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The Telecom Digest for January 29, 2013
Volume 32 : Issue 26 : "text" Format
Messages in this Issue:
re:Unlocking new cell phones to become illegal on Saturday (Harold Hallikainen)
Re: Macmillan will sell e-books to libraries in pilot program at $25 per title (Harold Hallikainen)
Re: Cisco to sell Linksys to Belkin, will exit home networking market (Julian Thomas)

====== 31 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ======

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Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:46:37 -0800 From: "Harold Hallikainen" <harold@hallikainen.org> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: re:Unlocking new cell phones to become illegal on Saturday Message-ID: <74e5c185a74cf94931282b54df0a1d7b.squirrel@louise.hallikainen.org> > and Microsoft, which > will forbid its customers from "unlocking" the proprietary formats it > uses to extract tribute from third-party software vendors such as > Mozilla. I think Microsoft has something like this in place. I think they've convinced hardware manufacturers to include a "secure boot" in the BIOS so the system will not boot anything without a Microsoft issued key. As I recall, Microsoft is selling these keys to other OS suppliers (such as Linux). I DO see a security benefit here in that it may help prevent virus transmission through accidentally booting from USB flash drives. But, it DOES make people dependent on MS. Harold -- FCC Rules Updated Daily at http://www.hallikainen.com - Advertising opportunities available! Not sent from an iPhone.
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:30:28 -0800 From: "Harold Hallikainen" <harold@hallikainen.org> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Re: Macmillan will sell e-books to libraries in pilot program at $25 per title Message-ID: <4d944d1f59e7a8468cafd29f5c30698e.squirrel@louise.hallikainen.org> My wife and I were discussing ebooks and libraries this morning since she reads a lot of ebooks from the local library. It would be interesting to see an economic analysis of ebooks and libraries compared to paper books and libraries. I think the ebook licensing for 26 or 52 uses is ok, but it should not expire after two years. Libraries should be allowed to keep books that are not checked out frequently as long as they wish. With the quoted $25 cost for 52 checkouts, it's about 50 cents a checkout. For paper books, how many checkkouts do they typically get before the book needs replacement? What are the costs involved in handling paper books for each checkout (such as employee costs for reshelving, storage costs, etc.)? At 50 cents a checkout, libraries may be better off than they were with paper. But, as mentioned earlier, I don't think the licenses should expire based on time, just the number of checkouts. Finally, how is security on ebooks working out? I know there are pirate books sites (and they have books about things other than pirates). One of my wife's coworkers suggested such a site to her. However, she believes in copyright, so she continues to use the library and Amazon. Harold -- FCC Rules Updated Daily at http://www.hallikainen.com - Advertising opportunities available! Not sent from an iPhone.
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:56:25 -0500 From: Julian Thomas <jt@jt-mj.net> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Re: Cisco to sell Linksys to Belkin, will exit home networking market Message-ID: <8E91EFF4-26A6-4414-B5FE-B49848EB354A@jt-mj.net> On 26Jan 2013, at 3:18 PM, Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> wrote: > Cisco to sell Linksys to Belkin, will exit home networking market > After 10 years of owning Linksys, Cisco will get rid of home router business. Sigh. I've never been impressed by Belkin. What's the best option now for a basic router? - - Sent from my iMac Julian Thomas jt@jt-mj.net http://jt-mj.net ***** Moderator's Note ***** That depends on whether Belkin keeps the Linksys brand as an upper-tier line, or whether they bleed out the brand loyalty and take some quick profits by cheapening the Linksys routers and making them into a "Least parts count" product. I suggest you make your opinion known to Belkin - and stock up on the pre-sale Linksys units. Bill Horne Moderator
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