Friday, April 11, 2014
Pastor Quits Social Media
Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hills Church in Seattle, Washington quit social media for the rest of the year. Why? He wants to "reset" his life. He has apologized to his loved ones and followers for his mistakes in ministry and wants to make sure that he changes his lifestyle and ways in order to be a better pastor and support his community. Driscoll was accused of plagiarism in a book buying scandal. "To reset my life, I will not be on social media for at least the remainder of the year. The distractions it can cause for my family and our church family are not fruitful or helpful at this time," claims Pastor Mark Driscoll, "At the end of the year, I will consider if and when to reappear on social media and I will seek the counsel of my pastors on this matter."
Driscoll claims that he and the church both need to "mature" in order to provide the services that he was ordained for. In the beginning years he was angered by God and now he feels he has changed his views and thus needs to take a break from Facebook and Twitter to mature and become the best Pastor that he can be. Originally, Driscoll was just trying to increase book sales and growth in the church and that is no longer the case, hence the change in use of social media. For more on this topic visit: http://bit.ly/1kEq2G5
MLB Starting a "Snapchatting" Trend
The Major League Baseball business is still recovering from
the backlash that it received after the infamous steroid era, so anything to
attract positive attention to MLB is welcomed with open arms from Commissioner Bud
Selig and baseball operations. That’s
why MLB PR executives are persuading players to partake in the popular social
media outlet, “snapchat”, to give fans a unique insider look on their favorite
players. Players like Mike Trout from
the Los Angeles Angels and Clayton Kershaw from the Dodgers are having fun with baseball’s
new idea as both players actively “snapchat” early on in the season.
The MLB
season is the longest in all of sports by a significant margin. There is an abundance of traveling involved and
a long period of time for players on the 32 MLB teams to be spending time with
each other. Furthermore, the game of
baseball by itself is long and pertains a family friendly environment that
gives fans a different kind of experience for each game they attend. Thusly,
Selig and his operatives are very smart to use “snapchat” as a marketing
campaign. Now weird things that happen
in the bullpen or pranks pulled in the team clubhouse can be “snapchatted” and
illustrated to fans everywhere. The idea
is a pitch to attract a younger demographic fan group because of the recent
statistics that have emerged about people of ages of 30 and below are losing
interest in baseball. Any chance for
fans to become intrigued by a particular player or team deriving from “snapchat”
is a no brainer business approach by MLB.
Sooner than later other professional sports organizations will follow
MLB’s intelligent idea and “snapchat” will soon become a widespread activity for
all professional athletes.
http://mashable.com/2014/04/08/major-league-baseball-snapchat/
Facebook's Strange Acquisition of Oculus Rift
As I'm sure many have heard at this point, Mark Zuckerburg, creator of Facebook, has bought Oculus VR, the creator of the highly anticipated Oculus Rift Virtual Reality headset.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2014/03/26/mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-build-the-metaverse-and-thats-ok/
Through this acquisition, Zuckerburg hopes to construct a Metaverse, where people can virtually attend classes, sports games, and other events. However, he's gotten some backlash from the video game community, who were looking forward to the Oculus Rift as a new video game accessory.
Many feel betrayed after giving money to the developer of Oculus Rift on Kickstarter, only to have it bought by Facebook. It seems as though they're not getting what they paid for.
While I think that the idea of a Metaverse is very intriguing, I do think that it's kind of a let down given what everyone was expecting of the Oculus Rift. Mark Zuckerburg has a good idea that could greatly influence the future of entertainment, but it probably wouldn't have hurt for him to come up with his own version of virtual reality technology, given all of the other companies that are doing it. Taking something that people were looking forward to and using it for something completely different leaves a sour taste in consumers' mouths.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2014/03/26/mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-build-the-metaverse-and-thats-ok/
Through this acquisition, Zuckerburg hopes to construct a Metaverse, where people can virtually attend classes, sports games, and other events. However, he's gotten some backlash from the video game community, who were looking forward to the Oculus Rift as a new video game accessory.
Many feel betrayed after giving money to the developer of Oculus Rift on Kickstarter, only to have it bought by Facebook. It seems as though they're not getting what they paid for.
While I think that the idea of a Metaverse is very intriguing, I do think that it's kind of a let down given what everyone was expecting of the Oculus Rift. Mark Zuckerburg has a good idea that could greatly influence the future of entertainment, but it probably wouldn't have hurt for him to come up with his own version of virtual reality technology, given all of the other companies that are doing it. Taking something that people were looking forward to and using it for something completely different leaves a sour taste in consumers' mouths.
