********************************************************** Sponsored by the Singapore Internet Research Centre Nanyang Technological University, Singapore http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sci/sirc/
********************************************************** Don't forget to check out www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for today's edition of the complete domain news, already online! And see my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** EU: Consumers: Commission proposes EU-wide rights for shoppers [news release] http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1474 Internet-based Pacific TV in works http://www.nzherald.co.nz/connect/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501833&objectid=10537152 25 years of mobile phones: An evolution from talk to text http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cellphones13-2008oct13,0,594460.story Battle of the Touchscreens: iPhone, Blackberry Storm, Nokia 5800 and Google's G1 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2008/10/08/dltouch108.xml Computers fail the Turing thought test http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/oct/13/artificialintelligenceai-computing 'India is top spam sender in Asia' http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/47469 Cyberscams exploit consumers' financial unease http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/infotheft/2008-10-08-banks-scams-phising-washington-mutual_N.htm uk: Fewer people downloading music illegally http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3184011/Fewer-people-downloading-music-illegally.html Music fans back legal downloads http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7664088.stm au: No opt-out of filtered Internet http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1399635276 Wireless Internet users risk porn trap http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4723294a28.html ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** EU: Consumers: Commission proposes EU-wide rights for shoppers [news release] The European Commission has today launched proposals for EU-wide rights to make it easier for consumers to shop on the Internet and in the main street. The new proposal will guarantee consumers, wherever they shop in the EU, clear information on price and additional charges and fees before they sign a contract. It will strengthen consumer protection against late delivery and non delivery, as well as setting out tough EU-wide consumer rights on issues from cooling off periods, returns, refunds, repairs and guarantees and unfair contract term. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1474 Amid the Gloom, an E-Commerce War When the e-commerce giant eBay emerged from the last recession seven years ago with an aura of invincibility, its chief executive, Meg Whitman, boasted that “eBay is to some extent recession-proof.” As the online auctioneer’s revenues and stock price kept climbing, one of its primary rivals, Amazon.com, just limped along. http://nytimes.com/2008/10/12/business/12giants.html Mail and parcel volumes keep rising, UN agency says on World Post Day [news release] Domestic and international mail and parcel volumes continue to grow, despite predictions that they would decline because of the advance of electronic commerce, the United Nations postal agency says today as it observes the annual World Post Day. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28493 uk: FA condemns children's internet hooligan game A new internet craze where young boys create virtual hooligan characters and fight with guns, swords and baseball bats. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3183780/FA-condemns-childrens-internet-hooligan-game.html us: Newspapers’ Web Revenue Is Stalling Newspapers, already facing a grim economic forecast, are digesting another piece of bad news: the growth in online advertising they saw as their salvation has slowed to a crawl. http://nytimes.com/2008/10/13/business/media/13adco.html au: Nitschke slammed over online euthanasia manual The launch of an online assisted suicide guide has been condemned as grossly irresponsible by critics and supporters of euthanasia. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/13/2389521.htm Internet-based Pacific TV in works A new internet-based Pacific Island channel is set to be launched as a number of new stations are developed to bring Polynesian culture to a wider audience. The channel - which will stream online from November 1 - will allow users to view Pasifika short films and programmes. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/connect/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501833&objectid=10537152 ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** 25 years of mobile phones: An evolution from talk to text Bob Barnett's phone call launched a nearly $150-billion-a-year industry. Twenty-five years ago today, during a media event at Chicago's Soldier Field, the president of Ameritech Mobile Communications made the nation's first commercial cellphone connection. He rang up Alexander Graham Bell's grandson on a Motorola DynaTAC handset that weighed 2 1/2 pounds and retailed for $3,995. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cellphones13-2008oct13,0,594460.story Battle of the Touchscreens: iPhone, Blackberry Storm, Nokia 5800 and Google's G1 Touchscreen mobile phones are officially all the rage – BlackBerry has just launched its first ever device to do away with a physical keyboard in favour of a touchscreen interface. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2008/10/08/dltouch108.xml Parents want to be "cool," are using SMS with their kids Hate on the kiddies and their SMS speak all you want, but text messaging is taking off among the masses. AT&T has released data from two studies it recently commissioned, showing that both families and romantic partners are using SMS more and more to communicate. Parents think texting with their kids makes them cool, while lovestruck texters are finding themselves using SMS to flirt and send romantic notes. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081009-parents-want-to-be-cool-are-using-sms-with-their-kids.html Mobile phones to take on Taleban propaganda in Afghanistan A plan to use mobile phones to combat Taleban propaganda in Afghanistan is being considered by the UK Government. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4919589.ece Computers fail the Turing thought test ... Anyone who has ever felt that their computer has a mind of its own will sympathise with the experience of attempting to get some sense out of a piece of software. But what if your laptop really could strike up a conversation unaided? Experts at the University of Reading yesterday claimed to have put that possibility to the test, with a supposedly scientific investigation of whether computers can indeed think for themselves. