Technology News

FCC: Comcast Violated Net Neutrality Rules

Source: All About Jazz
July 12, 2008

Battle of Network Neutrality FCC chief says Comcast violated Internet rules Company violated agency principles that guarantee open access to web

This is going to be a bellwether.

The head of the Federal Communications Commission said Thursday he will recommend that the nation's largest cable company be punished for violating agency principles that guarantee customers open access to the Internet. The potentially precedent-setting move stems from a complaint against Comcast Corp. that the company had blocked Internet traffic among users ...

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Music Web Site Last.FM Launches Royalty Program

Source: PC Magazine
July 12, 2008

Music Web site Last.fm this week launched a royalty program that will pay artists a percentage of the company's advertising revenue for streaming their music on the site. “This is a big day for independent artists as it marks the first time that musicians not affiliated with a label or royalty collection agency can collect revenue direct from a free streaming music platform," Last.fm's Jeff Marois wrote in a blog post. CBS-owned Last.fm announced plans for the Artist Royalty Program ...

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Making Your Nation Scarier with Photoshop... Almost

Source: PC Magazine
July 12, 2008

A few days ago, in one of those chest thumping moves cash flush despots sometimes do, Iran tested a few missiles, then released photos as documentary proof. The New York Times reports the Iranian photo -- an impressive shot with four missiles climbing skyward, plumes of smoke trailing behind -- was distributed by Agence France-Presse and picked up by the Los Angeles Times, The Financial Times, The Chicago Tribune and several other newspapers as well as on BBC News, MSNBC, ...

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FCC Chief Open to More Terms on XM-Sirius Deal

Source: PC Magazine
July 12, 2008

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission said on Friday he would consider imposing further conditions on Sirius Satellite Radio Inc's acquisition of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc if it were needed to win support of other FCC commissioners. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said some of the FCC's other four commissioners had expressed concerns about the deal, but none had yet made a concrete proposal for additional terms to protect consumers. “They (FCC commissioners) need to figure out ...

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Customers Line up to Buy the New iPhone 3G

Source: Michael Ricci
July 11, 2008

iPhone You Phone Spencer Duclos, 16, a tourist from Reno: The iPhone is the end all and be all of all phones. You don't need anything else.

Many people with old iPhones who tried to download the new software have run into problems. The download is taking a long time, and then some are experiencing the phone freezing, allowing just emergency calls. This comes on the heels of a change inside the stores selling iPhones - people are ...

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UK Computer Chaos Hits iPhone Launch

Source: All About Jazz
July 11, 2008

Don't worry if you aren't getting an O2 iPhone - nobody else is either. Especially if they haven't sent their passport.

Well, the day dawns for the launch in the UK of the 3G iPhone, and the people who decided not to queue are getting about as many iPhones as the ones who did. A quick sample from the Twitterverse: Rory Cellan-Jones, the BBC's ubiquitous technology/industrial correspondent, decided at about 9.50 am that “Can't believe queues at o2 and cpw ...

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BMW to Build Electric Mini Cooper

Source: PC Magazine
July 11, 2008

BMW is planning to build 500 all-electric Mini Coopers, and they're coming to California to help the automaker meet the new zero-emissions mandate, according to Autopia. The mandate requires car manufacturers to build 7,500 non-polluting cars by 2014. The report quotes unnamed BMW sources as saying that 490 of the cars will be leased to selected customers, while the remaining 10 electric Minis will be used as show cars. “This step will allow the BMW Group to gain an initial ...

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Can Internet Activity Ever Be Truly Anonymous?

Source: PC Magazine
July 11, 2008

How much information should Internet companies be able to collect about your Web activity in order to serve you more relevant and targeted advertising? An IP address? Search queries? Your system settings and browser of choice? For most companies like Google and Microsoft, the collection of that type of data is de rigeuer. Though it is typically deleted 18 months after its collection, and executives swear that personally identifiable information will not be found in their databases, many have their ...

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