Daily Bits

Skype and Facebook to Merge?

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Got the new Skype for Windows yet?  If so, you probably have noticed that there is a new tab – a Facebook tab.  This is the result of a collaboration between the two companies.  The presence of a Facebook tab in Skype 5 for Windows implies a lot of things.

One, Skype users will be able to interact with their Facebook friends directly from Skype.  This can be done in a variety of ways – updating of status messages, commenting on other people’s status messages, and “liking” other people’s status messages and posts.  They can also see the news feed directly from Skype.

Two, there is a Facebook phonebook feature in the new Skype that will allow users to directly call – and send text messages – to their contacts from Skype.  If anything, that should be a more convenient way of getting in touch with one’s friends.

Three, group video calling is also available in beta version.  As of now, this is available on a free trial basis.

Experts have noted that this collaboration has been in the stars for a while and that it is but a logical turn of things.  Skype and Facebook have been at the forefront of their respective fields and putting their resources together is the only way to go forward.

For now, only Windows users can enjoy this integration.  For Mac and Linux users, we have to wait indefinitely.  I say indefinitely as there is still no announcement as to when they will release this version of Skype for other platforms.  I just hope that they actually do!

Afterthought: I wonder if they will be able to integrate Facebook chat?  Now THAT would be a definite improvement, don’t you think?

Apple Goes After “Sexting”

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I think I first heard of the term “sexting” from the kids at Glee (yeah, cat’s out of the bag, I used to watch the show).  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what sexting means (sexually explicit text messaging, in case you aren’t sure), and the guys at Apple are going out of their way to make sure that users who shouldn’t be sexting will not be able to do so – in the future.  (Something to think about: who is to determine who shouldn’t be engaging in a certain activity?)

The news is that Apple has just been granted a patent that can block sexually explicit messages – both at the sending and receiving stages.  The patent was originally filed back in 2008 but was only granted now.  This move is not really surprising as Apple has always taken a stand against sexually explicit material.  Remember that the Apple Store already has a ban on sexually explicit applications.  Steve Jobs himself has spoken out about this stand, and says that it is unlikely to change in the future:

You know, there’s a porn store for Android. You can download porn, your kids can download porn. That’s a place we don’t want to go — so we’re not going to go there.

Here’s an abstract of the patent:

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for enabling a user to control the content of text-based messages sent to or received from an administered device. In some embodiments, a message will be blocked (incoming or outgoing) if the message includes forbidden content. In other embodiments, the objectionable content is removed from the message prior to transmission or as part of the receiving process. The content of such a message is controlled by filtering the message based on defined criteria. The criteria may be defined according to a parental control application. These techniques also may be used, in accordance with instructional embodiments, to require the administered devices to include certain text in messages. These embodiments might, for example, require that a certain number of Spanish words per day be included in e-mails for a child learning Spanish.

I find the clause about other applications particularly interesting, don’t you?  If ever this technology finds its way to the market, there will certainly be a lot of takers, I think.

Kindle Singles to Make Debut

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I have been spending hours and hours talking about and thinking of the Kindle and the Nook recently.  I know I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy any new gadget for the rest of the year, but the impending (major) change in my lifestyle is prompting me to take a good look at e-book readers.  As I always am when obsessing over a gadget, I have been reading up on the Kindle and the Nook a lot.

Today, I just learned about a new format that Amazon is introducing for the Kindle.  Dubbed Kindle Singles, these e-books are going to be shorter and cheaper than is the current norm.  What prompted this development is the fact that content does come in varying lengths.  Just like in traditional print, books can be thick novels, really thin paperbacks, or even pamphlets.  In Kindle terms, e-books can come in the form of long novels, short stories, magazine articles, blog posts, or even Twitter updates.

Materials that are going to be labeled Kindle Singles are going to be anywhere from 10,000 words to 30,000 words.  In terms of traditional print, this would be around 30 pages to 90 pages.  The really good news is the pricing structure will be more attractive to consumers.

For now, the new section of the store is not yet up and running, but with the official announcement having been made, we should see it pretty soon.

