IRS Latest To Get Dinged Over Lost Computers
Published Saturday, April 07, 2007 by Technology Monster.| Just a couple days after learning that the National Nuclear Security Agency, which is tasked with that little job of keeping the government's nuclear secrets safe, is having a problem holding onto its computers, it's been revealed that the IRS is having the same problems. On the one hand, potentially losing nuclear secrets is pretty scary, but on the other hand, there's probably no federal agency that has more personal data on US citizens that could be used by identity fraudsters than the IRS. |
Agency Tasked With Keeping Nuclear Secrets Can't Keep Track Of Its Computers
Published by Technology Monster.| An audit of the National Nuclear Security Agency found that it's lost 20 desktop computers (how do you misplace those?) and that some of the computers it is using were not part of its official inventory. What makes it even worse is the fact that the agency has failed 13 of these audits over the last four years, so it's not as though this news could be characterized as a wake up call that will prompt better practices. |
Radio Shack Sued For Throwing Away Customer Information
Published Friday, April 06, 2007 by Technology Monster.| We've had plenty of stories about companies and gov't agencies losing laptops or hard drives potentially revealing a a ton of private info, but apparently Radio Shack decided to go a more low tech route in exposing customer private info. The amusingly named Witty Nickname writes in to let us know that the Texas Attorney General has sued Radio Shack after it discovered that a store was simply throwing out paper records that included customer names, social security numbers and credit cards. |
One Phone Per Child (?)
Published by Technology Monster.| While, for now, the majority of mobile content focuses on music, and principally on ringtones (More than 80 percent of mobile music revenues are for ringtones, according to Ben Macklin with eMarketer.), the shift will come with revenue from mobile television and mobile games, which they estimate will exceed the money generated by mobile music by that time… …”The mobile phone has quickly moved beyond being just a convenient communication device. |
The Winner At This Year's DEMO: MySpace
Published by Technology Monster.| Once again, there were a number of cool mobile related companies (DartDevices, for example, has tremendous potential not as a "write once/run anywhere" system as its positioning seems to imply, but turning any device into a terminal for any other device, allowing you to run any application that makes use of features on any device on a network, and access it from any other device). |
The Balance Between Freedom and Responsibility
Published Thursday, April 05, 2007 by Technology Monster.| Some have been using iChat irresponsibly, and Chris and his staff have been trying hard not to take the easy route and switch it off. So we are also leaving iChat on the computers, and we’re still encouraging students to find ways to use IM in ways that are useful, and we’re still not naive enough to think that every iChat message is on-point and relevant, but it’s a tool, and the kids and need to learn how to use it safely and effectively. |
Maine Doesn't Want Lobbyists To Pressure Politicians While They're Voting
Published by Technology Monster.| We've seen plenty of governments ban the use of laptops or email devices during governing sessions -- though, the usual reason is to keep politicians from goofing off when they should be paying attention. However, up in Maine, they've come up with a different reason: to keep lobbyists from pressuring politicians as they make their votes. It seems highly unlikely that a last minute email from a lobbyist is going to convince a politician one way or the other. |
Toshiba's Biggest Worry About Exploding Batteries Is Its Brand?
Published Sunday, October 22, 2006 by Technology Monster.| Toshiba is one of a long, long list of laptop makers who has had to recall batteries made by Sony. They're considering suing Sony over the problems -- not, mind you, for the potential danger it put their customers in, but for the damage to Toshiba's brand. To be honest, about the biggest slam on Toshiba's brand seems to be the fact that they're more concerned about their own brand than on the fact that their laptops might explode and put their customers in danger. |
1.2 Million Libyan Kids With Laptops
Published Saturday, October 14, 2006 by Technology Monster.| (via David Weinberger) Libya has become the fourth country to make a sizeable order of the $100 laptop to the tune of $250 million. Interesting vision here: It is possible that Libya will be the first nation in the world to connect all of its children to the Web via computers provided by schools, Negroponte said, according to the Times. Second, I would ask what does it say about our commitment to our children in this country if we are not the first to connect all of its children to the Internet? |
Wanted: More Battery Power; Lower Likelihood Of Explosion
Published Friday, September 29, 2006 by Technology Monster.| We had a fascinating discussion about why it seemed like everything else in technology kept improving, but minus a few incremental advancements here and there, battery technology had pretty much topped out. You can make batteries safer, but then you get less power. There may be an answer out there, with things like decreased power consumption or faster charges may represent temporary solutions, but it seems we're still waiting for a real breakthrough in battery technology. |
Another Airline Grounds Dell, Apple Laptops
Published Tuesday, September 12, 2006 by Technology Monster.| Spokesmen from Apple and Dell have a point that there are plenty of their laptops that didn't ship with the exploding battery figure, so they shouldn't be any more of a threat to an airplane than any other laptop, and to single their users out really isn't all that helpful. All this ban will do is drive some customers to other airlines, where they'll carry their machines on unmolested. |
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Last posts
- IRS Latest To Get Dinged Over Lost Computers
- Agency Tasked With Keeping Nuclear Secrets Can't Keep Track Of Its Computers
- Radio Shack Sued For Throwing Away Customer Information
- One Phone Per Child (?)
- The Winner At This Year's DEMO: MySpace
- The Balance Between Freedom and Responsibility
- Maine Doesn't Want Lobbyists To Pressure Politicians While They're Voting
- Toshiba's Biggest Worry About Exploding Batteries Is Its Brand?
- 1.2 Million Libyan Kids With Laptops
- Wanted: More Battery Power; Lower Likelihood Of Explosion