Ep. 1331: Of privacy and Blook Doodles

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And that you can go direct Palin I'm Molly -- -- -- the -- CNET podcast of indeterminate blanket episode thirteen 31 we are closing rapidly in. On the nerds shall -- He added that they -- 87 -- I -- I only say that every -- mine has a public plan and her party. Well wouldn't be real their party few planted at a time what a good point yeah you -- In tech news today though the Wall Street -- having at her reach out. And ever -- freak out about FaceBook. Saying they're in a privacy breach again. With a system that. Pretty well reported story very -- -- -- in the journal saying that they investigated. That FaceBook apps a lot of FaceBook apps are sending your data. Your name or -- use ready which can be matched your name and sometimes even the names of your friends. To the app vendors in the app vendors are then sending it to advertisers. So and they're getting dossier is on you especially through -- leaf which is a dossier company. The mention it all together so when you play -- -- game. You basically are giving up your personal FaceBook information to using -- which is then selling over -- advertisers. Yet it's interesting. It's an interesting article I think that it probably unfairly blames FaceBook to some extent because this is it is -- it is. What some people have described the law on the Internet rather than a direct attempt by -- but to monetize user data -- -- referring URL issue. And it's something that happened on other sites to. You act. Jeff Jarvis for example yesterday and Twitter was noting that The Wall Street Journal didn't mention MySpace. Which has the same issue. But you know. But Rupert Murdoch -- it but -- it -- the technological design flaw. It doesn't and it -- it would be unfair I think maybe to say that FaceBook it like that the vector for this is that FaceBook has so many users. That it is more likely to happen minute I don't it doesn't seem like it's a deliberate now decision by FaceBook and I want -- And quite contrary I think FaceBook is rather chagrined by this the apparently ran the story they've been working hard to take these and infringing apps offline these are apps that violate their own policy right and once FaceBook became aware of this they said okay we're gonna shut this down we're gonna look at our policy -- both -- the human solutions which is how we police this internally and the technical technological solutions are -- ways we can stop people from doing this and the thing is. If there were easy technological solutions I believe I think as you do that they would already be doing it. This is -- heart problem to solve because FaceBook is so pervasive because the architecture of the Internet does have these things over for hours. And because Facebook's architecture is if you have referring. URL with. User ID you can map that to rename and you can map and then to public information. If Facebook's privacy tweaks are privacy controls were a little more clear -- be wouldn't be as bad. But FaceBook has no interest in further alienating user -- over security than it already. -- -- definitely and that's where I mean that's right I thought this was a well reported story to an extent but also really laid the blame right at it but he and I thought -- was a little bit and I actually and and I say that -- someone who's sort of cheerfully. -- on FaceBook under the bus when it comes to privacy but. And that's usually based on Sunday that they do on purpose and I thought that it was unfair to say that it was eighth -- in a privacy breach when really it was like. Look this is the possibility market marketers can be kind of -- -- -- is on you using. A flaw in the Internet. Well I think -- -- and -- faith but did shut down some of the apps upon. -- -- -- I think what's happening I I think what's happening here is that the app vendors realizing how they make money. From you know targeted advertising have figured out how to play FaceBook. Yeah and FaceBook is -- growing very fast and there are there are factual flaws in Internet security and the app vendors are taking advantage of that yet as you would expect them to do and that's what this is the constant push and pull. Between privacy and advertising. And FaceBook is just moving growing so fast that this those. Kind of bound to happens between the so much. Money and a -- an end and it does it does point at a pretty disturbing problem and impending atom pan invert this and -- you journalism professor. Tweeted about this yesterday there was sort of like a little tweak or going on routinely carry bludgeoned and Jarvis -- and they were kind discussing it and he said look. Avid advertisers are assembling these digital dossier because I know add hackers -- -- FaceBook Digg hack -- and in the cross reference username and data. And create these -- is to -- to -- used to be that people want to know the FBI had a file on them and so quoting anything nowadays we all have -- them but the FBI isn't doing it. Marketers -- -- -- In particular here is in his name and also like if that rapidly which is in the business of creating -- -- of people -- reputation system announced become more much more them. Alt -- twelve companies that they didn't collect store or use the information. Album companies didn't journalist I think we can say is doubtful but please please when you tell your friends about that. And one is one tiny -- -- it's now only been put -- Yeah I don't know why -- -- so obnoxious but I kind of I felt like that was that's an easy headline you know well -- the -- agreed but the the easy. Thing to do here if you're worried about this is not used apps -- it's it's the -- and games I mean that games are the most pervasive of the apps and those are the ones. That that they have most users and and you know. If you have your. Network a -- open which is the default. And you play one of these games -- that network preference can be exposed. What FaceBook really needs here I believe is not so much to give users their own privacy control -- they what information is being shared. But you -- sharing another rotten but well first thing to make that one usable and put in front -- used to people forget about everybody does but more importantly they need. FaceBook -- be able to give you some kind of report that shows you what your friends are sharing a value and maybe some control over that because once you're on FaceBook. It's not enough to lock down your own network other people who are your friends who you -- let in can then. -- not maliciously and not intentionally but they can be -- Through apps and most of the time they don't even know too exact they haven't gone through the multiple pages of privacy settings and and it and that is that is probably the biggest unintended consequence of the way but -- is the realization that. Whatever you might or might not due to protect your privacy that that your friends like you said maybe. Kind of they might have that the exact same stream wide open right that all of this that you think you liked and -- still being shared trust no one and also to take like our Q and go through that. The nine page that we should reflect probably. It's probably right. I we're gonna take a quick break and when we come back we're gonna talk about a big huge TV fight again. Over the weekend a big huge fight broke out between Cablevision and News Corp. it was a licensing agreement over broadcasting. And Cablevision actually. A little. Cut off access. You fox for awhile which meant that like Cablevision subscribers couldn't get the -- giants game might not like it's a big sport. Time of year or anything like that. And this is sadly the kind of thing that's happened before and take it -- -- seems to happen. Cablevision Newton that they are cutting their -- turning off channels because they're in these rebroadcast -- retransmission byte which is all on its own ridiculous right and lends. Even more credence to the idea that everybody should just go over the top and then -- -- these people but then here's the thing. These cable companies like Comcast and Cablevision also as you know provide your Internet access right so if you go over the top you can still get locked out. Which happens this weekend that where Cablevision apparently cut off cable and Cablevision subscribers access to spot shows on. -- As -- at which but I wouldn't have even thought was possible. It will -- but evidently not haven't doubling its back on News -- has or maybe it was News Corp. that turned off and that's not on. News news record of the customers yet that's what News Corp. -- -- programming. According to News Corp. from three million Cablevision households. Both. -- -- over the Internet Veoh Hulu and -- -- com yeah and over cable over and over video. It it hearkens back to what happened earlier this year when the ABC was shut out. Right before the Oscar awards and turned back on of the -- minute. I mean insists that poor you know swirled this chum in this battle between between the cable companies the content providers ISPs. And they're all getting tighter and tighter closer question as part of -- figure out who's and who's doing what to whom here except that we end up -- it. And it it almost feels like they guarantee is that both of them are greedy -- there's no way and Cablevision -- things them. From what rip the thing earlier some unbelievable things -- News Corp. saying that there terrorizing subscribers and that you know -- everybody's pointing the finger at somebody else's somebody else's greedy behavior but the simple fact of the matter -- -- consumers -- consumers get hurt. And that rebroadcast or retransmission -- Are always about somebody wanting to get more money and and about control and there's -- -- absolutely ludicrous that then they get to the point where. They're they're trying to sort of go nuclear in news and News -- and says you know we're gonna use every tool we -- to increase the pain. They'll -- cable division and its subscribers. And and cut off access -- even on Hulu -- even over the top solution work like all they're doing is they're pushing people towards. Higher theater pushing people toward sound they're pushing people towards the streams all that. A -- doing it right if you make it if you make it impossible to they get content nicely -- fairly and at a reasonable the then people still find the content. And let fewer people. But your. You're pushing them to a life of crime you are and it really it starts to become almost certainly come into its that this is indefensible. And then you get the point where you hear you know I'm on the other side of things you've got people and active negotiations and MBA -- envy our it heavily and inherent thing. The you know people need to realize that stealing content is on the exact same level like -- someone for their purse or stealing. Diamonds and you just you gonna start to -- like you know what here's the thing. I can pay you per pot and hit I guess I'm the acting is still exists that diamond is gone from your hands and others chose not -- -- -- -- -- That's not the same thing but -- is yet you're right. It's not the same thing although you know -- Content that is still that it's just it's a thought definitely not the same thing to try to compare right you're not -- -- -- it certainly like it certainly not at the same thing and be it starts to become pretty. It's just feel -- what are you do. He's black how is what fox is doing not -- because I pay for a service -- service includes spot. You know I paper and Internet access and I get Hulu dot com and that includes box. I thought and until you take it away from me because you want to double that -- is that you