This is a UX testing post as I’m trying out a new service that allows me to push content to all of our social outlets, measure engagement, and review detailed analytics.   We are in the process of helping create an awesome user experience and intuitive user interface.  You’ll be seeing quite a few test posts from us as we experiment with the product.

We are in the process of working with a stealth startup in the social space that is creating a great way to schedule, organize, and push content out to all social sources including Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress, Blogger, Flickr, and MANY more.

As a user of this service you’re able to measure engagement metrics and gain valuable insights on your content marketing campaigns.  That said, you’ll be seeing a few tests from us as we test out the web app.

No, it’s not a new iPhone app, but it could be. Banks have started turning your cellphones into credit cards. Man, is this going to affect my data plan?

As my last blog post for Don’t Blink Design (holding back tears), it is difficult to figure out what I want to write today. On what note shall I leave you on? The conclusion is pure and simple: go out the way I came. Wait, that sounded better in my head. In other words, humor and phone companies shall be my farewell address.

According to Reuters, cellphones will soon be able to pay for your purchases at participating retail stores. Phone companies such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-mobile are partnering up with Visa, Bank of America, Barclays, and Discover for trial runs of their payment technology. The US would be following other countries like the UK, Turkey and Japan who have already adopted this form of purchasing. Well, here are a few issues I have about this idea:

1. Broken or stolen phone?

Even before the iPhone4 came out, people had already broken the models they received. If we were to completely change over from plastic to glass, what would happen if our phones were broken or stolen. Ship new phones? Ever since my first cell phone, cellphones have failed to pass my durability test (i.e. throw it on the ground after losing Snake), which makes me extremely apprehensive to use it as my credit card.

2. Security

Customers would have to install small chips into their smartphones that emit radio waves over short distances. How easily can the waves suffer from interference? Just this past week, my landlord had to replace the code on our garage door, because cellphones were disrupting it. My garage door is one thing, but bank information is another even though there isn’t much to steal.

3. What’s wrong with our current method?

I’m all for technology if it improves efficiency, quality, and fun factor; but if there is no apparent value, what is the point? It’s not as if bringing a credit card is a real hassle. Credit cards are thin, small, and durable. They work better than my cellphone and almost always swipe at ever purchase. What would happen if your phone was out of battery, because iPhone batteries last half a day? Better carry a car charger with you at all times!

Even if it’s popular in Japan, it doesn’t mean the US will adopt this new technology. We haven’t adopted all of Japan’s ideas. Americans are very hesitant about disclosing bank account information, for example, my mother who has refused to purchase anything online. All in all, if the technology doesn’t bring any functionality, then why use it.

Thank you so much for reading my blogs over the past few months! I have truly enjoyed writing them! Kota, signing off.

McAfee came out with a study that named “Cameron Diaz” as the most viral celebrity to search for in cyberspace. I think that should include the silver screen as well.

Female celebrities and models dominated the top ten list, which seems to be the only list women can dominate, sadly. The only men to have made the list were Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, not surprisingly. McAfee looked at movie stars, models, comedians, athletes, and musicians to determine who are the riskiest searches. According to the study, one out of ten searches for Cameron Diaz will land on a risky site and searching for wallpapers and screensavers will up the risk to 19%. While Diaz came out on top, Julia Roberts was a close second probably due to her recent release Eat Pray Love. Who would have thought her only two films this year, Valentine’s Day and Eat Pray Love, would put her on such an esteemed list?

One surprise that fell short was Justin Bieber. He was number 46 on the list. I’m disappointed that more twelve year olds didn’t boost up his viral ratings. I thought all tweens were desperate to make Bieber their wallpaper and inevitably be hit with viruses as I did when I wanted Devon Sawa. Apparently, young celebrities were not ranked high on the list such as Zac Efron(40) and Miley Cyrus(44).

Based on the study, I have come to a conclusion as to how to boost your celebrity danger level. Three criteria must be in place to become as successful as Ms. Diaz: 1. White, all of the celebrities who made the top ten list were Caucasian, 2. Female, only two men made the high honors but anybody would be glad to get spammed by Brad Pitt, and 3. Gorgeous, who else would we want to stare at all day? Now that you know the secret, good luck!

And for those who are interested, here is the top ten list:

Google and Verizon has come together to threaten net neutrality. Lets expect the worst and hope for the best!

Google is such a juggernaut that it’s rather easy for internet users to single-out Google as demons like Eric Schmidt with a handlebar mustache that he tweaks in order to plot his next diabolical scheme. It wasn’t too long ago when Schmidt was preaching net neutrality and pushing the government to ensure its existence in a note to Google users.

