apple.

My fellow students, I figured I have made enough references to Facebook in my previous posts and have decided that despite the fact that there are so many things I cant focus on that relates to digital media, I’m going to give Facebook a rest this week. And instead talk about Apple. More specifically, the iPhone.

Just a little over a month ago the iPhone 4 was released and we witnessed hundreds, if not thousands of people wait for hours in lines in order to get their hands on the gadget. I have a friend who proudly told me he was the 50th person to get the iPhone in Melbourne. It’s a title he is so proud of he takes every opportunity he can to mention it. I find it hilarious.

The day the iPhone 4 was released, I went to my local shopping centre to look around. I had never owned an iPhone and was very anti-conformist about the whole thing. But out of curiosity I went up to a Virgin mobile stand and asked them if they had any more of the new iPhone’s left.

They told me there was one left.

I bought it.

Now I won’t sit here and brag about all the exciting things that my new iPhone can do. Nor will I sit here and name the flaws I believe it has.

I want to talk about how advanced technology has become. My boyfriend has an iPhone so it wasn’t like I had never played around with an iPhone before. But it’s the little things you notice when you spend several hours trying to figure it out that you actually begin to understand just how amazing technology is. The iPhone senses when you shake it, tilt or you flip it around. It has applications that allow you to play games, access your bank account and buy music, videos, books and so many other things. It allows you to access the internet wherever you are, and keeps you occupied for hours. And the part that amazes me the most is that the iPhone is so little, yet it can to so much.

I don’t regret buying the phone. Nor do I brag on about it. But it has quickly become a gadget that I cant live without. Its inbuilt GPS helped me get to 2 birthday parties and a lunch. I can now transfer money from one account to another in a matter of seconds, making my hunts for ATM’s a thing of the past. I can Google things on the spot, take photos and immediately upload them on to Facebook. I can’t send picture messages to my friends asking them what they think of my outfit. And, I can keep myself occupied with my countless games when I’m dozing off in class.

Without a doubt, Apple has created an amazing piece of technology, and it honestly does become a must have item that you can’t live without once you have had a taste. I’m already this amazed at what Apple has come up with, and I can only imagine what they will release next year.

Cheers Apple.

privacy privacy privacy...

I came across an article today while browsing the web that made me both laugh and almost cry at the state of our society.


The title of the article alone made me cringe and I must admit I sat there in disbelief for a few seconds trying to comprehend if this article was for the real.

‘Google Suggests Name Changes to Protect Privacy’. Yes, that was the headline that accompanied the short article about how Googles CEO believes “…that name changes will be the only way to hide your history.” By history he is refering to all those silly things you posted on Facebook or Myspace all those years ago, that are now completely humiliating and to some extent, damging to your reputation.

Eventually, after reading the article I got thinking about the privacy issues that keep making headlines all over the place. It seems that everywhere you look people are complaining about Facebook and how their privacy setting are just too complicated. Or that Facebook is invasive. The list is endless.

As a Facebook enthusiast (which you may have noticed in my previous post) I do not personally feel like I have anything to run and hide from. But I do understand why others would be concerned about their privacy. But not to the extent where they would have to change their name in the fututre in order to run and hide from their past. I think that’s a little bit over the top and silly. But it is reality.

You know that there is a problem with privacy and social networking sites when articles are being published about people needing to change their names to hide from their past.

I found a website a few months ago called ‘Openbook’ which was created to demonstrate the problem with Facebook and how public and open it is to everyone by allowing you to search a key word and acces thousands of status updates by facebook users containing that key word. Again, even as a Facebook enthusiast I tink that ‘Openbook’ highlights some key problems with privacy. Funnily enough when you try to share that website on Facebook, Facebook doesn’t allow it because it is ‘spam’.

I hear a lot of people talk about how back in their days they could roam the streets for hours and their parents wouldn’t mind…but apparently now, in this day and age, privacy is such a big concern that people are scared to let their children outside at all. I guess if their children did go out and be social they would have to change their names in a few years time to protect their privacy too.

what has been achieved?

In the past 3 days I have been involved in 3 different arguments...on Facebook. Yes, I will admit that I am one of those people who causes unnecessary problems for no reason other than self entertainment.

