News Items for 2004

December

• Newsweek takes an inside look at how spyware works and the companies that develop it. (12/17)
   

• Microsoft has released patches to fix firewall security problems, as NetworkWorldFusion reports. (12/17)
   

• Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services, has updated his Welcome message to the University community. (12/17)
   

• Hacker gets a stiff sentence for hacking into Lowe's computer system through the store's wireless network, as USA Today reports. (12/16)
   

• To prepare for the coming transition of high definition DVD formats, Memory-Tech will start producing read-only discs next year with both DVD and HD-DVD layers, PC Advisor reports. (12/8)
   

• Fresh off the success of the FireFox browser, Mozilla is rolling out their own free e-mail application, Thunderbird, available starting Tuesday, December 7, PC World reports. (12/6)
   

• IBM is reported to be selling its PC business, as MSNBC reports. (12/3)
   

• Pennsylvania has reached an agreement with Verizon that will enable Philadelphia's proposed city-wide wireless network to move forward, but which may hinder similar types of municipal projects in the future, as PC World reports. (12/3)
   

• MacWorld reviews some nifty gadgets for iPod users that would make good holiday gifts. (12/3)
   

• A Georgia Tech researcher is adopting common sense solutions to make wearable computers more useful, as Technology Review reports. (12/1)
   

• Over 5.6 million copies of the Mozilla Foundation's Firefox web browser have been downloaded during the first two weeks of its release, as TechWeb reports. (12/1)

November

• The creators of Wikopedia, an online collaborative encyclopedia, is creating a new Web site, called Wikinews, that will empower any "would-be journalist" to publish or update news articles, as Wired reports. (11/30)
   

• USA Today reports on one teacher's innovative use of technology to reach distant students in a rural school district. (11/30)
   

• The upcoming release of Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader offers many  enhancements, as internetnews.com reports. (11/30)
   

• A Message from Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services: A call has been issued for proposals for the 2004-2005 Computer & Technology Fee for Non-Enrollment Based Units. Proposals should be submitted no later than January 18, 2005. For details, see the 2004-2005 Computer & Technology Fee Web site.  (11/29)
   

• Help Desk Hours:  The Help Desk hours this week are: Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.  (11/29)
   

• PC World reports on laser printers and copiers that are equipped to track documents. (11/24)
   

• Taipei plans on building the world's biggest Wi-Fi network, as CNN reports. (11/24)
   

• The Online Journalism Review reports on a variety of Web sites that include information about online journalism, designing Web sites, and an open source operating system with a 3-D user interface. (11/24)
   

• Technology for digitizing the human face offers numerous applications in science, engineering and research, as the SFGate reports. (11/24)
   

• Digital images and mathematical formulas contribute to detecting the authenticity of art works, as CNN reports. (11/23)
   

• A lunchtime bet challenges researchers in the Netherlands to create the largest digital panoramic photo in the world, as BBC News reports. (11/23)
   

• The Web site database of the Yad Vashem museum in Israel provides biographical information on three million victims of the Holocaust, as USA Today reports. (11/23)
   

• Google announces a specialized search service to assist scientists and academic researchers, as the International Herald Tribune reports. (11/22)
   

• Mac fans wait in line for the opening of Europe's first Apple store in London, as BBC News reports. (11/22)
   

• Soldiers serving in Iraq use the Internet to create a diary of their experiences, as MSNBC News reports. (11/22)

• "Mobisodes" - one-minute shows - are coming to a cell phone near you, CNN reports. (11/11)
   

• Microsoft hopes to peck away at Google by entering the brave world of search engines, CNN/Money reports. (11/11)
   

• A new version of the Mydoom worm is making its way into computers via links sent in e-mails, CNN reports. (11/9)
   

• A new Hewlett-Packard printer prints fast for 1/3 of the cost, reports InfoWorld. (11/9)
   

• Printed copies of the new Computer Services Seminar schedule for December, January, and February are now available. You can pick up copies from the Help Desk and at various campus locations, such as the computer labs. The online version of the schedule will be available on Monday, November 15. Current students, faculty, and staff are welcome to take advantage of these computer seminars. (11/8)
   

• Google has started using brain teasers and other unusual tactics to help recruit programmers and engineers, as CNN reports. (11/5)
   

• A brother and sister were convicted in the nation's first felony case for sending Internet spam, as MSNBC reports. (11/4)
   

• European scientists are developing a system that will enable visitors of historical sites (such as Pompeii) to wear a head-mounted display that integrates computer-generated images with the actual view of the site, as BBC News reports. (11/2)
   

• Spyware has become a major problem for Internet users, as CNN reports. (11/1)

October

• Manufacturers start to design computers with do-it-yourself repair features, as Wired News reports. (10/29)
   

• MSNBC News reports on the plans for adding two new Internet domain names--".post" and ".travel." (10/29)
   

• Digital technology allows researchers to share information about the panda population at the Wolong Nature Reserve in China, as BBC News reports. (10/29)
   

• An article on Temple's recognition in The Princeton Review's survey  "America's Most Connected Campuses" is featured in today's Temple Times. (10/28)
   

• Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services, has updated his Welcome message to the University community. (10/27)
   

• Phase 2 of the faculty portal is now available. Features of the portal include a "Faculty Links" box on the "My Portal" screen, "TUlibrary" and "My Backpack" tabs, and access to Turnitin. (10/25)
   

• Congratulations, Temple University!
  Temple is ranked #4 in the Princeton Review's survey of "America's Most Connected Campuses." The review is based on 357 colleges ranked on a "wide array of high tech tools."  The survey results are available as a special report on the Forbes Web site. (10/22)
   

• Passports are about to go high tech with embedded radio frequency chips that transmit your personal identification information, as Wired reports. (10/21)
   

• Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services, has updated his Welcome message to the University community. (10/18)
   

• Sony makes a big splash by going smaller with the PlayStation Portable, as Newsweek reports. (10/18)
   

• Fraud has reached a new height - one of the new leading types is click fraud, Wired.com reports. (10/14)
   

• WanderPort Wireless has unveiled what it calls the WanderPod, which takes WiFi with you everywhere you go, as Wired.com reports. (10/13)
   

• Dell is recalling 4.4 million laptop power adapters because of a risk of overheating, as MSNBC reports. (10/8)
   

• Google plans to unveil a new service that will enable users to search the complete texts of books, as NewsFactor reports. (10/8)
   

• The Online Journalism Review reports on how Google News and Yahoo News display political stories. (10/1)
   

• Performing 36 trillion calculations per second, 'BlueGene' takes first place as the world's fastest computer, as MSNBC News reports. (10/1)
   

• A digital bookmobile project prints free books for children in remote areas of Africa, as Wired News reports. (10/1)

September

• MSNBC News reports on the growing popularity of Wikis and explains how they work. (9/28)
   

• Blue screen digital technology makes its debut with the sci-fi adventure film "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," as BBC News reports. (9/28)
   

• E-courtrooms go to trial and gain approval among judges and lawyers, as Netscape Network News reports. (9/28)
   

• Finding a viable way to fund a free citywide wireless network, such as what Philadelphia is proposing, is no easy matter, as Technology Review reports. (9/23)
   

• The Web offers a fast, easy, and affordable way to publish books, USA Today reports. (9/23)
   

• Business Week features an article on the use of Blackboard on college campuses. (9/15)
   

• Idaho is experiencing an influx of tech companies, as Wired reports. (9/13)
   

• The British Library Web site now contains high-resolution images of 21 of Shakespeare's plays, dating back to Shakespeare's lifetime, as silicon.com reports. (9/10).
   

• Danish doctors are developing a smart bandage for diabetics, as BBC News reports. (9/9)
   

• Computer chip manufacturers are experimenting with new a type of cooling material that turns from a solid to a liquid, as ABCNews reports. (9/8)
   

• The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports on technology at the Republican National Convention. (9/1)
   

• The Radisson and Hilton Hotels offer guests the option to check in over the Internet, as USA Today reports. (9/1)
   

• The growth of astroturf seeds a debate over the credibility of newspapers, as the Online Journalism Review reports. (9/1)
   

• Making the entire city of Philadelphia a wireless zone is under consideration, as CNN reports. (9/1)

August

• Counter Intelligence at MIT cooks up recipes for kitchens of the future, as BBC News reports. (8/31)
   

• Wi-Fi takes to the skies soon with iPass-enabled flights, as Technology Review reports. (8/31)
   

• After 35 years, the Internet continues to grow and face new challenges, as CNN reports. (8/30)
   

• Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services, has updated his Welcome Message to the University community. (8/27)
   

• A new round of warrants were issued against network operators illegally sharing files and spammers, as MSNBC reports. (8/26)
   

• The new Computer Services Seminar schedule for September, October, and November is now available online. Topics such as Excel XP and Access XP are back by popular demand. New topics, such as Word 2003 and EndNote are included as well. Current students, faculty, and staff are welcome to take advantage of these computer seminars. For a complete list of seminar topics and to register online, go to: http://seminars.temple.edu (8/24)
   

• Microsoft has released a hotfix to their Windows XP Service Pack 2, eWEEK.com reports. (8/20)
   

• Google has begun trading on the New York Stock Exchange, My Way News reports. (8/19)
   

• Researchers are already finding flaws in Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2, ZDNET.com reports. (8/19)
   

• According to the SANS Institute of Bethesda, Md., the average survival time for an unprotected networked computer dropped from 40 minutes to 20 minutes over the last year, Government Computer News says. (8/19)
   

• Violence has brought changes and restrictions to Southern California cybercafes. (8/18)
   

• The government has turned to two Linux supercomputers to simulate and study complex war situations, as Computerworld reports. (8/17)
   

• Virtual reality may one day be used to help patients find pain relief or overcome phobias, as Scientific American reports. (8/13)
   

• Biometric technology is becoming increasingly common, as CBS News reports. (8/11)
   

• Adding Wi-Fi to handheld devices opens up new ways to communicate, as ABC News reports. (8/6)
   

