Wishing you the Best, dear Mr. Jobs

Today the news flash included Steve Jobs resigning from his post at Apple to focus ( what we believe ) on his health and well being. You have given our world so much innovation and excitement in all my years as an Apple lover and I join so many others in wishing the Best.

Not many people can look at their careers and passions and see so many life / world changing innovations as we have from your works. There are times in all of our lives when we all may take time to focus in on ourselves - recharge and reconnect with our closest supports- you deserve this time.

I want to personally extend my best to you and thank you.
Best regards,

Peg Verdi

Long time Apple Follower and Supporter

Apple Store- "MADE IN CHINA" not by Steve Jobs

By now you may have read the "BirdAbroad" blog that relays an American traveler's surprise at seeing an Apple store in China that was NOT Steve Jobs plan.  For one who heads to an Apple Store in every new city I travel, hearing this only stimulates my curiousity as to how "close one can go with this". Even to the Apple shirts and tags for the customers and the spiral staircases in many of the stores.
The Wall Street Journal has posted additional pictures that reveal more information.

Images from the Wall Street Journal  relay to the extent the copiers did to make it look so much like the stores around the world that Apple strategically places. 

Google+ Something LIke FB with more "privacy?"

Here is Google's new attempt to add features - mobile ones- to keep "us all connected with our "friends". Ok, anytime someone uses that term now, we have to question

Two things come to mind,


1. Just WHO are your friends?  and do you want ALL of your "friends"
personal circles, family, work, and new acquaintances and OLD flames
to be in this INNER CIRCLE?

2. Let's see what we have learned from the NEW MySpace and Facebook before "jumping in'
BUT do USE the GOOD In all and enjoy!!:  )



Anything we sign up for now and who we choose to include - may need some updating
and social re-building.

So before we JUMP IN and TRY the NEW way to connect-
My word of caution is..

As you select your friends and treat them with respect and loyalty-
select your friends' connections and share their personal info with the same.
If you think that Mark Zuckerberg ( and your "friends" on FB) has info about you, knows what you do , did , and with who and when..etc etc.. Google + is competing with them!  That said, proceed with caution. Colleges and Future employers "check" those online profiles and SEE your weekend and social life info. 

Another way to connect- like a new relationship- Go cautiously! 

Related articles

• Do you need Google+ Invitations? (crazzycool.blogspot.com)

Retro Look for iPhone

ETSY


Now here is a combination of two of my fav phones. Bringing a retro look with features for a handset and charging unit.

Ready, Set, Go! SEPTEMBER- iPHONE 5

Never thought I would thank a competitor but I am happy for the Google Nexus and yes, the new Android coming out soon because Apple needs to push out the iPHONE ! In fact, recent news has projected Apple will come out with two new iPhones. Iphone 5 and a lower priced version iPhone 4S  says Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore .According to him,
It will release the iPhone 5, will have new features and operating system and the iPhone 4S, a "mid-range" prepaid smartphone priced at $350. The data plans would work similarly to the iPad. Users could sign up and pay for what they need when they need it.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-prepaid-phone-2011-6#ixzz1QimxVQCQ

White iPhone 4 helped the dry market field for awhile but we need to give the people what they want - the new operating system and a new reason to 'stick with the iPhone".

My phone service is ready for an upgrade - but why should I waste my "once in a 2 yr" upgrade time with a phone that has little more to offer but face-to-face and better quality pictures.  With articles questioning if the "new" Android Phone is an alternative to iPhone-- it is time for Apple to give us reasons to stick - a newer phone with features like a 4G network would help.

BACK TO SCHOOL with an iPhone 5 - I'll wait for that! 

FB Upload Celebrity Photo w/YOUR Name

 Confuse Mark Zuckerberg or Give him your "Privacy Rights" for Facial Profiling 

Everytime you post a picture ( or someone else posts one to FB) 

Do you realize that someone is tracking 
-Who you are, 
-What you like, 
-Who your friends are, 
-What you did last nite, 
-Where you are today and and and...

If  a Newspaper reporter takes your picture - you have to give permission to post it 
or if policemen takes your picture and shows it on Channel 5 news TV 
online

you may have a problem with that. 

However when YOU or someone else posts a picture to Facebook- 

Do you realize someone is collecting your   “biometric data collection” scheme and that it violates privacy and adversely impacts consumers...  

according to the The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), in a complaint file to the FTC.

 How to OPT out of FACIAL RECOGNITION on Facebook

1. Disable the Facebook facial recognition auto-suggest function for photo tagging.

Go to Account (upper right corner of homepage) - Privacy Settings - Custom settings (bottom middle) - Suggest photos of me to friends - Enabled/Disabled (check Disabled)

2. Vigilantly monitor your notifications about being tagged in photos so you can be in control of this data.

3. Upload pictures of celebrities or other people and tag them as yourself.  The point is to pollute Facebook’s facial recognition database of you so that its ability to identify you is weakened.

