Pirates get Pirated! AAARGGG!!!

If only there were more poetic justice in this world. Unfortunately, those of us who revel in such karmic resolutions have to take our kicks where we can get them. Those who live by the sword all too often don’t die by the sword—but then again, sometimes they do, and rather spectacularly at that. As they say, Justice may be blind—but she's got a wicked sense of humor.

Crackulous is a free application for jailbroken iPhones that allows you to strip the encryption on iPhone apps bought from the App Store, thus allowing you to, in the words of its developer, “share them with the community.” For those of you following along at home, this is a little thing we like to call “software piracy” or, if you prefer simpler terms, theft.

Now sure, the Crackulous team might pitch a rationalization for why cracking applications is okay:

By using the cracked .ipa files found here, you are not stealing from Apple! Use them , and if something suits you, buy the app. Support your local developers!

And, indeed, some have framed this debate in terms of the App Store’s lack of demos; you can’t try an app before you buy it. It’s true that not letting customers check out applications before purchase is a shortcoming of the App Store. But just because you can’t go into a drugstore and take a bite of the candy bar you're thinking about buying doesn’t mean that it’s okay to steal it.

But oh—the delicious irony. As it happens, some industrious person or persons decided that this sounded like a great business opportunity, so they helped themselves to the Crackulous application, and have started selling it for $10 a pop. Better yet, they added the following warning:

As of right now Crackulous is not free. You may come across websites that claim to have a free version of Crackulous but these versions have viruses which log all your information including passwords, phone numbers, contacts, and send it to people so it’s best to stay away from these shady copies. A lot of hard work and development went in to making this brilliant application. It would be unfair if it was given for free.

I don’t know if there’s a sound that poetic justice makes, but if so I hope it’s just a really loud gong. Somebody should let the Crackulous developers know that petards are really only good for one thing: namely, being hoisting by one's own.

The moral of this story? Don’t steal software. From the biggest software company to the individual developer, applications are products that people—real people—have invested their own time and money in. If you’re not the kind of person who’s going to go around boosting car radios—I mean, outside of Grand Theft Auto—why would you want to be the kind of person who nicks software?

Of course, that raises the question: what about the people who stole Crackulous? I won't condone what they did, especially after I just got through saying that piracy is wrong, but that doesn't mean I'm not amused by it. After all, like the man said: live by the sword, die by the sword. And we all know how much pirates love swords.

Windows, Windows, and even more Windows. Talk about schizophrenia!

Remember that screenshot we saw of all those different Windows 7 versions (pictured above)? Well guess what? It's worse than you could have possibly imagined. The following will be the actual new SKUs for the OS:

• Windows 7 Starter
• Windows 7 Home Basic (for emerging markets)
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 Enterprise
• Windows 7 Ultimate

This information has been confirmed by Microsoft (who never listens to us). I am sure, if you are like me, and apparently Microsoft, one is just not enough. I love trying to figure out multiple versions of the same product.

My Brief Stint as Troy in High School Musical 3

I can't believe I got cut!!

I was so much better than Zach!!

Obama Keeps Blackberry!!

Robert Gibbs' first press conference as President Obama's Press Secretary, the most important and heated debate of our time has been put to rest. According to Gibbs, Obama will be able to keep his BlackBerry, though only a limited number of senior staff and personal contacts will have access to his email address, and the data on the handheld will be subject to the Presidential Records Act. There was no mention of the NSA or the Sectera Edge, though he does mention some enhanced security.

In Gibbs' words: "The President has a BlackBerry through a compromise that allows him to stay in touch with senior staff and a small group of personal friends in a way that use will be limited and the security is enhanced to ensure his ability to communicate, but to do so effectively and to do so in a way that's protected. Finally, a clear indication that for the first time in the 21st century, the President of the United States will act like it's the 21st century.

My JibJab Guest Appearance

Yes It is me at the end of this clip!!!

And you thought I would never amount to anything

Is the new iPhone on its way?

iPhone Firmware update Hints at A New iPhone Device

Apple may have unintentionally tipped users off to a new iPhone model that's in the works thanks to information in the combination iPod and smartphone's firmware. Mac Rumors found that the device's firmware includes a reference to "iPhone2,1" which isn't the same identifier code used for the current iPhone 3G model. Whats up Apple?

The current iPhone 3G line is identified by the "iPhone1,2" code and the original iPhone was "iPhone1,1." The "iPhone2,2" code most likely indicates a device that includes enough hardware differences from the current model to classify it as a new product, (eg... new iPhone).

Apple has already shown off its identifier code pattern with the iPod touch line. The original model was labeled as "iPod1,1" and the second generation model -- which included a faster processor, a speaker, volume controls and microphone support -- was tagged as "iPod2,1."

Apparently some Web sites are even seeing traffic from a device identified as iPhone2,1, .

While the new code could mean Apple is working on a new addition to its iPhone product line, it might also mean that the company is working on the third generation iPhone -- and that it will include enough changes to classify it as a new product, and not just an upgrade.

Gmail works offline!

Google’s Gmail Now Works Offline


Forget that hot spot….Google has obviated the need for a WiFi connection for its Gmail users, who will soon be able to gain access to their mail even when they’re offline.

The new offering, in the works for several months, incorporates a Google tool called Gears, which is already used by several web applications, including two Google products, Google Reader and Google Doc. To the use the service, users must download Google Gears. The services also brings Google up to speed with other cloud computing competitors, including Microsoft.

With the new tweak, Gmail users will be able to read, archive or write messages. Gmail has traditionally offered its webmail customers lots of space for messages and an effective spam filter. But there will likely be some restrictions on the amount of content that clients will be able to access without an Internet connection.

Here’s the formal word from Google on Offline:

“We’re making offline Gmail available to everyone who uses Gmail in US or UK English over the next couple of days, so if you don’t see it under the Labs tab yet, it should be there soon. Once you see it, just follow these steps to get started:

1. Click Settings and click the Labs tab.
2. Select Enable next to Offline Gmail.
3. Click Save Changes.
4. After your browser reloads, you’ll see a new “Offline 0.1″ link in the upper righthand corner of your account, next to your username. Click this link to start the offline set up process and download Gears if you don’t already have it.’