Google is the newest heavy hitter in the social media world. One of the most notable differences between Google and other standard social media sites like Facebook or Twitter is that account holders are restricted from using pseudonyms. Anonymity is very common on the Internet, which is most likely the reason why Google ’s decision to ban pseudonyms has made such a large impact. There are a few key pros and cons to complete anonymity on the Internet, here are a few to consider.

Pros

    The Internet rarely requires users to provide their real names or implements effective methods of verifying personal information. Consider all the fake celebrity Twitter accounts, the source behind Twitter’s “Verified” status. However, easy anonymity comes with a particular layer of safety that is a necessity in many cases. Think of someone who has been the victim of abuse or stalking. For these individuals, being able to use a name other than their own makes them harder to find and therefore safer. In these cases, the connectivity that comes with the Internet can still be enjoyed while remaining at a safe distance from those they wish to stay away from.

Cons

    The majority of Internet annoyances, including crimes, begin with a fake persona on the Internet. Email scams, social media spam and profile hacks are all done by utilizing an anonymous account in one form or another. This makes anonymity on the Internet a complicated issue because it’s a difficult thing to adequately monitor. While there are methods, such as IP tracing, that can reveal the identity of most Internet users, generating a fake identity is still easy. In the same way that anonymity can grant freedom, it can also be a shield for criminals.

    Internet anonymity is a matter of personal responsibility. It is only as bad as the person taking advantage of it. When deciding your stance on the issue, first consider how you use it.

New technology is developed every day; so much so that it seems like as soon as we upgrade, a bigger and better version is released. Despite the fact that we see technologies come and go, it may shock you that the core technology of many of these have stayed the same for decades.

What makes a technology retain its usefulness throughout time? A strong design? Popularity? Whatever the explanation, here is a list of several technologies that have not needed much modification for over 4 decades.

Virtual Memory – 1962 – This allows systems to use hardware memory more resourcefully by recycling space used for memory. This concept led to time-sharing or the ability for systems to multi-task.

MOS Chip – 1967 – Metal-oxide semiconductor. This technology is used today to make computer chips and is known as CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor). The technology has changed a bit over time so adaptability is one trait that has kept it alive.

C programming language – 1969 – Designed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, C is the most common and widely used programming language in the world. Once you get something right why change it?

These technologies have maintained their validity for over 50 years and are the core foundation of a variety of technologies today. As we demand more out of our tech we may see these evolve or disappear. But for now they remain some of the most steadfast, innovative creations in the computer world for the past century.

You can find more tech that has withstood the test of time here: http://www.osnews.com/thread?484715

We are all familiar with finding annoying spam messages in our e-mail inbox, labeled by subject lines promising cheap Rolex watches or urgent cries for help from friends mysteriously trapped in Europe. But what do you do when the tables are turned and it’s your friends who are getting spam messages from your personal e-mail account? When this happens, it means your e-mail has been hacked. If you ever find yourself the victim of a spamming crime, remember to follow these 3 steps in order to regain control.

Notify Webmail Provider

    The first action you should take is notifying your webmail provider. Make sure to contact them through their helpdesk or contact service and notify them of your hacked account. Reporting any hacking problems will allow the webmail provider to rectify the situation and then fortify their security to ensure that this situation will not be repeated.

Change Password

    Perhaps the most important step to take after discovering your e-mail has been hacked is changing your password. This will ensure that whomever has compromised your account won’t be able to do so again. It’s also a great time to create a more intricate password, one that won’t be easily guessed by a traditional hacker. It’s not surprising that randomized password guessing compromises most emails. After all, the most common password is “password.”

Notify your contact list

    Let everyone on your contact list know that any messages received from your account over the past several days may have been spam. Doing this will help ensure that no scams are successful and no viruses are transmitted. Sending out an email to all your contacts is the responsible thing to do in this situation. Make sure to convey the message clearly in the subject line, as some members of your comment list have already opened a spam message and are currently avoiding your e-mails.

    No one likes having his or her personal information compromised. It’s important to remember that, if your email has been hacked, your online banking and other Internet managed services may also be compromised. If you’d like more information on what you should with a hacked email, please take a look at this article.

Most of us set goals in our personal lives. It keeps us motivated and each accomplishment gives us the drive to keep reaching further. We do this in our home life so why not do this in our work life too?

Approximately 30% of our lives are spent at work. Some people are unfulfilled by this time. Many people do not feel that they are an active part of the company and let whatever comes into their inbox dictate how their time is spent. Setting goals gives people a sense of control and allows them to choose how they spend their day. They feel like an active member of the team as they have a say in creating  goals and the part they will play in their completion.

More than ever people work autonomously; people who work like this must be proactive about setting goals. Regardless of whether you work in a group or autonomously, here are a few tips that will help you start the process of goal setting.

1. Set or Assess Goals Every 3-6 Months – Motivate employees and keep goals fresh by scheduling a meeting solely dedicated to setting goals.
2. Write Down Your Goals – Physical documentation of your goals will help the group keep the focused on those goals.
3. Aim High – A challenging goal once completed is sure to provide a great sense of accomplishment.
4. Find a System to Measure Performance – By breaking goals down into smaller ones and determining the skills that need to be perfected, you can more easily measure the progress toward the finalization of the goal.
5. Celebrate Each Achievement – Whether working individually or with a team, be sure to celebrate each step that has been reached that supports the larger goal. Positive reinforcement goes a long way and it can be as simple as a word of acknowledgment.
6. Schedule the Next Goal Setting Meeting – Keep goals fresh, new, and on the top of everyone’s agendas by thinking ahead and scheduling the next meeting.

We all want to be proud of the work we do and feel like we contribute. Keeping focused on our goals can illustrate achievements in a very real way and be a reminder of the part we play in the larger picture.

A good app is one that provides value. But what determines that value? A large consideration for that answer is the functionality of the app itself, be it practical or entertaining. However, it’s important to consider the design and development put into the app. If Angry Birds crashes unexpectedly in your favorite level, then does that app still contain value? No matter what the case, if you’re debating purchasing a hot new app, here are a few key factors to consider when determining any app’s inherit value.

Stability and Reliability

    A good app is one that has been rigorously tested. There are several outlying factors that can decide how an app will function and, if not tested all possible situations, you might find yourself using an app with limited functionality. Some things to consider when looking at the stability and reliability of an app: does it work without WIFI? Does it work when on airplane mode? Does it work if the service of the phone is interrupted? Depending on what the app is made to do, these factors can be paramount. Make sure to research the testing that went into any app you are considering.

Consumer Consideration

    App developers need to consider how their app will affect the user. Even a cheap app can be costly if it consumes too much data. Most Smartphones come with a limited data plan. A good app will consider the consumer and be designed in a way that will not infer further charges with their monthly cellphone plan.  When deciding on which app to download, make sure to research the data transfer rate needed to use the app as well as any other factors that might create be supplementary charges.

A Well Built API

    API stands for application programing interface. In layman’s terms, an API is the part of an app’s programing that controls how it communicates with other apps and programs. This is an important part of any app’s development because it directly affects functionality. If you download an app that connects your smartphone to your Twitter account and the API is dysfunctional and doesn’t connect well, the functionality of that app is rendered useless. Basically, if the API is broken, your Twitter postings will not work. Make sure to research the reliability of an app’s API before downloading.

While an app’s worth can be of objective determination, there will always be several key elements to look for when searching for that perfect new download. For more tips on finding great apps, take a look a this article.