 4. Request Facebook to remove your "summary information" from its facial recognition database (hat tip to PCWorld).

Tips from : International Business Times  -June 18, 2011 10:50 AM EDT

Google Doodle Guitar Honoring Les Paul - Permanent HOME

Google Doodle Guitar Les Paul LINK

Google Doodle                                      

Creative minds just keep on amazing me with design and technology_here is another example with the Google Doodle "Les Paul".   Shaped like the Google logo by10 strings of different pitches of  a guitar, the doodle guitar can be played either by moving the mouse over the strings, or by clicking a button below the strings that enables users to hammer out riffs using the buttons on their keyboard.
There is a red button with recording ability that will save your tune and forwarded to friends for collaboration. 

My students in class were strumming away today and in awe by this creation. I love whenever creativity involves and excites the senses.




GREAT NEWS!    Google Doodle GUITAR has permanent home 


http://www.google.com/logos/2011/lespaul.html
Check out all of the Google Doodles and re-visit some great old friends and new.


http://www.google.co.in/logos/index.htmlGoogle Doodle History

Verdi Google Design Contest

GOOGLE Doodle Design Contest
Ms.Verdi's FHS Graphics Classes


Google's Annual Doodle Contest for High School students has students from all over the country creating a special doodle based on the theme, "What I want to do someday".  The following entries were also submitted to the Google nationwide contest. The top three winners will be displayed in our FHS Library. Thank you for voting.
VERDI GOOGLE DESIGN CONTEST

VIEW THE GOOGLE DESIGNS -

Click this for the Slide show on Picassa

VOTE IN THE BLUE BOX BELOW.

Happy 150 MIT from Verdi Media Works

MIT Celebrates 150 : 150 Ideas, Innovations!

One of my FAV places to learn- Massachusetts Institute of Technology is celebrating it's 150th year anniversary.  The Boston Globe MIT series  has devoted a special section with tributes, facts, and listings of activities. My first memory was as a 14yr old walking up those infamous steps to participate in a mind expanding weekend classes offered to High School students. It was most exciting to be chosen to be part of the StarLOGO program and have the opportunity to meet Mitch Resnick of
Computer Clubhouse and SCRATCH and yes, visit the MIT Media Lab.  One of my "must do" in Life checkoffs.

Giving back to the community with inspiration- MIT Museum has been a great field trip for my High School  students with a tour of the campus that includes the "crocked buildings" and hall of pranks : )
The annual MIT 35 is a great program that introduced me to several innovators with inspiring motivations and ideas for helping to provide our students to nurture their talents. 

One can also "attend' classes for free- as MIT was one of the first universities to share their courses online in the Virtual classes.

Congratulations MIT - you will always be  one of my favs! 

MIT 150: 150 ideas, inventions, and innovators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that helped shape our world

Carlo Ratti: Architecture that senses and responds | Video on TED.com

Carlo Ratti: Architecture that senses and responds | Video on TED.com

NOT your Average GIF -WOW to Cinemagraphs!

"American Celebrity"  ( Double click image to open in GIF view)

"Anna"      ( Double click image to open in GIF view)

Collaborating talents, Photographer and Video person, photographer Jamie Beck and motion graphics artist Kevin Burg create  animated GIF to a level of fine art, with their "cinemagraphs" of animated creations that are "something more than a photo but less than a video." Beck takes the photos and Burg applies the motion-graphics in "a highly collaborative process" that can take several hours of manual editing.
Mesmerized by the results, I want to share some of my favorites from their glowing results and an interview by My Modern Met with the creative artists.

"Meet me at the Bar"   ( Double click image to open in GIF view)

Related articles

• Story Behind Those Stunning Cinematic Gifs (mymodernmet.com)

"Driving Ms Verdi" Google Driverless Car

Google Driverless Car -Sebastian Thrun 

One of my dreams is coming true- a Driverless Car! 

I had the pleasure of meeting Sebastian at M.I.T. a few years ago, at which time he presented the robotic car competitions of his Stanford University labs. Now in his TED presentation - we can see the video's of the Google Driverless Car he is committed to perfecting in recognition of a friend who died in a car accident as a youth. 
 The Google car has already test driven over 140,000 miles along the West coast - with a trip as from San Francisco to Los Angeles successfully navigating curves, obstructions, and road traffic.  Thrun contests it will save lives, ease off on the environment by saving fuel, and provide us humans more time to enjoy our lives.
Set my destination and watch me sit back while the cameras and laser tech guides the way- I am ready when it goes retail. Or better yet, use me as a test driver - I'd love to have a chauffeur!