THE SCWF IS NOW ON GOOGLE+

[JohnN]

The browser on your phone will access SCWF just like a computer browser.  Talpatalk is an app for viewing and tracking feeds from places such as SCWF.  We have a Talpatalk client, so if you want to use it you can download it from the Android market here:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.quoord.tapatalkpro.activity&hl=en
It costs about $3

Not really on-topic, but I thought I'd ask anyway: a friend has a Samsung running Droid and he and Google have been going nuts trying to get Gmail to "synch" with it. Everything else "synchs" but  not Gmail.  Now, what the heck does "synch" mean in the context? 
 

[TheFastest]

Just curious... has anyone else been following google's privacy issues this week and their policy changes at their sites? 

Here is their current notice at their search page (their only service I use, and unfortunately that will probably change from what I read).

"We're changing our privacy policy and terms. This stuff matters."

[JohnN]

Yes, they're really heavily broadcasting what they think is a simplification of their protocols/rules.   I have a few Gmail accounts and each has received 2 notices.

[Isthmus]

hey gabe, 
 
    i've been searching for a definitive answer, but have found none; so, here goes.  how do i sync contacts, notes, calendar dates etc on OUTLOOK?  my phone has 2.3.5 gingerbread if that matters at all.
 
<* shark >>><

Don't quote me on it, but I believe you need Exchange support for that functionality.  Andorid has it, but you need to set up the exchange server side of things on the computer side.  I've never done it so I can't walk you through it.  My wife used to do it with her work e-mail and calendar though, back when she had a droid.

[TheFastest]

John, I think a "simplification" of google's usage rules is, well... an over-simplification.  I refer anyone to this morning's (Feb 1, 2012, p.3B), USA Today for a terse summary of them. 

All of google's "services" will be linked and usage for each individual correlated for sale to advertisers (as I noted in my first post in this thread).  There is NO opt-out option.  According to an article last week, google gets 96% of its $gazillionbillion income from ads alone.  Congress has requested that google CEO, Larry Page, appear to explain the new usage agreements, but instead of appearing openly, it was later decided that he would meet in closed session--hardly a good thing, imho, where privacy is involved.  Also, note that even lumbering giant Microsoft has taken note of google's changes and took out a full-page ad today touting how it is, "Putting people first," in response to google's shennanigans.     I think people need to be aware of these things before jumping on any bandwagon, no matter how attractive it might be. 

All the best. 

[Isthmus]

Not really on-topic, but I thought I'd ask anyway: a friend has a Samsung running Droid and he and Google have been going nuts trying to get Gmail to "synch" with it. Everything else "synchs" but  not Gmail.  Now, what the heck does "synch" mean in the context? 

What he means is push notifications.  Google apps, such as Gmail, are deeply integrated into Android and Google's own online app ecosystem.  when something updates in any of them, Google's servers automatically push the update  in real time to all your devices running the app.  you essentially get the update on your device within seconds of it hitting google. This works with notification as well as emails, news feeds, updates to your calendar or addressbook, etc.


When I've had this issue in the past I double checked to make sure that:


a. I had the latest version of gmail for android installed;
b.  That the gmail app was associated with the same gmail account the phone is associated with
c.  That the gmail account the phone is associated with is the same one you are trying to get e-mails from and that that account is set as the primary account for e-mails.


You also want to check the apps settings to make sure that push notifications are enabled (should be by default).

[Isthmus]

As most of you have heard, Google recently revised its privacy policy and took 60 different documents associated with different products and combined them into a single document.  There has been a lot of FUD and misinformation being thrown about regarding the new policies so I figured I'd post this here in case anyone is interested.

To start, the only change of substance is that the privacy policy is now identical for all Google products.  This now allows for a single user sign-up for all Google services and products.  This now also allows Google to use all the information they were already collecting on your account to be shared across all their entire product and service platforms (something they couldn't do before).  The result is that now you get the adds you already ignore targeted a bit more closely to you, and Google products are able to recommend content a bit more targeted to you (eg, YouTube can now recommend videos and channels better targeted to your interests, so go incognito if you're searching for chubby chasing or your adds will start to reflect this). 

The thing to take is that Google is not collecting any new info they didn't already collect, nor are they reselling it to third parties in a way they didn't already do it (they never sold your info to third parties, but rather search data specifically used to target adds in google products).  What they are doing is gaining the ability to simplify their platform and consolidate your data across all of it.  At the end of the day it is all free products and many of them do not require that you be signed in to use them, so either don't use them if you are bothered by the rule change, or don't log in if you do (yes, many Google products do not require logging in to be used). 

Here is a link dispelling all the myths regarding Google's revamped privacy policy, along with supporting evidence and links explaining what you can or can't do to control your personal information:

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2012/02/busting-myths-about-our-approach-to.html 

For even deeper control of your account, permissions and data, you can access all of it through your Google Dashboard:

https://www.google.com/dashboard/

Should you still want to use Google while logged in and not be targeted for adds, here are some things you can do to keep Google from targeting you more closely in adds:

This Chrome plug-in will disable google's advertising cookie in your browser, allowing you to opt out of targeted advertising:

http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/plugin/ 

If the plug i is not to your liking here are some instructions for you to opt out of all targeted advertising:

http://www.webpronews.com/opt-out-google-ads-2012-01 

I hope that helps answer questions and puts everyone's fears to rest.

[Isthmus]

Here is a little video humorous explaining the new Google privacy policy changes.  Enjoy.


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jHxfJW7Zww" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jHxfJW7Zww</a>

[aannddyybb]

I was so bummed.  I was out of town this week and surfing the net on my fancy new phone, and I forgot my SCWF password.  I wanted to make a post to brag about the new phone, but didn't get to.

Yes, I know I could have reset the password (and in fact I did get the password reset email, but didn't have time to use it).  When I got back home I realized why I couldn't remember my password, it was the default gibberish one.  I have now made it something more memorable.  Maybe I'll try to make a post from work tomorrow.

As for the google tracking, what the heck do I care.  I only use my g-mail account for the phone as a glorified text messaging system, and I'm not doing searches on sites that would get me on the homeland security watch list, if you get my drift.  I do hate the stupid pop-up adds that come up all the time in Angry Birds.

One other thing I noticed, since I am not typing Word docs or editing Excel spreadsheets, I am more than happy to have a smart phone with me instead of a laptop.  MUCH more convenient.  I can see why these phones are so popular.

andy b.