EA: If you don't like our privacy policy then don't play our games

As discussed at The Escapist and other outlets, the end user license agreement (EULA) for EA’s Origin service contains some decidedly unfriendly terms. For those not-in-the-know, Origin is EA’s platform for digital distribution and, according to the marketing folks at EA, “lets you purchase and play your favorite EA games - any time and any place you want.” The platform also allows you “create a profile, connect and chat with your friends, share your game library, and effortlessly join your friends' games.” Best of all: “Origin lives where you live. On your mobile phone, on your desktop and on the web, Origin is always there.”

Wow - Origin sounds like a great service!

That is, until you become more familiar with the terms of the agreement and don’t happen to be a big fan of Orwellian thinkspeak.

E-"BOOKS"

Something has changed at The New York Times. This change is to be found in the well-regarded and highly touted "New York Times Best Seller List" which appears to be the list to be on (based on the number of book covers festooned with the banner "New York Times Best Seller").

For the first time ever, on February 13, 2011 the Best Seller List included e-books:

"On the Web, there are three entirely new lists. One consists of rankings for fiction and nonfiction that combine print and e-book sales; one is limited exclusively to e-book sales for fiction and nonfiction; and the third, Web-only list tracks combined print sales — of both hardcover and paperback editions — for fiction and nonfiction." ¹

This is a pretty big deal.