Facebook joins the so-called “location war” with the launch of Facebook Places. Places is currently available for Apple iPhone users (with the newest version of the Facebook App) and mobile users accessing touch.facebook.com and allows users to “check in” using their mobile phones to inform friends of where they are. In addition to checking in their own location, users will be able to “tag” friends that are with them as well. Users will also be able to see if any friends have chosen to check in nearby.
Places is currently rolling out to all US users and is looked to be picked up by younger and socially active individuals. Maybe someone is at a bar or restaurant and that person checks in with Places and views if anyone else is nearby. Communication can then ensue to meet up. You can also leave comments with your check ins. Maybe it is positive comments about a restaurants food or service. Places will also allow users to identify hot spots in their area and new area to check out.
With all of the geolocation services in the news recently and the rising concern of privacy, is Facebook Places something to be concerned with?
Facebook has made a solid attempt to alleviate concerns of privacy by adding privacy settings and setting up the default setting with a fairly conservative approach. By default, if you are a Facebook user, Places will have very minimal impact to you. First of all, a user would need to initiate an action of "check in" for Facebook (and users) to see where you are. So Facebook is not looking at where you are and posting it without your knowledge.
There are several several new privacy settings for Places. The first new privacy settings is under the section "Things I share" and it is called "Places I check in." By default this setting is set to "Friends Only" which means that only your "friends" will be able to check in and see where you are. If you would like to have more privacy, change that setting to "Customize" and either specify which of your friends or groups can, or can't, see where you check in.
The second new setting is "Include me in 'People Here Now' after I check in." This setting lets others at the same spot know that you are there. It is important to know that the people who see this may not necessarily be just your friends seeing this list. By default this setting is disabled which means that in order for your friends, and others, to see you in the list of people nearby to them you would need to enable this setting.
The third new setting is under the "Things others share" section and is called "Friends can check me in to Places." By default this setting is not set and displays "Select one" in the drop down list. It is important to know that the first time a friend tags you through Places, you will receive a notification on Facebook and you will be given the choice to allow your friends to check you in to places or not. When your friends check you in, it is as if you have checked in at that place yourself. You also will appear checked-in to your friends. If you don't allow friends to check you in, then when they tag you at a place, your name will appear in the same way it appears in a tagged status update. You will not appear checked in at that place. Similar to photo tagging, you have the ability to remove yourself from Places check-in or tag.
The last privacy option is a bit tucked away and is listed under the "Application and Websites" section under "Privacy Settings." Click on "Edit your settings" and click on "Edit Settings" next to "Info accessible through your friends." The new settings is labeled "Places I've Visited" and by default is checked. This means that the Places you have checked in will be available to applications, games and websites when your friends use them. To disable this setting uncheck the setting.
Creating friends lists and why it is recommended
One final topic regarding privacy that many Facebook users don’t know is that you can create a list to organize your friends. Some suggestions for lists would be one for family, one for friends, and one for business. I’ve heard from some users that they have two separate Facebook accounts setup, one for personal use and the other for business use. I feel that not only is that incredibly difficult to manage, it really isn’t necessary. After you have these lists setup, you can modify your privacy settings to allow certain lists to see some things and other lists not to see other things. So for example you can modify your privacy settings so that photos and video that you are tagged in (which sometimes can be a bit embarrassing!) are excluded from “friends” listed under your business list to view.
Apple has released their newest update iOS 3.2.2 for iPads. This update appears to be solely focussed on patching a security vulnerability associated with viewing malicious PDF files. This security vulnerability was identified that when visiting a webpage and loading a simple PDF file it may open up total control of your iPad. The security vulnerability affected any device running iOS 3.1.2 and higher.
This security vulnerability is easily exploitable. For those wishing to “Jailbreak” their iPad, this security vulnerability was used to simply the process of jailbreaking the iPad by simply going to a website address.
For those of you who have already jailbroken your iPad be aware that you will lose your jailbreak, unlock and any other non-authorized modifications after installing the 3.2.2 update.
To get the new iOS 3.2.2 update download and install through iTunes.
