New Facebook Privacy Issue – How to Disable Facial Recognition

From CNET:

Tagging friends in Facebook photos may be somewhat of a chore, but that doesn’t mean we asked to be opted in to Facebook’s new facial-recognition photo-tagging feature. As we reported yesterday, Facebook quietly rolled out facial-recognition software “that will automate photo tagging and suggest friends to tag in your photos based on what they look like.”

Here’s how it works: when you or a Facebook friend uploads a photo, Facebook uses facial-recognition software to match faces in that photo with previous photos on Facebook in which you’ve been tagged. Facebook groups similar photos together and suggests names for tagging purposes. Granted, Facebook isn’t tagging photos itself, but it is certainly making the process easier for your friends to tag photos of you.

As Facebook says here, “Now if you upload pictures from your cousin’s wedding, we’ll group together pictures of the bride and suggest her name. Instead of typing her name 64 times, all you’ll need to do is click ‘Save’ to tag all of your cousin’s pictures at once.” That’s great, unless one of those 64 photos are of you at the end of the evening, slumped in a chair with your tie in your drink.
The introduction of facial recognition on Facebook has many users rightfully uneasy. Worse, Facebook has enabled it by default. Here’s how to disable it:

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20070045-285/how-to-disable-facial-recognition-in-facebook/

Buffalo Funeral Home – Funny !!

OMG there is only one answer to this..."I sure as hell hope so"

I did it – I actually returned the iPad I bought…

I can’t believe that after a year of moaning and groaning about how much I wanted an iPad, and all the hours and hours of research I did about which model to buy, that I actually bought – and then – returned one.

The reason is simple – in the end it wasn’t that much more efficient to have it instead of my laptop with me this week while traveling for work. Not a lot of difference in size and being Gen1, not a lot of difference in weight. And viewing my online credit card bill – ouch. So back she went.

I’m looking forward to seeing the RIM PlayBook in a week or so – while nowhere near as cool as the iPad in my opinion (uninformed though it is), it stands to fill more of my needs for small and light than did the iPad.

So there you have it.

Now I have to find something else to blog about

Gotta be one of the funniest signs I’ve ever seen:

Seen in Cabo San Lucas Airport – about 5 years ago:

Return iPad, Buy PlayBook? Seriously?!

I’ve wanted an iPad for a long time – did a lot of work before purchasing, trying to figure out best model and all that and now that I have one (iPad1, 32GB WiFi) I’m actually thinking of returning it and buying a RIM PlayBook in 2 weeks!!! I can’t believe I just wrote that, but it’s true!

Here’s why:

-size matters – it turns out that even though the iPad is lighter than my MacBook, it’s still something to lug around and really, not that much smaller dimensions-wise. The PlayBook has a 7″ screen and that’s beginning to be pretty appealing.

-giving up the size won’t matter though because the PlayBook’s screen resolution is supposedly better – and I can believe that because I had one of those first MacSEs back in the mid-80s. Those screens were tiny but I never had any issue reading on them.

The iPad really is not the stand-alone piece of equipment that I was hoping I could turn it in to – I knew that it’s essentially an extension of my MacBook but the functionality is pretty limited. For example, I want to cull down my 10,000 photos and thought that while traveling for work, I could attack this project on the iPad, but it turns out that it’s really much easier to do it on my MacBook (unless someone can tell me differently?).

So I’m really torn – it’s only been a few days so I have another week to decide and I’ll be pretty embarrassed to go back to the store but…. the PlayBook seems pretty enticing at this point.

Hotspot

Just a quick follow-up to my post about the iPad purchase – yes, Hotspot does give me internet connectivity via my iPhone but I had trouble at first. I couldn’t get my iPad1 to “see” my iPhone. Here is what you need to know:

-both iPad and iPhone need to have latest system software installed – keep them up-to-date – for iPhone, Hotspot comes with OS4.3.1 and for iPad it’s 4.3 (see wikipedia for list of features: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_version_history)

-Hotspot does not need to be “activated” (with Rogers) if you have already activated tethering with them (which I had done)

-Hotspot essentially offers “tethering” by 3 means – wifi, bluetooth, USB

-make sure both iPad and iPhone are connected to each other – pairing, for bluetooth; or seeing the network for wifi (obviously, you can’t link iPhone and iPad with USB)

And seriously, it’s that easy.

Here’s some more info.

How to tell which version of OS you are running on your iPhone and iPad:
-Settings
–General
–About
–Version

How to turn on Hotspot:
-Settings
–General
–Network
–Personal Hotspot on/off

How to turn on Bluetooth:
-Settings
–General
–Bluetooth

So Which iPad Did I Buy? iPad1 or iPad2?

After many hours of agonizing and work on my decision to go for it and to buy an iPad, time was running short – Gen 1 iPads were selling out everywhere. I had to decide and I chose … iPad1, 32GB WiFi.

