Facebook & Google refer suicidal people to help lines

Facebook and Google search have systems in place that can direct suicidal people to help by the messages they write or terms they search for. Facebook is encouraging its users to flag anybody they see they think might be suicidal by their pictures and/or status updates, while staff monitor these reports twenty four hours a day. Although this system has been around since the summer, Facebook is now teaming up with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Google's system has a red picture of a telephone and the number for the hotline appear whenever someone searches "suicidal terms."  We can't hide from the fact that suicide is real and it seems to be on the rise, or at least we hear more about it because of the internet and media. Usually, people who are suicidal talk about it first because they are just looking for attention/help. I believe these companies are doing a great thing!

AT&T remains worst carrier in US

Sorry AT&T! For the second year in a row, customers have ranked the company dead last in a satisfaction survey. AT&T received "the worst-possible rating for value, voice quality and customer support for phones." Verizon only fell one point keeping its top spot since 2003. I am just happy that I didn't go with AT&T, their prices are higher, and they limit your data usage to 2G per month. Plus, Verizon is teamed with my fiances employer and we get a 17% discount! Can't beat that!

Customers infuriated over 'Carrier-IQ' app

Carrier-IQ is an information-mining app discretely installed on many phones and news of this app had been around on the internet for awhile. But after a YouTube video appeared last week showing how the software, which is supposed to act as a diagnostic tool, basically logs every single thing a person does, people went crazy and the controversy immediately started. In just four days, there were already lawsuits in place against Carrier IQ, who stated they can't access any personal user information. Supposedly, Sprint uses the app but can't see user activity, Verizon doesn't use the app at all, and Apple has stopped supporting it while planning to eliminate it altogether. For customers wondering if they have this app installed on their phone, a "counter-app" has already been developed in the Android market,Voodoo Carrier IQ detector, which is designed to help find the kit on your phone if it exists. I'm not the least bit surprised by this story! Users of almost any technology these days should realize how exposed and broadcasted your information is. Although, if these companies say that they are not using this information and this isn't what the app is for, then I don't think it should be logging every single keystroke.