Techmamas

LA Moms Blog/Orange County Moms Blog Party

As one of the managing members of the Silicon Valley Moms Group, I have the honor of interacting with an amazing group of bloggers. I also value sponsors that put value in outreach to mom bloggers, they deserve a shout out. We just recently had a party and invited our Los Angeles Mom bloggers, soon to launch Orange County Mom Bloggers and other local mom bloggers. Here is a link to the RECAP EVENT POST that discusses the fun we all had. The event was held at the beautiful Ritz Carlton Laguna Nigel (pictured left, photo credit Carla Duharte-Razura of Babyjidesign) .

To put on the event, we had the joy of staying at the Ritz Carlton, the hotel and surrounding beach property was absolutely gorgeous. After the event was over, it was so hard to leave. I am still dreaming of the workout room facing the ocean. If I had access to a beautiful workout room like that regularly, I would finally get in shape! Linsey Krolik, another managing member of Silicon Valley Moms Group, posted on her personal blog Me Too You additional pictures of the Ritz Carlton Laguna Nigel. The full set of Carla Duharte-Razura/ Babyjidesign's pictures are on Flickr. 

Listed below are our event sponsors (descriptions are from the event recap post):

BitMom Guest Post: Simple Safe Internet Surfing Tips For Families

Guest post from Nicole Balistreri , the coordinator for US based BitDefender's BitMoms.com community.

Hello Techmama readers!! Nicole here… resident BitMom aficionado and safe family surfing advocate. Let’s be honest – you’re lost without your gadgets, and your digital life is a huge part of your family. Everything from schedules to important family records is located on your PC (or Mac) and you would be in a real bind if something happened to any of that information.Also – let’s not forget about the wandering eyes of kids… hmm… indecent Google searches? Accidental virus downloads? We’ve all been there. No fear, take note of the simple tips below and your family will be surfing safer in no time.

1. Exercise caution when you add personal data to your online social networking accounts! Keep the critical data to a safe minimum – this means no birthdays or family member names as passwords!
2. When uploading photos – be aware that these photos could be used without your consent for advertising campaigns or, worse, for pornographic purposes. In order to discourage image theft, you might also add a watermark text on your pictures in areas where removal is impossible, or at least difficult.
3. Use an alternative e-mail address for social networks, newsletters, ect in order to avoid spam which could be harmful to your computer.
4. Use security software with a parental control feature! This provides comprehensive settings for web and application control as well as the ability to filter web, mail and instant messaging traffic for certain keywords.
5. Use a good anti-malware solution. It will solve most of the problems you can encounter on Web: it can block spam, phishing attempts and prevent malware from infecting your computer, therefore keeping your private data safe. Make sure you update your antimalware, firewall and spam filters as frequently as possible, and that you don’t forget to scan your system often.

Nicole Balistreri is the coordinator for US based BitMoms.com an online community dedicated to promoting family internet safety sponsored by BitDefender and strategic partners. BitDefender is an award-winning provider of innovative anti-malware security solutions based in Bucharest, Romania. Visit www.bitdefender.com for more information.

Disclosure: This is not a paid post, I inquired for some safe surfing tips and asked that the information be shared on a guest post.

What? Twitter Is Good For Classroom Use?

I have personally benefited from taking part in "live" conversations on Twitter. I view news trends on Twitter. I connect with other social media types on Twitter. I get my comic relief on Twitter. On my recent trip to Paris with the Traveling Geeks, I extended that conversation globally while I used Twitter to liveblog my trip.

But I always imagined that if I was a student, use of Twitter in the classroom would be discouraged. At the same time, I see that students are embracing social media at a frantic pace so there is a disconnect if schools don't utilize social media for learning.

Tonight I read an article on Mashable titled "How Twitter in the Classroom is Boosting Student Engagement". The article was written by Greg Ferenstein who, among other things,designs college curricula. He wrote "Fortunately, educators (including myself) have found that Twitter is an effective way to broaden participation in lecture". The post discussed that Twitter friendly classrooms could have increased participation and extend the conversation outside of the classroom. Greg Ferenstein concluded "For schools hit hard by the recession, Twitter is an inexpensive solution to the growing problem of increasing class sizes. It is a tried-and-true platform to let conversations flourish".

I have already seen how my 11 year old uses texting to communicate with his friends and has extended their conversations outside of playdates. While there is a dangerous side to social media use by kids, which includes cyberbullying and inappropriate use of online communications, I agree that the there is great potential to increase channels of communication.

