Hackers often get a bad reputation. And often times, rightfully so. But there are time when hackers try to do the good things, like wise up governments. Or at least, that’s what they want us to think.
Nations like Malta, South Africa and South Korea are hiring hackers to break codes for several reasons. One main reason is security. Smaller nations want to know what bigger and more powerful countries are up to. Unfortunately, it’s rumored the NSA has hired hackers to help them spy on us. Hackers call these zero days: coding flaws in software that can be bought by a competitor or rival. Not long ago, companies like Microsoft would buy them off, but now, who can turn down the offer of a national government? A few years ago, the US and Israel attacked Iran technologically with a computer worm called Stuxnet due to concerns over their nuclear program.
A former White House security advisor says, “Governments are starting to say, ?In order to best protect my country, I need to find vulnerabilities in other countries’.” The biggest zero days buyers are Israel, Russia,?Great Britain, and India. The Middle East nations?use these tactics also. Hackers can charge anywhere from $35,000 to $160,000?for these services. I know that may ?sound cheap, but just 10-15 years ago, many hackers would do this just for the?thrill.
So what to make of this? On one hand, maybe this is a good thing to keep other nations in check. But the more cynical side of me is looking at the darker side. What if these hackers secrets?lead to intense conflict? What if a?nation finds out something so destructive about another nation that it decides it has to…ahem…take action? I’d like to think these hackers have good intentions, but the?road to you know where?is paved with good intentions. So is?’zero days’ an instrument of peace or a weapon just waiting to happen?
Remember Apple maps? That was probably the biggest flop in smartphone history. Now, Google wants to try their hand at a new map.
Google is introducing a new Google Maps app?coming to Android and Apple. Note they just released some Google Map design for Apple devices last year. I keep telling you tech based stuff you got last Christmas might be obsolete by this Christmas. If you’re a travel lover like I am, you?can explore hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, attractions, and other sites without even typing. I still find it creepy that my device knows what city I’m in.
There’s also a navigation app that gives you better routes in case of bad traffic. I know where I am, that will be extremely beneficial! There’s a review site where not only can you read reviews before you go, but you can post reviews after you go. Some people brag about Zagat, but I prefer to use more review sites, and not just take one as the gospel truth. Not only that, you can find discounts through this app. But Latitudes and check-ins will not be no longer be apart of this new app.
Well, it’s good to keep improving on what you have. And sometimes it’s good to leave well enough alone. But I’m trusting Google Maps to deliver the goods, based on their history and what I’ve seen of this already. There’s been times when I traveled and really depended on Google Maps get me out of some binds. What do you think of these new upcoming apps?
For a while now, Facebook has been working on a service called Reader. It’s somewhat of a newspaper app for the social media world. It will publish stories and other things from users and put it in a paper style format.
If you’re familiar with Flipboard, Reader is expected to be a little like that. Flipboard, which collects news from online publishers, is getting more popular. It’s definitely more popular than the traditional newspaper. I can say that for all mobile news readers. In fact, Linkldin recently purchased news reader app Pulse for $90 million. As Linkldin and Twitter promote their news services, Flipboard has 50 million users and show no signs of slowing down. Reader’s progress has been watched closely, even by Mark Zuckerberg himself. There’s no telling when, or even if, Reader will be released. Nobody on Facebook is talking.
Remember when I reported about a Facebook phone few people are getting excited about? Well, I have a feeling Reader might be a different response. If they come up with Reader, make sure the articles that are published are true! I’m tired of reading phony Facebook post like Bill Cosby’s 83 and Tired false rant. I’m tired of reading post where celebrities die and miraculously, they’re walking down Rodeo Drive the next day. So Facebook Reader, make sure your stories are true and your sources are credible. If they can remember that, I predict Reader will be a great success for Facebook. I see why Pulse is being sought after. I see why news reader apps are doing so well. I read a statistic from September 2012 saying 60% of the public distrust the mainstream media. I myself get my news from alternative media (RT, NPR, You Tube bloggers). Facebook Reader could have quite the market. Which would you rather read/watch: a news reader or a mainstream media news hour?
