Survey: Here's who's
listening to online radio
Audiences for online radio are
still much smaller than the traditional version, but they're growing.
Who exactly is doing that listening? A new study titled Survey 28 by
Audio Graphics' RRadio Network claims to know the answer. The group
asked 1,898 online radio listeners about their race, religion and
portable music players. Although the group is logging on to the
internet to hear tunes, most of them are not taking the music with
them. A majority, 67.7 percent of the respondents, do not own a
portable MP3 player. In the small group that does, 22.1 percent own
an Apple iPod and 14.2 percent have a Sony player. The study finds
that 61.5 percent of listeners are Caucasian, 11.6 percent are
Hispanic, 3.4 percent are black, and 4.1 percent are Asian. As far as
what religion the respondents associate themselves with, 24.8 percent
say they are Roman Catholic, 18.9 percent report being either
agnostic or atheist, and 17 percent say they are Protestant.
Former AOL engineer pleads guilty in spam case
America
Online has taken a hit not only in subscriptions but also in
perception over the past two years. Perhaps seeing one of the
internet giant's former software engineers brought to justice might
make customers feel more generous toward the company. Jason Smathers
of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in
Manhattan on Friday to stealing 92 million AOL screen names and email
addresses and selling the list to Sean Dunaway of Las Vegas, who used
it to send gambling spam. Smathers accepted $28,000 for providing the
list and used another employee's access code to acquire the names and
addresses. He will have to pay between $200,000 and $400,000, the
amount the government estimates AOL spent as a result of the emails.
In December, U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein rejected
Smathers' guilty plea because prosecutors had not convinced him that
what Smathers did was a crime. But prosecutors apparently did a
better job explaining the damage done to AOL by the spamming.
Smathers will be sentenced on May 20.
Weeks of whining prompt eBay's small-biz bonus
After weeks of hearing complaints about price
hikes, eBay has decided to cut small businesses some slack. The
company posted an e-announcement promising to credit $15.95, the
equivalent of a one-month subscription, to small business owners who
operate eBay stores in April. But the price increases that were
introduced in January will still be implemented Feb. 18 despite all
the whining the hike has sparked. Basic eBay Stores will increase
from $9.95 to $15.95, and the fee for a standard listing of 10 days
will double from 20 cents to 40 cents. The goal of the rebate is to
appease some of the small businesses so angered by the hike.
GPS,
the latest target for innovative virus writers
Viruses gained notoriety by infecting personal
computers, then came cell phones. Now car satellite navigational
systems are the new target. Many vehicles include global navigation
systems that connect to hands-free phone kits using Bluetooth
technology. Hackers are using that technology to transmit viruses to
a car's GPS navigation system. Shaya Technologies in Johannesburg,
South Africa, reports that about 150,000 automobiles in the United
States were affected by a virus in the past couple of weeks. Most of
the security codes were breached on the vehicles. Viruses have been
found in the GPS systems of Lexus' LX470, LS430 and Landcruiser 100.
Experts warn viruses on mobile devices will soon be as advanced as
those on traditional computer networks.
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