Blog 4: Google's Success

  

Google has become one of the most popular sites to search for answers right on the internet. We also know of other search engine sites such as Yahoo and Bing but currently it is safe to say that Google has done a great job differentiating itself in the market allowing itself to become a leading competitor. However, Bing and Yahoo have joined together and now have a advertising partnership. Google is now looking into other opportunities to stay competitive in the market.


Looking into the article that has been supplied to us from our course instructor, Google is planning to launch at first an "experimental" broadband among many different cities throughout the country. These cities will also be different in size anywhere from 50,000 to 500,000 people per city. They have been waiting for the right opportunity to advertise and announce their next step in the market. It is imperative that Google acts on this need since the future will be seeking a better broadband.  In other words Google would be supplying these cities with a broad range of access to the internet. This company understands the importance of innovation and want to make  a difference in this area. 


Their goal is to show customers that the promise of what high-speed internet has to offer. In the future they do not want to be providing internet for an extended period of time. However, if they can show their customers what it is like with successful internet access it will only be another benefit for the company. The outcome of this project could also be largely affected by the cities that Google chooses to serve, they need to do their research upon choosing. 

I wanted to discuss some reasons as to why Google has become so successful. As mentioned above it has been the leading search engine provider but it took time for them to start earning money. Google gets the majority of their sales from providing ads throughout peoples use of Google. These ads are tailored to the users interests, for example if someone has been researching nutrition and healthy foods to eat, Google can recognize this and provide ads on healthy lifestyles. This is how the users are more likely to click on the links provided by tailoring them to their needs and interests. 

One of the main attractions to Google is Google Plus. It is similar to having Google, Facebook, and Twitter all together. You can create circles of friends and family and submits posts for only certain viewers to see. Not to mention you can "hang out" with friends by using your laptop and a webcam. This is very convenient for many different age groups to take advantage of.

Something that I have been using quite often this semester is Google Docs, it is a great tool especially for business firms and students. You can upload a document right from your computer and others in your group of whom you choose to share it with can edit it right there and then through the internet. It also saves immediately so you never have to worry about losing your work. For example, a class I am taking this semester required us to adjust to Google Docs and I had never used it before. It is a great tool and I would recommend it to anyone.

Overall, Google is a leader in the market and supplies its users with one of the best search engines available with the quickest times and best results. They are planning to stay innovative and experiment with the idea of supplying broaband among several cities to have them experience the use of a promising internet connection. With this experiment it can only help Google in the long run as long as they do their research and choose cities that can provide them valuable information with their next big thing.

Blog 3: YouTube Video

Below you will find the video I have edited for my Exploring the Internet Class:

http://youtu.be/dsKCxdvQeZ4

I first uploaded this video from my ipod onto my computer. Then I was able to use movie maker to begin editing different clips. I have never used movie maker before, however I found it to be very useful and easy to use. The clips were broken down so I could easily select which parts I wanted to add an effect too. For example, turning the picture upside down for a short period of time. Also, movie maker allowed me to created additional pages such as the title page and credits. Lastly, I added a song to play during the video. This was very easy since it allowed me to choose a song that was already on my computer from itunes. Overall, I found movie maker to be a very useful tool for this assignment. 

Blog 2: The Dark Side of Social Networks

Facebook and Myspace are two of the most popular networking sites available to us on the internet. Myspace use to be all the rage a few years ago, however, Facebook is easily accepted as the major source for networking today. The goals for these sites are to help members stay connected with friends, meet new people, and provide media entertainment such as music and celebrities.

 

Since Facebook is one of the most popular websites used I am going to go into more detail as to how the site works. Someone can make an account in just a few moments by providing some personal information (name, birthdate, gender, e-mail address, etc.) and clicking “sign up”. To start, you can upload profile pictures so viewers know who you are when looking to connect and interact with you. Beyond uploading individual pictures you can also create albums from your own personal computer or camera as well as videos.

A main feature on Facebook is posting your own “status” which allows members to post their own thoughts and feelings about their day. Other can comment or “like” these posts and even post on each other’s profile walls to reach out and start a conversation. If you do not want others to see your conversations you can also message them privately.

Another great feature that is utilized on Facebook is the ability to create events. For example, if someone graduating from High School and wants to invite their friends through Facebook all they have to do is create an event and provide the necessary information (time, date, location, etc.) to allow their friends to attend. It is also a great tool because friends can RSVP so the creator knows who to expect to show up and who cannot attend. 

This all seems great right? Not necessarily. There is also a dark side when it comes to social media. We hear about it quite often on the news and over the internet. There are always risks to providing even the smallest amount of personal information online. Fox example, one of the most common and well known crimes committed through the internet is identity theft. Not only is your personal information provided but someone could easily create an account as someone else. The website listed below has a great article relating to this topic. A woman was notified by her neighbor that they had a discussion through Facebook chat and she had asked her for money. Immediately it set off an alarm since this individual had never created a Facebook account to begin with.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Facebook-Identity-theft-Scam-97974634.html

Facebook provides certain privacy settings within each account but sometimes it is just not enough. It is important to do your research, these networking sites may not be as safe as they may seem. Members should consider changing their passwords often, do not accept friend requests of those you do not know, and never go on any unsecure sites requesting personal information. Overall, Facebook and other networking sites offer valuable services to its members, but please keep in mind of the dangers you are getting yourself into when signing up for an account.