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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2006 Google, Graduate Student Devise New Search Service Feeds Blog Content to Mainstream Media IBM Adds Security to Hardware Cable Companies Round Out Offerings GOOGLE, GRADUATE STUDENT DEVISE NEW SEARCH Google is working to develop a new approach to Web searching that displays not just the topic searched but resources for related topics. The approach is the brainchild of Ori Allon, a doctoral student at the University of New South Wales. In describing his idea, known as the Orion search engine, Allon said a search for the term "American Revolution," for example, would return Web pages with that phrase as well as Web resources on terms such as "American history," "George Washington," and "Declaration of Independence." "The results to the query are displayed immediately in the form of expanded text extracts," Allon said, "giving you the relevant information without having to go to the Web site." A spokesperson from the University of New South Wales noted that Google has hired Allon, making him an employee of the company, but that the search technology he is working on "is still a university project." CNET, 10 April 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-1038_3-6059395.html SERVICE FEEDS BLOG CONTENT TO MAINSTREAM MEDIA A new syndication service will provide blog content to mainstream media outlets. BlogBurst, the new service from Pluck Corp., will review and edit content before sending it to news publishers in an attempt to address the quality problems that have so far kept many newspapers and other resources from publishing blog content. Many blogs are focused on niche topics for which a news outlet might not have a dedicated reporter, according to Dave Panos, chief executive of Pluck. By offering blog content, the news sources can broaden their coverage while maintaining their level of quality. Initially, BlogBurst will provide content to Gannett Co., the "Washington Post," the "San Francisco Chronicle," the "Austin American-Statesman," and the "San Antonio Express." Pluck hopes to expand its list of customers to specialty and overseas publications. Wired News, 10 April 2006 http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,70631-0.html IBM ADDS SECURITY TO HARDWARE IBM has developed technology that adds hardware-level encryption to data on a range of electronic devices. Researchers at the company said that the technology, called Secure Blue, encrypts and decrypts data as it passes through a processor. Data are encrypted in RAM, as well, resulting in a high level of security for devices such as personal computers, cell phones, digital media players, and electronic organizers. The flip side to the protection that Secure Blue provides to users is a new level of control offered to other owners of content, such as media companies. Digital rights management (DRM), which dictates how content may be used, could be bolstered by IBM's new technology, allowing music producers, for example, another tool to restrict unauthorized usage of their intellectual property. Secure Blue has been demonstrated with IBM's PowerPC processor and is said to be compatible with processors from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, though IBM said it is not currently in talks with those companies to add the technology to their chips. ZDNet, 9 April 2006 http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6059276.html CABLE COMPANIES ROUND OUT OFFERINGS A set of new deals signals even tighter competition among communication services providers, as cable companies work to expand their offerings to align more directly with those of phone companies. The goal for cable companies is to be able to offer TV, telephone, computer, and wireless services, all from the same provider. Most notably, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, and Bright House Networks have announced a deal with Sprint Nextel that will allow cable customers access for wireless devices. Although some of the details remain to be decided, under the arrangement, consumers will be able to access TV programming over cellular networks and possibly to use handsets that use cellular networks outdoors and Wi-Fi networks indoors. Analyst Aryeh Bourkoff noted that cable companies already have an advantage over phone companies, such as Verizon and AT&T, in that phone companies have an uphill path to being able to enter the TV market. "The phone companies have the advantage of wireless today," Bourkoff said, "but they have to build video, and that's going to be very expensive." New York Times, 9 April 2006 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/10/technology/10cable.html ***************************************************** 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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