Nov 21 2008

Barack Obama’s Cell Phone Records Breached by Verizon Employees

Category: Politics, Sci/Tech — Tim @ 5:30 am

In a lesson for those who have access to personal data, Barack Obama’s cell phone records were apparently breached:

Records from a cell phone used by President-elect Obama were improperly breached, apparently by employees of the cell phone company, his transition team said Thursday.
An Obama spokesman said the transition team was told employees at Verizon Wireless looked through billing records.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the team was notified Wednesday by Verizon Wireless that it appears an employee improperly went through billing records for the phone, which Gibbs said Obama no longer uses.

In an internal company e-mail obtained by CNN, Verizon Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam disclosed Wednesday that “the personal wireless account of President-elect Barack Obama had been accessed by employees not authorized to do so” in recent months.

This goes to show you that everyone is susceptible to a breach of personal information. You take someone with the “rock star” status of Barack Obama and the temptation for employees is just too great. It’s in our nature to be curious, but it is unforgivable to invade someone’s privacy like this. Here is another example of our voyeuristic society.

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Nov 14 2008

Having Trouble Writing? Check Out the PenAgain

Category: Sci/Tech — Tim @ 8:52 am

I’m not usually one for direct marketing in blog posts, but this one looks cool and could help kids with their handwriting:

The way this seems to conform to the fingers is very intriguing. I’m going to have to go out and find one of these to see if it can help my handwriting.

PenAgain Picture

To learn more, check out the PenAgain site.

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Nov 14 2008

Findings Are In for 2007 Minneapolis I-35W Bridge Collapse

Category: Sci/Tech, Video — Tim @ 7:20 am

Remember watching the video of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis back in August of 2007? The investigation into the bridge failure is complete and the findings are in:

WASHINGTON — Federal investigators probing the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis said Thursday that the structure was heavily loaded with construction equipment — equivalent to the weight of a 747 airplane — hours before a set of improperly designed joints failed catastrophically.

The added weight, combined with errors in the original design of the so-called gussett plates, appeared to produce the breaking point in the Aug. 1, 2007, disaster that killed 13 people and injured 145.

Too much construction weight added to the failure? The equipment was like parking a 747 on the bridge? That squealing noise you hear is the sound of thousands of attorneys racing toward Minneapolis. Yikes.

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Oct 27 2008

Could Twitter be a Tool for Terrorists?

Category: Sci/Tech, blogging — Tim @ 8:24 am

Twitter lovers of the world beware, terrorists could be tweeting

The U.S. intelligence community is concerned that terrorists might use micro-blogging tool Twitter to coordinate attacks, according to a purported draft Army intelligence report posted on the Web.

The report–present by the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion and posted to the Federation of American Scientists Web site–examines the possible ways terrorists could use mobile and Web technologies such as the Global Positioning System, digital maps, and Twitter mashups to plan and execute terrorist attacks.

Wait, there’s more:

The report is roughly divided into two halves. The first is based mostly on chatter from Al-Qaeda-affiliated online forums. One Islamic extremist site discusses, for example, the benefits of “using a mobile phone camera to monitor the enemy and its mechanisms.” Another focuses on the benefits of the Nokia 6210 Navigator, and how its GPS utilities could be used for “marksmanship, border crossings, and in concealment of supplies.”

Such software could allow jihadists to pick their way across multiple routes, identifying terrain features as they go. A third extremist forum recommends the installation of voice-modification software to conceal one’s identity when making calls. Excerpts from a fourth site show cell phone wallpapers that wannabe jihadists can use to express their affinity for radicalism:

So, it’s not just Twitter, but basically all technology. Seems to me that this type of fear is just what the terrorists want. Are we supposed to be afraid to live our lives and stay connected with friends? I don’t think so.

What this report should do is be a remider for all of us to be good neighbors and watch for out-of-the-ordinary activities. Twitter and other communication tools are two-way streets. They may help terriorsts communicate, but they also let us in on their converstations. If, we are paying attention.

