The rise of closed web ecosystems and why they won’t last
The launch of the Kindle Fire is another shot in the ongoing war between the big web ecosystems (Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon). The background to this war may be our rising propensity to spend money over the internet (when it comes to the web, we’re spending more money, on more things, more often), but it’s [...]
Abolish VAT on ebooks
Print books attract zero per cent VAT (as they should). Ebooks, despite now being part of the (early) mainstream attract VAT at a rate of 20%. If, like me, you think this is more than a little wrong, you can sign up to a petition requesting the abolition of VAT on ebooks. The acquisition of [...]
Top 10 things you should learn at school
With a new school year starting this week, it’s a good time to reflect upon why we actually go to school. “To get some GCSE’s etc; so that I can get a job” seems too banal to me, so I thought I would channel my inner Education Minister and offer up a top ten of [...]
Steve Jobs, Apple
There’s not really any need to add to the outpouring of comment regarding Steve Jobs’ resignation as CEO of Apple, but it has offered a chance to revisit some of the more sage advice Jobs has offered over the years. Here’s my favourite: ” When you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you’re [...]