Microsoft to advertisers: Drop dead
I am going to have to take back some of my critiques of Windows 8…
Please note: the “Opt out” do-not-track-me (aka “Privacy”) is strictly voluntary by the website owner (case-by-case) and the website owner has absolutely no reason, and gains no benefit from ‘agreeing’.. in fact, they would be costing themselves. So.. do any of them actually pay any attention to your little plea?
I wouldn’t. I am not in business to cost myself money. And on this Internet thingy, learning all I can about you (and then selling that info) is what it’s all about. (That is, in fact, what they mean by “the Information Age”.. “information” about us.)
That, and showing you ads.
Here is an excellent read that just came out: Microsoft to advertisers: Drop dead
“Opt in, or opt out? A difference in defaults has the advertising industry up in arms over Internet Explorer 10.” Read more…
Anything that upsets the advertising industry, well, I am four-square all for that!!! Unfortunately in this case, the Privacy feature is meaningless. It’s too easy to ignore (aka “100% unenforceable”).
Much ado about nothing — sad to say. Remember: this (image below) is why they even let us (the public) on the ‘net.
Highly reco the read. Scroll back up and click, won’t you?
And just in case you’re wondering.. I don’t like fleas and ticks and tapeworms and leeches or vampire bats either. (see, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasites)
That’s why I use Firefox. The Add-ons I use allow me to block (most) ads and prevent (most) website tracking. ‘Cuz it’s real simple: I don’t want that *stuff* and I believe I have a right to certain basic privacies. I cannot print what I really wanna say. But, maybe, ads do not bother you… To me, they are a pollution that smells like city bus exhaust. To be polite.
I have to give a nod to Microsoft on this particular one (and also say, “about time!”)
Related: Google-hoo — a world run by ad revenue
Unrelated: Post-PC era means mass extinction for personal computer OEMs
“HP is laying off more than 27,000 employees and Dell’s Q1 2012 earnings were weak across the board. What does this mean for the future of Personal Computer OEMs?” Read more..
(um.. there’s a reason we left the dumb terminal<>mainframe ‘architecture’..)
Today’s quote: “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton
One last thot..: Despite being on the Do Not Call List since its inception, I still receive from 1 – 6 telemarketer calls a day. I cannot print what I wanna say about that, either… but that kinda smells like a city bus tailpipe too.
Sigh.
And there were 38 spam Comments left on this blog overnight…
Encore: I repeat, this is an excellent read: Microsoft to advertisers: Drop dead
(The Mad Men are in a tither..)
Have a great day, and the weekend’s almost here. Yay!
Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
Guess I am gonna have to keep an eye out for an AD about a TABLET. :0
(Not thrilled about the cloud part.)
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Comment by delenn13 | June 1, 2012 |
delenn13,
Let’s stop our busy lives just for a moment and play a game, shall we?
If you sign in (with your “LiveID”) to the cloud as your first act after bootup, and sync every everything you do — all you contacts, every email, Bookmarks (excuse me, I mean “Favorites”), just WHAT could Microsoft learn about you?
Hmmm?
Oh, wait.
They already know that anyway.
But, hey. On the other side of that very same coin, them knowing that I am a S.F. 49ers fan means they can stream me the very latest scores, press releases, and information about my team, and show it on my Desktop as a “Dashboard”.
Yippee.
(I’ve never in my life felt more strongly the wisdom of the axiom: just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should.)(But the masses are gonna eat this up. Easy sell.)
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Comment by techpaul | June 1, 2012 |
Here we go again…another choice/change, (opt in or opt out) consuming our mind/time in service of the tech world. What if we users, (ginny pigs) were to tell Microsoft, Google, Amazon…and all concerned to Drop Dead, … then what???
It’s a vicious circle (exasperating) trying to stay private and safe on the Internet.
As for the Cloud…”Our Cloud Data” presents a big incentive for the crooks to steal from. That source. (if it’s business) is most likely where the money is…i.e. Nigerian emails.
I don’t have much faith in the Future Of The Internet …(too many dark corners)!
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Comment by Gaia | June 2, 2012 |
Gaia,
There is a line commonly attributed to bank robber Willie Sutton. Supposedly he answered “because that’s where the money is” when asked why he robbed banks. (see, http://www.snopes.com/quotes/sutton.asp).
The Internet attracts criminals and con artists because that’s where the people are. (A pickpocket loves crowds.)