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Oct 24 2008

Twitter is the New Fast-Growing Champ

Category: Kids & Technology, Sci/Tech — Tim @ 3:55 am

Twitter fans unite! While social networking sites continue to grow at a rapid pace, Twitter is growing the fastest

Twitter’s audience has shot up 343 percent since September 2007, making it the fastest growing social network in the U.S., according to the latest report from Neilsen Online.

343% is impressive. The report indicates Twitter grew from 500,000 users to over 2.3 million in one year. Why? What is the attraction? Twitter is like text messaging, but you can share your messages with a group. Still not sure what Twitter is? Try the “In Plain English” series of videos for a very good explanation:

I’ve seen the benefit of Twitter from a personal perspective during Hurricane Ike. Twitter kept Houstonians connected and allowed us to share information in the midst of the storm and during the weeks of clean-up. Twitter is also playing a key role in the presidential election with the addition of a dedicated Election 08 round-up section. This tool allows you to view tweets on candidate-related information at a glance and helps to break news items with amazing speed.

Twitter also keeps you in touch with friends by allowing you to see what is going on in their lives. You only share what you want or what  you are comfortable with and you can select whom you follow. You can even protect your updates and make the available by invitation only. However, that approach defeats the fun of the site, meeting new people.

If you don’t yet have a Twitter account, you should get one today and see what all the fuss is about. When you do, be sure to folllow the misunderestimation Twitter account and see what is new on this blog!

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Oct 17 2008

Apple’s New MacBook Looks Sweet!

Category: Sci/Tech, Video — Tim @ 2:07 pm

I have returned to the Mac platform after many years as a PC user and I have to say, it was worth the wait. The Macs today are very nice and this new MacBookPro looks to be another major step forward for Apple

Can’t wait to get my hands on one. I know it’s a commercial, but it is a very sweet commercial!

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Sep 18 2008

The Power of Twitter: Tweeting Over Hurricane Ike

Category: Houston, Sci/Tech — Tim @ 6:54 am

Hurricane Ike hit the Houston area badly last Friday. When a massive storm hits an area of over 5 million people and leaves at least 2.2 million customers without power, communication becomes an issue. Phone (land and mobile) became suspect at best and those unfortunate to have cable as their phone provider were completely out of luck. Internet connections may have been there, but who had power to run computers? How was one supposed to let friends and family members know they were OK after the storm? How were we supposed to find out what happened to our friends and families?

The answer: Twitter.

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Twitter works on a cell phone, a BlackBerry, or a computer. You post something when you can; when you have power, access, or just a working connection, and the message stays there for everyone to see when they have power, access, or a working connection.

During Hurricane Ike, I was able to let people know we received minor damage and that everyone was OK. At the same time, I got updates on the status of many people in the area who were in similar situations. Next, we started sharing news and information about the storm damage, where you could find supplies, how things looked from our side of town, and just random thoughts. By connecting with others in the midst of the storm, I felt a sense of power even though we had no power. Reconnecting with others gave me a tremendous psychological boost.

If you have not created a Twitter account, I suggest you do so. Tweet me timmda or this blog: misunder and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

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Jan 22 2008

HD DVD Fiery End?

Category: Sci/Tech — Tim @ 12:58 pm

It looks like the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray war may be nearly over.

In a sign of things to come, retailers are preparing to lower the visibility of HD DVD on their shelves, putting a larger emphasis on the rival format, Blu-ray.

With a number of studios such as Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema, and HBO leaving HD DVD for the Sony-backed Blu-ray format, it was inevitable that HD DVD would lose the all-important shelf space at retail.

HD DVD Burning Up

Of course, Toshiba is not letting this go without a fight:

Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. has announced that it is stepping up its successful marketing campaign for HD DVD as it experienced record-breaking unit sales in the fourth quarter of 2007. Major initiatives, including joint advertising campaigns with studios and extended pricing strategies will begin in mid-January and are designed to spotlight the superior benefits of HD DVD as well as the benefits HD DVD brings to a consumer’s current DVD library by upconverting standard DVDs via the HDMI output to near high definition picture quality.

ZDNet’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes sees it this way:

Dropping the price might make HD DVD seem attractive in the short term, especially for those looking to complement an HD TV with an HD player. But the sudden and dramatic price drops so soon after the announcement by Warner that it was backing Blu-ray and the canceled press conferences at CES, it’s hard to look at this move as anything other than Toshiba trying to offload existing inventory.