• Memory cards for digital cameras survive being dunked in coffee and nailed to a tree, as BBC News reports. (8/6)
   

• Hospitals shift from paper to electronic medical records, as CNN reports. (8/6)
   

• A Message from Ariel Silverstone, Chief Information Security Officer: Microsoft has released a number of critical patches for the Windows operating system. For security reasons, it is important that you install these patches by running Windows Update.   For further assistance, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (8/4)
   

• Also from Ariel Silverstone:  Fraudulent e-mail messages that appear to come from USbank or CitiBank have been received by Temple users. These scams are part of "phishing" schemes to acquire sensitive information from unsuspecting Web and e-mail users. The messages appear to be genuine and contain the logos of the banks. The links in the e-mails also look genuine, but the actual link goes to a bogus Web site. When sent to TUmail users, these messages will likely be caught by the spam filter and wind up in the Junk Mail folder. However, if you receive one of these messages, delete it. Do not click on anything in the message. (8/4)
   

• The Online Journalism Review reports on the debate over correcting errors in online newspaper archives. (8/3)
   

• With Interactive Digital Photomontage, multiple photographs can be made into a composite photograph, as Technology Review reports. (8/3)

July 

• Devising a strategy to create and share a central electronic repository of medical records is underway, as the MIT Technology Review reports. (7/30)
   

• An international council to fight spam has been formed to consolidate resources and share information, as Wired reports. (7/30)
   

• Microsoft is urging the implementation of sender ID for e-mail messages by mid-September, as InfoWorld reports. (7/26)
   

• Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services, has updated his Welcome Message to the University community. (7/23)
   

• A medical journal has shown that a computer-aided detection system can dramatically increase the rate of breast cancer detection, Medical News Today reports. (7/23)
   

• An Iowa computer company is teaming up with a service organization to donate computers to the families of servicemen and women who are overseas, the Algona Upper Des Moines reports. (7/22)
   

• Blockbuster video is putting up their fists to challenge Netflix with its own online DVD rental service, CNN reports. (7/21)
   

• The Bagle is back. The new version of the e-mail worm, technically known as Bagle.AG, is similar to the earlier version, which forged sender addresses, used nonspecific subject lines and carried infected attachments, Computerworld reports. (7/20)

• Ebay will be offering music downloads during a six-month pilot program, as BBCNews reports. (7/16)
   

• Office Depot is currently offering free computer recycling, as MSNBC reports. (7/14)
   

• A Message from Ariel Silverstone, Chief Information Security Officer:
  Microsoft has released a number of critical patches for the Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server operating systems. For security reasons, it is important that you install these patches by running Windows Update. For instructions on how to run Windows Update, go to:
  
  http://www.temple.edu/cs/windowsupdateinstructions.htm
  
  This site also includes instructions on how to set up your computer to obtain Windows Updates automatically. For further assistance, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (7/14)
   

• Apple has sold 100 million songs through its iTunes online music store, as Reuters reports. (7/12)
   

• BBC News solicits individual photographs, photo essays, and videos for their weekly best photos Web site. BBC News also announces the selected themes and deadlines for their Online Photographer of the Year contest. (7/8)
   

• "Productive interaction" Web design enhances interactive opportunities, as the Online Journalism Review reports. (7/7)
   

• NASA and Arizona researchers boost the power of robotic space explorers, as MSNBC reports. (7/7)
   

• An article in ABC News examines the treatment and learning possibilities of virtual therapy. (7/7)
   

• Wi-fi technology helps grape growers in California improve their crops, as BBC News reports. (7/6)
   

• Electric utility companies look at broadband over power line technology to deliver Internet service, as Technology Review reports. (7/6)
   

• Cell phone makers add keyboards to make text messaging, e-mail and Web access easier, as USA Today reports. (7/6)
   

• Hospitals employ courier robots to transport medical supplies and materials, as CNN reports. (7/6)

June 

• With PlaceLab software, WIFI can be used like GPS, as the New Scientist reports. (6/30)
   

• Apple has announced a new line of flat screen displays, including a new 30" model. The company has also unveiled its newest operating system, Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4). Information about Tiger and the new monitors is available on Apple's website. (6/30)
   

• Red Hat and Novell Linux will include RealPlayer, as PCWorld reports. (6/28)
   

• Gateway has released a new series of PCs called eMachines and HP has released a new desktop and three workstations, as InfoWorld reports. (6/28)
   

• Wired reviews the software programs available to help you remove spyware. (6/25)

• The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has sued 482 more people for illegally sharing music over the Internet, as MSNBC reports. (6/22).
   

