rippe77 writes “Google has taken down the open-source project CoreAVC for Linux due to a DMCA complaint. The CoreAVC codec is a commercial high-definition H.264 DirectShow filter for windows provided by CoreCodec Inc.. The CoreAVC for Linux project provided various patches for Linux applications (mplayer, MythTV, xine) to use these DirectShow decoder filters in Linux. The takedown is quite controversial, as the CoreAVC project didn’t provide any copyrighted material — only the means to use the DirectShow filters in Linux.” (The takedown notice is not yet up at Chilling Effects, but Google’s page has a link that’ll take you there when it is.)

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debatem1 writes “Apparently, anti-violent-video-games crusader Jack Thompson is at it again, this time writing a letter to the mother of Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two, the company that produces the GTA series of video games. In it he compares Zelnick to a member of the Hitler Youth, suggests beating the young Zelnick, and contemplates the existence of a Ted Bundy merit badge for boy scouts.”

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jweatherley writes “I found a new (for me at least) use for BitTorrent. I had been trying to download beta 4 of the iPhone SDK for the last few days. First I downloaded the 1.5GB file from Apple’s site. The download completed, but the disk image would not verify. I tried to install it anyway, but it fell over on the gcc4.2 package. Many things are cheap in India, but bandwidth is not one of them. I can’t just download files > 1GB without worrying about reaching my monthly cap, and there are Doctor Who episodes to be watched. Fortunately we have uncapped hours in the night, so I downloaded it again. md5sum confirmed that the disk image differed from the previous one, but it still wouldn’t verify, and fell over on gcc4.2 once more. Damn.” That’s not the end of the story, though — read on for a swift description of how BitTorrent saved the day in jweatherley’s case.

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Mike writes “British defence giant BAE Systems is creating a series of tiny electronic spiders, insects and snakes that could become the eyes and ears of soldiers on the battlefield, helping to save thousands of lives, and they claim that prototypes could be on the front line by the end of the year. A fascinating development to be sure, but who thinks this won’t be misused domestically for spying and evidence gathering?” Included in the story is a link to a creepy tiny (scripted, rendered) demo video of these robots in action.

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oDDmON oUT points us to a BusinessWeek story about the increasing use of Apple products in the corporate sector. Many companies are finding that their employees are pushing for the transition more than Apple itself. Quoting: “While thousands of other companies scratch and claw for the tiniest sliver of the corporate computing market, Apple treats this vast market with utter indifference. After a series of failed offensives by the company in the 1980s and 1990s, Chief Executive Steve Jobs decided to focus squarely on consumers and education customers when he returned to Apple in 1997. As a result, the company doesn’t have ranks of corporate salespeople or armies of repairmen waiting to respond each time a hard drive fails. He believes it’s difficult for any company, including his, to be effective at satisfying both corporate buyers and consumers.”

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Filed under: Industry, Consumer experience, Competitive strategy, Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Battle of the Brands

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

When it comes to comparing the pick-up trucks of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and Chevrolet by General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), I have the ability to honestly say that I’ve owned both brands. I purchased one F-150 off the showroom floor. I also purchased one that was very well used. Both my Chevy Silverados were low-mileage, used models. I leased one of them from my father and the other one I bought from my brother. I’ve also had opportunities to drive multiple specimens of each brand that were owned by friends or associates. I like both brands as far as their trucks go. Their automobiles are a story for another day.

To me, Chevy trucks always seem a bit more solid, with interior appointments a little more lush and inviting. Ford trucks seem to focus more on utility and usability within a bit roomier interior. The Chevy trucks always exhibit deep power, easily delivered upon demand. Fords trucks always seem a bit more spunky with their aggressiveness always close under foot. Chevy trucks appeal to the gentleman in me but they’ve always done any job I asked of them. Ford trucks appeal to the workman in me and they sometimes seem immortal.

Chevy pick-up trucks are always quieter than the Fords. Ford pick-up trucks always seem a bit more nimble than the Chevys. I anticipate both brands to work hard, and work hard they do. I’d take either brand any day for any job I need done. There are other brands which I’ve owned or would like to get my hands on, but today’s battle is between these two mighty classics. I dearly hope that I have the ability to afford to keep buying gas for the one that’s sitting on my driveway!

Vote in our poll for Chevy or Ford as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.

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Filed under: Deals, Industry, Competitive strategy, AT and T (T), Sprint Nextel Corp (S)

There are probably some hurdles to Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT), the German phone giant, buying Sprint (NYSE: S), but the deal does make sense for a number of reasons. Reuters writes that Der Spiegel, one of Germany’s most prominent publications, reported that “Deutsche Telekom is looking at a possible buy of U.S. wireless company Sprint Nextel.”

DT has a very significant problem in the U.S., and it is one that the company can’t overcome on its own. The firm’s U.S. wireless venture, T-Mobile, runs a distant fourth among carriers in the U.S. The two leaders, AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon Wireless seem to have the top spots cemented and are adding new customers every quarter. Sprint is in third place with about 50 million subscribers to over 60 million served by each of the two leaders.

Sprint has deep troubles of its own. It has run into subscriber retention issues since the NexTel merger. The company’s financial position is weak. Its share price is under $8. Less than two years ago, it was almost $23. Sprint’s plan to build a nationwide 4G network using WiMax is all but dead. The company simply does not have the financing to finish it.

T-Mobile has almost 28 million subscribers. Combined with Sprint, it would take the lead in U.S. wireless customers with about 78 million. Integrating the wireless platforms of the two companies would be extremely difficult. But, the alternative is being the fourth horse in a three-horse race.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com and author of the Ten Stocks Under $10 letter.

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I Don’t Believe in Imaginary Property writes “Taser International recently started a legal campaign against medical examiners who claimed tasers contributed to the cause of death for several people. On Friday, an Ohio judge ruled in favor of the stun gun manufacturer (free registration may be required). While they do have a number of scientific studies on which they establish their claims, it’s interesting that the alternate cause of death they champion — excited delirium — appears only in police reports on the deaths of difficult or drug-addled inmates, not in medical textbooks. Of course, that may change soon — Taser is funding and promoting research on the subject. Coroner reports such as the ones in this case contributed to the UN’s view that taser use is torture.”

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nuke-alwin writes “Channel 4 news in the UK is reporting that Google will be sued by Lastminute.com for the way it sells advertising. Adverts from competitors will now be displayed when searching for some trademarks. Google states consumers will benefit. Some trademarks become so familiar that all similar products are known by the trademark name: Coke and Hoover, for example. I think searching for these kinds of words should grant competitors to advertise their similar products.”

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