Bill Zeller
Encyclopedia
William Paul "Bill" Zeller (October 26, 1983 – January 5, 2011) was an American computer programmer who was best known for creating the MyTunes
application. After Zeller committed suicide in January 2011, his suicide note began circulating widely, launching a public discussion on the long-term ill effects of child sexual abuse.
, Zeller was pursuing a doctoral degree in computer science from Princeton
, having earned his master's degree in 2008. He received his bachelor's degree from Trinity College, Hartford in 2006.
His best-known software project was MyTunes
, an enhancement for Apple's iTunes
software that enables users to copy music between computers on a local network. During his undergraduate years he also created Zempt, an enhancement for the popular Moveable Type blogging platform. Zeller continued creating innovative software in graduate school. His most recent hit was Graph Your Inbox, an extension to the Chrome
browser that allows GMail users to analyze patterns in their own email traffic. Graph Your Inbox appears to be no longer functional (as of April 2011), probably due to a change in the way Gmail works.
Zeller also served for more than two years as the computer science representative to Princeton
's Graduate Student Government, advocating the interests of his fellow graduate students in housing, campus transportation, and other issues.
He co-authored an influential paper, called "Government Data and the Invisible Hand", that explained how governments can release public data in ways that will be useful to programmers. The paper has been influential both in academia and government.
MyTunes
myTunes is a program that allows Windows users to download music from an iTunes music share over a network, circumventing restrictions in iTunes that only allow streaming music. The software is widely popular on college campuses across the U.S. It was developed by Bill Zeller at Trinity...
application. After Zeller committed suicide in January 2011, his suicide note began circulating widely, launching a public discussion on the long-term ill effects of child sexual abuse.
Education and career
A native of Middletown, ConnecticutMiddletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, Zeller was pursuing a doctoral degree in computer science from Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, having earned his master's degree in 2008. He received his bachelor's degree from Trinity College, Hartford in 2006.
His best-known software project was MyTunes
MyTunes
myTunes is a program that allows Windows users to download music from an iTunes music share over a network, circumventing restrictions in iTunes that only allow streaming music. The software is widely popular on college campuses across the U.S. It was developed by Bill Zeller at Trinity...
, an enhancement for Apple's iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
software that enables users to copy music between computers on a local network. During his undergraduate years he also created Zempt, an enhancement for the popular Moveable Type blogging platform. Zeller continued creating innovative software in graduate school. His most recent hit was Graph Your Inbox, an extension to the Chrome
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google that uses the WebKit layout engine. It was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows on September 2, 2008, and the public stable release was on December 11, 2008. The name is derived from the graphical user interface frame, or...
browser that allows GMail users to analyze patterns in their own email traffic. Graph Your Inbox appears to be no longer functional (as of April 2011), probably due to a change in the way Gmail works.
Zeller also served for more than two years as the computer science representative to Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
's Graduate Student Government, advocating the interests of his fellow graduate students in housing, campus transportation, and other issues.
He co-authored an influential paper, called "Government Data and the Invisible Hand", that explained how governments can release public data in ways that will be useful to programmers. The paper has been influential both in academia and government.