I read "It Isn't Always a Job behind an Online Job Posting" from the WSJ at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123483686491196353.html.
The article is about how some online job postings have turned out to be an advertisement for career-marketing service or even worse a scheme to steal identities. The recruiting agencies such as CareerBuilder attempt to sift through the job postings and verify that a job really exists. Sometimes they don't find all of them so be careful when using these sites and look for postings with more specifics and beware of those who ask for personal information such as social security numbers and bank accounts.
This makes me nervous because I have created an account on Monster. I have received several emails soliciting jobs to me because they think I would be a good fit. Most of them have been financial companies and I have emailed them to respectfully decline but I did receive and email from what I believe was a career marketing service and when I emailed them back to decline they sent me a pushy email attempting to get me to fill out my personal information for their database. This made me very weary of keeping my information on Monster but if I receive many more solicitation emails I may reconsider keeping my information available.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Google helps you keep track of friends
In CNN's article Google latitude keeps tabs on frends' locations (here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/04/google.latitude/index.html) Google basicly used their Google Maps that they have already created, and added location tracking tools. The latitude software is part of Google Maps and would work on iGoogle, Google Maps for Mobile (basically most smartphones) and possibly iPhone and iTouch users soon. The software not only uses GPS satelites but also proximity to cell phone towers in order to get a correct location on the user's whereabouts. This is a feature that you would have to sign up for as well as confirm who can see your location.
This sounds exactly like what iPhone already features so I don't know why thier users would be interesed in this application, and to me this is just CREEPY!!! What are you going to do when your boyfriend or girlfriend asks to confirm you so they can see where you are? It just puts everyone in an awkward situation when you break up. You already have to break up with them on facebook but now you probably also want to block them from seeing where you are. I feel like it's just asking for stalkers. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not that insecure that I need to know where my friends are at every second of the day. Oh no, they are at the bar without me...it's the end of the world. I don't know, it's just not for me.
This sounds exactly like what iPhone already features so I don't know why thier users would be interesed in this application, and to me this is just CREEPY!!! What are you going to do when your boyfriend or girlfriend asks to confirm you so they can see where you are? It just puts everyone in an awkward situation when you break up. You already have to break up with them on facebook but now you probably also want to block them from seeing where you are. I feel like it's just asking for stalkers. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not that insecure that I need to know where my friends are at every second of the day. Oh no, they are at the bar without me...it's the end of the world. I don't know, it's just not for me.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Economy Effects on Wireless Communications
Article: AT&T, Verizon Make Different Calls from WSJ
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123307214837119815.html
The article tells the different tactics during this economic downturn. AT&T plans on marketing its iPhone, while Verizon wants to market their premium television services (FiOS). Recently, AT&T announced that they would cut spending on their TV offering a very different tactic than Verizon.
How is AT&T's tactic any different than it has been for since the iPhone was even announced it was coming out?! I think that is a poor marketing decision especially since other, cheaper touch screen phones have come out in the market. I think it is a good idea that Verizon is seeing past the traditional offerings and could potentially get more market share on the premium television service since AT&T is holding back. Even if it is riskier, I give props to Verizon for going for something new.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123307214837119815.html
The article tells the different tactics during this economic downturn. AT&T plans on marketing its iPhone, while Verizon wants to market their premium television services (FiOS). Recently, AT&T announced that they would cut spending on their TV offering a very different tactic than Verizon.
How is AT&T's tactic any different than it has been for since the iPhone was even announced it was coming out?! I think that is a poor marketing decision especially since other, cheaper touch screen phones have come out in the market. I think it is a good idea that Verizon is seeing past the traditional offerings and could potentially get more market share on the premium television service since AT&T is holding back. Even if it is riskier, I give props to Verizon for going for something new.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
EBay Feels Effects of Economy
AOL article: EBay Profit Plunges 31 Percent. http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/ebay-profit-revenue-fall-amid-recession/313720
EBay's quarterly earnings have fell 31 percent showing that the rough economy is also hurting Internet auctions as well as other online retailers and traditional retail stores. Chief executive John Donahoe blames the loss on the macro-economy. Despite the loss, the number of active users has rose almost 4 percent.
This surprises me. I would have thought that Internet auctions would have done well during the economic downturn. I would think that people would be selling more of what they didn't need anymore, and others would want to buy items possibly cheaper or used. It's also weird that the number of active users has rose, but the sales have fallen significantly. Also, instead of blaming the loss on the macro-economy, maybe Ebay should look at their selling practices. They ended up charging the sellers more money for the convenience of using their site. Some of the loss of sales could be part of that. I don't think they should hastily jump to the economy as an easy blame of their problems.
EBay's quarterly earnings have fell 31 percent showing that the rough economy is also hurting Internet auctions as well as other online retailers and traditional retail stores. Chief executive John Donahoe blames the loss on the macro-economy. Despite the loss, the number of active users has rose almost 4 percent.
This surprises me. I would have thought that Internet auctions would have done well during the economic downturn. I would think that people would be selling more of what they didn't need anymore, and others would want to buy items possibly cheaper or used. It's also weird that the number of active users has rose, but the sales have fallen significantly. Also, instead of blaming the loss on the macro-economy, maybe Ebay should look at their selling practices. They ended up charging the sellers more money for the convenience of using their site. Some of the loss of sales could be part of that. I don't think they should hastily jump to the economy as an easy blame of their problems.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Blockbuster vs. Netflix
I found the article "Blockbuster Offers Videos Via Internet" at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189862045179953.html
I think this is interesting because at the beginning of the quarter we talked about how Netflix is offering movies online as a part of their services. When we talked about it I thought that Blockbuster may not be offering movies online yet, but they still had the advantage. You can take your movies to th store to return them and get a new one. Now they have a clear advantage. In marketing terms, Netflix hasn't been in existance for very long. When it comes to movie rentals, people are more likely to think of Blockbuster since it has been available for many more years. Also, the options for returning your movie as well as getting a new movie are much more of a benefit than Netflix can offer.
