Two recent studies by the Pew Research Center place the Internet firmly in first place as the most common form of news media consumption. Although 92% of these users get their information from multiple sources, 21% rely on a single website! The new media is plays a key role in modern news consumption because of its portability, its capacity for personalization, and its participatory nature. Given the fact the people prefer to access their news on a mobile platform which is tailored to their interests and encourages discussion, it should come as no surprise that social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter are gaining traction as news outlets. The study estimates that half of Americans rely on others to link them to important news stories, and the other half are actively engaged in sharing news stories with their social networks. The modern media landscape is endlessly segmented and often editorially biased, yet its inherent interactivity has allowed its popularity to surpass the traditional media it depends on.
While 73% of Americans rely on cable news and 61% get news online, a mere 50% use the local paper and only 17% read national news publications. As demand for local newspapers decreases, their coverage contracts, with some papers running 32% less than in 1999 and 72% less than in 1991. Comparing the mode of consumption with the source is a sobering proposition, with 8 of 10 reports consisting entirely of repackaged information from traditional media such as national newspapers and 95% of all stories that contain new information are from print media sources. As newspapers decline in popularity and the online echo chamber takes over, individuals and corporate entities take on more responsibility to control their own message. CloudProfile is the perfect social media marketing platform and is designed to make short work of sharing news links relevant to your small business and its following, as well as information straight from the horse's mouth.
The unfolding controversy surrounding the unauthorized remote activation of student webcams is on track to establish legal precedent in a contentious net neutrality debate. The trouble started when Lower Merion student Blake Robbins was disciplined for "improper behavior in the home" and presented with a snapshot from the iSight camera mounted on his Apple laptop computer as evidence. The MacBook in question was required for class and came pre-loaded with Apple Remote Desktop and a network surveillance tool called LANrev. Although several students reported their webcam lights turning on at random, they were prohibited from tampering with the computers under threat of expulsion. The Robbins' contacted an attorney upon receipt of the disciplinary screen capture, and although the principal claims the remote access features are strictly anti-theft provision, they have clearly been abused. The FBI has begun investigating district officials for illegal wire-tapping and computer privacy offenses, and 2 years worth of evidence has revealed 42 separate incidents involving laptop webcams.
Although these specific accusations could be attributed to overzealous network administrators, remote access is a key tool in the repertoire of malicious software programs. While common bugs and bots might log your keystrokes to learn your passwords and account numbers, a skilled attacker could gain nearly unlimited access to your system. While the constitutionality of warrantless cell phone location tracking awaits a Supreme Court decision, make sure your personal data is protected from the prying eyes of online predators. Student Experts offers a Security and Prevention service, during which we will load antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-malware and firewall applications on your computer to make sure you are protected from the latest threats, as well as optional training to avoid high-risk activity. Keep Big Brother out with Student Experts and check out live surveillance footage of a random (consenting) webcam user with Chat Roulette.
Adobe has become ubiquitous in the world of image-processing, but the ascent of their software from humble beginnings to becoming a verb is impressive, indeed. The first iteration was created by two nerds in their garage, licensed to Adobe in 1988, and released as Photoshop 1.0 (for Mac) in 1990. Every semi-annual release since has added innovative features, expanding the functions into a vast toolkit for artistic creativity. Advances in digital photography combined with skilled retouching have begun to blur the line between reality and fiction; the software has become so powerful that publications such as National Geographic require photographers to submit files in a "raw" image format to preclude JPEG editing. Photoshop has aged gracefully and matured into an industry-leading product in CS4, but even the best is subject to the failings of the user. 20 years of butchery have given these mistakes internet meme status, so enjoy the carnage (linked below) in celebration of Ps!
In a joint project with the Department of Defense, CISCO Systems has successfully combined two of our favorite things: outer space and the internet. The project is known as Internet Routing In Space (IRIS for short) and aims to expand and optimize mobile data networks. By transferring data directly to multiple users on the ground simultaneously without the need for intermediary signal routing stations, IRIS will reduce download latency and extend coverage beyond existing 3G service areas. A communications satellite equipped with a special radiation-tolerant IP router has been launched into geosynchronous orbit, and the results of a series of initial tests are positive. Although CISCO's claims of "constant and pervasive" internet access sounds ominous, the potential benefits of a reliable, flexible, and universal data network for commercial, private, and military communication cannot be overstated.
The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the great adventures of all time, and no service which expects to be the leader of IT Support can expect to stay behind in this race for space. Student Experts means to be a part of it--we mean to lead it. In short, our expertise in diagnostics and upgrades, our experience in security and prevention, our obligations to Macs as well as PCs, all require us to become the world's leading space-faring IT Support Firm. There is no malware, no fragmentation, no data backup services in outer space as yet. We choose to go to space and provide skilled tech support, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, and because someone will have to unplug the IRIS, and then plug it back in.
Barcelona's Mobile World Congress was the scene of yet another eye-popping product unveiling, but the manufacturer might be one you have ceased to associate with mobile devices. Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 Series (say that how many times fast?) was put into the hands of public for the first time with overwhelmingly positive reactions. A brand-new Mobile OS has been built to replace the beleaguered Windows Mobile platform, and the boxy, free-flowing User Interface makes the iPhone's home screen feel like a prison camp. What's more, all your favorite M$ applications are built-in, from Zune to XBOX Live, as well as Internet Explorer, Outlook and Office. With closer scrutiny of manufacturers to insure the highest quality and partnership with a number of mobile carriers (AT&T being the frontrunner, sigh) the inappropriately named Zune phone promises to bring Microsoft back into contention for the mobile crown. If you're looking to step into the post-iPhone gadget zeitgeist, nobody makes a better door than Windows.
