********************************************************** Sponsored by the Singapore Internet Research Centre Nanyang Technological University, Singapore http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sci/sirc/
********************************************************** Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for today's edition of the complete domain news, already online! And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Firefox passes billion download milestone http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8177829.stm Facebook and MySpace can lead children to commit suicide, warns Archbishop Nichols http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5956719/Facebook-and-MySpace-can-lead-children-to-commit-suicide-warns-Archbishop-Nichols.html EBay Building Software to Replace Skype Technology http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aY840DkfmyKY Spotify v illegal downloads: Free but legal - Advertising-supported music will not save a troubled industry. But it helps http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14140633 Dutch court rules Pirate Bay must quit Netherlands [AP] http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/07/30/dutch-court-rules-pirate-bay-must-quit-netherlands/ Tenenbaum hit with $675,000 fine for music piracy http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136159/Tenenbaum_hit_with_675_000_fine_for_music_piracy U.S. Weighs Risks of Civilian Harm in Cyberwarfare http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/us/politics/02cyber.html Hacker Gary McKinnon loses appeal against extradition to US http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/31/gary-mckinnon-hacker-aspergers-us ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** OECD: Improving measurement of links between ICT and environmental outcomes This report explores available statistics and data from official statistical sources and from product life cycle studies, suggests a conceptual framework for the statistical field “ICT and the environment” and makes recommendations on how to improve statistical collection. http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2008doc.nsf/linkto/dsti-iccp-ie(2008)4-final ICT industry poised to rebound, says new OECD report Is the ICT industry recovering? Global production and trade of information and communications technology goods turned up sharply in May and June – and ICTs may be among the first of crisis-stricken industries to start growing again, according to a new OECD report. After plunging 30-40% earlier this year, Asian production is now showing month-to-month improvement and China is up nearly 3% year-on-year. http://www.oecd.org/document/21/0,3343,en_2649_37441_43410005_1_1_1_37441,00.html Clash of the Titans: Does Internet Use Reduce Television Viewing? by Stan J. Liebowitz & Alejandro Zentner Abstract: The extent to which the Internet has altered traditional leisure activities has received limited academic study. In this paper we use panel data going back to the beginning of web browsing to examine how the Internet impacts the most important recreation activity of Americans: television viewing. Our results are not consistent with a view that the Internet would have a massive impact on television viewing. Instead, we find that the effect of the Internet on television viewing varies monotonically with the age, reducing it for the youngest American but having no impact on the viewing of the oldest Americans. Even for young individuals, our results suggest that the size of the displacement effect appears to be quite moderate. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1440920 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Firefox passes billion download milestone The open-source browser Firefox passed its billionth download on Friday, ahead of the release of its fourth iteration. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8177829.stm Firefox: 1 billion downloads only part of the story At about 8 a.m. PDT Friday, Firefox crossed the billion-download threshold--a notably large number for Mozilla's open-source Web browser but one that doesn't tell the whole story. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10301013-92.html Over 1 billion served: Firefox passes download milestone The Mozilla Foundation announced Friday morning that the open source Firefox Web browser has been downloaded over 1 billion times. This significant milestone, which was reached several days earlier than expected, is a clear sign of the browser's growing mainstream popularity. http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/07/the-fox-is-on-fire-firefox-downloaded-over-1-billion-times.ars Rivals strive to topple Google in quest for the 'perfect search' Inside the Googleplex - the nickname for Google's Californian headquarters - stands a flat screen on which rotates an image of the Earth. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/02/google-microsoft-yahoo-search-engines The Internet as Art: In the digital age, the medium is the new message Next time an error message pops up on your computer screen or if your machine succumbs to a software virus, it may be more than just an annoying glitch. It may be a work of art. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204619004574318373312061230.html Why The FCC Wants To Smash Open The iPhone Right about now, Apple probably wishes it had never rejected Google Voice and related apps from the iPhone. Or maybe it was AT&T who rejected the apps. Nobody really knows. But the FCC launched an investigation last night to find out, sending letters to all three companies (Apple, AT&T, and Google) asking them to explain exactly what happened. