Arharrr!! It looks like we Canadians are world class movie pirates, right up there with the Phillipines and China. Besides the bad rep that this might entail, it also could mean that Canadians will get cut out of world distribution of films, or have their openings delayed. When will we learn that piracy is illegal and immoral?. globeandmail.com: Pirates of the Canadians

Paypal has become one of the major payment systems on the internet. But it has been plagued by Phishing, a scam that entices users to givereveal their password to a scam artist who then milks their account. Now paypal is offering a new approach to counter this threat. It is a token password system, that uses dynamic passwords. When it is used, a user's password changes every 30 seconds. It's a more sophisticated approach, but one that may do a lot of good. We can expect to see more of this approach in other arenas in future, as phishing and identify theft continue to spread. PayPal hopes it's got the key to thwart phishing

Nokia has announced a new cell phone that makes use of Skype as well. Skype is based on the VOIP technology and enables telephone calls around the globe at extremely cheap rates. Is simply requires access to a wireless network and the internet. This type of phone is likely to change the landscape for mobile markets. It will raise new challenges for building new business models for those who offer mobile phone service. Nokia - ShowPressRelease

We've talked a long time about media convergence, including the idea that TV, Computers and Stereos will all be one - or at least connected. It took a little longer than expected 10 years ago, but now it is happening. Commercial interests are getting interested in the idea. Technology Review: The Boob Tube Goes Broadband

Web Services are playing a growing role in the architecture of business Systems, meaning a larger role for them over the next year in the direction of e-Business. It marks a move of companies to greater reliance on the Internet for their core applications. 5 Disruptive Technologies To Watch In 2007 - News by InformationWeek

In the Globe and Mail Technology section, Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams are running a series on the impact of mass collaboration and its effect on business and business models. In this segment referenced here, they discuss the Second Life phenomenon and how people are making money, sometimes big money, in that virtual economy. Collaborative Business is by now old hat, but the idea of mass collaboration is a new next step that merits attention. globeandmail.com: 'Second Life' is a signpost for the future

E-government has been an important initiative of many countries for several years. In Canada, the Government Online (GOL) initiative has been a successful effort of which the government is justly proud. However, Canada is falling badly behind in one important area, and this is shown most recently by the recent announcements of Chairman Cox of the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He has been pushing the use of XBRL for filing corporate reports, and this will make a big difference to the online initiatives of that government. Similar initiatives are happening arond the world. But not in Canada. Why is this? Eventually, we'll have to step up and be a part of the new world. E-Proxies to Debut in 2007 - Technology - CFO.com

Small personal technologies - cell phones, PDA's laptops, and the like are growing in use and changing in important ways. Cell phones are starting to move to VOIP. All are staying connected to the Net, meaning the internet will be more and more integated into these devices and their use. Better power sources are in the offing. All of this has serious implications for data use and data management, including security. It's a bit of a second wave revolution. Not as big as the internet itself, but nevertheless big. Technology Review: Special Reports: Personal Technology

While illegal downloading of movies continues despite the resistance of the movie industry, there are several ways to legally obtain movies over the internet. This article lists some of them. The various organizations represented are trying a variety of means to establish a workable business model, usually by placing some kind of constraint over the ability to copy the movies and even the ability to watch them for an extended period of time. Clearly, the business model will continue to evolve. Technology Review: How do I buy online movies and what can I do with them?

Knowledgable consultants and business leaders have long said that a technology strategy has to be aligned with the business strategy. Increasingly, companies are realizing the full import of this principle in an e-business world, where IT so so crucial to making strategies and business models work. IT Directors are being looked to as sources of new revenue streams rather than just cost center managers. This is an inevitable, but important development. Not Your Father’s IT

Yahoo has been losing ground in its competition with Google and sites like Youtube and Myspace. It has just engineered a major reorganization to bolster its position. Will a reorganization be enough? That's the question. globeandmail.com: Yahoo! undergoes its biggest shake-up in more than 5 years

The growing maturity, complextity and breadth of working as an Information Systems Specialist is placing an increased emphasis on formal university training and certification. It's also leading to an increased diversity in educational backgrounds. This is a positive trend for the profession. Moving Target: The Information Security Professional

New research indicates that spontaneous buying is increasing on the internet. People are logging in and then buying something before they log off with no intention of doing so when they started. The Christmas season this year is expected to benefit from this apparent trend, as growth in Christmas shopping online is expected to grow again in the double digit range. E-Commerce News: Best of ECT News: Captitalizing on 'Spontaneous Buying' This Holiday Season

Google Earth has quietly taken over a healthy chunk of the mapping industry. Who goes abroad to a strange place without taking a look at Google Earth to see where they will be - and get to know their way to points of interest? Now it is undergoing an information explosion, and quickly becoming a mapped encyclopedia. Will it become an indispensible research tool as well? Will it fit into new business models for the tourism industry? Technology Review: Annotating the Earth

Everyone who has an internet account is familiar with the Nigerian money scams. A recent UK report has said that the scams cost Britons millions of dollars a year. No doubt the same is true of North America as well. The UK report also highlights some of the reasons why Europeans would fall for the scams. Nigerian scams cost Britons millions, says study | Top News | Reuters.com

Microsoft's new Vista Operation System will include extensive new Digital Rights Management (DRM) features that will cause problems for users, especially those pushing the edge on copyright issues. Some of the new built-in safeguards were put in at the request (demand?) of the movie industry to cut down on DVD piracy. But many of the new technologies are bound to cause issues for ordinary honest users as well. Vista and More: Piecing Together Microsoft's DRM Puzzle

Wireless technology is likely to be a major factor for economic development in Africa. That's one of the big reasons why the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize went to Muhammed Yunus and Grameen Bank, who developed the idea of microloans, which are being used for such purposes as using cell phones to start small businesses. globeandmail.com: World's poorest nations new frontier for cell giants

Voting continues to try to move into the electronic age, but as evidenced in the recent US mid-term election, problems are still being experienced - technological as well as user acceptance. E-Voting Glitches Abound: Five States with the Biggest Problems

Couchsurfing is a new Web application that travels. It involves using the web to make contact with someone else where you are travelling and make arrangements to crash on their couch. It's built somewhat on the principles of eBay, including a rating system. Yes, there are risks. It's not for the faint of heart. But it is catching on with young people. globeandmail.com: 'Couchsurfing' travel takes off on Web

Google's recent acquisition of Jotspot is part of its strategy to employ a 'wiki" style approach to workplace collaboration. Garner has a short paper on this subject at: Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for our clients to make the right decisions, every day.