Will Google buy Digg then destroy it?

By Mark O’Neill
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

Duncan Riley over at the Inquisitr has a very thought-provoking piece on what may happen to Digg if the rumored $200 million purchase deal between Digg and Google goes through as planned.   Will Digg become a central important plank of the Google empire or will it become another Feedburner / Jaiku and stagnate into nothingness?

Think about all the companies that Google buys up and then consider all the development and promotion Google then does on those companies – either it’s very little or zero.   Feedburner is a prime example.   Where is the much talked about “Google accounts” integration we keep hearing so much about?   Are they ever going to do it or is it just talk?   Me thinks it’s all hogwash.

With all the money that Google has in their coffers, they have the power to do a lot of good things for the Internet, but they also have the power to make a lot of purchases which they can then instantly forget about.   They’re like a spoilt rich kid who walks into a toy store and asks their parents for a ton of toys which they have absolutely no intention of playing with ever again – but they demand them because they can.    These purchases then sit in a cupboard unused, unappreciated and wasted.

Is Digg going to suffer this kind of fate if Google gets their claws into them?    Will Google buy them just to prove that they can?    Will they then sit in the corner of the internet neglected and unloved?    I never thought I would say this, but maybe it would be for the best if Microsoft was to win this one.    What do you think?

Bored with your feeds? Try Toluu!

In a world with more than 100 million blogs, do you find it difficult to find new and interesting things to read? How do you sift through all of the noise to find blogs that you might like? Would you like a simple way to find good content? Maybe Toluu will save the day for you.

Toluu matches RSS feed readers like Google Reader with the power of recommendation to help you find interesting new content. The way it works is very simple:

1- Get an invite code off of their site, which has one of the cleanest designs that I’ve ever seen. It’s easy to do, there’s a link to get the invites at the top of their homepage.

2- Once you get the invite code, set up your account.

3- The starting point is to import some of your current favorite RSS feeds into Toluu. If your current feed reader can create an .OPML file (a standard for storing RSS feed URLs), you can import that file into Toluu. Otherwise, you can start adding feeds manually. This information about your current RSS subscriptions gives Toluu a basis to start for developing recommendations.

4- Next, click on the Matches page. Based on the information that you’ve entered into Toluu, it will start recommending other Toluu members to you, showing the % fit between your likes and their likes. It will also list up to five blogs that you would likely fit your interests.

5- Clicking on a blog name will allow you to preview that blog like many other RSS readers do. You can subscribe to the blog within Toluu.

6- On top of all that, you can export your Toluu subscriptions into an OPML file, import that into your favorite RSS feed reader and the loop is closed.

There are a number of other things that you can do within Toluu, like building up your contact list of social media users. You can also use different views within Toluu to get different recommendations for blogs based on activity within:

  • The past week
  • The past month
  • All time

At its heart, Toluu is a simple tool, but it looks and works great. What more can you ask for from a tool? Try it for yourself!

Mark Dykeman broadcasts from his brain about communications, social media, and technology several times per week at Broadcasting Brain. He enjoys participating in several social media sites, including Twitter, FriendFeed and StumbleUpon.


SlyDial: Voice Communication, Without the Interaction

By JR Raphael
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

A new service can let you take the personal touch out of voice communication.

SlyDial gives you the option to dial directly into anyone’s voicemail — whether they’re on the same cell phone provider as you or not. You can use it for free if you don’t mind listening through a 30-second ad, or you can pay a small fee (15 cents a pop, or less if you buy a prepaid package) to go ad-free.

The setup is simple: You call 1-267-SLY-DIAL, punch in anyone’s cell phone number, and it’ll connect you to their voicemail — without their phone ever ringing. Some phones will even go as far as displaying an actual missed call from the number you specify.

This thing has plenty of possible uses, both positive and manipulative. It could definitely come in handy for the times you want to leave a quick note without getting into a whole conversation — almost as an alternative to a text message.

SlyDial is limited to the U.S. only as of now.

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How to work your inner geek for a comfy corner office

By Erica Davidson
Guest Blogger, [GAS]

We all know that non-verbal cues are key for landing the new IT director position or scoring a coveted promotion. But did you know that the way you dress could be the most important non-verbal communication of all?

