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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2003 Penn State to Offer Free Music to Students from New Napster Google Introduces the No-Browser Web Search FTC Fights Windows Pop-Ups PENN STATE TO OFFER FREE MUSIC TO STUDENTS FROM NEW NAPSTER Pennsylvania State University has struck a deal with the recently launched second-generation Napster to provide online music to all of the university's students, faculty, and staff. The university negotiated a discounted fee from Napster--which otherwise charges $9.95 per month--and will pay the cost of the service out of a mandatory, $160 information technology fee that students pay each year. Penn State users will be allowed to download unlimited numbers of songs on up to three computers. Students who want to keep songs after they have left Penn State, or users who want to save the songs to CDs, will have to pay 99 cents per song. Officials and student leaders from Penn State hope that this approach will appease student demand for online music while satisfying record companies by using the now-legal Napster service. Some students expressed reservations that a portion of student technology fees is being used for online music. Students also said that the restrictions of the new Napster/Penn State deal will encourage some to continue using peer-to-peer networks that have no restrictions. New York Times, 7 November 2003 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/07/national/07STAT.html GOOGLE INTRODUCES THE NO-BROWSER WEB SEARCH Search company Google this week unveiled the Google Deskbar, which allows users with Microsoft operating systems to search the Internet without opening a browser. The Deskbar is added to the Windows desktop toolbar, and search results are displayed in a small window in the bottom right corner of the screen. Users can access the Deskbar from any Windows application, said Google's John Piscitello. Analysts said the new tool is Google's latest effort to make itself part of the everyday work habits of users. According to Matthew Berk of Jupiter Research, "He who owns habit is in control." Berk noted that if successful, the Deskbar will offer Google an even broader base for generating advertising revenue than it has already. Other developers have offered tools similar to the Deskbar, and Microsoft reportedly is interested in entering the market as well. Google's stature as the leader in the search market, however, may give it a significant advantage in winning users. CNET, 6 November 2003 http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-5103902.html FTC FIGHTS WINDOWS POP-UPS The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week shut down a marketer for taking advantage of a feature of Microsoft Windows to send unwanted pop-up ads, even to users who were not browsing the Internet. According to the FTC, D Squared Solutions used a tool called the Windows Messenger Service--which is enabled by default in Windows systems--to send pop-up ads selling software to block pop-up ads. Calling such a tactic extortion, the FTC has temporarily shut down D Squared. The agency also advised users to disable Windows Messenger, which is not related to instant-messaging programs. Last month Microsoft recommended that users disable Windows Messenger as a precaution against the spread of Internet viruses. Microsoft's Sean Sundwall said the pop-up ads that take advantage of Windows Messenger do not pose any threat to a system's security. Reuters, 6 November 2003 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=3771523 ***************************************************** 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. For information on EDUCAUSE publications see http://www.educause.edu/pub/ ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/conference/ ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2003, EDUCAUSE
