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TOP STORIES FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 Court Exempts Web Sites from ADA Sun Program Supports Academic Networks Virgin Group Makes the Jump to Online Music Russia Added to Starter Edition Program COURT EXEMPTS WEB SITES FROM ADA The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision from October 2002 that Web publishers cannot be forced to comply with the 1991 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ruling came in response to a suit by an advocacy group for the blind called Access Now and Rober Gumson, who is blind, seeking to force Southwest Airlines to redesign its Web site for easier access by the visually impaired. The ADA does not mention the Internet in mandating accessibility for public spaces. The federal three-judge panel acknowledged that a future case might reopen the question. Wrote Judge Stanley Marcus, "In declining to evaluate the merits of this case, we are in no way unmindful that the legal questions raised are significant." ZDNet, 27 September 2004 http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5384087.html SUN PROGRAM SUPPORTS ACADEMIC NETWORKS Sun Microsystems announced the Sun Technology and Academic Resources (STAR) program, which will offer equipment grants and training in Sun and related technologies to educational institutions. Sun will also set up centers to promote partnerships with universities and third parties, said company representatives. The program reportedly aims to help educational organizations trim the costs and simplify management of network systems. According to Sun, more than 1,350 institutions have benefited from existing aspects of the program in the past year. CNET, 27 September 2004 http://news.com.com/2100-1012_3-5384140.html VIRGIN GROUP MAKES THE JUMP TO ONLINE MUSIC The Virgin Group has become the newest entrant in the market for online music with its Virgin Digital service, launched this week in the United States. Despite entering a market that already includes big-name players such as Apple's iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, and the recently unveiled music service from Microsoft, Zack Zalon, president of Virgin Digital, said the company does not consider the market crowded. Zalon noted there remains tremendous opportunity for growth and said that Virgin is interested in long-term success in digital music. Jupiter Research supports Zalon's estimate of the future potential for the market, which it predicts will reach $1.7 billion in 2009, up from $100 million in 2003. The Virgin Digital service will offer per-song downloads, a monthly subscription service, and streaming radio, with support for close to 50 portable music devices. Reuters, 27 September 2004 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=6340728 RUSSIA ADDED TO STARTER EDITION PROGRAM Microsoft has announced that by the end of the year, it will release its Windows XP Starter Edition in the Russian market. Windows XP Starter Edition is an inexpensive, slimmed-down version of the company's operating system. Microsoft is working to build support for its products in developing markets, including countries such as Russia, Brazil, India, and China, and to be more competitive with products from Linux. Starter Edition is not available to individual consumers. Computer makers using Starter Edition can buy the operating system for about $36, compared to $70 for Windows XP. The Starter Edition program is also designed to discourage software piracy. Some estimates suggest that as much as 97 percent of all software in Russia is pirated. Because updates and patches are available to buyers of the Starter Edition, Microsoft hopes that more consumers will opt for PCs that come with support for the operating system rather than unsupported, pirated software. CNET, 27 September 2004 http://news.com.com/2100-1016_3-5381547.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/ 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/ ***************************************************** 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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