I don’t care what the Wall St. board says, it’s hard to get a job out there. It’s often harder keeping that job. This is the sediment around the world. I saw one RT report saying? British university graduates are struggling to find even menial work. Amercan prospects are hardly better. Now we got something else to worry about…
What we put on our social media pages! According to On Device research, 10% of American young adults (9% in the UK) were removed from their current job or rejected from a prospect because of the Facebook page’s content. One report said?nearly half?of employers?will screen FB and social media sites to screen employees and potential employees. Then there’s the case of the high school teacher who held up a pint of beer (before you ask, she wasn’t contributing to minors) and glass of wine. She was forced to resign. And in Michigan, someone was fired for refusing to turn over her Facebook account to her superiors.
You’ll rarely hear me say this, but thank goodness for government intervention. California and a handful of other states have passed laws stopping employers from snooping on Facebook pages. I’m glad to hear it. Also, 70 % young adults don’t care if their posts could harm their careers. I’m glad to hear that too, maybe employers will get the message.
So this lets me know there is hope. You can tell by now I don’t agree with employers checking Facebook?pages for content. It breeds violation of our First Amendment rights and a whole host of social problems. I believe a person should be hired because of their merit. I believe a person should be promoted because of their work, dedication and results. This Facebook business creates a junior high atmosphere where people are getting work because ‘they fit in’. Plus, if employers are allowed to check FB pages, this almost gives them the power of God. Whose to say they won’t fire someone because of someone’s religion, politics, social beliefs, even their favorite sports teams? Don’t think they won’t do it!? Do you think the employer Facebook check policy is a good, or even fair one?
Smartphones have become the new normal in today’s society. They’re everywhere. However there’s one stat that stood out to me: According to a studies from Experian Marketing Services, the average American adult spends 58 minutes a day on their smartphone.
That’s just the beginning. Those using a Droid device use it 49 minutes a day. Those using an Apple based devices are in their iPhone 75 minutes a day. What are we doing?during those minutes? Nearly half of it is talking and texting.?The third thing, around 16%, is done social networking (My Space, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).?Visiting websites make up for 14%.? Other things like emailing, gaming, downloading apps, and taking pictures make up for the other third of smartphone activities.
Personally, I’m surprised we’re not spending several hours a day on smartphones. Every time I go to a public facility, everybody’s doing something on their smartphone, weather it’s talking, texting, or social media. With the expansion of Netfix and Hulu, I’m surprised more people aren’t watching TV or videos with these devices. The texting and talking part I buy, I spend a lot of time texting on my device. I’d think more time would be done by social media, especially through Twitter. How easier is it to Tweet something on your phone than wait to get to your tablet laptop or desktop? So these numbers are fairly surprising. But what do you make of Apple users spending more time on iPhones than Droid users spending more time on their devices?
Well, what I reported on Saturday has happened. It’s so big even mainstream media has covered it. Yahoo has purchased Tumblr for 1.1 billion dollars.
Yahoo has already integrated their blog into the Tumblr blog. Tumblr CEO David Carp is obviously excited, but due to the F-bombs in his statement, I won’t detail how excited. Because of this deal, Yahoo is expected to grow 20 percent in traffic and Yahoo’s audience is expected to grow by 50%. Tumblr is one of the fastest growing social media sites today, and that’s especially true on a mobile scale. More than half of Tumblr’s users get their fix on a device, not a PC or Mac. Plus, remember what a young audience this social media has.
On the surface, this looks like a great transition. Yahoo wants to reach a young audience. Tumblr wants to reach a big audience. They agreed to help each other sale ads, which I’m sure will do well. Needless to say, both sides are excited. But all of this is best case scenario. What’s the worst? You know censorship issues are going to come to play; look at Carp’s response to this deal. How are Meyer and Carp going to get along? If this deal fails in the long term, hundreds of employees and millions of users will be affected. So do you think this is a good merger?
