Podcast #6

Hackers, phishers can't get away with it like they used to

An article on cybercrime from CNN technology website - www.cnn.com/technology

Enjoy!

Podcast 4!

Google Tool users search terms to detect flu outbreaks

article from www.cnn.com/technology

Enjoy!

podcast4!

Podcast 3!

Rural Users Could get Broadband Internet via Powerlines!

article from www.cnn.com/technology

Enjoy!

podcast3!

podcast 2

Podcast #2 - from www.cnn.com/technology

Windows new Software!

podcast2!

Podcast #1!

My first podcast is over the article "Goggles" try to prevent impulsive emails. The article is from cnn.com/technology


podcast1!

HTML Page

below is the link to my page!

http://www.users.muohio.edu/longjl2/

or click here!

Image Exercise

The theme for my image exercise is a day at the beach. I have several pictures (5 layers of pictures and 1 layer of text) of various beaches at different times throughout the day.

The main picture, the background picture, came from www.flickr.com and has been slightly blurred and color filled with brown tones. The top left picture is two beach chairs and also came from www.flickr.com. This picture is fairly normal with only a slight saturation fix. The top right picture came from www.openphoto.net and is very transparent allowing us to see the background image through it. The bottom left picture came from flickr.com and has a Gaussian blur applied to it. The bottom right image is a sepia toned image from openphoto.net and is a normal layer.

Podcast

We used fade in and fade out. We got our ocean background noise from findsounds.com

We both used our voices with ocean in the background.

podcast

Review: Apple's new Nano is its best yet

CNN Technology has released their review of Apple's new Nano iPod. The new nano has a very similar look to the previous Nano, however Apple claims to have added features such as a more rounded shape and it is easier to grasp and carry. Also, the glass on the front of this new Nano is less resistant to scratching, there is said to be a "diminished viewing quality" of scratching compared to last years Nano. Apple may have added these new features but I feel like it is the same Nano with new colors to be marketed to new people. Apple is trying to gain Nano users so introducing a "new Nano" was their best idea. I am not sure that this Nano will differ much at all from their previous versions but I am sure many will buy the new version and let us all know how it compares.

New Sony Reader has light, note-taking stylus

Sony has just revealed its new e-book reader that has features setting it apart from the popular Kindle reader. Sony’s e-book reader has a touch screen display and a built in light that makes the screen very easy to read. This is Sony’s third model of an e-book reader and it will be on sale at the end of October for around $400. The e-book reader can hold 350 books and has the capability to hold more with a memory card. The e-book reader, Kindle, still has an advantage over Sony’s e-book reader because the Kindle has the ability to search Amazon and buy and download books immediately. With Sony’s version, users will have to connect their e-book to a PC in order to download e-books.

As we searched e-books online this week in class I realized the growing popularity of this trend. I am guessing that Sony’s model is the first of many that we will be seeing hit the market. Each will have more and more features, allowing users extreme convenience with their readers. I think that Sony has released a strong product. However, they will need to continue improving their readers if they plan to compete in the e-book reader market much longer.

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20081003/ap_on_hi_te/tec_sony_reader

Mashup - 10 Fascinating Googlers

To find my mashup I returned to the site we used in class, Programmable Web.  I searched through different mashups but I decided to focus on the mashup, “10 Fascinating Googlers”.  This mashup gives a description of Fortune Magazines 10 most Fascinating Googlers.  However, we are not just given a list of names with brief descriptions.  The 10 people are plotted onto a map that is available to view 3 different ways (map view, satellite and hybrid view).  You can set the mashup to “autoplay” where a box will pop up, person by person, giving you a picture, description and their location on the map.  You can also “disable autoplay” and view the profiles at your own speed.  This mashup is very easy to use and the information is very interesting.  The map is not quite necessary but it is a nice feature.  Viewing this mashup has definitely made me more comfortable using mashups, this was very easy to navigate and use.  I would suggest several of the mashups on the programmable web site.  

link to mashup site:

http://www.programmableweb.com/mashup/10-fascinating-googlers

link to mashup:

http://www.mibazaar.com/googlers/

Who Gives Better Answers, People or Computers? Ask ChaCha

ChaCha, a computer automated text messaging answer service was launched in January and now has approximately 1 million users. ChaCha allows anyone with a cell phone to text message ChaCha (242242) and ask a question about anything. The guide working for ChaCha will find the answer and text you back in less than 160 characters for free. The guide searches the internet on sites that are approved by ChaCha to find an answer. Currently, some people are worried about the accuracy of this system. Even if you receive an answer, how do you know if it’s correct? At this time, ChaCha has a 93% accuracy rating. ChaCha also allows people to be their “guides”. Many guides are stay at home moms and college students because of the convenience. They are paid by the number of questions they answer.

I, along with a couple of my friends have tried out ChaCha and have received correct answers. However, on my first text I was told that standard text messaging rates apply so I am unsure about the cost. Personally, I would rather have a friend use internet on a phone or on an Itouch to look up the answer and save my money. ChaCha does provide a very convenient and quick service. It is very nice to have available and after a few months I will be interested to see if the number of users are still increasing.

Facebook Launches Redesign

The famous social networking site, Facebook, has gotten a facelift. If you have not yet converted to the new redesign of facebook you will soon have no choice. This week facebook users will be forced to use the new version of facebook whether they want to or not. Mark Zuckerberg, the 24 year old creator of facebook, has always had to face unhappy users and protesters when releasing a redesign of facebook. This time, however, he has changed his ways in releasing the new version hoping people will be more likely to ease into the new design. The redesign was available seven weeks ago for users to try and so far 30 of the 40 million people who have tried the new version have stuck with it. However, there are also groups forming that are protesting the new redesign. Within the next week all facebook users will be forced to switch to the redesign and hopefully the transition will be more smoothly than others in the past 2 years. The "news feed" was released about two years ago and at first people disliked the idea and protested. Zuckerberg was forced to make public apologies and change a few different privacy settings. He is now hoping that even though people at protesting now, users will become more comfortable and not have a problem with the new design. I think that after users have adapted to the new setup of facebook there will not be any issues. As soon as people use the new design for a few days and familiarize themselves with it, it will feel normal. When new versions were released in the past people complained at first but now most have realized that the newer versions have been positive changes.


http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1840165,00.html?cnn=yes

Google Unveils Free Browser Chrome is an article that was posted to CNN.com on Tuesday of this week discussing the new internet browser Chrome that Google is releasing this week. Google already has an extremely popular search engine and they are finally releasing a new web browser. I say finally because Google has had an innovative search engine for quite some time but they are just now releasing a new web browser, what was the hold up? However, Google is taking quite a brave step in introducing a web browser to compete with Microsoft's Internet Explorer which is used by 75% of people on the web. Can Google really convert some of the 75% to their new web browser? Many people at first, I'm sure, will be intrigued and try out Chrome. But will these interested people stick with Chrome or return to using the comfortable Internet Explorer provided by Microsoft? Google has done an amazing job promoting and gaining users for their popular search engine but can they do the same for their new web browser?