While I am not a Kindle owner as of yet, I consider this development as a plus point for the device.  Now for some advice…which e-book reader would you recommend that I get?

Photo credit: gillyberlin

Facebook Groups to Give Us More Control?

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Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, have been under a lot of fire for sucky privacy features.  Zuckerberg is quite excited about a new feature that they have released: Facebook Groups.  You might be asking, “Groups? Hasn’t this been around for a while?”

Well, they have a NEW feature called Groups that is different from whatever you think.  The important thing about this new application is that users can have more control over their privacy.  Think about it as  being able to put your friends into – literally – groups and then being able to choose what information you want to share with them.

The new Facebook Groups aims to mimic human behavior in real life. If you think about it, you actually categorize people in your life.  You have friends that you drink with, but you may not necessarily share private information with them.  You have friends that you run to when you have problems, and they probably know everything about you.  With this new Facebook feature, you can basically do the same thing online.  It will make selective disclosure of information (including photos, status messages, etc.) easier for Facebook users.

Despite the excitement of Mark Zuckerberg over Groups, critics are already making their  voices heard.  Larry Magrid, co-director of ConnectSafely.org, says:

“The only worry I have is that friends can add people to the group, so if you create a group and are in a group you have to be aware of not only who you add but who others add.  As long as you are aware of who is in the group it can be a great privacy tool. If it gets out of hand it could give you a sense of false security.”

Personally, I am neither excited nor skeptical about the development.  My rule of thumb: don’t put anything on Facebook that you don’t want others to see or know.  Simple enough, isn’t it?

Google Car Will Save Lives

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At least that’s what Google is claiming.  It seems that the software giant is not content with its current status – it now wants to dabble in the “real” world.  With its new software that is supposed to control cars, Google just might be able to do that.

They have recently announced their “super secret” project, which is artificial intelligence software, that will allow cars to drive themselves without the need for a human driver.  The idea behind the software is simple enough – the system scans the surroundings and adjusts the car’s behavior accordingly.  Needless to say, the implementation is probably hell.

If tests are to be believed, though, Google’s project works!  In their announcement, Google mentioned that they have tested the software on six Toyota Priuses and one Audi TT.  Their engineers have reportedly gone 140,000 miles in test drives, and so far, only one accident has been reported.  It is important to highlight that this accident was caused by a “normal” car driving into the back of a Google car. (So I guess that doesn’t count.)

The implications for motorists are tremendous!  What Google is claiming – that the system can save lives – just might be true! Speaking for myself, I know that I would finally be able to park a car without having to worry about hitting the other vehicles around me.  For those whose minds wander while driving, this development is also a boon!

Google spokesperson, Sebastian Thrun, is quick to say, however, that at the end of the day, it is still the driver that is responsible for everything.  Also, the system is not expected to be available to the general public till at least several years from now.  I think I can wait until then.  In the meantime, I shall rely on the driving skills and generosity of spirit of other people – oh, and the cab drivers as well.

Beware of Scareware!

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I’ve heard of malware, but scareware?  Apparently, scammers are now playing on the fears of Windows users – fear of viruses and other malware.  In order to make money, they dupe people into thinking that their system is suffering from a relentless malware attack, hence the term scareware.  As the scammers prey upon those fears, they prompt users to download security updates that can “keep users safe.”

Obviously, they will charge for these updates.  The problem is that, one, the threat is almost always fake; and two, the security updates are just as fake.  The user who falls for this trick will end up being at least $50 poorer, without having anything to show for it!

This tactic was exposed earlier this week by Parveen Vashishtha from Symantec.  In a blog post, he outlined the modus operandi of this new breed of scammers. The trick is in knowing that browsers DO NOT ask you to download security updates via malware threat warnings.  If you do see something like the image below, chances are you are the target of a scareware scam.

If you’re thinking that people who are dumb enough to fall for this trick deserve it, think again.  The truth of the matter is that the trick seems to work so well – even some experienced users fall for it.  In fact, the scareware business has already made more than $100 million, according to the FBI.  Don’t laugh just yet.

Your safest bet is NOT to click the download button, obviously.  Of course, you also ought to make sure that your OS, security software, and browser/s are updated on a regular basis.