Library Stuff

Via slashdot.org, original article at ArsTechnica.

DVD Player Ownership Surpasses VCR Ownership

An anonymous reader wrote to mention an Ars Technica post stating that, for the first time, more U.S. consumers [0]own a DVD player than own a VCR. The DVD player dropped below $100 quite some time ago, but the third quarter of this year saw the percentage of DVD player ownership reach 81.2. Only 79.2% of consumers now own VCR players, reports Nielsen.

From the article: "For all of the talk about the battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray, both technologies are far, far away from most family rooms. Yes, the two are just now beginning what could be a long battle for entertainment-center supremacy, but keep in mind that the technology that they are vying to replace has only recently gained the upper hand against the previous-generation technology--a decade after first being introduced. Even if Blu-ray or HD DVD unexpectedly routs its opponent from the market in the next two or three years, it will still be several more years before the victorious format supplants the DVD."

Discuss this story at:
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=06/12/26/1510207

Links:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061222-8484.html

Thanks to Herb on the iowalib list for the heads up.

My friend Bill sent me this, from the AP:

Final 'Harry Potter' title announced
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer1 hour, 3 minutes ago

We now have a title for Harry Potter VII. But if you want to find out for yourself, visit J.K. Rowling's Web site and play a little game of hangman.

Rowling's U.S. publisher, Scholastic Inc., released a brief statement Thursday announcing the name of the world's most anticipated children's book, the finale to her phenomenally popular fantasy series.

No publication date or other details were offered. Rowling is still working on the book, she explained on her Web site in an entry posted early Thursday.

"I'm now writing scenes that have been planned, in some cases, for a dozen years or even more," she wrote. "I don't think anyone who has not been in a similar situation can possibly know how this feels: I am alternately elated and overwrought. I both want, and don't want, to finish this book (don't worry, I will.)"

Meanwhile, she set up a test for her Potter fans.

If you go to jkrowling.com, click on the eraser and you will be taken to a room — you'll see a window, a door and a mirror.

In the mirror, you'll see a hallway. Click on the farthest doorknob and look for the Christmas tree. They click on the center of the door next to the mirror and a wreath appears. Then click on the top of the mirror and you'll see a garland.

Look for a cobweb next to the door. Click on it, and it will disappear. Now, look at the chimes in the window. Click on the second chime to the right, and hold it down. The chime will turn into the key, which opens the door. Click on the wrapped gift behind the door, then click on it again and figure out the title yourself by playing a game of hangman.

Or you can just take Scholastic's word for it: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

The Net Neutrality group SaveTheInternet.com has a new video on YouTube. It's fairly straightforward on the subject, and reasonably well done. What amuses me most is that they intercut portions of John Hodgman's (blessed be his pudgy self) brilliant deadpan 'explanation' of the issue from a few months back.

I'm frankly surprised we don't see more musicians standing up and speaking on Net neutrality. More and more they are bypassing the record companies (see Magnatune.com) and taking their music to listeners via the Net. You'd think they'd see the danger to their work in having large communication (and entertainment!) companies rule access to the netwaves.