Google introduces "Google Glasses"

 

Google co founder Sergy Brin wearing Google Glasses
(http://www.news.cnet.com)

Google have just introduced their net connected glasses which are referred to as "Google Glasses". These glasses have been tested on 8000 contestants living in America. 

The glasses have various cool features which some are used in
computers and smart phones, such as

• Checking your emails,
• Use them for social networks. 
• You use your finger or voice to get it to take photos, record videos, chat, and send messages and google search.
• Little fan to keep your eye cool
• Camera on top of the right eye
• Consatant real-time video stream of whatever is infron of you
• Sits more comfortablty on face than laptop

Although "Google glasses" is one of the newest and smartest things on the block for google, there is already competition for them. Reuters reported April 3, citing Baidu spokesperson Kaise Kuo that Baidu which is the largest search engines in China also have net connected smart glasses similar to the google glasses. I has also been reported that Google, Apple Inc and several other companies are also working on internet connected wrist watches.(http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/business/2013/03/27/google-picks-8000-to-test-net-connected-glasses). This shows that competition is very tight for google.

Another thing that google is facing when it come to the google glasses is the disadvantages that they have. One of the biggest disadvantages is that they will not be welcome in most places, especially those that do not accept cameras; hence they are connected to a camera and microphone.
Google is also considering partnering with retails such as Ray-Ban or Warby Parker hence the frames do not currently have lenses connected to them. So imagine wearing google glasses with Ray-Ban sign on them!
Google says they will also open their retail stores for people to purchase the glasses from

The cost of the glasses is estimated between $700 to $1.500 (R6 348, 37-R13 603, 65). Although google has not reported the exact date when the glasses will be out, they may be out at the end of this year or early next year.
Do you think that these "google glasses" will be most popular like the smart phones we use especially in South Africa considering the fact that it may not be welcome in most places and the competition that they have?

The power behind blogging

There are number of reasons why people blog
http://www.google.co.za/imgres
 

There is a number popular of social networks out there which people use for a number of different reasons, blogging is one of them and many of you are aware of it but do not use it. Reason behind this might be that a number of people do not get the idea behind blogging. Blogs are one of the social networks were you get the freedom of expressing yourself.

It is said that number of blogs went up from 30 million in 2005 to almost 200 million in in 2012. This means that people are now familiar of what blogging is abouth as the number of blogs is increasing worldwide.

People do not only blog for no reason, there is always a reason behind any blogger. These are the number of resons why people blog:

· To share information with others.

· For businesses to communicate with customers.

· For the fun of it.

· Because they have to.

· To make money.

The list is endless but whay ever reason people use blogging, it is growing and people are finding it as a best way of communication. Communicating use via blogs boosts a persons skills of communication. Thus, it is of most importance for people and businesses to consider blogging as this will help them and their businesses.

 

Google just turned 14 years and yet so big.



Google's 14th birthday doodles



Google just celebrated its 14^th birthday yesterday 27 September.  Google is one of the most popular and biggest search engines you would ever find in the world. It has been established by 2 college boys, Lawrence "Larry" Page and Sergey Brin in 1998. The aim for open this search engine was to get people find another quick way to search through the internet. They never thought that it was going to be so popular in a way that it seems like the only search engine people are familiar with.

Google is only 14 this year but the way it is so popular, it is like it had been around forever. Google which was established on the 7^th of this month celebrates its birthday on the 27^th. Since 2002 Google has been celebrating its birthday with different birthday doodles, which shows how unique Google is.

Other Google Birthday doodles

 Google was just established in 1998 but the way it is so popular shows that they know how to communicate with their customers and have a very strong way of keeping that communication.  This all shows that people are really supportive and Google at the same time is not just a world’s biggest internet company but a company that is willing to cater for its customers. By the looks of things it is still going to stay the biggest.

Happy 14^th birthday Google!

DISADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA



All social networking sites have its own disadvantages



As we all know that social media is a useful tool for communicating and engaging with other people, for businesses as well it is a great tool to use in communicating with its target audiences. Even though that is the case, social media also does have its disadvantages.  

One of the most disadvantages of social networks is privacy and protection; this is disadvantageous because most social networks always come up with problems of people getting involved in things like rape, murder, kidnaping, stalking etc. We all know that when creating an account of a particular social network people want to have many friends so they just add or accept any people without thinking and even maybe getting more information about that individual.

There are also other disadvantages besides this but we not getting in detail with them, include:

·         Negative comments whether as a business or an individual

·         It takes effort to gain credibility online.