• People who unknowingly have computers infected with viruses that send out large amounts of spam, may soon be unplugged from the Internet, as CNN reports. (6/22)
   

• Scientists are using wireless "pebbles" to track the movement of glaciers, as BBC News reports. (6/21)
   

• New! Learn about navigating the TUmail window, organizing your e-mail, customizing the junk mail folder, formatting your messages, creating address books, and managing your disk space all in the Insider's Guide to Temple's TUmail.  This special Computer Services' issue of Bits&PCs is available online in Acrobat format and also in print at various campus locations including the Help Desk. (6/18)
   

• Apple makes a point of addressing security concerns, as Wired reports. (6/17)
   

• With Google set to enter the free e-mail arena, competition is heating up, as Forbes reports. (6/17)
   

• Google is looking into adding RSS, a news headline delivery system, to its services, New Scientist reports. (6/15)
   

• Apple announces the 2.5 gigahertz Power Mac G5, as CNN reports. (6/10)
   

• Digital mapping explores new territory, as Newsweek reports. (6/10)
   

• In the first of a two-part series, the Online Journalism Review examines the continuing debate about whether online journalists are covered under the Shield Laws. (6/10)
   

• Using a special pen, you can 'pick and drop' files from one computer to another, as BBC News reports. (6/10)
   

• A Message from Ariel Silverstone, Chief Information Security Officer:
  Microsoft has released a number of critical patches for the Windows XP operating system. For security reasons, it is important that you install these patches by running Windows Update. For instructions on how to run Windows Update, go to:
  
  http://www.temple.edu/cs/windowsupdateinstructions.htm
  
  This site also includes instructions on how to set up your computer to obtain Windows Updates automatically. For further assistance, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (6/9)
     

• For Newly Admitted Undergraduate Students: If you received an AccessNet Username and PIN in the mail, go to http://activate.temple.edu to activate your account. For general information on AccessNet accounts, see Computer Accounts at Temple. If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000 during normal business hours. (6/2)

May 

• A Message from Ariel Silverstone, Chief Information Security Officer: A number of Temple account holders are receiving messages that appear to originate from legitimate Temple sources. Some of the messages have management@temple.edu or staff@temple.edu as the return address. The content of the message sometimes includes information about the Temple mail system and sometimes about spam. It also includes an attachment.
  
  These messages are bogus and contain a virus. DO NOT follow the instructions or click on the attachment link. Instead, delete the message.
  
  Temple University Computer Services is aware of this issue and is taking active steps to prevent these messages from further affecting Temple resources. If you have clicked on the attachment or if you have any questions regarding this issue, please call the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (5/28)
   

• If you would like a printed copy of the Computer Services Seminar Schedule for June, July, and August, stop by the Help Desk or a computer lab to pick one up.  You can also view the courses and register online by visiting the Seminar website. (5/27)
   

• Microsoft will soon be releasing a new, greatly-expanded search technology, as SiliconValley.com reports. (5/27)
   

• Mac OS X 10.3.4 is available now via the usual update procedure. (Click on the Apple menu, select System Preferences, then click on Software Update.) Note that this upgrade is large--41MB. (5/27)
   

• Comcast will begin offering an Internet-based phone service, as USA TODAY reports. (5/26)
   

• The recording industry is suing 493 more people for illegally downloading copyrighted music from the Internet, as MSNBC reports. (5/25)
   

• A project that aims to make a million books available for free on the Web by 2007, is making steady progress, as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. (5/24)
   

• Help Desk Hours:  The Help Desk hours this week are: Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. (5/24)
   

• At the 13th International Wide Web Conference this week, researchers explore the technology for recording one's life history, as CNET News reports. (5/21)
   

• Secunia, a security research group, warns of a critical security flaw in Mac OS X, as InformationWeek reports. (5/19)
   

• CNN reports on the growth of Internet grocers. (5/19)
   

• The Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS) discovers a new prime number, as ZDNet reports. (5/19)
   

• Lufthansa takes off with Wi-Fi on transatlantic flight, as NewScientist reports. (5/18)
   

• "Blogologists" research the impact of Weblogs on communication and journalism, as the Online Journalism Review reports. (5/18)
   

• Microsoft's lab in Beijing develops software to make computers interactive, entertaining, and more useful, as Technology Review reports. (5/17)
   

• The Computer Services Seminar Schedule for June, July, and August is now available. To view the courses and register online, visit the Seminar website. (5/17)
   

• Virus Alert:  Please be aware that the W32.Sober.G@mm virus is being spread by e-mail. The e-mail message from an @temple.edu address usually includes a .zip attachment. Do not open the attachment because it will infect your computer with a virus. For more details, see the System Status page. (5/17)
   

• Japan researchers have developed a way to help secure private information on computer screens and ATMs in public places, Technology Review reports. (5/14)
  

• CNN offers tips on protecting your computer from viruses and hackers while on vacation. (5/13)
   

• System Status: OWLnet users may have experienced problems logging in earlier this morning. Computer Services has corrected this problem. (5/12)
   

• A Message from Ariel Silverstone, Chief Information Security Officer:
  Microsoft has released a number of critical patches for the Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems. For security reasons, it is important that you install these patches by running Windows Update. For instructions on how to run Windows Update, go to:
  
  http://www.temple.edu/cs/windowsupdateinstructions.htm
  
  This site also includes instructions on how to set up your computer to obtain Windows Updates automatically. For further assistance, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (5/11)
   

