Internet — Page 9

I came across

August 21, 2000 by Michael Boyle

an interesting article about encryption, specifically about PKI (public key infrastructure, such as PGP). It’s entitled Cheaper techniques take on PKI, and this quote is telling: “As the world has moved toward lighter-weight computing, PKI is becoming a tougher sell.”

PKI has always been a tough sell – it’s hard to imagine it being tougher. Regardless it’s an interesting update to the discussion, especially considering that one of the basic tenets of encryption states that security through obscurity is no security at all – and that’s just what it seems some of the newer systems mentioned seem to rely upon.

One thing is clear – if people want the privacy and security they say they do, then some encryption scheme will have to become commonplace. Equally clear – PGP isn’t currently seen as a viable option by general internet users, nor is a system like Freedom (from ZKS) catching on – they’ve reportedly had trouble selling it directly to end users.

Canadian media just

August 1, 2000 by Michael Boyle

changed quite a bit: CanWest Global has bought Hollinger. It’s a $3.5b deal and comprises newspapers, internet properties, etc. It’s not clear what role Conrad Black will continue to have in the new configuration.

OK, before I get going

July 18, 2000 by Michael Boyle

to work this morning, I just came across the strangest thing on the Macwarehouse Canada site. A little deconstruction is in order.

Apple Canada’s current e-commerce regulations prohibit any Apple authorized reseller to sell Apple product on-line through the Internet. As a strategic partner of Apple Canada, we support that position and will continue to follow their strategy.
This might as well read, “OK, Apple just fucked us, but we’re gonna suck up anyhow cause we’re getting rich off catalog sales.”
Micro Warehouse has decided that this restriction should not be a factor in collecting important information from our customers.
“We still want to invade your privacy though kids, so we’re going to datamine you for all you’re worth, which frankly might not be much but hey, this is e-commerce, baby!”
We have developed the following program that supports Apple Canada’s e-commerce strategy and benefits the customer.
“We have developed the following BS so we can nominally support their screwed-up policy while selling you, dear customer, down the river.”
A value add feature has been added to all Apple product on our website.
“Look at how great we are at using pass buzzwords like ‘value add’! Boy are we ever smart! We can suck up to Apple AND trash their policies in one fell swoop!”

These wireless folks

July 12, 2000 by Michael Boyle

are pretty brazen about their plans to control and meter the wireless space. I’m not worried – if they focus on this they’ll ignore the next generation, or two generations from now, and they’ll look like they’re trying to re-invent compuserve when along comes a much more sophisticated system – one that’ll look a lot like the internet, with its attendent openness and chaos.

I recently came across

July 6, 2000 by Michael Boyle

an interesting site called artengine, which is an online gallery based in Ottawa. My friend Julien’s sister is showing her work, the reliquarium. She does text/object associations, one a day all year. The primary medium is email, but the pair is placed on the website as well on the day it is sent. In a way, it reminds me of Placing, but it’s less linear and less overtly making a particular statement.

Beyond the work itself, I was really happy to see a project (and a gallery) like that originating in Ottawa. The city isn’t known as a hub of the arts, but it has a long tradition of very grassroots, almost activist, arts work centered around facilities like the SAW Gallery and others. The web and the internet more broadly seems like a perfect extension of that.