I may be a bit bias, my brother used to work at Blockbuster. But if I were looking towards buying one of these services I would buy the one that has the most options available for getting movies fast, and that looks towards blockbuster. . I am also thinking that services like these may become more popular as the economy worsens. Who wants to go to a movie when it costs 10+ dollars for just one movie ticket now days? It would be cheaper to rent movies from these services, than going out to a movie. I think Blockbuster defiently has an advantage.
I think this is interesting because at the beginning of the quarter we talked about how Netflix is offering movies online as a part of their services. When we talked about it I thought that Blockbuster may not be offering movies online yet, but they still had the advantage. You can take your movies to th store to return them and get a new one. Now they have a clear advantage. In marketing terms, Netflix hasn't been in existance for very long. When it comes to movie rentals, people are more likely to think of Blockbuster since it has been available for many more years. Also, the options for returning your movie as well as getting a new movie are much more of a benefit than Netflix can offer.
I may be a bit bias, my brother used to work at Blockbuster. But if I were looking towards buying one of these services I would buy the one that has the most options available for getting movies fast, and that looks towards blockbuster. . I am also thinking that services like these may become more popular as the economy worsens. Who wants to go to a movie when it costs 10+ dollars for just one movie ticket now days? It would be cheaper to rent movies from these services, than going out to a movie. I think Blockbuster defiently has an advantage.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Week 4 Post
I read "Investment in Clean Technology Suffers Steep Quarterly Decline" which can be found at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123129110594759499.html
Amid all the talks about how we should all be greener in all the different aspects of our lives, investments have fell 35% in the fourth quarter as well as the smallest amount invested in the technology in six quarters. It is believed that the downturn was caused in part by the economic crisis. The clean technologies include research with solar, bio-fuels, transportation and wind.
This is astonishing to me that the clean technology fell especially by that much. I know there is the economic crisis at hand, but people could save money in the long run by further investing in these technologies. I personally don't have the money to be investing in these sorts of products, and I'm not all about global warming and protecting the earth but most of these products are just smart. You see a lot more green cars on the market and I have even heard there are waiting lists for some of theses cars. This is all just crazy in my mind, and the economy better turn around soon.
Amid all the talks about how we should all be greener in all the different aspects of our lives, investments have fell 35% in the fourth quarter as well as the smallest amount invested in the technology in six quarters. It is believed that the downturn was caused in part by the economic crisis. The clean technologies include research with solar, bio-fuels, transportation and wind.
This is astonishing to me that the clean technology fell especially by that much. I know there is the economic crisis at hand, but people could save money in the long run by further investing in these technologies. I personally don't have the money to be investing in these sorts of products, and I'm not all about global warming and protecting the earth but most of these products are just smart. You see a lot more green cars on the market and I have even heard there are waiting lists for some of theses cars. This is all just crazy in my mind, and the economy better turn around soon.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Security Concerns
The article I found is "Yahoo Reduces Time it Stores Users' Personal Data" which can be found at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122952886987314289.html
Previously Yahoo has stored personally identifing data for up to 13 months. Pressure from privacy advocates and legislators has caused them to reevaluate that and now have realeased that they will only store data up to 90 days. This information is left through an electronic trail from when users look at information on the web. Search engine companys say this is necessary so that they can improve the quality of their services. Google and Microsoft are now being looked at to follow suit, even though in September Google already cut the time they kept the data in half.
I think it's kind of scary that everywhere you go is recorded on the internet and then stored for quite a long period of time. Some of the information can personally identify you and just think if the wrong person got their hands on even just a piece of that information what could happen. People try not to post personal information, but if you type it into a site that it could be recorded. I've got to say this is scarier than thinking the government is listening to your phone calls. I mean you do everything on the internet now days!
My mom works at BWC in Columbus and I remember a few summers ago how an intern left files in his car and it had the personal information of a lot of people around Ohio. Thankfully none of my families information was included, but I had friends that were notified that they were. Nothing has come out of this yet but it's hard to say that nothing ever will at this point. Addresses may change over time, but social security numbers won't.
Previously Yahoo has stored personally identifing data for up to 13 months. Pressure from privacy advocates and legislators has caused them to reevaluate that and now have realeased that they will only store data up to 90 days. This information is left through an electronic trail from when users look at information on the web. Search engine companys say this is necessary so that they can improve the quality of their services. Google and Microsoft are now being looked at to follow suit, even though in September Google already cut the time they kept the data in half.
I think it's kind of scary that everywhere you go is recorded on the internet and then stored for quite a long period of time. Some of the information can personally identify you and just think if the wrong person got their hands on even just a piece of that information what could happen. People try not to post personal information, but if you type it into a site that it could be recorded. I've got to say this is scarier than thinking the government is listening to your phone calls. I mean you do everything on the internet now days!
My mom works at BWC in Columbus and I remember a few summers ago how an intern left files in his car and it had the personal information of a lot of people around Ohio. Thankfully none of my families information was included, but I had friends that were notified that they were. Nothing has come out of this yet but it's hard to say that nothing ever will at this point. Addresses may change over time, but social security numbers won't.
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