Social software and social networking 2.0.
- Augmented Reality Devices: See the Online World While Walking the Real One
- Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:26:34 +0000 -
Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging technology described as, “a field of computer research which deals with the combination of real-world and computer-generated data (virtual reality), where computer graphics objects are blended into real footage in real time.”
AR is essentially a view of the real world with a virtual overlay. It’s pretty fascinating science that promises to change the physical world as we know it.
So what’s the big deal? Well imagine beginning able to walk around with a pair of sunglasses on that allow you to see the physical world with virtual context. If the sunglasses you’re wearing are AR enabled, your view of the world could be filled with context from sites like Wikipedia, Facebook, and Google Maps. Say, for instance, you’re walking through the Las Vegas Convention Center at CES - your AR enabled device could provide an overlay of Facebook data, including names and recent status updates, right next to the faces within your view.
That sounds pretty far fetched, but we’re not that far off from such a world. Take, for example, the announcement by Vuzix of their new Wrap 920AV pair of sunglasses with both Virtual Reality and AR capabilities. The device comes with a 60 inch virtual screen, the ability to view 2D or 3D video formats, has 6 hours of battery life, and is compatible with mobile devices (including the iPhone), digital cameras, DVD players, game consoles, and PCs.
Vuzix CEO Paul Travers said, “The Wrap 920AV will not just change the portable video industry, but how consumers view and interact with information. From watching a Civil War video reproduction battle reenactment on the actual battleground to walking through the streets of New York City with an animated virtual tour guide, the possibilities are endless.” Available in Spring 2009, you can check out the device in action at CES, Sands Expo Convention Center Booth #73810.
If you still need more proof that AR is permeating our real world already, check out these additional ways to experience AR:
For Enjoyment
AR is already becoming increasing popular for gaming purposes, because it can add a whole new layer of interactivity to games. As you can see from the video, AR Tower Defense for Nokia N95 is a game that uses a real world puzzle, but your phone’s lens changes your view of the puzzle. The two layers combined create a whole new type of gaming addiction.
Educational Endeavors
Watch this short video to see how AR is going to transform the way we learn. From AR books with interactive images and characters, to museums and learning centers with additional virtual layers of information, learning will be an experience that we can interact with and enjoy.
Practical Purposes
We talked about Wikitude AR Travel Guide in our post on how to make the most out of Google Maps. The innovative mobile app is for G1 owners and adds location-based Wikipedia content to the camera lens of real-world places. As the website says, “Users may hold the phone’s camera against a spectacular mountain range and see the names and heights displayed as overlay mapped with the mountains in the camera.”
What Does the Future Hold?
We can’t answer that question, but we can definitely predict that AR will become something you start to hear a lot more about this year. And if you’re looking to build your own AR applications and devices, check out this ARToolKit for more information and resources.
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- WebEx on iPhone: Attend Meetings from the Golf Course
- Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:08:20 +0000 -
Web meetings. Love them or hate them they’re pretty much ubiquitous these days. You may even been ready to head out for an early weekend, when you receive the dreaded email with subject line, “mandatory WebEx meeting.” What a buzz kill, right?
Well now with Cisco WebEx Meeting Center, you can pop out early and still pop into your web-based meeting, making your boss or client feel like your first priority when you’re actually out on the golf course.
The WebEx iPhone app is free and offers pretty much all the same features you would expect from the web-based version. Meeting attendees can simply access the WebEx via an iPhone join link in the meeting invitation.
Once you’re in, you can view content, which includes documents, applications, and screen shares with annotations, from any computer. You can also see who has joined the meeting, participate in individual or group chat, and adjust audio. I’m so impressed with the application’s offerings that I really want to be invited to a WebEx meeting just so I can see it in full force. Got anything good I can join?
So next time you’re running a tad late to the office and are stressing about hitting traffic, re-evaluate your options and consider taking that meeting while relaxing in bed with your pajamas on. The app, however, doesn’t support scheduling meetings from the iPhone, so you while to tear yourself away from your bed and bust out your laptop for that activity.
More Resources From Mashable
-12 Tools For Kickass Web Meetings
-5 Web 2.0 Businesses That Will Thrive in a Down Economy
-Top 30 iPhone Apps for Organization and Productivity
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- FOLLOW FAIL: The Top 10 Reasons I Will Not Follow You in Return on Twitter
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:08:52 +0000 -
Atherton Bartelby is a Brooklyn-based graphic designer, art director, writer, blogger, and photographer. He authors a blog at Curious Affairs.
We’ve all been there: You’re at a party hosted by that one fabulous friend, and populated with the best of your mutual circle of friends. The atmosphere is almost carbonated with excitement; the guests’ personalities flawlessly compliment each other; and the conversations that abound are infused with intelligence, caustic wit, and a wide variety of knowledge that ensures the complete absence of any pregnant, awkward pauses. Then, it happens: someone appears who just doesn’t…fit.
