Marina Blue in San Francisco - Panama City

Marina Blue apartments are situated in the popular area of San Fransisco. The front apartments have ocean view towards Punta Pacifica. With clean and hip architecture, you will enjoy your ocean front views at all time. All the amenities and details in this project are a great added value for you and your family. Apartments are available in 1540sq.ft and penthouses. Each floor has 2 apartments per floor with living room/dining room, maids qtrs, kitchen, family room and 3 bedrooms. The social area has 2 swimming pools, tennis, sauna, gym and BBQ area.

- 1540 sq ft - Penthouse - 2 units per floor - Three bedrooms - Terrace - Ocean front Views - Family Room

Price: 143mts2- 205,000 - increase $500 per floor

Google Adds a Safeguard on Privacy for Searchers

SAN FRANCISCO, March 14 — Web search companies collect records of the searches that people conduct, a fact that has long generated fears among privacy advocates and some Internet users that valuable personal data could be misused.

Now Google is taking a step to ease those concerns. The company keeps logs of all searches, along with digital identifiers linking them to specific computers and Internet browsers. It said on Wednesday that it would start to make those logs anonymous after 18 to 24 months, making it much harder to connect search records to a person. Under current practices, the company keeps the logs intact indefinitely.

“We have decided to make this change with feedback from privacy advocates, regulators worldwide and, of course, from our users,” said Nicole Wong, Google’s deputy general counsel.

But it is unclear whether the change will have its intended effect. Privacy advocates reacted with a mix of praise and dismay to it.

“This is really the first time we have seen them make a decision to try and work out the conflict between wanting to be pro-privacy and collecting all the world’s information,” said Ari Schwartz, deputy director of the Center for Democracy and Technology, an advocacy group. “They are not going to keep a profile on you indefinitely.”

Others were less enthusiastic.

“I think it is an absolute disaster for online privacy,” said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Mr. Rotenberg said his organization has been trying to combat efforts by law enforcement officials to require online services to retain search records for long periods of time.

He said that 18 to 24 months was too long, and added that because of Google’s dominant position, it would most likely set a de facto standard for data retention.

Ms. Wong said Google uses the search data internally only to improve its search engine and other services. She added that Google would release search data only if compelled by a subpoena. Even so, Google was the only major search engine to resist a Justice Department subpoena for vast amounts of search data last year — a move that drew praise from privacy advocates.

Just how personally revealing such data can be became evident last year, when AOL released records of the searches conducted by 657,000 Americans for the benefit of researchers. While AOL did not identify the people behind the searches, reporters from The New York Times were able to track down some of them quickly through their search requests.

The ensuing flap caused AOL to tighten its privacy policies. The company now keeps search histories for only 13 months and does not link them to Internet protocol addresses — digital tags that can identify a specific computer.

For its part, Yahoo keeps search data for “as long as it is useful,” said a spokeswoman, Nissa Anklesaria. And Microsoft said that while it does not keep search histories alongside I.P. addresses, it can connect the two if law enforcement requests it.

For Web companies, tying search histories to individuals or groups can be lucrative. Companies like Microsoft and Yahoo, for instance, use such information to customize the ads they display. While Google does not currently do this so-called behavioral targeting, some analysts believe it might do so in the future.

Google may be tightening its privacy policy around search logs, but the company recently relaxed its privacy practices in another area. Earlier this year, Google users who signed up for services like Gmail that require them to sign in started to be automatically enrolled in a service called personalized search. The service tracks a user’s search history and tailors search results accordingly. Previously, users had to specifically choose to enroll in personalized search.

Users can opt out of the personalized search service and delete their search history. Still, some analysts believe Google should give users more notice.

“I don’t know that a lot of people have realized that that kind of change has happened,” said Danny Sullivan, who edits the blog SearchEngineLand.com. “You can delete your search history at any time — if you remember.”

War of the Consoles - Price Vs Graphic Quality

Peter Nowak, Financial PostPublished: Saturday, March 10, 2007

If there’s one thing the current generation of video game consoles can tell us, it’s that the next generation of games that kids will be playing will be very different. The coming wave -- perhaps five years or more away -- isn’t going to be about nicer graphics; it’s going to be about price and innovation.

Larry Probst, chief executive of the world’s largest video game publisher Electronic Arts, this week predicted Sony’s command of the market is going to slide over the current generation of hardware. Sony won the last round with its PlayStation 2, which accounted for about 60% of the console market, followed by Microsoft with its Xbox and Nintendo with its GameCube.
Sony’s momentum should carry it through the current round with its PlayStation 3, released in November, but it should be a much more level playing field this time around, Mr. Probst says.

That’s because the PS3 is just too expensive compared to its rivals. At $699, the console goes for a considerable premium over Microsoft’s Xbox 360 at $499 and Nintendo’s Wii at $279. Sony has packed a lot of expensive hardware into the console to provide the best graphics on the market, not to mention a Blu-Ray high-definition DVD player, but the success of Microsoft and the Wii indicate gamers want more than games that simply look awesome.

