Science and Technology

We keep bitching about the consumer-unfriendliness of copy-protection in CDs: consumers do not want restrictions on what they can do with their own CDs, DVDs, or MP3s and other digital codecs, either. Once it’s yours, it should be yours and screw their encryption. PW Newsline says the same thinking applies …

Michael Croft’s instincts were correct about Microsoft’s iLoo porta-potty snafu: it was a real project that withered in the light of day, not a hoax perpetuated by the entire British division of MS. Thanks also to our VisualSimplicity for news of the MS reversal. If you haven’t been following this …

Howard Carmack, of Buffalo NY, the “Buffalo Spammer” who has sent over 850 million spam emails, has been arrested under new NY identity theft statute enacted in November: “We believe Carmack is one of the largest (spammers) and believe there are a significant number of them,” [New York Attorney General …

When good CD copy-protection goes bad – oh wait, there is no such thing as good CD copy-protection: EMI’s copy-protection technology has resulted in a Melbourne resident doing exactly what the company is trying to prevent – copy a music disc in order to listen to it. Stephen Marovitch, creative …

Apple announced today that sales for the iTunes Music Store have reached 2 million songs in 16 days, continuing the rate of about 1 million songs per week: Continuing the trend set during the first week, over half of the songs purchased to date were purchased as albums, further dispelling …

We just told you about Verizon’s plan to offer 1000 WiFi hotspots across NYC for free to its Internet customers – now Paris wants to have ubiquitous WiFi access: Two technology firms and the agency that runs Paris’ subway have launched a test run that, if successful, could lead to …

This is exactly what it will take to push U.S. broadband usage into the South Korean range: Verizon Communications, the largest U.S. local phone company, on Tuesday launched a service that will provide customers with wireless Internet access on high-speed networks throughout New York City. Verizon, which is based in …

Universal Music Group sues Bertelsmann over Napster backing: The world’s largest record label is suing Bertelsmann AG, saying the German media conglomerate’s investment in Napster enabled music piracy on a massive and unprecedented scale — and it should pay for the thievery. Universal Music Group’s suit, filed Monday in U.S. …

MSN launched its Radio Plus service Monday night: Radio Plus marks a significant departure for MSN in that it is the first entertainment content to get a paid version. That’s an indication of things to come, according to Microsoft. “We look at it as a first step in a much …

Internet news services in South Korea are quickly working into the mainstream: The firm hold the mainstream press has enjoyed for half a century over the flow of information is being pried open. The changes have been so widespread that some political observers partly attribute the recent election of left-wing …