This week’s 4cast:
1. You’ve Been Listening to Books Again, Haven’t You?
The New York Times recently ran an article about audiobooks, and how some bibliophiles think listening to the audio version of a book is not as good as actually reading it. Even so, interest in audiobooks is seemingly on the rise.
- Your Cheatin’ Listenin’ Ways (New York Times)
- Is listening to a book cheating? (It’s All Good)
- Get free audiobooks from Simply Audiobooks (Lifehacker)
- my first audiobook – a day in the life (librarian.net)
2. Open, Meet Limited
Last week’s 4cast (item 2) mentioned that the FCC was about to set rules for next year’s auction of the 700-MHz broadcast spectrum. Google had been pushing hard for a nationwide, completely open wireless network, but the FCC’s decision was seen by many analysts as only a limited endorsement of Google’s proposal.
- FCC sets 700MHz auction rules: limited open access, no wholesale requirement (Ars Technica)
- Google Gets Some Of What It Wanted From The FCC (Search Engine Land)
- FCC Fails To Mark Its Place In History (TechCrunch)
- Google’s big win — and big loss — in a bid for the open wireless Web (Machinist)
3. Massive Conspiracy to Freely Distribute Copywritten Material Uncovered!
Every now and again, a reporter wanders into a public library for the very first time.
- Steal this book? Don’t bother (CNET)
- Free information for the taking (CNET)
- Steal This Book? Don’t Bother (The Krafty Librarian)
- Enjoy the Smorgasborg! (Library Garden)
4. How’s Your Spam?
Spam, viruses, phishing, malware, and botnets? Still thriving.
- Consumer Reports on ‘State of the Net’: It’s a jungle out there (NetworkWorld)
- The enemy adapts: the state of spam, malware, and phishing scams (Ars Technica)
- Damn Spam (The New Yorker)
- FBI: Over one million computers working for botnets (Ars Technica)
