Facebook users, get ready.  Since Facebook’s number of members has skyrocketed well past MySpace, and other social networking sites, regional networks are becoming obsolete.  Regional networks have opened up a slew of privacy issues.  I have fallen victim myself, not realizing that my entire regional network of Washington DC could see my profile.  My fiancé’s former “friend” decided to start cyber-stalking me after he turned her down for a relationship and started dating me.  This went on for quite some time right under my nose!  It wasn’t until I mistakenly let her best friend and her family move in with us that I was advised of the cyber stalking.  Seriously, be careful who you tell what to because when y’all fight, it all comes out!  Though I still have my regional network, I’ve locked everything off to friends only.  Really, who knows who is in your “regional network?”

In the next few weeks, we’ll be seeing some changes and messages from Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg.  He’s promised to let us fine tune our privacy settings so that we can control exactly who sees what.  This is a great thing!  Now, perhaps you can add your co-workers or, dare I say it, even your boss to your friends list and keep them separate from your friends who post photos of you passed out drunk with Sharpie on your face! 

Of course, some people are speculating that this might be getting people into trouble… If you’re creepin’ around on your girl, you’re gonna get caught!  Let me forewarn you on that one.  The moment you forget to log out of Facebook on your way to the bathroom and she sees that she’s been blocked from photos of you and that other girl who was supposedly just a “family friend” at last week’s get together, slobbering all over each other… Let’s just say it’s going to be bad… and I can’t wait! 

So please, use the new privacy tools responsibly.  I love the idea, but I’d hate to see it go haywire.  With that said, Mom, I’m still not adding you on Facebook.

It’s no surprise to me that Facebook has mimicked MySpace in creating a diet version of their website.  Facebook Lite is now live, offering Facebook users an experience without all of the bells and whistles their regular Facebook has.  Facebook maintains that this is an effort to allow access to their website from slow internet connections and the fact that they’ve been testing the website in India makes that claim sound pretty accurate.  However, the lite version does more than just load at a faster speed.  Facebook became famous partly because of the absence of clutter.  This appeals to many people who just want to stay in touch with friends and not play Mafia Wars and Farmville.  I’ve heard a lot of people reluctant to join Facebook, or even use it because it seemed too complicated and they had just gotten comfortable with MySpace.  For loyal Twitter users who refuse to use the likes of Facebook and MySpace again, it could draw them back. 

But back to the whole premise of Facebook Lite.  Yes, I have the Facebook app on my iPhone; however, if I am sent an email stating someone commented on my status, I often just click the link which takes me directly to that comment so that I don’t have to go on a wild goose chase searching for the damn thing.  I like this feature, but Facebook bogs down my iPhone and sometimes even kills the browser altogether.  Trying to navigate through settings can be a nightmare.  The same thing goes for MySpace.  However, I am able to access the non-mobile version of Twitter without killing myself in the process.  I do hope that both MySpace and Facebook start sending their notification emails with links to the Lite and mobile versions so that I may choose which one I want to go to.  MySpace makes it damn near impossible to log into the regular web version from my phone, constantly telling me I need to log in over and over again.  Facebook has refused to log me in at times as well, but at least Facebook will take me to the comment whereas MySpace sends me directly to the page where I need to choose between the regular version and the mobile version, thus negating the purpose of clicking the link in the first place. 

I’m a regular user of Facebook and I don’t have any plans to switch to Facebook Lite, but I like it as an option for those who aren’t social media savvy and for those who have slow connections.  I may even decide to use it on my iPhone but the new version of the Facebook App has proved to be a big upgrade.  If they include the link on their notification emails, I’m sure I’ll be back.

Also, I just created a new page, so add me on Facebook.

I had briefly mentioned Loopt in a previous blog about my iPhone addiction.  Loopt is an app for the iPhone that allows you to update status messages which can be linked to Facebook and Twitter, and let other uses know where you’re located at the given time of update.  However, for 2 weeks, you can test the new background Loopt where the application will run constantly, allowing other users to see when you’re on the move.  However, after the first 2 weeks, Loopt will start showing up on your AT&T bill as a $3.99 charge.  I’d recommend you be very aware of who you give this access too, because as I mentioned before, this is a stalker’s dream!  If you should perhaps decide to let your friends know every move you make, the application will alert you if you have a friend that is close by so you can meet up for a Venti Mocha Frapp at Starbucks – which by the way, Loopt can help you find!

Loopt is available on most major carriers, and on various phones.  There are some non-invasive ads on the app which Loopt is currently working to make location based.  I’m very indecisive yet highly suggestible when it comes to dining out so I feel that these advertisements would actually help me if I was hungry!  It looks like a pretty functional idea, but I don’t see it going very far with a $3.99 monthly price tag.  However, I’m sure Loopt won’t be $3.99 for very long if they acquire some solid advertising deals.  When they recognize the power of advertisement and stop charging the users monthly fees, I think this app could become very popular.  GPS social media at its finest.  Also, don’t worry about your battery life, as the entire app isn’t actually running in the background.  I see this technology going far with the iPhone.

