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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 08, 2005 More Consumers Turning to Legal Music Services Microsoft to Release Unbundled Operating System Pentagon Hacker Arrested, Faces Extradition Educating Parents about Kids' Downloading Habits MORE CONSUMERS TURNING TO LEGAL MUSIC SERVICES Growing numbers of U.S. consumers are using legal online music services, making them viable competitors to peer-to-peer (P2P) services, which are typically rampant with illegal file sharing, according to research firm NPD Group. NPD data indicate that Apple's iTunes music store ties for second on a list of the most-used online music services, even with LimeWire and just behind WinMX. Other legal services Napster and RealNetworks's Rhapsody placed seventh and ninth on the list, which also includes such P2P services as Kazaa and BearShare. Isaac Josephson of NPD pointed out that, aside from avoiding the risk of prosecution, legal online music services offer several advantages over P2P networks, including convenience of finding what you're looking for and knowing that files you download do not contain spyware. These factors, coupled with the threat of legal action for copyright violations on P2P networks, make paying for music online an attractive proposition, according to Josephson. Reuters, 7 June 2005 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=8721861 MICROSOFT TO RELEASE UNBUNDLED OPERATING SYSTEM Microsoft has moved a step closer to compliance with stipulations of a European Commission (EC) antitrust ruling originally handed down in March 2004. In addition to a $613 million fine, the EC ordered Microsoft to offer versions of its operating systems that do not include the company's Windows Media Player. After recent pressure from the EC, including threats of additional penalties, Microsoft announced that unbundled versions--which the company is calling "N" versions--of Windows XP Home Edition and Professional will be available to computer makers by June 15 and to retail customers by July 1. Still outstanding is an EC demand that Microsoft loosen the licensing terms of its software to promote development of competitive products that will function with Microsoft's operating systems. Microsoft said it is working to meet that condition. Internet News, 8 June 2005 http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3511116 PENTAGON HACKER ARRESTED, FACES EXTRADITION A British man suspected of hacking into more than 50 computer systems operated by the U.S. government has been arrested in London and faces extradition to the United States. Gary McKinnon is accused of exploiting security weaknesses in computer systems at the Pentagon, NASA, and a number of military sites between February 2001 and March 2002. In one attack, McKinnon is said to have blocked access to 2,000 individual military computers in the Washington area. U.S. authorities said they spent $1 million fixing the damage from the attacks, and a grand jury indicted McKinnon in 2002. McKinnon has been released on bail, and Karen Todner, McKinnon's attorney, said he would "vigorously" fight the extradition. "As a British national," she said, "he should be tried here in our courts by a British jury." The Register, 8 June 2005 http://www.theregister.com/2005/06/08/brit_hack_suspect_arrest/ EDUCATING PARENTS ABOUT KIDS' DOWNLOADING HABITS A British charity focused on children's issues on the Web has launched a campaign designed to educate parents about the downloading habits of their kids. According to Childnet, as many as 90 percent of parents do not understand how music can be downloaded from the Internet. The charity is producing leaflets in 8 languages for distribution in 19 countries to try to address and correct this gap of understanding between parents and children. Representatives of the entertainment industry applauded the initiative. Peter Jamieson, chairman of the British Phonographic Industry, said, "We are committed to working with parents to make them aware of the dangers of illegal downloading." Dennis Henderson of Virgin Megastores noted that spreading the word about legal download services is as important as fostering an awareness of illegal file sharing. BBC, 8 June 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4072566.stm ***************************************************** 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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