Week 11 EOC: The Future of the Internet

The future of the Internet seems to be a mix of many different predictions. It's been proven that although future events CAN be predicted, they will not always be accurate. So far, some predictions seem to be heading toward the right track. Many have said that the Internet will be going mobile. People want their Internet on the go, not having to be at home to get access or be on a clunky laptop all the time.  “

“There are now 2.3 billion Internetusers worldwide, which is nearly a third of the world’s population and thatnumber is growing at 8% per year. But what’s more startling is there are now1.1 billion 3G mobile subscribers and that they are increasing at 37% peryear. What’s significant about that? Two things: first it means thatalready a significant proportion of the world’s population is accessing theinternet via a mobile phone rather than via a fixed-line connection…”

Nowadays people are relying on their phones for Internet access, while computers are still being used, this is slowly changing. There are new users of the Internet today, and they are changing the way the Internet will be used, teenagers.

“95% of teens ages 12-17 are online,76% use social networking sites, and 77% have cell phones. Moreover, 96% ofthose ages 18-29 are Internet users, 84% use social networking sites, and 97%have cell phones. Well over half of those in that age cohort have smartphonesand 23% own tablet computers like iPads.”

Because these are the new faces of the Internet, companies are going to use that to market the next generation. New smartphones are going to be keep being made, and mobile application growth will explode, because this is becoming the daily life not only for newer generations, but most of the population today.

“The growing market of Apps, the study reports:

• According to Cisco, by 2016, there will be 10 billion mobile Internet devices in use globally.

• Smartphone traffic will grow to 50 times the size it is today by 2016.

• Google’s Android Market hit 10 billion downloads by December 2011.

• Android users have been downloading apps at a rate of 1 billion a month.

• Apple announced March 3, 2012, 25billion apps had been downloaded.”

The future of the Internet is going mobile, whether we like it or not, this is going to be a huge change to the web as we know it.

Week 9 EOC: My Domain Website

http://vanillapupcakebakery.weebly.com/

Nowadays  we can get almost anything online for free. Including website domains. There are many places where you can purchase or create a domain for free. Such websites are GoDaddy, Yahoo, and many others. Today we had to create a business site on Weebly, a site where you can create a free domain or purchase your own. It's very cool, as long as the name you like isn't taken or copyrighted, you can come up with almost anything. The site I created from Weebly is a bakery for dogs. I always like to go get some different, unique snacks for my dog, and I noticed there aren't that many of these bakeries. So I thought, a good idea would be to create a website for one. I haven't done any research to see if there are any actual online dog treat stores, but it was worth a try. If I had the time and money, I'd like to open up an online store and make my own website, but for now all I can do is dream. But for others, it is a great opportunity and it should be taken advantage of. Many small business owners have used websites such as Weebly to start their own business, and with the free templates, everything can be done in a breeze. Nowadays, making a website can be easily done, and doesn’t require a lot of knowledge to do. Anyone can build a website! Just takes some time and patience.

Week 8 EOC: Privacy issues on the Web - Two Companies that can Spy on You

We are constantly are on the internet. Whether it's checking what our friends our doing, or finding out who won American Idol from last night, the internet is really great, but it has it's deceptions. We are watched online, what we do and say, what we look up, and what we buy. Two companies that 'spy' on us are Google, and Facebook. These two websites track everything we do, and even 'personalize' advertisement after what we do online. It's insane. As Facebook has grown, many have question it's privacy controls, mainly due to people getting in trouble after posting certain things on Facebook. While some feel Facebook is the way it is, many people feel it could be more or less private, but it depends on the individual. Google is another website that supposedly takes away our privacy. Google something you said or even your name, and most likely a page to you will come up, allowing everyone around the world to see it. There are ways to get these things off of Google, not many know how to do it however. More and more we go into this new age of technology, we loose our privacy.

Week 7 EOC: Obsession

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Tumblr

My latest obsession is an anime series called Puella Magi Madoka Magica. It follows girls who are granted one wish by a foreign, cat-like creature. In return of their wish, they become magical girls who fight evil that enters the world through the forms of 'witches', that normal human beings cannot see, and are responsible for murders and suicides. The series is portrayed as any regular 'magical girl' anime, like Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura, and Tokyo Mew Mew to name a few. Unlike those series, Madoka Magica is very dark. The anime consists of only twelve episodes. It is available in Japanese (with subtitles) and in an English Dubbed version.

Week 7 BOC: GarageBand

Nowadays there are so many ways to create and edit music using technology. Something new I discovered recently is GarageBand. It is a program that comes free in Apple computers. It allows you to play different instruments, create new music, edit, and sing. It's very fun and easy to use. Game designers can use it to create sound effects and even web designer can use it to build a site as well. Many different people can benefit from this program, so it's nice to learn how to use it.

Week 6 BOC: Video Challenge

Week 6 EOC: There's An App For That!