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/01/why-the-fcc-wants-to-smash-open-the-iphone/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/01/AR2009080101074.html US commission to investigate Apple's Google iPhone app rejection The US Federal Communications Commission is seeking additional information about Apple's decision to reject Google's voice application for the iPhone in the United States. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/us-commission-to-investigate-apples-google-iphone-app-rejection-1765967.html FCC seeks details on Google app rejection for iPhone The Federal Communications Commission is seeking additional information about Apple's decision to reject Google's voice application for the iPhone. The Google application is seen by some as a competitive threat to the voice services that come with the iPhone, which is carried exclusively in the United States by AT&T. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE57004220090801 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Airlines Follow Passengers Onto Social Media Sites When United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago damaged Dave Carroll’s $3,500 guitar last year, he tried to get his restitution from the airline the old-fashioned way. But after months and months of phone calls and faxes with various customer-service representatives, the airline refused to accept his claim. So Mr. Carroll, a professional country music singer from Canada, channeled his frustration into a song and a video, which he posted on YouTube. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/business/global/30tweetair.html Managing an Online Reputation Your customers are talking about you — and the whole world is listening. Local review sites are reshaping the world of small business by becoming the new Yellow Pages, one-stop platforms where customers can find a business — and also see independent critiques of its performance. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/business/smallbusiness/30reputation.html Facebook and MySpace can lead children to commit suicide, warns Archbishop Nichols Websites such as Facebook and MySpace encourage teenagers to view friendship as a "commodity" and are leading them to suicide, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has warned. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5956719/Facebook-and-MySpace-can-lead-children-to-commit-suicide-warns-Archbishop-Nichols.html Facebook criticised by Archbishop Social networking websites, texting and e-mails are undermining community life, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has warned. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8180115.stm Facebook and MySpace drive teens to suicide, says Vincent Nichols The spiritual leader of the four million Roman Catholics in England and Wales has damned social network sites, accusing them of undermining community life and leading teenagers to suicide. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6736463.ece ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** EBay Building Software to Replace Skype Technology EBay Inc. is building new software to run its Skype Internet-calling service, a bid to sidestep a licensing dispute with Skype’s founders, who have threatened to take back the underlying technology. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aY840DkfmyKY Skype could be cut off for good over dispute Skype might have to shut down because of a dispute over the core technology used to make the internet telephone system work. EBay, which paid $2.6 billion (£1.6 billion) for the voice-over-the-internet system in 2005, is facing a court battle with the original founders of the company who retained the rights to the technology at the heart of the system. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article6735381.ece Report: eBay is building a Frankenskype eBay wants to spin off telephony service Skype into a separate publicly traded company, but something's standing in the way: Skype's founders are threatening to take back some of the technology in the midst of a licensing dispute. The auction giant's solution, according to a Bloomberg report on Thursday: Build a new one. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10300317-36.html Shock threat to shut Skype over licensing dispute eBay says it may have to shut down Skype due to a licensing dispute with the founders of the internet telephony service. The surprise admission puts a cloud over the 40 million active daily users around the world who use Skype for business or to keep in touch with friends and far-flung relatives. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/biz-tech/shock-threat-to-shut-skype-20090731-e3qe.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/biz-tech/shock-threat-to-shut-skype-20090731-e3qe.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2708421/Shock-threat-to-kill-Skype Legal spat pushes Ebay to develop new base for Skype Ebay has begun developing an alternative to the P2P technology used by Skype as a licensing dispute drags on and threatens to close the popular IP telephony service. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136113/Legal_spat_pushes_Ebay_to_develop_new_base_for_Skype eBay told it can't use core Skype tech, attempts workaround eBay is developing a new backend for Skype as it tries to resolve a legal dispute before spinning off the VoIP service next year. The company revealed its plans in its 10-Q regulatory filing on Thursday, noting that eBay and Skype are confident in their legal position vis-a-vis the technology they're currently using for peer-to-peer connections, but that the new system is being developed "just in case." http://arstechnica.com/software/news/2009/07/ebay-told-it-cant-use-core-skype-tech-attempts-workaround.ars Online gaming trade fair opens in Leipzig The Games Convention in Leipzig, which opened on Friday, is the only convention in Europe that concentrates solely on online and mobile games. The online games market is booming, in spite of the tough economic times. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4532914,00.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ uk: Schoolgirl bullied to death on Bebo A schoolgirl took a fatal overdose of pills because she was so distraught at spiteful remarks on website Bebo. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/07/30/schoolgirl-bullied-to-death-on-bebo-115875-21557626/ nz: Child porn reporting software launched Free public software aimed at weeding out child pornography from the internet is launched on Monday. Software for the hotline, which has been developed together with the Department of Internal Affairs, can be downloaded and will be available from all Body Shop stores. http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/child-porn-reporting-software-launched-2882864 au: Scheme aims to pull plug on cyber bullying A new project will begin in Australian schools to try to stem the emergence of cyber bullying. The Federal Government says covert bullying in schools is under-reported. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/02/2643329.htm New bid to stop cyber bullies Worried about cyber bullying in schools, the Federal Government is to launch a $3 million pilot program to try to curb the phenomenon linked to several recent teen suicides. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25868947-5006301,00.html http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,25867442-952,00.html Govt to launch Cyber-bullying project The federal government is to fund a national pilot project aimed at addressing cyber-bullying in schools. http://www.skynews.com.au/politics/article.aspx?id=358271 au: Techno junk separates teens from parents, says writer Our children's entire life experience is being shrunk down to the classroom, television and computer games just at the time they need more emotional maturity to cope with the difficult choices facing them. And parents, while aware of issues such as cyber-bullying, the impact of violent images on young boys' behaviour and the sexualisation of children at an ever younger age, are hopelessly ill-equipped to cope with the technology so influencing their children's lives. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25873077-5013404,00.html au: A web of sex chat with under-age boys The most harrowing moments of the three-week trial of John Finnin came when the jury heard explicit sexual details from a conversation allegedly between one of a number of 15-year-old boys and the former senior Australian diplomat. http://www.smh.com.au/national/a-web-of-sex-chat-with-underage-boys-20090802-e5ux.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Spotify v illegal downloads: Free but legal - Advertising-supported music will not save a troubled industry. But it helps Can legal free music compete with the illegal stuff? It seems so. Firms such as Spotify, founded by Swedish programmers, and we7, based in Britain, stream music on demand to European computers in return for nothing more burdensome than the odd advertisement. Together they have quickly amassed 8m users. On March 24th Spotify asked Apple to authorise an application for the iPhone that would take music-streaming mobile. http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14140633 Dutch court tells Pirate Bay to scram, or else A Dutch court has ruled in favor of antipiracy foundation BREIN, giving three of The Pirate Bay's co-founders 10 days to block traffic to and from the Netherlands, effectively revoking access to its residents. http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-10300164-248.html Dutch court rules Pirate Bay must quit Netherlands [AP] A Dutch court ruled Thursday that three men connected with Web site The Pirate Bay must block traffic between the site and the Netherlands within 10 days. http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/07/30/dutch-court-rules-pirate-bay-must-quit-netherlands/ http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/dutch-court-rules-against-pirate-bay-20090731-e3b5.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/dutch-judge-bans-pirate-bay-20090731-e3xp.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10587865 Pirate Bay faces civil lawsuit in Sweden, exec departure A group of major film studios has taken court action in Sweden to have The Pirate Bay shut down. The site's founders were found guilty on criminal charges of facilitating copyright infringement earlier this year but the site remains live. http://out-law.com/page-10217 Tenenbaum hit with $675,000 fine for music piracy In another big victory for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a federal jury has fined Boston University student Joel Tenenbaum $675,000 for illegally downloading and distributing 30 copyrighted songs. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136159/Tenenbaum_hit_with_675_000_fine_for_music_piracy http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/9BD2AD27DFB6DD31CC25760500100DE0 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/073109-tenenbaum-hit-with-675000-fine.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/169455/.html US file-sharer gets $700,000 fine A US student has been ordered to pay $675,000 (£404,000) to four record labels for breaking copyright laws after sharing music online. The Boston University student, Joel Tenenbaum, had admitted in court that he had downloaded and distributed 30 songs at issue in the case. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8177285.stm Judge: Tenenbaum guilty of copyright infringement It's all over for Joel Tenenbaum—except for the size of the check he'll be told to write the RIAA. In a reversal of her decision last night, Judge Nancy Gertner has granted the record labels' motion for a directed verdict on the issue of copyright infringement. Tenenbaum is now liable for infringing all 30 songs at issue in the case. All that will be left to the jury is to determine the size of the damage award and whether the infringement was willful. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/judge-tenenbaum-guilty-of-copyright-infringement.ars Debate rages as jury weighs damages in Tenenbaum music piracy case A stream of messages on the joelfightsback.com blog site reveals mixed feelings over the way the high-profile music piracy trial of Boston University student Joel Tenenbaum appears set to end. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136157/Debate_rages_as_jury_weighs_damages_in_Tenenbaum_music_piracy_case Only question in Tenenbaum music piracy trial is size of fine With Joel Tenenbaum, the Boston University student accused of music piracy, admitting to a federal jury Thursday that he illegally downloaded songs, the sole question remaining is just how big a fine he will face. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136156/Only_question_in_Tenenbaum_music_piracy_trial_is_size_of_fine http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/073109-only-question-in-tenenbaum-music.html Joel Tenenbaum admits in court he shared music files There's no subterfuge with Joel Tenenbaum. The graduate student accused of copyright violations admitted in court on Thursday that he shared files and knew others were downloading the music he made available on Kazaa, according to a Twitter post from blogger Ben Sheffner. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10299794-93.html ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** Bill Gates' Fix for India's Ills: Technology Microsoft Chairman Gates says technology—from an electronic network for urban workers to a national ID card project—can help India overcome its challenges http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2009/gb20090727_450174.htm Broadband Internet access critical catalyst to Asia-Pacific development – UN forum The importance of speedy Internet access to stimulate economic growth across Asia and the Pacific was underlined by participants of a regional United Nations information and communications technology (ICT) gathering that wrapped up in Indonesia today. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=31620 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** U.S. Weighs Risks of Civilian Harm in Cyberwarfare It would have been the most far-reaching case of computer sabotage in history. In 2003, the Pentagon and American intelligence agencies made plans for a cyberattack to freeze billions of dollars in the bank accounts of Saddam Hussein and cripple his government’s financial system before the United States invaded Iraq. He would have no money for war supplies. No money to pay troops. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/us/politics/02cyber.html http://news.cnet.com/U.S.-weighs-risks-of-civilian-harm-in-cyberwarfare/2100-7348_3-6249945.html US DOD moots plan to prove identity on the internet The US Department of Defense (DoD) is preparing strategy and policy documents on federated identity management systems that may lead to a national identity system for the United States. http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/07/31/237137/us-dod-moots-plan-to-prove-identity-on-the-internet.htm Rockefeller and Snowe retool cybersecurity bill Senate Commerce Chairman John (Jay) Rockefeller and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, plan to circulate after the August recess a retooled version of sweeping cybersecurity legislation they introduced in April, according to aides. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090731_6904.php How Koobface wormed its way into your PC and threatened to take the fun out of Facebook In cyberspace, as in more conventional social forums, people don’t look kindly on others who spread communicable diseases. So when the microblogging service Twitter recently suspended the accounts of users whose PCs had been infected by a computer virus, there was annoyance at the fact that it was Twitter that had passed on the infection. http://business.theage.com.au/business/how-koobface-wormed-its-way-into-your-pc-and-threatened-to-take-the-fun-out-of-facebook-20090731-e4ij.html Hacker Gary McKinnon loses appeal against extradition to US There were emotional scenes outside the high court today after computer hacker Gary McKinnon lost a further attempt to avoid his extradition to America on charges of breaching US military and Nasa computers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/31/gary-mckinnon-hacker-aspergers-us http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/31/gary-mckinnon-loses-extradition-appeal Gary McKinnon: Pentagon hacker's worst nightmare comes true For the past seven years, in bedsits in Crouch End and Bounds Green, north London, the Pentagon hacker and UFO buff Gary McKinnon has – according to his family and friends – been suffering one long anxiety attack. He's prone to regular fits of fainting and thoughts of suicide. He's written that he can't look himself in his eyes when he's shaving in case the sight of himself sets the spiral off. He jumps out of his skin if someone touches him by surprise. I've met him sporadically during these years and can vouch that he's a chainsmoking, terrified shell. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/01/gary-mckinnon-extradition-nightmare Hacker’s Extradition to U.S. More Likely A High Court ruling on Friday brought Britain an important step closer to extraditing a 43-year-old British computer hacker to the United States despite claims by the man’s lawyers that he is a harmless eccentric with a form of autism, and not a cyberterrorist, as American prosecutors have asserted. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/world/europe/01britain.html Gary McKinnon: British hacker to be extradited to US Gary McKinnon, the British hacker who infiltrated American military websites searching for proof of alien life, has lost his High Court appeal against extradition to the US. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5946267/Gary-McKinnon-British-hacker-to-be-extradited.html Hacker loses extradition appeal British hacker Gary McKinnon has lost his latest High Court bid to avoid extradition to the United States. US authorities want to try the 43-year-old, from Wood Green, north London, for breaking into US military and Nasa computers in 2001 and 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8177561.stm Gary McKinnon: talent for hacking 'damaged military computers after September 11' Gary McKinnon's talent for computer hacking led to him being accused of leaving US military computer systems unusable after the September 11 terror attacks. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5945696/Gary-McKinnon-talent-for-hacking-damaged-military-computers-after-September-11.html Gary McKinnon: timeline of the computer hacker's case Gary McKinnon, the computer hacker, has been living under the threat of prosecution in the US for nearly seven years. This is a timeline of key events in his case: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5945693/Gary-McKinnon-timeline-of-the-computer-hackers-case.html Hackers hit Melbourne film festival A diplomatic row between Australia and China over the planned visit of exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer escalated yesterday, with Australia’s ambassador called to a dressing-down by China’s Foreign Ministry. http://www.smh.com.au/national/hackers-hit-film-festival-20090801-e5at.html Melbourne film festival braces for more website attacks Melbourne International Film Festival organisers expect continued attacks over the screening of a documentary about exhiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/01/2643240.htm China-based cyber attack hits Australia film festival site A China-based cyber attack on Saturday shut down online bookings for a leading Australian film festival, days before a controversial visit by a leading critic of Beijing, organisers said. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5700G020090801 Google to hunt those charging for free service Google is investigating companies who charge $500 for services the search engine provides free. The owners of a Queensland small business said they registered the business at their home address when they started because they had not finalised the acquisition of their business premises. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/google-to-hunt-those-charging-for-free-service-20090801-e541.html CDT Report: Privacy, Legal Concerns Surround Secret Government Cybersecurity System [news release] The Center for Democracy & Technology today released a report outlining a series of privacy and legal questions that surround the government computer monitoring system known as "Einstein." The report calls on the Administration to release information about the legal authority for Einstein, the role of the nation's top spy agency, the National Security Agency, in its development and operation, and the impact of Einstein on the privacy. http://cdt.org/press/20090728press.php In French Inquiry, a Glimpse at Corporate Spying The story has the elements of a corporate thriller: a cast of characters that includes former French spies and military men, an American cycling champion, Greenpeace activists and a dogged judge whose investigation takes him from a sports doping laboratory outside Paris to a Moroccan jail and to some of the top corporations in France. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/business/global/01iht-spy.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** us: Privacy protections could hamper agencies' adoption of cookies The White House's newly proposed plan to lift a nine-year ban on placing online-tracking devices on federal Web sites could conflict with other government regulations, some privacy and new media specialists said. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090730_3849.php?oref=topstory ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** China steps up fight against online porn [Xinhua] China's ongoing war against Internet pornography and prostitution is to be ramped up, said the Ministry of Public Security Thursday. The crackdown between August and October will be conducted by nine government and Communist Party departments, involving police, publicity, health, information technology, banking, and radio, film and television. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-07/30/content_8494735.htm http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6714860.html uk: MP calls on YouTube to remove Real IRA propaganda videos The Real IRA and Continuity IRA have been dealt a propaganda blow in cyberspace. YouTube has confirmed to the Observer this weekend that it is investigating the presence of films praising the dissident republican terror groups on its worldwide video-sharing network. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/02/youtube-ira-facebook-cyber-terrorism ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** us: Markey, Eshoo Unveil Net Neutrality Bill Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., reprised the congressional push for a so-called "network neutrality" mandate on Friday by introducing legislation that would prevent Internet service providers such as telephone and cable companies from interfering with Web content that passes through their pipelines. The bill would essentially bar ISPs from using the claim of network management to impose their own priorities on data traffic, based on financial arrangements or other considerations. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2009/07/markey-eshoo-unveil-net-neutra.php ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Behind Microsoft-Yahoo: The Online Economics of Scale In their persuasion assault on Wednesday, Carol A. Bartz and Steven A. Ballmer repeatedly explained the Microsoft-Yahoo deal using a term from classical economics: “scale.” http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/behind-the-microsoft-yahoo-deal-the-internet-economics-of-scale/ A deal between Microsoft and Yahoo! Bingoo! Users will probably not notice the difference. But the deal between Microsoft and Yahoo!, the world’s biggest software firm and the leading web portal, for a ten-year partnership in searches and advertising on the internet, may one day be seen as a momentous event. The combination, which was announced on July 29th after years of speculation about a tie-up, is not as far-reaching as originally envisaged. But it is likely to create a serious rival to Google, the online giant that dominates both of these activities. http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14140641 Advertisers welcome Yahoo and Microsoft deal to take on Google Advertisers today offered a warm welcome to the planned merger of Yahoo and Microsoft's online search engines, designed to take on the increasing power wielded by Google. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jul/30/searchengines-google Yahoo Got a Great Deal, Says Microsoft’s Ballmer Yahoo’s stock price is down about 16 percent since it announced its deal Wednesday morning to turn over its Web search operations to Microsoft in exchange for an 88 percent cut of the advertising revenue. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/yahoo-got-a-great-deal-says-microsofts-ballmer/ Microsoft-Yahoo: Antitrust Hurdles Loom Don't expect the Microsoft-Yahoo search deal to sail through a regulatory review. Sure, it's tempting to think Justice Dept. officials won't quibble much over a deal aimed at helping two struggling companies get a leg up against a market-leading competitor. That's essentially the line taken by executives at Microsoft and Yahoo! to explain why their 10-year pact shouldn't be held up by an antitrust review. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2009/tc20090729_672770.htm Battle for control of the internet in Peru by Jorge Bossio and APCNews Someone turns on his or her computer, clicks on a link to a website that someone recommended and gets a message like this from the internet service provider: “This site is not available with the basic service plan. To subscribe to premium service, please call 0-800-555-1234.” http://www.apc.org/en/node/9060 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Cable fault cuts off West Africa Large parts of West Africa are struggling to get back online following damage to an undersea cable. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8176014.stm Australian telecoms regulation change closer The federal government is one step closer to introducing legislative changes to the nation's failed telecommunications regulatory regime. It has received more than 30 submissions detailing the legal framework needed to ensure that its national broadband network (NBN) project does not flounder. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25861182-15319,00.html nz: TelstraClear announces cable upgrades - and tells govt to butt out While Telecom and Vodafone make nice, TelstraClear has further isolated itself from the government’s $1.5 billion fibre initiative - offering more belligerent commentary alongside its announcement of plans to upgrade 80,000 Wellington and Christchurch cable connections. http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/chris-keall/telstraclear-announces-100mbits-cable-upgrades-and-tells-govt-butt-out nz: Vodafone: first customers will get turbocharged 3G in October Following a “technical validation” trial today, the carrier promises its network upgrade, which will offer DSL-like data speeds on a mobile, will be in Auckland trial customers’ hands by October, with widespread commercial deployment during 2010. PLUS: what's next? http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/vodafone-first-customers-will-get-turbocharged-3g-october-106821 Business NZ reignites telco regulation debate Business New Zealand says better and more effective regulation that encourages investment is needed in telecommunications and in other areas of the economy to boost productivity. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/F5E540765E8A0CB7CC25760300748D88 ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN ********************************** uk: Missing Bebo schoolgirl's man has mental health issues Police are searching for a missing schoolgirl, believed to have run away with a man she met on the internet site Bebo. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6735908.ece +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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://GoldsteinReport.com/ for recent updates. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein email: [email protected] web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home mail: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery ____________________________________________________________________________________ Access Yahoo!7 Mail on your mobile. Anytime. Anywhere. Show me how: http://au.mobile.yahoo.com/mail _______________________________________________ APPLe mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.apnic.net/mailman/listinfo/apple
