Robert X. Cringely's blog

Fox News takes on Google

Robert X. Cringely — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:02:24 +0000

Will the Internet kill newspapers, and is Google holding the pistol? That's this morning's big theme here in Cringeland. But before I get into that, I'd like to make a modest proposal.

Google Dashboard: Transparent, maybe. Private? Not so much

Robert X. Cringely — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:13:46 +0000

What does Google know about you and when did they know it? Those are the questions Google claims it's trying to answer with the new Google Dashboard unveiled yesterday.

It's Apple's world, we just click in it

Robert X. Cringely — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:22:31 +0000

Well, it finally happened. Digital versions of the Beatles' catalog are finally coming to Apple. It's just not the Apple you're thinking of.

Are you being scammed by Facebook ads?

Robert X. Cringely — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:25:07 +0000

I've written a bit lately about how cyberthieves using social media to scam people. It turns out the most egregious scammers are many "legitimate" companies that run deceptive ads on these networks.

Why can't we do anything about spam?

Robert X. Cringely — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:46:34 +0000

So I open my inbox this morning to find a bit-o-spam from an outfit calling itself Broadcast-info.com.

Nothing new there. What was different about this one is that I also had a dozen messages from various other recipients of that spam niblet, trying to unsubscribe. Near as I can figure, the incredibly clueless spammer who sent this one out set it up so that replies went to everyone on the mailing list.

Windows 7: The readers speak

Robert X. Cringely — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:56:55 +0000

Reactions to last week's screed about Windows 7 ("Will Windows 7 change our minds about Microsoft?") came in fast and furious, with readers weighing in on every side of the issue.

Let's start with some hate mail from G.G., whom one can only presume is a bit of a Microsoft fanboy:

iPod: The device that changed everything

Robert X. Cringely — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:47:44 +0000

Amid all the hubbub last week surrounding Windows 7 -- not to mention Burger King's 7-layer Windows Whopper -- I totally missed one of the key anniversaries in tech history.

Will Windows 7 change our minds about Microsoft?

Robert X. Cringely — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:43:08 +0000

As operating system launches go, Windows 7 has been a pretty sweet one for Microsoft. The reviews are mostly thumbs-up, and aside from some unintentionally hilarious videos promoting Windows 7 launch parties, the company has mostly done things right.

This blog has NOT been brought to you by an algorithm

Robert X. Cringely — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:36:13 +0000

I read a chilling story by Wired Magazine's Dan Roth last night about the future of online media, and I'm still trying to keep my breakfast down. It's not pretty.

Balloon Boy: When the Net is full of hot air

Robert X. Cringely — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:49:32 +0000

You may not have noticed, but several important things happened in the country late last week. I don't know what they were either, because I was too busy following the Balloon Boy saga.

This is the latest example of how 24/7 cable news networks and the Web can conspire to create a laserlike focus on one thing, regardless of its actual importance. And the problem only seems to be getting worse.