• CNN reports on the potential boom of Wi-Fi phones, which would cut traditional calls to a fraction of the cost. (5/10)
   

• System Status:  Users who access TUmail with an IMAP e-mail program such as Outlook Express, Outlook, Netscape Mail, or Eudora will have problems accessing their e-mail if their incoming mail server is set to astro.temple.edu. The incoming mail server should be changed to imap.temple.edu. For instructions, see http://www.temple.edu/cs/emailclients/ or call the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (5/10)
  

• German police arrested an 18-year-old last Friday who is believed to have created the Sasser virus, CNN reports. Investigators also think that the man is tied to the recent Netsky virus as well. (5/10)
  
  

• Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services, has updated his bi-monthly welcome message to the University community. (5/7)
  
  

• A Message from Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services: A call has been issued for proposals for the 2003-2004 Computer & Technology Fee for Non-Enrollment Based Units. Proposals should be submitted no later than June 15, 2004. For details, see the 2003-2004 Computer & Technology Fee Web site.
   

• PC Magazine relays some tips on purchasing Web domains and reminds people that they don't last forever. (5/6)
  
  

• In an attempt to slow down the spread of spam, Microsoft has bought into a program that forces e-mail marketers to pay to ensure their mail is legitimate, MSNBC reports. (5/6)
   

• MSNBC weighs the pros and cons of Apple's iTunes, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary and has sold over 70 million tunes. (5/4)
   

• Beware of the Sasser virus, as CNN reports. Similar to last Fall's Blaster, this worm spreads across the Internet automatically, using Microsoft Windows. To protect your computer, be sure to run Windows update. (5/3)

April

• Congress is beginning to look into ways to limit the spread of spyware, as CNN reports. (4/30)
   

• The BASIC programming language, developed by two Dartmouth professors, celebrates its 40th birthday tomorrow, as Computerworld reports. (4/30)
   

• Gov. Ed Rendell has signed a contract with Dell, which will save the state $19 million dollars on future computer purchases, as the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports. (4/29)
   

• The recording industry has filed lawsuits against 477 computer users, many of whom are college students, as CNN reports. (4/29)
   

• Instant messaging software is the latest battleground for the major Internet companies, as CNN reports. (4/28)
   

• A Stanford University computer program is being used to piece together a stone map of ancient Rome, as BBCNews reports. (4/28)
   

• The huge success of the Apple iPod underscores the extent to which Steve Jobs continues to lead the technology industry, as the New York Times reports. The New York Times site requires quick, free, onetime registration. (4/27)
   

• A Message from Ariel Silverstone, Chief Information Security Officer: 
  A number of Temple e-mail account holders have received a message from what appears to be U.S. Bank Internet Banking. The message requests that you click on a link to update your account information. Do NOT follow the instructions or click on the link. Instead, delete it because the message is a fraud. If you already clicked on the link, please call the Temple University Police Department at
  215-204-1234 or 1-1234. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please call the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (4/27)
   

• Microsoft’s Beijing lab has developed a digital pen prototype that has the potential to offer much promise, as Technology Review reports. (4/26)
   

• Help Desk Hours:  The Help Desk hours this week are: Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. (4/26)
   

• An article in the Online Journalism Review offers some guidelines for designing and teaching an online journalism course. (4/21)
   

• The police department in Tyler, Texas is the first to install digital video cameras in police cars and link the cameras through a wireless network, as CNET reports. (4/21)
   

• ABC News reports on the use of text links by online advertisers. (4/21)
   

• Virus Alert: Please be aware that a new variant of the Netsky computer virus is being spread by e-mail worldwide. The e-mail message has the subject "Delivery Failure Notice" and may appear to come from a familiar address. The message may also include an attachment. Do not open the attachment because it will infect your computer with a virus. For more details, see the System Status web page. (4/21)  

• The Orb offers an easy method for monitoring information at a glance, as SiliconValley.com reports. (4/19)
   

• CNN reports on 3-D search engines that use patterns and shapes to locate objects. (4/19)
   

• Leading electronics manufacturers are developing paper DVDs that can hold approximately 25 gigabytes of information, as BBC News reports. (4/19)
   

• Amazon has entered the search engine arena with its own site, as the BBC News reports.  (4/14)
   

• Microsoft has released a number of critical patches for the Windows operating system. After reviewing the patches, Computer Services has determined that they correct program vulnerabilities that are both easy to exploit and widespread. For security reasons, it is important that you install the patches by running Windows Update. For further assistance, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (4/13)

• If you have been around technology long enough to remember Gopher, you might be surprised to learn that it's still being used and developed, as Wired reports. (4/13)
   

• You can shop as well as surf the net in the Reading Terminal which now offers free wireless Internet access, as Yahoo reports. (4/8)
   

• Apple finds success in the retail market, as BusinessWeek reports. (4/8)
   

• Microsoft is about to announce a new suite of office products for the Mac called Office 2004. (4/8)
   

• Web Pick:  Search Systems has a free section on their website that allows you to search tons of public information like real estate tax records and court documents. (4/5)
   

