Episode 0007, 07/03/2007 iPhone, contactless payments, online storage, and net neutrality
Welcome to Course Technology's CourseCast of the Month, Episode 7 for July, 2007.
This is Ken Baldauf with more technology news and information targeted at college students.
This CourseCast is brought to you by Course Technology. Check out www.course.com for innovative textbooks and creative electronic learning solutions for higher education.
Story 1 - The iPhone has arrived!
After months of anticipation, the Apple iPhone was released on Friday, June 29 to AT&T wireless customers. The iPhone is sold in Apple stores, AT&T stores, and online. There was sufficient supply to meet the demand from over half a million customers. The hundreds of enthusiasts that camped out in front of Apple stores could have been home in bed. By Monday, however, most of the AT&T stores had sold out, but inventory at Apple stores and online remains available. It is uncertain if the supply will remain strong enough to continue to meet demand. There is currently a two- to four-week wait for online orders.
In case you've somehow managed to avoid hearing about the iPhone, here's a brief overview. The iPhone features a large wide-screen touch-sensitive display. It includes full cell-phone feature plus all of the video iPod's functionality. It also includes a full featured Web browser, and support for YouTube videos. The iPhone features a unique interface that allows for a two-finger manipulation for zooming in on photos and Web pages. It also changes from portrait to landscape view automatically when the device is turned.
The initial reviews of the iPhone are all positive. The Wall Street Journal calls it, "a beautiful, breakthrough device". The New York Times calls the iPhone "revolutionary" with a "spectacular" image quality. In general, reviewers feel that the iPhone has lived up to its hype - which has been considerable. Most reviewers have some things that they don't like about the iPhone. The primary criticism has been over AT&T's slow data network. Fortunately, the iPhone can make use of wi-fi networks where available for speedier Internet service. The other drawback is the price: $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB model.
Source: Analyst: Apple sold 500,000 iPhones over the weekend (Computerworld)
Story 2 - Wave and pay
A new method for paying at cash registers and vending machines is about to sweep the nation. Rather than paying with cash or check, or having to swipe a credit card and provide a signature, it is likely that we’ll soon be simply waving our credit card or cell phone over a pad. Contactless payment systems are already in place in some businesses, and it is likely that they will become the default method of payment. Contactless payment systems make use of a radio frequency ID (RFID) chip embedded in a credit card, cell phone, key fob, or other device. The card or device wirelessly sends credit card data to an RFID reader installed in cash registers, vending machines, toll booths, and anywhere transactions take place. Credit card companies no longer require signatures for purchases under $25, and the Federal Reserve last week ruled that purchases under $15 no longer require any form of paper receipt. Experts believe that the loosening of these restrictions will usher in a wave of vending machines that accept RFID-equipped credit cards. Wouldn't it be convenient to wave your card or phone over the coin slot to pay for a snack? No more wrestling to get a machine to accept a dollar bill.
The obvious concern is with security. If your credit card is transmitting private information through the air using radio signals, what's to stop a thief with a card reader from swiping that information? The credit card companies assure those concerned that they have a system in place to protect the private information, but security experts remain skeptical.
Source: 'Contactless payments' about to explode, but are they secure?
Story 3 - Backing-up Online
It’s widely recognized that most people do not back up the valuable files that are stored on their computers as they should. Considering the frequency rate of hard drive failures, many of us are putting our data at risk. Unfortunately the tools for backing up the Gigabytes of valuable files that most people maintain are far from convenient. And who wants to manage a library of back-up CDs or DVDs? The ideal solution would be an easy-to-use backup system that keeps a backup copy of our files on the Internet. Not only would our files be safeguarded against disaster, but they would also be available to us from any Internet-connected device.
News from Dell and Microsoft this week indicates that the computer industry may be poised to deliver such a service. A new service from Dell called "Dell DataSafe Online" provides 3GB of online storage to customers who purchase a new Inspiron desktop computer and 10GB to those that purchase a new XPS PC. Using software installed on the PCs, users can select the folders and files they wish to backup and set up an automated backup schedule. Microsoft is launching a service it calls Windows Live Folders which will provide up to 500 megabytes of online storage to Windows users. Microsoft and Dell aren't the first to offer online storage. Apple offers online backup storage through its .mac service. Free online backup is offered by mozy.com and xdrive.com. It’s been rumored that Google is working on an online storage service as well. So stop living dangerously, and checkout online backup solutions today!
Sources: Dell bundles free online storage with new PCs , Microsoft rolls out Web storage, new photo gallery
Story 4 - Network Neutrality
If you read through technology news any day of the week, it won't be long before you find an article on network neutrality. Network neutrality refers to a principle applied to high speed Internet services whereby all data is delivered to all users with equal priority. The reason network neutrality is prevalent in the news is that there are a number of legal battles between network providers, like Comcast and AT&T, and content and application providers, like Yahoo!, Google, and Vonage. The content and application providers are concerned that network providers are planning to prioritize what is sent over their networks, giving preference to some Internet services over others, and charging content providers for certain services. Rather than a free-flowing, neutral network, content providers fear that network providers are going to start managing the flow of information. They want the US Government to impose restrictions on the network providers to keep the flow of information unrestricted. Vint Cerf, co-inventor of the Internet, puts it like this: "The Internet was designed with no gatekeepers over new content or services. A lightweight but enforceable neutrality rule is needed to ensure that the Internet continues to thrive." However, the US Federal Trade Commission doesn't see it that way. They issued a report this week that dismissed such claims and urged policy makers to use a hands-off approach and resist imposing regulations to restrain the network providers.
Source: FTC shoots down Net Neutrality, says it is not needed
New Briefs
Cool Tools of the Month: Consumer Review Web Sites
Consumer review Web sites educate consumers and put pressure on businesses to provide better customer service. Two Web sites lead the pack when it comes to consumer reviews: yelp.com is quickly becoming the most respected source of opinions about businesses in major cities, and is extending its reach into smaller cities as well; epinions.com is a valuable resource for consumer reviews of products. Online consumer reviews are yet another way in which the Web is providing power to the people and improving our lives.
Cool Tools: www.yelp.com, www.epinions.com
Well that's it for this month’s CourseCast. Links to this month's stories and many more news and information resources are provided at the CourseCast Web site accessible from www.course.com. Until next time, have a great month and be sure to take advantage of the Power -- of Technology!