Friends, you want to do this to improve your privacy & security

This is long overdue - you can now configure your Facebook account to use HTTPS/SSL when you log in. This is the same sort of security many of your other accounts use (e.g. all banks and credit cards). I say this is long overdue since services such as Google Mail implemented this maaaaany moons ago. Better late than never?

However… at least for me this setting is not showing up. Presumably it is rolling out over the course of the day. So YMMMV.

A Continued Commitment to Security

More than meets the eye - Apple's security hires

I don’t have any inside info but I’m 100% confident there is much more than meets the eyes of these recent top-end security hires by Apple. They definitely are not bringing in people of this caliber just to deal with security of their current systems or to work on vulnerabilities in their software. You can bet there is going to be a major initiative announced down the road. Mostly likely elaborating around the NFC (near field communications) rumors. Look for NFC to make a hardware appearance in the mid term with revenue generating initiatives ramping up soon after.

via Apple Taps NSA Alumnus As Global Security Chief – Apple – InformationWeek.

Wow! Microsoft releases OneNote for the iPhone...

OneNote is IMO the best component in Office for Windows. Microsoft just released a version that supports iOS (iPad and iPhone) and includes Cloud syncing with Windows Live SkyDrive. Most of my work notes are too sensitive to store in the Cloud (or carry on an iPhone) but I know a lot of people who will be all over this app. It will be up against EverNote and its ilk but still I can’t wait to give it a try.

Microsoft’s Office Team Steps Onto iOS With ‘OneNote’

HP's New Strategy Will Intensify Battles With IBM And Oracle -- InformationWeek

You think so? ;-)

via Global CIO: HP’s New Strategy Will Intensify Battles With IBM And Oracle – InformationWeek.

Google Privacy

Google keeps a log of your entire search history - even if you have logged out of your Google account. I decided I don’t like this and if you feel the same way you can delete your history and prevent Google from profiting from you activity by following the instructions at the link below.

Deleting : Using Web History - Accounts Help.

Dems & big gov't spenders need to read this...

I hate to pick on the Democrats - because both parties are worthy targets of complaint - but when it comes to spending, the deficit and taxation they’re the ones who spout the most foolish rhetoric and pursue the most damaging policies. Without a fiscally sound government no other policies can survive or prosper. The Dems like to say we just need to tax the rich more or tax everyone making above minimum wage more but the simple fact of the matter is even if we enact such changes it will not solve the deficit problem. And Hauser’s “Law” along with other lessons from the past show that people have a way of adapting to higher taxation in ways that minimize or even avoid a rise in the government’s revenue.

All of our Federal representatives need to face down the deficit/budget problem. But it is the Democrats falsely acting as if the problem can be solved by just taxing a few “fat cats” who aren’t paying their fair share. Perpetuating this notion in the mind of their backers is the one thing doing the most damage to gaining the popular support needed to reform our spending and hence guarantee a healthy future for our country. There is only one solution and that is to reduce Federal government spending. Politicians of both parties need to convince their constituents of this fact and then work to agree on the cuts needed. We can’t afford to have spending cuts pushed through in the same “gun to their head” approach Pelosi and the Dems used to pass the health care “reform” legislation.

Living with Hauser’s Law

We are gaining a family member…

Dreams

My daughter reading from the same Go Dogs Go book I learned from. Warms my heart :)

Ready for Santa to return

Awesome snow today. Kids are amped!

Kids driving iPhone Need for Speed

AT&T Haters Rejoice - WSJ Confirms Verizon iPhone on the 11th

The timing and fact Verizon is doing the announcement should mean this is an iPhone 4-based release.

via Macrumors More Confirmation Verizon iPhone to Launch on January 11th

US to get serious about online identity

This won’t be a national ID system but should make it possible for those who elect to participate to have a validated online identity. Should be interesting to see how this plays out in both the technology vendor and merchant realms.

via CNET Obama to hand Commerce Dept. authority over cybersecurity ID | Privacy Inc.

Want to run a Mac App Store purchase on more than 1 Mac?

Well, you can. Here are the details via TUAW.

Updated terms specify number of installs from the Mac App Store.

Here it is: The Mac App Store

IMO the Mac App store is going to be a very big deal with ramifications far beyond the Mac user base. It is going to drive changes in app delivery (obviously), license and upgrade pricing, and the definition of a “meets min” application. Not just for Macs but for Windows too. Expect to see more “bite size” apps a la smartphone apps. Also expect to see in-app purchasing down the road.

These effects won’t be limited to just the Consumer space. I expect the ripples to be felt in the Enterprise space within the year.

Apple’s Mac App Store Opens With More Than 1,000 Apps.

France to trump American enterprise?

France has long been something of a laughing stock when it comes to business competitiveness but now they’ve launched an effort to model their tax system on the highly effective one used by Germany. In the mean time America is on track to have the highest Corporate tax rate in the world since so many of our lawmakers consider Corporations to be the “enemy” (i.e. attacking Corporate America helps with re-election even though an irresponsible act). Quite sad for the leading capitalist nation to be behind one of the most socialist.

France, Seeking Growth, Looks to German Tax Model - WSJ.com.

Popped a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Rise

Under the spell of Despicable Me

Think Hurd's actions screwed HP employees?

In a good year for equities (the Dow was up over 10%) Hewlett-Packard is down 18%, Oracle is up nearly 30% and IBM matched the Dow. Hurd likes to blame the board of directors but it was his self-admitted actions that cost shareholders and employees millions of dollars. He has yet to take responsibility for the harm he did to others and continues to try to keep the facts from becoming public. I don’t think his lasting reputation will ever be for anything more than a hatchet man.

Caterpillar shines among DJIA components, HP lags - MarketWatch.

You may want to stop holding your breath for RIM's Playbook

Wu has a good track record so this is a credible report (though far from confirmed). BlackBerry PlayBook battery issues could delay launch, says analyst

Daughter’s first Scrabble Junior game

Daughter’s first Scrabble Junior game

Boxed set of Gary Larson’s Complete Farside - gift from my lovely wife

Karaoke star