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Three months now and Google insists I’m not me. The troubles with “real” identities and the latest ‘nymwars’

Interesting article in today’s San Jose Mercury News: Who has the right to decide how you’re known on the Internet — you, or the online service you’re using?

‘Nymwars’ debate over online identity
explodes

Who has the right to decide how you’re known on the Internet
— you, or the online service you’re using? That simmering question, which
erupted with the launch of the new Google (GOOG)+ social network
this summer, rolled into a boil this week with two high-profile developments.

First, Facebook decided to enforce its “real names only” policy against internationally
known author Salman Rushdie, changing his page — without his consent — to the name
on his passport, Ahmed. Next, the Justice Department told Congress that it needs the ability to prosecute people who provide false information to websites with the intent to harm others, stirring fears across cyberspace that people might be busted for lying about their weight and age on Match.com.

It’s been three months: as noted in a prior post, Google doesn’t believe I’m me. This started in mid August when I found the following note from Google on my profile…

“After reviewing your profile, we determined that the name provided violates the Google+ Names Policy.”

Really?

This from Google’s policy…

“Your common name is the name your friends, family or co-workers usually call you. For example, if your legal name is Charles Jones Jr. but you normally use Chuck Jones or Junior Jones, any of these would be acceptable.”

Maybe Google should Bing it. Similar results on Google’s search site, too.

At least Facebook has a customer service group of sorts to resolve these types of issues (although it took some time as I noted here).
Friends have still managed to find me on their network.
And an interesting side note: Given Vic Gundotra’s first name is Vivek, I wonder if his profile would’ve been denied? Or perhaps he’s leading the way on the use of ‘nyms, as they’re called. 😉

Tags: Social, Google

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Google determines I’m not me: the troubles with “real” identities

Love it. As noted in a prior post, Google doesn’t believe I’m me: the troubles with "real" identities. This started in mid August.

Today I found the following note from Google on my profile…

"After reviewing your profile, we determined that the name provided violates the Google+ Names Policy."

Really?

This from Google’s policy…

"Your common name is the name your friends, family or co-workers usually call you. For example, if your legal name is Charles Jones Jr. but you normally use Chuck Jones or Junior Jones, any of these would be acceptable."

Maybe Google should Bing it. Similar results on Google’s search site, too.

A benefit I’ve found at Microsoft over some of our competitors: our customer service staff if fairly accessible and responsive on various social media networks. For example, type in "microsoft support" in Twitter’s search box under "Who To Follow" and you’ll see several links to our service teams from many of our teams, including…

MicrosoftHelps – Official account for Microsoft Customer Service & Support

XboxSupport – Guinness World Record Holder: Most Responsive Brand on Twitter

ZuneSupport – Official Zune Support on Twitter

Oh, an interesting side note: Given Vic Gundotra’s first name is Vivek, I wonder if his profile would’ve been denied? 😉

 

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Your questions: “Where do I go for help with my Windows Phone?” Here’s a link

Windows Phone logoWondering where to turn to contact Microsoft Customer Support? See my post on where to turn to contact Microsoft Customer Support.

But if you’re looking for support on Windows Phone, first visit the http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/howto/wp7/default.aspx, as I noted in my post with tips on moving from an iPhone to a new Windows Phone.

There’s also the customer facing site on Microsoft Answers site for Windows Phone at http://answers.microsoft.com/phone/ where you can search, browse, and post questions and answers about Windows Phone. 

These and several other options are noted on the Windows Phone Support page.

Added 12/17: There is also this review noted earlier, with great advice and prep details for your new phone: http://www.winsupersite.com/mobile/wp7.asp

 

Tags: Microsoft, how to, customer support, Microsoft Product List 2010, feedback, customer service.

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Wondering where to turn to contact Microsoft Customer Support?

Wondering where to turn to contact Microsoft Customer Support?

I’ve been asked this a couple of times today, so I thought I’d include a couple of helpful links:

Microsoft KB 295539: How and when to contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support

imageTo make sure you receive the appropriate support information for your location, select your region setting from this list and click the arrow button.

Microsoft Support Home Page as shown here:

image

– Click here to submit your questions or to offer us comments.

Microsoft Answers, the consumer-based forums where you can search, browse, and post questions and answers. Thousands of community members—including Microsoft folks—are here to help. – Link to Microsoft Answers, the community-based forums where you can search, browse, and post questions and answers.

Tags: Microsoft, how to, customer support, Microsoft Product List 2010, feedback, customer service.

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Of interest: Daylight Saving Time Issues with Alarms on Apple iPhones

As I noted earlier today, It’s Time To Fall Back An Hour in the US and Canada as Daylight Saving Time Ends This Sunday.

I know of several customers who use Apple iPhones in their Windows environments and of note is an issue in Apple’s iOS that impacted their European customers recently…

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/iphone-bug-leads-to-mass-european-sleep-in/10187

Apple notes this issue in their article on iOS 4.1: Repeating alarms may trigger incorrectly before or after DST change (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3542):

Symptoms: In some regions, shortly before or after the daylight saving time (DST) change, repeating alarms created in the Clock app may work incorrectly.

Products Affected: iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (3rd generation), iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (2nd generation)

Resolution: To resolve this behavior for existing alarms, set the repeat interval to Never. You will need to reset these alarms for each day you need them. After November 7th, 2010, you can set your alarms to repeat again.

Users of the iPhone and iOS should please note that there may also be a problem for systems over this coming weekend (thanks, Will) with the move to DST in North America: 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/11/05/apple.alarm.daylight.savings/index.html

Users who depend on the iPhone to wake them up should create one-time alarms specifically for Monday morning, said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison.

"We suggest customers set nonrepeating alarms for now and reset after November 7 to resolve the issue," she told CNN.

Of course, good to know that “Later this month, Apple will release an updated version of its mobile software, iOS 4.2, which will permanently fix the problem, Harrison said.”

It’s not clear whether or not this update will be available prior to the upcoming "fall back".

 

Tags: Microsoft, Daylight Saving Time, Daylight Savings Time,DST:

References to DST on Bing: 15,400,000 (up several million items); 15,500,000; 2,890,000.

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