Article Comparison #5

Article #1  

"How the Blind Are Reinventing the iPhone"

May 2nd,2012

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/05/how-the-blind-are-reinventing-the-iphone/256589/

Article #2

"The Way Blind People Use an iPhone"

April 21st, 2012

http://boredstomp.com/how-to/the-way-blind-people-use-an-iphone/

Article #3

"How the iPhone Helps the Blind"

April 17th, 2012

http://www.intomobile.com/2012/04/17/iphone-helps-blind/

Notes

• #2 and #3 consists of videos to better explain the usability of the interface for the blind
• #2 and #3 refer to the same person, Tommy Edison, as a blind critic
• #2 has both a "more from" that site section as well as a "recommends"
• #1 has no videos but instead used pictured accompanied by a more in depth article to convey its point
• #1 states that the iphone was considered a nightmare in the blind society following its introduction in 2007 because of its touch screen feature that had no physical differentiation 
• There are quite a few apps that have been created specifically for the blind.ex. LookTel Money Reader: an app that scans bills and tells you exactly what bill it is
• #2 and #3 were vague articles depending solely on video
• #1 surrounded its main article with other articles that were contained within the same site
• This topic is relevant to the class because it has everything to do with user usability and is a great example of how important it is. Being able to construct a mobil world for a world where even the blind can use it, literally, takes a whole other level of technique and understanding of a whole other society and their behaviors.

Article Review #5

Article Title

"Google Street View privacy scandal broadens"

Article Author

Jessica Guynn & David Sarno

Article Publication Date

May 1st, 2012

URL of Original Article

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/la-fi-google-street-view-20120502,0,7972505.story

Article Summary

Google has been caught in the act of "snatching personal data from Wi-Fi networks" by using its street view cars and is now trying to pin the act on one sole engineer. The software that is responsible for the invasion of privacy is said to be the doing of engineer, Marius Milner. (279cc)

Relevance to the Class 

As internet users, nothing is safe or off limits. Anything is available to anyone at anytime if they really want it bad enough. With that being said, as a user, it affects the way you protect yourself and forces you to access anything with caution. (248cc)

Key Quote

“Google's motto has always been 'Do no evil'. It should also be 'Do no eavesdropping'.” (87cc)

Article Comparison #4

Article #1  

"Google may replace .com in the near future"

April 12th,2012

http://www.slashgear.com/google-may-replace-com-in-the-near-future-12222731/

Article #2

"Google Plots Web Domain-Buying Spree"

April 9th, 2012

http://adage.com/article/digital/google-plots-web-domain-buying-spree/234009/

Article #3

"Google to buy its own web domain"

April 12th, 2012

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/04/12/google-to-buy-its-own-web-domain/

Notes

• Google has applied for a number of TLD's (Top Level Domains) which include YouTube, Gmail, and Google Play.
• #1 sheds light on the issue of fifty eight other trademarks containing the word google, all of which are not owned by the Google we know.
• Costs $185,000 to apply for a TLD.
• #1 includes a video that links to google.com and plays the video via a light box from youtube.
• #1 and #3 includes images of what .google could potentially look like.
• Not everyone is jumping at the opportunity to get their own domain. i.e, Pepsi is keeping faith in their .com site.
• #2 shed light on a valid point of companies having really generic names such as apple could run into trademark competition.
• #2 was was well written with the way in flowed from one topic into another, giving pros and cons in involved with potential domains.
• #3 placed a quote of interest on the right sidebar.
• This topic is relevant to the class because it touches on the way a user will be able to navigate the web. Having .com, .org, .edu, .net, etc. have been mainstream domains for so long now that users are incline to assuming that their web destination will always consist of one those domains. However, with new domains being added to the mix, especially carrying big names like Google, it will in some way force loyal users to get into the .google hang of things.

