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.

Addicted to Facebook

It is nearly impossible for me to go a full 24 hours without checking my facebook...It is actually a serious problem. I feel like I can waste an hour..or more of my entire day by doing nothing except "stalking" people and reading updated news feed. As a teen, especially in this generation this seems to be more than normal and acceptable. As sad as that is, parents get frustrated, teachers know it helps distract students from work, and the users know its addicting as well.
I dont know why, but knowing other people's business and looking through pictures is just a pass time...and not productive at all. Even when I went to Europe I was freaking out I wouldnt be able to check, or update my facebook for a month..but when I found out there was a computer in the lobby, I jumped on it as soon as it was available! Even with a backwards keyboard, I found a way to update my status..facebook is some how a way to get news, especially socially and without it people would actually have to call/email/find other ways to keep in touch with everyone they have ever met. Facebook is terribly addicting and as much as I wish I could part from it, it wont happen any time in the near future. Facebook is Crack.

Technology, a waste of money!

Computers are transforming the way we get information and connect with people, only getting more advanced as time goes on. The fact that computers are so widely used does not mean they need to be in every aspect of everyday life. Most people have computers at their house, work and even most schools. Yet, are computers really needed at school? Most students today will tell you that they don't increase the focus for learning, half of the time when the technology doesn't work or the teacher cant figure out how to work things, students are happy to not have to learn. Technology in classrooms seem to only decrease the learning than the average lectures, class discussions, and group participation. It is understandable that more kids now are visual learners and need creativity to be mixed with learning, but there are other ways to get students involved with work. Yes, the Internet is convenient and a great source for information but it is not necessary for computers to be in every classroom and school. There are students who are not lucky enough to own their own computer and the schools that do provide these outlets are great, but leave them in the library, student study rooms, or media centers. Schools should take there funding and spend it on newer textbooks, restoring the actual school, expanding classrooms, more desks, chairs, and every day school supplies. Some schools rely too much on buying the latest technology to boost the school's accreditation. Since most public schools, including liberal art schools have to make cutbacks on letting less students in, and watching budgets due to the country's "recession" schools should focus less on blowing money on new and confusing technology, and more on the students actual education and what has been proven to work.

Feeding Twitter

Although I myself do not use Twitter I noticed an article in the New York Times that looked interesting, seeing as a class we have been talking a lot about Google and the advancement of technology. Yesterday Tuesday April 13, Twitter unleashed a plan that will bring in its exponential growth into revenue. Twitter plans on making money from advertising, called Promoted Tweets that users will see when they search for keywords that the advertisers have bought to link to their ads. Companies like Best Buy, Starbucks, Virgin America and Bravo are already getting ahead and on the list to run ads. Twitter has some revenue from deals to license streams of posts to Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft but these ads will let businesses insert themselves and info right into the stream and stay stable not getting buried in the flow.
Twitter plans on these ads to be promoted at the top of results even if it was written a lot earlier than other tweets. Not only can the businesses see negative conversations, but they can keep track of what people want through todays current technology. Advertising has yet to disappear and finding loops and holes to get through just for their own products. That is after all what America seems to be about!

Googlefied

Google has transformed the internet in such a short amount of time. The majority of web users, if not all, use Google or some branch of Google. I feel like Google has helped the technologic world advance, create competition, and derive new ideas. People who think Google is taking over the world or making people dependent on the internet for information are just being pessimistic. Our world is constantly advancing and evolving..technology is going to keep expanding and yes, the world will constantly have information at their fingertips. Google does have a lot of power, Im sure people would freak out if one day their favorite search engine disappeared..people would then have to rely on actually going to the library or look for other sources for information. But Google is helping simplify and making the world's info accessible, there are pros and cons, but I feel the pros outweigh the cons. People can learn more information about other cultures, increase their education, communicate to others worldwide, keep up on current events and live news, share ideas and opinions and just benefit in general. Google has changed the world for the better, and anyone who has been Googlefied will agree.

About Blogging

The article on Bruce Schneier was really informing especially the fact that just a few years ago he started blogging. I feel he writes about things people are to scared to talk about like real-world security, terrorism, and crime. There are always new things to write about in that field and he is very passionate about the topic. It is a lot easier to write about something interesting that have different point of views and opinions. Subjects that can be argued that make people think and respond, or get a reaction from the public is what seems to me, to be the most important thing about blogging. Schneier says he never deliberately tries to get a reaction, but some of his essays are provocative that take days to write.

The best advice he gave was "Just do it. Don't worry about being boring. Don't worry about being interesting. Just do it (blogging)." Being able to throw out opinions and good information is always beneficial. He seems to be very connected to his computer and it just shows the importance of communication through the internet. He is able to get his ideas and thoughts out to whoever wants to read them. For only blogging a few years, I feel like Schneier has learned a lot from blogging, he has benefited from suggestions, while ignoring the negative comments all the while continuing what he loves to talk about. What I took away from this article is that blogging is a passion and connects different people through discussions.

My First Blog

Dear Blog,
This is my first sentence/blog. I'm ready to leave and eat lunch then take a nap.