Oct 4, 2013 | Computer technology, Entertainment
Monday, I reported Apple passed Pepsi as the most valuable company. A lot of tech companies made that list. Let’s take a look at them.
10. Facebook: It has over 1.15 billion users. It’s founder was voted Time Magazine’s Man of the Year. It connects people from all walks of like. Ten years ago, could anyone had pictured this?
9. T-Mobile/Deutsche Telecom: T-Mobile is the 4th largest phone company in America. Deutsche Telecom is the 10th largest int’l phone company in the world. Globally, they have over 150 million subscribers.
8. Amazon: In the last decade or so, Amazon and books have been synonymous. They’re the creators of Amazon Kindle, which can hold many, many books at once. Their website gets over 65 million orders a month.
7. AT&T: It was the oldest phone company in America and until 1984, really the only phone company in the US. Today, it boasts over 108 million customers. It’s the seventh largest of all companies in the US and fourteenth in the world.
6. Intel: Since 1968, it’s been the world’s largest computer chip maker. For many years, it became the premier source of microprocessors. I hate to see what the computer industry would be like without this valuable source.
5. Samusng: In 2012, it surpassed Nokia as the world’s most successful phone maker, owning a quarter of that market. Did you know they also sale life insurance?
4. Microsoft:? For decades, Microsoft set the standard in software technology. Have you ever used a Windows system on a computer? I rest my case.
3. I.B.M.: Since the 1910s, I.B.M. has led the world in technology manufacturing and marketing. From the floppy disk to the ATM, from the hard drive to the Think Pad, they’ve seen and taken part in it all.
2. Apple: Yes, it was voted the most valuable company in the world today. They gave us Macs, Mac Books, iPods, iPhones, iPads, Apple Stores. It’s founder Steve Jobs is a culture icon. But in my eyes, this company should be #1:
1. Google: In 1998, it started as a search engine site. It now leads the league in marketing (Ad Words), mapping, social media (You Tube), software, web browsing, (Google Chrome) and so much more. Last time I checked, it’s stock was $872 a share. And it’s only a 15 year old company.
Which companies am I missing?
Oct 3, 2013 | internet, networking
First there was the Facebook social media site. Then came the Facebook based movie. Then came the Facebook phone, or should I say, there came and went the Facebook phone. How would you like to live in a Facebook apartment?
In Menlo Park, CA, the heart of Silicon Valley, Facebook is putting up a community condo. This condo will be mostly for Facebook employees; only 15 units will be open for non-employees. This community will be called Anton Melo. The community is expected to cost $120 million to build, have 394 units, exceed 630,000 sq. foot and be close to Facebook headquarters where they work. These first class facilities will include: an outdoor pool, cafe, convenient store, sports bar, pet spa, bike repair shop, gym with personal trainers, and an entertainment area. That’s all just on the property!
My reactions to this are mixed. On one hand, the San Franciso/Oakland/Silicon Valley area is one of the most expensive areas in America. So I can see how living in this community would ease that burden. You gotta admit, you can’t beat the commute to work. It does beat fighting traffic. If you don’t believe that, come in live in my city for a while. I guess it would build up community among the Facebook work community. These are best case scenarios. Let’s look at the worst. Look at how everything is in this facility. Yes it’s convenient, maybe a little too much. It’s so convenient people may not even want to leave. Or is that the plan all along? What if an employee quits, gets fired or laid off? If they have their own place, at least they have that. In this case, they’ll lose it all. And socially, well you can make great friendships in communities like this. Nonetheless, just the opposite can be true. I remember living on campus in college, where people who couldn’t stand each other had to see each other daily. That situation was like watching a powder keg that eventually exploded, and everyone around knew it was going to. Anton Melo has it’s good and bad points. If your job offered a community like Anton Melo, would you live there?
Oct 2, 2013 | Entertainment, internet
Since Yahoo’s ‘renaissance’ under CEO Marissa Meyer, they’ve been trying to reach out to different demographics. They’re pursuing the sports lover with intensity. Now Yahoo is adding another tool to it’s sports arsenal.
Yahoo bought out the services of Hitpost. Hitpost is a developer of sports based apps. Hitpost was founded by Aaron Krane. He’s been studying and working in social gaming media for years. He found potential for great fusion between free phone/social media game and our obsession with sports. So Krane and his company Hitpost created apps from live sports discussions to? fantasy football polls to virtual betting. Now you can’t make any money on those betting apps, so put your money back in your pocket!
This comes in the wake of Yahoo getting in the fantasy sports world. As well they should. Millions play fantasy sports every year; I’m just not one of them yet. Yahoo is wasting no time with it’s new acquisition. Go to it’s website and all you will get is a page telling you Hitpost is joining Yahoo. But it doesn’t give you a link to click on. It doesn’t even tell you when this merge will be getting up and running. This is a red flag to me. Most acquisitions will at least have some kind of transition, but for Hitpost to shut the whole operation down until further notice? I think that’s a bad call. Will Hitpost have their fans and users when they get set up with Yahoo? How will this move, or lack of move thereof, affect Hitpost?
