Facebook COO Works 9-5.. Acceptable?

After a recent debate was brought about due to the fact that Facebook’s COO works a 9-5 job, many started questioning the social norms of the technology workplace.  In my opinion, I think it is absolutely absurd that people are criticizing this woman, Sheryl Sandberg, for leaving the office at 5:30 to go home to her family.  It’s ridiculous that people think since they are in a high level position that they are not allowed to balance work and family.  I think that if a person is doing a good job at their job and have completed their work by 5:00, they can leave.  I think it’s silly to put a stereotype on something like this.

While yes, I understand that in the technology world, especially Facebook, no task is really ever complete.  However, it’s not like one person is going to figure everything out in one night.  They’re going to have to leave the office eventually, whether it be 5:30 or 10:00 at night is indifferent.  It’s about the quality, not quantity.  Students, look at it like this.  If you go to King Library for 5 hours, and write a one page paper the whole time you’re there vs. going to King LIbrary for 3 hours and writing a 3 page paper, studying for a quiz, and making notecards for a test, which one sounds more productive?  The one with the shorter time.

It’s ridiculous that this lady is being looked down upon by some because she leaves the office at a normal end of the day time.  I’m sure people feel indifferent, but if society today expects only those who are CEOs to stay late, that’s absurd.  This story would not have made CNN news if it was a just beginning employee who had these work hours.  While yes, the higher up the go the more you work, but it’s not like they are realistically going to get everything figured out in one night.

I’ll step off my soap box now..

Thanks England Agency!

As I have been diligently working on my website for my Interactive Media Studies Class, I have noticed that I have been a lot more critical about the layout and format of websites I often visit.  I’d say out of them all, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and CNN are my top four most visited sites, in that order.  It’s funny that I think of myself as such a tech nerd now, when really I’m just applying what I’m learning in class.  Who would have thought that’s what earning an education was for?!

Anyways, with Twitter, I like the entire idea of the website.  I like how there is a live feed, I like how you have your own page etc.  It’s nice that you can read all your followers at once, or be given the choice to customize your own page.  As for Pinterest, as you know from previous posts, I am a huge fan.  However, that is a little too much website coding and technology for a little IMS 201 Student like myself.  I am hating the new Facebook more and more every time a new addition or change is made.  Give me Facebook from about 4 years ago and I’ll be happy.  It was a lot more simple and direct, whereas the one now a days is way to complex, that half the time my Mom is calling me trying to figure it out…and she’s not illiterate with computers. As for CNN, I really like the way the website is broken down.  I like the tabs at the top, I like how precise the website search is, and I think the way they format their stories is very professional.  It is very easy to read.

While I was searching the web, I have come across some different types of layouts.  I came across one from England, (England Agency) and I thought the layout was perfect for my type of website.  I like the tabs at the top, similar to the way CNN has theirs.  They are direct tabs to other pages, instead of clicking 20 times to find the page you’re looking for.  The picture across the top is eye catching, and could keep the web surfer interested if the picture is appealing.  My favorite part, and the one that I want to implement into my website, is the idea of only 2 “stories”, if you will, on the main page.  This draws attention to the latest or the most newsworthy thing at the time.   It makes it easy to navigate to the story, and I want my website to have 2 or 3 main boxes like this one.  Also, the color scheme is appealing as well.

I encourage you to keep your eye out for different types of web designs.  There are so many out there, and find out which one catches your eye!

Apple in Legal Trouble!

While it seems that I am always blogging about the successes of Apple, because there are many, this time around it’s the opposite.  The United States Department of Justice has sued Apple on an issue concerning eBooks.  It dates back to 2010 when the new Ipad had just come out.  Apple had arranged a deal with 5 publishers to allow their publications as e-books on the iBookstore.  The prices were raised without the publication companies knowing, resulting in an anti-trust violation.

Amazon had a price issue with the Kindle, before the iPad had come out.  They had required all books be sold at $9.99, which angered many publishers.  However, Amazon seemed upfront with it, so there was no issue as to deceit, like in Apple’s case.

Known as “agency printing”, Apple sold it’s books with a 30% cut for the company.  Three days after this deal happened, Amazon allowed any publisher to sell their books at whatever price they choose.  It’s interesting to see just how competitive electronic companies are.

