Biased Neutrality

Biased Neutrality
Number	2366
Broadcast Date	NOVEMBER 14, 2014
Episode Length	42:52
Hosts	Tom Merritt
Guests	Molly Wood, Len Peralta

Molly Wood is on the show and we’ll dig into what’s really going on with the net neutrality fight and hopefully dispel a few myths from all sides. Plus, Len Peralta is here to illustrate the show!

Guest

• Molly Wood
  • @mollywood
  • NY Times
• Len Peralta
  • All DTNS drawings
  • This episode's drawing

Headlines

• Microsoft begins Skype for Web beta but still requires a plug-in

GigaOm passes along Microsoft announcing a beta rollout of Skype in the browser using a plugin for IE, Firefox, Chrome and Safari. Microsoft intends to move the system to WebRTC. The rollout should begin at Skype.com in the coming weeks, according to Microsoft.

• Amazon Kindle update lets you share books with the whole family

The Next Web reports Amazon announced a Kindle update with the new Family Library feature that lets users access their spouse or partner’s accounts as well as manage up to four children’s accounts. Amazon did not say how they plan to confirm who is a spouse, partner or child, or what happens in family’s with five children. Also new: Word Wise, a feature that adds simple definitions above words. You can wait for it to show up on your Kindle or download the update today at Amazon.com.

• Apple downplays Masque threat, 'not aware' of any users affected

The Masque threat that can infect iOS by piggybacking on OS X apps continues to make headlines. The San Jose Mercury News reports Apple commented on the matter saying “We’re not aware of any customers that have actually been affected by this attack.” Apple encourages its users to only download software from trusted sources like the App store.

• IBM to build two supercomputers for the U.S. Department of Energy

GigaOm reports on IBM’s plan to build two new supercomputers for the US Department of Energy called Summit and Sierra that would roll out in 2017. Both computers will be based on IBM’s Power servers with NVIDIA GPU accelerators and Mellanox networking tech. They should deliver more than 100 peak petaflops, beating China’s Tianhe-2’s current top mark of 55 peak petaflops. Summit will live at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Sierra will go to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. They’ll work on things climate change problems, predicting natural disasters, overthrowing their human masters without detection, stuff like that.

• EU net neutrality law, almost a done deal, may face restart

Europe’s Telecom Package including net neutrality rules and elimination of roaming fees is being considered for approval by member states. But GigaOm reports it may be called back for revision before it can be approved. The rules have a tight definition allowing specialized services and sponsored data but otherwise most all packets must be treated equally. The Wall Street Journal saw a “working document” indicating a revamp of not yet finalized laws. European Commission Chief Jean-Claude Junckerrecommends a Digital Single Market Package and the replacement of Digital Agenda chief Neelie Kroes is now VP for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip.

• SAP, Oracle settle long-running legal dispute

The Economic Times of India reports that German software company SAP has agreed to pay Oracle more than $359 million to settle a longstanding copyright battle. Back in 2007, an SAP subsidiary called TomorrowNow offered software support to Oracle customers at a lower price than Oracle itself. So Oracle accused SAP of stealing software in order to offer those services. A previous US jury had ruled that SAP owed Oracle 1.3 BILLION dollars, but a judge ordered that reduced, and then Oracle got upset, and now here we are in 2014–TomorrowNow has been closed since 2008, Larry Ellison has an island, and a bunch of lawyers just ordered the really GOOD wine.

• U.S. FCC seek details of AT&T's plan to pause fiber spending

Reuters reports the FCC has requested AT&T provide specifics regarding their plans to delay Fiber deployment in 100 cities. The FCC is reviewing AT&T’s proposed $48.5 billion bid to buy satellite operator DirecTV. As part of the merger proposal, AT&T agreed to provide high-speed fiber Internet to 2 million homes if the deal is approved.

News From You

• Feds gather phone data from the sky with aircraft mimicking cell towers

Ars Technica reports that the Wall Street Journal says the US Marshals Service has been using small fixed-wing Cessnas with Digital Receiver Technology, AKA “dirtboxes” — that mimic cell towers, to gather data from phones on the ground. The intent is to spy on fugitives and criminal phones but the boxes don’t discriminate between criminals and other people. The devices are used only after a court order is issued. The boxes can collect registration info, texts, photos, jam signals and interrupt calls.

Submitted by starfuryzeta

• A German Cloud Company Is Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

Slate is reporting about a German cloud infrastructure company called Cloud & Heat that distributes its servers to people willing to store them in exchange for the free heat emitted. Customers pay to have a Cloud&Heat fire-proof cabinet installed–the cost is comparable to installing a standard heating system. Then Cloud&Heat pays for the electricity and Internet service it needs and the owner gets free heat and hot water. Excess heat is stored in water in a “buffering tank” and vented outside in the spring and summer.

Submitted by gowlkick

• Google to Quadruple Computer Science Prize Winnings to $1 Million

The New York Times reports that the prestigious A.M. Turing Award, often called the Nobel Prize of computer science, will now present a 1 million dollar award to the winner, thanks to Google. The Turing Award had carried prize money of $250,000 and was jointly underwritten by Google and Intel since 2007. When Intel stepped away as a funder, Google upped the award amount to match the prize amount for Nobel winners.

Submitted by erceth

Discussion

• Comcast to Obama: We’ll Play Nice With Net Neutrality…Honestly
• How many ISPs do you have to choose from in your location?
• Don’t Blame Big Cable. It’s Local Governments That Choke Broadband Competition
• An Explanation For Why Verizon Is Driving DSL Users To Competitors' Cable Lines
• AT&T Pouts, Freezes Mostly Bogus 'Fiber To The Press Release' Deployments In Net Neutrality Bluff
• This practically ancient Internet technology supports speeds 1,000 times the national average
• Is Verizon Wireless 'Profit Pumping,' Dumping Expenses Into the Wireline Networks? Time to Investigate
• Want gigabit fiber home Internet? Move to one of these cities
• One big reason we lack Internet competition: Starting an ISP is really hard
• Which State Has The Worst Internet Access In The Nation?
• THE COST OF CONNECTIVITY 2014

Pick of the Day

• TTS Pocket

Hi Tom, You said your Pocket is full of articles you wanted to read, but never got a chance to go over them. It happens. But you may want to try the TTS feature of Pocket and then you can listen to them whenever you are unable to read. Thanks for the show. Love it!

Submitted by Rolando from Paraguay

Links

• This episode on dailytechnewsshow.com
• Support DTNS on Patreon
• DTNS subreddit

Preceded by: "Come on Data– Let’s do the Twist"

Biased Neutrality

Followed by: "Riding in Cars with Noise"