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 241 01//23/12 </b></em></p> <p><em>Title/Description:</em><strong> SOPA PIPA Shelved</strong> <b>and Other Tech Stories</b>. </p> <p>Welcome to Course Technology's Coursecast of the week, Episode 241, for January 23rd, 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: SOPA and PIPA Shelved</strong></p> <p>Two bills making their way through the House and Senate, intending to clamp down on Internet piracy, have run into a brick wall. PIPA (PROTECT Intellectual Property Act) is a bill in the Senate and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) is in the House. Both originally intended to require Internet service providers, search engines, and online financial services to block Web sites that are suspected of distributing copyrighted material. Some feel that the bills represented the first major step towards government censorship of the Web. </p> <p>Internet companies including Google, Microsoft, Wikipedia, Facebook, and many others have spoken out against the legislation, which is being driven by lobbyists from the Motion Picture Association, Recording Industry Association of America, and other IP owners. The tech companies fear that the legislation would alter the way that the Internet works, put Internet companies out of business, infringe on Internet freedom, and stifle innovation. Companies and legislators backing the bills believe that something must be done to reduce online piracy, which they say is responsible for eating away at media companies profits.</p> <p>Last weekend, President Obama sided with the tech companies saying that the legislation should be shelved until it can address concerns over negative impact on the Internet. Over the course of the week many businesses, organizations, and individuals climbed on the anti-SOPA band wagon, which culminated in a Web blackout on Wednesday. Wikipedia, Reddit, WordPress, and hundreds of smaller sites went black Wednesday, replacing their Websites with anti-SOPA rhetoric. By Thursday morning, the pressure became too much and the sponsors of the bills announced a surrender of sorts. With elections around the corner, bill supporters feared that this hot-potato item might ruin their chances for re-election. Once elections are over, it is likely that the two bills return in one form or another. </p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/21/us-usa-congress-internet-idUSTRE80J10X20120121?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">Congress puts brakes on anti-piracy bills</a> [Reuters]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74192.html" target="_blank">SOPA on the Ropes as White House Voices Doubts</a> [ECommerce Times]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/technology/web-wide-protest-over-two-antipiracy-bills.html?_r=2" target="_blank">A Political Coming of Age for the Tech Industry</a> [NYTimes]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81858" target="_blank">Anti-Piracy Bills Dropped in House and Senate</a> [NewsFactor]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223515/SOPA_Controversy_?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">Sopa Controversy</a> [Computerworld]</li> <li class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223524/U.S._lawmakers_flip_their_positions_on_SOPA_PIPA?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">U.S. lawmakers flip their positions on SOPA, PIPA</a> [Computerworld]</li> </ul> <p><strong>And elsewhere in Tech News...</strong></p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal>Within a day of SOPA and PIPA being shelved, the US Justice Department orchestrated a major take down of Megaupload.com, an online service suspected of illegally distributing pirated music, movies, and software. Megaupload provides a service that allows members to upload files to be shared, providing URLs of shared files for members to distribute as they see fit. The company makes money through premium membership packages that offer higher bandwidth as well as through ads. Much of the content on Megaupload is copyrighted material being distributed illegally. Take down notices from IP owners are all but ignored by the company's owners. The DOJ obtained 20 search warrants around the U.S., New Zealand and seven other countries which allowed the Megaupload's servers to be impounded. Four of seven owners of the company were arrested in New Zealand on charges of ripping off copyright holders for roughly $500 million while generating over $175 million for themselves. The three other owners remain at large. Prosecutors call the Megaupload group &quot;an international organized criminal enterprise allegedly responsible for massive worldwide online piracy.&quot; Megaupload claims that it is merely a tool and not responsible for how its members make use of the service. Meanwhile, legitimate users of the service are enraged over their files being lost in the legal process. This major bust demonstrates the government s ability to shut down pirating Websites, without the need for controversial legislation such as SOPA and PIPA.<br> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/21/us-internet-piracy-megaupload-idUSTRE80K07Q20120121?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">New Zealand reveals high-octane arrest in Internet fraud case</a> [Reuters] <br> <a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74234.html" target="_blank">Massive Hammer Falls on Megaupload</a> [ECommerce Times] <br> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223557/Feds_charge_7_in_massive_case_against_Megaupload_online_piracy_ring?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">Feds charge 7 in 'massive' case against Megaupload online piracy ring</a> [Computerworld] <br> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223591/What_Megaupload_s_Demise_Teaches_about_Cloud_Storage?