Techno-News Blog Ray Schroeder, editor, OTEL - University of Illinois at Springfield |
|
|
Technology News for Higher Education Times and Dates Coordinated Universal Time
Subscribe to Techno-News Blog by Email
|
Saturday, November 09, 2002
Microsoft Partners Showcase Tablet PC Offerings - Colin C. Haley
Besides Microsoft (Quote, Company Info), IT firms large and small are looking to etch their own Tablet PC success stories today. After months of development work and back and forth with the Redmond, Wash., giant, software and hardware vendors today launched products tailored for the new laptop/PDA hybrid in hopes that the platform will reinvigorate sales tamped by the economic downturn.
Tablet PC to Forge New Market? By Thor Olavsrud
Microsoft spared no expense launching its new Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system and its partners' Tablet PCs in New York City Thursday, bringing in author Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter's Daughter) and actor Rob Lowe to sing the praises of the pen-based computers. Both showed how they use tablets in their day-to-day work. For instance, Tan said she uses her tablet to take written notes in the margins of her manuscripts, and she can then e-mail the annotated manuscript to her editor, who can add further comments before returning it. Among other things, Lowe said that he uses his tablet to take notes on his scripts, demonstrating with an annotated copy of Wednesday's script for The West Wing.
Microsoft introduces Windows XP for tablet PCs - PETER SVENSSON, AP Business Writer
Microsoft Corp. gave pen-based computing another shot on Thursday, introducing a new version of its Windows operating system that it hopes will entice people to use notepad-like tablet computers. Frankly admitting that the concept had failed many times before, chairman Bill Gates called it "a dream that I and others have had for years and years." Friday, November 08, 2002
Wi-Fi, Heading for Air Supremacy by Leslie Walker
Over the past 18 months, a grass-roots wireless networking standard known as Wireless Fidelity (or 802.11) has taken the telecommunications, consumer electronics and computer industries by storm. Wi-Fi systems transmit radio signals from any number of computer devices to a base station, which serves as a bridge to the Internet or private network. Wi-Fi is on the verge of becoming a de facto global standard.
Tech legend takes on Outlook - ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mitch Kapor, the software pioneer who introduced such trailblazing products as Lotus’ Notes, Agenda and 1-2-3 spreadsheet, is back for another battle with mighty Microsoft Corp. Kapor’s latest effort, an open-source “interpersonal” information manager, has been under development for more than a year but doesn’t yet exist. Yet already there are expectations it could challenge Outlook, the industry heavyweight.
The Campus Computing Project: An Interview with Kenneth C. Green by James L. Morrison and Kenneth C. Green
Kenneth (Casey) Green is founding director of The Campus Computing Project. Begun in 1990, the project is the largest continuing study of the role of information technology in American higher education. Early in October Green was in Atlanta for the 2002 EDUCAUSE conference to present the results of the 2002 Campus Computing Survey. While at the conference he also received the first EDUCAUSE award for "Leadership in Public Policy and Practice." The award cites his work in creating The Campus Computing Project and recognizes his "prominence in the area of national and international technology agendas and the linking of higher education to those agendas."
Technology Will Reshape Research Universities Dramatically, Science-Academy Report Predicts by VINCENT KIERNAN
Information technology is likely to dramatically reshape research universities -- changing how they are organized, financed, and governed -- and will also prod the institutions to emphasize instruction more heavily, a new report from the National Academy of Sciences predicts. http://books.nap.edu/books/030908640X/html/index.html Thursday, November 07, 2002
Tablet PC devices show innovation, market opportunity - Tom Krazit
Hardware vendors around the world are launching Tablet PC devices based on Microsoft Corp.'s new operating system Thursday, capitalizing on the chance to sell a new device into a stagnant market of disappointing PC sales. But while many companies are embracing the new Windows XP Tablet PC Edition software, some are certain to fail as users determine which devices will pass muster, according to analysts. "Companies have made many different choices in bringing these products to market, which I think is a healthy sign," said Stephen Baker, director of research at NPD Techworld in Reston, Virginia. "They are showing some innovation, and people think there is an opportunity here."
