Polemics » Technology http://www.polemics.us Step Up and Take a Side Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:35:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Can Facebook Take Over the Web? http://www.polemics.us/can-facebook-take-over-the-web/ http://www.polemics.us/can-facebook-take-over-the-web/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:35:56 +0000 Mark http://www.polemics.us/?p=181 Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Can Facebook Take Over the Web?

]]> On April 21, 2010… there was a shock felt around the world when Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook announced they plan to take over the world of the web! I think Rob Scoble covered it best on his site…

What do you think?

Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Can Facebook Take Over the Web?

]]> http://www.polemics.us/can-facebook-take-over-the-web/feed/ 2 Does Google Buzz Threaten Facebook or Twitter? http://www.polemics.us/does-google-buzz-threaten-facebook-or-twitter/ http://www.polemics.us/does-google-buzz-threaten-facebook-or-twitter/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:48:34 +0000 Mark http://www.polemics.us/?p=176 Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Does Google Buzz Threaten Facebook or Twitter?

]]> By now, you have all seen the new feature called Buzz from Google (isn’t Google a search engine?) Google Buzz is a new microblogging tool that lets you network with friends and family at a whole new level!

Google has tried to emulate the best of both Twitter and Facebook with this application. Which brings a completely different set of questions about a search engine who controls the web, stepping into a service role… but I digress…

What do you think, Should they be scared?

Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Does Google Buzz Threaten Facebook or Twitter?

]]> http://www.polemics.us/does-google-buzz-threaten-facebook-or-twitter/feed/ 0 Google & NSA Team Up for Security – Are You Scared? http://www.polemics.us/google-nsa-team-up-for-security-are-you-scared/ http://www.polemics.us/google-nsa-team-up-for-security-are-you-scared/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:26:46 +0000 Mark http://www.polemics.us/?p=169 Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Google & NSA Team Up for Security – Are You Scared?

]]> Google, working on a agreement that’s still being finalized, is set to partner with the National Security Agency to help better defend Google and its users from Cyber Attacks. Are you scared of losing all privacy to the Gov’t yet?

The search engine giant we all love to use, gathers more information about our online activities that we know! Sure, they have a very detailed privacy policy, but how many people have actually read, or even understand the contents? The depth of knowledge Google stores on us is overwhelming… and rather frightening!

  • When you visit a website with Google Ads – They now track you!
  • If you visit Whitehouse.gov and watch a YouTube  Obama Speech – They now track you!
  • If you use Gmail – They know EVERYTHING about you!
  • If you simply visit Google and search for something – You gave them permission to track you for many years!
  • Have you seen Google Street View? Use Google maps to lookup YOUR address… don’t be too shocked!
  • This list goes on and on…

Take a quick jump over to the Google Watch Cookie tracker, and see just how many years you didn’t even know you agreed to!

Finally, The Patriot Act…

  • By Rule of the Patriot Act – it is illegal to disclose you have been contacted with a request for information! in other words, if the Gov’t DID request information (Which they do daily) it is against the law to reveal it! We would never know!
  • By Rule of the Patriot Act – the Gov’t has full and complete rights to request search engine and web browsing data from anyone! including Google and your ISP.

Lets Face It – Google Knows MORE About Us than the Government – Or at least we like to Think So!

Have your Say Below…

Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Google & NSA Team Up for Security – Are You Scared?

]]> http://www.polemics.us/google-nsa-team-up-for-security-are-you-scared/feed/ 1 Microsoft Retail Stores – Would You Go There? http://www.polemics.us/microsoft-retail-stores-talk-about-wasteful-spending/ http://www.polemics.us/microsoft-retail-stores-talk-about-wasteful-spending/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:29:15 +0000 Mark http://www.polemics.us/?p=141 Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Microsoft Retail Stores – Would You Go There?