Job Hunting: Using Social Media
About a decade ago searching for a job was a pain, it was a long process of going into companies and businesses to fill out a written application when applying for a job. Some businesses still use the written applications, but now we can find most applications online. The use of social media is booming, people can find anything and do anything they desire with a number of social media outlets. Businesses are now realizing that their consumers are deeply involved with social media and have been using social media to advertise, interact, and even have the ability to look for jobs.
Twitter is a very popular social media outlet for many users. When looking for a job we can do so by using Twitter. Twitter's search bar allows the user to look up a job they are interested in, for example you can search a number of key terms like, "jobs" and "hiring". When searching these you can narrow your search down by typing in a specific job interest. The use of hashtags has been growing exponentially, we can use a hashtag to look up jobs for example: #Jobs, #Hiring. Twitter is a great way to network with people to connect with other people and companies. It is important to be professional when you tweet because companies will look at your social media.
Facebook has been the leading social media for some time now. There are some great tips when applying for a job that you can find using Facebook. Nowadays most companies have their own Facebook profile, users can search these pages and by liking them can receive daily updates about the company, and many will post links you can go to when looking for a job. Just like Twitter, it is important to stay professional when putting up posts and pictures. Facebook allows the users to share their work and education on their profile, companies will see this and can help or not help you get a job. A little while ago Facebook has added a "Professional Skills" and "About" part for your profile. This allows you to share your skills have you have and gives you the chance to show companies how much you know.
LinkedIn is another popular social media especially for businesses and professionals, unlike Facebook where it is more social and fun for the users, but still capable when looking for a job. LinkedIn's gives a better source of networking with companies and businesses directly. This gives you the opportunity to connect with careers that users are interested in. LinkedIn is known for providing advice and connections but also has a "jobs board" that shows the available jobs in every field of work. While using LinkedIn users can post articles and information to boost their popularity in networking and will help the user get connected to job recruiters. It is said that the more professional and popular your account with LinkedIn is the more likely you will get an interview or get hired.
Social media has now become so universal that we as users can virtually do pretty much anything on them. Searching for a job is always a long and difficult process for many people. I believe the professional use of social media has given us the chance and opportunities we need do find a job. There are a number of other social media outlets to find jobs, but Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are the most popular. I know when I start to look for a potential job I will be using these three platforms.
Can Social Media Help Drivers?
All young drivers have been through the same lecture from parents, teachers, and authorities alike - Don't use your phone while you're driving! Texting while driving has become an extreme problem among young drivers, resulting in thousands of crashes and even deaths every year. States such as New York have even put in stricter laws when it comes to using your phone while driving.
But can social media actually help new drivers?
A new article has come out suggesting that social media can be used to administer quizzes for when people obtain or renew their licenses. This little check-ups can make sure that drivers know the laws and safety regulations of the road while also alerting those who do not or who are just plain unsafe drivers. Sure the quiz won't be taken while you're driving, but the thought alone of social media and cell phones increasing driving safety is a new one.
While this seems like a really useful too, one of the largest issues that I can see going on would be that that would mean you would have to give someone - your driving instructor or the DMV, maybe, your social media information. While things such as Facebook and Twitter can be fairly public, allowing officials access to your account may scare some people away from this. However, if it can increase driving safety, especially concerning the use of phones, texting, and Facebook messaging while driving, is it worth the privacy risk? That's for drivers and phone users to decide.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/9931769/Could-social-media-help-drivers
But can social media actually help new drivers?
A new article has come out suggesting that social media can be used to administer quizzes for when people obtain or renew their licenses. This little check-ups can make sure that drivers know the laws and safety regulations of the road while also alerting those who do not or who are just plain unsafe drivers. Sure the quiz won't be taken while you're driving, but the thought alone of social media and cell phones increasing driving safety is a new one.
While this seems like a really useful too, one of the largest issues that I can see going on would be that that would mean you would have to give someone - your driving instructor or the DMV, maybe, your social media information. While things such as Facebook and Twitter can be fairly public, allowing officials access to your account may scare some people away from this. However, if it can increase driving safety, especially concerning the use of phones, texting, and Facebook messaging while driving, is it worth the privacy risk? That's for drivers and phone users to decide.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/9931769/Could-social-media-help-drivers
The Heartbleed Hit List
There is an encryption flaw called the Heartbleed bug that is claimed to be one of the most dangerous security threats to internet sites ever. It is said that is has affected some very popular sites and can potentially take personal information from users of certain sites, including credit card information.
Some sites, including Facebook are unclear of the bug may affect their site, but them and many other sites have put a security patch on their sites in order to prevent the bug from doing any damage. Sites are also telling people they will need to change their password in order to make their information more secure. This is more of a precautionary measure, as sites have told their customers that hackers could already have their information, citing that this bug could have existed for up to two years.
