Service Provider Journal

The AJAX assault on privacy

Every new technology brings new dangers, it seems. AJAX can make Web pages look great, or, it can enable sneaky dealings:

"The Associated Press reported last week that Facebooks users who make purchases at sites participating in the program have just 20 seconds in which to opt out of having that information published. That's because the opt-out mechanism consisted of a small pop-up that vanishes 20 seconds after it appeared. After the window disappears, so does the user's chance to opt out."

Let's hope the courts throw the book at such shenanigans.

Wiimodeling?

After Thanksgiving dinner tonight at a family friend's house, out came a Nintendo Wii on the big screen, and two guests, teenage brothers, went at it for the first time with gusto. Someone made a comment about needing a room big enough to play these increasingly athletic video games plus the big screen they deserve, and I think I coined a term. Don't thing remodeling, think Wiimodeling.

Net slowdown ahead?

Digg picked up on a USA Today story based on this press release, "User Demand for the Internet Could Outpace Network Capacity by 2010." The study was funded at least in part by the nonprofit Internet Innovation Alliance, which lists among its members AT&T (others listed here). Such a study may carry more weight once it's replicated by the IETF, National Science Foundation or other government agency. 

Roxio: No Leopard patch for broken Toast DVD burner software

Do not install Apple OS X Leopard if you use Roxio's Toast DVD burner software. Leopard will make Toast malfunction, and Roxio is not planning to do a patch. My wife learned this today the hard way.

Berlind: Use IMAP and x-notify to improve spam management

David Berlind moves the anti-spam discussion ball down the field for a first down! Seriously, this is important stuff for every ISP, Web site operator and mass emailer. And IMAP is definitely cool, underutilized existing tech.