Facebook and T-Mobile Launch Bobsled. With Huge Privacy Glitch. Or is it By Design? Skype, Google Voice and Telcos Beware, Anyway…
Personal Productivity, SaaS April 19th, 2011
Out of left field, T-Mobile and Facebook launched Bobsled, a VOIP service that allows voice calls to anyone on your Facebook list for free. At this moment the entire blogging world is busy writing about it, so I skip the basics… and just run to some funny experience while testing it.
First, here’s how you call from your Chat list: click the phone button.. then voila!:
As it happens, none of my contacts pick up my test call – I suppose the feature is too new, nobody knows where the funny sound comes from or how to react. They will get used to it. But here’s the real surprise: it has VoiceMail. To the World. Literally:
Tags: CloudAve, facebook, Google Voice, privacy, skype, social network, t-mobile, Voicemail, voip
Foxmarks, Xmarks, LastPass, Xpass, LastX, X%^&% Quick Rant
Software December 2nd, 2010
Warning: I think I’m becoming a curmudgeon – except that title has until now been reserved for somebody else 
. But I still have doubts about the recent transaction: LastPass acquired Xmarks.
I really liked Xmarks – when it was Foxmarks. A simple bookmark synchronization service that would keep your Firefox up-to-date no matter where you logged in. Essential Cloud Computing when we’re no longer enslaved to one computer only.
Then it became Xmarks, started to offer password sync and several other services, including “enhanced” Google Search – i.e. adding a social layer to Google’s algorithm. I opted out of password sync, sticking to the basics.
LastPass, on the other hand was a solution for the password conundrum – so good, that Ben was ready to dismiss his usual concerns. The transaction probably makes sense for both parties: Xmarks was going down the drain, having experimented with business models and running out of cash. LastPass picks up millions of users.
So why am I ranting?
Tags: CloudAve, facebook, firefox, foxmarks, lastpass, m&a, privacy, security, sharing, social, synchronization, wikileaks
Finally Something Good on the Privacy Front–from Google Latitude
Software November 4th, 2010
Recently I’ve been experimenting with Google Latitude: I wanted to see if I could use it to replace the “family locator” function that most mobile carriers offer at a premium price. This would require that your child or elderly parent or whoever’s whereabouts you care about carries the phone in their pocket with the display off, while it continues to send its location to you.
No can do. Partly due to Latitude, partly due to the mobile carrier. The problem with Latitude, at least on Android 2.1 is that as soon as the phone goes to sleep, your GPS shuts off – I understand it as default to save battery life, but Latitude should offer the option to continue using GPS, if I so chose.
Without GPS …
Ungrateful iBozos, Stop the Whining. Get a (i)Life.
Humor June 16th, 2010
<sarcasm>
I’m sick of all this whining within the iFamily. These iBozos just don’t appreciate all the goodness they have.
iPhone preorder systems failed. So what? You’ve just saved a boatload of money, be happy, get a life!
Yet another At&T security breach. What’s the big deal? All your data is public anyway, has been for a while, will always be so, so STFU.
Orders Charged and Sent to the Wrong People – and Gizmodo has the balls to call it a disaster. They don’t understand the Grand Scheme. Have you ever been to a potluck party? You bring some, get some (or not). Random credit cards get charged and iPhones get delivered to random people – so what? On the average it all works out, everyone receives an iPhone (or not). We’re all part of iFamily.
MG Siegler Wants a Micro-Cell Rip-Off Box – WTF? To actually waste time making calls? Voice calls are so 90’s anyway. He should pay extra to AT&T for providing such a valuable time-saver plan.
I’m fed up with these unfaithful, ungrateful iWhiners. They should be happy to be admitted to the iChurch and shut up. At least while on AT&T
</sarcasm>
Tags: at&t, cellualar, CloudAve, Humor, ibozo, ichurch, ifamily, ilife, IPad, iPhone, iwhiner, mobility, privacy, sarcasm, security breach, wireless
Oh, just what the Doctor has ordered: more junk food coming your way, left and right, from the social network that’s taking over the Internet: Facebook. McDonald’s will be the first advertiser taking advantage of Facebook’s soon-t0-be-releasing location feature.