This seems pretty scary to think about, because you obviously would have no idea if someone was trying to take your information with how good hackers can be nowadays. It is definitely a best practice to change your password once in awhile and also to not use the same password for multiple sites.
Lucky for us, credit card companies are very good at detecting fraud and will refund their customers if there is an unknown charge. Hopefully the security patches are good enough to eliminate this bug for good.
Disease Outbreak Warning System
In 2011 the Whooping Cough infected several people in a suburban Chicago high school. The disease spread from group to group infecting dozens of people.
As the disease spread a small business called Sickweather LLC discovered the trends of people posting about the whooping cough on Twitter and Facebook.
Nowadays the US government is trying to expand their use of social media to detect possible outbreaks and biological attacks.
Assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University stated that, "That’s the Holy Grail, we’d love these systems to tell us there’s a brand new disease and it’s going to be a big thing.”
Disease outbreak systems have received mixed reviews, many have cited Google Flu Trends as their basis for argument. Stating that Google incorrectly overestimated the number of flu cases that were actually present.
However Google has stated that the system was never intended to be used by itself.
I feel that a disease outbreak system would be a highly helpful tool in American society. With the mass number of people that we have living in America it is not always easy to detect outbreaks until they have already begun. I feel that with a tool like the disease outbreak system we can better combat the problem head on and get a better handle on epidemics before they engulf the nation.
I feel the more knowledge that we have on diseases and other biological entities the better served we will be.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-11/disease-outbreak-warnings-via-social-media-sought-by-u-s-.html
As the disease spread a small business called Sickweather LLC discovered the trends of people posting about the whooping cough on Twitter and Facebook.
Nowadays the US government is trying to expand their use of social media to detect possible outbreaks and biological attacks.
Assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University stated that, "That’s the Holy Grail, we’d love these systems to tell us there’s a brand new disease and it’s going to be a big thing.”
Disease outbreak systems have received mixed reviews, many have cited Google Flu Trends as their basis for argument. Stating that Google incorrectly overestimated the number of flu cases that were actually present.
However Google has stated that the system was never intended to be used by itself.
I feel that a disease outbreak system would be a highly helpful tool in American society. With the mass number of people that we have living in America it is not always easy to detect outbreaks until they have already begun. I feel that with a tool like the disease outbreak system we can better combat the problem head on and get a better handle on epidemics before they engulf the nation.
I feel the more knowledge that we have on diseases and other biological entities the better served we will be.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-11/disease-outbreak-warnings-via-social-media-sought-by-u-s-.html
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Snapchat is The Newest Member of The MLB.
As the use of social media rises in marketing and
advertising campaigns, more companies and organizations
are joining the social media movement. Social media tools such
as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest are being utilized
more than ever to generate brand awareness to a particular audience.
The newest member to join in the social media trend is
Major League Baseball. They are adding Snapchat into
their daily routine. The leagues social media producer,
Hali Stark stated, "We had been interested in the platform,
knowing a lot of our fans were there, and we had the ability
to reach a different demographic."
While some may argue that Snapchat might not be the best social
media platform for the MLB, I think it's a perfect route to take.
By using Snapchat, Major League Baseball is able to better
communicate their brand to a younger demographic. Baseball needs
to attract the younger audience that is mainly utilizing this app.
I know that when I receive a Snap, it is always from
a friend. By utilizing Snapchat, the MLB is making its fans feel more
like they are friends and less like they're customers.
This, in turn, creates loyal young fans for Major League Baseball.
I believe that the MLB is headed in the right direction with
this social media campaign and will generate a lot of success
from it.
advertising campaigns, more companies and organizations
are joining the social media movement. Social media tools such
as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest are being utilized
more than ever to generate brand awareness to a particular audience.
The newest member to join in the social media trend is
Major League Baseball. They are adding Snapchat into
their daily routine. The leagues social media producer,
Hali Stark stated, "We had been interested in the platform,
knowing a lot of our fans were there, and we had the ability
to reach a different demographic."
While some may argue that Snapchat might not be the best social
media platform for the MLB, I think it's a perfect route to take.
By using Snapchat, Major League Baseball is able to better
communicate their brand to a younger demographic. Baseball needs
to attract the younger audience that is mainly utilizing this app.
I know that when I receive a Snap, it is always from
a friend. By utilizing Snapchat, the MLB is making its fans feel more
like they are friends and less like they're customers.
This, in turn, creates loyal young fans for Major League Baseball.
I believe that the MLB is headed in the right direction with
this social media campaign and will generate a lot of success
from it.
