Category: Google

on Google Privacy

On By Rick McIn Google, internetLeave a comment

You may have been contacted by Google:

We’re getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that’s a lot shorter and easier to read. …

These changes will take effect on March 1, 2012.

details

Some are freaking out.

That’s dopey. Not much is changing. Here’s a much more measured assessment:

Read Write Web – Tech World Overreacts to Google’s New Privacy Policy – How Does It Affect You?

… You know what you can do? Stop sharing things you don’t want tracked. …

Before and after March 1st best advice is not to do anything online you’ll regret in future. Somebody, somewhere could be tracking it. And it probably won’t be Google. They’re one of the least evil players.

If you want to dig into this deeper, the best authority is Jeff Jarvis. He’s the author of:

• What Would Google Do?
• Public Parts

jobs and the “wealth gap”

On By Rick McIn Apple, audiocasts, economics, ethics, Google, governmentLeave a comment

Jeff Jarvis is at the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the elite of the elite.

The theme is “jobs, jobs, jobs.”

… They’re discussing growth strategies and so far we’re hearing the same notions we hear elsewhere in Davos, the complete trick bag: spend money on infrastructure, be nice to business, regulate less, reform taxes, reform immigration. OK and OK.

“The problems of job creation are more complicated than that. …

Buzz Machine – Efficiency over growth (and jobs)

For example, Apple and Google are two of the wealthiest companies in 2011, but they don’t have many employees. Some jobs have been eliminated by technology. Others are gone overseas because people just as competent as you are willing to do it cheaper.

Obama’s State of the Union again chastised the American rich for not doing enough. That might be good politics, but it’s not going to do anything to create many American jobs nor reduce the “wealth gap“. I appreciate that he’s trying. … It’s better than nothing.

Is there any solution?

I don’t think so after listening to a new BBC audiocast documentary: The Wealth Gap: The View from London.

The future looks grim for most wealthy nations. The “occupy” protesters, most jobless, will continue being frustrated. And the rich will get richer. If you try to tax them, they’ll relocate abroad.

source – BBC – The Wealth Gap – Inequality in Numbers

If you have a job, I’d recommend you keep it. And start putting away emergency resources. (I’ll not be following my own advice, as you might guess.)

… One of the few bright spots is philanthropy – Davos 2012: Bill Gates commits $750m to fight AIDS

love the Apple store

On By Rick McIn Apple, Google, product endorsementsLeave a comment

I spent time at the Hong Kong store, perfectly located near the Star Ferry terminal.

I was getting specifics on how to use an iPhone 4S while traveling internationally.

Apple retail stores have been a huge hit. Microsoft tried to duplicate those. Now Google has opened an Android store in Melbourne.

In Hong Kong I was hanging out with coaches from mainland China. Most had Apple products. Anyone who’s got money in China has no interest in iFhoney or iPaddy.

• Bloomberg – China Becomes Apple’s Second-Largest Market

… that said, I’m liking this $500 Windows knock-off called the “AirBook“.

Impressive copycattery.

You probably heard that world’s largest Apple store just opened in the historic Grand Central Station, New York.

My $1000 original 11-Inch MacBook Air was just voted best laptop in the MacWorld Editors’ Choice Awards. I love it.

If shopping for anything Apple, look first at the refurbished area in the online Apple store. Here’s an iPad 2 with $80 off, for example.

first look Galaxy Nexus

On By Rick McIn Apple, Google, product endorsements1 Comment

If I don’t get an iPhone 4S, it’ll likely be a Galaxy Nexus, instead.

First best video here.

The Windows phones look prettier than either, actually.
_____

A leaked video shows the new Gmail, a big improvement. If you’re still on Hotmail :(, best watch it.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Google Docs

On By Rick McIn Google1 Comment

I’ve yet to get into Google Docs, though I would try them if the right project came up. The latest tweaks look pretty cool

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.



… what kind of real earth back-up do I have when the internet goes down?

tech gurus

On By Rick McIn Apple, audiocasts, Google, product complaints, product endorsementsLeave a comment

The most popular Geekcast is TWIT, This Week in Technology.

I’ve actually become less attached to that show, preferring MacBreak Weekly and This Week in Google as audiocasts from the same network.

But the most recent episode of TWIT was excellent: There’s An App in my Lap

Leo Laporte, Om Malik, Robert Scoble, and John C. Dvorak

The first 3 are respected tech gurus. Dvorak’s there as a comic, contrary counterpoint. Here’s their advice:

• iPhone 4S is a winner — first as a replacement for you point-and-shoot camera. Still a great phone for regular folks. Tech geeks will be happier with the high end Androids. Look for the Nexus Prime with Ice Cream Sandwich to be launched next week.

• iPhone 4S Siri voice controller is “the future”, but works inconsistently so far

• Kindle Fire (coming Nov. 15th) likely to be a loser, a poor competitor to the iPad. Instead get a $79 Kindle e-reader, the low end. A perfect Christmas present.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

It costs $109 if you want NO ADS on that same cheap device. … I’m not sure how well it works around the world. Check first before you buy one if you’re not living in the States.

• huge fight looming between Facebook & Google. Many already spend most of their time in Facebook … when they can SEARCH and WATCH TV / Movies in Facebook, they’ll never need to leave.

• the future of watching what you want, when you want, online is still up in the air. Another looming battle.

• Microsoft bought Skype. The gurus have no confidence that’s going to work. Competitors could beat Skype.

Google Wallat is … coming

On By Rick McIn Google, product endorsementsLeave a comment

Hate standing in line at a store?

Google Wallet is a mobile payment system developed by Google that allows its users to store credit cards, loyalty cards, and gift cards among other things, as well as redeeming sales promotions on their mobile phone.

Google Wallet uses near field communication to “make secure payments fast and convenient by simply tapping the phone on any PayPass-enabled terminal at checkout.” …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

google.com/wallet

Sound too good to be true? … Don’t Trade Your Wallet in for a Google Wallet Just Yet

WordPress rules the internet

On By Rick McIn Apple, Google, internet, product endorsementsLeave a comment

I’m often recommending WordPress as the best platform for hosting websites. It’s far and away the most popular platform in 2011.

WordPress Powering Practically Half Of The Top 10,000 Websites

It’s free. Get started here.

Google’s competitor — Blogger — has always sucked, in comparison. But now Blogger sucks less than before.

_____

related …

Android and Apple together now account for nearly 70 percent of smartphone subscribers in the U.S. … (they) keep taking share from RIM’s Blackberry, Microsoft, and Symbian.

app – which flights have Wi-Fi?

On By Rick McIn Apple, Google, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

Warren sent me a link to this terrific new service.

… flight search service Hipmunk just updated its iPhone and iPad apps to show you which of the flights you’ve searched for have Wi-Fi on-board….

LifeHacker – Hipmunk Flight Search App Shows Which Flights Have Wi-Fi

Hipmunk has by far the best interface for seeing what flights are available. Sadly, however, I’m finding the actual results worse and worse over the past few months. The best deals are not showing up.

what is Google+ ???

On By Rick McIn Facebook, Google1 Comment

It’s new.

It’s somewhat similar to Facebook.

It’s by invitation only, so far. (I could send you an invite if you are interested.)

Click PLAY or watch a brief intro on YouTube.

It’s getting heaps of praise from experts.

Facebook is worried.

The little Google +1 symbol is similar to the Facebook LIKE button, but it’s more powerful. When you click that +1 it tells Google to recommend that page in Google search.

I’m just experimenting with the new social network now. So far I like it better than Facebook. In any case, it’s nice to have some real competition for Facebook for the first time.

read more on how it works – Google, takes on Facebook