Article Review #4

Article Title

"Privacy Backlash Over Girls Around Me Mobile App"

Article Author

BBC News Technology (no listed author)

Article Publication Date

April 2nd, 2012

URL of Original Article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17582975

Article Summary

An app that originally used check-in information from Facebook and Foursquare to pin point local women is viewed in a negative light because of it's "misunderstood" purpose, according to its company representative. (214cc)

Relevance to the Class 

Class relevance was not so much the actual topic, but the functionality of the app. By keeping track of check-ins from different social networks, ones privacy went from being found via innocent social networking to having random people locate you via check-in, a physical place of being. (287cc)

Key Quote

"This is an app you should download to teach the people you care about that privacy issues are real, that social networks like Facebook and Foursquare exposes you and the ones you love, and that if you do not know exactly how much you are sharing." (248cc)

Article Comparison #3

Article #1  

"XBox now used more for online entertainment then online gaming"

March 26th,2012

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/03/xbox-more-entertainment-gaming-hbo-go-comcast-xfinity-mlb.html

Article #2

"XBox 360 Launches HBO GO and the Future Inches Closer"

March 27th, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2012/03/27/xbox-360-launches-hbo-go-and-the-future-inches-closer/

Article #3

"Online Entertainment Bigger Than Gaming on XBox 360"

March 27th, 2012

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/hbo-comcast-come-xbox-360-182414016.html

Notes

• #1 states the average household spends 84 hours a month on the xbox playing games, listen to music and watching videos online.
• Xbox not only has gaming applications but has added Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, ESPN, YouTube and will soon add HBO GO. (36 total services available on xbox Live)
• 66 million xbox 360's sold worldwide.
• #2 gives several first hand quotes about the key features that xbox provides with the new applications.
• #2 focused more on the launch of HBO GO on xbox Live.
• #1 and #3 expressed very similar content but #3 just touched on the subject where #1 elaborated more.
• Microsoft is the creator.
• Relevant to the class because it shows that there are so many ways that the internet  is be accessed that the actual architecture of the world wide web will need to be designed in a versatile way where it can flow through different medias without loosing its integrity.

Article Review #3

Article Title

"Use of Homeless as Internet Hot Spots Backfires on Marketer"

Article Author

Jenna Wortham

Article Publication Date

March 12th, 2012

URL of Original Article

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/technology/homeless-as-wi-fi-transmitters-creates-a-stir-in-austin.html?_r=1&ref=technology

Article Summary

Homeless people are given an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the everyday user seeking Wi-Fi via means of a BBH experiment which enables volunteers to become a moving hot spot when rigged to a device. (217cc)

Relevance to the Class 

This new technology/idea is reopening the option of users being able to have the internet more accessible to them via the use of a laptop, thus reversing the new age use of mobile devices/networks for internet access. (217cc)

Key Quote

"The smartphone-toting, social-networking crowds often overwhelm cellular networks in the area, creating a market that the BBH Labs hoped to serve with the "Homeless Hotspot" project, which it called a "charitable experiment"." (227cc)

Article Comparison #2

Article #1  

"Arrests Sow Mistrust Inside a Clan of Hackers"

March 6th, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/technology/lulzsec-hacking-suspects-are-arrested.html?_r=1&ref=technology

Article #2

"Hackers Lash Out at LulzSec Leader Turned 'Snitch'"

March 6th, 2012

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/hackers-lash-out-at-lulzsec-leader-turned-snitch/?ref=technology

Article #3

"Hackers Deface Panda Security's Website Following Arrests"

March 7th, 2012

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/251412/hackers_deface_panda_securitys_website_following_arrests.html

Notes

• #1 gave person profiles on the hackers
• #3 focused more specifically on one encounter
• #2 gave more insight on fellow Anonymous members reactions to the "betrayal"
• All 3 spoke on the involvement of "Sabu" in the hackings
• #2 was brief but thoroughly described what the article was about in a way that was quickly understood and straight to the point
• Anonymous is an online collection of "hacktivists" that contain smaller groups of rebels
• Their motive is more movement based as opposed to financial gain
• Hector Xavier Monsegur "Sabu" was frowned upon by his community of hackers for being a traitor by helping the Feds
• Relevant to class because it sheds light on the power of the web and the possibilities it holds whether good or bad, information you put online is available and present throughout the whole network therefore how you present it is imperative to the message your sending