• SBC Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, will be offering free wireless Internet access to all fans attending games throughout the season, as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. (4/2)
   

• PC manufacturer, Gateway, will be closing all of its retail stores, as USA TODAY reports. (4/2)
   

• Flash drives have hit the mainstream as an alternative to floppy disks and CDs, as the Miami Herald reports. (4/2)
   

• A Message from Ariel Silverstone, Chief Information Security Officer:
  We have become aware of an e-mail message in circulation at Temple that appears to come from PayPal (eBay's online payment system). The e-mail requests that you fill in a registration form to renew your PayPal account. If you receive this message, please delete it.  Even though the link in the message takes you to a website that looks authentic, the e-mail is not from PayPal. It is a scam to collect your personal data. For more information, see the System Status page. (4/1)
   

• Google will soon be unveiling a free e-mail service with one gigabyte of storage space, as MSNBC reports. On a related topic, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports on some lesser known but very useful Google features. (4/1)

March

• Carnegie Mellon University is testing a new, automated laundry system that enables students to check the availability of machines over the Web and that sends an e-mail when their laundry is done, as the Sacramento Bee reports. (3/31)
   

• The Federal government has announced plans to open a computer forensic lab in the Philadelphia region to help law enforcement solve computer-related crimes, as the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The Philadelphia Inquirer site requires quick, free, onetime registration. (3/30)
   

• Google has introduced its Froogle shopping service today, which is designed to enable you to easily comparison shop for products, as CNN reports. (3/30)
   

• There are various MS Office updates for Office XP and 2003 that just became available. At the Downloads site, go to Office updates and click on Check for Updates. Note that you may be need the Office CDs. (3/24)
   

• Newsweek reports on the growing competition that Google faces. (3/23)
   

• To deter thieves, beekeepers put microchips in beehives, as USA Today reports. (3/23)
   

• If online journalism is supported, it has a promising future, according to a comprehensive study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism, as the Online Journalism Review reports. (3/23)
   

• Need help publishing your FrontPage Web site? Go to the Creating a Web Page at Temple Web site and click on Making your files Public. This site contains instructions for uploading your FrontPage 2002 or FrontPage 2000 Web site to your Astro account. (3/22)
   

• A faster data transmission protocol may be on the way, as the Washington Times reports. (3/17)
   

• If you subscribe to the What's New list and received a renewal e-mail message, please ignore it. All current addresses have been re-subscribed. (3/17)
   

• Feed readers may forever change the way we view the Web, as CNN reports. (3/17)
   

• InfoWorld reviews the new features offered by Apple's upgrade, Mac OS X 10.3.3. (3/16)
   

• An extensive PC World article explores the wealth of search engines and information sources on the web beyond Google. (3/16)
   

• Because of the Internet, encyclopedia's have been steadily losing favor with students, as the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. (3/12)
   

• Microsoft has released Office XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), which contains significant security-related enhancements as well as other improvements. If you are using Office XP, Computer Services recommends that you install SP3 as soon as possible. To determine whether your computer requires Office XP SP3 and to install it if necessary:
  
  1. Go to Microsoft's Office Update website.
  2. Click on Check for Updates. You will see a listing of recommended Microsoft Office updates for your computer.
  3. If Office XP Service Pack 3 appears, gather your original Office XP CDs (you will need these to perform the installation) and click on Start Installation.
  
  Note: If you are using a University-owned computer that is "locked-down" so that you cannot install software, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000 for assistance. (3/12)
   

• Four leading Internet companies have united in filing lawsuits against hundreds of e-mail spammers, as the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. (3/12)
   

• Microsoft is urging customers to immediately install patches for security vulnerabilities recently discovered in MSN Messenger 6.0/6.1, Outlook 2002, and Windows Media Services 4.1, as CNET reports. (3/10)
   

• Ebay's online payment system, PayPal, offers less protection against fraud than consumers may realize, as BBC News reports. (3/10)
   

• Microsoft researchers are experimenting with a small digital photo recorder that can be hidden in a badge or piece of jewelry to automatically record images taken throughout the day, as SiliconValley.com reports. (3/9)
   

• A student at Iowa State University has been arrested for hacking into his former roommate's e-mail account, as USA Today reports. (3/8)
   

• Help Desk Hours:  The Help Desk hours this week are: Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. (3/8)
   

• Access the Internet using Temple's wireless zones with your Wi-Fi enabled (802.11b) Palm or Pocket PC.  (You can also use a laptop with a wireless card.)  Wireless networking is free to current Temple students, faculty, and staff. For an interactive map of wireless locations, as well as information on how to set up and register, please visit the Computer Services Wireless website. (3/5)
   

• How does the Palm compare to the Pocket PC? CNET reviews the features. (3/5)
   

• A bill has been introduced in Congress to restrict spyware, as CNN reports. (3/4)
   

• Toyota's high-tech prototype car that uses smart cards for driver identification is causing controversy, as Wired reports. (3/4)
   

