First, my views are just mine alone and I can only speak from a general perspective due to my conflict of interest.

Having that said, anytime there is a settlement, those who feel they were wronged by a company usually are compelled to sign up to the class-action settlement.

Personally, I’ve known many former Community Leaders who genuinely enjoyed volunteering their time and dedicated themselves for only personal motivations.

In an ironic turn of events, AOL decided to not compensate a wing of their bloggers due to the usual round of budget cuts. I can spot a number of similarities between the AOL CL program and AOL’s Bloggers (AOL Programming); since they essentially build content which the company profits from.

(More information on that is available here: http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/7/you-can-get-something-for-nothing-after-all-some-aol-bloggers-posting-without-pay-this-month-twx )

Like I said, I can’t officially comment on the matter. I’m just sharing some personal thoughts on it.

Thanks for your comments.

Best,
Joe

So, Joe, how many of the ex-CLs do you think will add their names to the class action lawsuit?

I like Facebook accounts, the network is considerably clean from spam and abuse. It’s a great networking tool, even if you don’t SuperPoke anyone.

~joe

I’ve spent nearly my entire adult life either as an inmate, interacting/working with correctional staff, or doing outreach/volunteer work with inmates; and sometimes I catch myself thinking if I had the chance to voluntarily do a “sentence” at a place like that I just might take them up on it for a few months to get away from it all. He must have already been mentally unbalanced, there’s no way even an IT geek would go to those lengths when facing a short sentence in an easy joint like that.

I’m open-minded, but skeptical about starting a Facebook account: http://lowtechtimes.com/2008/03/17/facebook-accounts-are-completely-unnecessary/

Thanks for your thoughts.

Microsoft is launching a new ad campaign?
Bott: Looks like a great start!

Sony’s new notebooks don’t have as much adware as other computers?
Bott: Amazing advances in Windows!

Microsoft trying to get people to move from XP to Vista?
Bott: Proof Vista is much better at security than XP!

Winamp is separate from RealPlayer; however, I did experience the same thing. I would suggest making sure you are logged into your computer under the Administrator account, then uninstall it from there.

Otherwise, you can also boot into Safe Mode and delete the files that way. (But make sure you attempt to uninstall it correctly via the Add/Remove Programs.)

Then you can download and install the latest version of Winamp at http://www.winamp.com/player .

~Joe

People have a very strange addiction to hi-tech hand-held gadgets.

Yes, MTV already ended it. What you’re watching are re-runs of the seasons.

Glad to hear you liked it too.

~Joe

MySpace also files it’s corporate papers dba MySpace.com in Deleware. Hmmm….

There also was an “interview” that took place in 2007, between “Tom” and a reporter from a computer magazine. Fact: Neither Tom nor the Interviewer actually were present for any interview at all! The entire text (published) was botnet generated as a “public relations” tool.

Many “friends” on MySpace are nothing more than NetBot generated profiles that use keywords similar to those found on ones profile. The your friends are my friends gig that appears in the sign up spin for myspace.

Notice the language starting with sign up. “Sign up now” “Go tell your friends” “Invite your friends” “Go to your profile page now” All very basic “orders”. Yet, nowhere have I seen anything that stresses that one read the Terms of Service very very carefully. The author uses one real example above. There is also a clause that allows “MySpace” to take and use any uncopyrighted material(s) from any user profile page..etc. for their own use. (ex: personal photos).

The most important statement though that unfortunately takes away any clout the author mentions about “Tom” violating TOS is the following “MySpace is released from all indemnity…” This is why any lawsuits for MySpace’s total lack of oversight re: user accounts have never even made it to trial. “Telling” parents to “sit with your children while they are on the computer” Suggesting key loggers to “spy” on children/spouses is myspace’s answer to their total lack of oversight re: user accounts.

If there is one thing the public should demand .. it is this. That the public finds the MySpace TOS totally unacceptable and demand that it be changed.

Unfortunately, I don’t see this happening.

I have yet to see any articles, press releases or statements made by persons other than “MySpace” or a spokesman from “MySpace”. Something strange about “MySpace” stated that 129,000 sexual predators have been identified. Oh really? I have yet to see hard data to back that Bot up.

Tom is a Bot. I have nothing else to show otherwise.

Well, that’s actually between the other two parties, not you and me, but I do understand Legal’s general goal of keeping brandnames out of external products (a web domain location being the product here).

What I’ll be working for inside Adobe is a better communication process… the info is public, but when a reminder is necessary, I think we need to handle it more persuasively.
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aadobe.com+trademark+domain

jd/adobe

Thanks for responding, I appreciate your feedback.

Whether or not the matter being ‘resolved,’ my point is that Adobe is infringing on their loyal community of users. I would consider resolution when FreshAIRApps.com can keep their domain without threats from Adobe’s legal team.

Adobe hasn’t publicly responded (e.g., a blog entry, a press release, etc.) to the concerns arising from the controversy. In all fairness, the PR mess peaked over the weekend, so I’m waiting to see such public acknowledgment on the matter.

I saw the other perspectives from Mark and John as you refer to, I just hope the product management team will embrace the feedback and not deflect it. Put it this way, if the performance issues could be fixed, and the consumer notification of system changes could be implemented — then I’d reconsider my view on the Adobe Reader product.

I hope perhaps you could reach out to the various legal and product teams at Adobe and reach compromise and post it openly and transparently on one of the Adobe blogs.

Best,
Joe

And yes, Adobe Reader is a big app. It’s far more than just a document-viewing tool. If you think Ben’s post turned it into “EPIC FAIL”, then I guess I’m glad you didn’t pick up on Mark Pilgrim or John Welch yet….

jd/adobe