A similar phenom happens on Twitter. You’re having conversations with your established Twitter friends, you’re broadcasting useful information, news, or links to your followers, and you’re “engaging your Tribe,” etc., when suddenly, someone begins following you who, much like that previously referenced party guest, just doesn’t fit. This is the person whose follow on Twitter you simply cannot bring yourself to return. This is the follow fail.
Run any number of searches on Google or Alexa and you will arrive at a veritable host of articles offering endless lists of tips on “how to get more followers on Twitter.” What you will not find are lists compiled by Twitter “power users” regarding the major reasons why they will or will not return a Twitter follower’s follow when it happens, and this is my gift to you: “The Top Ten Reasons Why *I* Will Not Follow You In Return On Twitter.”
1. You have no user avatar
…or your user avatar is neither a personalized photograph nor reflective of a brand.
More important than whether or not your Twitter profile background is “designed” is how you choose to present yourself in that seemingly insignificant 48×48 pixel square. If that square is empty, impersonal, or otherwise lacking any qualities that will immediately allow me to visually associate it with you, that is an immediate Follow Fail. If I am going to build a Twitter relationship with you, I want to see you, or your brand, and not, however humorous I may find it, a screen capture of a magical leoplurodon.
2. You list no location, no website, or no bio
Clearly, Twitter is all about brevity. So how difficult is it to provide a few additional characters of information that may offer potential followers more impetus to follow you in return? I’ve returned countless follows from users whose Twitter streams I’ve found “meh,” but whose listed blogs, sites, or portfolios were too amazing to not follow, or whose 160-character bios were too humorous/intriguing to pass up, or who were in the same city as me and therefore potential project collaborators.
These fields take two seconds to populate; it would behoove you to take those two seconds to populate them.
3. Your “website” listed is a MySpace profile
…or, far worse, an AngelFire “page.”
I’ll admit it: I had a MySpace profile…until I deleted it a year ago when it became obvious that only teenagers and musicians were still using it. I also had a GeoCities/AngelFire “page”…for my very first website when I first got on the Internet in 1994. If the Twitter user in question happens to be an actual teenager, or musician whose MySpace presence truly works for them, then fine. But I tend to pass over those users whose proffered web presence is, well, clearly doing it wrong.
It doesn’t take much these days to establish a web presence that seems genuine and thoughtful, and appears to intend to attract and build an online community based on the content it provides. AngelFire pages simply don’t communicate that.
4. You’re following over 1,000 users, have 20 followers, and no updates
…or, worse, one update that includes a shamefully ill-constructed mention of Jason Calacanis.
Who, aside from those running Twitter apps that automatically follow and unfollow followers, would add these Twitter users? While I may every so often and uncharacteristically give these users a chance, simply to see what sort of content, if any, they may eventually provide, the gratuitous mention of any higher-profile Twitterer or web-famous personality means little more to me than that you were properly able to spell “Calacanis” or “Kawasaki.”
5. Your profile features any variation of “Internet expert”
…or “social media expert” and you have very few and/or insubstantial updates.
While I generally loathe any mention of the word “expert” in a Twitter bio, it is particularly egregious when paired with a Twitter stream of only five updates, or one with a plethora of updates that make me question your “expert” status. You’re an “expert” who is only now tweeting about a Twitter app that everyone else was tweeting about two months ago? How awesome for you! #instantfollowfail
6. Your updates clearly indicate that your Twitter activity is always, only, about pushing your own service/product
So, you have decided to use Twitter as an online marketing tool in order to sell your amazing service and/or product, and you make this glaringly obvious. I find this fabulous, because not only must this tactic be working for you, but it also allows me to immediately decide whether or not I want to follow you in return.
Since I do not use Twitter in this manner, I rarely follow any of these users in return, unless said product or service genuinely piques my interest/desire to support it.
7. Your following and my return follow result in a poorly-constructed auto-DM reading, “Thx for the follow! How can I help you get to a 4-Hour Work Week?”
I’ve several Twitter friends who employ the automatic direct message tool upon any new follows, but their messages are carefully crafted and, well, thoughtful, and go far beyond the garden variety “click my junk” automatic direct message. As I am an intelligent, savvy, thinking Twitter user, I am more than capable of reading all about how you can help me get to a 4-hour work week by consulting your Twitter stream, Twitter background, or website. An impersonal automatic direct message from you along these lines does not impress me, it insults my intelligence.
8. Your most recent updates make references to any need to achieve “more Twitter followers”
…or “enough new followers to reach 10,000 followers by midnight!”
For me, Twitter is not a shallow popularity contest, it is about forging interesting connections and conversations with other people. My Twitter followers are far more to me than a simple follower count: they are friends, they are colleagues, they are collaborators, they are peers, and they are sources. To follow someone in return whose only intent is clearly to acquire more followers would be to devalue the esteem with which I hold my other followers.