The Easiest Cyberbullying Platform Yet
Currently the top anonymous messaging apps on the market are Secret and Whisper. Both are similar to that of a Twitter feed. What the founders of Truth created, was an anonymous messaging app that sends private messages to people in your contacts list. When you send a "truth," you are assigned an anonymous username and avatar (variety of spirited owls).
The founders hope because Truth only allows users to message phone contacts, this will stimulate acts of flirting and pranks amongst friends. Yet communicating anonymously will just encourage cyberbullying. This is where the problem lies. I believe if Truth becomes popular within high school and college communities, cyberbullying is inevitable.
Truth cofounder Ali Saheli tells Mashable, "Whisper and Secret are about broadcasting; you shout out anonymously, kind of like on Twitter. The concept of messaging phone contacts was more interesting to us" via: http://on.mash.to/1g7SDQ7.
Facebook is Pulling Messages from its Mobile App
Facebook is pulling messaging from its mobile app and creating a completely separate Messenger App. I don't think that this idea is wise.
Convenience and consolidation are key attributes for an effective social media app. Taking away one of the main social features of the Facebook app and making it into its own app does not make much sense. And it could end up frustrating many users.
"Taking messages out of the Facebook app lets us focus on making Messenger even better for everyone rather than working on two messaging experiences," says the social network in a statement.
But...taking messaging out of the Facebook app is actually making it more difficult. The fact that a user could scroll through their news feed and chat at the same time was super convenient. Incoming messages were received in real-time and users could even chat with as many as six people at a time. Separating chat into its own app would mean that users would have to download the new one and switch between both apps. It's even more inconvenient since you can't run two apps on one screen on the iPhone. Assuming that the average user would run both the Facebook and Messenger app at the same time, how is this making anything easier?
As of recently, Facebook has been working on its messaging services, especially with its acquisition of WhatsApp for $16 billion. FB messaging is an essential part of the app and a way for friends or strangers to directly communicate with each other. I don't know how this will turn out. I will most likely end up downloading the separate app but I am sure many people will not be happy with it. I also know a lot of people who hate how the app is constantly changing and redesigning its layout and features, even though its seems to be perfect just the way it is. Maybe Zuckerberg should reach out to his millions of users and see what we think about this idea first?
For the full article check out: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/04/10/facebook-messaging-app/7542739/
Also, check out Mashable's reasons why this is a bad idea: http://mashable.com/2014/04/09/pulling-messenger-facebook-mobile-terrible/
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Twitter Redesigns Its Profile, And It Looks Very Similar To Facebook
Twitter is attempting to surpass the competition by redesigning their profile page. This is a common strategy for social media platforms, but Twitter may have taken the wrong angle. The former, very distinguishable profile page has evolved into an imitation of its primary competitors profile page, Facebook.
Twitter's "new" design has a cover photo, a square profile picture in the upper-left corner, and there is a feed running directly down the middle of the page. Below the profile picture there is basic information about the user and directly under that are photos and friends. All of these features have become so recognizable because Facebook created them in the previous decade. Although the new design is appealing, where is the originality?
What kind of effect will this have on Twitter users who have no interest in Facebook? Indeed, the content and purpose of Twitter hasn't completely changed, but there is a significant difference in content from Twitter years ago. It is quite possible that Twitter is attempting to recreate the wheel by modeling itself after the most profitable social media site in the world, but there is a chance that it loses some creditability for copying another design.
Updating designs is beneficial for social media platforms to keep users interested, but originality and creativity are essential components to an effective design. Imitating another platforms design, regardless of how aesthetic it may be, will not separate the platform from the rest. It will, however, expose lack of creativity, unoriginality, and a splash of laziness. Only time will tell if Twitter will be face with these criticisms.
For more information regarding Twitter and its not profile design check out: http://mashable.com/2014/04/08/twitter-profile-redesign/
Twitter's "new" design has a cover photo, a square profile picture in the upper-left corner, and there is a feed running directly down the middle of the page. Below the profile picture there is basic information about the user and directly under that are photos and friends. All of these features have become so recognizable because Facebook created them in the previous decade. Although the new design is appealing, where is the originality?
What kind of effect will this have on Twitter users who have no interest in Facebook? Indeed, the content and purpose of Twitter hasn't completely changed, but there is a significant difference in content from Twitter years ago. It is quite possible that Twitter is attempting to recreate the wheel by modeling itself after the most profitable social media site in the world, but there is a chance that it loses some creditability for copying another design.
Updating designs is beneficial for social media platforms to keep users interested, but originality and creativity are essential components to an effective design. Imitating another platforms design, regardless of how aesthetic it may be, will not separate the platform from the rest. It will, however, expose lack of creativity, unoriginality, and a splash of laziness. Only time will tell if Twitter will be face with these criticisms.