I wish I had a Mac.  Perhaps some generous person at Apple will send me one to review, but I won’t hold my breath.  Nevertheless, they have released enhancement software for Leopard.

Apple notes that the software is faster and runs smoother than the plain ol’ Leopard using Mac’s 64 bit hardware to its fullest extent.  The so-called ”Grand Central Dispatch” is said to process applications at an accelerated speed.

QuickTime usually annoys the crap out of me but on the Snow Leopard, QuickTime X allows you to record video and audio.  You can play a movie, click the Share button, and convert the movie into a file compatible for your iPhone, iTouch, iPod, and any other Apple device that might come around the corner.  If you’re chatting away on your webcam and the other person is doing something interesting that you want to remember, you’re able to record that too!  It also makes video editing a snap by allowing you to cut out clips as if you were looking at a movie reel.

There are several user interface tweaks and added capabilities that will make finding and accessing various files easier and faster than ever.  If you’re using Microsoft Exchange 2007, Snow Leopard will allow you to connect to the Exchange Servers without having to go through any additional applications.  Snow Leopard; however, was built for Intel Macs only, so PowerPC users will have to stick to their current functionality.  If you do have an Intel Mac, this $29 upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard appears to be worth the money.  If you don’t have Leopard already, you can purchase Snow Leopard for $169.  What is Microsoft charging again?  Can you believe $319.95 for Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 64-bit?  Are you kidding me?  Seriously?  Why are they even still selling Vista?

My next computer will be a Mac.

Time Magazine had previously labeled Tagged “The World’s Most Annoying Website” for its intrusive and deceptive email scam claiming your friends have sent you photos, or have posted photos of you on this unpopular website, Tagged.  I refuse to even link the website.  However, once you sign up you’re easily deceived into spamming your entire contact list with an email stating you sent them photos on Tagged, requesting them to register on the site to see the photos you never even uploaded so that the cycle continues.

A new class action lawsuit filed last week (Thank you for the heads up, Mr.  Malley) against Tagged by Miriam Slater and Sara Golden.  The lawsuit alleges that Tagged “in executing a massive email solicitation campaign to register new members, failed to disclose to consumers that it was using its members’ email address books to propagate yet more solicitation messages to appear as if they were personal communications from the consumers whose email contacts it had pilfered, and Defendant’s messages included false statements that the senders were seeking to contact or share photographs with the recipients.”  Last month the New York Attorney General also stated he planned to sue Tagged for “deceptive email marketing and invasion of privacy.”

I am pretty sure I signed up for this website in the past.    I am usually very careful about the emails I select and have in the past been duped into sending social networking emails to my entire contact list which includes everything from potential employers to my great Aunt Sandy.  Suffice to say, I’ve never uploaded any photos to Tagged and I never plan on it.  That site is the devil!

I’m not sure if I should expect more out of Harvard graduates and Tagged founders, Greg Tseng and Johann Schleier-Smith or if this exactly the kind of scam that would come out of an Ivy League school.  I think every website and email host should have the “recall message” option like Microsoft Outlook does.  It would have saved me a lot of trouble in the past!

Nevertheless, if I get a new email from “you” inviting me to see photos on Tagged, not only will I pull out my Homey the Clown sock and bop you over the head with it (’cause Homey don’t play that), I will also start sending you Huggies Network emails like someone so kindly registered me for.  Thanks for the free diaper.  Really.

I think I may have found the best app there ever was for my iPhone.  As if my addiction wasn’t bad enough – they released Civilization Revolution for $9.99.  I don’t normally pay for apps, and if I do, they must be really worth it.  I did; however, pay $40 for one app for Netter’s Anatomy Flash Cards – which worked awesome with my Anatomy & Physiology I class.

I didn’t hesitate to snatch up this app and I must say it plays exactly the same as the Xbox 360 version!  It is easily my favorite console game as well.   It is a must have for the iPhone.  I love Civ Rev!

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution is a turn based strategy game that originated from the board game, Civilzation.  One game usually lasts about 3 hours, but back when I played the board game, we’d play the game over 3 or 4 days, sometimes.  You win by achieving Domination, Economic, Cultural, or Technological Victory.  You can play as various leaders and civilizations in history, each having special combat units and a special bonus ability, technology, or “Great Person.”  My favorite victory is a Cultural Victory but perhaps this is because I find it to be the easiest and quickest.  So, download the $9.99 app, and then if you love it like I do, get the game, and we can play together!