To prepare for increased use of social media by students, I hope that schools are spending time creating social media policies and making sure teachers and students get the appropriate training. Then just having some fun. I know I am..

A Disturbing New Term: CyberBlackmail

I posted on TechMamas.com yesterday about this terrible news:

Today I read in Techmeme then on the CNET site a report: "Teen gets 15 years for Facebook blackmail".  Here are some details from that post:

"Anthony Stancl, 19, plead no contest in December to two felonies, including repeated sexual assault of a child, according to the report. Stancle had been accused of creating a Facebook profile belonging to a nonexistent teenage girl and then, between approximately the spring 2007 and fall 2008, using it to convince more than 30 of his male classmates to send in nude photos or videos of themselves."

My original post had a second part to it which discussed cyberbullying. But the more I thought about the Facebook blackmail incident the more I realized it is even more sinister then cyberbullying. So last night I got really upset and deleted the second part of my post about cyberbullying - because in the end it was blackmail. I decided instead of cyberbullying I will call the incident "cyberblackmail".

With scary thoughts of the cyberblackmail incident in my head as I went to bed last night, I did not sleep very well.

For some reason I came to understand that cyberbullying happens. I knew that parents need to educate their kids on the subject, give support if their child falls prey to cyberbullying and have a punishment strategy if they find out their kid(s) participates in cyberbullying. But blackmail is something I had not accepted or imagined would happen in social networks by a 19 year old. And that 16 year old boys could so easily fall prey to the cyberblackmail.

Now I know **it happens.

Next question was "How can I possibly explain this to my son?" There is a lesson that needs to be explained, but the topic is so distasteful that I would rather not discuss it.

So I decided to explain to my 11 year old son, that there are "bad" people on social networks and websites who will try to appear as your friend or a pretty girl to make you do inappropriate things. The lesson learned is NEVER send inappropriate pictures or do anything you don't feel good about because someone on a social network asked you to do. Never share personal information with someone you don't know and never meetup in person with them. Be strong, say NO. Realize that anyone who asked you to do inappropriate things is NOT their friend or someone they would want to date. And - inappropriate includes sending any picture that you would not want your future employer to see.

I have a feeling I am not going to sleep well tonight either. But at least I did have the conversation with my son. He was quiet but when I said "Do you understand?" He said "Yes, Yes.. ok... I get it".

I hope he does.

Until they have "Stop CyberBlackmail" websites, here are some good links for information on cyberbullying:

Stop Cyberbullying.org

Facebook Blog: Watch Your Words: Steps to Preventing Cyberbullying

CNET Report: Teen gets 15 years for Facebook BlackMail

**I took out the second part of this post - which I explain in a new post "A Disturbing New Term: CyberBlackmail". Click HERE to read that post.***

Today I read in Techmeme then on the CNET site a report: "Teen gets 15 years for Facebook blackmail".  Here are some details from that CNET post:

"Anthony Stancl, 19, plead no contest in December to two felonies, including repeated sexual assault of a child, according to the report. Stancle had been accused of creating a Facebook profile belonging to a nonexistent teenage girl and then, between approximately the spring 2007 and fall 2008, using it to convince more than 30 of his male classmates to send in nude photos or videos of themselves."

This situation is a solemn reminder that kids not only need education on appropriate use of social networks, but also on personal privacy including not sharing personal pictures of themselves online for any reason.

Photos Can Now Speak - Fotobabble App Creates Talking Photos

I am currently looking into using more video to capturing family events. But the memory space requirements for storage, editing and finding the right player to load the videos is still a challenge. Yesterday I received a press release about a new site called Fotobabble that enables the user to add voice to pictures. I see this as an easy way to make photos more interactive and add personalization and emotions.

Here are some of the details from the Fotobabble press release I received:

"Free to use, it only takes a few seconds to create and share a “Fotobabble.” Simply upload a photo and then record your voice directly through your computer’s microphone to create a talking photo. On your iPhone, after downloading the free Fotobabble app, you can select an existing photo or a snap a new one, hit record and you’re done. Whether it’s from your computer or your iPhone, you can share your talking photos by e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or you can embed them into a blog or website."

The Fotobabble press release mentioned that the application can be used for:

Social: Fotobabble can be used to upload photos to Facebook, sending out birthday greetings, sending out a picture to friends or family about an item you are looking to buy with audio notes and talking vacation photos.