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/oct/13/artificialintelligenceai-computing ********************** SPAM ********************** 'India is top spam sender in Asia' India is the top spam sender in Asia and the seventh largest in the world, accounting for over four percent of the total global spam, says a study. http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/47469 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Cyberscams exploit consumers' financial unease The rippling financial crisis has sent consumers scurrying to the Internet for answers and advice. Online fraudsters are right behind, devising ways to steal personal information. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/infotheft/2008-10-08-banks-scams-phising-washington-mutual_N.htm Bank turmoil fuels phishing boom Hi-tech fraudsters are taking advantage of the global financial turmoil, say governments and security experts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7663055.stm ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Adzilla, a Would-Be I.S.P. Snoop, Quits U.S. Market Another company is giving up on the idea that American Internet providers should be able to watch where their customers surf and sell that information to advertisers. This time it is Adzilla, a start-up in Brisbane, Calif., that is closing its North American operations. Its chief executive, Toby Gabriner, has resigned. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/adzilla-a-would-be-isp-snoop-abandons-us-for-asia/ Exclusive: Inside Account of U.S. Eavesdropping on Americans Despite pledges by President George W. Bush and American intelligence officials to the contrary, hundreds of US citizens overseas have been eavesdropped on as they called friends and family back home, according to two former military intercept operators who worked at the giant National Security Agency (NSA) center in Fort Gordon, Georgia. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5987804 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** uk: Fewer people downloading music illegally Fewer people are downloading music from the internet illegally because they are frightened about having their connections cut off, according to new research. Around 39 per cent of music fans currently download tracks from illegal sites, compared to 43 per cent last year, the annual digital music survey of 1,500 people found. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3184011/Fewer-people-downloading-music-illegally.html Music fans back legal downloads Music pirates can be deterred by warnings from their ISP, suggests a survey. Almost 75% of music pirates would stop if told to by their ISP, the survey of 1500 UK consumers found. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7664088.stm ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Korean Star’s Suicide Reignites Debate on Web Regulation ... The police, the media and members of Parliament immediately pointed fingers at the Internet. Malicious online rumors led to Ms. Choi’s suicide, the police said, after studying memos found at her home and interviewing friends and relatives. http://nytimes.com/2008/10/13/technology/internet/13suicide.html http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/12/technology/kstar.php New obscenity charges raise questions in Internet Age [IDG] What 'community standards' apply to content distributed across the entire Internet? A long-standing court test using community standards to determine whether adult content is criminally obscene has been a potential problem area for the U.S. pornography industry. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9116899 Burma's military government paralyses Internet Reporters Without Borders condemns the way the Burmese military government has paralysed the Internet, silencing online dissidents and carrying out regular raids on Internet cafés, while hacker attacks have blocked access to the leading websites with news and information about Burma for the past few weeks. http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=28883 ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ au: No opt-out of filtered Internet Australians will be unable to opt-out of the government's pending Internet content filtering scheme, and will instead be placed on a watered-down blacklist, experts say. Under the government's $125.8 million Plan for Cyber-Safety, users can switch between two blacklists which block content inappropriate for children, and a separate list which blocks illegal material. http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1399635276 http://pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1399635276 http://techworld.com.au/article/263637/no_opt-_filtered_internet http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php/id;1399635276 Hardcore made easy Got kids? Have they got laptops? You’d better read this. Last week I went out to dinner and my host casually mentioned, while topping up my glass, a website that he said was completely altering the economics of the net, just as music file-sharing sites are sinking the CD industry, free newspapers are making inroads into print circulations, piracy is harming the DVD industry and video killed the radio star. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rachel_johnson/article4880821.ece nz: Teen expelled for hacking school's computer system [NZPA] A pupil at Invercargill's James Hargest College has been expelled after hacking into the school's computer system and accessing sensitive information about pupils and teachers. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/26798/teen-expelled-hacking-school039s-computer-system http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4724020a27483.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4724020a28.html Cyberbullying: Parents, Tech Companies Join Forces to Keep Kids Safe School bullies have gone hi-tech in recent years in their efforts to ruin the social lives of their fellow students — but now technology companies are coming to the aid of those victims, trying to help parents fight off a scourge of cyberbullying as the school year gets underway. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,435981,00.html us: Good online-safety law passed Actually, online-safety education is only one part of the just-passed "Broadband Data Improvement Act" designed to improve our understanding of how much of the US has high-speed Internet access so the government can "ensure the continued rollout of broadband access, as well as the successful deployment of the next generation of broadband technology," as one of the bill's sponsors, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), put it, ConsumerAffairs.com reports. http://www.netfamilynews.org/2008/10/good-online-safety-law-passed.html ISPs and games providers want to crack down on harmful content The Council of Europe, EuroISPA and the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) – the European internet service providers' umbrella organisation – have reached a self-regulation agreement on harmful content. http://www.heise-online.co.uk/news/ISPs-and-games-providers-want-to-crack-down-on-harmful-content--/111676 ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** uk: Porn, abuse, depravity - and how they plan to stop it Contrary to popular belief, the government and police forces have hitherto not exerted a great deal of direct control over content. But, after a decade of growth in self-regulation and filtering by the industry to avoid government intervention, that may be about to change. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/09/policing_internet_one/ nz: Copyright section could be changed A controversial clause in the Copyright Act due to come into force in February could be changed if ICT groups and copyright owners can reach a compromise. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4725572a27483.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4725572a28.html fr: Sarkozy snubbed by Barroso in the three strikes approach Barroso, President of the European Commission has refused French President Sarkozy's request to withdraw Amendment 138 included in the Telecoms Package recently voted by the European Parliament. http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number6.19/barrosso-kicks-sarkozy ********************************* COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS ********************************* Internet Companies Hammered by Economic Concerns It was another awful day in the stock market with the Dow dropping more than 7 percent and the Nasdaq more than 5 percent. Internet companies were not immune, as a growing chorus of analysts are now saying that the financial crisis and downturn in the economy are going to affect just about everyone in the sector. It is the latest sign that the downturn is going to temper the mood in always-upbeat Silicon Valley. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/internet-companies-hammered-by-economic-concerns/ ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Nigeria Overtakes S’Africa as Largest African Telecoms Market Nigeria has overtaken South Africa to become the Middle East and African region's largest market in the first quarter. http://allafrica.com/stories/200810090396.html REANNZ seeks trans-Tasman cable - New 1TB per second cable specified REANNZ, which operates KAREN (Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network), is seeking registrations of interest to build a new trans-Tasman telecommunications submarine cable. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/930154A2D0D475EECC2574DD0077C014 au: Time to deliver the broadband promises After much debate and deliberation over Australia’s National Broadband Network, we speak to the local ISP community about broadband opportunities and developments. http://crn.com.au/Feature/5120,time-to-deliver-the-broadband-promises.aspx nz: 19 full applications for broadband fund received The Ministry of Economic Development is reporting a strong response to the government's Broadband Investment Fund (BIF) proposal. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/831CCA437EA58B59CC2574E0007C76B0 ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Skype blasts CTIA over "open" network claim In a letter to the FCC, Skype's Senior Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs Chris Libertelli blasted the CTIA and Sprint Nextel for telling the FCC that the "entire Internet is open", when in fact, even the most-recently announced handsets still block the Skype application, proving that the claim of openness is false. http://www.telecomasia.net/article.php?type=article&id_article=10733 Sprint's 4G Xohm WiMax: How Fast Is It? With most American mobile data networks busy trying to deliver third-generation (3G) mobile wireless access to traveling businesspeople, Sprint's newly launched Xohm service takes a giant step forward by offering America's first 4G system. Based on WiMax technology, it can deliver broadband data speeds to notebooks, Internet tablets and eventually smartphones. But at the moment, there aren't many devices to connect with, the network is struggling with reliability issues, and the high-speed service is limited to just one city -- Baltimore. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/152155/sprints_4g_xohm_wimax_how_fast_is_it.html Wireless Internet users risk porn trap Thousands of Internet users are at risk of becoming embroiled in child pornography trafficking because of insecure security settings on their wireless connections http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4723294a28.html World's first' WiMax mobile phone spied Mobile phone connections over 3G are like so yesterday. HTC obviously knows this and so has developed what could well be the world’s first WiMax-capable phone. http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/10/10/htc_wimax/ us: FCC report negates free Internet interference claims A Federal Communications Commission engineering report released late Friday essentially backs a plan to create a free wireless Internet service by dismissing concerns about interference for existing providers. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10063866-94.html ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN ********************************** au: Child porn charges against Ian Hugh Jenkinson dropped THE DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions has dropped child pornography charges against a prominent Adelaide businessman and philanthropist. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24488567-5006301,00.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The domain name news is supported by auDA For information on subscriptions to the domain name and/or general internet news please contact me. For archives of postings to the list, see http://lists.technewsreview.com.au/pipermail/technewsreview/. Also see http://technewsreview.com.au/ for recent updates. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2008 Make the switch to the world's best email. Get Yahoo!7 Mail! http://au.yahoo.com/y7mail _______________________________________________ APPLe mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.apnic.net/mailman/listinfo/apple