Prior to 2001, Microsoft wasn’t even a player in video game consoles. But with the launch of the Xbox that year, it was obvious the software company wanted to take gaming in a new direction. The Xbox had a hard drive for storage and a built-in broadband connection, both of which enabled the Xbox Live online service. Suddenly, gamers could play against each other online or download updates and expansions to games straight to the console.

The Xbox Live service, which was continued when the 360 launched in November, 2005, has been a tremendous success for Microsoft. The company this week announced it had surpassed six million subscribers, four months ahead of its original forecast.

If anything, the Xbox and the 360 have proven gamers have a real zest for online gameplay. Sony, meanwhile, was caught napping and has been playing catch-up ever since.
Nintendo, which was in Sony’s commanding position in the 1980s and much of the 1990s, went back to the drawing board and came up with a profoundly innovative product. The Wii shuns dazzling graphics in favour of a one-handed motion-sensitive controller that players can wave like a wand or swing like a tennis racket. The console has flown off the shelves and has opened up a world of possibilities in game design. It doesn’t hurt that the Wii is the most attractively priced of the three consoles.

A year ago, Nintendo was being written off as yesterday’s news in the video game console wars, but the company is now firmly back in the thick of things. With Microsoft carving out its online niche with hard-core gamers and Nintendo appealling to casual players, Sony is going to have to go back to the drawing board and figure out where its market is. It’s not beyond the company to do so -- after all, Sony did revolutionize the business with its original PlayStation, which, back in 1994, could play CDs and had vibrating controllers.

But needless to say, the days of steady improvements to graphics for an everhigher price tag are over. The games of tomorrow are going to be something else indeed.

Next big things in consumer gadgets

CHICAGO, IL, United States (UPI) -- Biometrics and Bluetooth stole the show Sunday at the International Housewares Association trade show in Chicago.
SPI Inc. featured a headrest that can be attached to a car seat or office chair, equipped with Bluetooth for the phone and a jack for an iPod or other MP3 player.
SPI spokeswoman Erin Burgy said developers were just focusing on in-car use in light of legislation making its way through state legislatures mandating the use of hands-free devices for cell phones for drivers.
'But we had a number of executives come by and say they`d attach it to their office chairs since they do a lot of business on their cell phones,' Burgy said.
The headrest is set to make its debut in the fourth quarter and sell for $59.95.
Pass Lock introduced the PL-600, a security lock that can be programmed to recognize a thumbprint. The security lock also works with a number code, electronic key or panic key and is designed for installation on homes, apartments or to secure rooms.
The $649 unit runs on batteries and the company estimates it can actually save money for landlords over 10 years with an average lock costing $200 and replacement keys running $2 to $4.

Mystery over Vista Activation 'Crack'

The unknown hacker who claimed last week that a tool he'd created could generate valid Windows Vista activation codes has admitted that the crack was cracked. "Fact is the brute-force keygen is a joke, I never intended for it to work," the individual identified only as Computer User wrote on the KezNews website over the weekend. "I have never gotten it to work, everyone should stop using it! Everyone who said they got a key is probably lying or mistaken!"Watchers should have seen the confession coming. On Friday, Computer User issued an online apology and professed his love for Vista. "I apologize for exposing the work-around in question. I regret the fact that it has been leaked all over the Net, which I guess was to be expected. I simply love Windows Vista, and I happened to stumble upon this trick. Everyone should stop using the brute force KeyGen altogether because it takes away from legitimate customers."Others writing on the same thread were leery of Computer User's new-found religion, and either called his revelation into question or wondered if it had been issued because he had been spooked by legal threats."It's not fake, it's not impossible, but it's near impossible," wrote a user identified as ecko, who posted another message reading: "It's not a hoax, but it takes so long you'll be wasting your time trying." Last week, a KezNews poster calculated that that it would take Computer User's KeyGen 1.35 quintillion years to check all possible 25-character combinations that make up a Vista product activation key."Are you scared of getting into trouble?" asked tyga45.Computer User replied to that question Saturday. "Well, actually yes, I am worried about getting into trouble. I'd prefer a job rather than a lawsuit," he wrote. "I don't think there is anything they can do. I only posted a bit of source code. But I'd wish people would stop using it, and I think it'll be deleted from the site soon." As of Monday, KezNews still included links to several sites where KeyGen could be found.But some users remained adamant that the brute force utility had cranked out one or more valid Vista keys. "it was successful in retrieving 3 Keys with only 1 working," wrote salmypal. "Since [Computer User's confession] came out, it has been running non-stop and has retrieved 2 more keys that are not valid."Vista's activation, part of Microsoft's overall Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) anti-counterfeit programme, validates the license’s product key to make sure that a key is used only once. If Vista is not activated within 30 days of its first-time use, or is activated with a bogus key, it drops into a crippled state.Last week, Alex Kochis, senior product manager of WGA, said that even if the crack produced a seemingly valid key, Microsoft's activation servers would probably reject it because they "perform a more rigorous analysis of the keys that are sent up than the local key logic does”.

Adobe Photoshop

Following news that Adobe is working on an online version of its Photoshop image editing software, senior product manager John Nack has clarified that this is aimed at consumers, not creative pros.

