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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!

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Tech Tuesday! This week’s top stories in the world of Geek

I admit it, I am a total geek. I would imagine I am not alone in this, so I thought I would write an article aimed at those like me. Cool geek is how I refer to myself. I am a proud member of “Geeks are Sexy” (yes, they are) over at Facebook, and keep up to date with the Mashable App on my iPad.

I am, however, not a rich geek, and a pretty thrifty one as well. The iPad was a gift, and wifi, not 3g. I do not own an iPhone. In fact, I recently downgraded all the phones on my current “family plan” to newer flip phones (with qwertys of course) and got rid of all internet plans on them. Do I miss it? A little admittedly. However, I would much rather view the web on my larger iPad screen, then on this itty bitty phone screen, and, for free. My family plan bill dropped a whopping $80 dollars by doing it. I just couldn’t justify the $80 for our phones to have internet, and the additional $50 or so that goes to my cable company for home access.

I own a MAC. Yes, I put out a good sum to get it a couple of years ago, but the headaches and cost it has saved me in the long run is well worth every penny. Now I know that statement may have irritated a few PC users, and I’m sorry for that. I was a PC user for years, fearing the switch, but I jumped over anyway, and am so glad I did. I was a PC Technician for years, and the one thing a PC Tech will never tell the customer? “Get a Mac.” It would put us out of business!

I also own a Tivo Box and Wii, and am becoming a Netflix and Hulu streaming extraordinaire. Now, one might say that I am putting all this money out on those services (Tivo, Netflix) how can that make me a thrifty geek? Well, I cut my cable bill WAY down, only receiving, at the moment, cable’s basic service. I’m sure the cable company can’t be that happy with me. Eventually, I plan on going strictly antenna, and cutting the cable TV service all together. It’s just a matter of finding the time to re-wire the house. It’s on the agenda for 2011 however. Now if MagicJack would get number portability…. (prod prod poke poke)…

I just got so tired of every bill I get costing me around $200 a month. When did $200 a month become the norm?

Anyway, I digress. Let’s take a look at this week’s tech headlines:

iPhone coming to Verizon: I heard about this a few days ago, and the Verizon announcement has been made. The iPhone 4 will be exclusively offered for pre-order to current Verizon customers on Feb 3rd and Feb 10th for everyone else.

Now I have to say, if you are interested in getting the iPhone and paying the monthly price, it is well worth it to make the switch. One, it’s an iPhone, and they are, well, awesome. Second, it’s the Verizon Network. You will actually be able to use the “phone” part without dropping calls or losing signal. Nice huh?

Apple Launches the Mac App Store: Yep, now there is one for your Mac. It doesn’t sound like such a big deal since there are already app stores for all other Apple products it seems, but it actually is a big deal. Having an app store (for free and paid apps) will allow for more development, and more business opportunity for developers. Matter of fact, hopefully there will be a YakkityYaks app out there soon! Now, if they can get it together to offer it up to us old Leopard users…. As of now, it’s currently available to Snow Leopard users.  I’m hoping they will remember we are out here soon.

Facebook NOT shutting down on March 15th. I repeat, Facebook is not shutting down on March 15th. I have heard the rumors, seen them spread like wildfire, especially on Facebook itself, and it’s just not true. Just days before, as a matter of fact, Facebook raised $500 Million in funding, so yeah, not shutting down.

Those are the big stories this week! I’m sure there are plenty more, but I have kept you long enough for now. Come check out our FORUMS and talk about the latest in all things tech!