And you Linux/Gnome folks -- I probably don't have to point out that the international  Gnome developers conference is at Trinity next week (18th) and people like Alan Cox will be speaking, but check it out if you didn't realise... I'm moderating a session on Open Source and government on Wednesday. If you're attending, come say hi. I'll be that gal at the head table... moderating. Just to make things interesting, SCO CEO Darl McBride is in town at the same time (no lynch mobs in Front Square, please). I am hoping to work my schedule around so that I can interview him.
11:00:55 PM  #   your two cents []

Irish bloggers: many have requested trying to do a second meeting, and perhaps on a Saturday, as lots of people couldn't make the impromptu Tuesday session we recently had on rather short notice. I am going to propose either Thursday the 3rd July, or Saturday the 5th July. If people are anxious to meet sooner, then Thursday the 19th June or Sat the 21st June.

People could of course propose other days; I'm only saying those dates out of self-interest as I am away or have back to back events around those times! So feel free to suggest others, or we could wait til a little later in July. Add comments and post queries around the Irish blogosphere and then we'll pick whatever seems the consensus date. If a Saturday, we have the difficult task of finding someplace amenable to talking (eg not packed out and full of drunken British stag parties... [grin]). Which might mean doing an afternoon pints thing, not an evening pints thing. I'm away a lot over the next two weeks (Germany, Helsinki, London), mostly work, so blog posts may be quite sporadic after Wednesday.

10:52:36 PM  #   your two cents []

A piece I did in today's Irish Times. Data retention hasn't gone away, you know: Justice should be releasing its draft bill any day now. If you are interested in the full statement from the industry groups, it's here.

Lobby condemns data storage plans

Karlin Lillington
09/06/2003

Plans by the Government and others to store records of all phone and mobile calls, emails and internet usage "will result in massive costs" and should be dropped, according to four of the world's largest business and technology industry groups.

A joint statement issued by the groups condemns mandatory data retention, or the storage of information about the source, destination and duration of all calls and emails, especially for "excessive periods".

Instead, the four advocate "data preservation" - the retention of specific records only when mandated by warrant - the technique currently used in the US.

"Data retention is an intrusive measure that should not be taken until less intrusive alternatives such as data preservation have been tested and proven insufficient to meet government's stated objectives," the statement said.

The industry groups complain that there has been "disappointingly little effort by governments to seek an adequately informed balance between the legitimate interests of government, [the communications] industry, and end-users."

The four groups include the International Chamber of Commerce Commerce (ICC), the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), the European Information, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technology Industry Association (EICTA) and the International Telecommunications Users Group (INTUG).

ICT Ireland, the IBEC industry organisation for the information and communications technology industry, also supports data preservation. Recently, it stated its concerns that mandatory retention would critically damage the State's business environment and significantly increase end-user costs for telecoms services.

The Department of Justice has proposed the longest period for data retention in Europe, at three years. The statement from the industry groups notes "great concern" over "the variance and length of the proposed data retention periods, which range from three months to three years", which would make it virtually impossible for law enforcement agencies and government to co-ordinate retention programs.

"Mandatory retention of traffic data for periods longer than business requires not only magnifies costs, but also poses significant privacy and security risks by creating enormous pools of stored data, increasing the risk of illegal access to and misuse of this data," according to the statement. © The Irish Times

9:16:40 AM  #   your two cents []

I'm off down to Limerick today, to the Hunt Museum, which has produced an interactive exhibit in which objects and spaces within the museum are wired with sensors and can tell you about themselves, or the area you're in. Sounds fun -- more when I get back.
9:11:48 AM  #   your two cents []

Merrill Lynch: Linux saves money. An executive at the investment banker says research shows that deploying Linux internally that could save the company millions of dollars. [CNET News.com]
9:10:40 AM  #   your two cents []

NY Times: Industry Offers a Carrot in Online Music Fight. "But for the first time in the Internet file-sharing wars, record industry executives have in recent weeks started to address music fans directly, both offering carrots and wielding sticks to persuade people to buy their product again." [Tomalak's Realm]
9:10:05 AM  #   your two cents []

Explaining Dell's transformation. In 1994, Dell was a struggling second-tier PC maker. How it jumped to leader of the pack is a remarkable story. HBS experts explain that the key was to manage profitability, not inventory. [CNET News.com]
9:09:12 AM  #   your two cents []

Dan Gillmor's over in London. Lots of good stuff on his blog at the moment.
9:08:37 AM  #   your two cents []

Apple music -- details leaked. "CD Baby's Web site posted details of how Apple's music service is doing ("Sorry, I didn't realise yesterday's presentation was supposed to be confidential. When I found out, I pulled the details. Honest mistake.") Seems the service is "selling about 500,000 songs a week and about half of those are sold as albums, allaying fears that people would choose individual tracks instead of a whole record," according to the BBC. Best bit: Steve Jobs reportedly saying: "We have to be more efficient, though. We're not going to deal with 200 lawyers. Everyone is going to get the exact same deal. It's not negotiable. It's take it or leave it." (F/X cheers)"
[onlineblog.com]
9:08:03 AM  #   your two cents []