I really like this picture of the Bank of America building, and how Google maps can’t quite decide which way the buildings should lean:

I’ve been a reluctant locker lock user in the past - but this new product, where I can choose my own code, is just what my old brain needed. The wheels are probably easy to destroy, but this is just the right amount of locking for my YMCA.

Master Lock: Residential: School & Campus: Product No. 1534

http://www.amazon.com/gp/events/gno/002-8547268-6055232

Sweet, sweet UI from the UI gnomes at Amazon

Costco is now carrying Disney/Ratatouille branded “Abondance” cheese  - see Mariannes Motifs: Abondance Cheese and Armagnac. The cheese is a fine hard chesse, somewhat reminiscent of Raclette (but stringy when melted, like Emmental). Someone at Disney but be smiling about that deal…

New RealPlayer Instantly Downloads Online Video — www.RealPlayer.com

The new RealPlayer has sparked all kinds of deep copyright discussions, but the irony I note in this launch is the similarity of this new capability with that of the StreamBox Ripper. StreamBox Ripper was a product that allowed for the saving of - among others - RealAudio streams. Real threatened Streambox and Streambox backed down, in an early application of DMCA.

That said, RealPlayer was due for an overhaul.

Safari 3 for Windows - Engadget

Apple has decided to take allow Windows user to join the Safari, but this also opens .Mac (dotmac) to Windows users, complete with 60-day trial. It doesn’t, however,  make .Mac more compelling (you can get it all, without the eye candy, from Google for free). This was already guessed at earlier this year.

Apple Launches iTunes Plus

Apple’s iTunes launch of DRM-free purchases has bee rightly heralded as a happy jingle. However, Apple still misses the mark and a golden opportunity with international purchases.

As the holder of a US-based iTunes account, I can visit, but not purchase from, the iTunes store in France. I understand that, with different prices and agreements across the ocean, Apple wants to prevent cross-country arbitrage, but it’s beyond me why I can’t buy a tune from iTunes France when it’s not offered at all in the US.

Apple, give us an “Export” option! Make money in the process.

Link to Msn Messenger status detector. We will tell you who blocked your msn account

Google Cache:

This questionable service - finding out who has blocked and deleted you in MSN is either:

1. a social VIRUS, preying on your deepest wish to find out who doesn’t like you
2. a phishing scam,
3. a hacking exploit into MSN
4. a reverse My Space - to find out “who doesn’t like me”
5. all of the above.

Don’t trust it!

Link to Windows Live Mail: Announcing the Upcoming Windows Live Mail!

Microsoft has cleaned up its free mail client approach and is merging the best of Outlook Express, Windows Mail and the Windows Live Mail Desktop.

and: no ads! (at least no banner ads)

Link to Target : About Target : Our Focus on Design

I must credit my wife for first mentioning this to me: the new Target Stores, and their focus on customer experience, take direct inspiration from the Swiss chain Migros, particularly in the area of store design and product merchandising.

 The telling clue was the recent announcement that Target is carrying Migros’ house- brand chocolate, Frey (in stores only). Once I picked up a large shipment of Frey chocolate, I felt right at home in the newly remodeled Redmond Target store, and starting humming Migros’ jingle. That’s when the revelation hit: Target is collaborating with Migros, and not just in the chocolate aisle.

The most obvious parallel is the color scheme, and it’s relentless application throughout the store: for Target it’s red/white, and for Migros orange/white. But there’s also a very Swiss sense of order and organization, and a consistency in visual merchandising that US stores rarely adopt on that scale (just visit your local department store). The brand selection is another giveaway: Target is carefully mixing mid-scale brand names with upscale house brands.

Next time I’m in Switzerland, I’ll check whether Migros is learning anything from Target. In the meantime, Migros could use some of Target’s advice on Web design…