Developer: ZZHC Studio
App Name: WebProjector
Category: Productivity
iTunes Preview
Version Reviewed: 1.2
App Price: $2.99
Date Reviewed: 8/9/2010
I find myself from time to time, in need of pulling up a website on your iPad and wish you could show it to others in the room, either via a projector or external monitor. Sometimes it’s just a website. Other times it may be a MLS listing or an online map. If you have found yourself in this type of predicament, now there’s an app for that.
The app being reviewed for this task is ZZHC’s WebProjector App. At a cost of $2.99 the price is fair for the feature set:
- Minimal interface, full-screen browsing experience
- Auto-hiding toolbar, one-touch on screen to bring it back
- Bookmarks
- Textured background and mobile device border on external screen
- Auto-rotate device appearance with animation
- Plays videos on the website
The WebProjector App requires the use of the iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter. Click here to find out more about the iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter. At first glance a “minimal interface” sounds ideal. The same goes for an auto-hiding toolbar, bookmarks, auto-rotation, and playing of videos. However, I thought the “textured background” border on external screen sounded a bit odd. With the iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter hooked up and the WebProjector App launched, the external monitor immediately popped up a grey, textured background. A few seconds later the monitor displayed the webpage displayed on the iPad.
The default view is to show the grey textured background bordering the webpage. However, the textured background can be hidden by using the website zoom to full screen feature. On various tests with several monitors and projectors running on a “standard” resolution of 1024×768 or 1280×1024 the zoom feature filled the website to the screen perfectly. However, on a higher resolution monitor running 1600×1200 the zoom was not quite as precise and the slightly cut off the left and right hand edges of the websites.
One of the only downsides that I feel is that there is a noticeable delay with pulling up websites using WebProjector versus using the native Safari App. The delay is not terribly long but it is enough that it should be noted. At first I thought maybe my Wi-Fi connection was suffering but after closing WebProjector and opening Safari, it was evident the performance issue was isolated to the WebProjector App.
Overall WebProjector App a nice app to have to demonstrate a website on a projector or an external monitor, especially given its reasonable price of $2.99.
The Verizon Wireless MiFi 200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot enables you to take the Verizon 3G network on the go, just as you would with a USB aircard for your laptop, but enables you to connect up to 5 WiFi enabled devices at one time.
The MiFi 2200 is a very small device and is 3.5″ by 2.3″ by 0.4″ so it is smaller and slimmer than a cell phone with internal antennaThe MiFi 2200 comes with a wall charger and a USB cable for charging with a laptop but it also has the capability of running on battery power. Verizon claims up to 4 hours of usage for one WiFi client with a standby time of up to 40 hours.
The full retail price is $269.99 and with a 2 year contract the price is discounted to $69.99 for the MiFi 2200. Currently, there is an online discount of $50.00 reducing your total to $19.99 plus taxes, etc. The current mobile broadband plans from Verizon Wireless are 5GB per month of data usage for $59.99 a month or 250MB of data usage for $39.99 per month. If you only plan to use the MiFi 2200 on weekends or on occasional travel trips, 250MB is probably going to suffice. More power users will want to consider going to the 5GB of data usage per month.
I use the MiFi 2200 with my Wi-Fi iPad and it works great while traveling. Occasionally, while my wife and I are driving on a trip, she will pull out my iPad and turn on the MiFi 2200 (I am the one driving at this time, of course). Within a few seconds, the iPad will see and automatically connect to the MiFi 2200 providing Internet and email access, assuming we have a good Verizon Wireless cell signal. The cell signal is not to be confused with the wireless signal displayed on the iPad. The iPad is detecting the signal strength that the MiFi 2200 is broadcasting and assuming you have the iPad within close proximity to the MiFi 2200 the iPad’s wireless signal strength will remain at full bars.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to determine the cell signal and during times when the cell signal decreases, you will see noticeably slower page load times or page load failures which will require you to reload the webpage. It will obviously depend on the geographic location for which you find yourself using the MiFi 2200 and your iPad. However, I have found the Verizon Wireless network to be very reliable in most places.
I highly recommend anyone who currently has a USB modem with Verizon Wireless to consider upgrading the MiFi 2200 for the flexibility of connecting with multiple devices (and up to 5 at one time) including the Apple iPad. If you find yourself traveling in a car often, you may want to consider purchasing a cigarette lighter to Type A USB adapter. You can pick one up at a local Best Buy or purchase one online.
Recent Comments