********************************************************** 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 *************************************************** Internet retail booming in Europe even as security concerns rise http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4901946,00.html Woe is Bebo: site to shut down in Australia http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/woe-is-bebo-site-to-shut-down-in-australia-20091119-iox3.html Mayday, mayday - Bebo NZ is going down http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/mayday-mayday-bebo-nz-going-down-115235 Apple laptops fourth in reliability: study http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-laptops-fourth-in-reliability-study-20091118-im8t.html IWF: Eradicating child sexual abuse images: beyond rhetoric and borders http://www.iwf.org.uk/media/news.271.htm The strange death of illegal downloading - no thanks to the music industry or government http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/18/end-of-illegal-downloading British illegal downloaders face broadband limits set in Digital Economy Bill http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/illegal-downloaders-face-broadband-limits-1824357.html iiNet accuses Hollywood of outsourcing copyright enforcement http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/iinet-accuses-hollywood-of-outsourcing-copyright-enforcement/story-e6frgakx-1225800094356 The Googlephone: Google gears up for attack on mobile-phone market http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article6924233.ece Ofcom investigates potential for new wireless communications technology [news release] http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/11/nr_20091117a Two held over ZeuS trojan virus that steals personal data http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/18/zeus-zbot-trojan-virus Counterfeit Drugs and Internet Smarts - More public education would help stem the problem of fake pharmaceuticals—restricting Internet trade would not. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704888404574547541353754078.html FDA Issues 22 Warning Letters to Web site Operators - Part of International Internet Week of Action [news release] http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm191330.htm McAfee, Inc. Warns Consumers about "The Twelve Scams of Christmas," or Popular Online Attacks This Holiday Season http://newsroom.mcafee.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=3596 Mandelson seeks to amend copyright law in new crackdown on filesharing http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/19/mandelson-copyright-filesharing-murdoch-google A world class Digital Economy for Britain [news release] http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=408781&SubjectId=2 Push starts to make ‘Digital Britain’ law http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e66bcd0-d5c9-11de-b80f-00144feabdc0.html Spain mandates affordable broadband for all http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10402643-266.html Google aims to take over the netbook market with its Chrome operating system http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/nov/19/google-chromeos-netbooks-web-cloud ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Internet retail booming in Europe even as security concerns rise The financial crisis appears to have breathed new life into e-commerce, with sales showing an upward swing in Europe as well as in other parts of the world. But how safe is online shopping? http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4901946,00.html Internet hook-ups hurt sex industry In a profession notoriously resilient to hard times, online dating sites threaten to do what the global financial crisis could not - send the sex services industry broke. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/internet-hookups-hurt-sex-industry-20091120-iqv5.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/internet-hookups-hurt-sex-industry-20091120-iqv5.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3086468/ Microsoft and News Corp eye web pact [reg req'd] Microsoft has had discussions with News Corp over a plan that would involve the media company’s being paid to “de-index” its news websites from Google, setting the scene for a search engine battle that could offer a ray of light to the newspaper industry. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a243c8b2-d79b-11de-b578-00144feabdc0.html News Corp, Microsoft hold talks on locking out Google [AFP] Microsoft has held talks with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp over a possible plan for the software giant to pay the media company to remove its news websites from Google, according to a report out today. http://www.theage.com.au/business/world-business/news-corp-microsoft-hold-talks-on-locking-out-google-20091123-iu0f.html http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/news-corp-microsoft-hold-talks-on-locking-out-google-20091123-iu0f.html Europeans warming up to paid online news The days of free online newspapers may be drawing to a close as major media owners announce their intention to impose stricter and higher pay barriers on their news services. And Europeans seem to be willing to pay for such services, according to a recent survey. http://euractiv.com/en/infosociety/europeans-warming-paid-online-news/article-187462 Opinion: Murdoch's pay walls will be paper tigers – and he daren't put them round Sky Is it time to stop beating up on the BBC? The question – with elements of personal recantation attached – becomes more relevant the further newspapers march along the rocky road marked online "pay walls" (led last week by a Times editor promising to erect 24-hour ramparts around his own online offering by next spring). For let's look at the competition James Harding may feel obliged to worry about once daffodils die. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/22/murdoch-pay-walls-times-sky-fox 200 Web Sites Spread al-Qaida's Message in English [AP] Increasing numbers of English-language Web sites are spreading al-Qaida's message to Muslims in the West. They translate writings and sermons once largely out of reach of English readers and often feature charismatic clerics like Anwar al-Awlaki, who exchanged dozens of e-mails with the Army psychiatrist accused of the Fort Hood shootings. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/19/world/AP-ML-Al-Qaida-Online.html China, India and Japan Fuel Rapid Growth in Asia Pacific Internet Audience comScore released a report on the growth of Internet audiences in the Asia-Pacific region based on data from its comScore World Metrix service. The study found that the Asia-Pacific region has seen significant growth in the past year, increasing 22 percent to nearly half a billion visitors to Internet sites, with most individual countries in the region experiencing double-digit growth rates. These and other relevant findings will be presented in the comScore live complimentary webinar, State of the Internet with a Focus on Asia Pacific on Thursday, November 19. Details on the webinar and registration can be found below. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2009/11/China_India_Japan_Fuel_Rapid_Growth_in_Asia_Pacific_Internet_Audience ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Mobile phones edge PCs in Asian social network use [MIS Asia] Mobile devices are the preferred tools by social network site (SNS) users over PCs in at least four Asian countries, according to a recent IDC survey report. http://mis-asia.com/news/articles/mobile-phones-edges-pc-in-social-network-use-idc http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/newmedia/4537A0A31E4807BDCC257673007EE51E Greater vigilance needed as social networking usage rises: F-Secure Malaysia Security solutions firm F-Secure Malaysia says greater vigilance is needed as the use of social networking is gathering pace compared to e-mail. http://mis-asia.com/news/articles/greater-vigilance-needed-as-social-networking-usage-rises-f-secure-malaysia http://www.pcworld.com/article/182810/.html Woe is Bebo: site to shut down in Australia The Facebook juggernaut has claimed the scalp of AOL Time Warner's $US850 million ($921 million) acquisition of Bebo, with the social media site tipped to close its Australian operation before Christmas as part of a global retreat and rethink. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/woe-is-bebo-site-to-shut-down-in-australia-20091119-iox3.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/woe-is-bebo-site-to-shut-down-in-australia-20091119-iox3.html Mayday, mayday - Bebo NZ is going down Telecom’s social networking partner, Bebo, is tanking in the ratings. The social networking service is reportedly about to close its Australian operation, beaten down by strong competitors. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/mayday-mayday-bebo-nz-going-down-115235 Facebook acts on follower trade Facebook has threatened legal action against a service that sells friends on the social networking site. It said it would take the action against marketing firm USocial unless it stopped violating Facebook's rights. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8370302.stm uk: Glassing Victim Finds Attacker On Facebook A woman who was glassed in the face has told Sky News Online how she used Facebook to track down her attacker. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Woman-Glassed-In-Face-In-Watford-Bar-Tracks-Down-Attacker-On-Facebook/Article/200911315458212 Canadian Woman Loses Benefits Over Facebook Photo [AP] A Canadian woman on long-term sick leave says she lost her benefits because of photos on Facebook and she's fighting to get them reinstated. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/22/world/AP-CN-Canada-Facebook-Insurance.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3086499/ ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Gore says supercomputing can be killer app in climate change Former Vice President Al Gore today told an audience of scientists, programmers and system builders at the SC09 conference here that their work is essential in the effort to avoid global catastrophe caused by climate change. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141192/Gore_says_supercomputing_can_be_killer_app_in_climate_change http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/327085/ Apple laptops fourth in reliability: study Mac fans are often quick to claim superior performance from their Apple laptops, but a study from a warranty supplier in the US has ranked the reliability of their hardware fourth behind Asus, Toshiba and Sony. http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-laptops-fourth-in-reliability-study-20091118-im8t.html http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-laptops-fourth-in-reliability-study-20091118-im8t.html Sony Bets on Online Push As Sony Corp. scrambles to reassert its technological relevance, Chief Executive Howard Stringer is betting on a strategy for the electronics giant that focuses on adding online content to more of its gadgets. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704204304574544812985792906.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ uk: Children exposed to too much pornography on internet and television, MP warns Children as young as five are simulating sex acts at school because they are exposed to pornography on satellite television and the internet, a senior MP has warned. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/6609629/Children-exposed-to-too-much-pornography-on-internet-and-television-MP-warns.html IWF: Eradicating child sexual abuse images: beyond rhetoric and borders IWF submitted a contribution to the UK Internet Governance Forum’s blog on key issues facing the internet governance community. Reflecting on our area of expertise and experience, this article focuses on child sexual abuse content which is as much an issue for the UK internet as for every country, every law enforcement body, every facet of the global internet community, and every citizen. There are few issues so serious, on and offline, as child sexual abuse; and there are few mediums so appropriate for the distribution, sharing and trade in records of this abuse than the internet. We believe, however, that the abuse of the internet by criminals around the world for the distribution, sharing, and trade of child sexual abuse images can be thwarted. http://www.iwf.org.uk/media/news.271.htm nz: 'Gang mentality' bullying claim as girl quits school [The Press] An 11-year-old girl has been pulled from school amid allegations of bullying by her classmates, including an email that suggested she should kill herself. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/3086800/ PlayStation Helps Feds Catch Pedophiles Federal officials have put the Sony PS3 to work breaking passwords on computer equipment confiscated from suspected child pornographers. according to a story released on the Scripps Howard Foundation wire. http://www.pcworld.com/article/182814/.html uk: Children social network in secret says Prof Byron Many children are social networking without their parents' knowledge, the government's internet safety czar, Professor Tanya Byron, has said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8369111.stm How to handle a cyber-bully You've told your child so many times not to share personal information or passwords online that you almost certainly sound like a grown-up from the Peanuts movies – wah, wah, wah, wah. But what if someone online is already making your kid's life miserable? http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/newsfeatures/article/727137--if-child-is-bullied-online-first-step-is-to-reassure ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** The strange death of illegal downloading - no thanks to the music industry or government Stand by for the death of illegal music downloads. It is already gathering pace, being one of the fastest growing – or contracting – activities on the web. It is not happening because of the music industry's rough justice (such as suing customers); nor because of Lord Mandelson's variant of "three strikes and you're out" for people caught downloading illegally – though doubtless they will claim credit. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/18/end-of-illegal-downloading British illegal downloaders face broadband limits set in Digital Economy Bill Internet users who illegally download films and music will run the risk of being cut off from the web under new laws published by the Government today. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/illegal-downloaders-face-broadband-limits-1824357.html iiNet accuses Hollywood of outsourcing copyright enforcement iiNet yesterday accused Hollywood of trying to "outsource" its copyright enforcement to internet firms as it continued to battle in Federal Court against claims it authorised illegal file-sharing on its network. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/iinet-accuses-hollywood-of-outsourcing-copyright-enforcement/story-e6frgakx-1225800094356 AFACT v iiNet: ISP draws on TV copyright battle Internet service provider (ISP) iiNet continued to draw on a 2002 copyright case between Channel 9 and Channel 10 over segments broadcast on The Panel as part of its case against the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT). http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/326964/ Investors eye Australian internet TV boom Malaysian billionaire and media investor T. Ananda Krishnan has seized an opportunity created by the government's proposed national broadband network, whereby he could challenge traditional media players for Australian television viewers. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/investors-eye-internet-tv-boom/story-e6frg9rx-1225801828612 ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Crackdown launched on Chinese mobile phone porn China Mobile, the country's largest wireless carrier, is coming under pressure to shut off access to pornography through its cell phone network. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-11/20/content_9007928.htm http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/6818535.html http://www.china.org.cn/china/2009-11/20/content_18922146.htm The Googlephone: Google gears up for attack on mobile-phone market Google is gearing up for an all-out assault on the mobile-phone market that will include a new, Google-branded handset and the first comprehensive Google phone service with unlimited free calls. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article6924233.ece Cellphone Entertainment Takes Off In Rural India In the furthest reaches of India's rural heartland, the cellphone is bringing something that television, radio and even newspapers couldn't deliver: Instant access to music, information, entertainment, news and even worship. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704533904574545451866310232.html Ofcom investigates potential for new wireless communications technology [news release] Ofcom today published a discussion document to explore the potential of a new technology that could wirelessly link up different devices and offer enhanced broadband access in rural areas. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/11/nr_20091117a Counterfeit handsets proliferate in China: Talk is cheap Chinese consumers appear fixated with Apple’s iconic iPhone. It draws throngs of eager buyers in Shanghai’s Xujiahui computer market. Similarly, at the Canton Trade Fair in October, vendors hawking familiar-looking silver and black slabs were convulsed in crowds, in sharp contrast to the deserted booths of rival brands, where lonely salesmen slurped disconsolately at noodles. So how can it be that China Unicom has seen dismal initial sales under its exclusive arrangement to sell the iPhone in China? http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14931575 Smartphone growth to continue strong in 2010 The wireless chip industry expects smartphone market surge to continue, with British microchip designer ARM saying growth would likely even accelerate further next year. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5AJ0VH20091120 ********************** SPAM ********************** What's Driving Spam and Domain Fraud? Illicit Drug Traffic Spam is not about who sent it, it's about who benefits from it. For a moment forget everything you know about filters, zombie PCs, firewalls, spoofing, viruses, beisyan algorithms, header forgery, botnets, or blacklists. These are all methods for sending spam or preventing spam delivery. None of these explain why spam is sent and for far too long all the attention has been paid to the effects and not the driving force. Under the endless onslaught of junk mail it is easy to feel that the goal of the game is send spam and annoy us all. But this isn't the goal. The goal of spam is a transaction. Motivation not method. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091119_whats_driving_spam_and_domain_fraud_illicit_drug_traffic/ ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Two held over ZeuS trojan virus that steals personal data Two suspected hackers have been arrested by police investigating a "trojan" computer virus that gathers confidential details from individuals and is believed to have infected tens of thousands of computers around the world. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/18/zeus-zbot-trojan-virus Why Zbot is the most notorious malware The Zbot or Zeus malware is a trojan – a program that comes disguised as one thing (such as an email attachment which says you need to click on it to reconfigure your email clients), but instead steals online banking details. Trojans are a serious threat to the security of users' machines: the cleverest prevent antivirus software from downloading updates that would catch it and wait silently until the user goes on to a banking, share-dealing or social networking site, at which point it will capture login details. F-Secure, a computer security company, noted that "to gather more information, the malware author can even create additional fields, which are then injected into a targeted webpage for the unsuspecting victim to fill in". The person in control of Zbot could capture enough information to steal unsuspecting users' identities completely. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/18/zbot-zeus-trojan-malware us: FDA targets rogue Internet pharmacies The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pressuring a number of Internet service providers to shut off nearly 12 dozen Web sites alleged to be selling counterfeit or unapproved prescription drugs. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/11/fda_targets_rogue_internet_pha.html Counterfeit Drugs and Internet Smarts - More public education would help stem the problem of fake pharmaceuticals—restricting Internet trade would not. Whatever happened to caveat emptor? Consumers are indeed put at serious risk when they buy counterfeit drugs over the Internet. But sweeping restrictions on Web-based drug sales stand to worsen their ills. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704888404574547541353754078.html FDA Issues 22 Warning Letters to Web site Operators - Part of International Internet Week of Action [news release] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today completed a coordinated, weeklong, international effort, called the International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), intended to curb illegal actions involving medical products. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm191330.htm ENISA clears the fog on cloud computing security The EU’s ‘cyber security’ agency, ENISA launches a comprehensive, new report on “Cloud Computing: Benefits, risks and recommendations for information security”. http://www.enisa.europa.eu/media/press-releases/enisa-clears-the-fog-on-cloud-computing-security-1 McAfee, Inc. Warns Consumers about "The Twelve Scams of Christmas," or Popular Online Attacks This Holiday Season As cybercriminals begin to take advantage of the holiday season, McAfee, Inc. today revealed the “Twelve Scams of Christmas” – the twelve most dangerous online scams that computer users should be cautious of this holiday season. According to Consumer Reports’ 2009 State of the Net Survey, cybercriminals have bilked $8 billion from consumers in the past two years, and McAfee warns consumers not to fall victim to the top scams this year. http://newsroom.mcafee.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=3596 McAfee warns about '12 Scams of Christmas' [news release] Retailers aren't the only ones gearing up for the holiday season. Criminals are also out in force. To highlight the increased crime during the holidays, security company McAfee has come up with the "12 Scams of Christmas" ranging from bogus electronic greeting cards that deliver malware instead of cheer to fake charities that steal your money and your identity. http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10403100-238.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada Highlights Youth Privacy on the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Human Rights of the Child On the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of the Child, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, is advising Canadians to think about how young people are integrating the Internet and its services into their daily lives, because many young people are unaware of the privacy risks that are involved. http://www.priv.gc.ca/media/nr-c/2009/nr-c_091120_e.cfm ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Charting the Cuban blogosphere They are new, number just a few dozen and hardly anyone can read them – but Cuba's government has already decided it does not like independent blogs. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/18/cuba-blogs-blogosphere ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: Local net content in line for review The federal government has opened the door for regulation of local content on the internet after Minister for Broadband Stephen Conroy confirmed the government's intention to commence a review of convergent media regulation. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/local-net-content-in-line-for-review/story-e6frg9sx-1225801823743 Mandelson seeks to amend copyright law in new crackdown on filesharing Lord Mandelson is seeking to amend the laws on copyright to give the government sweeping new powers against people accused of illegal downloading. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/19/mandelson-copyright-filesharing-murdoch-google A world class Digital Economy for Britain [news release] The Digital Economy Bill, introduced today, sets out Government plans to ensure the UK is at the leading edge of the global digital economy. Published jointly by the Department for Business and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Bill aims to support growth in the creative and digital sectors and includes measures aimed at tackling widespread online infringement of creative copyright, such as peer-to-peer file-sharing. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=408781&SubjectId=2 Push starts to make ‘Digital Britain’ law The culmination of more than a year’s work on boosting a “Digital Britain” was published on Friday as the UK government put forward legislation to tackle illegal file sharing and abuse of internet domain names, protect local news provision and add age ratings to video games. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e66bcd0-d5c9-11de-b80f-00144feabdc0.html Digital Economy Bill gets tough on file-sharers People who unlawfully download copyrighted material could be disconnected from their internet accounts as part of the Digital Economy Bill, a major overhaul to the UK's technology legislation. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39893271,00.htm Brit internet users bashed The powers that be in the UK are incurring the ire of Brit internet users with the newly announced Digital Economy Bill. Echoing similar protests to those heard with New Zealand's controversial Section 92A of the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act, the UK's Digital Economy bill incorporates a 'three-strikes' rule that could see households disconnected from the internet because of copyright infringement accusations without any onus put on the accuser to prove the validity of any file sharing accusations. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10611099 Spain mandates affordable broadband for all Spanish officials said earlier this week that the government will require service providers to offer broadband with speeds of at least 1 Mbps at regulated rates to residents living anywhere in the country. http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10402643-266.html nz: Suppression debate shows importance of Seminar [news release] The Law Commission report "Suppressing Names and Evidence" released on Monday is expected to come under intense scrutiny at the December seminar on law and the Internet to be jointly hosted by InternetNZ, the Law Commission and the Ministry of Justice. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/suppression-debate-shows-importance-of-seminar ISPs may have to remove suppression order data [The Dominion Post] InternetNZ has questioned a recommendation by the Law Commission that internet providers should stop customers accessing information that breaches court suppression orders. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3086311/ Jeremy Hunt: Tories would scrap push to roll out broadband in rural areas by favouring cities first Jeremy Hunt, the Conservative shadow culture secretary, has said his party would encourage telecoms companies to take the lead in the rollout of superfast broadcast services to major cities, before moving on to rural areas. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/18/jeremy-hunt-tories-broadband-cities au: Paper and internet petitions may soon be treated equally Politicians are tweeting, blogging and poking, but most remain out of reach when it comes to receiving petitions over the internet. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/paper-and-internet-petitions-may-soon-be-treated-equally-20091119-iozg.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/3089663/ ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Google previews Chrome open source operating system Internet search giant Google has lifted the lid on its operating system, known as Chrome OS. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8369611.stm Google aims to take over the netbook market with its Chrome operating system Google dominates the web and is already making a big impact in the smartphone business with its Android operating system. The netbook computer is next in line, and Google is targeting this fast-growing market with Chrome OS, a stripped down operating system designed to do everything inside its own Chrome web browser. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/nov/19/google-chromeos-netbooks-web-cloud Google Chrome OS: What We Might See In just a few hours, the tech world's attention will shift to the Googleplex in Mountain View, California where the company will offer a developer preview of Google Chrome OS. We should learn a fair amount about what the new OS will be able to do, and what Google's future plans are. I was able to uncover a few tidbits about predictions in advance of the Chrome OS unveiling; here are some things to ponder while we wait for Google to show their hand. http://www.pcworld.com/article/182597/.html Google Offers Peek at Operating System, a Potential Challenge to Windows Google began lifting the veil on its planned Chrome operating system on Thursday, but it said that computers powered by the software would not be available for a year. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/technology/companies/20chrome.html Employment in the ICT sector continues dropping Employment is continuing to drop in the information and communications technology (ICT) goods sector and remaining flat in most ICT services, according to a new OECD report. Employment in ICT manufacturing dropped by around 6-7% year-on-year in most countries in the second quarter of 2009. Sweden is the only exception with a smaller decline (3%), but Swedish job losses were accelerating. http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_2649_34223_44078153_1_1_1_37441,00.html ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Tesco links with Cable & Wireless in broadband and home phones push Tesco’s telecoms arm threatened a price war with the likes of BT, Virgin Media and Carphone Warehouse as it unveiled plans yesterday to offer bundled broadband and home phone packages for the first time. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article6924195.ece Smart Grid Riding On The Information Superhighway If Internet companies and some utilities have their way, the smart grid will rely on the existing infrastructure of the information superhighway in order to function. They argue that by relying on existing standards like Internet Protocol (IP), the smart grid will grow faster and more organically than if utilities adopt an assortment of proprietary methods. Issues like security become easier to address too because the Internet manages exceptionally sensitive data quite well with existing technologies. To that end, the players dominating in the Internet arena including Google, Microsoft, and Cisco are all banking on the Internet's role in the future of electricity management. http://www.reuters.com/article/mnGreenTechnology/idUS153132048820091120 nz: Rivals hit out at Telecom IT separation waiver Telecom has an extra nine months to sort out key IT systems after Communications and IT Minister Steven Joyce granted it a waiver to its operational separation undertakings. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10610947 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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 "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 __________________________________________________________________________________ Win 1 of 4 Sony home entertainment packs thanks to Yahoo!7. Enter now: http://au.docs.yahoo.com/homepageset/ _______________________________________________ APPLe mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.apnic.net/mailman/listinfo/apple