For more information regarding Twitter and its not profile design check out: http://mashable.com/2014/04/08/twitter-profile-redesign/
Friday, April 4, 2014
Google+'s Surprising "Active" Numbers & Brand Engagement
Earlier in the week I saw surprising news on Mashable: Report: Google+ Brand Posts Get Twice the Engagement of Tweets. In this article it said that 22% of the 60,000 adults studied in the United States visited Google+ within the last month. This was the same number as people who said they use Twitter and more than people reported that they use LinkedIn, Pintrest or Instagram.
That night talking to my boyfriend he said, "well duh. Google makes you use Google+. I have to use Google+ but I don't use Twitter. I'm a perfect example of this statistic." This made me curious where these numbers were coming from.
First Google made us join Google + to post and comment on YouTube videos. Then Gmail's were adapted into Google+ accounts. These transitions made it impossible to interact on these networks with out a Google+ account and forces engagement with their "social layer". This is where a lot of the "impressive" numbers are coming from for Google+ memberships.
These active numbers also come from the number of people who only use the Hangouts feature, which respectively shouldn't be counted since they are "apps" of Gmail and Google Chat.
Hangouts is the only feature of Google+ that my boyfriend and I use under our Google+ accounts though more recently I also allow my blog posts to be shared on my Google+ account. But that doesn't really make me active... that's why the brand interaction was so surprising to me.
In June 2013, on Google+'s second birthday, it boasted having 500 million users with more than 300 million active users. The earlier quoted study found more than 3 million user interactions with more than 2,500 brand posts. That means Google+ posts scored almost as high as Facebook and received almost twice as much engagement per follower as tweets from these same brands. That's impressive.
I think Google is a brand that people who are loyal to it, respect it and use it well but I am not sure how effective it is to the every day person. These numbers are definitely something to pay attention to and consider into future advertising strategies for brands that try to keep with the trends of Vine, Twitter, Instagram and Pintrest.
That night talking to my boyfriend he said, "well duh. Google makes you use Google+. I have to use Google+ but I don't use Twitter. I'm a perfect example of this statistic." This made me curious where these numbers were coming from.
First Google made us join Google + to post and comment on YouTube videos. Then Gmail's were adapted into Google+ accounts. These transitions made it impossible to interact on these networks with out a Google+ account and forces engagement with their "social layer". This is where a lot of the "impressive" numbers are coming from for Google+ memberships.
These active numbers also come from the number of people who only use the Hangouts feature, which respectively shouldn't be counted since they are "apps" of Gmail and Google Chat.
Hangouts is the only feature of Google+ that my boyfriend and I use under our Google+ accounts though more recently I also allow my blog posts to be shared on my Google+ account. But that doesn't really make me active... that's why the brand interaction was so surprising to me.
In June 2013, on Google+'s second birthday, it boasted having 500 million users with more than 300 million active users. The earlier quoted study found more than 3 million user interactions with more than 2,500 brand posts. That means Google+ posts scored almost as high as Facebook and received almost twice as much engagement per follower as tweets from these same brands. That's impressive.
I think Google is a brand that people who are loyal to it, respect it and use it well but I am not sure how effective it is to the every day person. These numbers are definitely something to pay attention to and consider into future advertising strategies for brands that try to keep with the trends of Vine, Twitter, Instagram and Pintrest.
Twitter Success at the White House
Regardless of whether or not you are a Boston Red Sox fan, I believe that it can be agreed upon that their day at the White House was quite a success. Plus, none other than Twitter came to the rescue when it came to spreading the word about what was going on at the White House.
After a major national sports team wins their respective sporting championship, they traditionally visit the White House, as Sam Laird of Mashable.com explains to us in his article, “A Selfie and One Garish Jacket: How the Red Sox Won the White House.” Laird discusses how this event was normally a very formal event but when the Red Sox came to town, it took a different turn.
Superstar player David Ortiz took a “selfie” with President Obama, and was kind enough to tweet it. Better yet, the Boston Globe captured the canid moment of this soon to be famous selfie, and tweeted it themselves too. Take a look at the article to see all the pictures being discussed.
In addition to this selfie setting the tone for the event, another player made a statement in a different way, his suit. Rod Sox player Johnny Gomes wore a let’s say extremely patriotic suit to the White House that day. As seen in the pictures in the article, it quite literally was an American flag suit jacket. And, what better place to sport something like that than in our country’s capital, at the White House, while hanging out with the President.