9. Your Twitter stream indicates a propensity for consistent arguing
…with your followers/random Twitter users/really anyone.
I am all for intelligent debate on any topic, and I’ve been lucky so far in meeting Twitter followers who are still able to politely debate about a variety of passionate topics without constant and vitriolic argumentation. If your Twitter stream is filled with nothing but mean-spirited opinions and argumentation that only advance your own beliefs and allow no consideration of others’ views, then my Twitter stream is definitely not for you.
10. You do not engage your Twitter followers
Probably the most important reason why I will not return your follow, though, is if it is glaringly obvious that you do not engage your Twitter followers. Here I suppose I need to make a distinction between those Twitter users who use Twitter to broadcast their content, as opposed to everyone else; these broadcasters, in my experience, are generally the ones who are followed, not those who are following.
Obviously, engaging their followers is not a priority. Twitter is a major platform in social networking and social media, and they aren’t called “social” networking and “social” media for nothing. There are other people out there, and if you are not engaging or interacting with those users who take the time to follow you for whatever reason, that is a huge follow fail in my book.
The three tenets
My list isn’t perfect, and it is definitely personal and therefore biased, but it is a start toward exploring the differences between a successful Twitter follow attempt and an outright follow fail. In the end, and to return to those previously referenced lists of “how to get more followers on Twitter,” I think there are really only three tenets that should be followed should you desire to build a successful and quality Twitter network:
1. Present a cohesive personal brand, or, if presenting a brand is too much for you, simply present a cohesive sense of yourself
2. Always be consistent in your use of Twitter, i.e., become known for the unique ways in which you use Twitter, and stick with what works for you
3. Engage with your network. Genuine engagement with your network of followers will ultimately ensure that your mobile number is retained, and not “lost,” at the end of that fabulous party, and it will ensure that you don’t (too often) commit any serious follow fails.
What do you consider follow fails? Tell us below in the comments.
Atherton Bartelby is a Brooklyn-based graphic designer, art director, writer, blogger, and photographer. An observer by nature, he enjoys studying the fascinating intricacies of interpersonal relationships, the design and media industries, and Internet culture, and faithfully records his observations in his blog, Curious Affairs.
Interested in more Twitter resources? Check these out:
- “HOW TO: Build Community on Twitter”
- “HOW NOT TO: Build Your Twitter Community”
- “HOW TO: Win Friends and Twinfluence People”
- “The 10 Users You’ll Meet on Twitter”
Imagery courtesy of iStockPhoto, cwlawrence, swilmor, Sveta
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- New Tool: Sync FriendFeed Comments With Disqus
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:11:23 +0000 -
Carter Rabasa of Cubanlinks.org has created a must-try tool for FriendFeed users looking to sync comments on their websites or blog posts (via Disqus) with the corresponding entries on FriendFeed. The alpha version of the tool is a javascript client that requires a download, but the just released FriendFeed/Disqus Comment Sync v.2 is a hosted version (no download required) that automatically syncs comments across both platforms every hour.
To set it up, start here. Enter your Disqus API key (or click the available link to get it), select the correct site for syncing, add your FriendFeed name and remote key, chose between one way sync options or a full sync, and save. That’s it. From now on every time someone comments on your blog post, the same comment will appear on the matching thread of the FriendFeed entry and vice versa.
I just set up the full sync between my blog and Disqus, and the sync seemed to work without a hitch. Now my blog entries will definitely get noticed on FriendFeed when someone comments on my blog. Given that FriendFeed’s algorithm incorporates comments and likes to determine popularity, the ability to sync between platforms is fantastic tool for helping bloggers get the maximum attention and recognition from all FriendFeeders and Non-FriendFeeders alike. It kind of seems like the FriendFeed Comments Wordpress plug-in might be obsolete now.
Additional FriendFeed Resources From Mashable
- Top 10 Web Applications for Friendfeed
- HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Friendfeed
- 7 Desktop Applications for Friendfeed
- 7 Essential Greasemonkey Scripts for Friendfeed
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- MySpace to Shutdown Flektor?
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:42 +0000 -
Flektor, the slideshow creation tool that MySpace acquired in 2007, might be on the chopping block. A source close to the company tells us that employees were informed in a meeting today that Flektor is being dissolved as of this Friday.
The acquisition of Flektor made a lot of sense back at the peak of widget mania. MySpace was a huge outlet for posting widgets, and by acquiring Flektor, they’d also be a leading destination for creating them. At the time, we wrote: “[Flektor] allows everything from photo hosting, slideshow, video editing, web cam broadcasting (ala UStream), in-stream quizzes and polls as well as IM and media storage. For something that tries to be so much, they do fairly good job at it.”
Alas, in 2009, it’s all about identity management (MySpaceID) for third-party websites and in-house application platforms. Thus, as MySpace attempts to cut costs along with everyone else in the new media industry, eliminating Flektor wouldn’t be a huge surprise to us, though we’d expect the technology to still be used in some capacity, perhaps as integrated applications on MySpace (the company’s slideshow and poll apps can already be found there).
