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RSS FeedOctober 24th, 2011
Has Google Gone Evil?
One of the premises of Google was “Do No Evil”. Their original claim to fame was the (Larry) PageRank algorithm, and while of course their algorithm has evolved entirely over the last 10+ years and is no longer as simple as the original PageRank, still, their moral standard was that: “No sponsorship can affect the quality of their search results.” In other words, you couldn’t just buy a higher rank in the search listing for a specific keyword. Sure, you can buy an ad spot using the Google AdWords for the keyword (say “insurance”) and if you can afford to pay $54.91 for each click, then sure, by all means, your website can be shown, but it will be shown on the side, and clearly marked with the word ‘Advertisement’.
This is where it gets interesting. What is “clearly marked”? How clear is clear? Is this clear enough for you? Is this clear enough? How about this: clear. This is the aspect in which Google’s moral standard has dropped faster than the housing market of 2008. Consider this snapshot that I took for doing a vanity search on enterprise dashboards.
I can still find out which of the top links are advertisements, I just have to hold my laptop screen at a few different angles. (It works out – just requires a little persistence. A bit of screen moving never killed anyone.)
So, I think all said and done, the links are clearly marked. Just depends on what you call clear. And certainly, Google hasn’t gone evil. Just depends on what you call evil.
October 23rd, 2011
806-686-1186 Phishing Scam by SMS
So, now phishing has moved to SMS. Here is the SMS I got from this number:
8066861186@growth_alert.com
Action required for your Wells Fargo account.
Call 1-806-6861-186 and follow instructions !
I don’t have a Wells Fargo account, but that shouldn’t stop me from calling them and giving all the information, right? (Reports at 800notes.com confirm this as phishing spam.) So, I called them, and this is the shpiel they give on the phone:
Welcome to customer service – electronic verification services.
Our reference show that your account is restricted. You are required to run a brief verification process in order to verify that you are in possession of your credit card.
During this process to protect your information and to maintain complete privacy customer service assistance will not be available as the entire verification process is computer generated and conducted.
Please stay on the line while we transfer your call to activate your card and remove the restriction and remove the restriction.
FAIL!!!
Now enter your 16 digits credit card number followed by the # key.
FAIL!!!
Now enter your 16 digits credit card number followed by the # key.
I like how they are willing to do so many things even though I am not even their customer! Really, brings tears to my eyes. It is really like that Nordstrom guy who cheerfully gift wrapped products a customer bought at Macy’s.
October 16th, 2011
At the ITS World Congress in Orlando
My presentation is on Tuesday, but it is time for opening ceremony for now. Will be live blogging… Stay tuned 
Alan Taub, Vice President, GM Global Research and Development, presents Chevy Volt. Spanking new? 
Not really, but his short presentation had a lot of common sense points, and was focused on tangible, rather than grand promises of future. One of the great pictures that he showed was a picture of 3 automated vehicles from 1950s! The vehicles still look pretty good.
Ignacio González-Domínguez, CEO, Telvent, comes out and gives a nice generic speech. Well rehearsed – I think he has given it a couple of times before.
Aah blue grass time. This must be the new kind of conference receptions – I am not used to them being that much fun.
Governor Rick Scott just came out and welcomed everyone and reminded us all of how nice the weather is here. I am definitely sold – DC has had a very wet fall – nice to enjoy the sun in Orlando. And of course, the Orange County Convention Center is a great venue.
Dance group – QUEST! Really, I am not used to that much fun during technical conferences. Or may be I am at the wrong venue?
Iteris president Abbas Mohades presents hall of fame awards. Great way to learn about some people who worked on ITS before it was ITS!
Finally, the Orlando’s Celebration Gospel Choir is wrapping up the event.
October 10th, 2011
Locating a Distribution Center
Locating a Distribution Center is perhaps the most commercial application of the general facility location problem in computer science. Consider a retailer which imports goods for selling in three cities, Indianapolis IN, Columbus OH, and Lexington KY. Further, suppose that this retailer uses an ocean carrier, and the port of call is Norfolk. In that case, where should the distribution center be located? Here is a map view:
October 9th, 2011
Can a tablet be available for $10?
Amazon undercut Apple by 300$. Now Aakash has arrived for 45$. (Perhaps it is not a fair comparison, but still.) What is next in the tablet PC market?
When Suneet Singh Tuli, the producer of 45$ Aakash was asked if a 10$ tablet was possible, this is what he said: “When I got my first Macintosh, it cost $5000. Today for $45, I can take home an “Aakash”. Tomorrow, it could cost me $10.”
We may hear more from this guy in future.