• Happy 40th birthday, Intel 4004! – In a way this stated the whole microcomputer… I hate to say “revolution” but I can’t think of a better word.
• How the BBC’s HD DRM plot was kept secret … and why – Your licence money going to benefit rights holders at your expense…
• The Real Cost of Patent Trolls – “They conclude that the loss of billions of dollars of wealth associated with these lawsuits harm society and state.”

• Broadcast television is 75 years old today – “On 2 November 1936, the BBC began filling the airwaves, broadcasting from its Alexandra Palace facility in North London.”
• Broadcast television is 75 years old today – “On 2 November 1936, the BBC began filling the airwaves, broadcasting from its Alexandra Palace facility in North London.”
• A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs – Worth reading even if you’ve read all the other Jobs obituaries.

• Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support – I think this is one of Androids biggest failings.
• John McCarthy — Father of AI and Lisp — Dies at 84 – Really not a good month for IT or Computer Science.
• The original iPod, 10 years later: a re-review – The original iPod is ten years old and, actually, stands up pretty well.

This weeks PhotoFriday challenge is “Little.” My entry is a little traffic jam, taken in Covent Garden market.

I didn’t have an entry in last weeks challenge so you don’t have to feel guilty for not voting for me.

• C and Unix pioneer Dennis Ritchie reported dead – It’s a sad week for the IT industry.
• Alma telescope opens its eyes – Awesome. In the original sense of the word.
• Mercury’s Explosive Volcanic History – Both beautiful and fascinating.
• Apple’s iPod: ten years old – Is it really a decade since the first iPod?

• Lytro — light field sensor photography – This “light field sensor” sounds amazing but I am a little skeptical. I’ll believe its potential more when I hear about it being used by “real” people rather than in controlled situations.
• QuickLook Plugin For Mobile Provisioning Files – If you understand the title and develop iOS apps you need this plugin!
• C and Unix pioneer Dennis Ritchie reported dead – It’s a sad week for the IT industry.

I’m very pleased to announce the new version of www.cut, a major release including an almost complete rewrite of all the UI code and a bunch of stuff under the hood. You don’t care about that, but it does bring you iPad support, the ability to lengthen already shortened URLs and the ability to sync your settings between devices using iCloud.

The iCloud bit, as with lots of stuff under the hood, means that it will only work on devices that run iOS5.

For this weeks PhotoFriday, “Slick,” I was going for the ‘superficially impressive’ meaning of the word. To be fair, I have no reason to believe that these guys are not deep and meaningful types… They were seen in Tokyo last year.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks challenge, “Animal.” I’m entry number 220.

It’s odd to feel a sense of loss for someone you never knew. The last time I can remember that this happened was when Douglas Adams died ten years ago. There are not many people like them.

What else can I add that has not already been said? Honestly, I’m not even going to try. Instead, here is a selection of links that I think hit the nail right on the head.

• Alma telescope opens its eyes – Awesome. In the original sense of the word.
• Mercury’s Explosive Volcanic History – Both beautiful and fascinating.
• Round Ireland with a Fridge – The Movie based on Tony Hawks bestseller – Full movie for a limited time only…