TechBytes: Flu Shot Finder

Nov. 11, 2009— -- If you're searching for a flu immunization provider, Google may have just the answer with its new flu shot finder.

The search engine teamed up with the government to make it easier to find the vaccine near you. The flu shot finder tells you where you can find the seasonal and H1N1 vaccine in your neighborhood. Twenty states and counting have provided data so far. Google also continues to add information from chain pharmacies and other providers in all 50 states.

Several top tech companies are offering an early holiday gift: free Wi-Fi in public places during the season. Google announced that it will provide free Wi-Fi access in 47 airports across the country including Boston, Houston and Seattle from now until Jan. 15. The airports chosen handle about 35 percent of domestic air travelers. During the week of Thanksgiving, EBay is providing free wireless access on some Delta planes. Not to be outdone by its competitors, Yahoo will give away Wi-Fi access in New York's Times Square for a full year.

Hundreds of Facebook groups have been hijacked by an organization called "Control Your Info." The organization says it took over the groups to highlight a security flaw in the social networking site. "Control Your Info" says it's too easy for someone to take control of a Facebook group, leaving members' personal information accessible to strangers. The organization says it won't make any changes to these groups. They just want Facebook users to think about their safety.

Are you looking to lose weight, but can't find the right motivation? A new bathroom scale may shame you into it. A company called Withings has created a Wi-Fi body scale. It has a wireless connection to send your weight directly to a Web page, iPhone and now Twitter. Users can automatically tweet their weight to followers. That should be enough to get most people off the couch and on a treadmill.