Web Log

Compiled by John Collins

Teens' risk-reduction ideas for Facebook

READ:The media always assume that teenagers blithely share their darkest secrets on Facebook and other social networks.

However, Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd has discovered that some teens actually go to extreme lengths to protect their online identities.

In this article she describes the concept of the “super log-off” where one teen actually deactivates, rather than deletes, her Facebook account when she is not online.

http://bit.ly/c83ZRx

Ghost estates of the Irish property bubble

BOOKMARK:The website doesn't contain much background information but the name – ghostestates.com – says it all.Using Google Maps, it shows the location of unfinished housing estates around the country.

You can easily choose to zoom straight to your own county, and once you click on an estate a new window opens with the Google Street View images of the estate.

ghostestates.com

The iCabbi app for booking taxis

INSTALL:Launched this week in Dublin and Cork, iCabbi.com is a virtual taxi dispatch firm that allows you to book taxis

from a smartphone app. It uses the location capability of your phone to send the taxi to your current location, and once you make the booking you can track your taxi’s progress to your location in real time. To make the service more secure for

solo travellers the details of the car and driver are sent to your mobile phone and two nominated e-mail addresses.

Currently the app is available for the iPhone.

iCabbi.com

From Irish retailers online this Christmas

BUY:Blogger and all-round web guy Damien Mulley is doing his bit to encourage economic stimulus by compiling a list of Irish online retailers to get Christmas gifts from this year. It's accessible as a Google spreadsheet, and retailers are encouraged to list themselves – including details such as the type of products they sell and payment methods accepted.

http://bit.ly/9jV331