ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=unicode"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered)"> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} h2 {mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char"; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in; font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight:bold;} p {margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} span.Heading2Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-style-link:"Heading 2"; font-family:"Cambria","serif"; color:#4F81BD; font-weight:bold;} .MsoChpDefault {font-size:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} /* List Definitions */ ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=WordSection1> <div> <div link=blue vlink=purple> <h2><strong>CourseCast of the Week </strong></h2> <p><em><b>Episode 243 02//06/12 </b></em></p> <p>Title/Description: <strong>Facebook IPO</strong> <b>and Other Tech Stories</b>. </p> <p>Welcome to Course Technology's Coursecast of the week, Episode 243, for February 6th, 2012. I'm Ken Baldauf keeping you up to date with this week's technology headlines. </p> <p>This Coursecast is brought to you by Course Technology. Visit <a href="http://www.cengage.com/coursetechnology" target="_blank">www.cengage.com/<wbr>coursetechnology</a> for innovative textbooks and creative digital learning solutions. </p> <p>& and now, the news!</p> <p><strong>Today's headline story: Facebook Files for IPO</strong></p> <p>After years of rumors and speculation, Facebook has finally filed for a public stock offering. Facebook plans to raise $5 billion in an initial public offering, or IPO. The price the stock fetches is anticipated to value Facebook at somewhere between $75 and $100 billion, making hundreds of Facebook employees instant millionaires. </p> <p>Facebook's annual profit of $1 billion in 2011 doesn't actually support such a high valuation. Investors will be gambling on the value of the data Facebook collects on its over 800 million users. And a gamble it is, since privacy legislation at home or abroad could have a profound impact on what Facebook can do with the information it collects. As Facebook goes public, it will be under more pressure to increase profits, and is bound to push the limits of its user's tolerance regarding privacy.</p> <p>As Facebook goes public, it is obligated to disclose previously private information about how the company is run. Founder Mark Zuckerberg is clearly the man in charge at Facebook, and plans to continue being the primary decision-maker after the company goes public. He describes Facebook's approach to product development as &quot;The Hacker Way&quot; - a process involving continuous improvement and iteration.</p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/technology/riding-personal-data-facebook-is-going-public.html?_r=2&amp;partner=rss&amp;emc=rss" target="_blank">Personal Data's Value? Facebook Is Set to Find Out</a> [NYTimes]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/02/us-facebook-timeline-idUSTRE8102KL20120202?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=technologyNews&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Technology%29" target="_blank">Timeline: From dorm room to Nasdaq: Facebook's meteoric ascent</a> [Reuters]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/02/us-facebook-wealth-managers-idUSTRE8112BR20120202?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=technologyNews&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Technology%29" target="_blank">Advice to new Facebook millionaires: take a breath</a> [Reuters]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/03/us-facebook-investment-idUSTRE81206020120203?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=technologyNews&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Technology%29" target="_blank">A sobering look at Facebook</a> [Reuters]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74299.html" target="_blank">Wall Street in the Grip of Facebook Fever</a> [ECommerce]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74304.html" target="_blank">Facebook's IPO May Be the Last Straw for Privacy-Minded Users</a> [Ecommerce Times]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74334.html" target="_blank">Facebook Laid Bare for All to See</a> [Ecommerce Times]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74337.html" target="_blank">Zuckerberg to Keep Iron Grip on Facebook's Reins</a> [Ecommerce Times]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81985" target="_blank">Privacy Concerns Cloud Facebook IPO</a> [NewsFactor]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=82013" target="_blank">Zuckerberg Describes 'The Hacker Way' at Facebook</a> [NewsFactor]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://adage.com/article/digital/facebook-files-ipo-reveals-1-billion-2011-profit/232484/" target="_blank">Facebook Files for IPO; Reveals $1 Billion in 2011 Profit</a> [adage]</li> </ul> <p><strong>And elsewhere in Tech News...</strong></p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal>There is growing tension between western and eastern nations over cyber security. Some are referring to it as a modern day cold war. The US and its western allies are cooperating on cyber security and blaming China and Russia for the bulk of cyber attacks and hacking. China, Russia, and other eastern states are denying the allegations and seeking greater government control over Internet content.<br> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/03/us-technology-cyber-idUSTRE8121ED20120203?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=technologyNews&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters/technologyNews+(News+/+US+/+Technology)" target="_blank">Disagreements on cyber risk East-West &quot;Cold War&quot;</a> [Reuters] </li> <li class=MsoNormal>17 year old Laura Deming has been chosen by Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel as one of 24 entrepreneurial teenagers to receive $100,000. The experiment requires Deming to postpone college for two years to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. Thiel holds the opinion that a college degree can be harmful to innovators because of the conservative, career-driven mind-set it imparts.<br> <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/business/39592/" target="_blank">Too Young to Fail</a> [Tech Review]</li> </ul> <p><strong>And in Information Security news this week...