We’ve asked MySpace for comment and will update when we hear something.
Update (12:20PT): Another source confirms the rumor, noting that the changes are part of a broader plan to integrate Flektor technology on MySpace. Additionally, the source says that “most” employees will still have jobs with the company.
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- Sans Steve Jobs, Twitter Still Can’t Handle MacWorld
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:50:47 +0000 -
Last year Steve Jobs’ MacWorld keynote put Twitter to bed. This year, even in the absence of Jobs, Twitter still can’t seem to handle the pressure of the buzz worthy event.
If you’re like us, you probably noticed that Twitter stopped updating around 10:30am PT. Instead of fail whales swimming across Twitter streams the world round, we’re noticing that things “appear” normal even though updates have come to a complete standstill.
Twitter is obviously aware of the malfunction, and they’re hopefully doing everything they can to restore service. Meanwhile, the keynote is over, Twitter is dead silent, and FriendFeed is still alive and kicking, no downtime, no sad status message.
Thanks for the update Twitter, but you had a whole year to prepare for this event. Shame on you.
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- Picasa Better Than iPhoto? Not Anymore
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:04:01 +0000 -
Today’s MacWorld keynote by Phil Schiller introduced massive improvements to the iLife suite of products. In iLife ‘09, iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band are all getting performance and functionality makeovers.
Perhaps, most notably, is the introduction of built-in support for online services Facebook and Flickr in iPhoto ‘09. We think the annoucement pretty much trumps yesterday’s release of Picasa for Mac.
The Facebook and Flickr integration is an exciting new addition to the product that will make iPhoto the dynamic photo sharing application it should be. Now, users who upgrade can automatically send their photos to Facebook and Flickr within iPhoto. As soon as you post new photos of friends to Facebook, notifications are also immediately sent to your tagged friends.
With Flickr, when you share your new photos, locations are shown on Flickr photo maps. Given that the new iPhoto also has three additional much needed features - Face Detection, Face Recognition, and Places - tagging faces, names, and places in iPhoto for online sharing turns into an almost completely automated process.
iPhoto ‘09 also adds new slideshow themes, smart albums, the ability to auto-create titles, transitions, and credits, and even a Places feature for animated travel maps that uses GPS geotagging. Given that iLife comes standard on all new Macs and is just $79 to upgrade ($169 if you upgrade both iLife and iWork), we think you might want to place your order now, despite the fact that it won’t ship until later this month.
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- Apple Reveals New iTunes Pricing Structure
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:48:44 +0000 -
Apple has confirmed the rumors that iTunes will be moving to a variable pricing structure. Top tracks will carry a $1.29 price point, while other, less popular songs will be available at $0.99 and $0.69. Along with the new price points, all tracks on iTunes will be DRM-free by April.
So who are these changes good for? For one, the record labels, which stand to make more money on releases from expensive, top 40-type artists. Meanwhile, as I wrote last night, the drop in prices is good for consumers whose musical tastes fall more into the long tail of iTunes’ huge music catalog. But, for the millions of people who fuel downloads of iTunes’ most popular tracks, this change marks a 30% price increase, which, adds up to a lot of money on an annual basis.
Another footnote to add to the DRM-free iTunes store: as Ben Drury, CEO of 7Digital points out to us in an email, “Downloads from iTunes are still in the AAC file format regardless of whether they are DRM-free … the AAC file format is only compatible with iPods/iPhones and a limited number of other devices. So consumers who buy downloads from iTunes are still restricted to where they can play that music regardless of whether it’s DRM free or not.”
While that only effects a very small subset of iTunes users, it is an interesting piece of fine print on news that will be viewed by many as the signal of the death of DRM.
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- No, Steve Jobs Didn’t Die; Just More Hacking
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:02:01 +0000 -
Another day, and another hacking event has Twitter abuzz. With hundreds of people live blogging and tweeting the Macworld keynote, one of the more bizarre items to pop up so far is the “Steve Jobs just died” meme. While rumors of Jobs’ demise were mostly squashed yesterday when the Apple CEO issued an official statement regarding his health, with so many people tuned into MacWorld coverage, the timing was enough to let the rumor spread, at least for a few minutes.
Apparently, the site MacRumorsLive.com was hacked, and the perpetrators posted the comment into their live stream. Meanwhile, on Twitter, the @macrumors account has been suspended due to suspicious activity. This is on the heels of yesterday’s Twitter hacking, where the accounts of Barack Obama, Britney Spears, and other prominent users were all compromised and littered with bizarre messages.
So yes, Steve Jobs is alive and well. Expect the ridiculous rumors of his demise to quickly be replaced by outpourings of joy should the icon make a surprise appearance before the keynote is over.