The first reaction from most is this will kill leading location-based services: Hey Foursquare, Time To Close That Round Of Funding Before Facebook Chops Off Your Head. Yes, probably true, but now I am more worried about Facebook users – all of us – then businesses, and not just as a defender of healthier diets. Greasy or not, it’s not the ads that worry my, it’s yet another level of thoughtless surrender we’ll soon be committing: broadcasting our location every step of the way.
Yes, I realize there may be social benefits from bumping into friends via Foursquare Facebook, but have you really considered the danger of letting the world know where you are every step of the way? While you think about it, also consider just whose hands you leave all that data in: not exactly the champions of privacy.
The Relationship Between Facebook and Privacy: It’s Really Complicated says Mathew Ingram @ GigaOM this morning, and I strongly disagree. There is nothing complicated about it. Facebook does not give a *** about privacy: it’s a concept CEO Mark Zuckerberg finds obsolete, simply does not believe in at all. Now, in reality, even Facebook caves in to demands of privacy, but they are either careless or incompetent, or both, plugging one security hole after another.
Three strikes and you’re out – I guess Facebook is exempt from that law, now that they are becoming the New Internet.
But people are actually worried about privacy implications to consider quitting Facebook entirely: 10 Reasons To Delete Your Facebook Account. It’s a post worth reading in full, here are just the headings:
10. Facebook’s Terms Of Service are completely one-sided
9. Facebook’s CEO has a documented history of unethical behavior
8. Facebook has flat out declared war on privacy.
7. Facebook is pulling a classic bait-and-switch
6. Facebook is a bully
5. Even your private data is shared with applications (you are no longer trusting Facebook, but the Facebook ecosystem).
4. Facebook is not technically competent enough to be trusted.
3. Facebook makes it incredibly difficult to truly delete your account.
2. Facebook doesn’t (really) support the Open Web.
1. The Facebook application itself sucks.
I must admit for all my grumpiness I have not deleted my account, and I likely will not (not that it would be easy ). I resisted joining Facebook in the first place, was probably a year or so late, and even when I joined, I created a separate email account just for FB, and disallowed saving any Facebook cookies (remember Beacon? ). But resistance became just too inconvenient… so now I am in. That said I am not particularly active on Facebook, hardly maintain my profile and generally my presence there is a mess (this is where my marketing friends can jump in chastizing me for the lost opportunity). I’m only sticking around because Facebook has proven to be too pervasive, it is everywhere and (almost) everyone is on it. So yes, it is great to find long-lost friends and even discover some new ones. But that’s all for me, and I seriously suggest you all reconsider the level of your presence.
And even if you are very disciplined in your Facebook usage (are you?) read #5 above again. Just yesterday I was setting up my shiny new Android phone: I decided to enable location information, for the benefit of Google Maps and other really useful services. But… but..but … I am also tweeting and communicating in a zillion other ways from that same device, and although I will try to be careful about reviewing the permissions of every single app, it’s likely I will slip sooner or later.
So think about this: in this API-driven intertwined ecosystem of mobile and web services, just how certain can you be that Facebook (and others) won’t get information you never intend to give them in the first place, no matter how careful (you think) you are?
Updates:
Tags: android, CloudAve, facebook, foursquare, gowalla, location, mobility, privacy, security, Twitter
Hacker Disables Cars via the Web – Our Remote Controlled Life
Technology March 17th, 2010
This is what remote controlled toy cars looked like when I was a kid. Yes, the control box was connected to the car with a 3-4feet cable… not exactly the level of freedom you get with today’s wireless models.
But it was fun, nevertheless. I wonder if 20-year-old Omar Ramos-Lopez had a toy car when he was a kid. He seems to have found one now.. let me correct that: he seems to have found over 100 remote controlled cars to play with.
