Cut and Paste (sort of) Finally Hits iPhone

From the category of "Why is getting something so simple so hard?" a work around has arrived to give iPhone users the cut and paste functionality they have been clammering for. Working around Apple's SDK restrictions, the good folks at OpenClip , i.e. Zac White, have created a framework that allow applications to access shared space on the iPhone. This information can then be "pasted" into another application on the device. The catch? To take advantage of this functionality applications have to be designed to include the framework developed by OpenClip. Although this functionality is not built into the operating system natively it certainly beats the "Let them eat cake" attitude exhibited by Apple.

Photoshop Tip: Resize Marquee Selection

OK, sometimes the things we want to do in Photoshop is right before our eyes. One thing that has bugged me for years about Photoshop was the inability to resize a selection made with the Marquee Tool. You make your selection, it's a bit off, but there are no nifty handles to grab to resize the selection to your liking. So you try commands like grow, similar, and expand but eventually settle for "close enough". The way-to-easy solution can be found under the Select menu itself. Simply make the selection with the Marquee Tool, then go to Select > Transform Selection and voila, instant resize handles for your selection enjoyment.

Flickr Camera Finder

Flickr Camera Finder allows you to see the most popular cameras and camera phones used by users who have uploaded photos to the site. It also links to detailed specs and reviews for each camera and phone. You can also browse collections created with each device. It's a great place to start, with so many choices on the market, if you are looking to purchase a new camera or depend heavily on your cell phone for photos.

Mygazines - Full Magazines Online

You can now consume many popular magazines online via the web site Mygazines. The site contains user scanned and uploaded copies of popular magazines. A slick flash interface makes it pretty similar to flipping through a hard copy of the publication. Will it last? Yahoo News is reporting that publishers are working hard to shut down the site. The problem is that the site is registered in the Caribbean island of Anguilla and hosted in Sweden.

Online Radio in Peril... Again

Tim Westergren, the founder of the web radio service Pandora, has said in an interview with The Washington Post that his company may be close to a shutdown. He stated that the company is approaching a "pull the plug kind of decision" and that "This is like a last stand for webcasting". He reports the problem stems from last year's royalty hike for web radio which makes it extremely expensive for independents, like Pandora, to stay afloat in the business. The increase will eat up 70 percent of Pandora's $25 million in revenue. This situation also effects other music streaming sites such as Last.fm, Shoutcast, and Live365. SoundExchange, an organization comprised of record label representatives and performers, believes that internet radio owes a bigger portion of profits than traditional radio. It appears SoundExchange continues to cut favorable deals with satellite and cable radio while not negotiating in good faith with webcasters. Organizations like the SaveNetRadio Coalition, as well as, independent webcasters like Pandora have fought the increased fees. Why more artists aren't coming out to decry these fees is puzzling. Net radio serves to provide them with a large amount of free exposure they would otherwise not receive. The short sighted focus on immediate and large royalties from webcasters is just one more example of the greed of the music industry and its effort to remain in the role as "gate keeper". The industry is slowly learning its lesson about DRM and should take the same heed regarding these royalty fees. What can you do? Visit SaveNetRadio.org. There you will find information for contacting your local legislator and voicing your opinion regarding internet radio. It would be tragic to see such a wonderful medium disappear due to the greed of a privileged few.