CourseCast of the Week

Episode 0089, 02/07/2009

Title/Description: Stimulus Law, Mobile World Congress and other tech headlines

Welcome to Course Technology's CourseCast of the Week, Episode 89, recorded February 21st, 2009. This is Ken Baldauf bringing you this week's technology news and information. This CourseCast is brought to you by Course Technology. Check out www.cengage.com/coursetechnology for innovative textbooks and creative electronic learning solutions.

Story 1 - Stimulus Law

This week President Obama signed his $787 billion economic stimulus package into law. Of the hundreds of provisions in the package, those having to do with technology and education include:

  • $220 M to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for research into technology with high-growth potential
  • $350 M to create a broadband inventory map of the country
  • $650 M Coupons, education and consumer support for the digital to analogue converter box program
  • $650 M for school computer and science laboratories and technology training for teachers
  • $2 B Advanced batteries manufacturing grants
  • $2.5 B NSF Research
  • $4.3 B to provide wireless and broadband infrastructure to communities
  • $4.5 B to develop "smart power grids" that will help the nation save money and electricity
  • $17 B increase in Pell Grants and other student aid
  • $40 B to states for education budgets to prevent cutbacks and modernize schools

Sources:
Obama Signs Stimulus Into Law [Wall Street Journal]
Getting to $787 Billion - an itemized list [Wall Street Journal]
Stimulus Stirs Debate Over Rural Broadband Access [NPR] 

Story 2 - Mobile World Congress

The GSMA Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest telecom exhibition and conference, took place in Barcelona last week. Here are a few highlights:

  • An iPhone App was unveiled that proved that turn-by-turn GPS can be accomplished in the device, if and when Apple allows it.
  • Adobe is releasing a new version of its popular Flash software for use on high-end mobile phones, but not the iPhone YET!
  • Texas Instruments unveiled a smaller brighter tiny projector chip, than was demoed last year in its pico projector. This one can be embedded directly in cell phones. Click a button on the cell phone to project its display on a wall or tablecloth, or just use it as a flashlight.
  • Chip maker, Freescale, announced that it will release a Google Android-based netbook within the next few months.
  • The big Mobile handset makers will standardize around one style of power cord connector by 2012.
  • Microsoft released a new version of its WIndows Mobile operating system, dropping the "Mobile" from the name. Now, it’s just a Windows phone.
  • MySpace CEO, Chris DeWolfe, outlined the company’s plans to take MySpace to mobile users and get rich from mobile ads.

Sources:
Telecoms industry gets real in Barcelona [Reuters]
iPhone GPS App Shown at Mobile World Congress [NewsFactor]
Adobe to make video on smartphones [Reuters]
TI sees projectors as new camera phones [Reuters]
Freescale aims to sell Google Android netbooks in Q2 [Reuters]
Microsoft Renames, Revamps its Phone OS [PC World]
MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe Lays Out Mobile Strategy; Hypertargeting Mobile Ads To Users [mocoNews]

and in other news headlines...

  • Chicago's massive surveillance system, that includes thousands of video cameras on city streets, is a source of pride for its Police Department, and a source of concern for privacy advocates. This week, the system was hooked into the city's 911 network. Now emergency calls made within 150 feet of a camera will prompt an officer on duty to view the crime in progress remotely, providing assistance while help is on the way.
    Chicago Links Street Cameras to Its 911 Network [NYTimes]
  • Asus has released an all-in-one PC that reviewers are calling a Kitchen PC. Its small footprint and touch-sensitive display make it easy to use while cooking, cleaning, and bustling around. The $600 price tag is considered low for a touchscreen counter-top PC.
    Review: Asus 'Kitchen Computer' Does the Job [NewsFactor]
  • The fate of popular torrent site Pirate Bay hangs in the balance as Stockholm Judge decides if the company assists users in copyright infringement.
    Pirate Bay Defendants Face Simplified Charges [NewsFactor]
  • Facebook was caught with its hand in the cookie jar once again, as its users expressed extreme displeasure with its recent change in policies. The company had changed its terms of use to state that it owns the rights to use all content created and submitted by its members even after a user cancels membership. The company responded to user pushback by changing the policy back to owning content only for the term of the membership.
    Facebook Backpedals on Terms of Use Changes [NewsFactor]
    Facebook's New Terms Of Service: "We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever." [The Consumerist]
    Facebook reverses course on privacy policy [Reuters]
  • A couple suing Google for invasion of privacy over their home being shown on Google Streetview have lost their case. Among several reasons given by the judge was that the couple did not use tools provided by Google to request their home be removed from the online service. Using the Edit link, and clicking "Flag as inappropriate" allows users to remove images from Google Maps Street View.
    Judge Dismisses Google Street View Damages Case [NewsFactor]
  • Popular Internet TV source Hulu, under pressure from NBC and Fox, has yanked its content from the popular Internet TV software Boxee causing a cry of anguish from the growing population of Boxee users. If you haven't tried Hulu or Boxee you are missing out on the future of television.
    Studios Force Hulu To End Boxee Connection [NewsFactor]
  • The recently merged Sirius/XM satellite radio company was saved from the brink of bankruptcy by a last-minute $530 million loan from Liberty Media.
    Sirius XM Delays Bankruptcy with New Loan [FastCompnay]
  • Twitter has finally extended into popular culture. Last week Representative Pete Hoekstra twittered throughout his trip with a political group into Baghdad. The politician caught flack for making public his location on what some considered a secret mission.
    Congress's New Love Affair with Twitter [TIME]
  • Twitter is also one of the huge irony's of the day. The company that apparently has no business plan or method of making money, raised more than $35 million in funding this week. Ironic during a period when nearly all other tech companies are laying off employees.
    Twitter Could 'Go for Years' Without Earning a Dime, Investor Says [Wired]
  • The open source community is all atwitter about the white house using open source software. The Web site recovery.gov that outlines the President's economic stimulus package and plans was built using open source Drupal.
    Why the White House's Embrace of Drupal Matters [techpresident.com]
  • Jeremy Levy and fellow researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed an atom-sized transistor through nanotechnology. The transistor is considered the smallest produced in a deterministic and reliable fashion. If and when mass-produced the transistors could make Moore's Law obsolete.
    Scientists make advances on "nano" electronics [Reuters]
  • Yahoo! has announced that it will begin allowing its advertisers to show video content in their ads - a move that Google and Microsoft have so far avoided.
    Yahoo Enables Video and Other Rich Media in Search Ads [ClickZ]

That's it for this week's CourseCast. Links to this week's stories and many more news and information resources are provided at the CourseCast Web site at coursecasts.course.com. Email us with your suggestions for the show at course.coursecasts@cengage.com. Until next time have a great week and be sure to take advantage of the Power -- of Technology!