"We are not now developing, nor do we have any plans to develop, anything other than an external, wearable device."

Statement last winter by the company that just received FDA approval to begin implanting tracking chips in people. This whole thing will sound like the worst sort of conspiracy theory, but just THINK about these things. They are real. They are here.

Anything that can be implanted can be carried without bother. What is the advantage of implanting? What are the applications where this is required functionality?

politechbot.com: More on FDA permitting use of implantable ID chips in humans

"TCPA-compliant IBM Embedded Security Subsystem 2.0 (select models)"

IBM is now selling TCPA systems. Thats what all those security commercials are about. Big Brother inside.

I like my IBM laptop, but I'll never buy a TCPA compliant system.

IBM puts big brother in the box...

"Today, we stand at a crucial point. Our policies could fritter away open spectrum’s historic opportunity, either through inaction or harmful limits on new technologies. Or we could listen to what the market and technology are telling us. Computers have made wireless devices vastly smarter than they were in the past. It’s time for our policies to become smarter as well. Promoting open spectrum is the most democratic, deregulatory, proinvestment and innovation-friendly move the US Government could make."

A political arguement in favor of open spectrum. Well referenced and long winded. This is meant for FCC consumption. The future envisioned here is very exciting from a communications standpoint and from a commercial standpoint.

Open Spectrum

Skeptical that this was actually the case, fellow panelist Lucky Green quickly filed two patents soon after the conference. The patents described methods for using the Palladium infrastructure to assist in the enforcement of software licensing. Green has a third patent application on the way. "

Wired News: Can a Hacker Outfox Microsoft?

"The devices, some already tested in the Balkans and Afghanistan, range from Palm-style handhelds that use English-language cues to play prerecorded foreign phrases, to a two-way voice translator developed partly at Lockheed Martin's Owego plant that allows speakers of English and Serbo-Croatian to hold a shaky conversation. "

CNN.com - U.S. soldiers get talking translators - Oct. 6, 2002

"The Ekahau Positioning Engine (EPE) 2.0 can locate 802.11-connected wireless PDAs, laptops and other terminals--including voice over IP telephones--to, the company claims, within about a meter."

News: WiFi software tracks you down

"While doing research for a yarn I found these observations on Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) from three gentlemen -- David Reed, Dan Bricklin and Ray Ozzie -- who can legitimately claim to have collectively done more than most to kick-start the PC revolution."

Interesting collection of webloggings on these three sites.

politechbot.com: Why fathers of PC revolution are wary of digital rights management

This is what Phreaknic would be if I was as cool as I think I am.

"Supernova is a new conference exploring the distributed future. With the bursting of the Internet bubble, businesses, end-users, investors, and technology vendors face a bewildering array of challenges. Yet a common theme runs through the fundamental questions facing software, communications, and media. That theme is decentralization. "

SUPERNOVA 2002

"Bad News - the deal with the RIAA has turned out to be a delaying tactic, and there is no hope in sight at this time. 1-Oct-02"

SomaFM says there is something fishy going on.

Developing Story: Webcaster Resolution in a week?

"The House of Representatives today canceled a vote on an Internet radio bill after webcasters and recording industry officials said they are nearing a compromise in their long-running battle over music royalties. "

We could be very close to an agreement that will turn the webcasters back on. Kurt Hanson says the agreement might be revenue grounded. Save Our Streams says that educational and non-profit stations are not at the negotiation table.

Internet Radio Deal Near