Here’s why:

-OS 4 Hotspot on my iPhone provides wifi “tethering” to both iPad1 and iPad2;

-if I were to pay extra for the 3G version of either iPad, I decided that I wouldn’t use the data in the US or elsewhere anyway, as that would involve incurring high data-roaming fees (unless I were to buy a local SIM card, which I’d likely *not* do);

-I didn’t really care about cameras – if ever I wanted to do a video chat (highly unlikely given that I’m 50 years old and haven’t had the urge yet) then I’d do that with my Mac’s video iChat;

-the difference in weight between the two, didn’t matter enough to me – I mean, I love the iPad2 and the lighter feel of it and the cover is kinda cool but … for a hundred bucks less I could get a bigger 32GB version (while they were still to be had).

I thought I’d buy the 3G version and do the Roger’s data-share plan – I called to confirm that I could do this and they said yes, it’s $10/month to add to my iPhone data plan. So I actually stood with the iPad1 16GB 3G model in my hand (OK, I actually bought one open box at Best Buy) and got to my car and called immediately to activate this Roger’s Data Share plan for $10 that they had told me I could get, only to discover that it’s $30 because I have the 6GB data plan.

Weasels.

No wonder they call them Robbers and not Rogers.

So I went back in to Best Buy and exchanged the iPad1 16GB 3G version for iPad1 32 WiFi version and Bob’s your uncle.

The wifi works great with my home router but I haven’t tried Hotspot yet.

By the way, Robbers told me that since I already have tethering activated on my iPhone, I don’t need to activate Hotspot.

Hotspot is basically tethering by bluetooth, wifi or USB.

Now to learn the capabilities of this thing

I should add that I debated long and hard about the RIM PlayBook – it was such a very close 2nd choice and in the end the iPad won out only because I’m so mac-oriented at home. At this point, 24 hours in, while thrilled with my purchase, I wonder if I should have bought the PlayBook – the form factor (size) is pretty sweet…and I love my BB nearly as much as I love my iPhone…

Who knows, maybe one day spouse will inherit the iPad and I’ll get a PlayBook !

Seen in Kingston, ON – funny sign!

Compare PlayBook, iPad, Galaxy, Slate

Am working on an updated version of this chart – but here’s one I found online:

RIM PlayBook to get Android Apps

very cool ! in fact, I even had a dream about this – now I’m wondering whether to go iPad or PlayBook.

PlayBook to get Android Apps

Now that BlackBerry PlayBook can support Android apps, why buy an Android device? This could be a huge boon for RIM as it goes after the Apple jugular in the tablet space.

By the way, in order to browse and install these BlackBerry and Android apps on the PlayBook, two respective “app players” will be available for download, allowing users to run the apps in a “secure sandbox” environment on the tablet, promises the Waterloo, Ont.-based powerhouse. RIM says Android app developers will have to do some minor tweaking to their existing apps and resubmit them to BlackBerry App World.

Starting at $499 (16GB model), BlackBerry PlayBook is built on the BlackBerry Tablet OS (based on the QNX operating system) and features a 1GHz dual-core processor for fast speeds and 1GB of system memory (RAM) for smooth multitasking. It also has dual cameras, GPS with mapping capabilities, HD 1080p video playback and support for websites with Flash (unlike iPad).

This is a country-living, dog-lover’s car in the spring

Sigh.

TheStar BlackBerry PlayBook on sale April 19

TheStar BlackBerry PlayBook on sale April 19.

 

I am undecided – I think I will opt for iPad1 if I win the lottery – though the PlayBook does have series advantages (see previous posts).

BlackBerry PlayBook on sale April 19

TheStar BlackBerry PlayBook on sale April 19.

 

I am undecided – I think I will opt for iPad1 if I win the lottery – though the PlayBook does have series advantages (see previous posts).

The first generation of the PlayBook will rely on Wi-Fi short-range networks to connect to the Internet, initially without contracts with wireless carriers.

It can be tethered to a BlackBerry to access email.

Funny Sign at a Store in FL

Ha!

Dealing with Photos on Facebook

I had the occasion recently to want certain photos to be private on my FB account (no, nothing scandalous), just not for general consumption (ok, it was a photo of me looking really bad).

I didn’t mind certain friends seeing it – those who tease me about getting older – but I did not want my work colleagues to see it but couldn’t figure out the damn settings. I love facebook and all but crap, it’s starting to piss me off.

Anyway, this is the only and most reliable info I could find, straight from the horse’s mouth – ie from the FB help site:

Photos › Uploading photos and creating albums

How do I edit the privacy settings for my photo albums?
To edit the privacy settings for a photo album, follow these steps:
1. Go to the photo album.
2. Select the “Edit Album Info” button in the lower left side of the screen.
3. On the “Edit Info” tab, select the “Privacy” drop-down menu to customize the privacy settings for your album.
Please note that if a photo of you resides in an album you do not own, only the owner of the album can adjust the album privacy. This may affect the visibility of photos you are tagged in when your friends look at them. Also, if you share a high resolution photo or album with someone, that user will be able to download those photos.

You can also access privacy settings for photo albums by doing the following:
1. Click on the “Account” menu and select “Privacy Settings” from the drop down menu.
2. Click “Customize settings.”
Choose “Edit album privacy for existing photos.” Alternatively, you can click the “Album Privacy” link on the “Photos” tab of your profile next to your albums.