The laid-off employee of Texas Auto Center sought revenge and he found it in the Webtech Plus system, which allows dealers to remotely switch off ignition, sound the honk …etc. in the cars of non-paying customers. Our hacker immobilized over 100 cars and triggered their honks in the middle of the night… probably almost as much fun as a crazy SXSW party 
On second thought, it probably wasn’t fun for the drivers whose cars would not start going to work, or whose only remedy against a shrieking honk at midnight was to remove the car battery. But at least they were aware of the presence of the remote device… unlike students and families of Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania (has Lower Merion just become the most famous school district in the US?). The Spy Cam District’s victims had no idea their homes could be monitored using the school issued laptops. (And the school district blew their chances of becoming a hit Reality TV show…)
Talk about remote sensors: I had no idea of the extended capabilities of the smart meter PG&E, the local utility has installed recently. These smart meters were all about remote reporting of consumption, and somehow the utility company forgot to tell us they came equipped with a wireless switch to shut off electricity supply.
Shall I go on? I’m not sure I even want to know how many aspects of our lives can be digitally controlled… all in the name of progress, but dangerous when falling in the wrong hands. 
Tags: big brother, CloudAve, hackers, hacking, privacy, remote control, remote sensors, sensors, smart meters, spy cam, SXSW, utility
Now We Know Why The City Never Sleeps
Business, Customer Service February 25th, 2010
Now we know why The Citi Never Sleeps: they are busy censoring their customers. If you are a Citibank customer and they dislike your blog, you may just get in trouble. (Disclosure: I do have a Citi account… so am taking a risk by writing this post.)
That’s just what happened to fabulis, a social network for gay men. Someone at Citi read their blog, decided that “content was not in compliance with Citibank’s standard policies” and froze their business account without advance warning. Fabulis Founder Jason Goldberg says:
for the life of us we can’t find anything “objectionable” on our blog besides some good humor, some business insights, and some touching coming out stories from some great and fabulis gay people.
Some speculate it’s images like that of this underwear with fabulis printed on it. If you ask me, these are not the most fabulis [sic] briefs, but who cares?
In fact it really doesn’t matter whether the fabulis blog has any “objectionable” material or not. Since when is it the business of a bank to read and censor their Client’s writing?
I’m pinching myself, thinking it’s a bad dream. But it’s not. This happened in the United Sates in 2010.
Something tells me within hours as management wakes up, Citi will be bending over backwards to dig themselves out of this huge PR nighmare – the damage is done, repairs will be costly.
In the meantime, enjoy Fabulis (almost) by Amanda Lear.
Tags: banking, censorship, citi, citibank, CloudAve, fabulis, free speech, gay, privacy, social network, Startup
Now You Have a Choice: GoogleZon or the Opt-out Village
Humor August 11th, 2009
It’s really simple. Here’s your default choice:
But now you can opt out of all google services. Welcome to the Village, courtesy of The Onion.
Skype Spam
Software June 22nd, 2009
The last place I expect to receive spam is on Skype, and so far it has remained clean, I assume due to my privacy settings:
So how on earth could this have popped up on my screen:
[12:05:42 PM] Zora Giannoni: hi! i’m briannahh from http://www.slutsdating.com are we still on for saturday?
No, Zora, or Briannah or whoever you are: we’re not on. Anyone with similar experience? Are we seeing major trouble with Skype?
Google Health & Microsoft HealthVault: the Sorry State of Health 2.0
SaaS, Technology February 5th, 2009
Today’s joint IBM – Google announcement about enabling personal health monitoring devices to send data directly to Google Health gave me the grand opportunity for a (not-so) quick rant that’s been boiling in me for a while.
Ever since I started actively managing my parents’ health care I’ve been a heavy user of electronic health records and communication systems, and I am immensely frustrated. Frustrated at the paper-based world we’re facing in the 21st century, but also at the current attempts to change all that. Grand ideas, alliances, announcements, but they all feel like IT-talk, losing sight of the very people these systems supposed to serve: patients. That’s you and me and our relatives who have health issues.
Tags: Google, google health, health, health 2.0, health care, health records, healthvault, hipaa, microsoft, privacy, usability, windows live
Zoli Erdos