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- Report: LiveJournal on Life Support
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:09:52 +0000 -
LiveJournal, one of the longest-running online communities, is apparently being hit harder by the recession than most. The company has reportedly laid off 20 of 28 employees, “leaving only a handful of finance and operations workers.”
The blogging site has gone through several changes in ownership since its inception, first being acquired by Six Apart, who then sold it to the Russian media company SUP in late 2007. Unlike competitors Automattic and Six Apart, LiveJournal is a completely hosted blogging solution, blending blogging with social networking features, and the vast majority of its blogs take the form of personal diaries as opposed to more professional, topical writing.
While LiveJournal execs are apparently blaming the slowdown in the economy and ad spending, stats point to an overall decline in interest in the medium. Both LiveJournal and competitor Xanga have seen their traffic decline over the past two years, as social networks like Facebook and MySpace have come to dominate the demographics that the blogging sites target.
Here is LiveJournal’s statement regarding the layoffs:
“LiveJournal Inc. today announced a restructuring of their US and Russian operations to more effectively manage costs in light of the global economic downturn.
LiveJournal Inc.’s headquarters , technical operations (and servers,) legal, administration and the customer service teams will remain in the United States. LiveJournal’s global product development and design will now be coordinated out of its Moscow office. The pooling of resources between the US and Russia will allow the company to build a stronger business model, well positioned to guarantee the long-term success of LiveJournal.
As a result of these changes Matthew Berardo, VP and General Manager of LiveJournal Inc., will be leaving the company along with other valued colleagues. Mr Berardo has played the leading role in consolidating product and design effort to enable the business to more effectively streamline costs during his tenure. LiveJournal Inc. will now be led jointly by Stephanie Gravelle, currently LiveJournal Inc.’s director of finance and administration and Sergei Komarov, currently CTO of SUP (the owners of LiveJournal).”
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- 15 Free Tools to Turn Your BlackBerry into a Communications Powerhouse
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:44:12 +0000 -
When people think of the BlackBerry, they tend to think of it only in terms of enterprise users. Over the past few years it has become much more than that; a device that is easily accessible to anyone for any number of uses. One of the biggest trends on the device has been easing communication.
Be it in the form of Instant messaging or social networking, there are plenty of free tools out there for you to use to stay in touch with anyone from anywhere. Use these 15 free tools to turn your BlackBerry into a communications powerhouse.
What are some of your favorite ways to communicate on the BlackBerry?
Instant Messengers
AIM - The old guard instant messenger of AIM is available for various models of BlackBerry and includes picture messaging inside of chat, avatars, emoticons, instant login and more.
Google Talk - Google brings their popular instant messenger to the BlackBerry with features such as changing your status, chat logging just like the desktop version, buddy pictures and everything else you could hope for.
ICQ - A favorite of the technical elite for years, ICQ for the BlackBerry gives you the ability to run several chats at once, near real-time updates on which friends are online auto-login and several other features.
Windows Live Messenger - Windows Live Messenger for the BlackBerry allows you to add, delete and block contacts, customize your status message, participate in multiple chats and a bevy of other features.
Yahoo Messenger - Yahoo’s entry into the BlackBerry instant messaging market allows you to view your current contacts list, add avatars, use emoticons and the usual line-up of features.
Social Networking
Facebook - Facebook for the BlackBerry gives you easy photo sharing for models of the phone with a camera, updates on your mail and wall messages. Also send pokes and a heck of a lot more.
Flickr - The perfect application for models of the BlackBerry with a camera, Flickr will allow you to directly upload your photos, resize, tag and even geotag the image if your unit has GPS.
MySpace - The BlackBerry MySpace application allows you to read email and bulletins, change your mood, add comments, post photos and an assortment of other features.
Miscellaneous
Cellity - Cellity is an app that allows you to make calls at cheaper rates, offers reduced fees for text messages, microblogging and more.
iSkoot - iSkoot is a third-party application that gives you full control over your Skype account. You can chat with your contacts, make Skype-to-Skype calls, and even use Skype Out to call international phone numbers, all via your BlackBerry.
LogicMail - LogicMail bring IMAP and POP email support to the BlackBerry. You can also send email via SMTP and view images in mail. Provides support for IMAP folders and a whole lot more.
ShoZu - ShoZu allows you to interact with numerous sites such as Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, LiveJournal, Blogger and a whole slew more. Available features vary by service.
Twitterberry - How could you talk about communications on any device without bringing up the ubiquitous Twitter? Enter new messages, get replies, send direct messages, check the timeline and more.
Vlingo - While not a communication app in and of itself, Vlingo is a voice command app that will allow you to speak your text messages instead of having to type them off. Also allows you to voice control other selected applications.
YouMail - While not exactly an application, YouMail is a third-party service that allows you to get new services in your voicemail such as the ability to download, forward, look up missed calls and several other features.
Interested in more BlackBerry Resources?