• Virus Alert:  A virus, identified as W32.Beagle.K, is now circulating as e-mail that appears to come from an official source. For Temple users, the source appears as Temple. The message varies, but it makes references to your computer account and directs you to click on the attachment. Do not click on the attachment. For more detailed information on the virus, see the Symantec website. (3/3)
  

• Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President of Computer and Information Services, has updated his bi-monthly welcome message to the University community. (3/1)
   

• Newspapers are increasingly requiring registration for online readers, as Wired reports. (3/1)

February

• Microsoft introduces antispam plans with the "Caller ID for E-mail" program, as Internet News reports. (2/27)
   

• Researchers use photographs taken by the robot rovers to create 3D views of the surface of Mars, as BBC News reports. (2/26)
   

• Identification sensors on cattle send data to a computer database providing extensive information about an animal, as USA Today reports. (2/26)
   

• Be on the lookout for MyDoom.F, a new version of the MyDoom worm that deletes Word and Excel files as well as photos and movies, as CNN reports. Please remember to be vigilant against viruses by having antivirus software installed on your computer. Also, as always, do not open suspicious or unexpected e-mail attachments. (2/25)
   

• A hardware problem at Level 3 caused a slowdown on the Internet, as MSNBC News reports. (2/24)
   

• Pablo J. Boczkowski's new book, "Digitizing the News: Innovation in Online Newspapers," examines the changing rules for determining the newsworthiness of a story, as the Online Journalism Review reports. (2/24)
   

• Wired reports on the growing similarities between organisms and machines. (2/24)
   

• Advances in oceanic tagging are causing a revolution in marine biology, as The Economist reports. (2/23)
   

• Apple's iPod mini music player has much to offer, as USA TODAY reports. (2/19)
   

• Virus Alert: Two new computer worms (Bagle and Netsky) are spreading rapidly across the Internet, as MSNBC reports. The good news is that neither worm is having an impact at Temple because they are being trapped by the TUmail system as well as by Temple's Symantec AntiVirus software. (2/18)
   

• The recording industry has sued over 500 Internet subscribers this week, including customers of Comcast, for illegally distributing music files, as CNN reports. (2/18)
   

• The Computer Services Seminar Schedule for March, April, and May is now available. To view the courses and register online, visit the Seminar website. (2/18)
   

• Temple's wireless zones have been expanded. For a list of current and future locations, go to Temple's wireless website and click on the "Wireless Zone Locations" link. (2/17)
   

• Google and Yahoo, who are in the process of ending their partnership, have been upgrading their search engines, as CNN reports. (2/17)
   

• Microsoft researchers are investigating methods for mapping digital photos with geographic information, as ExtremeTech reports. (2/17)
   

• Ebay users beware: An increasing number of listings for low-priced Apple iPod music players are, in reality, illegal pyramid scams, as Wired reports. (2/16)
   

• AOL Instant Messaging users: A new Trojan horse advertising program called BuddyList, is spreading by masquerading itself as a news Web site reporting on the capture of Osama bin Laden, as News.com reports. (2/13)
   

• Sections of the Windows source code have been posted on the Internet, as Wired reports. (2/13)
   

• KYW reports on the dangers of downloading music from the web. (2/9)
   

• Technology Review reports on 10 "outdated" technologies that continue to find a market. (2/4)
   

• The Online Journalism Review examines the need to establish new guidelines for credentialing Web-based journalists. (2/4)
   

• Several websites, including MSN and ABCNews, are putting online advertising video to the test, as BBC News reports. (2/4) 

January

• Timothy O'Rourke, Vice President for Computer and Information Services, has been named one of the Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2004, as the Temple Times reports. (1/30)
   

• The US government has initiated a National Cyber Alert System Web site, where you can sign up to receive computer virus alerts and security advice, as an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. (1/29)
   

• Virus Update: From midnight last night until 12:50 p.m. this afternoon, the TUmail system has flagged 58,939 viruses. Out of these, 58,279 were of the MyDoom family. (1/27)
   

• Virus Alert: A major new Internet worm called MyDoom is in circulation, as CNN and Wired reports. The TUmail system has been automatically deleting this virus from e-mail messages since 8 p.m. last night. As of midnight, the system caught 18,662 viruses. Out of these, 17,731 were of the MyDoom family. It is still important, however, to be vigilant against viruses by having antivirus software installed on your computer. Also, as always, do not open suspicious or unexpected e-mail attachments. (1/27)
   

• The Apple Macintosh celebrates its 20th birthday, as Newsweek reports. (1/26)
   

• CNN reports on the Internet's connection with voters in the 2004 Presidential campaign. (1/22)
   

• For the latest information on the status of Temple's computer systems, please check the System Status page. See the top of this page and many Computer Services pages for a link to the System Status page. (1/21)
   

• Experts expect some impact in the United States from the new Bagle or Beagle worm, as reported by CNN. (1/20)
   

• Learn all about Temple computer accounts, how to take advantage of Temple's computer resources, and what's new for the Spring 2004 semester in the Getting Connected at Temple guide. (1/19)
   

• Residence Hall Students:  For the Spring 2004 semester, there are new connection procedures in place for requesting or reconfirming Internet access in your residence hall room. In addition, please be aware of Temple University's Policy Regarding Peer-to-Peer File Sharing. (1/19)
   

• The TUmail upgrade was successful. The new enhancements are in place and the system is up and running. (1/16)
   

• TUmail and Blackboard Upgrade Status: Computer Services will install a TUmail upgrade tonight between 6:15 and 7:30 pm. During the installation process, the TUmail system will be down in 15-minute intervals so please plan accordingly. For information on the new TUmail enhancements, please see TUmail Topics. (1/14)

  Also, this morning,  Blackboard was upgraded to version 6.0.11. This upgrade boosts performance and offers enhancements to the gradebook and assessment features.
   

