Tech Tuesday! This Weeks Stories in Tech

Well, it’s been another week, and stories just don’t stop in the tech world. Here are the chosen topics today:

Steve Jobs Goes on Medical Leave

Apple Inc. co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs sent a note Monday to employees saying he’s taking a second medical leave of absence (he had taken a medical leave previously less than two years ago) so he can focus on his health.

There was no information provided about his current condition, and Apple Spokesman Steve Dowling would not directle answer any questions relating to Jobs’ health or whereabouts. Jobs did say, however, that he will continue as CEO and be involved in the major decisions, but has put Steve Cook (COO) in charge of day-to-day operations. Jobs said “I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can”.

Jobs has had health troubles in the past, but those issues were never disclosed until after the fact. Back in 2004, he recovered from a rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, but the surgery and recovery were not revealed until afterward. In 2009, on another 6 month medical leave, he had a liver transplant, which wasn’t public until two months later.

COO Steve Cook was put in charge on every medical leave to date. In 2004, it was his performance in the day-to-day operations that won him the COO position. Many consider Cook as the Jobs’ logical successor.

Shares of Apple dropped 5% since the announcement.

White iPhone 4 Could Finally be a Reality

Speaking of Apple the mythical white iPhone 4  could finally be ready for retail.

According to reports from Engadget and MacRumors, white iPhone 4 units are showing up in inventory systems at Vodafone Germany and Best Buy. Leaked screenshots of the Best Buy inventory system indicate a projected in-stock date of February 27, 2011.

Apple was supposed to release the white iPhone at the end of June last year, but the launch just never happened. The company attributed the delays to “manufacturing problems.”

I think if I were to grab myself an iPhone, I would probably choose white if given the choice.

Facebook Stops it’s Phone & Address Sharing (Momentarily)

Following major outrage from FB users over it’s recent decision to allow applications to request access to a user’s address and mobile phone number, Facebook has decided to temporarily disable this feature until it implements changes that will help users make better informed decisions about their privacy.

Just like our recent post about Spokeo that puts all your info in one place, I think this is a good decision by Facebook. However, I still don’t trust Facebook with my information, and have since removed a lot of my more personal details.

Matter of fact, and I know this isn’t a very popular opinion, but I’m not a fan of Facebook. If there were a “like” button for Facebook, I wouldn’t push it, how about that! I’m such a rebel. I would imagine that this opinion may end up getting me deleted as a friend from many, but I an in complete agreement with Andy Ostroy over yonder at Hufffington Post who wrote an article on just this topic back in 2009. Read his article HERE, and you will get my sentiments exactly.

Facebook Arranged Date Ends in Murder

…And another reason to dislike Facebook:

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuanian police say a 14-year-old boy has admitted killing a 13-year-old girl he met through Facebook.

Police spokeswoman Dalia Petrauskiene says the girl from the town Alytus was murdered after arranging on Facebook to meet the boy, who lives in the capital, Vilnius. Her half-naked body was found at a bus stop outside Vilnius on Sunday.

The spokeswoman said Monday that the boy confessed to the killing. If found guilty of murder he faces a maximum 10-year sentence.

Lithuania is one of Facebook’s fastest growing markets, with some 710,000 users in the country of 3.4 million.

Be careful out there Yaksters, and keep an eye on the kids when online.

HP Launches New Comedy Improv Show on YouTube

HP is bringing a new kind of comedy show to YouTube. Actors from the ‘Upright Citizens Brigade Theater’ will take skit ideas from viewers and perform them live on Google’s video-sharing site.

The two-hour show, called HP ePrint Live, will be hosted by comedian Rob Riggle (The Daily Show) and simultaneously broadcast on the HP for Home Facebook Page. HP will allow viewers to send in their ideas for the different skits by sending an e-mail to one of the internet-connected ePrint printers on the stage. Viewer submissions that get chosen will be performed live on the stage.

The premier of the show will be on Jan 21, starting at 3:00 p.m. ET and will contunue for 6 days (January 21 through 26) with more comedy shorts based on new selected ePrint submissions. According to HP, viewers can submit their ideas using photos, poems, single words and drawings to ideas@hpeprintlive.com throughout the week; if chosen, a link to a video of the participant’s skit will be e-mailed back to the viewer.

The skits will be performed live, but they will also be made into short videos later so a viewer doesn’t have to be there at any specific time.

It’s an interesting advertiseing concept, but will it work? I guess that depends on the talent and whether the HP promotion will be subtle rather than in your face annoying.

That’s all for today folks! Share your thoughts below!