The Internet as we know it is facing a serious threat. There’s a debate heating up in Washington, DC on something called “net neutrality” – and it’s a debate that’s so important Google is asking you to get involved. We’re asking you to take action to protect Internet freedom.

In the next few days, the House of Representatives is going to vote on a bill that would fundamentally alter the Internet. That bill, and one that may come up for a key vote in the Senate in the next few weeks, would give the big phone and cable companies the power to pick and choose what you will be able to see and do on the Internet.

Today the Internet is an information highway where anybody – no matter how large or small, how traditional or unconventional – has equal access. But the phone and cable monopolies, who control almost all Internet access, want the power to choose who gets access to high-speed lanes and whose content gets seen first and fastest. They want to build a two-tiered system and block the on-ramps for those who can’t pay.

Fortunately, Google informed concerned users over their talks with Verizon in their public policy blog, which seemed rather harmless,  although I’m still skeptical. First, Google and Verizon shouldn’t be telling the FCC what their policies should be even if the FCC has little insight on what is best for consumers. Having two powerhouse companies outlining these laws will make the FCC a mere puppet. While Google’s past and principles leads me to believe they have the best intentions, Verizon seems to be setting their sights on a tiered system. If they’re doing away with the unlimited data plan for cellphones, I can see them enforcing a similar system for internet.

Also, these companies have the power to control the internet and what would they do if they use that power for evil rather than good? It seems like an easy switch to knock out competition and elevate your company. At the end of the day, I have very little trust in companies who have the capability of controlling the future of the internet.

Saudi Arabia briefly turned off data services for Blackberry phones. Maybe Saudi Arabia is following Don’t Blink Design’s lead and switching over to the iPhone.

At 4 a.m. EST on August 6, Saudi Arabia flipped the switch off for fours hours and then, suddenly, came back on again. It sounds like Saudi Arabia playing chicken to show that they’re capable? Or has Blackberry made some threat to Saudi Arabia? Or is the Crackberry so addicting that enraged customers started mass chaos – slaughtering and eating pigs?

Saudi Arabia is just one in a list of countries who are threatening to turn off data services due to a lack of control of their users’ communication. The United Arab Emirates has given Blackberry till October 11th before they pull the plug. Lebanon and India have also voiced their concerns over communication security and could follow the Saudi Arabia bandwagon.

Blackberry, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be worried at all. According to Reuters, RIM’s Chief Technology Officer David Yacht believes that Saudi Arabia “will have trouble pulling the trigger to shut down BlackBerry…Most governments in the world rely on BlackBerry.” Well, now that Saudi Arabia has shut off the data services (for four hours), Blackberry can no longer be confident in Saudi Arabia’s trigger finger. Hey Blackberry, Saudi Arabia can easily switch over to the hundreds of other smartphones providers that are out there so Blackberry shouldn’t feel so special.

I’m just hoping that this backlash on Blackberry will spell the end for this mobile phone company. While I have never had a Blackberry, I have been around enough people who do have these life-sucking devices to know that it’s official: most smartphones are better than any Blackberry model. The only “perk” of owning one is BBM and most smartphones have their own application that customers can download with the same capabilities. So the lesson of the day: countries should switch off Blackberry services for lack of innovation.

Billionaires signed “The Giving Pledge” to give half of their wealth to philanthropic organizations in their trusts.  Hopefully they will give to better causes than some of the ones on the Pepsi Refresh Project (i.e. buying Nintendo DSi’s for second graders).

While this is great for the future of third world countries and the green movement, we shouldn’t consider themselves saints or anything. I mean, I would gladly give away half of my earnings if I died tomorrow. Now, what is half of zero dollars?

Thus far, Bill Gates has signed up 38 billionaires in what could be the biggest philanthropic project ever. (What will Oprah have to say about that?) Signers include:

Big givers like Warren Buffet has pledged to give 99% of his earnings living and after. If my calculation is correct, that is 46.5 billion dollars that is going to the less fortunate, which is almost as much as the top five countries’ GDP combined. Holy dollar-signs, Batman! Thank goodness billionaires are actually giving to, hopefully, organized and credible charities as opposed to some other money-makers. (see: NY magnate leaves her dogs billions) Now, the impoverished will be able to rest their heads at night atop pillows filled with Benjamins.

After reading the Wired’s contest, I wondered what delectable treats would be in store of us in the future.

