Facebook needs to restore trust in their company. To do this Facebook needs to make a couple of changes. First, change the default privacy settings for user data from public to private. ALL of my information on Facebook should be private until I expressly change it to become public. Not the other way around. When I delete my Facebook account ALL of my information and data should be COMPLETELY and PERMANENTLY deleted. Rather, Facebook holds onto your data for 14 days in case you change your mind. I can see this as useful for people who are unsure they want to separate from Facebook, but there should also be an option to delete my data instantly. Making the situation even worse is the fact that if you delete your account not all of your data is removed. Facebook Help states “Copies of some material (photos, notes, etc.) may remain in our servers for technical reasons…” (link). What is SO hard about deleting my data? Please, just remove it from your servers!

The one thing we all need to remember is that Facebook’s goal is to make money. To make money Facebook sells advertising space. Facebook uses your information to show you advertisements you might be interested in. While Facebook states that no information which can identify you is used for this purpose, there is nothing stopping them from using identifiable information. Combine that with Facebook’s demonstrated disregard for user privacy and I believe it is only a matter of time.

Do I trust my information with other companies, to some degree I do. Can I actually trust any of them? Maybe, maybe not. The emphasis here is that Facebook and Zuckerberg have repeatedly demonstrated a blatant disrespect and disregard for their users’ privacy. This we cannot ignore.

LED Light: This app turns on the camera flash LED making it a flashlight. Can be used as an app or widget.
Key Ring Reward Cards: Key Ring stores your reward cards for stores such as Kroger or CVS and displays the associated bar code on the screen. The bar code can then be scanned from the screen at checkout, thus eliminating the need to carry the reward cards themselves.

Utilities:

aCar: aCar allows you to track your vehicle’s (or multiple vehicles’) fuel mileage and maintenance schedule.
Advanced Task Killer: Android does not include a utility for managing running applications. You can use ATK to manually kill running apps or ATK will automatically kill them on a time based schedule or automatically when the display turns off. You can maintain an ignore list of apps you don’t want ATK to kill. I’ve used this one for a short period of time, but thus far it seems to have improved the battery life on my EVO 4G. Read this article on why you shouldn’t use task killers.
ASTRO File Manager: Android also does not include a good way to browse files on the installed SD card. This is a good file browser and included some other handy features.
Bubble: Bubble is a bubble level. You can calibrate the level and it includes both a plumb/level and 360 degree level.
Keeper Password & Data Vault: This is a United States government certified encrypted password and login data vault. It is similar in function to BlackBerry Wallet.
MyBackup: This is a backup utility for your Android device. It allows you to backup all of your device data and settings to the developer’s secure servers or an installed SD card.
ConnectBot: A telnet and ssh client.

Financial:

Bank of America: The Bank of America application will help you find banking locations. It will also all you to view transactions, view and pay e-Bills, and transfer funds between your accounts.
Mint.com: If you use Mint.com to manage your finances, this app will keep you up to speed on your financial portfolio when you’re on the go.
State Farm Pocket Agent: If you have State Farm insurance this app allows you to view your policies, document an accident, and help you find auto related services while on the go.

Sports:

The Hockey News: THN provides all of the NHL news, scores, stats, and standings you can digest.

One Google app that I believe is worth mentioning and is my new favorite: Google Sky Map. In Google’s own words: “With Google Sky Map for your Android phone you can discover and browse the night sky just by pointing your phone to space.”

The one feature that only BlackBerry offers which I will truly miss is BlackBerry Messenger. It really is the best at what it does. There is no replacement. BBM alone though is not enough to keep me with BlackBerry. I believe that if RIM does not step their game up, BlackBerry will be left behind. I understand that they are a secure, corporate devices but consumers want a rich media experience. That is a fact RIM cannot ignore.

I’ll post additional thoughts after I have more time to become acquainted with my new device.

Go to Options then Screen/Keyboard.

1. I changed my Backlight Brightness from the default of 100 to 50. This will set the maximum brightness to 50%. It is noticeably dimmer at first, but after using it for a few minutes you will not notice the difference anymore.

2. Make sure Automatically Dim Backlight is set to On. This will automatically adjust the Backlight according to the light level of the room you are in. The backlight however will never be brighter than what you set the Backlight Brightness to.

3. Change the Backlight Timeout to 10 seconds. Sometimes this can be a little bit annoying, but more often than not I do not need the backlight to say on for the default 30 seconds.

These three settings working together can greatly improve the battery life of your BlackBerry. My BlackBerry Tour went from barley making it a day on a single charge, to running well into the night.

” ” Placing search phrases in quotes searches for that exact phrase.

OR Placing OR in a phrase searches for either term. (must be capitalized)

… Placing … between numbers searches for numbers in that range.

site: Search within a specific web domain. For example: site:garrettkelley.com

link: Search for sites that link to another site.

related: Search for results that are related to that site.

~ Placing ~ in front of a word searches for that word and all of its synonyms.

- Placing a – in front of a word excludes that word.

define: Get word definitions from several sources.

time: Get the current time for any location.

info: Get information about a website.

convert Google can convert different units for you. Example: convert 10 miles to kilometers

If you would like more tips and tricks for using Google, check out GoogleGuide.com.

Update: This OS is now available for download here.

Survey Regarding Snowmobiling within Yellowstone National Park:

Edit: Survey is now closed. Thanks to those who responded!

I tell you it will shake the earth beneath your feet
The light that shines will redefine your old beliefs
What you reap is what you sow and so it goes
Where you plant your needs is where your garden grows
Before you think about yourself
Think of someone else, it will make you feel

Each day ain’t wine and roses
I doubt it’s meant to be
Always a cross to bear salvation don’t come free
A heart that beats is a heart that bleeds
And you know that’s true
So don’t deny yourself of something good for you
Before you do it for yourself, do it for someone else
That makes it real

‘Cause when you love someone
It don’t matter what you say
When you love someone
You will dance the night away
When you love someone
There ain’t nothing you can’t do
Ain’t that right
Yeah I want to love someone tonight

Will you believe in love or just sit around and judge?
Can you forgive someone or will u hold a grudge?
Cuz above selfishness there lies a bright blue sky
And wealth and happiness can be a long and lonesome ride
Yes it’s hard to steer yourself
Without that someone else to take the wheel
Take the wheel

Do you believe in the art of growing old
Do you believe that rock n roll can save your soul
Do you believe in everything you do
Cuz when you do that’s when it all comes back to you
Before you think about yourself
Think of someone else
Do it for yourself
And do it for someone else

In this farewell
There’s no blood
There’s no alibi
‘Cause I’ve drawn regret
From the truth
Of a thousand lies

So let mercy come
And wash away
What I’ve done

I’ll face myself
To cross out what I’ve become
Erase myself
And let go of what I’ve done

Put to rest
What you thought of me
While I clean this slate
With the hands of uncertainty

For what I’ve done
I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I’m forgiving what I’ve done!

What I’ve done
Forgiving what I’ve done