]]> Earlier this week, Microsoft announced plans to open retail stores around the US and the rest of the world! Speculation is, they are doing this to try the same method that has been working very well for Apple, and get a company certified professional in a face to face situation with buyers. Coming from several years in retail with Gateway Country Stores, the now closed retail chain from Gateway Computers Inc, I don’t think they have given this enough thought! :-)

Why It Might Work

Microsoft still holds a very large percentage of the home computer market and many people use their software daily! If they position the Microsoft Retail outlets as a service and training company versus a retail software chain, they have a much better chance of reaching people and business. They can load the store with their software of course, but having consumer techs and more importantly, small business solution technicians in place to not only assist with issues, but helping people envision HOW the software will benefit them, they might just make it work!

It has been my own experience in 15 years of working around the PC, 99% of the problems people experience are user or training related. If they meet that need, they might have something!

Why it Won’t Work

It will be easier to complete this section, since IMO, this is going to be a HUGE money pit from day 1! Microsoft Retail Stores… what are they going to actually sell? Operating systems? Office Software? Of course… BUT what makes them any different than your neighborhood Best Buy or Online Discount seller? Unless they align themselves with a hardware manufacturer that is NOT already present in the warehouse stores, why bother going there?

Why would you visit a Microsoft Retail Store that offers 1-2 products, versus going to Best Buy with hundreds?

Do YOU Think it will Work?

Vote in the Poll and leave your Comments below!

Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Microsoft Retail Stores – Would You Go There?

]]> http://www.polemics.us/microsoft-retail-stores-talk-about-wasteful-spending/feed/ 3 Is Google Spying on You for the Government? http://www.polemics.us/is-google-spying-on-you-for-the-government/ http://www.polemics.us/is-google-spying-on-you-for-the-government/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:00:55 +0000 Mark http://www.polemics.us/?p=123 Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Is Google Spying on You for the Government?

]]> Google, working on a agreement that’s still being finalized, is set to partner with the National Security Agency to help better defend Google and its users from Cyber Attacks. Are you scared of losing all privacy to the Gov’t yet?

The search engine giant we all love to use, gathers more information about our online activities that we know! Sure, they have a very detailed privacy policy, but how many people have actually read, or even understand the contents? The depth of knowledge Google stores on us is overwhelming… and rather frightening!

  • When you visit a website with Google Ads – They now track you!
  • If you visit Whitehouse.gov and watch a YouTube  Obama Speech – They now track you!
  • If you use Gmail – They know EVERYTHING about you!
  • If you simply visit Google and search for something – You gave them permission to track you for many years!
  • Have you seen Google Street View? Use Google maps to lookup YOUR address… don’t be too shocked!
  • This list goes on and on…

Take a quick jump over to the Google Watch Cookie tracker, and see just how many years you didn’t even know you agreed to!

Finally, The Patriot Act…

  • By Rule of the Patriot Act – it is illegal to disclose you have been contacted with a request for information! in other words, if the Gov’t DID request information (Which they do daily) it is against the law to reveal it! We would never know!
  • By Rule of the Patriot Act – the Gov’t has full and complete rights to request search engine and web browsing data from anyone! including Google and your ISP.

Lets Face It – Google Knows MORE About Us than the Government – Or at least we like to Think So!

Have your Say Below…

Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Is Google Spying on You for the Government?

]]> http://www.polemics.us/is-google-spying-on-you-for-the-government/feed/ 2 Google Earnings – Is the Search Giant Over Inflated? http://www.polemics.us/google-earnings-is-the-search-giant-over-inflated/ http://www.polemics.us/google-earnings-is-the-search-giant-over-inflated/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:51:57 +0000 Mark http://www.polemics.us/?p=93 Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Google Earnings – Is the Search Giant Over Inflated?

]]> Google, the search and technology giant responsible for reinventing the way we search and advertise on the web, reported a sharp revenue decline for Q4 2008. The decline was partially written off due to the dropping value of some of their strategic operations and still beat the street estimates!

Do you think this is just a slight hiccup in the golden road, or is Google growing its operations faster than its balance sheet can support, during these tough economic times?

Debate it Yourself at Polemics

Google Earnings – Is the Search Giant Over Inflated?

]]> http://www.polemics.us/google-earnings-is-the-search-giant-over-inflated/feed/ 1