get. In order to run your your your channel on this network. How on earth is that not. And the challenge of the real problem here is that in in most places you have a very limited if any. Selection or choice between ISPs or cable providers and in some cases and many places you have to go DSL or cable then. But in some places there's. You don't have that -- -- an apartment building and only one cable becoming desolate that when you're stuck with your you are screwed if this gets that middle one of the book conflicts. I did and I find it absolutely unbelievable that -- it's sort of like. If your hanging by a thread which on some level I think that cable and satellite are starting to be hanging by a threat in terms of consumer interests right. Certainly we are not interested in paying interest in paying this much. The service anymore and over the top solutions are coming faster and faster. And getting better and better so if you're hanging by thread why do you take out your big old pair of greedy -- scissors and start sawing away at that threat. I mean why would any consumer in his right mind not be looking for a -- -- alternative I am. I I'm -- -- begun a project to figure out what shows -- watching here -- up cable court but and then the thing is. My cable provider and -- ISP as is the case here in the East Coast are the same I could still get stuck in the middle of this thing. Yeah over the top solutions will. Are going to be as vulnerable. To these. These battles as the cable solutions over the top is not gonna solve this problem will not yet I -- not a -- -- can take. Auctions. -- in order to increase -- in order to increase the paid for cable subscribers. How ludicrous that that are leaning net neutrality more than ever we do need net neutrality and we -- that -- -- -- twenty. Then I'll I'll drink to that. Sprint is promising though it if we ever do get decent over the top solutions maybe we can stream television on our WiMax enabled devices. Sprint is promising -- -- in New York City on November 1. LA on December 1 and San Francisco a few weeks later now we already have. Whispers of WiMax or -- here I'm on my overdrive I get it when the -- actually working. That I I I do get the forties light -- that's one. Yet which is cool. It's penalty and -- Already lit up maybe it's not like they've made their forgy is now I'm maybe not I don't know. Because it's fast and I thought -- was -- -- have orgy in New York City another thing you're gonna line it up on. We haven't announced that and room. That's the thing I mean none of these forgy. Overdrafts that was an announcement today that hasn't been announced but it's still happening is libertarian thing like in some cases yet a lot of this office and -- yeah. So -- -- so when I can't complain about my overdrive not working on forgy that I get the light minute it drops me. They say well it's not like -- -- that your your beta test her decision to three G you'll be fine when I -- beta testing and I do get -- turn on your city it's pretty dining. But anyway those -- now apparently the official dates November 1 for New York. December 1 -- Cisco a few weeks until -- people have are -- and reporting that the steam. And -- until Cablevision get their hands on it and. Last week we talked about the juggernaut that is angry American -- -- like making -- -- into can now available on Android well turned out it's jacking up their vehicle. Angry -- for -- it and leverage -- -- got over one million downloads. In one day and is now in fact after today -- -- million downloads talk about pent up demand. Oh now they were originally was on get chart which had some outages and then -- put on some other there was also apparently it was available everywhere we reported that it was available free from guitar. An and I think it's often in the market. Well let me tell you what it. They no longer have to charge for this thing comes with this kind of user base they can make a lot of money on ads just by harvesting your personal information in -- And selling -- you know there was a rumor a while though that Rovio is going to be selling extra special birds. So if you were having a problem with certain level you to get like the make a bomb bird. I hope to move and it played like a month that -- one and level back actually and your rest the right I thought all of these streets yesterday people are putting -- -- brilliantly and very different right. This is -- I can't -- as well. Written. In numbered and answer ever on albeit frustrated had their estimate now in -- Orders is not going to let Kindle go unchallenged platform on challenge when it comes to stop publishing your manifesto. You can now they're doing this new thing called. Oh powered by book -- -- which is hard -- Tuesday how many units that again. It's called get published and it's a thing that lets you take your blog and make into book the -- that the block. You can impeccable look at. If you would want to. They've they've lied to -- e-book in ten minutes. Or blow by blow I'm sure they are privately -- trademark -- Anyway you need either than ninety dollar basic publishing system or -- 200 dollar advance publishing system. To do this thing but then -- -- and minutes and all those silly blog posts are now in book form or e-book format it. That's right -- 200 dollar by the way you probably want the the 200 dollar -- publishing -- you know 200 bound to that gives you the -- you're. And then you can distribute that in annually -- Ala created the -- -- -- -- how many blogs -- have don't have happening and. Links to videos that happened but yeah like -- it definitely lower it is surprising that it -- feline people make blog. Like specific content and -- of -- much more and -- and a -- you -- reading it does not translate well -- yeah. If it's a little weird but it isn't. And other things in the blog yeah. I guess but this