>Blogging caution

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> Intrigued by a conversation with a friend of mine in a graduate program at a local university this evening got me thinking about blogging. During her summer classes, students are paired off each week with a different partner – this week she was paired up with a very unique woman who has a thing or two to learn about blogging and privacy.

This blogger lives in a neighboring community and teaches at a local university. If you Google her name you will find her blog, which is dedicated to a VERY controversial group where she is a very prominent leader. Looking at this situation from the outside, if any of her students (or the university) found out this information she would almost immediately be asked to leave.

I caution everyone to please exercise extreme measures in not only blogging, but Internet usage as well. At the very least, avoid using your entire name or specific geographic location. If you are exercising your right to fair speech, but are in a position where your outside hobbies or interests could jeopardize your position, please take advantage of the privacy options available.

-Katy

>Go, go, all-in-one gadget

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With the launch of Samsung’s new Instict phone next month, Apple’s iPhone should be looking over it’s shoulder. This new all-in-one gadget bares a resemblance to the iPhone, but has a few new tricks as well. The differences that hold my interest are the keyboard size with larger buttons (but still touch screen) and GPS. Speculation has surrounded this release saying Apple is waiting until Spring releases this phone to come out with “iPhone v2” which also has GPS and modified options to solidify it as the all-in-one-multi-media king.

This presents the question, is all-in-one better than having all individual products? And, just who is buying these all inclusive products?

Dema, a long-time friend of mine, stood in line the morning the iPhone was released. Why? “Because I love having the newest gadget,” he says, grinning. He loves the ease and fun aspect of it, even when text messaging someone else. “You can see the entire conversation, rather than just the message sent to you. Makes it easy to text multiple people and never lose track of the conversation.”

Rob Felber agrees. “It’s a way to stay on top of technology,” he says. “Too many ‘toys’ are out there right now – why buy all of them individually when you can just buy one?”

Personally, I have a Samsung Blackjack II. It has GPS, email, Internet, music download ability… I don’t use it for any of these things. My GPS is in the back seat of my car and my iPod is in my room at home. I have had not so good of luck with phones in the past, and I am very hesitant to put so much faith in one piece of technology. It is my opinion people become too reliant on this new technology – and if you have this all-in-one gadget and something happens, you are left without any of your “toys,” as Rob calls them.

Which is better? Only the time on your new all-in-one phone will tell. (Bad joke, but I had to!)