- “20 BlackBerry Mobile Apps for Organization and Productivity”
- “7 Great Resources for BlackBerry Applications”
- “BlackBerry Toolbox: Themes for Your BlackBerry“
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- iTunes Rumored to be Dropping DRM; Jacking Up Pop Music Prices
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:04:04 +0000 -
On the eve of Macworld, one hot rumor making the rounds is that Apple is set to announce a deal with three of the major record labels to make all tracks on iTunes DRM-free. In exchange, the service would introduce more variable pricing on music, with current hit songs carrying a higher price than older and less popular music.
According to CNET, the move would include both music added to iTunes going forward as well as tracks already on the service, from labels Sony BMG, Warner Music, Universal, and EMI (who already has DRM-free tracks on iTunes). While DRM has long been a hot button issue, one has to wonder if the trade-off of higher prices will be worth it to the majority of users.
iTunes, which publishes a list of its 100 most popular tracks at any given time, is dominated by popular, current music. Naturally, that means raising the prices on these tracks will be immediately obvious to tons of users, who might not necessarily think (or even understand the benefits of) DRM-free music is worth paying additional fees for.
Of course, they also might not realize that there are competitors – like Amazon – that offer both DRM-free and a 99 cent (or lower) price point. That said, if pop music isn’t your thing, the changes might be good for your wallet. According to CNET’s report, prices on the long tail of the catalog could drop to 79 cents.
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:iTunes’ DRM-free Music Now AvailableIndependent Labels Added to iTunes Plus DRM-Free TracksIs iTunes Losing All its Music? Warner May Follow Universal’s LeadFree iTunes at StarbucksApple Reveals New iTunes Pricing StructureMusic Industry Looks to Build Its Own iTunes CompetitorMoshable: Great Name, How’d Ya Think Of It?
- Picasa for Mac; Better Than iPhoto?
- Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:37:15 +0000 -
Google’s blog is announcing the release of Picasa for Mac at MacWorld. Even though they’ve previously released a Picasa Web Albums uploader and iPhone plug-in, the full-featured free software offers Mac users a way to edit, upload, and share video and images, surpassing iPhoto in feature set and maybe even usability.
You’re probably thinking, “I’m already using iPhoto, so what’s the big deal?” That was certainly my first thought too, but then I downloaded the software to test it out, and I changed my tune a bit. Picasa for Mac pulls in images and videos stored anywhere on your hard drive, lets you edit and tweak, save changes, and of course upload them to Picasa.
Picasa for Mac, which is still a Google Labs application (meaning it’s not perfect), has a feature set that is pretty darn extensive — it would be almost impossible to list them all — but some cool things you might like include the ability to filter by stared images, images with faces, and movies. You can also batch edit photos, create collages and movie clips, publish to Blogger, take video snapshots, one-click upload to YouTube, and a whole lot more.
And even if you’re not ready to chuck iPhoto out the window (I know I’m certainly not), you can still use both tools side by side. In fact, Picasa for Mac lets you run both applications without overwriting changes to your iPhoto library. iPhoto library images, within the Picasa software, are treated as read-only, so any photo adjustments will create a separate copy of the original image.
For more information on Picasa for Mac, watch this short video provided by Google:
More Resources From Mashable
-90+ Online Photography Tools Resources
-30+ Mobile Photo Sharing Tools
-50+ iPhone Apps to Enhance Your Photo and Video Experience
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:Google Adds Picasa Images to SearchPicasa Slideshows Won’t RockYouFlickr Adds Batch PrintingPicasa Web Albums Isn’t a Flickr-KillerGoogle Talk Gadget GoodnessGoogle Finally Starts Indexing BloggeriFilm-SpikeTV, Lyro, Scanr, Picasa API, RealEditor, GeoRSS, Glimpse.com, Photobucket
- 7 Secrets to Getting Your Next Job Using Social Media
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:30:24 +0000 -
Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog.
Between current economic conditions and the technological evolution of the Internet, the traditional approach most job seekers have taken in the past is no longer viable.
The approach — developing a resume and cover letter, locating jobs on and submitting your resume to corporate sites and job banks, and crossing your fingers in hopes of receiving a call from a hiring manager — is, for the most part, a thing of the past. The new approach is far different. It boils down to the fact that there are fewer jobs available, more competition for those jobs and more touch points for recruiters and seekers to interact.
The current environment
In 2008, there were 1.2 million job losses, unemployment is currently at 6.5%, and the largest companies are shedding as much as 10% of their workforces. There will be 1.5 million college graduates this year, yet the job growth rate is at a six year low, at 1.3%! The amount of jobs posted online is decreasing at over 13%, which has all led to the ratio of 3.3 job seekers per each job.
Social networks are starting to become part of the criteria that both hiring managers and college admissions officers are using to weed out applicants. One in five hiring managers conduct background checks using social networks (primarily Facebook), while one in ten college admissions officers do the same.
