MASSACHUSETTS

Tech privacy issues remain confounding

CAMBRIDGE — In 1971, before most people had even used a computer, legal scholar Arthur R. Miller wrote that the rise of databases being harnessed by credit agencies, governments and corporations was creating a difficult problem: "balancing privacy and efficiency."

These many years later, the dilemma seems even trickier.

Computers have streamlined many things, but often by taking personal information out of our control. Yet when systems are kept separate for privacy reasons (as with prescription records), sharing their information (when a patient switches pharmacies, say) can be cumbersome.

"It's still a problem people have trouble executing," Miller said at a symposium for corporate and government privacy officers. In fact, defining privacy has gotten harder.

Columbia University's Alan Westin, who began exploring digital privacy implications in the 1960s, pointed out that people now commonly reveal personal details and images of themselves online. Combine that with the increase in cameras in public places and tighter government surveillance in the post-9/11 era, and "we're entering what I would call a truly transformative era," Westin said.

NEW YORK

Flash adopting high-def video technology

NEW YORK — The ubiquitous Flash video player will soon support the same technology behind next-generation, high-definition DVDs, but don't expect online clips to look great on giant television screens for some time.

Adobe Systems Inc. is testing a new version of Flash Player 9, which it calls for now "Moviestar," incorporating support for a video standard known as H.264. The standard is used in both Blu-ray and HD DVD high-definition DVDs, as well as many cable and satellite set-top boxes, said Mark Randall, Adobe's chief strategist for dynamic media.

The final version should be available this fall, and users are generally asked to upgrade when they encounter video needing the new technology.

But there may be a chicken-or-egg problem: Sites might not deliver the higher-quality video until the user base increases, while users might wait until sites start requiring the upgrade.

Randall said the major networks, movie studios and video-sharing sites have yet to announce any intention to run H.264 video, though he said Adobe has been in talks with some and expects many will adopt it quickly.

If used correctly, he said, video in H.264 should be of higher quality than clips shown now, even if the site does not increase the bit rate, which translates to a video clip's resolution. But unless sites boost the bit rate a lot, he said, video still won't be as sharp as those on high-definition broadcast television or DVD.

CALIFORNIA

SpiralFrog to allow free music downloads, while viewing ads

LOS ANGELES — SpiralFrog.com, an ad-supported Web site that allows visitors to download music and videos free of charge, has begun testing its service with plans to launch by the end of the year.

The New York-based company recently began allowing an unspecified number of users in North America to try out the site, which has about 700,000 tracks available for downloading, said SpiralFrog founder and Chairman Joe Mohen.

The company plans to expand its "beta" test in the coming weeks and will launch the service in the United States and Canada after receiving feedback from users, advertisers and recording labels.

"We're really testing the user experience to make sure it satisfies the needs of demanding young consumers," Mohen said.

SpiralFrog lets users download audio tracks and music videos for free, but requires that they register and log on at least once a month to continue to play the content. Though free, the audio and video files carry copy protections like those found on tracks available for sale at Apple's iTunes Store and elsewhere.

It takes 90 seconds to download a track — more for a video. During that time users are enticed to browse the site and, its advertisers hope, become exposed to more ads.

— From wire reports