Re: the lack of movies/tv on the Japanese iTunes Store

Is the lack of movie rentals and television shows on the Japanese iTunes Store due somehow to the powerful copyright lobby in Japan? JASRAC and JIMCAare more litigious than even the RIAA and MPAA in the US. Furthermore they are linked via Iron Triangle to MEXT. Moreover, Japan’s television industry is still mostly terrestrial, and not likely to make the move to the internet for some time. Non-broadcast distribution models seem far in the future for Japan. Does video from the iTunes Store even have a chance here?

The iTunes store is currently available in 77 countries, but most only offer music downloads. I think the recent explosion in iTunes Stores around the world can be attributed to the iPhone, which is available in 88 countries. According to this support article (last updated June 25, 2009) for the Apple TV, only six countries offer movie purchasing and rental:

Australia
Canada
Germany
New Zealand
United Kingdom
US

Television programs can be purchased in France.

Conclusion: The lack of television and movies on the Japanese iTunes Store is by far the norm when compared to the rest of the world. However, those who are looking to scapegoat the copyright lobby should be interested to know that Japan is the only country where (some) record labels retain DRM on their iTunes Store products (iTunes went non-DRM in January of this year).

How Should Mac Apps Be Distributed?

I agree: delivery by disk image is far too complicated for the lay user. I have to explain this concept nearly every day. Just the fact that there are three different install paradigms for OS X (drag-and-drop, double click to install, and .pkg type installers) should be a signal that something is wrong.

How Should Mac Apps Be Distributed?

Global growth of broadband — BBC infographic

Time lapse map of broadband penetration across the world. The graphic is really about Africa, but look how quickly South Korea and Scandinavia go dark. Those countries had long-seeing government strategies for internet growth a decade ago. Well done.

Global growth of broadband — BBC infographic

1) everything that’s already in the world when you’re born is just normal;

2) anything that gets invented between then and before you turn thirty is incredibly exciting and creative and with any luck you can make a career out of it;

3) anything that gets invented after you’re thirty is against the natural order of things and the beginning of the end of civilisation as we know it until it’s been around for about ten years when it gradually turns out to be alright really.

Douglas Adams on getting used to the Internet in 1999

What the hell am I going to do for the next 6 months?

September 22nd is my last day of work before I embark on 6 months of paternity leave. Only 15 more working days left. The thought fills me with excitement as this may be the only time in my life I will be able to have such a big role in the upbringing of my children. It also fills me with dread as I still haven’t decided what I am going to do with myself during that time. Not that there aren’t a million potential projects I could work on, I am just feeling ambivalent about which one to pursue.

Obviously most of my day will be occupied with the role of Mr. Mom. I will start just after the baby turns two months old until she is eight months old. Lots of stuff happens during that time including: teething, solid food and crawling. It is not like my schedule is going to be completely free for six months.

However, I figure I will have enough time to turn over one largish project or a couple of smallish projects during that time. My concern is: do I do something to further my career? Or do I do something completely creative because this will be the last oasis of “me time” for the foreseeable future?

I like the current company I work for. I want to continue working for them, and they know that. When I return to work next year I want to be in a new position. The powers that be said they will do everything they can to facilitate that. Should I spend my time preparing myself for the change? I.e. do a course on statistical analysis? Write daily on marketing strategies? Learn some new skill that will make me more marketable?

Even though I like my company, it isn’t in the field I thought I would be working once I completed my graduate degree. During my time off I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for other opportunities. Maybe I should use this time as a last ditch effort to gain the career I thought I wanted all those years ago. I have yet to have my thesis published, which would be a viable project.

Then of course I could use my energy to finally do something creative. For example, Naniwrimo is coming up. I also thought about doing a short-run podcast on the technology industry in Japan.

I am sure you will all say: Well, what do you want to do? The problem is, I want to do it all! That not being realistic, I thought I would try crowdsourcing an answer, or at least some advice. Got any?