is certainly it certainly is validation of the trend right when when we reported on Amazon doing the VATICAN apartment -- the date. It's like the return to the trend of that it -- publishing your. -- or year you know you're just your -- altered or your human. It's -- -- democratization of the platform. Even as 200 bucks I like the fact that they have an option though they give the other theory I don't like that you have to pay extra to get those rates. I agree now I'm at the top legal documents yeah I do like my birthday. I do like and I do like it if it's your birthday Google -- via special present your own super special doodles happening -- -- -- video. If you're logged in and everything when you include your date of birth on your Google profile then you'll get and that there's -- -- In case you're wondering Google would like to also add your birthday to ask for their trove of marketing information about -- But -- you later date -- and you get a little special treat on the Google home page on your birthday. When you're signed in and then if you click on the doodle. They'll get another grew -- surprised and -- well that is a cupcake. You pick up a -- -- waiters in which this thing have a particular afternoon that we don't really know. We don't know and can't wait and someone whose -- -- -- click on -- do it -- and tell us. It's so embarrassing sometimes that the tech news world has come down to link we're talking about Google what -- you -- -- -- -- -- Which it would have been -- -- -- -- -- that -- Google's -- sometimes you make public news now I know like right now and embarrassing. In other Google news that is not -- related Google is offering now and in. In search interface standard which is often used mainly because hopefully it will bring instant search to use the browser bars. And. I'd never -- -- them Google homepage in it seems to me. They're trying to offer the standard so that anybody who's building a browser and -- to any search engine. And as when you start typing you get the instant results pages so the idea is to link. The browser directly to search engine they'll tell you what you're typing how long you have not been typing and like. Pico seconds where your cursor is have you pressed enter had a press an arrow keys up like that. And they wanna make the -- -- more people for instance which presumably is good for global because that meant ties into their ad engine. It also helps Google to offset the the criticism that there keeping all their -- the themselves which when Google side. It's kind of an important thing to -- And then Google says that they are already. Building Google and -- into the Chrome on the about. Yeah which they say that significant expansion however while -- -- -- and anything I'm. It's a significant expansion of existing browser abilities to suggest completed search terms using an optimist but strengthening. -- Apple however is already objecting to this thing this kind of thing to be built into the web standard not into the browser. We should put this into -- here if anywhere. So already people are arguing about where the instant functionality is going to be. Meaning basically. It's there -- question of who's gonna be building it into what you're stuck with it. -- that created that Apple is not going -- break it via Google. Wait last week group reported that the PS3 would lose the disk. Necessity from if you wanted to Netflix streaming you no longer need the third of the Mikey this thing you can -- and stream and now the -- Is there as well -- free Netflix streaming. Seeing and then you have have the subscription. So. Now for all the people who have a Wii and want Netflix but don't have it yet they can just get it with going I don't know how you do -- -- Other disorders it -- to -- point. -- It is well not -- -- the yesteryear and went -- you know athlete recent Katrina as Netflix streaming. And it ADV and welfare without that we obviously. The but an but we're thinking that. Okay. And the world is running out of everything. -- the world is running out of everything including unfortunately actually we didn't we we take the three out of Atlanta but this is like a perfect. They belong together able to get it at that -- would like it totaled tree -- report today that the that the world was going to earth with. Humans we're gonna need two planets by 2030. -- -- that you need one planet and parts. Yet they're like your account in your car and parts -- We get it up that drafted the plan that and we definitely have to get up this -- -- have the bank Internet yeah because apparently we reviewed we've used that 95%. Of the IP TE. I PV four spaces though the old. Internet IP addresses. They're assigned in blocks and big clumps of your big companies or manufacturers something you get a whole -- -- at once. And only 5% of -- left we've -- that I you can fix which. Is in some places account. Yet -- -- slow roll out major companies including Comcast Google and -- but are working to adapt to the I PV think world countless smaller companies have yet to begin to take the plunge and then -- me started on consumers although. The same for -- management but you know. A positive spin on exactly but they've been fixed I -- we are going to be out of IP VB before it definitely counted there we got. -- Anyway at the mall yes -- that the transition to I PV think that is. And a half and start happening for real maybe we can applicant digital. -- right. Campaign it's pretty easy all you have to do is take everybody -- line for couple hours. -- and rewrite in the world -- you replace all the routers and and there are firmware and. Animal back on the same time -- it like that it it was private IP is with that that helped slow down PV four run down. Yet because I was wondering like they're clearly there seemed to be something because it crisis with totally looming. For awhile