EverythingDigital Podcast 2005-12-23

• Welcome
  • Friday, December 23, 2005
  • Alan Joyce (alan@everythingdigital.org)
  • EverythingDigital Podcast (http://everythingdigital.org)
  • *Play: Podcasting Sweep.mov
  • *Play: EverythingDigitalVoiceover.mp3 (ol_dave from RadioDaddy.com)
  • *Music: American Heartbreak - The Greatest Xmas Song Ever Written
    • http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=617e70da4d0bdb86506451ce9f9a68a2
• Five Five-Second Technology Headlines
  • *Music: News Theme.mp3
  • Despite recent incidents, Wikipedia was found by a study to be in general as accurate as the Encyclopedia Britannica
    • http://networks.silicon.com/webwatch/0,39024667,39155109,00.htm
  • Google has released a version of its Gmail service that is optimized for the browsers on cell phones and other mobile devices, and can be accessed at m.gmail.com
    • http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/12/16/gmailcell/index.php
  • Scientist applying computer emotion recognition software have determined that the Mona Lisa is 83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful, and 2% angry
    • http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/12/16/mona.lisa.smile/
  • Google recently unveiled its music search feature, allowing integration of track, artist, and album results that correspond to users' searches
    • http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,39020369,39242340,00.htm
  • HP has withdrawn its exclusive support of Sony's Blu-ray next-generation DVD format in favor of supporting both Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD-DVD format
    • http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2147678/hp-hedges-bets-blu-ray-hdtv
  • Links to full stories in show notes @ everythingdigital.org
• Apple News
  • NBC, USA, and Sci-Fi content added to iTMS
    • Skewed Price Models
    • New, free Sci-Fi Inside Battlestar Gallactica and Saturday Night Live clips
    • http://www.everythingdigital.org/weblog/archives/2005/12/itunes_music_st.html
  • Internet Explorer for Mac is No More
    • Microsoft has issued a statement urging current IE for Mac users to switch to Safari or Firefox
    • Microsoft said that work had ended on the Mac version of the browser as early as June
    • IE for Mac is no longer available for download on Microsoft's website
    • Microsoft admitted that IE for Mac had not been updated in years, saying users should switch to "more recent web browsing technologies such as Apple's Safari"
    • http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4542750.stm
  • Macworld '06 Rumors (Analysts' Predictions)
    • Steve Jobs keynote will incorporate introduction of several new Intel Yonah-powered Powerbooks
    • Also, new Mac minis, possibly with media center functionality
    • New iPod shuffle
    • More iTMS video content
    • http://www.macobserver.com/article/2005/12/21.12.shtml
• Podsafe Music
  • *Music: Candy Butchers - Give Me a Second Chance for Christmas
    • http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=227f808a08e34bf9fc5da7729fa99fe8
• General News
  • New "Santa" IM Worm Discovered
    • Affects AIM, MSN, and Yahoo Instant Messenger Clients
    • Sends IMs to contacts of the infected user with links to a "Santa Claus" file
    • Clicking on the link displays a picture of Santa Claus, but also secretly installs malicious spyware
    • Security firm IMlogic currently puts the worm at a "medium" threat level
    • http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6002790.html
  • Federal Trade Commission Reports Success for Can-Spam Act
    • Can-Spam was put into place two years ago
    • Makes it easier for lawsuits to be brought against web and email spammers
    • Requires senders of bulk commercial emails to provide an opt-out link so people can easily unsubscribe
    • FTC says Can-Spam is "effective in providing protection for consumers" despite a 62% climb in number of spam messages in the past year
    • However, the percentage of all emails that are spam has dropped according to the FTC study
      • 77% last year
      • 68% this year
      • Due to increased number of total emails sent
    • http://news.com.com/FTC+says+federal+spam+law+has+worked/2100-1028_3-6003071.html
  • French Government Legalizes P2P File Sharing
    • New amendment makes it perfectly legal to share music and movies over peer-to-peer networks
    • Media corporations are up in arms over the new amendment
    • Amendment states: "Authors cannot forbid the reproduction of works that are made on any format from an online communications service when they are intended to be used privately."
    • Amendment was passed in France's Union for a Popular Movement (the lower house) 30 to 28 and will move on to their Senate (upper house)
    • Still can be overturned if the debate is re-opened or the amendment is voted down when it moves to the French Senate
    • http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=avOoTq8aXkU8&refer=europe
• Wrap-Up
  • *Music: Podsafe for Peace - If Every Day Were Christmas
    • http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=b69291b9e6017fff1ba9a1514f5f4c27
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