Oct 1, 2013 | Entertainment, internet
Without a doubt, You Tube has impacted many lives. It has impacted the viewer as well as the producer. Musicians have been discovered there. And now, You Tube is going to celebrate that.
November 3rd will mark the first ever You Tube Music Awards. The awards will take place in New York City. You Tube favorites like CDZA and Lindsey Stirling will be running elbows with household names like Eminem and Lady Gaga. B-Movie star Jason Schwartzman is scheduled to host. And of course, an event like this can, and should only be seen on You Tube. You can expect acts around the world to participate, from London to Brazil. Nominations will be announced October 17, where else, but You Tube.
This is a huge step for You Tube! In just a few years, You Tube went from just a fad to a staple of American life. There’s been a lot of stars discovered on You Tube, such as: Justin Beiber, Cody Simpson, and Avery. So it’s only right they get an award show. And I’m glad major stars are showing their support. This could be an opportunity for yet another rising You Tube star to come out and shine. I can’t wait to see where these awards go! What ever happened to that Bieber fellow?
Sep 30, 2013 | Uncategorized
For years, that title belonged to Coca-Cola. The soda pop brand that has become a part of the global psyche has been knocked off it’s 13 year perch. Now, this long standing computer brand is the most valuable one.
The report hints that Apple changes lives with it’s character as well as it’s products. And the fact that Apple ended 2012 worth $98 billion dollars, compared to Coca-Cola’s 79.2 billion may have something to do with it. Interbrand was the one who produced this list. It’s chief executive Jez Frampton, credits Apple for leading the way in marketing today. Google followed Apple as a contestant 2nd, while Coca-Cola fell to third. Frampton says Apple are changing the way we communicate and even speak to each other. Other tech based companies dominated the top 10: I.B.M., Microsoft, Samsung and Intel all made it that far.
I can kind of see why Apple made the list. That company has become a staple of our lifestyle. Look at how many people ran out and got the latest Apple product. But personally, I think Google should be called the Most Valuable Brand. Yes, we live with Apple products; I can’t imagine us living without Google. Apple’s stock is around $478 today. Google stock is $876. Apple is always looking over their shoulder for competitors like Android. Google is leaving their competitors in the dust. Do you watch You Tube? Do you use Google Maps? Do you use Zagat, Waze, Motorola Mobility, Like.com, Global IP Solutions, or Double Click? You’re using a Google based good or service. Okay, so Google doesn’t advertise the way Apple does. That’s because they don’t need to; they do so well this empire advertises itself! What do you think is America’s Most Valuable brand?
Sep 29, 2013 | networking, News, Security
In the last few days, we’ve learned more about the National Security Agency. And believe me, it’s more than any of us want to know, yet it’s what we need to know.
According to certain news articles, they’ve put together a sophisticated graphing system that can identify who our friends are, where we’re traveling, who we’re traveling with, and other personal information. They use phone calls and emails to graph where the person and going and who they’re associating with in the name of foreign intelligence. They can get the info from social media sites, banking systems, GPS systems, even from voter registration rolls. Of course, The NSA declined to comment on how many Americans were spied on with this system. They didn’t say if anybody doing wrong was ever caught because of this graphing system.? Here’s something else I learned: as early as 1979, the US Supreme Court ruled Americans shouldn’t expect privacy when it came to phone calls and numbers.
But just when you think you have the right answers, the questions change again. If rulings against privacy were around in the ’70s, it makes me wonder how long this has been going on? Or did the current NSA see this ruling and take advantage of it? Are you aware due to RFID technology, you can be tracked anywhere? Remember the new passports that started being issued in the mid 2000s? Those passports have RFID tracking devices in them. That’s right! When you go overseas, they can find out where you are with a flip of a computer. I wish I could be naive and say, “They’re only doing this to the bad guys”. But when you think about what we’ve learned so far this year, can we really say that?
Sep 28, 2013 | News, Security
Over the past week, the United Nations had a huge assembly. One of the big issues was US/Iran tensions. Well, this revelation might put a small cramp in easing these tensions.
U.S. officials said Iran hacked into Navy computers. The most recent of these allegations came around September 15. Officials said the hacking was done by Iranian leaders or by rouge Iranian groups with the leaders’ approval. It’s believed nothing big was stolen, but just the mere fact they can and are hacking is concerning enough to the US. Also concerning is the aggression and rhetoric of Iran in recent years, now add their cyber abilities. The Pentagon hasn’t confirmed it and Tehran has denied it. But a former State Dept. official calls Iran ‘very active’ in the cyber hacking game. So I don’t expect this to go away anytime soon.
