Privacy is so old school apparently

Gen Y thinks posting personal details on the Web is natural according to a new research study by Pew Research Center.  Gen Y (those born after 1980) have always been connected and have shared information and aren’t likely to change.

They are “are leading society into a new world of personal disclosure and information-sharing.”"

According to the survey 69% of respondents said that by 2020 members of Gen Y will “continue to be ambient broadcasters” who disclose a great deal of personal information in order to stay connected and take advantage of social, economic, and political opportunities.

The report is part of a multi-year study of the internet and social networking habits of Millenials (Gen Y) the first always connected generation in history.

Firefox 4.0 Sneak Peak Looks Promising

If the Mozilla Wiki page regarding the future design of Firefox is to be believed, then we’re in for a real treat when Firefox version 4.0 is finally released.   Looking for a more modern streamlined feel, the team has been hard at work tweaking the visual layout of the browser, and current screenshots don’t disappoint.  The entire layout is very clean with a Windows 7 vibe to it.  The navigation bar will be tweaked to look less busy and perform more efficiently, bookmark functionality looks to be drastically improved, and browser menus are consolidated into a simple customizable ”app button” atop the screen.  We only hope this redesign is far along already, as a good number of the improvements in mind cover some of our chief complaints with regard to the visual layout of the browser.

A quick glance shows some key potential improvements to be:

1.   The orange app button above the tabs to cover all browser menus.  This can be placed beneath the tabs and above the navigation bar as well for a more 3.6 feel.  The app button is rumored to perform similarly to that of Windows 7’s application menu.

2.  Bookmarks to be consolidated into a new “widget”, placed within the bookmarks toolbar underneath the navigation toolbar.  The new widget will replicate current bookmark menus and functionality and can be placed in the navigation toolbar as well.

3.   A green “progress line” atop each tab to display the page load status. While unnecessary, it certainly looks nice.

4.  Stop, Reload and Go page functions possibly to be consolidated into one button for more space.  This makes a lot of sense and would save time.

5.  ”App tabs” to allow certain pages that function like applications (think gmail) to be saved as pinned tabs.

6. Added geolocation services, HTML5 compliant browser, multitouch support, and Firefox Sync (aka Mozilla ‘Weave’).

Some have claimed the look is too similar to Google’s Chrome browser but we find it a breath of fresh air with seemingly plenty of customization (Chrome has practically none currently), and while these ideas and mockups are just that for now, a full refresh of Firefox is would undoubtedly be welcomed by all.  The current roadmap put forth by Mozilla’s Director of Firefox Mike Beltzner eyes a beta release near the end of June, with a full RC1 release potentially in October.  Mr. Beltzner today released a slideshow of said plans (below) for our viewing pleasure.  This is all highly tentative at the moment, and subject to change at any time.  We just hope all of these great improvements make it into the final version.

Free the Phone

Who doesn’t like free stuff? Especially useful free stuff. Like free stuff you use all the time. How about free phone calls? Yeah, that would be nice.

That’s where the Magic Jack comes in. The Magic Jack has a USB plug at one end and a phone plug at the other. Plug into your computer and your phone at the same time and you have free calls. That’s right, using your internet connection you can now stream calls; voice mail, caller ID, and call waiting come included. Nice bunch of savings that would be. Magic Jack itself is $40.

Study says keep teens away from computer, TV

Good luck with that.

A New Zealand study has linked excessive “screen” time with troubles relating to other people.  The study looked at data regarding screen time and attachment to parents and peers by groups of teens in 1987-88 compared with 2004.

Both groups exhibited trends of those with increased television viewing related to low attachment to parents and peers. The earlier group also showed increased viewing time meant lower attachment to peers.

So parents, it is ok to be concerned about your teens screen time habits and to look for ways to reduce them. More study is needed to figure out what is going on and the full-range of effects of internet, television and game usage.

Home Page

Netvibes is a new site set to rival homepages everywhere. Forget google, or yahoo, or blogline, Netvibes is way cuter.

Like iGoogle and blogline Netvibes is a free service that brings together all your favorite media sources on a single page. Weather, news updated, games, TV schedules, blogs, but they use cute widget displays instead of boxy headlines and photos. Don’t underestimate aesthetics online. It’s very cute and very convenient.

My Secret Circle for Girls

Tween clothier Justice is launching a new girls-only social networking site–My Secret Circle.

With a nod to Internet cautious parents, this site is the “only secure social networking site for girls.”  Designed for girls 8-12, the site is a place where they can create private friendship circles without the advertising and exposure of other social networking sites.

An access key gives your child access to journal, instant message, share pictures and even voice chat via the site.  She adds her “real-life friends” to her circle via access keys that are generated based on her own password key.

Access keys and chat head sets are available for purchase but there are no other additional fees or subscriptions required.

Is your family ignoring each other?

A new report suggests that families are spending less time interacting and technology may be to blame.

The study by  the Annenberg Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California  polled 2,030 people ages 12 and up, found that

“28 percent of Americans it interviewed last year said they have been spending less time with members of their households. That’s nearly triple the 11 percent who said that in 2006.”

The study didn’t blame Internet social networking sites but the change has coincided with the rise of sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Of course, I know families who feel better connected because of technology and many parents who find texting with their children a great way to stay in touch with their day-to-day life.

What do you think? Has technology made your family spend less time together or more?

Hub-bub

Verizon is reinventing the home phone with its new Hub. The new system nixes the traditional landline phone for a Internet-connected display that links with Verizon cell phones and other content to bring information and technology together.

It uses similar VoIP technology to Skype and Vonage but with some Verizon add-ons like Chaparone ($10) which helps track your kids through GPS-enabled phones.  The display posts info like weather forecasts or movie listings.

BusinessWeek criticizes Verizon for not being more open. For example you can text message from the display but only to Verizon-enabled phones.  Also the Internet options are limited and features like its calendar don’t synch with popular web-based calendars.

The HUB runs $200 after rebate and $35 for unlimited calling/month. This may not be the answer but it’s the future of the home phone.

Paint with a Purpose

At school we all share the same wireless network.  Our internet can be accessed in dorms and in class (if you have a password that is).  What about the average wi fi user?  How do you protect your investment?

Japan has released wi fi paint, it basically blocks hangers on from accessing the internet you are paying for.  Convenient for honest apartment dwellers who do pay for their own wireless.  It’s an unfortunate development for poor city interns and the like, but it is pretty ingenious.  In this economy I’d hope we could all learn to just share, but I can understand not wanting to.  If only city wide wireless was available for real.

The Technological Frontier

Lets talk Disruption Tolerant Networking.  I know, it sounds like any network, any plagued internet connections, but this is still something new.

DTN is basically space style internet.  That’s space as in the cosmos.  Information can now be transmitted from NASA to ships about 20 million miles away.  The hitch is the delay.  The connection is not continuous and data is often stalled and late, but hey, it’s still internet in deep space.  And it does put any sluggish earth bound computers in perspective doesn’t it?