Day 1: A friend posted a video of a love song dedicated to his girlfriend of 4 days. She commented back saying something along the lines of "awww baby I love you : )" to which I commented saying "You guys are so in lust it makes me laugh!" Of course my wicked sense of humour was not widely appreciated and I got abused and insulted by the girl’s mother and best friend.

Day 2: Same couple. My friend this time posted a status about wanting to have a bbq. Several of our friends commented saying "yeah" and "sure" ect. I commented saying "Why not!?" what followed was a stream of 80+ comments involving my friend who wrote the post, his ex, his current girlfriend, his current girlfriends mum and best friend and of course me.

Day 3: This one was a little more complicated because it involved someone very close to my boyfriend. This guy can be a real dick at times, especially to his girlfriend. In short, his girlfriend is willing to change anything and everything about herself so that he can be with her and not want 'other girls'. Having the motto "Be yourself" I decided to put my own opinion in, and tell the girl (whose friends were all encouraging her to make the changes) that if he 'loves' her he wouldn’t ask her to change. I got told to eat a dick.

Now, in all 3 of the above situations, I was indeed sticking my nose into other peoples businesses, and maybe to an extent I did want to stir a bit of controversy. But can I justify these actions?

The answer is: Yes.

What these people have failed to realize is that Facebook is a social networking website. Whatever they post on there is open for discussion and is open for anyone on their friends list to have a say. Anything and everything on Facebook is able to be commented and frankly, if these people don’t want me having a say on what they are posting...they shouldn’t post it to begin with. I'm not the real trouble maker here...all I am doing is looking at my news feed and having a say about whatever post takes my interest.

Everyone should be (and in most cases ARE) aware that when they put something up on Facebook, they are putting it out there for praise and criticism. Sympathy and insult. Not everyone will have the same opinion.
I personally do not post things on my Facebook that I don’t want ALL of my friends to know. My mates don’t need to know the extent of my period pains. They don’t need to know that my boyfriend and I are having a major argument and that I hate him. And if there was a case where they did need to know...I would only post what is necessary, and would be fully aware that there is potential backlash in what I have to say.

So, by causing all that conflict and upset...did I achieve anything? Did I get it through to these people’s heads that if they don’t want something to be criticized...they should watch what they say? I guess I will have to keep following their posts to find out.

But the message here is: If you don’t want people commenting on your love life or you’re other dramas then don’t post it up on Facebook. Simple as that.

And so the blogging begins...

OK so I'm really new to all this blogging business; after all, the closest i get to blogging is updating my status on facebook...but that's a little different to this, so lets see how I go.

The purpose of this blog is to talk about the multiple components of digital media, and the different aspects of it. To discuss what is spoken about in class, and to openly think about all the topics we cover in class. I'm sure there are more elaborate instructions on the LMS but lets just stick to the main things here.

In today's seminar we were divided into groups in which we discussed one of three different topic...each of which related back to the media.

My particular group discussed natural disasters, and weather thy are really naturally caused or if man has a hand in this. We also looked further into ways that we can (if possible) prevent these disasters from occurring.

What we came up with brought us to the conclusion that natural disasters are caused both naturally and with the contribution of man. For example a bush fire can be ignited by a person, but will spread with its own natural resources, such as wind, hot weather etc. That being said, faulty power lines and the initial ignition are caused by man. We came to a further conclusion that a generalization cannot be made, because every natural disaster is a different case and has different circumstances. For example, a tsunami will happen out of no where without the provocation of human activity. (I do understand that we do have the technology nowadays to detect when a tsunami is on its way, however that isn't the point i am trying to make)

What the disaster leaves behind is a trail of destruction and trauma. It creates turmoil and distress. It gets an astounding amount of media coverage and is spoken about around the globe. Suddenly, everyone cares. Suddenly, everyone knows what a tsunami looks like, and what sort of damage it causes. Suddenly people are more wary of bushfires. Suddenly...the world takes notice, and begins to take precautions.

Our discussion concluded with the idea that although natural disasters cannot be prevented, we humans can take precautions in order to be minimally effected by the disaster. Recently, the government has implemented a new system which sends text messages and makes phone calls to people warning them about potential dangers. This can help many people take the necessary steps into evacuating their homes, or at the least, be alert and ready.

And with that I say farewell and I looke forward to posting my next entry. Although I am aware that this was a short post, I'm certain that longer pieces are to come throughout the sememster.

Peace out all.