web tracking

a note on web tracking.

so, unlike many people I know (read: my mother), I am honestly not concerned/weird-ed out by web tracking. for the most part, I feel like it's just part of the future. you can't really escape it, and in general it's helpful.

when I was working this summer, I had to a lot of research on my computer, and obviously I was logged into my google account. thus, google knew everything I searched and targeted the advertising i saw. not really a big deal because, as I said, my searches were work-related, not things I actually wanted to buy.

so here's my beef (not really beef). I've spent some quality time on Zappos lately, just browsing around at the fabulous shoes I can buy myself when I make $500,000 straight out of college. right. clearly google been tracking the fact that I have been going to Zappos, but now my reader is recommending GREAT shoes at the end of almost every blog post I read. especially the design posts. so not only does the "google man" know where I spend my web time, but it actually knows my style.

interwebz, you're really making it difficult for me to avoid credit card debt.

in the best way.

Related articles

• Take Control of My Third Party Data Tracking (webandrank.com)
• Searching for the Future of Television (technologyreview.in)
• Zappos Mobile - Zappos.com (itunes.apple.com)

soo glad to be home & GCal Birthdays

interesting series of accomplishments today...

among them: cleaning my room, applying for jobs, and updating my birthdays and holidays calendar on GCal.

not sure if anyone out there uses the multiple calendar features on Google Calendar, but I have a special calendar set up just for birthdays and anniversaries and the like. when it is someone's birthday, I add them to my gcal and make it an all-day event that repeats annually on that date. then at the beginning of the month, I can send birthday cards (if I'm riche that month) or ecards. someecards are hilarious, and allow you to send a scheduled card so they reach your friend's inbox first thing in the morning!

Look what happens...

... when you read the directions.

In my forever love of Google, there have been two Google products I haven't been so hot on: Picasa and Blogger.

In general, the reason why I do love Google so much is because so much of how you use their products is intuitive, at least to me. Yes, I spend time poking around Google labs (too much time), so I know how to optimize it for myself, but I still can pretty much figure it out.

Lately, though, I've been reading more of the getting started guides. They're amazing! They tell you all the features and how to use them, even if they weren't originally clear to you! (Imagine that.) Before, I was somewhat considering trying to migrate over to WordPress from Blogger, but to be honest, now that I know how to use Blogger better, there is really no reason. Plus, I have the added benefit of sticking with my one account, which is by far my favorite Google feature. I even started using Picasa on my computer and posting public albums (visible on my website... 'cause I'm a G like that). Honestly, Picasa makes it so easy to order prints, I might actually start scrapbooking again!

Now I'd like to pause to acknowledge the fact that I have presented myself on the internet as a Google-obsessed, scrapbooking nerd. I embrace it. And anyway, with pictures like these, why wouldn't I scrapbook?

I guess what I've learned is: read the directions... and never give up on Google.

Google Voice slaps Apple... hehehe

well... kinda. and to be honest, this is probably old news to most tech-oriented people anyway. But seeing as Google Voice just opened up to anyone (I just got my number... text me!) it was pretty exciting to me, and I'm going to post about it anyway.

So a while back, there was a stinky stink about how Apple wouldn't let Google Voice have an app for the iPhone. The reason? Well, I think Forrest Gump might explain it as, "for no particular reason at all, they just felt like saying no." Plus, they're sortof frienemies, I guess. Seriously, ask anyone in the Apple store; they get all hot and bothered if you mention the feud, and claim that all is well between the two. I'd say it's pretty much today's Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

Anyway, Google decided to use its mad skillz to prove it was smarter than Apple, and in January of this year, they released a web-based version of Google Voice. Check out the video below.



Notice how the whole thing is done on an iPhone? Google made sure that Voice can be used very easily over iPhone's Safari, and although it doesn't have full app integration like it does on Droid and Blackberry, it is pretty close. You can still get calls and make calls through the phone, even if it does use your minutes. And you can make shortcuts to your home page for texting and reading voicemail.

current status: Google 1, Apple 0.