It’s true. Dressing for success extends beyond the initial interview, or even the final offer. Your personal appearance is a critical part of the impression you leave on others throughout your career. Dressing like a “nerd” (wearing WOW t-shirts, taped glasses and black socks with tennis shoes) is a no-no that could leave you pigeon holed in the data center until retirement.

Not sure what to change? Not to worry. Follow these simple tips to boost your earning potential. They’re easier than developing IP-routing proficiency, and can strategically influence your workplace status.

1- Communicate your commitment

Practice the professional image you want to project. Dressing nicely will give you a sense of confidence, and self-assurance is a pretty hefty leverage tool when it comes to climbing the geek’s corporate ladder. In addition, your coworkers may measure your attention to detail by your personal grooming habits. No one wants a support staff member with dog breath and sweat stains.

2- Play your personality

No one’s asking you to be someone you’re not. If you’re happy being relegated to the cubicle in the corner, by all means wear the shirt you slept in the night before. But if you want to project yourself as a credible, knowledgeable source of information, step it up a notch. My guess is that if you’re reading this article, you’re in the latter category.

If you’re looking to communicate power and authority, adopt nonverbal signals of masculinity. Choose somber clothing shapes and color, like dark shades and tailored items. Stay away from pink, purple and bright green and blue dress shirts.

Want to paint yourself as fun, cooperative and team-oriented? Go more feminine. Light colors, patterns and loose shapes will signal relaxation and tolerance.

If you want to showcase technical knowledge and experience, build your wardrobe with black and white pieces. Black signals commitment, expertise and book smarts. White is a sign of purity, compassion and wisdom (look at the Pope!).

3- Silently scream confidence and competence

Use proven and trusted non-verbal clues to interact with power players. Look interviewers, coworkers and superiors in the eye. Don’t act nervous—tapping your foot, chewing your pencil, clipping your nails and picking your teeth are all on the how-to-get-demoted list.Shake hands firmly, but don’t be intimidating. You shouldn’t cut off blood flow with your grip.

4- For goodness sake, listen!

Open minds and receptive ears are an important part of your non-verbal persona. When someone else is talking, pay attention and make eye contact. Nod your head when appropriate. Repeat concepts back to the speaker to communicate acceptance and understanding.

In short, just because you’re in a technical field doesn’t mean you can’t use the techniques executives are known for employing. Working the non-verbal game is a surefire way to help you get noticed, and to help your paychecks start increasing.

What’s your geek quotient?

We at [GAS] cater to the geek within us all — but have you ever wondered just how geeky you really are?  What would be some warning encouraging signs of geekiness?  With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy and all of the people who’ve attempted this before…

You might be a geek if…

  • Your vanity license plate is an acronym or 1337speak for your favorite open technology, or a reference to Dr. Who, Douglas Adams, Star Trek, BSG, Babylon 5, or web lore.
  • Every clock in your home is set to UTC, so you don’t have to go to the trouble of resetting them for DST.
  • You know the difference between UTC and GMT, and it matters to you.
  • You celebrate the 256th day of the year, accounting for leap years.  Extra points if you also celebrate the 256th day of the Julian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, and Mayan calendars.
  • Your Aunt Ruby, who is a grief counselor, still doesn’t get your “closure” jokes — and she’s tired of your asking if she has a colleague named Perl. 
  • When the receptionist at your doctor’s office reaches for the mouse, you can’t resist telling her how to do the same thing more quickly using only the keyboard.  Nor can you resist commenting on the resulting slow page load with “must be IIS”.
  • When someone asks you a serious question, you immediately respond “42” and chuckle.
  • You have no trouble remembering a phone number someone just gave you, because it’s a power of two in decimal.
  • You can read Unicode in binary, and automatically recognize which encoding is being used.
  • You remember people’s names by computing their value in base-36 or RAD50 (you old geek!).  Extra points if you know the difference.  More points if you know both encodings of RAD50.  Über-doober points for knowing why the number 50 is involved in the name.
  • You can convert between octal, decimal and hex in your head, and you have need of this skill.
  • You don’t need no stinkin’ IDE — that’s kindercoding.
  • You comment source code in the language you’d rather be using.
  • You have ever written a story or poem in code.  Bonus points if it actually does something related to the narrative, if only ironically.
  • You dream in code.  Sometimes it’s a continuation.
  • When your partner in word association says “car”, you respond “cdr”.
  • You’d rather spend twenty minutes constructing the perfect regex for the job than make two similar edits in under 10 seconds.
  • The grease fire in the kitchen can wait until you get that algorithm transferred from your head into code.  You can always reconstruct the kitchen, after all.
  • You’ve ever invented your own alphabet, numeral system, or language (computer or human) just for the fun of it — or because all of the existing ones are so damned inconsistent.
  • You know why twisted pairs are twisted, and it has nothing to do with unhealthy human relationships.  Well… actually it might — because it’s a medium for almost all of your relationships.
  • You worry more about keeping your servers cool than about keeping your loving hot.
  • You think that some of the items above represent ordinary behavior.