• Microsoft has released new critical patches for the Windows XP and 2000 operating systems. Computer Services has considered the vulnerabilities addressed by these patches and finds them to be both widespread and easy to exploit. As a result, we urge everyone at Temple to run Windows Update immediately to protect all computers.
  
  For information on running Windows Update and also on setting up your computer to automatically obtain the updates, go to: http://www.temple.edu/cs/windowsupdateinstructions.htm (1/14)
   

• Last night, Computer Services successfully upgraded our firewall system. During the upgrade, Temple's Internet connectivity was down for approximately one hour, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  
  Computer Services tested the systems throughout the night and continues to do so today to ensure a smooth transition. If you are experiencing problems accessing familiar Temple resources, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (1/14)
   

• Residence Hall Students:  For the Spring 2004 semester, there are new connection procedures in place for requesting or reconfirming Internet access in your residence hall room. (1/13)
   

• Virus Alert:  Be on the lookout for the Trojan.Xombe worm, a new computer virus that poses as a critical update from Microsoft. Details about the worm are available in a Yahoo! News article. Be sure to protect your computer from viruses by participating in Temple's "The BUG Stops Here" antivirus campaign. (1/13)
   

• In order to better protect Temple's resources against an increased number of viruses and hackers, Temple has purchased a new state-of-the-art firewall. For details, see the "Computer Services Upgrades Internet Firewall" memo from Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President of Computer and Information Services. (1/12)
   

• AOL launches a new, discounted ISP service, as MSNBC reports. (1/10)
   

• You are putting your computer at risk if you use Kazaa to illegally download files, as Wired reports. (1/9)
   

• The Philadelphia Inquirer lists some Web sites for following the latest developments from NASA's Spirit Rover, which recently landed on Mars. (1/8)
   

• There are new search engines on the horizon designed to make your Internet searches more relevant, as CNN reports. (1/6)
   

• The TUmail upgrade was successful. The new enhancements are in place and the system is up and running. (1/16)
   

• TUmail and Blackboard Upgrade Status: Computer Services will install a TUmail upgrade tonight between 6:15 and 7:30 pm. During the installation process, the TUmail system will be down in 15-minute intervals so please plan accordingly. For information on the new TUmail enhancements, please see TUmail Topics. (1/14)

  Also, this morning,  Blackboard was upgraded to version 6.0.11. This upgrade boosts performance and offers enhancements to the gradebook and assessment features.
   

• Microsoft has released new critical patches for the Windows XP and 2000 operating systems. Computer Services has considered the vulnerabilities addressed by these patches and finds them to be both widespread and easy to exploit. As a result, we urge everyone at Temple to run Windows Update immediately to protect all computers.
  
  For information on running Windows Update and also on setting up your computer to automatically obtain the updates, go to: http://www.temple.edu/cs/windowsupdateinstructions.htm (1/14)
   

• Last night, Computer Services successfully upgraded our firewall system. During the upgrade, Temple's Internet connectivity was down for approximately one hour, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  
  Computer Services tested the systems throughout the night and continues to do so today to ensure a smooth transition. If you are experiencing problems accessing familiar Temple resources, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000. (1/14)
   

• Residence Hall Students:  For the Spring 2004 semester, there are new connection procedures in place for requesting or reconfirming Internet access in your residence hall room. (1/13)
   

• Virus Alert:  Be on the lookout for the Trojan.Xombe worm, a new computer virus that poses as a critical update from Microsoft. Details about the worm are available in a Yahoo! News article. Be sure to protect your computer from viruses by participating in Temple's "The BUG Stops Here" antivirus campaign. (1/13)
   

• In order to better protect Temple's resources against an increased number of viruses and hackers, Temple has purchased a new state-of-the-art firewall. For details, see the "Computer Services Upgrades Internet Firewall" memo from Timothy C. O'Rourke, Vice President of Computer and Information Services. (1/12)
   

• AOL launches a new, discounted ISP service, as MSNBC reports. (1/10)
   

• You are putting your computer at risk if you use Kazaa to illegally download files, as Wired reports. (1/9)
   

• The Philadelphia Inquirer lists some Web sites for following the latest developments from NASA's Spirit Rover, which recently landed on Mars. (1/8)
   

• There are new search engines on the horizon designed to make your Internet searches more relevant, as CNN reports. (1/6)