All in all, it was quite the event at the White House. Never mind who your favorite baseball team is, or even if you like baseball itself. How often do we get to see someone take a selfie with the President, or wear an American flag on their suit jacket as they hang out at the White House for a day? Never? Sounds about right. And, let’s not forget to give Twitter some thanks for letting us feel close to all the fun, from hundreds of miles away.
Social Media and Other Outlets Help Raise Awareness for Gilda's Cup
This Friday, at St. John Fisher College's Cleary Auditorium, the event of the month will kick off. Gilda's Cup, a Collegiate Comedy Improv Competition, is being presented by The PRIMA Group. They have been working with Gilda's Club Rochester, a cancer support organization, to raise awareness and fund raise for this wonderful business.
Although the event is small in size, it will be full of life and supporters. Social media has allowed The PRIMA Group to spread the word to fellow students, friends, and family. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have been utilized to inform people about the event. Members have posted photos, sent tweets, and shared links with anyone and everyone. A Facebook page, Gilda's Cup, was created for the event to update viewers about the event and all it has to offer. The group has also created the hashtag #GildasCup on Twitter to spread the word.
St. John Fisher College News posted an article about the event as well. It gives details for the event, discussed the work that The PRIMA Group has done, and includes a link to a YouTube video, composed by Rob Meacham and Alison Taylor, to create a buzz. The YouTube video was sent to companies in hopes that they would be interested in donating and/or attending the event.
Rochester Business Journal, Explore, plugged the event in an article issued on Thursday, April 3rd, to reach the local community. It was listed under Best Bets, letting readers know that it will be a night full of entertain for a great cause.
Tesla's touchscreen web browser, on the dashboard
Tesla Motors is the only company in North America and Europe
producing highway-legal electric vehicles.
But, the vehicles may be illegal in a different way.
Tesla vehicles have in-dash touchscreens that allow the
driver and passengers to browse the web.
In a study taken last month, it was found that 54% of web traffic was to
news websites. Service websites, such as
restaurants, shopping, and travel websites, accounted for 15% of web usage in Tesla
vehicles.
The study only took data from a handful of states in the
U.S., with California accounted for 66% of web usage. Interestingly, out of the eight states
documented, seven of them have laws prohibiting TV or video screens within
sight of the driver. Georgia is the only
state that has no such law.
So why are these touchscreens
considered legal? The Tesla browser is
not capable of playing online videos, so it does not technically correspond
with a “video screen”. But, shouldn’t
actively browsing the web be more distracting than having a video playing? On the Tesla forum, some users have actually
admitted to the touchscreen being distracting.
We should expect more restrictions on dashboard screens in the future.
Regardless of the dangers
involved, Tesla’s in-dash web browser is revolutionary. It is not hard to believe that in the coming
years these touchscreens will become the norm in car companies across the
board.
http://mashable.com/2014/04/02/tesla-drivers-touchscreens/
Style and Tech Collide
Recently Google announced that it will have a partnership with Luxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban and Oakley. With Google teaming up with such a well known company to produce newer and more stylish versions of their Google Glasses, they believe they will finally be able to get their product to be sold in the mainstream. Google has had issues finding a way to get this amazing little bit of technology out to the consumers. So their hope is to be able to use Ray-Ban and Oakley's market place to drop in their technology attached to a stylish pair of name brand glasses.
Google has had some serious issues with Glass ever since it was reveled. They revealed it over two years ago and they still don't have it on the market, that is their biggest problem. The other problems they faced were the price. Glass was being sold at $1,500 plus per pair. You can buy different frames though ranging from $75 to $225, and that's adding onto the $1,500 for the Google Glass lenses piece. The Glass also has not gotten the best media reviews either, so that has not helped either.
As for me, I was asked to be a product tester for Google Glass. I was extremely excited thinking I would get a free pair of Google Glass to try out. Unfortunately when I saw that I needed to purchase my own pair I was not as thrilled. $1,500 for a pair of glasses that I may not even like was something I was not willing to do. I continuously waited and am still waiting for this price to drop. Hopefully with the new partnership they will be able to find a way to knock the price down. Maybe if they bump the price down and get more people to buy them, the reviews will change or the reviews will help update the product for future customers.
http://mashable.com/2014/03/24/google-glass-ray-ban-oakley/
Google has had some serious issues with Glass ever since it was reveled. They revealed it over two years ago and they still don't have it on the market, that is their biggest problem. The other problems they faced were the price. Glass was being sold at $1,500 plus per pair. You can buy different frames though ranging from $75 to $225, and that's adding onto the $1,500 for the Google Glass lenses piece. The Glass also has not gotten the best media reviews either, so that has not helped either.