As for now, three companies are working with Apple on e-book pricing.  The waters are risky now with negotiation, and most companies will be taking some time off before they make their publications available on e-books again.

Facebook Is Spending Some Serious Cash

On Monday, Facebook bought the latest (and greatest) application, “Instagram” for a reported $1 Billion.  Talk about a good day for Instagram owner, only 27 years old, Kevin Systrom.  For those of you unaware, Instagram is an application available for both iPhones and Androids that allows filters to be placed on pictures to give them an antique or authentic look.  I personally use Instragram on a daily basis.  You can “follow” other Instagram users and “like” their pictures, allowing for another type of low key social media.  The fact that Facebook spent $1 billion, which an analyst mentioned, Facebook will never gain back, shows that it truly is a high dollar working business.

In my opinion, I think one of the reasons Facebook bought Instagram is because they both have services for photo sharing, and I think Facebook wanted to be the only online easy service to do this.  That being said, they bought Instagram.  While Instagram can still be used to upload it’s pictures to Twitter, Facebook will be the main avenue it works with.  Instagram only has about a dozen employees, so lucky for them, they get a rather large payday, splitting up $1 billion among themselves.

This goes to show that even a simple app that just change the filter on pictures is extremely valuable these days.  It’s almost as though technology has come so far and made so many advances in the big picture, that we’re starting to look at the smaller details that are making a difference as well.  Who knows what the next application will be and who knows who will create it.  It may be another twenty some year old human.  I also think it goes to show that the younger generation is so advanced with technology.  Both Mark Zuckerberg and Kevin Systrom are in their twentys, and they’ve each made a sufficient amount of money to last them a good while.  It gives hope to our generation that we’ll be living in a very tech savvy world.

Mac Users Beware!

Due to the large amount of publicity being centered on the Mac’s New “Trojan Flashback” Virus, it’s only appropriate to share with you some precautions to take to make sure you don’t become a victim of the bug as well.

Known as a “drive-by download”, the virus gets into your computer and creates a Web software you can’t control.   Before you know, if you visit a sketchy website or submit a password of yours on a not so steady data base, this bug can attack the Java Runners in your Mac and simply take over.

At least for me, I used to think Mac users were invincible.  I knew that viruses could attack Dells, but I enwver though Macs would be an issue.  Until now.

Take as many precautions as you can; don’t visit questionable websites, don’t download anything you aren’t sure of, make sure to keep up to date with your “anti-virus softwares.”  It can be preventable if you are smart, especially on the Internet.

Google Goes Hands Free

Google has outdone itself yet again.  Their new project, Project Glass, is allowing internet users hands free access. With their futuristic plans, Google is doing it’s best to make using the Internet as easy as possible.  The easier it is for users to search things on Google, the more research data can be obtained.

This new plan is paired with Google + and is said to demonstrate “what Google might be able to do”.  It’s like all of technology is at eye level, literally, due to the discs that sit on the bottom of the lens in order for it to be perfect view for your eyes.  It allows for people to walk around and press buttons above the lens per convenience whether it be a picture, like, etc.

While I think that it’s great technology is progressing, I think this is extremely over the line.  Are we really to the point that we can’t even reach into our pocket to take out our phone and not take a picture?  We’re so lazy that now all we do is push a button on the top of the lens.  That to me, is unacceptable.  When do we draw the line with technology?  Before we know it, nothing will be a challenge anymore because everything will be so simplified.

Finally Windows Users Feel the Love

It’s about time that Windows users will be able to experience the great joy of the smartphone with Windows software.  It seems that, at least in my opinion, Apple has taken over from the laptops and music players to the cellular devices, leaving Windows in the dust.  From a personal experience, I used to be a windows fan and when coming to college, I decided to purchase a Mac versus a Dell.

It’s been love ever since and I couldn’t be happier with my Mac.  However, at home there is still a Dell and I feel that the publicity for windows has been erased.  Thanks to AT&T the previous statement will soon be inaccurate, as the new smartphone with Windows software will be available to users in the near future.  It’s also cheaper than the iPhone; AT&T is selling this smartphone for only $99.99.

While this new smartphone with Windows will be available for users, I do not think it will threaten Apple’s success at all.  To be honest, I think Apple will stay in the lead for a long while in the future, unless another company come out of the blue with better technology, which is highly unlikely.