It’s time for you to be open-minded and think differently about how you’re going to get your next job and keep it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t submit your resume to job banks, corporate websites, vertical job agents (Simply Hired/Indeed) or attend job fairs, but these should only consume 10% of your time. The other 90% should be concentrated on the following seven social media secrets, which will not only get you a job, but help you create your own dream job!
1. Conduct a people search instead of a job search
The majority of jobs aren’t posted online. Hiring managers get a list of employee referral candidates before they even bother to view resumes from those who submit them online. Sometimes the listed jobs aren’t available or never existed in the first place. Many studies have noted that 80% of jobs are taken through networking, but few have sought to use the web to search and locate people they would actually enjoy working for at companies that they get excited about.
The 3-step people search:
1. Identify the top five companies that you would like to work for.
Use a focused approach instead of flooding thousands of inboxes with spam. You want to brand yourself, not just as the person of best fit for a job, but as someone who is eager and ecstatic to work for the company.
2. Use search engines to track employees that currently work there.
There are over 130 million blogs in Technorati and you can search through them to possibly find someone who works at one of your top five companies. You can search through corporate groups, pages and people on Facebook. You can even do the same on Twitter. Then there are people search engines such as pipl, peek you, and wink. Once you find a contact name, try googling it to see if there is any additional information about that person.
3. Connect with the person directly.
Social media has broken down barriers, to a point where you can message someone you aren’t friends with and don’t have contact information for, without any hassles. Before you message a target employee, realize that they receive messages from people asking for jobs all the time and that they might not want to be bothered on Facebook, where their true friends are. As long as you’ve done your homework on the company and them, tailor a message that states who you are and your interest, without asking for a job at first. Get to know them and then by the 3rd or 4th messages, ask if there is an available opportunity.
2. Use attraction-based marketing to get job offers
The traditional way of searching for a job was proactive, forcing you to start a job that you might not have enjoyed. The new approach is about building a powerful personal brand and attracting job opportunities directly into your doorstep. How do you do this? You become a content producer instead of just a consumer and the number one way to do that on the web is to launch a blog that centers around both your expertise and passions.
You need to be passionate to be committed to this project because it requires a lot of writing, creativity and consistency in order for it to actually help you. A blog is a non-intrusive, harmless and generous way of getting recruiters interested in your brand, without you even asking for a job! Make the recruiters fall in love with you and only send you opportunities that are related to your blog content, so you end up happy in the end.
This works a lot and is expected for new-age marketing jobs that require experience in social media and can even help you jump-start a new business off of your blog platform. By pulling recruiters into your world, you are able to impress them with what you want them to see and they can make a quick decision whether to hire you or not, without you hearing about rejection. Start a blog today using Wordpress.com (for beginners) or install Wordpress.org onto your own host (such as GoDaddy or Bluehost).
3. Be proactive on Twitter
Twitter has become the ultimate utility to connect directly with recruiters and employees at companies you want to work for. By conducting Twitter searches, following recruiters on your account and using the “@” sign to communicate with them on occasion, you will start to learn a lot about them and their companies.
Before you follow anyone on Twitter, you HAVE TO have a completed profile. This means, you should have a short bio, the location where you’re from, a link to a site that recruiters can go to for more information (I recommend your blog or your LinkedIn profile) and an avatar of yourself (not a clown or Homer Simpson please). This way, you stand a better chance of securing an opportunity or a relationship with people who care enough to read your profile.
Most people get jobs on Twitter by already having hundreds or thousands of followers. For example, I’ve heard of at least ten people getting a job by tweeting “just got laid off, looking for a job in finance” and then receiving a few direct messages with people who want to help them. Of course, these individuals had built trust, credibility and relationships with their followers over time, so they were more inclined to come to their rescue. You can do the same, just start right now!
4. Capitalize on LinkedIn
It’s no surprise that LinkedIn has been extremely profitable and successful as of late. Recruiters are starting to use LinkedIn as the main place for sourcing candidates because it’s free and the top professionals are on there. Many people don’t use LinkedIn to the best of their ability and fail to complete their entire profile, such that it says “100% complete.”
Just like any other search engine recruiters are using, keywords are extremely important. You want to fill out your entire profile, just like you would a resume, but include the same avatar you are using on Twitter (see above) and ensure that the summary section is complete. You’ll also want to get at least one recommendation from a supervisor or friend, which will give you a “1″ next to a “thumbs up” graphic when people search for you.
Then, you should import all your contacts from Outlook, Gmail, etc, so that you can start to build your network or grow your existing network. The more people you’re connected to the better because you’re only able to reach other people in your network (1st, 2nd & 3rd degrees) by having these connections. You may want to pay for a premium account, so you can contact other recruiters that may help you. Finally, you should conduct searches on there for jobs that you may be interested in and reach out to those individuals that may supply you with an interview or referral.