there and then -- -- team you know. Then it go next. -- out. Aren't all of the day the. Right so -- this -- this this professor in Sweden had his laptop stolen. Happens all -- everybody right. And he was very upset because on this laptop there was a lot of academic work lot of personal data and as you know when you get a computer stolen. It's the data that is really irreplaceable and he'd been lazy about backing up as a lot of people are well guess what he gets. Delivered him the other day like in the mail through his mail -- something. The thief who had stolen laptop had taken the time to copy all of his data off put it on the USB drive and drop -- Offer him how amazing is that the Swedes in in of the -- the thieves in Sweden are so cool. And that's if you're gonna get robbed a three wanna get robbed -- today -- -- take your stuff but believe you the data. It's kind. Good and bad I mean they they gave a data back but like when all of my hope that -- -- my computer -- the only thing I think what. I just pray all like all I want them to do her it does -- don't look at the like the fact that he went through and copy -- -- others. At this is the total buzz killing now but it Blake. He looked at -- all. You have a point. Or just copy it now -- really bring me -- presumably he didn't I'm assuming that if he actually inning and do anything untoward with an otherwise he wouldn't have sent everything back in matters like wonderful and it really. I mean you know he's saying that a lot of them -- -- computers and cameras like that content on there is what -- -- -- had to say as a remarkable thing that it LoJack for laptops which is a paid service or pray which is free service both of these locate your laptop by IP address and GPS if that happens -- get -- to look into the material a computer. -- Wellington Daryn does though it let me get -- Thursday that down had one copy of all of his years of work well you -- a lot of people are as it happens more than you would. When you would think you -- is that like the fact is he can leave the north that the latter but cannot make them back -- -- -- -- admit it does than. You get -- texting while driving in. Yeah Otto back it's not to avatars know me I'm an implant -- -- and felt yeah beep -- I'm here. Under our emails we had no no voice -- -- they were a little late to -- But in the email budget cnet.com already in -- your comment -- -- Apple iBooks are not very well at that they can -- guessing Apple never cared about me to -- boxer. They just wanted to show off the bat that the iPad can be used as an e-book reader and that it can compete with Kindle and others. It created such a threat to Amazon and other e-book sellers that they had to create the Kindle app and others specific for the iPad instead of using just the iPhone app. In this way Apple wins that they can ride the coattails of other -- sellers -- -- -- the iPad instead of them and their own resources. The line up more but. And well that the data Apple ever paid. Pretty clever and very clever actually like the idea that it was not it was just a giant sort rattle the whole I mean and Amazon played right into it and sold market sold more -- -- Apple absolutely. Well them. Or -- the publishers just like -- maybe okay I'm -- -- in the music industry and they're like Hamilton and now. Right merger go from -- -- which I'm probably pronouncing wrong forgive me. The land of earthquakes mining -- Petri says I'm writing about at the thirteen thirty. And the iPods for -- well first of all the iPods weren't delivered until they got out of the -- because the guys in the serve on the surface didn't want. -- give them get them in solitary activities. Isolating them from the group the second they -- current shuffles and nanos that -- catch up with them and they -- really. It -- iPhone this year long service. And a third editor's. Third they had PSPs but they had to send them back to the surface due to the same isolation if you really. Things may actually thought that the iPod Touch was too big to fit nor the batteries would last long -- too much -- if the thing that's anyway. We got a bunch of emails on this topic and I just. But it's worth mentioning again that there were a lot of guys in the surface doing psychological assessment figuring out that. We want these guides -- pulling together not to be off their corners with the plugged into their little device. Actually it's ten factor PSPs. That's that's far from the back and did that the fact that they did it just how they pried out of it and I'm gonna -- down here in a -- or two months and you wanna take away my entertainment that -- are probably -- Yeah that's -- via an early. Dell will not replace batteries do you -- And if there's an interesting commentary Tuesday basically likely if you get the gadgets out of because then when you look at the Whitney has pulled together and you look at me how more than half of them volunteered to be the last in the -- Like it really became a a very kind of band of Brothers situation. But only at least according to the psychologist in the absence of technological distract. And let them in a matter and our human affairs you know what we should we could just get rid of all with the. And and just lock the door from the outside of the show with -- and see what -- -- there's others. That first date and publishers with the Monday and if you wanna read all of the stories that we talked about today and and educators hope on the Cablevision knew -- yes and I hated it because it's a little complicated. You can buy another link at our blog below that CNET back on you can email us corrections and things that by that the -- company -- -- 10616. She's victory also follow -- on the Twitter if you want you I am at Molly Wood. I am great. And and lately I have it -- and -- three -- theory. I thought without anything this. I have but I'll.