Geekly Update - 11 Apr 2011

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

With the debut of IE 9, Microsoft included a clever "pinned sites" feature that lets users attach them to a Windows taskbar. Hmmm, kinda like a bookmark. Hello, 1995!

As an April Fool's Day joke, Google released Gmail Motion that reportedly could detect body motions to trigger Gmail actions. Later that day a group from ICT MxR created SLOOW (Software Library Optimizing Obligatory Waving) that actually uses the Kinect to perform operations like licking an envelope to send an email.

ComScore released a report that claims that 1 in 3 smartphones now run on Android. Their market share is 33% up, while RIM's fell 29% and Apple remained unchanged.

Accidentally post something to Facebook or Twitter that you regret the next day? A $.99 iPhone app called Last Night Never Happened allows you to pinpoint certain hours and delete anything embarrassing that you have posted. Idea: An app that shows you how to delete an entry from your FB page without an app. Sigh...

In an AAP report on social media guidelines, Dr. Gwenn O'Keeffe claims that kids who have low self esteem can feel even worse when they see happy peer users on Facebook. She claims that parents should talk to their kids about "Facebook Depression" that can "cause profound psychosocial outcomes" as extreme as suicide.

Epsilon has apparently had a breach of security affecting several of its major customers. The marketing company claims that the information obtained was only email addresses and/or names, but as their clients include TiVo, Chase Bank, Best Buy Reward and others, this could be a lot larger problem than was posted.

Microsoft and Nokia are in talks in an effort to create a Windows smartphone that should be a serious market contender. While Microsoft has the smarts in platforms, Nokia can handle design, language support and a broader audience with its reputation.

Was it good for you? ChangeWave's results of a recent survey among more than 4,000 users of the iPhone reports fewer dropped calls from AT&T. Both companies reported that on the whole most customers were "very satisfied".

According to Samsung's website, the WiFi Galaxy Tab will be making its debut this Sunday. At a price of $349.99, the device includes Android 2.2 (Froyo) but not 3G.

A U.S. bankruptcy judge accepted the Dish Network's $320 million bid on the flailing Blockbuster which could mean an end to the physical stores as the company might only retain its video on demand service.