Unlike many iPhone rumors, today's scuttlebutt comes from a highly reputable source: Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired.



IPhone - Chris Anderson - Smartphone - Handhelds - Apple

Craigslist's decision to 'censor' its adult services ads just throws gasoline on the flames. But is this fire really necessary or a cheap political publicity stunt?



Craigslist - United States - Prostitution - Metro Areas - San Francisco Bay Area

On August 20, Canada's Privy Council Office issued an order targeting Apple and the company's new Canadian version of the iBookstore. Referred to simply as an "order authorizing a review under the Investment Canada Act of Apple Canada, Inc.’s proposed establishment of a new cultural business carried on by iBookstore in Canada," the order means that Apple's investment in Canada will be scrutinized by the government to make sure it aids "Canadian culture."

The decision was noted today by Canadian law professor Michael Geist, and it relies on a section of the Investment Canada Act that allows the government to review investments for "cultural reasons."

The text of the brief order points to section 15 of the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to review any investment, even those that would not normally be reviewable. The only stipulation is that the investment must concern "a prescribed specific type of business activity that, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, is related to Canada's cultural heritage or national identity."

Given persistent Canadian concerns about being overrun with American TV shows and movies and having the country's digital music market controlled by iTunes, it's clear the government wants to take a closer look at Apple's decision to open a major new e-bookstore in Canada.

Canada's Financial Post took a dim view of the decision, saying that "the government might do well to start the review process by asking the millions of iPod, iPhone and iPad owners of Canada for their views on the matter. Though we all already know what they would say."

Read the comments on this post

Four months ago, amidst a backlash from government regulators and privacy advocates, Google stopped collecting Wi-Fi data with its Street View cars. But that doesn't mean Google has stopped collecting wireless data.



Google - Google Street View - Wi-Fi - Search - Search Engines

Today 377 members of the European Parliament adopted a written declaration on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) in which they demand greater transparency, assert that ISPs should not up end being liable for data sent through their networks, and say that ACTA "should not force limitations upon judicial due process or weaken fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and the right to privacy."

The "written declaration" has no binding force; any MEP can issue one (there's a 200-word maximum), which is adopted when more than half of all MEPs sign on. If adopted, "written declarations are printed and posted on a board at the entrance to the Chambers in Strasbourg and Brussels." They also go up on the Web and get passed on to the European Commission.

But the declaration does give the ACTA negotiators a sense of the parliamentary will; in this case, Parliament has many concerns about both substance and process.

Some of these have already been addressed; the most recent leaked ACTA draft shows that ISP liability has been removed, for instance. Others, like concerns of access to medicines, especially those in transit from countries with looser patent systems, continue to be areas of concern—and have been for some time.

La Quadrature du Net, a French group that heavily backed the declaration, sees it as a sign that ACTA is doomed.

"Written Declaration 12 is a strong political signal sent by the EP to the Commission that ACTA is not tolerable as a way of bypassing democratic processes. Legislation related to Internet, freedom of speech and privacy cannot be negotiated in secrecy under the direct influence of entertainment industry lobbies," said spokesperson Jérémie Zimmermann. "Full rejection of ACTA is the only option."

Read the comments on this post

Retailer offers other classic game compilations, but feels Intellivision Lives! won't sell well to its target, younger clientele.



Video game - Games - Intellivision - Intellivision Lives - Console Platforms

Eat or be eaten

The global economy might not be on the mend as much as we would like, but there are plenty of IT behemoths sitting on big bags of cash, and tongues are a-wagging today about data warehousing appliance maker Netezza and security and systems software maker Symantec both being possible takeover targets.…

The real-time search will save users time, especially from mobile devices, but it changes how companies will do business on the Internet.



search - Google - Search Engines - GoogleInstant - Companies

When it came to resurrecting the MIA videogame, Randy Pitchford faced a task that was part suicide run, part debt of honor. The Gearbox Software CEO serves up the inside story on the improbable rescue of one of gaming's most beloved (and most obnoxious) franchises.

I'm pleased Apple has improved iOS security with the iOS4.1 update. But I'm even happier about these new 4 features.



Apple - Macintosh - Apple II - Articles - Companies

Of Sony's many marketing ploys, my favorite is Yaybuttons.com -- which, as the name suggests, defends the virtue of buttons against a faceless foe.



Sony - Graphics - Page Elements - Free - Shopping

The federal agency in charge of protecting other agencies from computer intruders was found riddled with hundreds of high-risk security holes on its own systems, according to the results of an audit released Wednesday.

U.S. President Barack Obama proposes a permanent extension to an R&D tax credit.



Barack Obama - President of the United States - President - United States - Business

Wednesday is apparently Apple Update Day, as the company has released iOS 4.1, iPhone Configuration Utility 3.1, and now iMovie 1.1 for iPhone and the new...



iPhone - Apple - IOS - Handhelds - Smartphones

I keep great track of my schedule. I have my iCal synced with my iPhone calendar and I have a backup, tangible copy as well. To say that I’m organized would be...



IPhone - iCal - Smartphones - Handhelds - Apple