The Weekly Round-Up: 28.11.03

It's not everyday the Round-Up doffs its cap and shouts "Bravo for Microsoft!" and quite frankly today is no exception.

But that time may be close if we are to believe the latest rumblings from Redmond this week - and we're not talking about the sounds emanating from Steve Ballmer's stomach.

Microsoft seems poised to unleash the digital dogs of war on one of the most annoying elements of the online surfing experience - the pop-up advert.

The software giant is considering adding a feature to the next version of Internet Explorer for Windows XP that gives users the option to block pop-ups.

Many services and browsers have long since offered this feature, with Jupiter Research estimating that around 20 per cent of surfers currently have the software installed to block pop-ups and pop-unders (the sneaky little beggars that hide behind your browser window).

However, with Internet Explorer dominating the browser market with a 92 per cent share, the news could be the final nail in the coffin for the offending ads.

Although direct marketing firms such as online casinos and other less reputable brands are naturally worried about losing one of their most effective channels, major brand names will be less concerned as they've already been moving away from the format.

The Round-Up is well aware of the difficulty of making money online - someone has to pay for all this nonsense after all - but let's hope the next marketing channel is less intrusive and annoying.

But what's the betting that the next big thing for online advertising won't come from the porn industry?

Because unless the Round-Up has failed to do its research properly (which, let's face it, won't be the first time) the technology behind pop-ups emerged from the seedier parts of the net.

So, with the greatest minds in pornography and marketing on the case, the Round-Up is sure it'll all be done in the best possible taste...

It's not often that talk of anthrax, castration, death threats, shotguns and ice picks crops up in the silicon.com news room.

At least not since not since the powers that be at Silicon Towers decided it would be a good idea to put a dividing wall between the editorial and the sales teams.

However, the halcyon days returned this week as anthrax, death threats, shotguns and ice picks were all back on the news agenda thanks to Charles T. Booher of Sunnyvale, California.

Just to make one thing clear: Charles T. Booher would not like his old chap enlarged, but thank you very much for asking.

Booher, a 44-year-old computer programmer, was recently arrested for threatening the employees of a company he claims has been spamming him senseless with offers of penile enhancement.

The Canadian plastic surgery company accused denied the allegations but Booher was having none of it.

Over the course of several months the emails and answer phone messages he sent to the company became increasingly bizarre and threatening.

In fact, any sense of solidarity or sympathy the Round-up had with Charles' spam plight evaporated pretty quickly after a swift perusal of the US district court affidavit detailing the communications.

(Which is here, but is not recommended to anyone with a weak stomach.

Booher has admitted to threatening to castrate one employee using "crude gardening tools" and threatening to show up at the offices armed to the teeth.

Booher faces a potential fine of $250,000 and five years in prison. All of which could have been avoided for the price of a spam filter or simply counting to 10...

The Round-Up has never considered itself a prude. Shy maybe, reserved yes, but not 'prudish'.

However, news this week from the States had it buttoning up its cardigan to the very top and muttering despairingly about "kids these days".

As the owner of an iPod, the Round-Up often gets nodded and smiled at in the street by complete strangers wearing the distinctive white earphones that indicate membership of the MP3 player's "brotherhood".

While it's initially vaguely unsettling, it’s also harmless and fun - in a sad, cliquey, geeky kind of way.

However, it seems that in some corners of the world some iPod owners are no longer content with tacit acknowledgements of fellow gadget hounds and are taking geek interaction to a more intimate level.

US tech executive and iPod user Steve Crandall told Wired.com that during one of his evening walks, he was rather taken aback when a "30ish" woman approached him wearing the white earphones.

Let's allow Steve to take up the story in his own words: "She walked right up to me and got within my comfort field... I was taken aback. She pulled out the earbuds on her iPod and indicated the jack with her eyes."

"We listened for about 30 seconds... No words were exchanged. We nodded and walked off."

It all sounds positively filthy in a sort of personal audio hardware meets Last Tango in Paris kind of way.

However, once he'd tasted the forbidden fruit, Crandall got over his initial shock and decided to spread it around a bit, the little tart.

Since that first chance encounter he's apparently jacked off, so to speak, with four or five other iPod users on his walking excursions.

This kind of behaviour is all very well in America, but it would never happen in Blighty would it? After all, we Brits are renowned for our reserve, right?

Wrong. Apparently the practice is taking root in Cambridge where some wag has even had some T-shirts printed that bear the legend "Feel free to jack into my plug".

Which surely can't be terribly hygienic?

Personally, the Round-Up is far too shy to try anything so bold.

However, if any iPod-using readers do fancy walking round the local park with Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get it On' playing on a loop and are up for some cross-jacking action the editorial team would be interested to hear the results.

For goodness sake, just be careful whose "comfort field" you get into...