53:52

There's no better indicator of the mainstream populace than TV. Television captures the trends and interests of society like no other outlet. You've probably seen television ads for Linux...

Blogging and the last

Thu, Aug 19 2004 12:41:48

Before I get started talking about some useful new technology that you'll see popping up on more and more websites, I wanted to take this chance to tell you about the Blowout Sale that is going on right now.

It Will Start, But Will It Go?

Thu, Aug 12 2004 13:10:43

Two weeks ago Microsoft held an analysts meeting at their headquarters. I've spoken with several people who attended, who revealed some telling details of the event. A significant amount of time was devoted to Linux, including dedicated sessions designed

Roy's Story

Wed, Aug 04 2004 09:01:58

In Chicago, I saw advertisements in the newspaper from the Microcenter Stores for Linspire computers. Another day, I found myself in a car with Roy, a 69 year-old gentleman driving me to my next meeting in Houston. I never caught Roy's last name, but I di

On The Road (What's In My Bag)

Tue, Jul 27 2004 17:23:04

I've got out of town relatives visiting. Their teenage daughter does instant messaging for hours every night, so I set up a Linspire computer for her to use. After a few hours, she told me she likes Linspire because our IM software has advanced features l

Come on Baby Run Linspire

Mon, Jul 19 2004 13:42:51

We're completely transitioning from Lindows to Linspire over the next two months...

Where Were You?

Wed, Jul 14 2004 18:03:58

When monumental events occur, they are often indelibly imprinted on your brain. I remember double clicking on my first MP3 song and listening to CD-like quality sound booming from my PC speakers. The song was "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck and it was the "a

Linspire Computers Now Available Throughout EU

Tue, Jul 06 2004 14:36:23

Linux met the IT world today. No - not "information technology" but the ".it" world, which is Italy. I attended a press conference in Italy where Questar announced that Europeans can now buy a powerful computer running desktop Linux.

The First Domino Falls in Toronto, Canada

Wed, Jun 23 2004 16:43:25

You'll know desktop Linux has broken the Microsoft monopoly when you walk into your local computer store and see a Linux aisle crammed full of desktop and laptop computers ready for your shopping cart. That's our vision at Lindows.

Despite Microsoft, Desktop Linux Begins to Take Hold in Japan

Wed, Jun 16 2004 18:00:15

What country has the second largest PC market? From the headline, astute readers will correctly identify Japan. This diminutive island trails behind only the United States in PC sales, making it an important market for desktop Linux. Japanese was the 1st

Linux Shootout

Wed, Jun 09 2004 11:19:49

When I started Lindows about 2 1/2 years ago, many people told me I was crazy. First they mentioned how challenging it is to compete with Microsoft, and second they mentioned how Linux was too difficult to use for the desktop. My first Linux experience w

Bill - I don't want your $1,158

Wed, Jun 02 2004 09:49:30

Bill, As you were probably informed over the weekend, your legal team lost the latest court battle against Lindows, Inc. in the windows trademark case. This time we were in a Dutch courtroom, where the Judge ruled against Microsoft on all counts. Here'

Fear And Loathing Fueling The Virus Revolt

Thu, May 27 2004 13:38:46

It's a sad time when people are afraid of their own computers, but that's where Microsoft Windows users are at currently. It's reminiscent of Hal from Space Odyssey. Computer owners fear that if they launch the wrong program, visit a 'bad' website or sim

What's in My Dell DJ

Thu, May 20 2004 09:42:07

I hope you've all tried Lsongs, the open source music manager that we released a few weeks ago. Before Lsongs, digital music on desktop Linux was a complete disaster. Separate programs, each with their own interface, were required to play CDs, digitize mu

Free International Calling from a SIPphone

Wed, May 12 2004 12:54:01

While I was driving my kid to school last week, he said, "Dad, why are you building a new phone for us to use when we already have one?" He was referring to SIPphone, where I spend time when I'm not working on my first priority, Linspire. SIPphone doesn'

