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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, JUNE 06, 2005 Spam Fighters Form New Coalition Apple to Switch to Intel Questions Arise over Laptop Program Bill Introduced to Prevent Municipal Networks SPAM FIGHTERS FORM NEW COALITION A new group tentatively called the Anti-Spyware Coalition plans to publish guidelines to define spyware, best practices for software development, and a lexicon of common terms by the end of the summer. The guidelines will be open to public comment. The Center for Democracy and Technology, a public advocacy group based in Washington, is running the new initiative. The coalition formed two months after the collapse of the Consortium of Anti-Spyware Technology Vendors, which admitted a company suspected of making adware. According to David Fewer, staff counsel at the Ottawa-based Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic, which is affiliated with the new consortium, judging whether software is spyware comes down to notice, consent, and control. Many adware and spyware products fail to meet all three requirements. Silicon.com, 3 June 2005 http://software.silicon.com/malware/0,3800003100,39130956,00.htm APPLE TO SWITCH TO INTEL Apple Computer reportedly plans to use Intel processors in Macintosh computers, ending a multiyear relationship with IBM and Motorola. Analysts speculate that a major factor behind the shift is the failure of IBM to develop new Power PC chips that produce less heat. Low heat generation is critical for notebook computers, which have less room for heat-dissipating features than desktop systems. The move follows Microsoft's decision to build its own computer hardware with assistance from IBM--a shift from its previous Windows-Intel alliance--and IBM's sale of its PC business to Lenovo. One key challenge facing Apple is persuading software developers to rewrite their code to work with Intel chips. New York Times, 6 June 2005 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/06/technology/06apple.html QUESTIONS ARISE OVER LAPTOP PROGRAM Nicholas Negroponte, who chairs and founded MIT's Media Lab, plans to give $100 laptops to several hundred million children in developing countries. The PCs will be rugged, Internet- and multimedia-capable systems. Negroponte sees the notebooks as an educational tool to help alleviate poverty. Corporate partners Advanced Micro Devices, Google, and News Corporation have pledged $2 million each, along with technical expertise. Critics point out, however, that children in developing countries don't necessarily have the electricity needed to run the laptops. The program will also require training and technical support, plus basic literacy among the users and local content to meet local needs, according to Andy Carvin, director of the Digital Divide Network. Significant factors contributing to the success of U.S.-based laptop programs in schools include properly trained teachers, technical support, and targeted education content, said Carvin. Wired Magazine, 6 June 2005 http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,67667,00.html BILL INTRODUCED TO PREVENT MUNICIPAL NETWORKS Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) introduced the Preserving Innovation in Telecom Act (H.R. 2726) to prevent state and local governments from offering telecommunications, telecommunications services, information services, or cable services in any geographic area in which a private business is already offering a substantially similar service. In markets where private enterprise fails to offer such services, municipal governments would be allowed to step in. Governments already offering such services would be grandfathered under the proposed legislation. Sessions, a former employee at Bell Labs in New Jersey and a Southwestern Bell district manager in Texas, objects to cities' competing with private enterprise in launching wireless networks. Similar laws in Florida and Pennsylvania forbid cities in those states from offering broadband if private services already exist, although Philadelphia received an exemption. That city plans to sell its wireless broadband service to homes and businesses while providing free access in public areas. Internet News, 3 June 2005 http://www.internetnews.com/wireless/article.php/3509961 ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 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] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. 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