By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Private browsing means browsing the web without leaving “tracks,” such as cookies, history, cache data, etc., etc. This has been popularly called “porn mode.” Only Safari currently supports this feature; it was pulled from Firefox 3 (there is, however, an add-on called Stealther some use).

Some hints around the web seem to point IE8 containing such a “mode.” For one, a June 24, 2008 IE blog post on “IE8 and Trustworthy browsing” says (emphasis mine):

That said, there’s more to online privacy than cookies, as cookies are only one implementation of content that can disclose information to websites. In some discussions, people have also described IE7’s Phishing Filter as a privacy feature because it helps protect users from sharing information. The larger challenge here is notifying users clearly about what sites they’re disclosing information to and enabling them to control that disclosure if they choose. As we talk more about privacy, we will broaden the discussion to include additional protections from sharing information that the browser can offer users.

More evidence, , IStartedSomething noticed that Microsoft filed two trademarks on July 30th. They were for:

CLEARTRACKS

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computer programs for accessing and using the Internet and the world wide web; and computer programs for deleting search history after accessing websites

INPRIVATE

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computer programs for accessing and using the Internet and the world wide web; computer programs for disabling the history and file caching features of a web browser; and computer software for notifying a user of a web browser when others are tracking web use and for controlling the information others can access about such use

Although “private browsing” didn’t get into Firefox 3, they do have a “use case” page for it. It states that:

Many people believe that the primary use case for private browsing mode is viewing pornography. While viewing pornography may be a popular use case due to the nature of content on the Web, assuming that this is the only reason that users need private browsing trivializes the overall feature. For instance, users may wish to begin a private browsing session to research a medical condition, or plan a surprise vacation or birthday party for a loved one. Use cases will range from users cheating on their spouse, to users buying engagement rings. Given the breadth of our user base, specific use cases are likely to be extremely varied.

Yes, I guess that “porn mode” nickname does trivialize it. Interesting that they mention “cheating on their spouse.” I guess they ran out of non-controversial use cases after “planning a birthday party.”

Here’s one: watch Forensic Files and see how many people get caught because they don’t delete their browser cache.

OK, OK, all in fun, but seriously, if IE8 gets this, Firefox will be missing a feature IE supports. Dang.

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

I am not the sporty type but I do expect a website - any website - to be useful in some way. Even if that means making you laugh or telling the time, or reviewing the latest movies. You get the idea. Useful.

Why then is the official Olympics website completely useless when it comes to some basics? For instance, what channel is the $^%$ coverage on? I thought NBC had the rights for the United States, but there is no NBC logo on the website or any mention of how to find out who covers the event by country.

Next up - when are the events taking place? I tried the link to schedule times and got this indecipherable grid (see below.) Looks great, but maybe it would have been easier to say that on Saturday, the lineup was water polo, pole vaulting and javelin. What the grid said was lost on me.

Bottom line: Maybe I am not sporty, but shouldn’t all information be packaged so that the most basic info is clear to all and then more stats and detail is available ot those who want to do a deeper dive? In the name of usefulness, go to http://www.nbcolympics.com/ and click on TV and Online Schedules. You still get a grid, but it is a bit more useful. Sigh…

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

OK - so this won’t solve the energy mess we are in when it comes to our cars, but it’s a pretty cool little gadget just the same.

No batteries - just power from the sun!
No assembly required
Measures just 33 x 22 x 14 mm.
When the sun shines on the solar panel, the panel makes electricity that turns the motor and the wheels.
A fun demonstration of solar power.
Will also work when close to a strong artificial light source.

Alice Adds: Now all it needs it a tiny solar-powered remote control.

Product Page
£11.99 (roughly $24 USD.)

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Cuil is pronounced “cool” and what makes it potentially cool is the participation of former Google search architect Anna Patterson and her husband, Stanford professor Tom Costello, as well as other prominent search tech folk. (Where have we seen that minimalist home page before, eh?)

Cuil purports to have a larger search index than Google’s, and to be faster, and to be better than everything than Google. Of course, if it wasn’t, why would I use it instead of Google, right?

Search results (example above, for the “iPhone 3G”) are decidedly non-minimalist (click to enlarge). Speed reader that I am, I prefer more results per page with little if any “fluff.” Still, that’s me, and perhaps not you. It would be nice to see some preferences to allow this to be changed.

There’s no specific news search, though news shows up in the results, as with Google. Speed-wise, I can watch Cuil render the page of results, so it’s not faster, but it’s certainly fast enough.

Results-wise, while top results on both Google and Cuil for “iPhone 3G” turn up, who else, Apple, results after that for Cuil are pretty old news stories on the iPhone 3G. Meanwhile, Google has more recent results.

There is something Cuil seems to be better at than Google: privacy. Here’s their privacy policy:

when you search with Cuil, we do not collect any personally identifiable information, period. We have no idea who sends queries: not by name, not by IP address, and not by cookies (more on this later). Your search history is your business, not ours. More precisely:

Logs

We do not keep logs of our users’ search activity.

Cuil is relatively new, and thus will have some growing pains. Will it replace the word “Google” as a verb on TV shows and the like? Probably not. Will it gain market share? Time will tell.

Cuil is an old Irish word for knowledge, according to the site.

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

I guess this one isn’t a shocker when you think about it, but the venerable school yearbook is heading for the history books. With a high print cost and the connectivity of the Internet, students are skipping the bound volume.

