Facebook hack: Why do we treat digital crimes like natural disasters?

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A question popped into my head while I read a story on the hacks on Facebook this weekend: When did we stop talking about criminal hackers like they’re, well, criminals? The story, a post on the New York Times Bits blog, is typical of the hacking coverage I’ve seen elsewhere in that the culprits aren’t really… Read More…

What in the world do you ‘Vine’? Back to basics with a creative new platform

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By now you’ve all heard of Vine, the drop-dead simple video app Twitter launched a few weeks ago. It lets you post looping videos up to six seconds long that can have multiple takes, easily, because all you do to record is hold your finger on the screen, and all you do to pause the… Read More…

No kidding? New study says most Facebook users have taken multi-week breaks

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Well, consider me surprised. The Pew Internet and American Life Project just released its latest survey about user behavior on Facebook. A key figure: 61 percent of Facebook users say they’ve taken a voluntary break from the site that’s lasted at least several weeks. They gave several reasons. The three most popular: “Was too busy… Read More…

Bitter Suite: Why it’s so hard to squeeze Microsoft Office into my life

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Foiled by storage space! My, how appropriate. Tuesday I signed up for the free trial of the new Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium (wow that’s a mouthful). The newest version of the perennial office applications suite launched yesterday morning, with a new subscription option for consumers, and I figured I’d give it a try, since,… Read More…

My first month with the Nike FuelBand: Stay out of my way and we’re cool

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Past the TV. Through the hallway. To the bathroom. “2,484″ fuel points! Past the bookcase. In the den. Back to the TV. “2,492″ fuel points! I turn again, steps muffled by the carpet. Did I make it? Yes, thank God, and just in time; it’s 11:56 p.m. I stop. Catch my breath. Trudge upstairs. It’s… Read More…

That kid’s viral iPhone contract: 3 things mom got right

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Sometimes the lessons parents teach kids about technology feel like the kinds of things us adults could learn ourselves. Maybe you’ve heard about this: On Christmas Day, 13-year-old Greg Hofmann of Sandwich, Mass., got something he craved — an iPhone 5. The next day, he got the contract. Not the one that got him his… Read More…

GeekWire’s Gift Guide: 13 great geeky gifts from Seattle

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We asked, you answered, and here’s the result. From cheap to whoooooa pricey, here are our picks for 13 great local gifts for geeks … Geocaching premium membership – $10 for 3 months If your geek is the adventurous type, she might appreciate being introduced to this growing community of treasure hunters. Geocaching, powered by… Read More…

Hey, Seattle – want to wiki?

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So. Seattle. Do we wiki or what? Seth Vincent thinks it’d be fun. The recent Olympia transplant started SeattleWiki and has spent the last couple months knocking on digital doors, asking for help, support, collaboration — whatever it takes to make this Seattle city wiki the that finally, actually, works. Why? Because maybe we’d like… Read More…

Should Facebook users be allowed to vote on privacy changes?

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You were probably as surprised as I was to get this in an email from Facebook last Wednesday. “We recently announced some proposed updates to our Data Use Policy, which explains how we collect and use data when people use Facebook, and our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (SRR), which explains the terms governing use… Read More…

UW policy restricting reporter tweets is not just claiming rights, but taking turf

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In 2009, the Southeastern Conference, one of the most powerful in college sports, tried something stupid. In a hopeless and short-lived social media policy, it banned fans from tweeting, updating Facebook or sharing in any way live posts from its games. Many are calling the University of Washington’s athletic department just as ignorant this week… Read More…