All I can say is, I’m glad I waited.

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Jun 11 2007

Coca-Cola’s MySpace, the Sprite Yard

Category: Kids & Technology, Parenting, Sci/Tech — Tim @ 12:00 pm

It looks like Coca-Cola has stepped-up their Internet marketing campaign:

The Coca-Cola Company is redefining the relationship between consumers and their sparkling beverages with the launch of the Sprite Yard, a real-time digital “on-the-go” community that provides social connections and downloadable content via their mobile phone anytime, anywhere. This mobile marketing breakthrough launched in China on June 1st and will go live in the US later this month.

The Sprite Yard creates an entertaining social experience beyond the value of traditional online destinations by providing consumers constant mobile, social and brand connectivity through mobile devices such as cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Coke is definitely on the right track. The marketing money being spent on Internet will boggle the mind:

Studies have predicted that mobile marketing will increase sharply in the coming years, and Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have all introduced mobile-friendly search interfaces.

Mobile advertising could account for 25% of global internet advertising spend by 2011.

But what are they really trying to accomplish?

“The brand becomes the enabler of mobile social connections,” Mark J. Greatrex, senior vice president of marketing communications and insights at Coca-Cola, told a gathering of the nation’s leading mobile marketing executives. “The Yard users literally have their friends in their pockets.”

The mobile marketing effort is part of Coca-Cola’s plan to “create, connect and customize on-the-go experiences,” according to Mr. Greatrex.

Sprite’s “usage over-indexes with mobile phone usage,” Mr. Greatrex said. “This is Generation C and they’re right at the center of the mobile target audience.”

Genius. In case you have not heard, this is how Wikipedia defines Generation C:

Generation C could be said to comprise the people who use Web 2.0, create user-generated content and participate in the co-creation of products and services.

It’s getting harder and harder for marketers to reach Generation C and this effort means users will go to the Sprite Yard to interact with their peers. What could be easier? Only one question remains, how long will it take Generation C to see through the marketing campaign and declare the Sprite Yard as lame? There is a reason why it is hard to reach Generation C, they are at least a couple of steps ahead of the marketers.

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Jan 02 2007

Microsoft’s Free Laptops!

Category: Sci/Tech — Tim @ 8:09 am

In an effort to generate some blogger buzz on their new Vista operating system, Microsoft has resorted to bribes:

Several bloggers reported last week that they had received Acer Ferrari laptops, which can sell for more than $2,200, from Microsoft. A Microsoft representative confirmed on Friday that the company had sent out about 90 computers to bloggers who write about technology and other subjects (such as photography and, oddly, parenting) that could be affected by the new operating system.

Sweet. A free laptop. What do I have to do in return?

“Microsoft sent out machines loaded with Windows Vista to bloggers to encourage them to experience the product and to solicit their valuable feedback, offering full disclosure that no editorial commentary was expected as a condition of acceptance,” the company said.

So, how is the blog world responding to this giveaway?

Long Zheng, an Australian blogger, was the first who reported about the valuable gifts in his blog. Soon after the reports emerged a controversy has sparked among the blogging community. While some bloggers greeted the machines with enthusiasm, the others said that the software giant is trying to bribe the bloggers with laptops, contending that bloggers are bound by the same rules as traditional journalists, who should not accept expensive gifts from companies they cover.

Long Zheng had over 180 comments on his post about Microsoft’s giveaways ranging from envy to disgust.

So really, what’s all the fuss about? Two questions jump out to me.

  • Why didn’t I get one? Bloggers who did not receive the laptops feel slighted and and angry blogger can cause a lot of negative press.
  • Why DID I get one and what am I expected to do? Those bloggers who received the laptops now have the responsibility to first report the gift and then consider the ramifications of keeping what may be a bribe. Does the gift change the blogger’s view of Microsoft? If so, is that right?

The fallout from this one is going to have a big impact on the perception of blogger impartiality and really illustrates that savvy marketers are recognizing the true impact of the blog world and discovering new and disturbing ways to leverage their products into our lives.

For the record, I did find a laptop under my tree this year.

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