Your Facebook vs. My Google+
So I was thinking about my new Google+ account; why there are some that absolutely love G+ and those that hate it vs. Facebook.
I've come to the conclusion that Facebook is built and inspired by the random, off the cuff, and many times, unscrutinized thoughts that would usually inspire an impulse buy at the grocery checkout. You post not thinking about who sees it and you usually just don't care. The lack of thought process that goes into posting on Facebook usually leads to the all-empowering curse of Internet; flaming and spaming... not to say that there are not good people or posts out there.
Google+ on the other hand is a stark contrast. Your Circles force you to actually think about where these posts are going and therefor give you a moral path to follow on who you're posting to let alone what you are posting.
This is what is going to distinguish who likes and doesn't like Google+. Those that have a reason to post, a purpose or mission behind their content are going to absolutely love G+. Those that are just socialites that live in 'their own world' will continue to love and support Facebook.
To all my friends on Facebook, I still like you. 
Viva 'la Google+!
+1 For Google+
Hurray! Thanks Kelly! I finally got my Google+ account activated by invite. If you want one, just let me know... I might circle you...
Dropbox drops the ball
It was posted yesterday, on the Dropbox blog, that a recent code update to the Dropbox programming left user's accounts accessible by any password given for a period of around 4hrs.
Yesterday we made a code update at 1:54pm Pacific time that introduced a bug affecting our authentication mechanism. We discovered this at 5:41pm and a fix was live at 5:46pm. A very small number of users (much less than 1 percent) logged in during that period, some of whom could have logged into an account without the correct password. As a precaution, we ended all logged in sessions.
It is suggested that you take the time to re-secure your account with a new password; preferably not close to what it was.
Hijack an unsecured Facebook account with your cell phone!
Some of you might remember the Firesheep plugin for the Firefox web browser that took the internet by storm a while back. This week ushers in a new method of doing the same exact thing, but this time, using your Android powered cell phone!
FaceNiff installs on any rooted Android phone and lets you sniff your local WiFi connection for floating Facebook packets. Just like Firesheep, FaceNiff will then hijack any session not using an encrypted HTTPS session during their latest picture tagging of last nights drunken haze. Watch the video for the fun:
Windows 8 Preview at D9
Here is Microsoft's VP Julie Larson-Green demonstrating the new Windows 8 GUI at the D9 conference on Wednesday!
2:21am and I still have 6,000 more songs to upload…
I downloaded and installed Google's Music Beta music manager. It is pretty straight forward install and configuration. Nothing complicated or hidden. Pick where your music is, whether it be in iTunes, Media Player or where ever you have setup your music library. Then you select how to sync your files; automatically, based of computer usage or manually. I chose manual for the first sync. It recognized over 8,800 songs to sync to the service.
I have tried streaming to multiple computers and my Motorola Droid (yup, it runs fine on the first gen stuff as long as you have Android 2.2+) over various connection methods and have found the service to have great sound quality and usability. I am currently creating new playlist groups as I listen (I've never really been a playlist guy).
The web interface is pretty straight forward. In Google fashion it's clean and void of any extras that a group of paranoid, white wallpaper using, Googlers would be scared of. I found it very easy to use and for the most part very intuitive. I'd like to see some of the common Right-Click tasks integrated, but for a beta first-gen service it's great.
If you knew me during the golden ages of Lala.com, you know I was a huge fan and made sure all my buddies knew about the service. Ever since the rotten Apple got it's hands on it and strangled it to death, I have been waiting for an adequate replacement. All I can say is this just met those needs and surpassed them! Now if Google would stop supporting the crybaby's in their commercials!
I’m a Google Music Beta user!
I finally got my invite! More to come after I get to play with it!
Man flies over Grand Canyon with jetpack
Yves Rossy, better known as "Jetman," has successfully flown his custom jetpack/wing over a part of the Grand Canyon. I found the following humorous (from the article):
The Grand Canyon flight was originally supposed to take place on Friday, with many onlookers and journalists gathering for the event on that day. Rossy didn't feel adequately prepared, however, as he had only received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just moments before he was scheduled to fly. The FAA had only learned of his planned flight through media reports, as Rossy hadn't realized that he required their approval.
You can find more videos of Jetman and his jetpack on National Geographic's Net Geo Adventure website.
Google launces Music Beta
Google today launched it's long anticipated cloud-based music hosting service called Music Beta for it's accounts and devices. This service is basically the next step in integrating all of the Google services with their Android and Web based devices. Seamless streaming from the web browser, to your recently updated Android 3.1 powered tablet, to your Android powered smart phone. I tell you what, I cant wait to get my invitation! Woot!
You can get to your personal music collection at home or on the go. Listen from the web or any enabled device with the Music app available from Android Market. Not online? No problem. The songs you've recently played will automatically be available offline. You can also select the specific albums, artists and playlists you want to have available when you're not connected.