</strong></p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal>Despite the Securities and Exchange Commission applying pressure on businesses to report hacking incidents and cybersecurity risks, it is believed that at least a half dozen top U.S. corporations are not disclosing major security breaches. Among the guilty parties is Verisign, the company that supports key Internet backbone servers.<br> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/02/us-hacking-disclosures-idUSTRE8110YW20120202?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=technologyNews&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Technology%29" target="_blank">Exclusive: Hacked companies still not telling investors</a> [Reuters]<br> <a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74341.html" target="_blank">Verisign Fesses Up About 2010 Hack Attacks</a> [ECommerce Times] </li> <li class=MsoNormal>The hacker collective Anonymous published a recording of a confidential phone call between FBI agents and London detectives where the topic was fighting hackers. Apparently, the group gained access to the email that provided call-in information and passwords for the conference call.<br> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/03/us-britain-hackers-idUSTRE81216E20120203?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=technologyNews&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Technology%29" target="_blank">Anonymous publishes FBI call on hacking</a> [Reuters]</li> <li class=MsoNormal>The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced a competition to promote better online security systems that go beyond today's common ID and password systems. According to the contest rules, $10 million will go to the winning five to eight projects that promise &quot;secure, efficient, easy-to-use and interoperable identity solutions to access online services in a manner that promotes confidence, privacy, choice and innovation.&quot;<br> <a href="http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/nsticpilotgrants.cfm" target="_blank">NIST to Fund Pilot Projects that Advance Trusted Identities in Cyberspace</a> [NIST] </li> </ul> <p><strong>And in Tech Industry news...</strong></p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal>Google continues to take heat over its soon to be enacted privacy policy. Google says the new policy provides a service to users by providing one simple policy for all Google products including Gmail, YouTube, and Google Search. The US Congress and European regulators see it as a way for Google to gain detailed personal information about its users. The EU is calling for Google to postpone the new policy until it is thoroughly examined. Google is working to convince Congress of its innocent intentions.<br> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/03/us-eu-google-idUSTRE8120OG20120203?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=technologyNews&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Technology%29" target="_blank">EU regulators want Google to halt new privacy policy</a> [Reuters] <br> <a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74314.html" target="_blank">Google Defends 'Simpler' Privacy Policy in 13-Page Letter to Congress</a> [ECommerce Times]<br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81988" target="_blank">Google Seeks to Reassure House Panel on Privacy Changes</a> [NewsFactor]<br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=82014" target="_blank">Microsoft Slams Google User Data Policy in New Ads</a> [NewsFactor] </li> <li class=MsoNormal>If you count tablets as a form of personal computer, then Apple has become the top PC manufacturer in the world selling more tablets and PCs than any other company. Also, the company is the top smartphone manufacturer and third largest manufacturer of all mobile phones behind Nokia and Samsung. Recently, the number of smartphone sales has surpassed the number of PC sales.<br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81986" target="_blank">Counting Tablets, Apple Takes Top PC Vendor Spo</a>t [NewsFactor] <br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=82045" target="_blank">Smartphones Overtake Computers and Tablets</a> [NewsFactor] <br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=82023" target="_blank">Apple Now 3rd-Biggest Phone Maker, Thanks to iPhone 4S</a> [NewsFactor] </li> <li class=MsoNormal>The next version of Microsoft Office is in the pipeline. Office 15, the code-name for the product, has entered the technical preview stage where select users are asked to put the software through its paces. Microsoft has not released any details about the software nor its release date.<br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81989" target="_blank">Microsoft Office 15 Goes to Technical Preview</a> [NewsFactor] </li> </ul> <p><strong>And finally....</strong></p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK have developed a Web app that can judge whether or not a song has the potential to become a top 40 hit. The software applies qualities of current top 40 hits in a &quot;hit potential equation&quot; to provide songwriters with a score indicating how successful a song could be in the current market.<br> <a href="http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2012/8189.html" target="_blank">Web app could find out if a song has the X Factor</a> [U of Bristol] </li> </ul> <p>That's it for this week's Coursecast. </p> <p>This week's shout outs go to...</p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal>Ms. Breeden's 8th grade class at Goodwell Public School in Goodwell OK</li> <li class=MsoNormal>Lori Kuhlman at Butler County Community College in Andover Kansas</li> <li class=MsoNormal>Taylor Jennings&nbsp; at East Jackson High School, in Jackson Michigan</li> <li class=MsoNormal>and to Ignacio Aguirre who has been listening to CourseCasts since his days as a student at New River Community College&nbsp;in 2007.</li> </ul> <p>You can email me with your comments and suggestions for the show at <a href="mailto:coursecasts@gmail.com" target="_blank">coursecasts@gmail.com</a>. </p> <p>Visit the CourseCasts Website at <a href="http://coursecasts.course.com" target="_blank">coursecasts.course.com</a> where you will find links to the full stories covered in this coursecast, related discussion questions for use in technology courses, and the Coursecast Archives. </p> <p>CourseCasts are also available on Facebook at <a href="http://facebook.com/coursecasts" target="_blank">facebook.com/coursecasts</a>. Click the Like button to add useful tidbits of tech news to your Facebook News Feed throughout the week.</p> <p>Until next time, have a great week and be sure to take advantage of the Power -- of Technology!</p> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>