GOOGLE TRANSFORMS

Over the next few days Goole will have a feature on the bottom left corner of the homepage that will allow users to download their own photo from their computers or Picasa Web albums and use as the background on Google.com.
Google claims it is now the consumers turn to customize, just like how Bing has a similar feature, with was also borrowed from Ask.com which offers themes.
I know I always liked seeing new Google Fonts, and designs on certain days, whether it was someones birthday or a national holiday, that Google had customized. I know I will want to use Google even more to see new pictures constantly changing. They are attracting the users, and it is constantly competing with other search engines, while at the same time advertising through an interactive way. Im sure Google does not need to be worried about loosing users, but if they were this is a sure way to pick up more people, and keep their page fresh.

Skype Charging Consumers

Skype intends to charge iPhone users for calls made over AT&T's 3G network later this year. Everyone with an AT&T should check their new data plans, and refrain from getting charged by checking the new services. Skype has no intentions of charging Verizon Wireless' smart phone customers to get the same feature. AT&T did not allow voice-over IP transmissions until it changed its policy in October, so Skype has worked hard to allow calls in this network.
This week was when Apple approved a new version of the Skype App, and was downloaded 5 million times. If anyone doesnt want to be charged without knowing this about this service should not download Skype on through AT&T.
Im not sure that this seems fair just for AT&T providers, the app should not be allowed to be downloaded and charged without the consent and knowledge of the user.
Eventually nothing is going to be free, and smart phones are just going to be a hassle, and have huge fees. Cell phones have become a necessity and are well used today, I hope that nothing stupid like raised fees leads to there downfall.

Facebook Dominates

Saturday The Los Angeles Times reported that Google announced this week that most people visit Facebook than any other website. Facebook served over 570billion page views during April beating every other site on the Web.
This isnt really a big surprise. After all, in our entire Intro to New Media class we talk about how we can barely go a day without checking our Facebook and checking friends status'. And how it connects us with friends and strangers all over the world. Im not too sure how Facebook has kept up and blown other social networking sites out of the water but whatever theyre doing its working.

Too Much At Risk

Recently the Obama Administration is reviewing a Canadian company's request to build a 2,000 mile underground pipeline that would run from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast which would increase America's access to oil from our neighbors. Underneath the boreal forests of Western Canada lies valuable oil sands, that are sitting there waiting for thirsty Americans to drain rapidly. Politically I can understand the consideration of having a back up source of oil, if a conflict would occur in Saudi Arabia or China, but the risks and environmental damage cancels out any pros to this plan. Although I think the U.S. is so advance and has so much power, that if such a conflict and shortage would occur, we would be able to cope as a nation, not to mention the help we would receive from the United Nations. Extracting oil from these sands emits more greenhouse gases than normal oil drilling, not to mention the process requires 3 barrels of water for every gallon of oil wasting other resources in the process. A major concern of mine is the actual chunks that would be removed from the world's largest intact forest, misplacing many migratory birds and animals, while removing natural trees absorbing the overflowing amounts of carbon dioxide we already produce!!

There are numerous environmental concerns that I could talk about like the mine pits the site is located on, which produces waste into the ponds and water. If this pipeline known as Pipeline XL would be built how would it be maintained? If there was a crack, a leak, or bust who would fix it? How long would it take? Let's not forget about what just happened in the Gulf of Mexico, this pipeline would not be much different, although the government seems to think it would be easy to maintain...if there was a leak gallons of oil would seep into the ground water..into a major Aquifer, and contaminate most of the Mid-West's well water, and public water. The costs of imported water would go up, animals would suffer from lack of fresh water, not to mention the animals living underground, in lakes, streams, and rivers!! There is already a mini pipeline being built from Canada to Illinois, (thinner and easier to crack) which will go into effect as of June 2010, which is not needed at this time..economically or politically...The Obama Administration is going to decide sometime this coming fall about Pipeline XL, and personally I dont see what needs to be considered, just what needs to be rejected! This is an outrageous proposition looking to support the small percentage of oil-loving-rich-idiots living in America who have no concerns but for themselves in this life time.

Star Trek Foreshadowing Technology?

In Time magazine they recently had an article about Google and its new app called Goggles Translate. Basically as of May 6th the newest app was made available to the public for one's smart phone, which allows the owner to snap a photo of foreign text resulting in a near perfect translation. The new software builds on two pre-existing apps, Goggles, and Translate. Goggles was basically a visual search engine that would take any picture of any landmark, sign, book, or bar code and within seconds pull up links to the image. Translate would simply translate words that have been typed into a smart phone, but together allows users to not have to search deep into a phone screen for answers. So far the app is only allowed for Android phones, but as of this coming summer available for all smart phones. Times magazine compared this new device with Star Trek's handheld tricorder to scan new life-forms, analyze data and communicate with aliens. Goggles Translate will definitely be a step forward to keep communication worldwide thriving and understandable. I wonder what other fictional inventions will be next to pop up and mesh into American society.

Response to Facebook and its role in Democracy

As we have talked about in class about online communities, today we have come to the conclusion that they bring people together. People with the same common interests and the same ideas and opinions. So its not much of a surprise where people come together for politics, especially in countries where there is not much democracy, with a lack of rights. Because the internet is public and connects people worldwide, every thing is visible, individual countries do not have complete control over the Internet and can not censor or hide their actions. The public can react, without having to even be from a specific country or personally feeling oppressed. Governments being in the public eye is intimidating and the fact that the world is watching allows the public to have such a larger say in issues. The Internet is making way for a positive place to state opinions that may not be able to be shared in such authoritarian countries. It's helping democracy spread, in such a great way that also keeps people helping each other and reinforcing positive connections.

Social Networking TOO powerful?

A week ago in the New York Times there was in article about an explosion of social networking in Indonesia. In a newly democratic Indonesia, the government is trying to regulate content on the Internet and the media is fighting back. Social networking is becoming a vital tool to promote a more democratic country which is often corrupt. The government recently proposed a bill that would require Internet service providers to filter online content, but was no longer an issue after online protests and in the mainstream media.(Yet, currently the government is trying to propose a new and more harsh law) In a year the number of Indonesian Facebook users went from fewer than a million to more than 21 million!! That is the world's third largest number of Facebook users...especially thanks to relatively cheap cell phones that offer internet access spreading from cities to villages throughout Southeast Asia. These online movements had deeply unsettled politicians, bureaucrats, and even hospital administrators challenging their authority. People in power are afraid of online media and social networking they are paranoid and very traditional unlike the new online content. Indonesia is growing and trying to regulate more freedom.

An example of how strong of an impact social networking has on this country is recently when the government put up a statue of a 10-year old Barack Obama in a local park, instead of protesting in the capitals most famous traffic circle, more than 56,000 online protesters on Facebook got the city officials to give in, taking down the statue, and allowing the park to be reserved to honor and Indonesian.



I'm not sure if other countries should intervene and help keep the media and online usage alive and thriving in Indonesia, but it seems to be creating this bond between most Indonesians and redefining their values.