As for me, I was asked to be a product tester for Google Glass. I was extremely excited thinking I would get a free pair of Google Glass to try out. Unfortunately when I saw that I needed to purchase my own pair I was not as thrilled. $1,500 for a pair of glasses that I may not even like was something I was not willing to do. I continuously waited and am still waiting for this price to drop. Hopefully with the new partnership they will be able to find a way to knock the price down. Maybe if they bump the price down and get more people to buy them, the reviews will change or the reviews will help update the product for future customers.
http://mashable.com/2014/03/24/google-glass-ray-ban-oakley/
Thursday, April 3, 2014
US develops Twitter-esque app for Cubans, denies hopes of subverting Cuban government
Twitter has fueled many protests and revolutions in recent years. The Arab Spring in 2011 and Egyptian and Tunisian revolts have all been fueled by Twitter. Simply put, Twitter is a way for people to convene on, discuss, and organize revolts against authoritarian governments.
Recently, the Associated Press brought to light a simpler version of Twitter, ZunZuneo, which the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) developed for Cubans. Ostensibly, the program was to allow Cubans to undermine their government, which is invasive and dictatorial. The United States, however, denies having implemented it for such reasons.
This story confirms the powerful role that social media is assuming in our culture. The fact that USAID is creating such software with the idea that it will act as an impetus for the development of technologically-crippled countries really points towards the power and efficacy of social media. To give an indication of how effective ZunZuneo was in Cuba, by 2011, it had grown to 40,000 users. The growth was modest, but the idea of implementing social media to incite growth and democracy amongst a group of people is what really makes this story relevant.
We have seen Twitter act as a forum for discussion, debate, news, politics, and now development. It seems that Twitter’s power is second to none. In the near future, we will see social media become a staple in everyday life (if it hasn't already).
By Jose Pagliery and Elwyn Lopez
April 3
Instagram Looks Like a Profitable Buy for Facebook.
It seems as though Mark Zuckerberg made the right choice
when he bought out Instagram back in April 2012. Since the purchase, the rate
of usage for Instagram has dramatically increased.
The amount of users was estimated around 200 million, which
almost double the amount when Facebook made the purchase. Instagram has been
catching up with Twitter on mobile usage, and soon it many even surpass it.
Also, Instagram is linked easily with Facebook and Twitter. Anyone who uses
either to post pictures can use Instagram and all of its features like filters
and cropping tools.
Instagram in my opinion was a smart purchase by Facebook. It
helped gather usage on mobile since Twitter dominated that medium since its arrival.
They should start to incorporate more to the application to further expand the
abilities and gain more users. Some ideas could include adding more filters, more
“Photoshop” features and develop a sense of community with easy to discover
like Vine. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2014/03/27/instagram-is-already-bigger-than-twitter-on-smartphones/
Could this mean no more gaming systems?
For a long time gaming consoles such as Playstation and Xbox have been a featured part of the teenage American life. However the on demand and on the go society we live in has made it harder and harder for people to actually find the time to play these games. Taking games on the go has always been a part of the gaming community with Gameboys, Nintendo DS's, and even smartphone apps, however major gaming companies have never really seen these systems as a threat, given they are so small and don't offer the same gaming experience as that of a large console.
However these companies now face a serious rival with Razer's "Project Fiona" the first gaming tablet. this is a hardcore gaming system that is portable but offers the same experience as consoled systems. The tablet is being called "the frontier for future gaming" and it is said that many companies may want to begin looking into this new technology, as Fiona is the only one in the process of being released within the very near future.
Although hand held this system will still offer the option of playing with you're friends as you can take it anywhere and link with anyone who has the system, and natural the system will still support online gaming.
This system puts a scare in the hearts of big companies, and could possibly change the world of gaming all together.
However these companies now face a serious rival with Razer's "Project Fiona" the first gaming tablet. this is a hardcore gaming system that is portable but offers the same experience as consoled systems. The tablet is being called "the frontier for future gaming" and it is said that many companies may want to begin looking into this new technology, as Fiona is the only one in the process of being released within the very near future.
This system puts a scare in the hearts of big companies, and could possibly change the world of gaming all together.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Cortana is the New Siri
This past Wednesday, Cortana, Microsoft’s version of Siri, was introduced as the newest digital assistant. Cortana is a personal assistant who works with the phone user in getting to know them better and better overtime. Fortunately for the phone users, she’s better at detecting language than Siri who often says, “I don’t understand what you’re saying." As long as you tell her, she is especially helpful when it comes to reminders with people or places and a popup will appear on your screen at the time of the reminder. Another special feature of Cortana is “Cortana’s Notebook” where she stores information she accumulates about you based on your habits and phone settings. Cortana is expected to appear in the U.S in just a couple of weeks. I think these types of features on phone are becoming more and more popular nowadays. They work especially well for people who do a lot of traveling and need to be on their phone while driving. Cortana will be able to change settings and keep users on their toes more efficiently than Siri and maybe even sell Siri out. At the same time, there are so many iphone users, me being one myself, and I would not buy an entirely new phone or change cell phone plans just for a new personal assistant.