Lphoto: A 2nd Try at Photo Album Software

Wed, May 05 2004 09:48:27

Ten years ago, I started a digital camera software company called Media Minds, which made photo album software for Macintosh and Microsoft Windows computers. I saw my first digital camera and thought that people would soon be shooting millions of digital

I'd like a Chevy Cavalier

Thu, Apr 29 2004 13:13:18

As you know, last week was the second annual Desktop Linux Summit, here in San Diego. Hundreds of people showed up from different continents to learn about the future of Desktop Linux. What was especially noteworthy though, was the convergence of great sp

Lsongs and Lphoto

Mon, Apr 19 2004 09:21:44

This Thursday and Friday (April 22-23) Lindows, Inc. will be busy hosting the Desktop Linux Summit here in San Diego -- the premier event dedicated to using Linux on the desktop. I've mentioned the top notch speakers that will be at the event, but many at

Linspire

Wed, Apr 14 2004 13:03:57

In the US, we have the rule of "double jeopardy," which says you can't be tried for the same offense multiple times. This is because putting defendants through multiple identical trials is patently unfair - regardless of the outcome. This is exactly what

Name Change

Tue, Apr 06 2004 10:13:42

Last week Judge Coughenour denied our request to block Microsoft's international legal barrage against Lindows.com. Two years ago Microsoft tried to stop Lindows in a U.S. court, but they were denied. Recently, they started piling on lawsuits from around

The Linux Dilemma

Thu, Apr 01 2004 10:44:34

There's no denying that Linux is sending disruptive waves through every segment of the technology business. The real question is how to capitalize on this transition to make it positive for your organization. I don't have all the answers which is why I i

Two New Products - Call-in-One, Enterprise Assessment Kit

Thu, Mar 25 2004 11:26:40

There are two new products available for the first time this week that I am excited about. One is from Lindows and the other from SIPphone (my other company).

Send Us Name Ideas

Thu, Mar 18 2004 17:42:52

I spent the first part of this week in China, taking a closer look at computing in far east Asia. While I was in China, Lindows filed papers asking the U.S. court to block Microsoft's "sue 'em everywhere" tactics. We are hopeful that Judge Coughenour will

Can I Answer My Phone Without Paying 100,000 Euro?

Tue, Mar 09 2004 22:35:40

After the revelation last week that Microsoft seems to be playing a role in funneling cash to SCO to attack Linux, it should be obvious to even the most casual observer that Microsoft will do anything to try to halt Linux. This shouldn't surprise anyone,

2004 Predictions

Thu, Mar 04 2004 10:54:08

About a year ago, I did a "predictions" column, meaning it's time to revisit my predictions and see if I have the credibility to make more predictions. I'll review my past predictions and grade them below, then give you a few new ones. (One prediction is

Mark Your Calendars For April 22-23rd

Fri, Feb 27 2004 09:45:14

If your responsibility is to stay abreast of the latest desktop Linux developments for your business or school, you simply must attend the 2nd Annual Desktop Linux Summit in Del Mar, CA on April 22nd and 23rd. It's a two day event with a wide range of spe

Spinning, Laddering, and Shorting (or, What's Wrong with our IPO System)

Wed, Feb 18 2004 16:12:34

Spinning, laddering and shorting - they sound like exercise routines, but they're not. They're schemes used by investment banks during an IPO to take advantage of new companies. "IPO" stands for initial public offering and represents the first time a comp

Lindows.com Wins Two Big Rulings

Wed, Feb 11 2004 09:24:09

Many of you have told me you were planning on attending our trial in Seattle versus Microsoft in just 3 short weeks. Lindows.com was well prepared to put on a mountain of evidence (some of which you all helped us gather) to demonstrate that Microsoft did

Factoids About Lindows.com

Fri, Feb 06 2004 11:48:19

Here are some interesting facts that give some insight into Lindows.com and the momentum building behind desktop Linux: 504 - The number of...