Fring is completely free and comes in at a somewhat-light 3.0MB download and is available now from the iTunes App Store.

NOTE: The preceeding is strictly the opinion of Truman Kain and not of MacFocus Magazine or anybody affiliated with MacFocus Magazine.

The little over twelve and a half minute video sheds light on how ALL major ISPs around the world are making agreements under NDAs (Non-disclosure agreements). Multiple inside sources have told that in 2012 the ISPs have agreed to take care of the issue we know as Net Neutrality all together.

None of the information in the story is truly new except two key things. 1) There’s now a date for the ISPs to bring their plan into action. 2) Action against Net Neutrality is now being taken, and the only way to stop it is though the law.

For those who may not truly understand the implications of a tiered Internet, consider the following. You’re a teen blogger or podcaster who has been online for years and producing content that 10,000+ enjoy weekly. Being a teen, you have a limited supply of income and can barely afford paying your already massive monthly hosting bill. Things are going great but then ISPs introduce their tiered Internet service. ISPs will decide which content providers/sites should be delivered though the service. This will most likely be done though money. You must pay a certain, large amount of money to the ISPs for your content to make it though a single tier of the service. The more money you pay, the more people get to see you essentially. This situation makes it almost impossible for a teen (or adult) to distribute content freely.

The other solution would be if the end user of the Internet service bought the complete Internet. However, this again would come at a tremendous price keeping almost anyone from buying such service.

Such a situation would bring the Internet to its knees. The free flow of information on the Internet would be dead leaving only a controlled service from ISPs. Imagine a life without paying masses of money for Twitter?

As you can see, something has to be done to counter this type of attack on the Internet, and you, the teen (or adult), can help. Visit such sites as SavetheInternet.com that contain a wealth of information about Net Neutrality. Also, write to your Congresspeople and watch the video mentioned above which is embedded in this post.

I will be following up on this story as it develops. Remember, we are the ones who have to fight. No one else is going to do it for us.

[Via I Power]

Apple recently opened its retail store in Boston, which is currently Apple’s largest store to date at a whopping 21,350 square feet. The store, which was opened for the public on Thursday, May 15 at 6:00 pm, is three stories tall and employs 165 people, with the first floor containing computers, the second containing iPods, and the third containing a 17-stool Genius Bar. The company states that the new location marks the beginning of an international movement, with a new building this summer to be constructed in Beijing.

In my opinion, this is an excellent move for Apple. Aside from making their products more readily available, the new store is environmentally friendly. The entire front of the store brings in loads of natural light, plus they’ve apparently laid down grass surrounding the roof’s skylight—something that customers can’t see unless looking down from a surrounding building or plane. Rainwater also fills the water table below. By putting in the extra money to make the new store green, Apple’s sure to bring in more customers looking to save Mother Earth. The new location is also adding to the economy, offering over 160 new job positions.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to go to Boston one day and visit it!

[via Boston Business Journal]