·         Social networks can be addictive

By looking at the safety issue in a communications point of view, we all know that these social networking sites do have their policies on safety but such things still happen. People on the other hand are still ignorant about their safety when they are in these sites. Who is to blame in this issue? Did social networks put these policies just for the sake of it or are people being ignorant?  

On the front row of the Fashion Week via twitter





New York Fashion Week September 2012

Imagine watching a live fashion show at your comfort zone as if you sitting in the front row. This is the opportunity that Twitter users got during the New York Fashion week.  As the Fashion Week returned to New York this year, 06 September 2012. Twitter had given people an opportunity to watch the show with out actually being physically there. It acted as a guide to the show for people who could not actually have a chance to sit on the front row and watch the show.

"This week will be packed with the freshest fashion fun: events kick off today and run through next Thursday, September 13. Whether you’re at home or styling downtown, be among the first to spot next spring’s hottest trends and catch all of the behind-the-scenes moments." Twitter reported on it's blog. They mentioned that this will be done by joining twitter conversations and by using the #NYFW hashgtag and #DayInTheLife to see the models during their make-up sessions in the fitting room and other interesting staff. Not only hashtags were used to keep up to date with the show. It has also been mentioned that there were people who kept the twitter users updated about the show, they included:

 



A model backstage preparing for the runway

• Designers
• Bloggers
• Models 
• Fashion icons

What they did was keep people posted about the happenings of the fashion week. They did this by posting tweets and pictures about the whole show. (http://mashable.com/2012/09/10/twitter-fashion-week/).



A front row seat in the Fashion Week via twitter

It is amazing to find out how interesting social networks are. Almost all twitter users around the world had an opportunity to be part of this Fashion Week without going to NewYork , this is all thanks to twitter for bringing the show to people.

Racism in Social Media

 

Model Jessica Leandra dos Santos posted a racist tweet. 

Social networks are there for people to share whats on their minds, to share ideas and important information Though that is the case there are issues that people should first think about before they post. Racism is one of the major issues that social networks are facing all over the world. People tend to post racist posts on social networks which is a major issue in the new South Africa and the rest of the world. There is a number of racist posts that people have posted on almost all social networking sites. Majority of these posts are racial hatred posts

One of the racist posts that made people talking was of a 20 year old model Jessica Leandra dos Santos who posted on her twitter, her tweet read: "Just well took on an arrogant and disrespectful k***** inside spar. Should have punched him, should have." When this young model made an apology about this issue she said that she was very angry at this guy who was throwing sexual harrasing comments to her. Another racist post was of a Cape Town student who posted a status on Facebook, he said had heard enough of blacks and that whites do not own them anything, he also referred to black people as F***ing   brain dead monkeys.



Racism in Social Media

 Though everyone knows that they can write about anything that they want on their social networks, the reason for these sites are to help people get connected and share ideas and information. Some people tend to post statuses before they even consider what other people will think. I will advise people to think before they post anything.

Google buys a Travel Guide Book to step ahead Apple's Siri?

Google buys Frommers to step ahead Siri
 (http://www.google.co.za/imgres)

Frommer's is a Travel Guide book that is best selling in America. Now Google has decided to purchase this Guide book from current owner Wiley & Sons to be part of the Frommer's to help people find their travel guides of destination any were around the world. It is quite clear that Google wants to take over the online travel. It has shown that it is capable of answering any questions that people want to know, no matter what the question is.

Google has done something like this last year with Zagat's restuarant guides, publisher of worldwide restuarant guides. It has decided to be part of this Travel Guide in order to help people in finding answers about their trravel places.It is quite clear that Google is rolling up professional guides to local places and businesses. As search becomes a more futuristic convenience, (http://www.newscandy.com/e/KnD4).  It is also believed that Google decided to buy Frommer's Travel Guide Book in order to step ahead of Apples Siri. "Siri is the intelligent personal assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. It allows you to use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more." (http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/siri-faq.html.). It is also responsible for making recommendations for which restuarants to book and road directions. Although Google is more popular compared to Siri, it is quite clear that Siri and Google are in a very big competition because they are similar to each other.

Google one of the most popular searc engines
 (http://www.google.co.za/imgres)

As we all know that Google is responsible of answering all the questions that we want to know, Here are some of the questions why people will think Google purchased this book for: Is it to:

• To help travellers when they want to find a place to go?
• Get an opportunity to integrate other services in the Frommers pages?
• Wants to increase it's searching options?
• Does not want competition?
• To step ahead Siri
• Wants to stay being the best search engine?
• To take over online Travel and Restuarants?
• To gain more advertisers?

No matter what the reason is, Google did this for a good course. What we do not know is whether it will really step ahead  Apples Siri ?