Info. on the Web – Is it really there forever?

Deleting your digital past — for good 

A serious issue about posting something on the Web – Does the information really stay there forever?  Say for instance – that you have assignments to post blogs for a class.  Naturally – you want to complete the assignments and don’t really hesitate to post items over the internet.  That is – until you read how hard it is to delete information that is posted on the web.  Anything posted on the web could become “an unsavory connection from your past. An annoying link to your name that’s dragging down your career. A spicy quote you tossed off to a reporter that you wish you could take back.”

The article also states – that it is pretty pointless to bring any legal action for libel to remove your name or information tied to your name from the WWW.  “The Communications Decency Act of 1996 gives almost total immunity to Web sites” – However, there is a company (ReputationDefender Inc.) that provides solutions for a fee to kind of – sort of – manage the online information/data related to your name in Google searches.   Reputation Defender, Inc.’s CEO claims that you can remove the information yourself – but it is easier for professionals to take care of the dirty work (after all the CEO has what some might call a vested interest in the Company – so promoting his company never hurts – free advertisement in a way). 

The group that wrote the article had someone (the ”WrongedGirl”) provide them with information that they wanted removed from the internet.  The group went through a lot of trouble to get it removed – but in the end they were able to remove the information about the WrongedGirl from the web. 

It still should make you think twice about posting information on the web.

Bully Blogging… and Internet Abuse/misuse….

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/11/03/angry.internet/index.html

It has clearly been stated in our Computer Information Systems class that Web 2.0 tools need to be used correctly to achieve their full potential.   The internet and Web 2.0 tools are breeding grounds for misuse and vandalism.  Some people feel that it is because the anonymity the Internet provides – come on – what kind of retaliation could be used especially when web users use a Jane/John Doe – the people that usually get hurt by web postings are not the actual posters.  The people that are severely impacted are the ones that the post is actually about.  Prior to the internet – you were accountable for your words and actions – web postings still have repurcussions today – just usually not for the people posting them.  There have been a number of postings that have seriously impacted lives of human beings – from murder and suicide to divorce and various other rumors in classrooms… Just some food for thought… “Whether the problem will get control of us, or we will get control of the problem, is in the way we face up to it, he says.  Anger, he says, is rolled up with anxiety and fear, and nothing creates more fear like a lack of understanding.” – psychiatrist Dr. Terry Eagan…

Microsoft is Slipping…. Well…..Kind of…..

Windows Azure Update - Cloud Computing

Moving Away from Windows

Microsoft has always been a powerhouse in the Computer/Technology world based on Windows and it’s monopolistic features (even if they and the court system claims that they are not a monopoly)…..The first artcile discusses how Microsoft will be moving to Cloud Computing…  A little late on this – haven’t other companies been doing this for quite some time now – like Google and Amazon – this shows how Microsoft is slowly slipping away from being the leader of the technology industry with innovative ideas and solutions and becoming more of a follower for new technologies – but still a clear leader for operating systems – see Windows…

The second article discusses how HP is moving away from using Windows as its operating system…It is not only due to the Windows Vista ”flop..”  However – the article points out the fact – that 9 out of 10 PCs shipped today use Windows – and that the Big Bad Microsoft will not crumble… but hopefully some of the other technology companies will get a slice of the pie… and hope that they don’t get acquired by Microsoft since they have $20+ billion in cash available…

“Brown is going green.”

EPA, UPS join to launch eco-friendly hybrid trucks

UPS is jumping on the “eco-friendly” bandwagon.  UPS has ordered seven delivery trucks powered by a hydraulic hybrid system that were designed by the EPA fuel-emissions lab to save fuel and cut carbon emissions.  These trucks operate on diesel fuel with a hydraulic propulsion system that allows them to recover “70 percent of the energy normally wasted” during braking – which is a huge advantage for the stopping-and-starting nature of a UPS delivery truck.  These trucks are estimated to cost $7,000 more than the conventional diesel trucks – I think it is a small price to pay for the estimated 40% less emmissions and not to mention – based on todays diesel gas price of $3.35/gallon and assuming the UPS trucks average 13 mpg and approximately 200 miles 6 days per week – it will save $8,700/per year and essentially pay for itself (as long as the trucks can make it 11-months)…..  That might be some strange math and estimates but overall – helping to reduce emissions and consume less gas – more companies should head in this direction…

