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Cyberbully update, Apple iPhone 3GS, Google Chrome OS, WebMD, Technology and Public Safety
News, tips and information impacting your life through technology.
Show Notes Episode 5
News Flash
– Google has announed their upcoming operating system “Chrome OS”
– Apple to Build $1B Server Farm in North Carolina
– Microsoft set to launch a music streaming service this month
– Microsoft kicks off the Office 2010 Technical Preview
Topics
1. Cyberbully update – Update from Episode 2
A Missouri woman who was convicted of three misdemeanors for her role in an online harassment of a teenager who committed suicide has been provisionally acquitted. Federal District Judge George Wu provisionally threw out the convictions because Drew’s conviction on illegal access hinged on the fact that she violated MySpace’s Terms of Service by creating a false account. Creating a false account is not a criminal offense, and Judge Wu did not want to create a precedent that could be used to convict millions of other Internet users. Lori Drew was not directly charged with causing Megan’s death, but was instead indicted under the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
2. Apple iPhone 3GS: Current issues and what users can do to protect their investment and check out “Tech Talk” for an official blog posting and user tips.
3. Google Chrome OS –
http://www.dailytech.com/Google+Unveils+Linuxbased+Chrome+OS/article15632.htm
4. WebMD: Its purpose, its design, the side effects, the consequences. Check out the official blog post under “Lifesytles” on www.
Questions from Winforums
Question: newtech – I recently downloaded Google Chrome. It does not have a “Home” button on the toolbar. How do I add a “Home” button and designate a home page?
Answer: Google Chrome Home Button
Discussion of the Cast
Technology and Public Safety
1. Reverse 911 System: Information sent via email/text to cell phones to alert citizens of breaking crime activity within a given jurisdiction.
2. CNN: The trains that crashed on the Washington Metro depended on a 33-year-old automated control system widely used in cities across the United States, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
– The Washington Metro has used an automated train control system since 1976
– Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston and Atlanta also use a similar system
– American Public Transportation Association: “What happened in Washington is rare”
– Investigators found a problem in one of the track circuits that relay data to trains and are looking into why the computerized emergency system failed to prevent the accident. Officials say crash like D.C. Metro not likely in other cities.
The reason for the concern is that A330 series jets have recently experienced a number of potentially disastrous computer anomalies. In one case, erratic computer commands caused an A330 to suddenly pitch nose-down until the captain could regain control, according to a report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau .
Tip or Site of Interest
Mikee – Online Image Editor
Dave – 25 Free Apps for the Mac
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Happy Birthday Apple and Customer Service Concerns
We follow up on many of the stories and headlines we’ve covered over the past few shows. First though, we have to say Happy Birthday to Apple, who turns 40 this week. The FBI is making a statement to the tech industry by promising to share with other law enforcement agencies how they unlocked iPhones. Related, Apple is unwilling to help a father unlock his deceased son’s phone so that he can have pictures and videos of his final days. We finish out the show by discussing a potential bid from Time Inc for Yahoo and share our concerns with the latest in poor customer support in the tech industry.
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China’s Social Credit System And France Levies Tax On Internet Giants
We learned this week that the French government is set to decide on implementing a new tax on internet giants that profit on targeted digital advertising and re-selling of personal user data. The Chinese government has a system in place – the social credit score – that ranks individual citizens and that scores provides certain freedoms such as travel, mortgages, and choice of school. Retail stores around the United States and abroad continue to close but it is for many more reasons that simply Amazon and the online shopping spike.
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Fighting Crime With LEEDIR And #AmazonCart
Crowdsourcing, a new medium in which many law enforcement agencies are using gather eyewitness information. Mozilla redesigned Firefox and that has some wondering and asking why. Amazon is up to something with their #AmazonCart feature on Twitter.