"To set expectations properly," Nack says on his blog, "I think it's important to mention that by "Photoshop-branded" we don't mean the professional version of Photoshop. The tools being discussed here are targeted at the consumer market-- especially all the people using social networking and media sharing sites."
"A Photoshop-branded online editor lets us start bringing the tech to new customers," he says, "much like the new Adobe Remix reaches new customers using Adobe Premiere technology."

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand fishermen may have caught the largest Colossal squid ever found -- weighing around 450kg (992 pounds) and with rings the size of tyres.
The adult Colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) was caught by fishermen long lining for toothfish in deep ocean off Antarctica, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said on Thursday in announcing the catch.
The squid was still alive when caught and was eating a hooked toothfish when hauled aboard, Anderton said in a statement.
"The squid was almost dead when it reached the surface, and the careful work of the crew was paramount in getting this specimen aboard in good condition," Anderton said.
"The crew stopped winching in the longline for two hours, while the squid was manoeuvred into a cargo net and hauled aboard," he said.
The squid was frozen in the ship's hull and brought back to New Zealand for scientific examination.
"The colossal squid has just arrived in New Zealand and it is likely that it is the first intact adult male Colossal squid to ever be successfully landed," Anderton said.
Colossal squid are one of the most mysterious creatures in the deep ocean, growing up to 12 to 14 metres (36 to 42 feet) in length. Anderton said the squid would be photographed, measured, tissue sampled, registered and preserved intact.
"On-going examination of this giant will help to unlock some of the mysteries of the deep ocean. Even basic questions such as such as how large does this species grow to, and how long does it live for are not yet known," he said.
Local media said early estimates put the squid at 10 metres (30 feet) in length and weighing 450 kg (992 pounds) -- 150 kg (330 pounds) heavier than the next biggest specimen found.
"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," squid expert Steve O'Shea at Auckland University of Technology told local media.
O'Shea said if calamari were made from the Colossal squid's rings it would be the size of tractor tyres.
Anderton said Colossal squid were found in Antarctic waters and were not related to Giant squid (Architeuthis) found around the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid also grow up to 12 metres (36 feet), but are not as heavy.

Paris Hilton ayudando a que You Tube genere mas ingresos

Hasta ahora parecía que Google Video llevaba la delantera a Youtube en lo que a generar ingresos se refiere o al menos habían apuntado a dos estrategias como son compartir ingresos o a su alianza con la MTV. Mientras Youtube seguía asumiendo unos costes muy altos de servicio (se hablaba de que pagan un millón de dólares al mes por ancho de banda y servidores) y los ingresos no se veían por ninguna parte.

Pero aquí llega la Warner dispuesta a crear el canal de París Hilton con 13 vídeos, situado en la portada de Youtube como estrategia de marketing del disco de la popular ¿actriz? El canal también incluye publicidad de la serie Prision Break de la Fox (vía Mashable)

Hoy por hoy salir en la portada de Youtube garantiza llegar a una audiencia planetaria. Cada vez que se acusa a este servicio de no tener modelo de negocio siempre digo lo mismo ¿cuánto vale una televisión con una audiencia actual de cien millones de vídeos al día y un enorme potencial de crecimiento? Claro que Youtube tiene costes muy altos de mantenimiento - y más que tendrá mientras siga creciendo - pero estar en su portada como hace París Hilton se va a cotizar muy alto.

Por cierto, el vídeo de que ponen en primer lugar no está recibiendo muy altas valoraciones de los usuarios que digamos. Una cosa es salir en portada y otra es convencer a los usuarios...

Modelos desnudas piden a la justicia de su pais eliminar fotos porno de Yahoo y Google

Esta noticia es de Argentina...

Los buscadores de internet Yahoo y Google deberán sacar de sus páginas todas las referencias a modelos argentinas que aparecen mencionadas en páginas pornográficas, según dispuso hoy la Cámara Civil. Dos salas de la Cámara ordenaron a Yahoo de Argentina y Google Inc. que eliminen de sus patrones de búsqueda las referencias que vinculan a las modelos Melina Marisol Pitra y María Agustina Sosa con páginas de contenido sexual en las que fueron incluidas sin autorización ni consentimiento. En el caso de Pitra, la Sala F, con las firmas de los camaristas Fernando Posse Saguier, José Luis Galmarini y Eduardo Zannoni, sostuvo que la inclusión en “sitios con contenidos relacionados al tráfico de sexo, afecta derechos de rango constitucional”.

“Si el buscador de internet puede preseleccionar o remover cualquier contenido que esté disponible a través del servicio, no se advierte cuál es el gravamen que le genera” cumplir con la medida cautelar dictada en primera instancia, en este caso a favor de Pitra. Pero según aseguraron fuentes judiciales, unas 80 modelos obtuvieron medidas similares, por lo que el fuero civil tiene a estudio una catarata de juicios por idénticas razones. Sobre la situación de Sosa, la Sala C, con las firmas de los jueces Omar Díaz Solimine y Luis Alvarez Juliá, coincidieron en que “se encuentra en juego el derecho constitucional a la imagen y el honor”, y advirtieron que la continuidad de la aparición de la modelo en los buscadores podría causar un “perjuicio irreparable”.