 What would you cons to this list?

Magazine Covers Go High-Tech

By JR Raphael
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

A publication known for its bold covers is now attempting to go where no magazine has gone before.

Esquire has announced its September issue will boast an electronic cover that will flash the declaration “The 21st Century Begins Now.” The special issues will be seen only at newsstands, and only in 100,000 issues nationwide — about a seventh of the magazine’s total circulation — according to the New York Times.

The cover, created by E Ink, will stay powered for a full 90 days. A tiny battery is actually embedded inside. Each has to be inserted by hand, then delivered on a refrigerated truck to avoid losing significant power. The technology’s been used in things like in-store displays but never on a magazine, Esquire’s editor tells the Times.

The electronic cover came at a six-figure price tag but is supported by Ford, which will have an ad on the inside. Esquire bought exclusive rights to the technology through 2009.

E Ink, interestingly, also developed the technology in Amazon’s Kindle e-book device, the Times points out.

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StumbleAudio lets you find new music – but for how long?

By Mark O’Neill
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

As I’ve pointed out before, it’s inevitable that when a successful website pops up, clones start forming around it to ride piggyback on its success, most of the clones being mediocre to say the least.   But I have to say that I like the latest Stumbleupon clone that has appeared – StumbleAudio – which as the name suggests, lets you stumble through music to find new songs and singers.

Unlike Stumbleupon though, there’s no toolbar to install.   You just go to the site, choose your music genre then press the “stumble” button.    Don’t like the album it gives you?   Then press the “stumble” button again and another one pops up.

Despite there being links to buy the music on iTunes, Amazon or on CD, you have to wonder how legal this site is.   The songs are being played in full and it won’t be long until someone works out how to hack the site and steal the music files.    How much do you want to bet the RIAA is looking at this site right now and plotting how to take it down?

So my advice would be – enjoy StumbleAudio while it lasts because the webmaster will probably be getting a takedown notice soon.

Death Switch – a good idea or a very bad idea?

By Mark O’Neill
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

You can just about have any need catered to these days on the internet – whether it’s takeaway pizza or giggling Japanese schoolgirls in ankle socks whispering kinky thoughts to you via webcam (so I’ve heard anyway).   Now a company called Death Switch is offering you the chance to pass on any important information to your loved ones after your death – in case you were unfortunate enough to die first before being able to choke out your passwords.

This is how it works – you write out an email message with what you want to say to your family.  For a fee, you can also attach something to the email such as a file, a video, pictures, whatever.  You then send it to Death Switch.

They will then email you on a “regular basis” to see if you are still alive and you will tell them by responding to the email.   If you don’t respond, they will apparently send out several more replies over a certain period of time and if you don’t reply to those, Death Switch assumes you are either dead or incapacitated and they will then send out your email to the person you have previously designated.

On the surface, a service like this seems like a good idea.   I have lots of passwords in my head and if I was hit by a bus tomorrow, my partner would have no idea how to access my email (with all my contacts), my Skype (with all my phone numbers) and my online banking (with all my wads of cash).   So having a backup system like this would appear to be good.

But (and there’s always a but) something also bothers me about this.   First of all, would you trust a service like this to hold your sensitive passwords in an email?   What safeguards are in place? I wouldn’t really want them to hold my online banking password.   Secondly, what if the checking emails got into the spam folder accidently and the “Mark is dead” email got sent to my mother?   She might assume it was spam and a joke but then again she might not….cue lots of hysterical screaming over the phone.

What about you?   Would you use a service like this?   Do you see a niche in the market for a service like Death Switch?   Or is this just a cowboy operation out to make a fast buck?