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">What Megaupload's Demise Teaches about Cloud Storage</a> [Computerworld] </li> <li class=MsoNormal>Apple held a major press event Thursday where it unveiled its vision for etextbooks on the iPad. The new iBook Textbook platform allows traditional textbook content to be mixed with rich media, interactive content, and educational activities delivered on the iPad. iBooks Author is software that allows educators and publishers to easily assemble the contents of a media driven textbook or lesson for publishing on iTunes U. The new iTunes U has been redesigned as software that allows users to easily find lessons and textbooks on many topics. Apple is hoping iBooks textbooks will transform education as we know it. However, it has its work cut out for it with several other similar platforms emerging that aren't tied to a single brand or device. If iBooks Textbook succeeds, Apple will gain monopoly power in the textbook distribution industry much as it has acquired monopoly power in music distribution. <br> <a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/74224.html" target="_blank">Apple Goes Back to School With E-Textbook Apps</a> [ECommerce Times]<br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81840" target="_blank">Apple Moves To Reinvent Textbooks with iBooks 2</a> [NewsFactor] <br> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223550/Apple_s_e_textbook_gambit_just_a_70_solution_says_analyst?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">Apple's e-textbook gambit just 'a 70% solution,' says analyst</a> [Computerworld] <br> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223593/Apple_s_new_vision_of_education" target="_blank">Apple's new vision of education</a> [Computerworld] </li> <li class=MsoNormal>With so many tablets purchased over the holidays, libraries have seen a huge increase in demand for ebook loans. Unfortunately, publishers are limiting the amounts of ebooks that can be loaned through libraries. This puts libraries in a difficult position as waiting lists for titles grow longer than patrons are willing to tolerate. The situation is ironic since it costs next to nothing to make copies of digital content. It seems as though Libraries should be able to offer limitless amounts of ebooks, but publishing houses wonder how that might impact sales.<br> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223535/E_book_library_borrowing_hits_record_pace?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">E-book library borrowing hits record pace</a> [Computerworld] </li> <li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>There's a new tech-driven movement afoot. Perhaps you've noticed. It's called the &quot;quantified self.&quot; Members of the movement are obsessed with self-monitoring and are supported by products like the Jawbone UP and Nike's Fuelband that constantly monitor physical activity. Reports are generated, providing detailed analysis of daily activities, calories burned, quality of sleep, and other metrics to allow the users to take control of their lifestyle - hopefully for the healthier.<br> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223594/Is_the_quantified_self_movement_just_a_fad_?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">Is the 'quantified self' movement just a fad?</a> [Computerworld] </li> </ul> <p><strong>And in Information Security news this week...</strong></p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal>Within hours of Megaupolad being shut down on piracy charges, Anonymous retaliated by launching Distributed Denial of Service attacks on the Web sites of the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, Motion Picture Association of America, Recording Industry Association of America and several others.<br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81859" target="_blank">Megaupload Founder Arrested, Anonymous Retaliates</a> [NewsFactor] <br> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223601/Anonymous_dupes_users_into_joining_Metaupload_attack?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">Anonymous dupes users into joining Metaupload attack</a> [Computerworld]</li> </ul> <p><strong>And in Tech Industry news...</strong></p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal>A Nielsen report reveals that nearly half of American mobile consumers own SmartPhones. It also shows an unexpected swing from Android to Apple. Android's market share has fallen from 62 to 47 percent of the market, while Apple's has increased from 25 to 45 percent over the last quarter of 2011.<br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81821" target="_blank">Apple's iPhone 4S Grabs U.S. Market Share</a> [NewsFactor] </li> <li class=MsoNormal>Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has left Yahoo. Yang's departure coincides with the arrival of a new CEO Scott Thompson, formerly of PayPal.<br> <a href="http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81817" target="_blank">Yahoo Co-Founder Yang Exits the Company</a> [NewsFactor]</li> </ul> <p><strong>And finally....</strong></p> <ul type=disc> <li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Google is updating its search algorithm to punish sites that include excessive ads at the top of their pages. Such sites will be pushed down in listed search results. Thank you Google!<br> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223600/Google_to_punish_sites_with_many_ads_at_the_top_of_pages?source=rss_latest_content&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fnews%2Ffeed+%28Latest+from+Computerworld%29" target="_blank">Google to punish sites with many ads at the top of pages</a> [Computerworld] </li> </ul> <p>That's it for this week's Coursecast.  </p> <p>Shout outs to: Mrs. Anderson's Integrated Business Applications Classes in Landrum, SC, also to the Minatare High School Advanced Computers class, and to Blake Grimes in Mrs. Speed's 4th period MultiMeida Class, Conor Moore at Flour Bluff ISD in Corpus Christi, TX, and Quinten Ringel from East Jackson High School, and finally to Dave Mercier, a parent of one of our students who got hooked on CourseCasts along the way.</p> <p>Keep those emails coming, and include 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>