Nowadays there is literally, a mobile app for that. You have a question? There's an app to answer that question. You need directions? There's an app for that too. I think that some apps are just stupid and useless, while others are really fun and entertaining, and probably worth paying for in the end. But some apps have solved the problems of many communities and have made millions. Some examples are the Dollar Shave Club and Parking Panda. They have grown and expanded, reaching out to many users. What makes a successful app, is solving a problem no one has thought up of solving. I'd like to create an app, to help people live and maintain a healthy life style, whether they're already fit, or morbidly obese, like myself. Often you go to the doctors, and tell you, "Eat right" or "Exercise more". Well besides that, they don't tell you exactly what to do, according to your body type, history, current issues, etc. I would want to make an app that advises you exactly what to do to help you stay healthy, or even loose 100lbs or more, just by taking a tiny blood sample from your finger. The sample will be taken from a tiny chip you can plug into your smartphone that will record blood work, blood pressure, and much more. Then will create a plan individualized for you to help you loose weight, keep it off, and help you stay on track to live fit and not sacrifice too much.  It will be so easy to use, and super convenient for people always on the go. I think many people would use it, it’s an on to go and super affordable Weight Watchers, but catered to you, as an individual, because everyone’s body and health is different, varies, and totally unique, and there should be a weight loss plan fit to YOU.

Week 6 BOC: Parking Panda

Parking Panda is an app that helps you to find parking at a lower cost (than a parking garage) and makes finding a space more easier and less time consuming.

"Parking Panda allows parking space owners to capitalize on their underutilized parking spaces by renting them out to a community of drivers who need spots."

 Parking Panda can be used on your phone or on your laptop.It’s so easy to use. To host your driveway or garage, just take a picture and upload it to Parking Panda. Users can easily find it and it is a super fast way you to make money.

"Parking Panda users can find available parking spots using the Parking Panda website, either from a web browser or a mobile phone web browser. If searching from a mobile phone, the site will use the user's location to automatically find nearby available parking, or users can enter a location to search. Users can see photos of spaces, and even pay for the spaces directly from their mobile phones."

Parking Panda is different because it is one of the first mobile apps to quickly help users to find a parking space, sometimes at a great price or really pricey, depending on what is going on the day of. It allows users to quickly make money by just posting a picture of their driveway.

"Parking Panda works in two ways. The app allows ordinary people to rent out their driveway or spare parking space to motorists in need.Its second, and more recent, line of business creates online and mobile reservations for parking facilities."

I think Parking Panda is really important to me. When it expands more and is used greatly where I live, I would be willing to take part of Parking Panda’s community to make easy money. It is so simple anyone can do it. It may be a lifesaver to those who aren’t working currently; they can rent out their driveways to commuters and make money easily.  

"Garage owners can dictate the price of parking and number of spaces available for reservations based on demand. When there is an influx of drivers, perhaps during a sporting event, the price to reserve a space goes up. Similarly, when demand wanes, such as late at night or on a Friday afternoon,the price comes down."

 I would definitely use this app. It has helped greatly to busy commuters and tourists who don’t enjoy paying so much to park in a giant parking garage. 

EOC Week 5: How Do You Become a Mogul?

I will assume, mostly everyone that uses the Internet, or even knows something about the Internet would love to become famous and earn riches from it. For some successful people, it seems so easy, to become rich and famous over night. But for us ordinary folks, who don't contribute much at all, it's a different story. So how does one become a mogul? Well it's pretty easy. Be someone interesting. Not that hard right? Or, fix a problem that no one has ever thought of fixing. Which sounds easier to accomplish? Neither, but they are easy things to start. Think of what you enjoy and start from there. If you like writing, think about what you like to write. If fashion is more your ideal, work on that. Start a blog and review different clothing and outfits, write about your ideas, and share your plans. It's an easy way to start off. But the most important thing to becoming a mogul is getting your self out there. Join Twitter, create a Tumblr, and make a Facebook page. Where are people at on the Internet? Find the places most people visit, and that's how you can get started. Posting Youtube videos is another way. If you feel you have talent, don’t be afraid to share it online, there’s always some other fool that will end up worse then you will. You have to be interactive and current, always stay fresh. No new content will drive people away after awhile, and your attention will dip down. Come up with creative ways to entertain people and that keeps them coming back. You don’t have to have programing knowledge, money, or even popularity to become famous. It may take some time, but good things come to those who wait.

EOC Week 4: Avon

Old methods are proving not to work for the door-to-door make up company, Avon. The company has fallen behind in technology and is not updating their customers on what’s new and coming to them.

“AvonProducts Inc., famous for sending its representatives door to door, islosing traction in the U.S., where many time-stressed consumers areincreasingly buying their cosmetics on the Web.”

They are currently not networking and need to get their head in the game. 

What Avon needs to do to present themselves as a serious competitor and invest is to become more active online. They believe today’s women are still those who stayed at home and took care of their family back in the 1950’s and ’60’s.

Today it is not the case. Women are going back to work, going back to school, running around taking care of their families, and trying to maintain a life outside of all that while trying to juggle it all.  Knowing that is important, so Avon can evolve to marketing to those women.

Majority of women are on the go, they’re at work, running errans, picking up the kids, and most likely have a smart phone. Avon needs to become a dominant force though modern technology.

“Avon's door-to-door sales force in theU.S. is competing against a growing online channel plied by rivals...”

