A Message from Above

"If satellite radio fails to entertain the kids, KVH TracVision A5 is an advanced satellite TV antenna that mounts flat on the roof. Using a military technology called phased array, it electronically, rather than mechanically, aims the antenna, so you don't need a dish pointing at the DirecTV satellites. KVH says its TracVision A5 works even while driving....

If you want to personalize your car stereo, Pioneer and JVC offer customizable faces for their stereos.

You can download graphics from a special Web site or create your own, burn them onto a CD-R on your home computer and play the CD in the car stereo, which reads the data and changes the display. JVC calls its system PiCT. It also offers interchangeable faceplate skins on its $210 KD-SC800. You can choose from 'millennium blue,' 'candy apple red,' 'melodic flower power' or 'sizzling hot rod....'

Virtually every car electronics manufacturer offers a rolling theater system with ceiling or seatback mounted LCD and dash-installed DVD player. For example, JVC offers the KV-MR9000 ceiling mounted widescreen, 9-inch (measured diagonally) display for $1,000....

Some companies want to be the rage of the road by attracting young buyers. Sony continues calling its car stereo line Xplod (pronounced explode) while JVC retaliates with its new Arsenal line and Audiovox goes on a Rampage.

Clarion calls its system Joyride, which takes us back to simpler times. In our day and age, however, the Alpine Status system offers a less violent and reckless symbol." [Chicago Tribune, note it will be available for free for only one week]

Sorry, Clare, but I can't afford one of these for your birthday!

It sounds like the "cocooning" of America is about to shift even further into our cars.

Doc Searls comments on the New York Times' decision to put all but its most recent content in pay-for-play archives:

Paper trail

"Just got this from a reader:

Note that the NYTimes has changed their online links policy - after a certain amount of time, article links now expire, pointing the user to an abstract and an opportunity to pay.

Shocking for the "paper of record" - especially without any notice.

...I've written about this before. Even though I was told, after that last linked piece, that the Times made millions by selling old content, I still think the lost opportunity to assert authority far exceeds whatever monetary gain the paper gets by selling old fishwrap.

Advantage: blogs"

Just a friendly reminder that pretty much every library has some type of access to the NY Times archive, and many also provide remote access to it via a link from their web site. It's not ideal for Google searching or the "opportunity to assert authority," but if you need a specific article, you can get it from your local library for free.