What came first the Apple or the Android?

Usually when I take a glance around a public space, there is a majority of IPhones on display as people text, call and search the web all in the palm of their hand. Recently, however, I have started noticing different phones on display, mainly Samsung Galaxies, which use an Android platform. At first I thought this occurrence was due to the Samsung Galaxy being cheaper than the Iphone and I somewhat still think this is the case.

After seeing recent debates of closed appliances versus generative platforms I have realised that there is more reasoning behind people’s sudden purchase of generative platform supported phone brands. Androids availability for ANYONE to create apps and change the whole system of an android phone allows its users the power to diversify their phones set up.

As to which system is better is really up to personal preference, however, the system which gives more power to its customers is the generative platform. This can lead to more success for the generative platform as instead of just having hired creators they have people creating from all over the world. A good example of this is the use of the hash tag on twitter, this was created by its users, and now it is a fundamental part of twitters set up.

An interesting example of Androids rapid rise is their large number of Instagram users. Instagram only opened for use on Android 17 months after Instagram had been released on Apple… and the users of Instagram is split almost evenly between the two. The Android had to play 17 months of ‘catch up’ and will most likely take over Apples amount of Instagram users in the near future.

In support of closed appliances it is comforting to customers that ‘nothing will go wrong’ with them, although this may not be the case all the time with Iphones still freezing and having glitches. Some customers on the contrary would rather to have the freedom of a generative platform and constantly change their system. This would not benefit Apple due to their planned obsolesce in which their products become old and people need new apple systems such as the Iphone 5 because certain apps only support this upgrade. Generative platforms on the other hand, don’t use planned obsolescence to the same extent as people can create almost identical apps that will suit their old platform.

Sharing was caring?

Copyright changed the whole concept of sharing. I put the emergence of copyright down to the fact that too many things are overly expensive these days.  Let’s look at it this way; if you bought a cheap car that you didn’t care much about you would most likely let a mate borrow it. On the contrary, if you had worked hard and finally got a brand new Porsche, most likely you would not let your mate borrow it.

My point in relation to copyright is that the creators of the big budget movies such as ‘Avatar,’ who spent 500 million dollars on their film, are rightfully protected by copyright as it would be completely unfair and unethical for someone to profit off a project which is extremely expensive. Also the creators of big budget films are not always certain that the money they have put into a film will become profitable. This happened to the “United artists” movie ‘Heaven’s gate’ which was made in 1980 for 42 million dollars and earned 3 million dollars.

In regards to people viewing copyright as overly controlling, I agree only in minimal cases.  If something like a simple (non professional) photo of a public landscape is uploaded onto the internet I think it should be free to public use as these are pictures of public places. There have been recent cases of people complaining about Instagram’s photo ownership, with Instagram simply using people’s photos as they please. I’m fine with this but I still think it would be common courtesy to reference the source, let’s be honest who doesn’t want credit for their work?

The following article shows cases in which people were not given credit for their work and their images were STOLEN by Instagram.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/us-news-blog/2013/feb/05/instagram-users-fightback-stolen-photos

Something I find extraordinary is that in the times of the likes of Shakespeare and Chaucer that copyright did NOT exist and this did NOT affect their credibility. Software freedom activist Richard Stallman stated ‘The idea of copyright did not exist in ancient times, when authors frequently copied other authors at length in works of non-fiction. This practice was useful, and is the only way many authors’ works have survived even in part.’ This quote gets me wondering, what if there was copyright on something like the Ten Commandments, something which was passed down through history, a fundamental reading for certain religions. What is copyright stopping us from learning?

The pink elephant in the room…

Any advertisement that contains Hitler must be offensive right?

The Sicilian fashion brand “New Form” caused uproar in Palermo, Italy and all over the world with its appropriation of Adolf Hitler in their 2010 campaign “Change style – Don’t follow your leader.”

The way in which people interpret this image probably won’t vary as much as other controversial advertisements because initially it seems so shocking. The denotation of this image is a made up Hitler dressed in pink, with a love heart armband replacing his usual swastika and Nazi colours. Many would rightly be offended at the use of Hitler in advertising and also may interpret the image as undermining the seriousness of Hitler and the Nazi regime.

