Podcasts

Survey: Most teens take steps to protect their privacy (podcast)

A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project and Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society has mostly good news about how teens approach privacy issues on social-networking services.

While "teens are sharing more information about themselves on social media sites than they did in the past," according to the study, "few teens embrace a fully public approach to social media," but "take an array of steps to restrict and prune their profiles." Here's the full report.

The study also found that:

Teen Twitter use has … Read more

Maker Faire CEO: Rockets and robots instead of pigs and pies (podcast)

Since 2006, San Francisco Bay Area maker movement aficionados have been making an annual pilgrimage to the San Mateo Event Center (the county fair grounds), to attend the Maker Faire. Self-described as "part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new," the Faire attracts a broad swath of attendees, not just in the Bay Area, but in other Maker Faires that are popping up around the world.

Last year 165,000 people attended the flagship events in the Bay Area and New York. There were also Maker Faires in Minneapolis, Detroit, and other cities around the … Read more

Justin Kitch launches 'Curious' learning network (podcast)

It's called a "marketplace for online learning" and its goal is to connect students and teachers in a wide variety of subjects from salsa dancing to knife sharpening. If there is something you can teach or want to learn, Curious.com could be the place to start.

Co-founded by Justin Kitch, a former Intuit executive who founded Homestead, Curious.com empowers teachers to not only post video lessons but use other tools such as exercises, projects, discussion boards, and the ability to attach files. Teachers decide if their classes are free or if there is a charge … Read more

Does Facebook's new 'Home' put too much Facebook in your face? (podcast)

If you're one of the people who get Facebook's new Home software, your social-media life will be front and center whenever you pick up your phone. It's literally putting Facebook in your face.

While that may have appeal to heavy-duty Facebook users who want to be in constant touch with their social graph, it raises some issues about "presence." People have their phones with them almost all the time, including when they're interacting with friends, family, and work colleagues, and many of us (myself included) have a habit of paying attention to our phones … Read more

Rep. Eshoo on House's student app competition (podcast)

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution to create an academic competition that would encourage students to build mobile and computer apps. The Academic Competition Resolution of 2013 is a bi-partisan effort led by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), who represents much of Silicon Valley.

The competition, according to the resolution, "will evolve over time and will challenge students in specialized areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to ensure maximum participation." The resolution states: "Because of the importance of computer science it would be appropriate to initially challenge students … Read more

RSA sees 'big data' as key to corporate security (podcast)

Big data is one the the big themes at this week's annual RSA security conference in San Francisco.

That's because analyzing a company's stores of data is another step in improving information security, RSA Vice President Brian Fitzgerald said.

"Classic security defenses are no longer that effective in a world where data centers no longer have a fixed perimeter. They're connected to suppliers and to customers. Information is flowing between partners on a massive scale," he said in an audio podcast (scroll down to listen).

Analyzing a company's data allows you to "… Read more

Expert advice for online dating (podcast)

"It's never been easier to find a date," says CyberDatingExpert.com publisher Julie Spira. And when it comes to online dating, she adds, the "stigma is gone."

She credits Facebook with helping to make people feel comfortable about sharing online and about joining an online dating site. Thousands of online dating sites exist, including niche sites aimed at Democrats and Republicans, as well as different religions and even vegans and vegetarians.

Spira is a fan of "truth in advertising" and recommends that people be authentic about their age, photos, and what they enjoy. … Read more

U.S. just getting on board Safer Internet Day (podcast)

In 2004 the European Commission created Safer Internet Day to be celebrated on the second day of the second week of the second month -- which this year is tomorrow.

On this day, organizations in various countries conduct public events, tweet-ins, press conferences, and otherwise spread the word about how young people can use the Internet safely and securely. This year's theme is "online rights and responsibilities" with the slogan, "Connect with Respect." The event is coordinated by Insafe, a European network of "Awareness Centres," that promote "safe, responsible use of the … Read more

Google Maps chief on ideas behind new iPhone version (podcast)

Google Maps for iPhone is getting off to a very good start. It quickly became the No. 1 free iPhone app with lots of five star user reviews.

To find out a bit more about what Google was thinking when it developed the app -- and to get some tech support on how to use its swiping features -- I spoke with Daniel Graf, Google's director of Google Maps for mobile (scroll down to listen to the podcast).

Graf said it was always Google's intention to "be present on all platforms" and that "we wanted … Read more