Developers do Linux for clustered computing - Stacy Cowley
A group of French developers has released the first version of a Linux distribution intended to ease administration of PC clusters. Called Clic, the software is a collaborative project of partners including software and services firms MandrakeSoft and Bull and a Paris research laboratory. Released free under the General Public License, the software is aimed at allowing users to connect together low-cost PCs to handle the kind of complex computational tasks usually tackled by expensive supercomputers.
Google: What's it Worth to You? - Colin C. Haley
After six months of testing, Google this morning publicly launched a new paid search service to help users who don't have the tech savvy or time to perform Web searches of their own. Google Answers is the Mountain View, Calif., company's latest effort to differentiate itself in a crowded field and find new revenue sources. Other moves include a foray into corporate search and the introduction of a news aggregation service. Wednesday, November 06, 2002
IBM enhances 'Pixie Dust' for improved storage density - Martyn Williams
IBM says an enhancement to its "Pixie Dust" technology has enabled it to break the current storage density record for hard disk drives and to produce the highest capacity mobile hard disk drive yet. The Travelstar 80GN, samples of which are already being sent to notebook computer makers, is expected to be available in early 2003 and has a capacity of 80GB.
First Shockwave Virus
SWF.LFM.926 is a Shockwave infector, infecting Shockwave files with SWF extension. This is the first virus of its kind. However, it is not an urgent threat as the virus can not jump from a web page to an end user machine during normal surfing. The only way it can succesfully spread is that the SWF file is downloaded manually, placed to a directory which contains clean SWF files and then executing the file with Shockwave Player.
Telephone Text messaging for the blind
A way to enable sight-impaired or blind people to use text messaging has been developed by BT's research arm. BTexact has come up with technology that allows users to send text messages to a handheld computer which in turn reads the message to them. The natural-sounding voice can recognise text messaging shortcuts. If it does not recognise a word, it will read it out phonetically.
Deaf Awareness Week will host presentations for NIU community by Linda Luk
NIU is hosting its annual Deaf Awareness Week this week to promote how technology has impacted the deaf and hearing-impaired community. This year’s theme is “Deaf Technology: Communication is the Key.” Tuesday, November 05, 2002
Trying to Shift Shape of PC Screens by BOB TEDESCHI
Internet retailers and media companies have long warmed the hope that consumers would spend more online if only computers were a little more user-friendly. Web shoppers, for example, might much prefer curling up on the couch with something more like a catalog to planting themselves at their desktop computers to shop. Laptops and hand-held computers offer portability, but usually with the compromise of inferior screens. Now researchers are developing technologies that they hope will put entire computers and large-format screens onto wafer-thin glass, or even plastic that can be rolled up.
More than 600 million people have Net access
The global online population has grown to over 600 million for the first time. According to newly released statistics from Nua Internet Surveys, 605.6 million people had Internet access at the end of September, up from 580.7 million in May 2002. The research findings indicate that Europe currently has the biggest online population in the world with 190.91 million Internet users.
Global Reach: Non-English speakers dominant online
According to Global Reach’s latest statistics on the use of language online, only 36.5 percent of the global online population are native English speakers. Approximately 231 million native-English speakers are currently online according to the company’s data. http://www.glreach.com/globstats/index.php3
Antenna System Is Said to Expand Wireless Internet Use by JOHN MARKOFF
A start-up company plans to announce new antenna technology on Monday that it says can expand the limits of a popular wireless Internet format, providing access to hundreds or even thousands of portable computer users at distances of more than 2,000 feet within buildings and about four miles outdoors. The antenna uses the 802.11 technical standard, also known as Wi-Fi, which is currently limited to providing wireless Internet access to several dozen users within a few hundred feet of the transmitter. Wi-Fi is increasingly common in offices, airports, places like Starbucks shops and even in a growing number of households.
HP works on disability initiative by Brian Robinson
Hewlett-Packard Co. is leading an initiative to design "template" solutions that libraries can use to configure computers and workspaces for people with disabilities. The Library Technology Access (LTA) initiative kicked off recently with the Cleveland, Milwaukee, Johnson County (Kansas) and San Diego public libraries plus the University of South Dakota and the Arizona State University libraries as locations for first-phase pilot demonstrations of these solutions. Monday, November 04, 2002
Sizing Up the Ruling in the Microsoft Case By VIVIAN MARINO
A federal judge on Friday approved most provisions of an antitrust settlement reached a year ago between the Microsoft Corporation and the Justice Department. The opinion, by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, largely rejected concerns by nine states that the sanctions were too lenient.... David M. Smith, vice president for Internet services at Gartner Inc., a computer industry consulting and research firm, spoke about the implications of the judge's opinion.