Local Palermo politician, Councilor Rosario Filoramo argued that “the use of an image of a person responsible for the worst chapters of the last century is offensive to our country’s constitutional principles and to the sensitivities of citizens.”The sheer shock of this image would draw me away from buying a “New Form”  product, due to a taboo of using Hitler to promote anything.

In looking at the connotations of this image, however, it becomes evident that there is more to this image then first meets the eye. The company tries to present a contrast to the usual image of Hitler by giving him female qualities and mocking him by putting bright make up on him.

Without the help of the slogan, “Change style – Don’t follow your leader,” this image is quite ineffective at getting its message across.  When I first viewed the image I had no clue what it was about until I saw the bland slogan (which didn’t really stand out). The message that “New form jeans” are trying to get across is that people should be individual and try their new range.

This campaign got publicity due to its shock value, but it was not beneficial and the campaign was quite unsuccessful.

Really, who wants to buy something Hitler endorsers?

You will be effected Im-media-tely

When it comes to tragedy, people are quick to blame the media as it is an easy scapegoat. From so-called copycat violence to personal accidents, one single event should not be blamed for such an occurrence; there are too many factors which come in to play for a single event to be pinpointed as the sole cause.

The way I see it is that the majority of people who view movies such as Spiderman, lord of the rings etc can distinguish between fiction and nonfiction. I know plenty of people who have watched all the “Saw” movies and haven’t become serial killers, and I know plenty of boys that have watched “The Notebook” and haven’t become romantic. I don’t think the media should take on ‘full’ blame for someone’s actions.

A very unfortunate event occurred recently in London, a young boy Kevin Morais fell to his death from his bedroom window on the third floor of an apartment building. This event caused distress to his family and friends and in no form am I going to contest that or the seriousness of the event.

What I am going to contest is the general response to this tragedy.  The media or the parents or both, (as it was in the daily mail article) put quite a lot of blame on the Spiderman enterprise. Twice in the title of the ‘Daily Mail’s’ article the hero is mentioned. The use of strong emotive language such as “loved” and words of ownership such as “his hero” encourage readers to straight away “blame” Spiderman for the death. The title reads:

Six-year-old boy who loved Spider-Man fell to his death from bedroom window after thinking he was ‘invincible’ like his hero. 

Like I mentioned before, not one singular event in someone’s life can be to blame for such a serious issue and tragic accident. I’m not denying the poor kids love for Spiderman, I’m just saying that before blaming the media some more background information should be studied. This is what David Gauntlett implies when he states that “The effects model tackles social problems backwards”. By looking at such events through the effects model we simplify these tragedies rather than looking at the interconnected and multiple causes.

Link – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2275716/Six-year-old-boy-loved-Spiderman-fell-death-bedroom-window-thinking-invincible-like-hero.html

GIDDY UP!

Hi I’m Joel Mucci, you may remember me from such classes as BCM 110 and BCM 112, now here’s an introduction to MUCCI101.

What you will need to know about me to get a good grasp of my character, are these five things:

1. I have become one with the beach…. well not really but I do enjoy surfing, spear fishing etc. My favourite surf spot is unfortunately not in Australia, it is Raglans in New Zealand and my oh my is it gnarly.

2. “Don’t push me cause I’m close to the edge!” I am a huge fan of old school rap, old rock ‘n’ roll (The Beatles etc.), indie rock and enjoy listening to Triple J… except for when it plays dubstep at 9 in the morning. I just woke up people give me something chilled!

3. My favourite TV show (as your may have noticed) is Seinfeld, but I also love The Office (UK), Boardwalk Empire (I froth on this) and How I met your mother.

4. I am a diehard soccer enthusiast and play at a semi-professional level for the Woonona Sharks, feel free to watch. Also I support the almighty Napoli SCC.

5. Lastly, I would love to start travelling the world and check out my origins in Greece and Italy.

That’s me through and through so keep posted