Apple earnings estimates – Blogger vs. high paid Wall Street Gurus

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/10/19/apple-q4-earnings-smackdown/

A blogger has put together earnings estimates for Apple compared to Wall Street analysts for Q4′08.  Earnings come out today at 5pm.  I just think it will be interesting to see – who comes closer – Analysts or a Blogger……The Blogger (Zaky) estimates that iPhones sold in Q4 will be 7.5 million unites or 85% higher than the Street’s 4.0 million estimate.

Making or Breaking Palm

Why Palm needs Android

 

Palm has gone from first to worst in a product that they revolutionized over 12 years ago.  Palm’s overall performance has continued to deteriorate with its loss of market share from the continued strength in Blackberry and the recent introduction to the iPhone.  They went from being a key player in the industry by generating revenues of $1.579 billion with an operating profit of $105 million in FY06 to losing over 16% in revenues to $1.319 billion realizing an operating loss in excess of $126 million.  

 

Palm has been working on their own operating system for over a year to introduce in the new line of products to compete with Blackberry and Apple.  The article describes how they should just scrap the idea of using their own system and jump on board with the free Android system.  I believe that Palm should definitely scrap the idea of continuing to develop its own operating system in order to compete with Blackberry and the iPhone.  I believe that Palm should take a risk by using Android’s OS even with the money and time spent for the research and development on the operating system that they could call their own and focus more on the overall product.  Palm was moving away from its core competency with the idea of developing an operating system – Leave that up to the folks that make life easier for everyone – Google. This is an opportunity for them to customize the Android OS to their liking and sell products at a more competitive price that will hopefully more than make up for the loss in market share.  However, Palm Treos use Microsoft applications which might cause some friction in the relationship with Microsoft or the threat to use the Android might pay off with lower prices for Microsoft applications and operating systems.  Overall, something needs to be done for Palm to get back market share – this might just be that drastic change that is needed to put Palm back on that pedestal and allow them to focus on the applications that will compete with Blackberry or the iPhone. 

Forget 411.. Information made easy…by the one and only Google

I forgot to mention this in class the other day, but I have been using this for a few years now.  It goes along with the fad or never ending fad over people sending text messages.  Forget the 411 operator – Believe it or not – Google provides a text messaging service that allows to look up local business listings (enter the business name, city and state and see what pops up), and if you feel the need to ask it a question give it a try or you are looking for a definition – It might not have everything your looking for but when in doubt send Google a text by simply texting Google (466453) and they text message back your results in seconds.  It has some glitches – but overall a pretty nifty little service.

Came across Crowdsourcing Post similar to reading

I found this Post interesting because it covers our Information Systems topic of crowdsourcing and my Managing People and Organizations discussion about the hiring process.

http://www.ere.net/2007/12/12/are-you-using-collective-intelligence-for-talent-management/

The Incredible Inedible – Google

A discussion in class about how one individual attempted to refrain from using Google for an entire day.  I did not want to test myself – to see if I could stay away from Google.  Instead, I wanted to take notice of how many different ways could I use Google in the day.  I didn’t want to keep a running tally – but in a way keep a tab the way that a bartender would at the local watering hole – potentially missing one or two – eh or a few.  I have to say – Google comes in pretty handy.  To start things off  -Google is not my homepage, it might as well be… I was looking for a phone number to a restaurant and the first website I typed into the browser was www.google.com without any hesitation.  I typed in some information – the name, the town, the city – and what do you know – up pops the restaurant I was looking for with the phone number displayed on the google page.  At work – if I need to do a little research on a company or individual – always start off with Google.  My IT department even uses Google – I called the IT department and explained the troubles I was having with my computer – The individual on the other end said he was going to Google the problem – that’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks.  Google is by far the greatest thing since sliced bread – what other website does your job for you?