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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2003 Supreme Court Says Library Filters Stay Apple's Success Convinces Others EU Considers High-Tech Passports Microsoft Puts Windows Moniker on Mobile Software Reflecting Atoms at Cal Tech SUPREME COURT SAYS LIBRARY FILTERS STAY In a 6-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld provisions of the Children's Internet Protection Act that require public libraries to install Web filters or lose federal funds. The decision overturns a lower court ruling that the restrictions violated constitutional free-speech rights. The high court's decision said that concerns about filters' blocking too much or not enough material were exaggerated and that library patrons could easily have the filters disabled upon request. The justices also noted that protecting minors from objectionable material was in the government's interest and that an acceptable alternative to filters had not been presented. CNET, 23 June 2003 http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-1019952.html APPLE'S SUCCESS CONVINCES OTHERS The success of Apple Computer's iTunes music service has encouraged several other high-profile companies to offer similar services or to modify existing services in the manner of iTunes. Companies including Amazon.com, Microsoft, America Online (AOL), and RealNetworks have apparently taken notice of the success of iTunes, which reportedly sold three million songs for 99 cents each during the first month of the service. Observers said that Apple's example demonstrates that a good selection and a simple process can entice consumers away from illegal file trading. iTunes offers 200,000 tracks by popular artists, allows users to copy them as many times as they want, and gives buyers the ability to make one-click purchases subsequent to entering customer identification and credit card information. Amazon.com, which formerly refused to consider selling individual songs, is now pursuing such a strategy after iTunes showed that consumers will still buy whole CDs. AOL Music, which does not directly sell downloadable music, will begin doing just that by the end of the year. RealNetworks has already modified its online music service and offered songs at 79 cents each, a direct response to the success of iTunes. San Jose Mercury News, 23 June 2003 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/6150883.htm EU CONSIDERS HIGH-TECH PASSPORTS Leaders of the European Union (EU) have approved a plan to investigate adding computer chips with biometric data to passports and visas. The proposal to add the chips, which could include identifiers such as eye scans or fingerprints, is part of a larger effort to coordinate immigration policies among EU nations. The plan does not establish a date for adding biometric data to passports; the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act, however, passed by the United States in 2002, requires all countries whose citizens are allowed to travel to the United States without a visa to add biometric data to passports by October 26, 2004. Most EU nations fall into this category. Privacy advocates object to the chips. Trevor Hennings of Statewatch, a British privacy organization, said, "There is a complete lack of any kind of accountability with this." New York Times, 20 June 2003 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/20/international/20CND-PASS.html MICROSOFT PUTS WINDOWS MONIKER ON MOBILE SOFTWARE Noting that its primary brand is "Windows," a spokesman for Microsoft said that the company's new operating systems for PDAs and mobile phones will fall under the heading of "Windows Mobile." The software for PDAs will be called Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PCs, and that for mobile phones will be called Windows Mobile for Smartphones. Research firm IDC recently found that Palm controlled 71 percent of the market for PDA software, a market in which Microsoft has been trying to gain ground. Companies that have announced intentions to build PDAs or cell phones using Microsoft's new software include Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba, and Dell. Palm president and CEO David Nagel said he expects a strong showing from Microsoft but that a majority of buyers would continue to purchase his company's software. Reuters, 23 June 2003 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=2974816 REFLECTING ATOMS AT CAL TECH Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have devised a mirror that reflects atoms in much the same way that an optical mirror reflects light beams. The researchers etched trenches into an old computer hard drive to create the "atomic mirror," which is able to reflect atoms when it is magnetized. Researcher Benjamin Lev explained, "If a cloud of cold atoms is dropped on the atom mirror, they will bounce up and down in much the same manner as a rubber ball falling on the floor." The technology of atomic mirrors could have application in the field of quantum physics or in developing communication technologies that work with atoms instead of photons. NewsFactor Network, 23 June 2003 http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/21776.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html 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] For past issues of Edupage or information about translations of Edupage into other languages, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE PUBLICATIONS EDUCAUSE publishes periodicals, including "EQ" and "EDUCAUSE Review," books, and other materials dealing with the impacts and implications of information technology in higher education. 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