Blurts

Facebook just announced options for “messaging” others (Wired account). The system is designed to be simpler that traditional email (within Facebook), but compatible with traditional email when communicating outside of the Facebook environment. In some ways and probably purposefully so, the system offers alternatives to the multiple communication options available from within the Gmail environment. If nothing else, those who use Gmail and Facebook may now find Gmail services redundant. So, Facebook offers social networking and communication, and Google has no competing social networking presence.

This article from ComputerWorld is an interview with Tim Wu author of The Master Switch (see Inside Higher Ed summary by Kim). Wu claims Apple is a major threat to Internet freedom. Wu is known for his concept of net neutrality. I have the book on order.

I am attempting to understand the “Internet freedom” issue. I understand the concern about hardware – Apple screens apps for the iPad and iPhone. A programmer cannot sell directly to the consumer. However, I do not necessarily understand the Internet concern. I guess some feel that the promotion of dedicated apps in collaboration with content providers encourages closed access. Others would prefer resources be provided more openly. I see the distinction, but one can still use the iPad to take advantage of open Internet resources via the browser. This issue is not just about Apple, but perhaps Apple encouraging a certain closed approach from content providers.

ABC news recently offerred a Nightline program on the dangers of for-profit online education. This is the second program I have watched on this topic this fall. It appears to be buyer beware. Problems appear to be promising opportunities when the opportunities are not really there (e.g., employment as police officer with a criminal record) and running up large debt through loans. Of course any of us in higher education understand that students rely on loans for their education, the difference is in the cost of public institutions and these online programs.

Interesting data on how the general consumer uses the iPad (Business Insider). These data are especially intiguing because the iPad is a new device.

Wow – first Ask.com gives up on bloglines and now Ask Jeeves (TechTree).

The most popular posts to my main blog turns out to be a post I wrote exploring the potential of Office2 Pro – an app for authoring content stored on Google Docs.

I have a new and I must admit preferred method for iPad writing. It is the combination of Elements and Dropbox. You need the Elements app and a dropbox account. Elements is a simple text editor but it easily uploads and downloads documents to Dropbox. I can get at the Elements folder in Dropbox from any machine I use and can format these files using more powerful tools. I don’t think the iPad is the platform I would use for formatting and combining images or other multimedia elements with what I write, BUT it works great when I just want to enter text.

With DropBox you get 2 gigs of storage for free and only the iPad app costs anything. I think DropBox is a great service and I almost feel guilty using the free version, but the next increment up costs $100 a year for 50 gigabytes. I simply do not need that much storage. How about a 10 gigabyte option for $20 a year?

Elements is $5.

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Wow I write this post and I immediately find another storage app. Check out SugarSync – 5 gigabytes free. To my knowledge, no tools send products to SugarSync as they are created, but this may come. The 30  gig plan is $50 a year. Check out the intro offer carefully – it seems a little ambiguous and I am unclear as to whether I have a free introductory offer for a limited period of time or if there is a free 5 gig version.