Reporting: To report details about a car accident or news you witness

Business: Fotobabble discussed that the site can be used for online advertising and sharing an experience with customers or fans.

Techie Stuff:
There is no software to download, and the Fotobabble application is compatible with PCs and MACS. The site offers way to embed across social media platforms by creating the link/embeddable code that can be used for websites/blogs. Fotobabble also has an API that can be embedded in sites.

I checked out an example of a talking Father/Son hockey photo on the site to get an idea of how it looks.

Privacy Settings: On each picture you can select public or private. In the profile settings, each user can also set the default for pictures to be public or private (but the user can still change the default each time they load a picture). I tested the privacy by loading one picture as "public" and one as "private" into my account then logging out. When I tried to view my pictures without logging into my account I could only see the picture I checked as "public".

Here is a link to the website: http://www.fotobabble.com/ and iPhone app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fotobabble/id353078443?mt=8

Twitter Virus Gone Viral: "Is This You?" (Don't Click on That Link!!)

I did a quick check on Twitter this morning and I saw lots of direct messages (or DM's) with the same type of wording - which always sets off phishing or virus alarms for me. I NEVER click on those links and neither should anyone else!

Phishing is defined on Wikipedia as " the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication". A computer virus is defined on Wikipedia as "A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, adware, and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. "

So I decided to see who else was having this issue by sending out a Tweet (without any links!) - and I received lots of replies by my followers that also received those DM's. "This You" is trending on Twitter!

Mashable posted on the topic. I did not follow any short URL's - but went to the Mashable website to find the post: http://mashable.com/2010/02/24/this-you-phishing-attack/

Here are some examples of what the Twitter direct messages look like. Remember - DON''T click on the links or else you will spread the virus to your followers!!

Twitter DM text: "haha. This you???? (PHISHING LINK)", "This you???? (PHISHING LINK)".

Clicking on the link does what Graham Cluley's post explained "If you click on the link you are taken to a fake Twitter login page, where hackers are just waiting for you to hand over your credentials. In fact, they can automatically post the phishing message from your account as soon as you hand over your details."

Unfortunately, several of my followers clicked on that link and their accounts were taken over - which is why I received the DM.

Enjoy Twitter but stay safe, never click on links unless it is from a trusted source. Think before you click on any links from followers via a reply or a direct message to you. The signs are usually there so keep an eye out: phishing and viruses attacks regularly try to sneak into our online world.

Here is a post I did on another phishing incident: "Dear Phisher: You Are A SCAT and NOT Wells Fargo" http://www.techmamas.com/main/2009/01/computer-phisher-wells-fargo-.html

Here is a link to the Anti-Phishing Working Group website: http://www.antiphishing.org/

Update 2/25:

TechMeme shared link of post from Graham Cluley's blog titled "This you???? : Phishing attack hits Twitter users".

Graham Cluley also posted with "Malware and spam rise 70% on social networks, security report reveals"

School Spying On Kids Through School Supplied Computer Webcams?

I saw this post on TechDirt yesterday - and could not believe the story was for real "School Accused Of Spying On Kids In Their Homes With Spyware That Secretly Activated Webcams". Here is the scoop from the TechDirt article: "a school district outside of Philadelphia that apparently gave its students laptops that included hidden software that allowed district officials to secretly turn on the laptops' webcams and monitor student activities, no matter where they were. This all came to light when a student was disciplined for "improper behavior in his home" with the evidence being a photo of the kid from his laptop webcam. The district is now being sued for this."

Parents should ensure all family computers are spyware free by installing security software. But this article does make me think twice about letting my kids bring a school computer home.

CNET Download and Microsoft have download security centers with security software. Bitdefender and other companies have comprehensive security software packages.

Press Release: Sony Cyber-shot® digital camera goes rugged with the new TX5

It was good timing that I received this press release in my inbox while watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Sony announced updates to their Cyber-shot® line with the new DSC-TX5 - a camera that is waterproof, freeze proof, shockproof and dust proof.  Because being a mom is like living a non-stop Olympics, rugged features will help this gadget hold up to my family of little athletes.

 

Kelly Davis, Director of the Digital Imaging business at Sony Electronics, was quoted in the press release on the TX5:  “It is so versatile because it’s a great camera for both indoor and outdoor usage. You can easily take it from a day at the beach with the kids to a cocktail party with friends. This camera is also great for activities such as snorkeling, snowboarding or boating.”

