ZDNet : Top 25 Android apps: The best of the best

"The Android Market may not have as many apps as the iPhone App Store yet, but there are still enough to be overwhelmed, and it’s growing at a breakneck pace. To help you sort through them all, here’s my list of the best apps I’ve found on Android. Again, remember that this is a snapshot in time. The Android platform is developing so quickly right now that I guarantee my home screen look different a month from now." ~Jason Hiner

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/top-25-android-apps-the-best-of-the-best/37363

An Android and an IPad are two items I would like to get for myself. You all may ask why not an IPhone, well I prefer the DROID for some reason. I don't really have a good one yet. But the IPad is the best tablet out I have seen so far, although there is a rival in the works that has my interest piqued. I do apologize as I cannot remember it's name right now. When I do I will post a link to it so that you can check it out also.

ZDNet : January 2011: The Definitive Facebook Lockdown Guide

"New Year’s resolutions are among us, though voluntary and often roll over from year to year. This time around, though, take one New Year’s resolution as a wild card, and lock down your Facebook profile like your own personal Fort Knox, and get it out of the way for the year ahead.
The bad news is that damage could well have already been done, as some features are hidden away and are difficult to find. But, don’t panic. You will be surprised how much you can recover in the space of five or ten minutes of clicking on a few buttons."~Zack Whittaker

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/january-2011-the-definitive-facebook-lockdown-guide/7439?tag=footer

Now this is a good Idea for anyone. Especially those of us that are on FB all the time. There are guides for securing FB for people and they are even pictures to help you.

Top Tech News : Firefox May Send 'Do Not Track' Notice with Every Click

"A notice to opt out of behavioral advertising may be sent with every click in future Firefox versions. Mozilla plans a Do Not Track feature that would send the notice in the Firefox HTTP header. Mozilla's Alex Fowler said the header approach for Firefox is better than cookies or blacklists. Other browser makers are working on similar functions."~Jennifer LeClaire

http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=12100B4DLRJC

I feel this will enable more privacy, but I also feel it will only change the way advertising comes towards users. This could also stop some of the tracking for both the good and the bad people. 

The New York Post : Google and Mozilla Announce New Privacy Features

"On Monday, Mozilla and Google announced features that would allow users of the Firefox and Chrome browsers to opt out of being tracked online by third-party advertisers. The companies made their announcements just weeks after the Federal Trade Commission issued a report that supported a “do not track” mechanism that would let consumers choose whether companies could monitor their online behavior. "   ~Tanzina Vega

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/google-and-mozilla-announce-new-privacy-features/?ref=technology

I find this addition to be a bit pleasing, however I can see problems. But we will have to wait and see what the actual outcomes are.

Video Update 1-25-11

This is an update. Please stay tuned.

BBC News : Duke Nukem Forever release date confirmed for May 2011

WOOHOO!!! I am a video game nut. And although this game has been a loooonnnngg time coming, I am ready to check it out. THE DUKE IS BACK!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/12274722

A music podcast by a friend

A friend of mine DJ, has just started a music podcast. He is open to many music genres, and although we don't always agree one the music we like, he is open and honest with his opinion. Check him out.

http://dj4vibesandstuff.podomatic.com

Just one podcast for now but from what I hear right now he is gonna be great in the next episodes.

Network World : Top 10 Web hacking techniques of 2010 revealed

"A Web hack that can endanger online banking transactions is ranked the No. 1 new Web hacking technique for 2010 in a top 10 list selected by a panel of experts and open voting.

Called the Padding Oracle Crypto Attack, the hack takes advantage of how Microsoft's Web framework ASP.NET protects AES encryption cookies." ~Tim Greene

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/012411-top-web-hacking-techniques.html?hpg1=bn

Some of these remind me of why I do not use these settings in my browsers.

Top Tech News : Man Quits Job, Makes Living Suing E-Mail Spammers

"Eight years ago, Daniel Balsam was working as a marketer when he received one too many e-mail pitches to enlarge his breasts. Enraged, he launched a Web site called Danhatesspam.com, quit a career in marketing to go to law school and is making a decent living suing companies who flood his e-mail inboxes with offers of cheap drugs."~ Paul Elias

http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=10000B7NOZ8C
All I have to say is WOW. I wish I had thought of this. I hated spam email so much I just stopped using certain email services. However I would not go to school to be a lawyer, I have a family member to do that. I'd just have to split the difference with them. But seriously, I am kinda proud to say that someone is truly fighting back.
 

ZDNet : Windows 7 Service Pack 1: What's inside

"Leakers seem to have gotten their hands on what may be the final Windows 7 Service Pack 1/Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 builds.

Microsoft officials are not saying whether the latest leaked version is the “real” SP1 release-to-manufacturing version. As usual, the advice to customers is to wait for the official Microsoft-provided SP1 before deploying to avoid potential malware and security risks."~Mary Jo Foley

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/windows-7-service-pack-1-whats-inside/8436?tag=content;feature-roto

I can actually understand why people have waited for this service pack. For those of you that need a metaphor, many people do not buy the first year of a brand new car. Why because there are a lot of bugs and problems that still need to be worked out. But in the case with Windows OSs most people wait for SP1 before they jump on board. This is also a more prevalent development since Vista. 7 is the best OS from Microsoft since XP in my opinion.

Network World : The 10 biggest hoaxes in Wikipedia's first 10 years

"Wikipedia will celebrate its 10th birthday on Saturday, with founder Jimmy Wales having built the site from nothing to one of the most influential destinations on the Internet. Wikipedia's goal may be to compile the sum total of all human knowledge, but it's also, perhaps, the best tool in existence for perpetuating Internet hoaxes. Let's take a look at the 10 biggest hoaxes in Wikipedia's history."~ Jon Brodkin

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/011411-wikipedia-hoaxes.html?hpg1=bn

Wow. The information site that educators love to hate, Wikipedia has just turned 10. Now that is not really that old in the grand scheme of the net, but it is impressive. I have had one teacher say that Wikipedia is not a bad starting point, however do not use them for a reference. For a quick blurb it can be a great jumping off point. And I have actually found that in some cases, when moderated well, the pages can actually give great genuine information about less known historical figures.

Blistered Thumbs : Asus & Primesense Team Up for PC Kinect?

"Today in a press release, tech development company Primesense, the company behind the 3D detection technology the Microsoft Kinect uses, announced that they would be teaming up with manufacturer ASUS to market a PC device quite similar to the Kinect called the WAVI Xtion." ~ Johnny M.

http://www.blisteredthumbs.net/2011/01/asus-primesense-team-up-for-pc-kinect/

Getting any news off a gaming site on technology may not seem all that wise to some people, but I happen to like some of the reviews here. In fact I am a gamer as well. Not having a 360, I am unable to check out what the Kinect can do in games. But I do have the Wii and have a lot of fun playing games with my kids. The idea of in home motion capture is going to help quite a bit with moving towards VR gaming. I am really hoping it will make a comeback.

Here is a link to what someone has done with their hacked Kinect and other technical know-how.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/21/kinect-paired-with-vuzix-vr920-shades-creates-zany-virtual-real

This is part of the next step in gaming.