Becoming more web active will surely increase their sales. We are always online and ever so busy. No one has time to sit down and chat or run to the store. Buying online is instant and easy to do.

“The New York-based beauty company hasdabbled with iPhone and Android apps for smaller brands like Mark and hasdeveloped e-catalogs, but sales representatives say it isn't doing enough tohelp them win customers through new tools like social media, smartphones andtablets.”

Avon needs to be centered and whole, instead scattered all over the web, thus will not confuse present and future customers.

EOC Week 3: Spotify

Spotify is a new type of 'library' that you can share music and stream it live AND it pays the artists for every time users listen to their material.  
"Spotify is projectingthat it will generate $889 million in revenue this year, TechCrunch reports .That's pretty impressive. It's a real business."

It is a new way for people to find and discover new things, which vary from musicals, comedy, to actual music. Users can access it through both computer OS, and on your mobile phone.

I believe Spotify is important because it is slowing growing. They have already set up new users to make a new account through their Facebook.  Not only does it help Facebook gain more users, but Facebook users learn about Spotify through their friend's posts and learn about it through that way on it's own. 

Spotify is also joining the fight against online piracy. It is paying artists each time their music or other work is listened to by its users. It is a great and easy way for artists to generate funds, but also helps them get discovered by the world since Spotify not only hosts music, but comedy and other audio as well.

"Check out what'shappening to Spotify's daily Facebook-connected users. Spotify connectsdirectly to Facebook. But  Spotify's DAUs(daily active users) drop as low as 4 million users and go as high as 9 millionwithin the course of a few weeks."

Don't have a Facebook? That's okay, because when you sign up for Spotify, they lead you to Facebook so you can make an account there. Not only was it smart for Spotify to partner up with Facebook to get out there more, but now Facebook can gain more users from Spotify. 

Although it is not as popular in the United States yet, the number of users is growing daily.

Week 2 EOC: Privacy

 

Privacy. Some of us value it, while some of us could care less. On the Internet, we can control what we put out there which can be a scary thing.

 "The Internetenables us to improve communication, erase physical barriers, and expand oureducation. Its absorption into our society has been extraordinary."

Sharing personal information can be a good thing or a bad thing, whether you post how much you hate your job, or how your cat means everything you, everyone has his or her own opinion on what you share with the world. Most websites and applications allow users to control how public we make our lives known.  For example, as an artist, I use an alias and a few different pennames (each name varies on the website), and I filter how much of my personal life I ‘leak’ out into the Internet. Of course I become friends with a few of my clients, and only then I am comfortable sharing my personal life.

"Determine who you want your audience to be.  If you are writing only for friends andfamily consider making your blog accessible only by password.  Using a pseudonym can help hide youridentity..."

 I feel very safe and comfortable with how much I let out and tell others. Even though I have nothing to hide, I know what is and isn’t acceptable to blurt out for the whole online world to see. I think most people take their privacy for granted, as of late there have been discussion of laws to allow the government to control the Internet and what citizens can do with it.

 "But theInternet remains largely unregulated and the policies governing itunderdeveloped.  Laws concerning onlineprivacy are still being developed."

 Privacy can be controlled, and others should learn how to properly filter their personal information and opinions.

Week 2 BOC: Instagram

 

As we all know, Facebook is already a high-valued company, created to connect and share with everyone around the globe very easily and fast. Now the popular social networking site has acquired a fast-growing application called Instagram, an app that allows you take photos from your mobile phones and edit them to share instantly.

Instagram is a very new company that was created less than two years ago. It has grown rapidly over the past several months due to it’s popularity and user friendly interface.  More ‘artistic’ users will enjoy it’s easy editing and adding effects to their photos and sharing their work with friends and family for all to enjoy.

"Facebook announcedtheywould purchase popular photo-sharing app Instagram Monday for amind-blowing $1billion. Once the acquisition is complete, people are wonderingwhat will happento the two-year old app that took smartphones by storm."

Although purchasing the app for one billion dollars seems like a lot of money, the real is in the users who have downloaded Instagram. Many users have started a ruckus over the purchase of the company and its app.

“Naysayers have legitimatereasons for concern. Instagram is the most popular product that Facebook haspurchased.”

Instagram users are concerned whether if Facebook will make any changes to the app, and worry it might become something they use less if any major changes are made. Some users have even quit using Instagram in protest to Facebook purchasing the company.

“Instagram, the popularmobile photo-sharing app, has only been available on Android smartphones forone day, but the apphas already garnered over 1 million downloads.”

Whether or not Facebook makes any changes to the userface of Instagram, many people will continue to download and use the app due to it’s easy way to take photos and posting them online for speedy sharing. The purchase of Instagram hopefully will not drive users away as it is continuing to grow.

Week 1 EOC

What is the modern internet? I'm sure Facebook and Twitter ring a bell, the internet as of now is connecting and sharing news and information with each other. But from personal experience, I believe the modern internet now is through art and creativity. I found many connections and clients through deviantart.com, a website dedicated to sharing art. Art comes in many forms, photography, digital imaging, traditional media, crafts, fashion, and much more, that deviantArt allow it's members to upload for all of us to enjoy.