'Wire-free' electricity juices mobile devices by Matt Berger
A company that claims to have solved the "last wire" dilemma announced that it is working with Acer and other manufacturing partners to deliver early next year a pad with a conductive surface that can power computing devices resting on top of it as if they were plugged into an electrical outlet. The "last wire" dilemma refers to the power adapters that juice computing devices, which remain one wire that can't been replaced by existing wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and 802.11. MobileWise, based in Los Altos, Calif., Monday previewed its "wire-free" electricity technology that could cut loose mobile device owners from their power cords.
Office 11 limited to Windows XP, 2000 by Matt Berger
The next release of Microsoft's Office productivity software will only work on Windows XP and on Windows 2000 operating systems that have Service Pack 3 installed, the company said Tuesday, citing security and compatibility issues with older systems. The company could shift its plans if it receives overwhelming feedback from customers, the spokeswoman said. As it currently stands, Office 11 won't be designed for installation on PCs running Windows ME (Millennium Edition), Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE (Second Edition) and Windows 95.
Wi-Fi group lays out better wireless security by Stephen Lawson
The organization that certifies wireless LAN products under the Wi-Fi name unveiled new specifications Thursday for how vendors should make their products more secure. The guidelines call for new mechanisms to replacement the current security system, based on WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), which has come under fire for being too easy to circumvent. The certification body, Wi-Fi Alliance, plans to lay the mechanisms out as optional features beginning in February and require them for Wi-Fi compliance about six months later, said Dennis Eaton, chairman of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
U. of California at Santa Barbara Bans Windows 2000 on Residential Network By BROCK READ
In an effort to protect its residential computer network from worms, viruses, and other threats, the University of California at Santa Barbara has banned students on the network from using two Microsoft operating systems -- Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0. The Microsoft Corporation, however, says the problems the Santa Barbara campus has experienced are more the result of the way its network is configured than of any flaws in the operating systems. Sunday, November 03, 2002
Federal employees get e-mail solicitation from Bush By Yochi J. Dreazen, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Hundreds of federal employees got an unexpected e-mail earlier this month from a senior official they rarely hear from: President Bush. “YOUR DONATION ... will make a big difference to my agenda to make America safer, stronger, and better,” Mr. Bush wrote in the campaign solicitation sent from his RNC.org e-mail address. “So please help me today by sending the Republican National Committee as much as you can afford." The Republican fund-raising organization quickly apologized and said the e-mail was aimed at Republican voters and activists, not government employees. Still, Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, has called for an investigation into whether the e-mail violated a federal law that limits political activity by federal employees.
Blog to Court: Check Your Facts By Kendra Mayfield
When attorney Howard Bashman noticed a small error in the footnote of a 5th Circuit appellate court opinion, he quickly noted it on his weblog. The next day, Judge Jerry Smith, who wrote the opinion and also happens to be a reader of Bashman's blog, fixed the error in an amended version (PDF). The judge e-mailed Bashman, personally thanking him for bringing the mistake to his attention.
Elect to Surf Early, And Often By Leslie Walker
The Internet has much to offer undecided voters in search of a last-minute brush-up before Tuesday's election -- even if voters haven't exactly been stampeding to campaign and political sites. Online campaign fodder this year includes interactive voter guides, official polling-location finders, position summaries, last-minute fundraising appeals and Web versions of candidates' TV commercials.
Microsoft ruling a boon to Windows By TED BRIDIS, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (November 2, 2002 10:04 p.m. EST) - Consumers switching on a Windows computer in coming months could see important new changes, including prominent links for programs such as music and chat software from some of Microsoft's biggest corporate rivals. But a court's decision not to impose tougher penalties than those negotiated with the Bush administration means Microsoft's flagship software will remain mostly unadulterated as the engine for the technology industry and for its own extraordinary profits. |
