Brand: MacNews

Movie buffs and conspiracy theorists will immediately recognize this scenario. Apparently European Parliament officials are heading home earlier than expected as a result of U.S. officials declining to meet with them. These “U.S. Officials” read like a who’s who of cloak and dagger — the CIA, NSA, FBI, State Department, Members of Congress, the Pentagon and more. The nuts and bolts of it surround Echelon, a global security monitoring system set up at the end of the cold war.

Gracenote has hit Roxio, makers of Toast CD mastering software, with a lawsuit alleging patent infringement and breach of contract. Roxio used Gracenote’s CDDB database until the agreement expired on April 22 — at that time they started using Freedb.org. Gracenote says that organization illegally uses its technology.

Adobe has made version 2.1 of their free eBook reader software available from their Web site. This is the software you will need to read a growing number of electronic books out there today. Version 2.1 offers a number of changes, all of which are documented with the download.

Wired has posted an article discussing the security issues surrounding Mac OS X now that it is built around an open-source, Unix-based core. Some say Macs are actually more secure with an open-source foundation, but others fear that it further opens the door to security breaches. Opinions on the matter are hotly debated, with “experts” from both camps offering their viewpoints.

A company based in Portland, Oregon has come up with a service whereby you can electronically send a letter to people who don’t have a computer or Internet access. Zairmail basically allows you write a letter on their Web site and they will mail it out for you via regular post — for free. What’s the catch? They stuff the letter with coupons before they send it. ABCNEWS.COM has the story.