User group Newsletter Editors: Utilize this content in your newsletter -- PLEASE ... reference The User Group Network _ / _ UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS_/ _ Info Manager The Info Manager is looking for your rumors and tidbits... give him a post! ...or subscribe... see subscription notes below . Info Manager - 7/14/Y2K Supercharged cable modems; Epson Cartridges for $12.50; FBI/Britain and Privacy; Yodlee; Inprise/Borland; AACUG; UG Academy Awards **** Faster cable modems CNET New is reporting that there is a Texas company plans supercharged cable modems Advent Networks co-founded by a former Time Warner cable technologist says it can supercharge existing cable networks to handle 20 to 50 times the speed of the current modems. Everyone keeps promising more and more speed. I hope they can deliver. More info at: http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-2212321.html **** MacSmith.com I just came from this web site. I was attracted by an advertisement on Think Secret site for Epson ink cartridges for $12.50 or less. That is correct, $12.50 for a color cartridge like you pay upwards of $21 for in retail stores. I haven't dealt with them yet, but this really sounds good. http://www.themacsmith.com/ **** FBI: Carnivore to search your email Think you don't need to encrypt your e-mail? The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the FBI is using a computer system code named Carnivore to search e-mails for messages from criminal suspects. The FBI says it has been used in fewer than 100 cases since its launch early in 1999. When used, it must be hooked directly into Internet service providers' networks. That gives the FBI, the ability to eavesdrop on all customers' digital communications, from e-mail to online banking and Web surfing. Some Internet service providers dislike the idea of any outside software being plugged into their systems. So far legal challenges to the use of Carnivore are few (maybe because so few people are aware of it). The full story is at: http://www.msnbc.com/news/431355.asp **** Britain Just in case you think the US is the only place where snooping is going on, you should see the British legislation called the Regulation of Investigatory Powers bill, or RIP. While not yet law, its passage is a possibility. They also point at the need to monitor terrorists and drug dealers. The British are more willing to give up privacy. Just look at all those video cameras all over in public places. But they did have an uprising earlier in the year when it was proposed that the government monitor automobiles for speeding via satellite. So maybe they will shoot down this bill too. **** Privacy While we are talking about privacy. Lets see a show of hands. How many of you read the privacy statement of every web site you visit? Every time you visit it? That would be the only way to make sure you are protected. Even with the FTC coming down on the ToySmart site who wants to sell its customer list now that it is bankrupt. You can't be assured that a privacy policy won't change. There has been announced a new plug-in that should help with the problem. It will analyze sites that conform to its standard and let you know of changes. However web sites will have to start using it voluntarily, which is a major road block. We need to apply pressure to those who don't by shopping those who do. USA Today had a good article on it on 7/10/2000. I am not providing the link since they put their stories into an archive and the link will change. But you can search for Platform for Privacy Preferences or P3P for short and find the story. Or you can go to the web site of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the non-profit organization that oversees technical standards for the Web. See: http://www.w3.org/ **** Yodlee, etc. Yodlee.com, CallTheShots.com, Moreover com, Octopus.com, and OnePage.com are doing something new. (Note: some of these sites are not yet live). They break down the Web into smaller components-a table, a headline, a single word-and shuffle the pieces into new forms. This is similar to what we do on Netscape, Excite or other "my page" type sites. The main difference is these new companies can draw personal information from up to 2300 different web sites. (The number varies by site and keeps growing). That way you could have your Electric bill and your phone bill show up on one page. All the information you seek on a regular basis. The goal is to reduce information overload by making it easier for users to snatch the needles they want out of the haystack that is the Internet. Your Info Manager isn't sure that he likes the idea as it sounds a little scary. But you should check it out. It might be of value to you. **** Inprise/Borland I haven't followed Borland (now Inprise) for a number of years as their products haven't fit my needs and they quit supporting Mac. However on 7/10 they officially announced their support of MacOS X. saying that JBuilder ( a Java development program) would be available for Macs using OSX. This was announced at the Borland Developers' conference in San Diego. The software should debut early next year. The move to support Apple's OS is part of his company's plan to enable developers to deploy their applications on as many platforms as possible. JBuilder already supports Windows, Linux and Solaris operating systems. The most interesting quote from the IDG.net article was: "The Macintosh news met with a rousing reception at the Borland conference from the more than 3,000 developers in attendance, according to Fuller. 'I was blown away by the response from a typically Windows crowd, it knocked their socks off,' he said." Full story at: http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=282848 **** AACUG Association of Apple Computer User Groups has caused quite a stir at Apple the other day. This organization has apparently plopped out of the ether and will have its inaugural presentation Thursday afternoon in the User Group Lounge at MacWorld. They have many wonderful things planned so stay tuned to this space to see what is going on. **** Academy Awards for User Groups to feature the iMove Awards Meanwhile, The UG Academy has launched their new season of grants and awards. Check out www.ugacademy.org to see what they are offering. The exciting news is a Movie Awards for user groups producing the best 60-second UG promo movie. Of course you should submit your user groups newsletter and web site and member of the year for possible national recognition as well. Looks like San Francisco is already going to be an exciting show in January! **** Quote of the Week: "If you don't know what you want to do, it's harder to do it." -----Malcolm Forbes pau **** Don't forget ... the Info Manager invites you to use all or part of his column in your user group newsletter. Please let him know at rumormangr@aol.com and if possible send an electronic copy for the old scrapbook. Any suggestions for topics and reports of rumors are always welcome. Please me know at the address below. Thanks Subscribe to Rumors@lists.user-groups.net DIGEST VERSION: rumors-digest@lists.user-groups.net (recommended) rumors-on@lists.user-groups.net for more information go to: http://www.user-groups.net/ugcommunity/subscribe.html The Info Manager is a veteran of the UGN (AOL User Groups Forum) and User Group Network. He's been a supporter and volunteer on many, many UGNet and User Group Academy projects. As a long time user group member, he's served as volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and many points in between. Currently working with the Apple Corp of Dallas, the Dallas Mac Pack, Cowtown MUG of Ft. Worth and TUMS (the Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society) doing newsletter articles and the monthly CD-ROM Update. UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS _ / _ UG Library _ / _ UG Bookshelf To Advertise or become a sponsor -- Contact Jennifer -- Press Releases for publication -- should be directed to: UGNN News Desk at: UGNN News Desk. Article Reprints -- User Group Network Affiliates may reprint articles as long as full credit is given. Other Non-profit or non-commercial publications should contact us. The UGNN cannot guarantee accuracy or timeliness of articles. Many have been forwarded to us by field correspondents, or press release services. All care is taken to assure the accuracy of URLs and email addresses. Some items may be 30 to 60 days old. 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