Tag: CNN

iPhone Tracking? It’s A Non-Issue.

Yesterday it was announced that your iPhone was tracking everywhere you’ve been and saving it to a file that’s copied to your computer when you synch your device.

Data Presented From Finders of iPhone Tracking

In case you haven’t seen the story someplace on the web, here’s an article about it on Mashable. It’s also now on the CNN home page – HERE

There are a lot of alarmists up in the air about this and Senator Al Franken has asked Apple to explain why it’s doing this.

I was going to write a wonderfully detailed blog post about it and why I thought it really wasn’t a big deal, but the incredibly smart and funny David Pogue beat me to it. Thanks for saving me some typing David!

In the end the only way someone can use this data and figure out where you’ve been is to download special software (which only shows some details) and pull this file off of your computer. As David Pogue put it “If your computer is that accessible, you’ve got much bigger problems.” He also makes a great point of saying only those that have something to hide, may have something to fear.

While you can’t change any setting to stop the tracking, you can (and I encourage you to) encrypt your iPhone back-ups. It’s incredibly easy to do and I’ve found some simple steps right HERE. Honestly everyone should be doing this from the get-go if they’re that worried about the security of their data.

If you’re really worried about the security of what’s on your iPhone you should have it lock and require a password to get into the device. Instructions on that are on the bottom of THIS PAGE.

I know some people feel like this is an invasion of privacy.
They have every right to feel that way.

To that I say in this day and age of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube along with all the “check-ins” being done your information and location is out there already.

There’sĀ  nothing to hide!

For those that are still incredibly fearful I’ll recommend as do with everyone else –
DON’T PUT YOUR INFORMATION ON OR GET CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET. Despite any password you have or protection you think you have on it, there’s no 100% security when it comes to computers. If someone really wants to get to your data, they’ll figure out a way and will be able to get around anything you put in the way.

That’s just my opinion, as has occasionally happened, I could be wrong. šŸ™‚

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And The Biggest Twit Is…..@APLUSK (A.K.A. Ashton Kutcher)

Ashton Kutcher has done it…he hit 1 million Twitter followers.

Actually as of this posting he’s at 2,070,898. WOW! He not only hit a million, he blew it totally away.

CNN finally hit a million as well, but they’re well behind Ashton now with 1,016,166 followers.

Still way better than my 20 followers.

I think we need a new contest. First non-celebrity to hit a million followers.

For those of you thinking he’s just using Twitter for fame and fortune…he and his wife Demi Moore (@mrskutcher)are also using it to support Malaria No More – http://www.malarianomore.org/. They’ve already gotten a number of people both famous and non-famous to make donations. Well done Ashton and Demi!

C’mon real estate pros…jump onto Twitter…it’s free and it’s a great way to keep your clients up to date!

Sign up at www.twitter.com – First 20 real estate pros to set-up a new Twitter account, and follow me will get a blog post here featuring their Twitter accounts as real estate pros. This does not apply to pre-existing accounts…this is meant to get those on the fence off of it.

While you’re at it, go and make a donation to http://www.malarianomore.org/ .

Give up a couple of lattes for the week to help save someone’s life. I did šŸ™‚

Biggest Twit – Ashton or CNN?

As if Twitter couldn’t get more public recognition or notice…here’s yet more press for it.

Ashton Kutcher has challenged CNN in a race to get 1 million followers. As of this post Ashton was at 950,187 followers,Ā  14,420 behind CNN‘s 964,607.

I’m rockin’ the charts at a total of 20 followers. You can find my profile HERE.

So for those real estate professionals who thought that there was no one on Twitter, or that Twitter was just a fad.

Guess again…perhaps it’s time to start looking at Twitter and figuring out how to use it to market yourself and your services.

Twittering For A Home Sale

Good ol’ Rudy from Trulia passed on the following about a homeowner who is using Twitter to help sell his home in Durham, North Carolina. His story has even been picked up by the local media and CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

He also used Trulia to find an agent to sell his home, and is using it to find a new home in Salt Lake City.

