Is it just me, or is getting decent sleep a thing of the past? Some even boast proudly, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead!” Is Facebook contributing to this trend?
Researchers of a study done by University of California-Irvine seem to think so. They linked lack of sleep to browsing social media sites like Facebook. Researchers monitored the sleep and social media habits of 76 UC-Irvine students. They monitored the students’ computer/smart device use. Researchers studied how often the students texted and used social media apps. Students did surveys in the morning and at night on their sleep. The research studied sleep debt, the difference between the amount of sleep needed and the amount actually gotten. The study proved what most people know all along: Not enough sleep leads to people being distracted easier, essentially saying Blame Facebook. Their attention especially goes to the app screen and social media site. One researcher said,??If you?re being distracted, what do you do? You go to Facebook. It?s lightweight, it?s easy, and you?re tired.? This isn’t the first time a like between social media and no sleep has been proven. Another study? proved teens who text with lights off get less sleep and worse grades than those who text with lights on.
All this study proves what common sense should be teaching us. How many times have you found yourself not sleeping at night? You see what people talk about on Facebook or Twitter. You watch You Tube or Netflix. You Snapchat a friend or throw some selfies on Instagram. Next thing you know, it’s an hour or two before you have to wake up. You started the night getting less sleep. You start the next day getting almost none. Do you know how many times I’ve seen a Facebook post saying, “Who else is awake?” Shouldn’t we turn off the computer/smartphone and get a good night sleep for a change? Do you Blame Facebook for your lack of sleep?
Twitter is another company that’s growing up. Late in 2015, they’ve announced changes to make the social media conglomerate even better. According to BuzzFeed, Twitter could introduce an algorithmic timeline sometime in February 2016.
So that nobody gets confused, an algorithmic timeline is very different than a chronological one. The algorithmic timeline will put tweets in the order it thinks people want to see. For instance, it’s Super Bowl weekend. So if someone tweeted about the Super Bowl yesterday, you may see that in your Twitter feed before you see a tweet about what someone had for lunch an hour ago. We don’t know if the algorithmic timeline will be optional or required. This June 2015 article argues this could elevate Twitter’s popular content. Since becoming the new CEO in October 2015, Jack Dorsey has sought out new ways to revolutionize Twitter. Since October 2015, the company replaced term favorites with likes. There’s also talk of ending the 140 character Tweet limit. I don’t know if that would be shortened or expanded. But Twitter’s algorithmic timeline has already been tested among some Twitter markets. Now, it looks like it’s about to expand to all. Twitter leaders and spokespersons decline to comment.
But Twitter followers and consumers are commenting on Twitter’s algorithmic timeline. Most aren’t happy with this potential change. One person said she should be able to control what’s on her feed, not have Twitter control it for her. Another person believes this is going to ruin Twitter. A meteorologist complained this would be a huge problem, especially if a severe weather warning comes up. One man said this is a just another way Twitter will let celebrity tweets go in front of others, and silence regular people. In fact, I haven’t read any comments or postings saying the algorithmic timeline is a good idea. Twitter, listen to your consumers. Without your consumers, there would be no Twitter. The people don’t want this sort of timeline. Some even suggest it could be the beginning of the end of Twitter. So why is Twitter so bent on forcing something the consumers don’t want?
Believe it or not, even techies are interested in the Super Bowl (at least most of the ones I associate with). Did you really think it’s?all about Star Trek and Doctor Who with us? It’s not. So for the big American sports holiday coming up, here are some tech guides and tidbits.
First off, it’s going to be in Santa Clara, CA. That’s in the heart of Silicon Valley. The Super Bowl venue this year is Levi’s Stadium. That’s the most technology sound venue in the US. They’re expected to serve 1,200 Wi-Fi access points and the consumption of 16TB of mobile data. But you’re not going to Santa Clara. Most of us aren’t. You’re in luck. You can stream the game for free, thanks to CBSSports.com. There’s no need for a cable subscription, a username, a password, or anything of that kind. Yep, you can have Super Bowl 50 on your desktop, laptop or tablet free of charge. You’ll even see all the anticipated commercials. Smartphone viewing will only be available through Verizon and the NFL Mobile App. Get your social media on at Twitter’s @SuperBowl. There’s no telling who you might be debating with. Ever hear of Comedy Central’s Kay and Peele? You’ll know them by this Sunday. They’ll be providing unofficial commentary. It’s unofficial because obviously, it’s not backed by the NFL.
The Super Bowl is growing up, especially in technical circles. Even all the commercials will be streaming; only a fraction of them did last year. Do you think it was a coincidence the Silicon Valley’s Levi Stadium was chosen to host Super Bowl 50? I think not. The Super Bowl of pro wrestling, WWE’s Wrestlemania, was held there in March 2015. That was no coincidence either. It’s a brilliant move to get America’s biggest sporting events as tech savvy as possible. Expect this trend to continue in all sports. Will Super Bowl 50 give Silicon Valley the boost it needs?