“After more than a hundred years of publication Purdue University, in Indiana, has published its last yearbook, as has nearby DePauw University. McKendree University is the oldest college in Illinois. Although the university still publishes a yearbook, the print-run is a mere 150 copies, only half of which are bought by students. Being on the staff of the yearbook used to be considered prestigious: now only eight students show up for the job. The downturn in print publications has also hit magazines for alumni. These, for instance at McKendree, are increasingly being replaced by online editions.” Source: Economist

We Say: Makes sense, but finding an old yearbook in your attic and leafing through some very funny pictures is a classic moment. Will online yearbooks last that long?

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

When I login to Gmail, I always leave the “Remember me on this computer” checkbox unchecked. Why? I don’t want to get into the habit of checking that checkbox, as what would happen if I would make that selection and leave a public computer with myself still logged in. That would be a problem. Until now, anyway.

Gmail is rolling out a new feature. Typical of such roll-outs, it will be gradual and may not be available yet on your account.

If it’s available, you should see something similar to the above at the very bottom of your inbox. You’ll see information about the last activity on your account and whether it’s still open in another location.

Obviously, this is a great way to find out if someone has hacked into your account (as has happened to me previously, though not with Gmail), but it doesn’t give you all that much info. However, click the Details link, all you’ll see a lot more (below). More

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

We cover the classic Nintendo game “Duck Hunt” from time to time. (take a look at some earlier posts below and then get back to this one, we’ll wait.) Today, we found a very serious shooting simulator from Marksman Training Systems AB called the ST-2. It is designed for shooting instructors and from the excerpt below, you can see this is no toy.

Shooting
The simulator can be used with most shotguns and rifles. The camera sensor that registers gun movements and shooting direction can be easily attached to the barrel of your own gun. The shooting direction is calibrated by a single shot at a calibration target. The shooting scenarios include moving and fixed targets. Starting position, trajectory, speed of the targets are parameters that can be altered by the user creating a wide variety of scenarios to practice on. Hit position and the effectiveness of the shot are evaluated according to all contributing factors: ammunition load and weight, range, target size, trajectory and speed.

Diagnostics
The diagnostics provided by ST-2 after a shot
- Illustrates how you missed
- Why you missed
- If you have correct gun fit
- Helps improve your shooting technique to increase success in the field and competition
Source: Marksman Training Systems AB

We Say: No pricing yet, but my guess is that unless you are Bill Gates or some other very bored billionaire, this one is not showing up in the home anytime soon.

More Ducks

–Kill the Dog from Dog Hunt < --New & difficult
–Duck Hunt + Doom = Duck DOOM< --don't miss
–Play the Original Duck Hunt Online
–DIY: Build a Sniper Rifle for Duck Hunt < --sick

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

As Google prepares to launch Street View in the U.K., and has already launched it in France, concerns over privacy have been raised by the group Privacy International, which says it feels Street View violates privacy laws.

You’ll recall that Canada, which has very strong privacy protections in place (for example, a study has said that DRM violates privacy law), has already raised such concerns.

“In our view they need a person’s consent if they make use of a person’s face for commercial ends,” said Simon Davis, Director of the group.

Davis has also written a letter to Google, given them seven days to respond to his request for technical information on the “blurring” technology, or else he will file a complaint with the U.K. Information Commissioner.

Text of the letter is as follows:

2nd July 2008

Jane Horvath,
Senior privacy counsel,
Google
Mountain View, CA

Dear Jane,

Recent media reports in Europe have mentioned that Google has begun deployment of its StreetView system in the UK and elsewhere in the EU. You may be aware that Privacy International has stated, both privately to Google legal staff and to the media, that we are concerned about a number of potential violations of national law that this technology may create.

In response, Google has informed the media that it will institute “face blurring” technology to ensure legal compliance. However, when we requested information from Google six weeks ago about the specifications for this technology your colleagues admitted that there were problems with it at an engineering level.

We are concerned that claims of protection are being made that may not be possible to institute. I am writing to request full disclosure of the technology specifications for the promised face and number plate blurring system so that the public can be assured that Google has taken every step necessary to satisfy not just legal requirements, but that it is also fulfilling its stated commitments.

We have in the past raised concerns directly with Google that such claims have historically failed to materialise. I recall the promise made by Google to the FTC during the Doubleclick acquisition that “crumbling cookies” would be developed. We have seen no evidence that this technology has been deployed. In response to concerns expressed at the time of our 2007 Internet privacy rankings, Google also promised a “privacy dashboard” to help consumers understand the functionality of their user settings. This technology has not appeared.

You will know that we have often complained that Google performs poorly on the issue of transparency. I believe this is one occasion where disclosure is crucial. Public trust in Google will suffer if there is a perception that the company is manipulating the facts.

I ask that you respond with this technical information within seven days. I also ask that you inform us of the steps, if any, that you have taken to consult the public over the use of their images for what is, in effect, a commercial purpose.

If we do not receive a satisfactory answer within that period we will have no choice but to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner with a request that StreetView deployment be suspended pending a formal investigation.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Davies
Director
Privacy International

So, is this all overblown? P.I. has battled Google over privacy concerns in the past, including issues with Gmail, even naming the company among the worst for privacy practices.

For its part, Google has taken steps in the past, such as the facial- and license-plate blurring technology it has added to Street View, as well as the link you can use to tell Google if you think an image infringes on your privacy, and the privacy link they just added to their home page.

Still, no one can deny that the amount of data Google stores is monolithic, and things like Viacom being able to sift through all YouTube user data isn’t exactly comforting. We’ll see where this goes.