From the article…

“DJ searched Google for real estate agents and saw Trulia for the 1st time. He liked the look of the site, did some searches and set up some alerts. He asked 4 questions on Trulia Voices, our real estate Q&A community and one local realtor, Michael Colvin,Ā  answered 3 of them promptly and professionally ā€“ without the hard sell. DJ told me he liked the way the agent presented himself. This was what helped him make his decision when choosing his real estate agent. He emailed him through the agents profile. They set up a face to face meeting and hit it off.”

You can find the rest of the story on the Trulia blog HERE

Take away for real estate professionals…

1. Twitter is gaining major ground everyday
2. Homebuyers and Sellers are going to Trulia to look for agents. A basic profile is free – YOU NEED TO HAVE ONE!
3. Be like Mike – Answer questions in Trulia voices – WITHOUT A HARD SALE!

Twittering A Revolution Or Protest

Found this great article on CNN today that addresses how social activism is using social networking and social media to get the message out, and get the masses organized.With the G20 going on in the UK, many are keeping track of what’s going on and mobilizing people via Twitter.

While I certainly don’t support any individuals using ANY MEANS to organize violent protests, I find the use of it to organize peaceful demonstrations really fascinating.

You can check out the article HERE

Facebook Scam

There’s a new scam out there, this one involving Facebook and I wanted to get the word out.

As I’ve mentioned in my classes, be careful with the information you put out there.

While the CNN video below says it, I wanted to highlight the best advice when it comes to this scam.

Call the person. Make sure that things are legit. Then if you’re so inclined to help then help them.

While it’s great to be in virtual contact with friends, families and co-workers, nothing ever beats face-to-face, or voice-to-voice contact.

It’s great to hear too that Facebook is already working on implementing security controls to help combat problems like this. That’s the sign of a good tech company…being pro-active and acknowledging things instead of trying to silently address them. Bravo Facebook!

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2009/02/05/am.carroll.facebook.cnn

The Impact of Social Networking

As those who have attended my tech sessions will attest I stress a great deal of importance on Realtors using social networking to market themselves.

President Obama used it as one of the core components of his campaign, many believe that it was one of the major factors if not THE ONE that led to his victory.

Many found out about the water landing of U.S. Air Flight# 1549 in the Hudson through Twitter and Facebook some of the first pictures of the scene came from those who posted them through those sites.

Most recently CNN used the Facebook status feature for those watching the inauguration (both online and on TV) to share their thoughts and feelings with others all over the world as history was made.

So Realtors…if you’re not getting into social networking, why not? If not now, when?

Need further proof? Check out this great article over at CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/01/22/social.networking.news/index.html

The “BarackBerry”

It was well known that President Obama was like many all over the world….addicted to his Blackberry.

There have been a great number of photos showing him either talking on or typing away into his Blackberry.

As he came closer to being sworn in, many wondered if he’d be allowed to keep it. After all you don’t want the President’s communications to be monitored or potentially hacked, no matter how inane the e-mail or phone conversation may be.

Well security officials won’t have to “pry it out of his hands”, instead he’s getting a secure smartphone that’s been approved by the National Security Agency and cost $3,500.00.

Made by General Dynamics, the Sectera Edge is a secure and rugged piece of technology. You can check it out HERE

It’s not the sexiest tech gadget, but I gotta admit it’s going to be really cool to see the President typing away on a smart phone, just like the rest of us regular folk.

You can read more about it here at CNN.

Being Thankful Can Be Good For You!

I found this great blog post on CNN today about how being thankful can actually be good for your health.

“Doctors say giving thanks, taking the time to notice positive things in your life is not only good for your psyche but it?s good for your body. University of California at Davis researchers found that practicing gratitude can lower your blood pressure and make you feel less hostile. Grateful people are less angry, less negative and usually look for the cup half full. Studies by Cornell University researchers have shown that those who are thankful appear to have lower risks of developing phobias, alcoholism, even depression. They even have stronger immune systems.”

You can read the rest of the blog post here – Paging Dr. Gupta