Here are the key points of the Sony press release about the TX5:

• Waterproof "in up to 10 feet of water for an hour, the TX5 lets you take high-quality photos, including panoramic pictures, and 720p high definition videos of your friends, family or pets underwater."
• Freezeproof: "Camera is also freeze proof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can take pictures of the kids sledding or snowboarding. Not only is it ready for cold weather, but the TX5 is durable enough to withstand an accidental drop from up to approximately 5 feet."
• Dustproof: "Additionally, it is dust proof, so you can take it with you on a camping trip or a mountain bike ride."
• Continuous burst shooting for capturing action: "The camera features an “Exmor R” sensor and offers 10fps continuous burst shooting for capturing action shots, so you can get great photos of the perfect moment such as when your kids are in mid air while jumping into the pool."
• Video: HD movie recording (1280 x 720 at 30p).
• Panoramic Photos: "In one easy press-and-sweep motion, take panoramic photos of the underwater landscape or breathtaking views from the top of the mountain using the Intelligent Sweep Panorama™ feature. Another benefit of the “Exmor R” sensor, this innovative feature combines separate captures, detects faces and subject motion and intelligently adjusts the width while stitching the images together, resulting in natural looking panoramic photos."
• Lowlight: "In addition to making it easy to capture entire landscapes or tall buildings, the TX5 camera also helps to manage difficult lighting situations. The “Exmor R” CMOS sensor lets you take high-quality photos in low light without a flash."
• Backlight: "With in-camera multi-shot Backlight Correction High Dynamic Range (HDR), the camera combines highlight and shadow detail of two separate captures into one remarkably natural looking image—even without a tripod. HDR offers a solution for strong backlight situations which typically result in either dark shadows in the foreground or a washed out background. Sony’s “Exmor R” sensor and BIONZ® processor help to correct these issues."
• Memory card compatibility: "A memory card slot compatible with both Memory Stick® (PRO Duo™) and class-four and above SD/SDHC formats."
• Other Features: "An inch thin. Equipped with a foldable, 25 mm equivalent wide-angle 4x optical zoom Carl Zeiss® Vario Tessor® lens.... The camera also has a three-inch (measured diagonally) Clear Photo LCD Plus™ (230,400 pixel) wide touch screen display that functions—even underwater. You can focus on your subject, operate the menu and share photos and videos with a touch of the screen—wet or dry...Self portrait timer that automatically takes the shot two seconds after one or two faces are detected."

• Pricing and Availability: "The TX5 camera will be available in silver, black, pink, green, and red this April for about $350. Pre-sales begin in February. The cameras and a range of accessories will be available online at Sonystyle.com."

PC Mom With Son Hooked On Apple Heads to Macworld Expo

After going to CES in Las Vegas for the second year in the row I wondered why I had not attended Macworld Expo - which is a short drive from my house. While I have and will always be a PC gal, my 11 year old son has an iPod, a MacBook and is begging for an iPhone. We may settle on getting an iPod Touch so I can at least try some of the fun apps and my son can get his fix. I don't even want to tell him about the iPad.

My world is starting to converge with Apple products because while I use PC products, I help (and purchase) tech products for my son. I don't even own an iPod for myself, but have purchased them for my husband and 11 yr old son. I purchased iPod shuffles for my 6 year olds twins.

So, in honor of my 11 yr old and my own curiosity as a tech blogger I decided to head to Macworld Expo. He is always doing sweet things for me but just recently he did something that was not only sweet but practical. Knowing how much I love the Black Eyed Peas song "I Gotta Feeling"- my son surprised me by using some of the money I put in his iTunes account via his allowances to buy me the song and create a playlist for me on his iPod (which is the modern way tween boys show their love for their mamas).

I was also inspired to come to Macworld Expo after I read about another surprise: David Pogue wrote a play for the opening of Macworld Expo. David Pogue was one of the first tech writers I followed, I also enjoy that he talks about technology from the Dad's perspective. I even got my husband (who is also a techdad) hooked on reading David Pogue's tech columns. Next year I will plan to be there for the opening, maybe there will be a role for a TechMama?

Surprises are just popping up everywhere! I was innocently watching the Grammys and then Stephen Colbert surprised the Grammy audience by pulling out an iPad from his pocket instead of an envelope to read the winners. Wish I had a Twitter dress to wear to Macworld Expo so I could pull a surprise of my own.

As I head off to Macworld, I gotta feeling the Black Eyed Peas song will be running through my head. Maybe I need my own iPod so I can actually listen to the song when I am not on my computer.