Since LA is definitely a food-y city and the taco truck has become a symbol of anything delicious, I thought this would be fun. Plus, it’s Friday! Double plus, I used to live in Austin where taco trucks are also a staple. Seriously, check this out.

So the contest is to see what the world would be like in 2025, especially focusing on the taco truck. The first image that comes to mind is the Chinese food “truck” that serves Bruce Willis in the Fifth Element. How awesome would it be for the truck to come to your window? Talk about the best solution for the midnight munchies – rolling over in a semi-conscious state and ordering some beef and broccoli from my window. I better get my fortune cookie in 2025 too!

In order to improve on the concept of mobile food, we must look at why people are so drawn to this rather recent phenomenon and to make sure those reasons will still exist in 2025.

1. It’s mobile

I went to a warehouse party in LA that I thought was out in the middle of nowhere, but when I left that night, what was waiting for me to ensure that my heart would continue racing well past the thumping beats? A mother and child cooking heartattack dogs on the corner. The perfect meal for the perfect moment. Whether it comes by air, land, or sea, it’s all about location, location , location!

2. It’s unpretentious

No matter what, the trucks must remain a dilapidated mess inside a tin can. Like a fine French wine, the food just tastes better coming from a grill that has history. Also, nothing is better than pigging your face out in jeans and a t-shirt while the girl next to you is in Christian Louboutin’s stuffing her face with bulgogi tacos. There is no judging and everybody is on an equal playing field: no table, no chairs, one big appetite.

3. It’s cheap

Since these trucks don’t have to pay for rent, they can make a profit while providing reasonable prices. Even though the times will change and inflation will rise, the prices must still be reasonable even if I’m eating rat burgers in a post-apocalyptic world.

As long as these characteristics still exist in the year 2025, I really couldn’t care less what changes will happen. The year isn’t even far away. What could happen realistically? Trucks could have their own phone app so people will no longer be talking to a human being but ordering through their app or at least have a GPS to find the nearest trucks at any given location. Either way, we all have nothing to worry about. Anything that provides greasy good food at odd hours will always do well in a large metropolis.

In case of a “catastrophic event,” seven smart cards have been issued to a lucky seven that will restart the world wide web.

Members of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit watchdog group that protects users from cyber attacks and fraud, handed out seven keys of endless knowledge to seven lucky guardians. Sounds like Knights of the Round Table or maybe Captain Planet if all the key holders had green mullets. With their powers combined, they can bring back Perez Hilton’s career after a nuclear disaster. Oh goodie! Or we could talk to a few of the cardholders and change a few of the websites for the good of mankind.

smart cards

ICANN giving out smart cards seems like they are aware of something horrific that civilians don’t know. In this case, it seems like carrying a smartcard  could be the golden ticket to a sweet/suite bomb shelter or a huge cruise ship as the movie 2012 depicted.

The cards were given out in the US, Britain, Czech Republic, China, Trinidad and Tobago, Burkina Faso, and Canada. Interesting choices to hold seven cards, especially Burkina Faso. (I had to look where it was located on a map. It’s next to Niger.) It only requires five of the seven cards to restart the internet in a US base.

If a catastrophic event were to occur, what would be the first site people would go to? Watch it be Facebook and it’s a teen updating their status. One “OMG! I almost died! LOLZ” would instantly restore my faith in humanity.

Everybody, turn off the auto-fill feature if you have the following: Safari (v.4 & 5), Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer (6 & 7). According to Jeremiah Grossman, browsers’ auto-fill leaves users vulnerable for malicious sites to steal information.

A thief can create a webpage where one would input their name, email, or credit car number. Then, using JavaScript, the thief can simulate the user entering letters and numbers which the stealer can extract. A user does not even have to enter in any information before it’s taken from them. Through this auto-complete feature, sites could possibly find out a user’s full name, company name, location, email addresses, and some stored passwords.

Jeremiah Grossman added:

Fortunately any AutoFill data starting with a number, such as phone numbers or street addresses, could not be obtained because for some reason the data would not populate in the text field. Still, such attacks could be easily and cheaply distributed on a mass scale using an advertising network where likely no one would ever notice because it’s not exploit code designed to deliver rootkit payload. In fact, there is no guarantee this has not already taken place.

At least there’s a simple fix till the internet browsers resolve this situation – turn off auto-fill. Grossman contacted Apple about the issue, but has still not received word. Current waiting time: a little over a month. My guess is that Steve Jobs will hold a conference in a week explaining how Safari is the best internet browser out there and that all other browsers suffer from the same threat conditions. Then we will all receive free mouse pads.

Till then, keep auto-fill off and be careful where you browse.