We have been putting all kinds of valuable information into “databases” basically since the beginning, so there is really nothing new for you to worry about, because they are calling it “cloud” (you may have noticed, people like catchy buzzwords). The criminals have been pillaging databases for a long while now. (You might remember the TJMaxx headline, if no other..)
Yes.. I understand how it can seem like an endless chore and a “vicious circle”. But exercising paranoid common sense when surfing the Web, and keeping your antivirus up-to-date, and answering “yes” to those “an update is available” alerts is really what staying safe on the Internet boils down to.
If you understand that you did not just win the Online Netherlands Lottery, and that no Nigerian prince wants to give you his extra millions.. If you avoid “sharing” illegal copies of movies, music, and software (how can a copy of Windows 7 be free?? Or Photoshop? Doesn’t that ring alarm bells?), and know that you do not need to “download a codec” to watch that porn clip..
But yes. The criminal skuzballs of the world are ruining/have ruined the Internet. It’s way past time we take the situation seriously. Fortunately, but belatedly, the Industry seems to have woken up to that fact. Even the governments have.
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Comment by techpaul | June 2, 2012 |
I appreciate the info.you provide in your postings…..and I agree with you on my beefs. My dis-enchantment with the WWW, mainly the “technological world” we NOW live in is far too extensive to air it here…my comment was just the “tip of the ice berg.”
However Paul, thanks for the composure you show here…when it must be frustrating for you at times… to address the various comments left here.
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Comment by Gaia | June 2, 2012 |
Gaia,
Unless one runs off to Pennsylvania and joins the Amish, I think one should – generally, and with moderation – embrace the advances embodied by “tech”, as it is already so interwoven into our modern lives.. and there is some “wheat” in all that “chaff”. (Google Maps, combined with a “Navigator”, for just one example.)
Yes. That requires a certain “keeping up” (learning) as the stuff is ever evolving (just ask Blackberry owners) and mutating. But that “learning” is freely and readily available. It’s making the time that is the real challenge. (I am just one of hundreds of thousands of “How To” websites, for example.)
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Comment by techpaul | June 2, 2012 |
The time relearning what you Just learned last year is what is all about. Been doing that for a long time. It does get tiresome. Changes/updates every time you blink.
But it gets better… The UN is gonna take care of us all.. U.N. takeover of the Internet must be stopped, U.S. warns | Security & Privacy – CNET News Hmmm.. Didn’t the US(SOPA and CISPA and several other ridiculous ideas) and CA(Bill C-30 and others that boggle my mind) just try that?
I think I had rather take on the criminals that the government. I know where they stand. with the government I am on the fence as to where they are at any given moment.
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Comment by delenn13 | June 3, 2012 |
delenn13,
I love everything the UN has done so far.. so this should be a “good thing”… right?
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Comment by techpaul | June 3, 2012 |
I detect a hint of sarcasm, me thinks.
Makes my head ache to think about anything the UN has done lately…Much less any good.
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Comment by delenn13 | June 3, 2012 |
Free games…..
For ages sea voyages have threatened of dangers. The sea always has its tribute from vanished ships making all the traces of wrecks inaccessible in its depths. But sailors still believe in their last chance for salvation. The legend says that if you underwent a shipwreck with no hopes for reprieve, you must jingle coins. And then you will behold the Flying Dutchman – the Ghost Ship. Its crew will take you wherever you want to go in the world. But for each day you will pay gold. If there is no gold left, you have to play a game with the crew of Flying Dutchman – the game with your life at stake. Victory will assure enough gold till the end of the day. But defeat will make you prisoner of the Flying Dutchman…forever!
Casual Match 3 game… Game Giveaway of the Day – The Flying Dutchman
Then….A game that is a mix of Minecraft, Terraria, Warcraft 3, Borderlands and Halo.
Their server is getting hammered(Thanks to @notch and his followers on Twitter-me included plus the reviews from Rock, Paper, Shotgun and others..) right now…so be patient. I still haven’t got the game..just been watching the videos. It’s an alpha..and it’s beautiful now..Can’t wait to see the finished project. I don’t like online games much but this one looks different. You can play single or multiplayer. I just hate using the bandwidth..if I get addicted..LOL
Review…Stellar Spacecrafting: StarForge | Rock, Paper, Shotgun
Watch the video and remember to breath…It’s that awesome.
Here’s the actual website….StarForge – Free Online Game – F2P
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Comment by delenn13 | June 2, 2012 |
delenn13,
I get the feeling that I detect a wee bit of enthusiasm there…
Thank you for the share.
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Comment by techpaul | June 2, 2012 |