What I did in the end is to decide that I would make my wall photos extremely private – ie block 90% of the people – rather than to go through the 75 albums I’ve created over the years and to change each one. So now when I upload pics from my BlackBerry (iPhone doesn’t, or didn’t, used to give me the chance) – I will upload to my wall album and that way I know that ugly pics of me don’t show up to certain people.

Sigh – we need an alternative to FB.

Confirmed: iOS 4.3 Personal Hotspot To Be Free On Rogers/Fido With 1GB & Higher Data Plan

Confirmed: iOS 4.3 Personal Hotspot To Be Free On Rogers/Fido With 1GB & Higher Data Plan.

 

 

Taken from iphoneincanada.ca:

And this from another blog:
gigaom.com Will iPhone’s Personal Hotspot Make 3G iPad Irrelevant?

I realized immediately that not only do I no longer need a MiFi, as Kevin pointed out yesterday, but I no longer even need the 3G in my Wi-Fi + 3G iPad. I use the iPad’s cellular data connection sparingly as it is, and I’ve never run into a situation where I had my iPad but not my iPhone while on a trip or out and about. And not renewing my iPad data contract will save me at least $30 every month with my provider here in Canada.

Canadian providers don’t charge extra for tethering services, unlike in the U.S. But even when you are charged extra to enable personal hotspot features, which is a better proposition? An extra $30 for a shared connection that you can use with any device, including notebook computers or the iPod touch, or roughly the same amount of money for a whole other data plan locked to a single gadget?

Once personal hotspot capabilities make it out to all iPhones, the question quickly becomes: Why have a 3G-enabled iPad at all? Buying the Wi-Fi-only model will save you $130, which can be spent on the next model up in terms of storage capacity, while still saving $30.

Apple could still make the 3G iPad desirable to consumers by allowing it to act as a personal hotspot, but the iOS 4.3 beta shows no indication that Apple intends to go back on its current “no tethering policy” for the device. Even if the iPad were to gain hotspot abilities (which it might to keep feature parity with Android tablets), it still wouldn’t hold as much appeal as the iPhone, or any Android device with the same feature, since it’s far less portable and unlikely to be carried by most people during the course of a normal day.

My next iPad will be Wi-Fi only, provided Apple continues to offer a non-3G option in its next generation tablet. As Stacey foresaw more than a year ago, consumers will only need (and likely have budget for) one cellular network-connected device that can share to a variety of Wi-Fi hangers-on, and all indications point to that device being the iPhone for those operating in Apple’s mobile ecosystem, not the iPad.

*UPDATED* Info re iPad2, Tethering, 3G etc

Here is Wired, saying that with a smartphone, you may not need the 3G version of iPad2:

For More Info see CNN/Wired Article by clicking this link

It turns out that if you’re one of the millions of people who own an Android phone or an iPhone, you don’t need a 3G model, which will save you a big chunk of cash. Here’s why.

Smartphone hotspots

All U.S. iPhones (upgraded to the latest version of iOS) and the vast majority of Android smartphones now officially support wireless-hotspot capability, which turns the handset into a Wi-Fi connection that can be shared with multiple devices, including the iPad 2.

So if you go with a Wi-Fi-only model and you want to hop on a cellular connection, you can activate the hotspot option on your smartphone through your carrier, pay $20 per month and connect the iPad to that.

That’s not as seamless as having 3G built into the iPad, but it will save you the extra $130 you’d plunk down on a 3G model. Plus, you’d have to pay at least $15 a month just to use an iPad’s 3G connection anyway.

**SUMMARY – iPad2 wifi only can use Smartphone as hotspot to access internet so in effect, “tether” – and iPad1 and iPad2 can be added to a Rogers data plan (Canada) for $10/month.

Correct me if I’m wrong – this is all so confusing

Apple could be short parts for iPad 2 after Japan quake

More on my series re iPad :0

This is a disaster for me (I know, so NOT important in the scheme of things, considering what’s going on in the world and all)

 

TheStar Apple could be short parts for iPad 2 after Japan quake.

Headless in Seattle

So I’m reading a book called Killer by Stephen Carpenter – it was affordable and it was on Kindle so I downloaded it and I’ve been really enjoying it (even though I more or less figured it out pretty early on) (which isn’t typical of me).

Anyway, it’s about a serial killer that lops of heads, among other things. I’ve been pretty absorbed in it. In fact I read it over dinner just before an appointment at a local spa. So I was a bit taken aback when I was sitting in the waiting room next to this girl – I mean seriously, what are the odds?

OMG A Snake

This is possibly a re-post – or maybe not (I sent it to CarTalk, NPR, so maybe that’s what I’m thinking of) – this was one of the funniest things that has happened to me in my life. Driving along the 401, Canada’s busiest highway, listening to some tunes and out popped a snake – it did a cobra dance thing in front of my eyes against the windshield and then slid over to the side – I’m driving on a highway, don’t forget – and frantically reaching for my iPhone! Anyway, it slid over and just watched me. I laughed so hard that I nearly died, and I am not exaggerating.