Are they sure the economy is doing better? Walmart shuts down franchises. I was in Florida last month and walked by 3 businesses within three blocks that were there last year and gone this year. Now, one of the Internet’s most respected institutions is on a massive layoff spree.
Yahoo is expected to cut 15% of it’s work force. That includes approximately 9,000 employees and 1,000 contractors. This is part of an aggressive plan for the company to simplify itself. They’re closing five major offices overseas. Yahoo expects this move to save them over $400 million. The news is hitting Yahoo’s stock as well. They lost nearly two percent. The irony here is that stocks briefly went up when the phrase, “strategic alternative” hit the floor. Some tech insiders speculate a potential corporate buyer altogether. Yahoo CEO Marissa Meyer expresses optimism. She stated, “Today, we’re announcing a strategic plan that we strongly believe will enable us to accelerate Yahoo’s transformation”. This transformation includes trimming down some services and consolidating others, like their Digital Magazines. There’s talk about getting rid of Yahoo Games and Yahoo Smart TV. Yahoo Screen went bye-bye in December. Since Yahoo has decreased in some global markets, it’s going to focus on potentially profitable ones, like the US, UK, Canada and Taiwan. In fact, the offices closing are in countries like Brazil, Spain and Mexico.
Yahoo’s problems are the dubious gifts that just keep on giving. Shareholders and other Yahoo leaders are leaving Mayer’s tenure. It almost seems like Google/Alphabet has stolen all of Yahoo’s thunder. But two things about this disturb me, make that three. Nearly 10,000 jobs will be gone. That means 10,000 people, livelihoods, households and families will be on the line now. The second is Yahoo’s trimming or shutting down of services. Could they not compete with the other big players, especially in the smart TV game? The third is the speculation some have of it’s…ahem…’strategic alternative’. I hope it isn’t, but could this be a code word for buyout or merger?
Effective January Tuesday, January 12, 2016, Microsoft will no longer support Internet Explorer 8, 9, or 10. After the 12th, the only IE that will get any love and support is Internet Explorer 11.
In a statement, Microsoft said, “…the most current version will continue to follow the specific support?life cycle policy for the operating system on which it is installed. Internet Explorer 11 will be supported for the life of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.” Microsoft urged users to upgrade for a faster and better browsing experience. That’s because after the 12th, these browsers will be more vulnerable to malware, viruses, ID theft, and just about every computer tech ill imaginable. So yes, shutting down older browsers will force users to get on Internet Explorer 11. But it means web designers will no longer have to struggle to make sure older IE models can handle newer Windows versions, especially Windows 10. The transition shouldn’t be complicated. Many home PCs ‘Automated Updates’. That will upgrade you to Windows 11 by itself. Or you can get automatic updates by clicking Check for Updates on the Windows Update part of your control panel. Microsoft didn’t plan this decision just overnight. It was in the works as early as August 2014. And IE version 8-10 use has declined every since.
And competition has been on the increase. Let’s face it, Internet Explorer altogether has been on the decrease. More consumers are using browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome. Don’t think Microsoft is oblivious to that. I’m sure that plays a role. They hope IE explorer will do them better (between you and me, I doubt it). I strongly urge you to heed Microsoft’s warning. Remember when Windows XP was shut down? I remember how many people procrastinated. It wasn’t long before the viruses and malware made them wish they had taken proper action. Fortunately, many of you should get upgraded automatically. If not, do what you can get upgraded, that is if you’re even using IE for a web browser. If you are, then why?
What if you were a billionaire and ran a multi-billion dollar a month online company? You had the world at your fingertips. Which nation would you invest in next?
That’s the dilemma Amazon and Jeff Bezos face. And they aim to conquer rising economic superpower India. Despite overcrowded streets, slums and homes with no indoor pluming, many take to the Internet and shop Amazon for products they can’t get locally. Amazon leaders predict by 2025, India’s e-commerce will be almost as big as the USA’s. Diego?Piacentini, Amazon VP of International Sales, believes India’s success will be measured in trillions of dollars. Nobody says it’s going to be easy. Keep in mind around 25% have Internet access. Few have ever shopped online. According to the World Bank, nearly a quarter of India‘s population live on less than $1.25 a day. Nevertheless, where some see mountains, others see opportunity. And India has lots of potential. The business language is English. That alone opens many doors for opportunity. Now that smartphone costs are plummeting, and many India incomes are rising, the demand is there. And the 25% who do have Internet access usually have the means to buy. According to Morgan Stanley, e-commerce in India could rake in over $137 billion per year.
Another thing you must realize is India’s population itself. India has approximately 1.25 billion people. That’s second to China’s population (1.38 billion) and nearly 4x the USA population (316 million). Let’s play with some math. Twenty-five percent of India’s population have Internet access, so they can shop online. That’s equivalent to 312 million people. That’s almost the entire US population. Think about the buying power! Unlike?China,?India isn’t under communist law. This gives India more freedom to deal with international companies like Amazon. India is like an economic plum ripe for the picking. Of course, what I’d like to see is more of India’s people have online access so more can prosper. Do you think Amazon can conquer India?