Now Iran has a new president named Hasan Rouhani. He’s said to be more moderate than the Iran’s last president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This past week, Rouhani and President Obama talked about negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Over the past years, Iran insists it’s for peaceful purposes, but many say the program has sinister intentions. Some say Rouhani isn’t as moderate as he appears. So I wonder what he says, if he says anything, about these hacking allegations. Both sides seem to be keeping hush, but I wonder what’s being said behind closed doors. But the two sides looked pretty good when addressing each other. What are these hacking allegations going to do to US/Iranian relations?
Sep 27, 2013 | General, internet
Some reports this week about Internet use got me thinking which nations have low online access? I’m counting down this list based on low online use percentage. These are the countries I think we need to take notice of.
10. China: [43.2% have Internet access, 102nd in the world] This stat is due more to censorship than anything else. But the Shanghai business district is opening up, and hopefully, the rest of China will too.
9. Mexico: [38.4% have Internet access, 114th in the world] The US and Canada’s online access rate is in the 80s. What can be done to fix this imbalance?
8. Nigeria [32.9% have Internet access, 128th in the world] They have the second highest online access rate in all of Africa; that’s whats so startling! But if you see an Ebay offer from Nigeria, run!
7. Iran [26% have Internet access, 133rd in the world] Censorship is huge in this nation. But that didn’t stop millions from using social media to protest elections!
6. Syria [24.3% have Internet access, 139th in the world] Obviously this nation has far more issues to worry about than the Internet. But if more people had access to it, I think it would be a powerful way for the Syrian people to tell their own story during this horrible war.
5 India [12.6% have Internet access 164th in the world] It’s one of the fastest growing and most populous nations in the world. Many can’t get wait to get their hands on the latest gadgets. This nation needs to step up it’s online game if it’s going to compete in the global market.
4-3 Iraq and Afghanistan [7.1% and 5.5% have Internet access 179th and 185th in the world] After 12 years of war in these nations, Internet access would be a great symbol of rebuilding. It would also prove a powerful outlet to show the world.
2. East Timor [0.9% have Internet access 210th in the world] There are two countries where online access is less than one percent. This tiny nation in Southeast Asia is one of them.
1. Eritrea [0.8% have Internet access 211th in the world] This nation is East Africa’s horn scored the lowest in media freedoms in the world. In fact, they’ve had no private or free owned media since 2001, a record that rivals North Korea’s.
There’s my list. What other nations are…ahem…worthy of being up here?
Sep 26, 2013 | General, internet
In the 2010s, Americans who use the Internet are in the 80s percentile range. In 2000, it was 46%, and in 2005, it was 68%. But this number also means as of 2013, around 38 million Americans are without Internet access. Let’s examine the reasons.
Economics have a? role to play. Of those surveyed who don’t use the Internet, 19% say that can’t afford a computer neither/nor an Internet provider service. Some say that lack online service in their local area. But let’s look at the other 66%. This group will tell you it’s simply by choice. This group says it’s not relative to them and simply want no part of it. They also say they’re so concerned with issues from spam to hackers to privacy rights, that they feel safer if they don’t log on at all. The majority of non-Internet users are over 65. Only 8% of off-line Americans say they even have the desire to get back on.
There’s quite a few observations here. First, if? people don’t want to use the Internet for various reasons, more power to them. Who are we to tell them how to conduct their lives? But my concern is the minority who can’t afford it or have access to it. In 2013 America, that has to change. Thankfully, there are public libraries virtually in every county in the US that will let you use computers for free. All you need is to get their local library card. Yes, there are time limits and censor filters for naughty websites, but at lest those who want to use the Web can do so. But there are some who can’t even get to their local library. What about people living in extremely rural areas? How do those who want to get online do so? There is a movement among some online movers and shakers to make sure everyone has access to being online. In this day and age, should online access be a right to all Americans?
Sep 25, 2013 | Security
Sometimes the phrase “I told you so” just doesn’t do justice. All those millions of people who ran to purchase the iPhone 5S, I speak for every critic when I tell you, ‘We told you so!’
Surely one of the big selling points of this new iPhone was the fingerprint system. Instead of a password, you set up your own fingerprint to log into your system. Well, not only did German hackers break into that system, they did so with ease! A German hacker named Starbug was surprised at how easy it was. He criticized Apple for building this program that’s eventually going to get hacked into. Starbug even tells us we can hack into Apple’s fingerprint system. All we need is an image scanner, laser printer and a PCB etching kit. Though he considers Touch ID valuable, it’s valuable for convenience, not security. In other words, you can save a few seconds with a fingerprint. But it won’t keep you any safer than a password can.
So there you have it. If Touch ID is the only reason you bought the latest Apple, I’m sorry. I don’t want to say you wasted time and money, but…? It makes me think how easy it is for anything or anyone to be hacked. I’ll never forget the story of how hackers can break into a car and disrupt the system.? So I’m not surprised this was broken into. I ask the question: Is there any such thing as a hack-free system?
