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***************************************************** Edupage is a service of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. ***************************************************** TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2006 Massachusetts Schools to Receive Grant from Microsoft IPod Under Scrutiny from ITC Nielsen to Track Online Viewership MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE GRANT FROM MICROSOFT Microsoft has announced a donation of as much as $30 million in software to high school and college students in Massachusetts. The software package will include software-writing and Web-development tools and is valued at about $800 per high school student and $2,400 per college student. The software will be offered to all public high schools and colleges in the state; the total amount of the donation will depend on how many of the state's students participate in the program. Massachusetts has about 300,000 high school and 125,000 college students. Nate Mackinnon, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Education, said the donation could help minimize a growing gap in science between U.S. and international students by seeding an interest in technology in high school and being able to foster those skills in college. Associated Press, 13 June 2006 http://www.wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=5026245 IPOD UNDER SCRUTINY FROM ITC According to Creative Technology, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will investigate whether the extremely popular iPod device infringes on a patent held by Creative. Creative, based in Singapore, and its U.S. subsidiary have filed two lawsuits alleging that the iPod infringes on a user-interface patent Creative holds for its own portable music devices. Creative is seeking a permanent cease-and-desist order from the courts against Apple Computer. The ITC, which reviews some patent disputes, will assign the case to an administrative law judge. After that judge makes a recommendation on the matter, the ITC will decide whether to proceed. The process typically takes between 12 and 15 months. CNET, 14 June 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-1047_3-6083590.html NIELSEN TO TRACK ONLINE VIEWERSHIP Responding to a changing landscape of media, Nielsen Media Research has said it will begin tracking viewership of television programs over the Internet. Media companies have criticized Nielsen for only tracking shows that people watch on televisions in their homes, even as growing numbers of consumers watch shows on computers, cell phones, or other devices, both at home and away from home. The new tracking tools will be introduced over several years and could have a considerable bearing on ratings of shows, particularly sporting events, which analysts believe are especially likely to be watched outside the home. Nielsen said it would provide its "Nielsen families"--those whose television viewing provides ratings data--with portable devices so they can keep tabs on any television they watch away from their homes. Wall Street Journal, 15 June 2006 (sub. req'd) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115030869031780267.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. To access resources including articles, books, conference sessions, contracts, effective practices, plans, policies, position descriptions, and blog content, go to http://www.educause.edu/resources ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/31 ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2006, EDUCAUSE |
Title: Edupage, June 14, 2006 - Message (Plain Text)
