Entries from July 2007 ↓

With Vista only six months old and riddled with problems it is hard to belive that Microsoft has already began to work on their next OS release codename Windows 7 or Vienna. Although Vista took six years to develop Microsoft is claiming that this new operating system will be ready to launch in 2010, which is possible but I can’t imagine it becoming a reality when their current OS is having nothing but problems. Most of the information you will find on the internet will be rumors and speculation but here are some of the features Microsoft have realease about “Vienna”. It will be easier to use, more secure, better connected and will have a lower cost. Isn’t this the same promises that were made about Vista? While Microsoft has the ability to release some great software, somehow they have lost site of the consumers who buy this “Great” software and who are tired of spending money on hardware and software that just doesn’t work. I think they should put aside this idea of a new OS until they can at least make Vista useable, for now though I am just gonna sit back and wait for Apple to release OS X Leopard, because I am pretty sure it will actually be ready for release.

Technorati Tags: Windows, Vista, Windows 7, Apple, Leopard

With the popularity of Social Networking sites like Myspace and Facebook Identity thieves have found a new place for business. People have gotten so comfortable with these types of sites they don’t realize how much sensitive information they place on them like home addresses, phone numbers and even date their date of birth. In the past identity thieves would have to scour trash bins or figure out ways to use some sort of online phishing scheme to lure people into providing them with the information they need, but now more and more people are just freely giving out very private information. A lot of attention has been given to the fact that sexual predators troll these social networking sites, but very little has been said about the other dangers that are present anytime you put up information about your personal life. Sites like Myspace and Facebook are great for friends and family to communicate especially when they live far apart, but before you go out and put up photos and personal information ask yourself if you would freely hand out all this info to millions or strangers in “Real Life”.

Technorati Tags: Social Networking, Myspace, Facebook, Idenitity Theft,

Lately more and more people are becoming concerned about their online privacy, with subpoenas and leaks become more common Ask.com is set to be the first search engine to not store personal data on queries. Ask uses Google as an advertising partner so Google does receive sensitive data and can store it, unless a new deal is worked out between them. By the end of the year Ask.com said the will have AskEraser ready but users will have to activate it and supposably their search queries and internet address will be safe from prying eyes. Although this move will probably help Ask.com in regaining some users I don’t think it will be enough to take on Google, Yahoo, or MSN. Myself personally companies can promise not to store my data all they want, but the simply fact of it is that Nothing you do on the Internet is anonymous.

Technorati Tags: Ask.com, Privacy, Search,

I’m sure all of you have heard of Facebook by now.  With it’s 32 million registered users it’s the 6th most visited site on the web and surely a force to be reckoned with.  Facebook has recently aquired a company by the name of Parakey.  In the latest round of Google aquistions it’s nice to see another company being aggressive and moving forward.  Parakey was started by Mozilla Firefox cofounders Blake Ross and Joe Hewitt with the idea of integrating desktop applications and the web.  Facebook, which started off as strictly a social networking site, has grown into an open development platform for developers to showcase their work.  This recent aquisition of Parakey will allow Facebook users to engage each other at a deeper level than before.  Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook stated that he sees the site as “the Internet’s leading social utility that helps people better understand the world around them by developing technologies that facilitate the spread of information through social networks.”  Recently having turned down a billion dollar offer from Yahoo, I believe Facebook may have something up their sleeve.  Google Inc. better keep an eye for this guy.

Technorati Tags: facebook, parakey, social networks, mozilla, firefox

There are rumors that Google will be placing a bid to secure the 700 MHz that is coming available for bids. If Google does land this they want to be able to allow any phone and any software to work on the 700Mhz band without limitations of model of cell phone or software that can be used on it. With a minimum bid of 4.6 billion dollars Google and many other wireless carriers will be scrambling to land this, because for Google it could open up a whole new side of their business and for the current carries they could protect what they already have established. Google has also said if the commission does not require winning bidders to resell broadband access at wholesale rates they will step out of the auction. I am not sure what Googles angle is with this new strategy is, but I think it will force Telecommunications giants to pay attention and maybe even rethink their locked down networks.

Technorati Tags: Google, Mobile, Cell Phones, Broadband