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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2005 Microsoft Tweaks IE to Sidestep Eolas Patent Singapore to Invest in Electronic Sector Intel Ups Investment in India Rhapsody Users Can Skip the Download MICROSOFT TWEAKS IE TO SIDESTEP EOLAS PATENT Microsoft has made a change to its Internet Explorer browser to avoid infringing on a patent held by Eolas Technologies, though Microsoft continues to dispute the validity of that patent. Eolas was granted a patent in 1998 for a technology that allows certain programs, such as applets or ActiveX controls, to be launched automatically from Web pages. Eolas sued Microsoft in 1999 and in 2003 was awarded $521 million for infringement of its intellectual property. That case has been working its way through appeals courts and is set for a retrial. In the meantime, Microsoft has opted to modify its browser so that users must manually accept the launching of ActiveX controls on Web pages. Unlike an earlier proposal, the one implemented will not require users to accept each such control on a Web page but simply to accept them all at once. Microsoft's Michael Wallent said this solution is less intrusive and that for most users, it will be "an almost invisible change." Microsoft is working with developers to rewrite Web pages in a way to minimize the effects of the change. Internet News, 2 December 2005 http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3568286 SINGAPORE TO INVEST IN ELECTRONIC SECTOR The government of Singapore has announced plans to invest nearly $600 million over the next decade to foster growth in the digital sector of the country's economy. Singapore's Economic Development Board will manage the investments, which will support four areas: attracting businesses from outside the country; fostering a climate that encourages residents of the country to pursue careers in digital media; funding research and development; and providing financial backing for electronic projects involving local and overseas interests. Vivian Balakrishnan, second minister for trade and industry, said the country hopes that the investment will generate 30,000 new jobs in Singapore by 2018. The announcement coincided with the opening of a game development facility by Electronic Arts. Officials in Singapore hope that the country's digital industry will grow to nearly $6 billion by 2018. CNET, 5 December 2005 http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-5982727.html INTEL UPS INVESTMENT IN INDIA Intel has announced plans to invest $1 billion in India, where it already operates the company's largest nonmanufacturing site outside the United States. That site, in Bangalore, hosts development efforts for software. The new investment, expected over the next five years, will be split between the existing research and development efforts and local firms. Craig Barrett, chairman of Intel, said, "We will grow our local operations, boost venture capital investments, and work closely with the government, industry, and educators." The company said it has not made any decisions about opening manufacturing facilities in India, though such an option remains open. The costs of doing business in countries including India are significantly lower than in the United States. Some estimates put the salary for an Indian software engineer at one-sixth of what a comparably skilled engineer would earn in the United States. BBC, 5 December 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4499362.stm RHAPSODY USERS CAN SKIP THE DOWNLOAD RealNetworks has introduced a Web-based version of its Rhapsody online music service, untethering existing users from their usual computers and opening the service to users with non-Windows-based computers. Until now, Rhapsody users had to download an application to their computers to access the service. With the new offering, users can access the service from any computer using their existing Rhapsody names and passwords. The new feature also allows Mac users and those with Linux-based computers to access Rhapsody. The catch is that the Web-based service only permits music streaming--customers who want to purchase tracks will still be required to use the downloaded application. Rhapsody also allows users to listen to 25 songs per month for free. Subscribers can listen to an unlimited number of songs. Rob Glaser, CEO of RealNetworks, said he wouldn't be bothered if most users of the Web-based service choose only to listen to free songs because "the Internet advertising market is doing pretty well." Wall Street Journal, 5 December 2005 (sub. req'd) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113379130776613997.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. 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