Even Ellen Degeneres Can't Save Twitter
Lately, Twitter is showing that it may not be as hot as everyone thinks. Shares for this social media platform are down almost 30% this year! This makes it the second worst media performer according to CNNMoney's Tech 30 index.
Many say that Facebook is becoming the new Myspace because of its decline in active monthly users, but that may not be the case anymore. With Facebook acquiring over 1.2 billion active monthly users, Twitter only has 241 million monthly users. With 540 million followers, even Google+ has more users than Twitter.
Twitter is also experiencing glitches in which tweets are mysteriously disappearing. One of Ellen Degeneres’s most famous tweets during the Oscar’s vanished, but then magically reappeared early this week.
Everyone who is a part of Twitter has seen Ellen Degeneres’s tweet of the night from the Academy Awards. This photo stating “If only Bradley’s arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars”, consisted of Ellen herself, Bradley Cooper, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and other start studded celebs.
Writer for The Buzz, Paul R. La Monica claims “After all, the Academy Awards telecast was more like a three-and-a-half hour infomercial for Twitter than it was a celebration of the best movies of 2013” (2014). Unfortunately, even Ellen could not save Twitter from its demise.
Article: http://bit.ly/1dRL4xT
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Gmail's Success Over the Past 10 Years
Staying one step ahead of the competition is difficult, but a must in today's world of technology. Whoever is coming out with the most cutting edge product "wins" consumers.
Google is one of those corporations always known for the best services- ask anybody which search engine they default to, and more than half of them will reply, "why, Google, of course!" It's because of their user contentiousness and constant strive to be the best that they can be that Google is so successful. This also goes for off-shoots with the Google label associated with them. Gmail is one of the most prominent email servers, web-based or otherwise. It's got a great reputation for being user friendly and reliable.
This CNN article discusses Gmail's journey to the top. Ten years ago today, (April 1, 2004), Google launched this email site and "almost immediately changed the way people use email." The first two ways in which they stood out from competition was their storage and searching capabilities. Online email always lacked in the storage department, so Google went ahead and equipped Gmail with a whopping gigabyte. Competitors, even when responding to Google's bold move, only upgraded to a mere 100 megabytes. The search capability inside the email page made browsing the web quick and easy for users, and was a new, interesting feature. Gmail always seems to be updating features and tweaking things to get them right. While they aren't afraid to change things up on users, bad feedback results in a quick response to fix the problems.
Gmail most definitely has a great reputation in the community. Whether it be personal email (I myself have a gmail account), or email through institutions (SJFC email is linked through gmail as well), there's nothing I personally have to complain about. Web based email servers are usually a little shady, but Google is a trusted corporation and additionally, the fact that colleges trust it adds credibility.
Hopefully Google will keep coming up with ways to keep ahead of rivals, and keep the technology market competitive.
Google is one of those corporations always known for the best services- ask anybody which search engine they default to, and more than half of them will reply, "why, Google, of course!" It's because of their user contentiousness and constant strive to be the best that they can be that Google is so successful. This also goes for off-shoots with the Google label associated with them. Gmail is one of the most prominent email servers, web-based or otherwise. It's got a great reputation for being user friendly and reliable.
This CNN article discusses Gmail's journey to the top. Ten years ago today, (April 1, 2004), Google launched this email site and "almost immediately changed the way people use email." The first two ways in which they stood out from competition was their storage and searching capabilities. Online email always lacked in the storage department, so Google went ahead and equipped Gmail with a whopping gigabyte. Competitors, even when responding to Google's bold move, only upgraded to a mere 100 megabytes. The search capability inside the email page made browsing the web quick and easy for users, and was a new, interesting feature. Gmail always seems to be updating features and tweaking things to get them right. While they aren't afraid to change things up on users, bad feedback results in a quick response to fix the problems.
Gmail most definitely has a great reputation in the community. Whether it be personal email (I myself have a gmail account), or email through institutions (SJFC email is linked through gmail as well), there's nothing I personally have to complain about. Web based email servers are usually a little shady, but Google is a trusted corporation and additionally, the fact that colleges trust it adds credibility.
Hopefully Google will keep coming up with ways to keep ahead of rivals, and keep the technology market competitive.
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