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2007

  • 1 min read

[SEMI-GEEK] Are activation emails needed – and if so – how do we convince you they aren’t spam?

Here's an odd but important problem, at least for us here at BlogBridge.

When you sign up for a BlogBridge account, we, like many other sites, send you a confirmation email to verify that your email is for real.

Truthfully from a security point of view, I am not even exactly sure what it proves. That at one moment in time the person creating the account also was able to receive emails at an arbitrary email address. So what? It's so easy to get a temporary free email account, that I am not sure what it does.

So that 's question one: does an activation email really provide any benefit to anyone? Any comments?

Now a question that has come to our attention is that in many cases a person's spam filter intercepts the activation email so the person never even sees it, and hence the account is never activated, and hence the account appears not to work.

So scenario: The sender and recipient both want the message be received, but there is a a big-brother spam filter (like Google Mail, which I think is the bestest) that insists on sidelining the email into the spam filter.

So that 's question two: Is there any way to assure a non-junk email actually makes it through? Any answers?

  • 1 min read

Is desktop search over? 20 years late!

People are really crowing about Vista's new "instant serach" and how wonderful it is and better than the old Windows XP Search functionality. Yeah I can't disagree, but it's amazing how it's 20 years on before that glaring-glaring- glaring hole in Windows was fixed. (And sure, Mac OS X has had Spotlight for a while now, but I am not in love with it. I have only a decent amount of disk space and a fast processor and a lot of memory, and I can't say it's fast. In fact when I want to search for an email I always go into my browser and use Google Mail's search feature…Anyway… Check out this post from Geeking with Greg:

"In his remarkably detailed review of Windows Vista, Paul Thurrott wrote:

One of the most impressive features in Windows Vista … is instant search.

Anyone who's struggled with the lousy search functionality in Windows XP or previous Windows versions will be happy to hear that the Vista version is fantastic, delivering near-instantaneous search results while providing the types of advanced features that power users will simply drool over."

(from: Is desktop search over?)

  • 1 min read

A nice panoramic photo of Curacao

This is the Seaquarium beach area. It's very beautiful as you can see. Click on the photo if you dare. It's huge but impressive.

Curacao Seaquarium Pano

  • 1 min read

I fear for the gullible user

I received this email from "Bank of America". It obviously a phishing attack but it sounds so legitimate and straightforward that I can easily see lots of people (including some I know) to fall for it. Scary, look: even the URL looks real:

Dear Customer:

Recently there have been a large number computer terrorist attacks over our database server. In order to safeguard your account, we require that you update your ATM/Debit card PIN.

This update is requested of you as a precautionary measure against fraud. Please note that we have no particular indications that your details have been compromised in any way.

This process is mandatory, and if not completed within the nearest time your account may be subject to temporary suspension.

Please make sure you have your ATM/Debit card and your login details at hand.

To securely update your ATM/Debit card PIN please go to:

http://www.bankofamerica.com/state.cgi?section=signinpage&update=&cookiecheck=yes&destination=nba/signin

Please note that this update applies to your ATM/Debit card - which is l! inked directly to your checking account, not credit cards.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter !

Regards,

Bank Of America Customer Support

And when you go to it, the URL is: "http://148.217.2.29/~magallanr/cgi/cgi- bin/sso.login.controller/SignIn/"

Scary!

  • 2 min read

wis.dm now in beta – A social network of ideas

Picture 2-26

A little while back I mentioned wis.dm, a site that I've been helping with for about the last year. Rafe Needleman refers to it as a " Social Network of Ideas"

"This is a new web 2.0 business aiming to change the perceptions of social networking - how? - by encouraging original thinking, creative collaboration and innovative self promotion." in Martin's words, who started the whole thing.

Or, from their team blog, a more catchy bit:

_" …Finally, Zarathustra joyfully mused, I am free from the dull-eyed prisons of other social networking sites. It is not the HunyBaby123 or the Raiders_Fan1986 I seek.

Companions, the _creator _seeks, not corpses, not herds and believers. I seek those who write new values on new tablets, and new tags on new ideas.

Zarathustra rose from his bed and logged onto wis.dm.

The future was looking bright…"_ (from wis.dm team blog)

Just the other day Rafe Needleman wrote a kind summary of what we've built:

"At the MIT Enterprise Forum event last week, I talked to the founders of Wis.dm , a new site that's a blend of social bookmarking and social networking. I'd call it a social network for ideas. I like it a lot." (from WebWare)

If this looks interesting to you, (IT SHOULD 🙂 I will be very glad to send you an invite by return email! The sooner you join the more likely you will get your very own actual name. Sorry, wis.dm/pito is already taken 🙂

  • 1 min read

LG Says Apple Copied the Prada Phone. Also, Apple’s Mother is Obese

Actually the funniest part of this was the headline… " Also, Apple's Mother is Obese"

Check out this post from Gizmodo:

"It seems that LG's not taking all this "iPhone clone" talk lightly. LG's Head of Mobile Handset R&D, Mr. Woo-Young Kwak, had this to say when the press uttered the painful phrase one too many times:

We consider that Apple copycat Prada phone after the design was unveiled when it was presented in the iF Design Award and won the prize in September 2006."

(from : LG Says Apple Copied the Prada Phone. Also, Apple's Mother is Obese)