SYNDICATION TECHNOLOGY KEEPS TABS ON AUCTIONS

Syndication technologykeeps tabs on auctions
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Auction addicts will be able to monitor eBay bids and listings continuously using new software that features emerging feed technology called Really Simple Syndication.
RSS feeds tell you what's newly generated by a Web site and send the content directly to your computer so you don't have to surf for new sports scores, stock quotes and news items.
The new software from Texas startup Pluck Corp. is a plug-in for Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer browser that provides regular updates on eBay items.
Pluck is releasing Auction Scout this week after months of beta testing by thousands of users.
The software is free, and Pluck hopes to customize ads to the feeds, so users get pitches related to the products for which they're searching. A consumer requesting alerts on secondhand Rolex watches for women, for instance, might get an ad for a used-jewelry brokerage company.
Users can create shared folders so family and friends receive the same updates on specific items or merchandise categories. The collaborative feature is supposed to help buyers get input from roommates or spouses on big-ticket items.
Report on data sharingraises privacy concerns
NEW YORK -- Be careful what personal information you give to corporate Web sites.
A review of the Internet privacy policies for the 100 biggest U.S. companies found that more than half share their users' data with affiliates, subsidiaries or business partners without explicit permission.
The report, released this week by the Customer Respect Group, a Bellevue, Wash.-based research company, found that 93 of the Fortune 100 companies posted privacy policies on their site, up from 90 last year.
Of those 93 companies, 30 percent said they use customer data only for the purpose for which it was provided or for internal marketing efforts.
But 58 percent of the companies with privacy policies are not so guarded. Thirty-five percent share information with affiliates or subsidiaries; 23 percent give data to business partners.
The Customer Respect Group said 12 percent of the companies' privacy policies are unclear on the subject of data sharing.
The privacy rankings were part of a broader study by the Customer Respect Group to analyze the customer-friendliness of corporate Web sites, incorporating such criteria as simplicity, responsiveness, attitude, transparency and principles.
The overall top performers were Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp., Bank of America Corp. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. The worst five: Sysco Corp., Pfizer Inc., Weyerhauser Co., Johnson Controls Inc. and Supervalu Inc.
Pathogen sensor getspraise from U.S. military
PITTSBURGH -- A sensor that changes from yellow to red when it detects dangerous pathogens such as sarin is among the Army's picks for greatest inventions of last year.
Biotech startup Agentase LLC made the Nerve Agent Sensor using technology developed at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Army was looking for a relatively inexpensive and reliable tool to detect harmful agents, said Gary Ryker, Agentase's chief business officer.
Company co-founder Keith LeJeune said the sensor is being used primarily by U.S. intelligence agencies but also has applications for emergency responders. Allegheny General Hospital bought some in case they are needed in triage situations.
Now in its second year, the competition was started partly to spur interest in developing technology for the battlefield.
Other innovations recognized include a portable camera designed to inspect wells or underground caves and a container that can transport red blood cells without the need for batteries, ice or electricity.
Associated Press
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