5. Advertise your brand using AdWords and Facebook Social Ads
Google AdWords is Google’s advertising platform, which offers CPC (cost-per-click) and CPI (cost-per-impression) pricing for advertisements on Google and partner sites. Some of their partner sites are newspapers, radio and TV.
Before running your advertisement, you need a landing page. If you have a website or blog, then use the resume page within it to display through advertising. This works beautifully because recruiters can see that single resume page and notice all the other pages/options on your website, to get a better sense of your brand.
Here’s how to create your ad:
Title. When you create your ad, label yourself as a specialist, expert or guru on the title tag. You might want to state the fact that it’s your resume first.
Description. In the next two description tags, pull out your biggest achievements in 6 words or less and list your personal brand statement or a few descriptors.
URL. For your URL, don’t use the URL for your resume page. Instead use yourname.com for personal branding purposes. Drop the “www” from the domain you want to promote because it’s unnecessary.
Facebook Social Ads allow businesses and individuals to advertise using Facebook’s news feed or left rail (will change to 2 ad spots on the right when the new interface swaps over). This program works similar to Google’s but you can use a picture and it’s more “word-of-mouth friendly” because ads travel through the news feed of friends.
Here’s how to create your ad:
Title. What is the ad for? The title is the most important piece of your ad because it has the most “text” emphasis. I would say “I want to work for <insert company name>” or “Resume for <insert position type>.” Try and be as specific as you can.
Picture. Just like your Facebook picture, don’t use a picture that you wouldn’t want shown to your future employer. I would go for a professional yet personal picture.
Description. Don’t write your resume, but instead give the viewer a quick description of who you are, what you do and what job you want in 25 words.
Once you create your ad, either link it to your Facebook page, LinkedIn profile or blog/website. These ads are all about targeting a specific group that would care about your resume or hiring you for that matter. When you select your target audience, keep your major in mind, as well as the company and location.
6. Construct a video resume and upload it to YouTube
A search for “video resume” on YouTube will give you over 1,700 results. Many video resumes are good, while others are so amateur and rehearsed that they subtract from a given candidates marketing program. The key with a video resume is that very few people have actually created one, so they serve as a differentiator in the recruiting process.
A good video resume is short, describes the value you can contribute to a given position, explains why you’re the best person for the job and talks about your background in a story-like format. If you aren’t a person with an outgoing and lively personality, then don’t bother creating one. Since you’re filming yourself, don’t rush because you can always try it a hundred times before you upload the final version to YouTube.
7. Subscribe to blogs that have job listings
We all subscribe to blogs to receive information based on our interests, at least I hope. Over time we rely on these sources for information to keep us updated on what is happening in certain industries or different trends that are developing. In the past few years, the larger blogs have started to integrate job banks into their own websites, using software/hosting from companies such as Job-a-matic.
Blogs that have taken this approach include Guy Kawasaki’s blog, GigaOM, and Jeremiah Owyang’s Web Strategy Blog.
Other blogs, such as Darren Rowse’s Problogger Blog offer blogging jobs, and Mashable has a job board highlighting jobs in social media and tech.
This targeting will save you from hours searching and help escort you to jobs that you’d actually want.
Integrate the traditional and social media approach
These seven secrets are extremely important in your next job search. The most successful job searches come from those who have already built up strong networks, both online and off. You need to integrate this new-age approach with the traditional approach you’ve already been using, in order to be consistent, so there are no surprises from the recruiter’s perspective. They want the candidate they see on paper or online.
I would recommend that you use a link to your blog, LinkedIn profile and YouTube video resume on your traditional resume. You’ll also want to link your existence on all social networks together. You need to be where recruiters are searching, as well as become a content producer so you can attract them directly to you. That is how you have a successful job search and stand out for years to come.
Interested in more personal branding & career resources?
- “Career Toolbox: 100+ Places to Find Jobs Online”
- “10 Ways Personal Branding Can Save You From Getting Fired”
- “HOW TO: Get the Most Out of LinkedIn”
- “Twitter, Facebook, Digg: Can You Join Too Many Networks?”
Imagery courtesy of iStockphoto, peepo, FugeSpot
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:Facebook Search Code LeakedGoogle Deletes Facebook Secrets BlogFrank Warren’s A Lifetime of Secrets of PostSecretNext Up on Authors @ Mashable Series - Frank Warren of PostSecretAuthors at Mashable2.0 Moniker Jumps The Shark: Food 2.0A PostSecret Guide to Going Viral (Authors @ Mashable)
- Reading Trails: A Visual Way to Find New Books to Read
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:29:34 +0000 -
As an aficionado of great literature - I was an English major in college - I’m always on the look out for a great read. My current strategy for discovering novels and novelties is to park myself in a bookstore aisle and scour through classics I’ve always wanted to read. This particular methodology can be quite enjoyable, but it’s not an incredibly effective way of finding more than one book at a time. So where I do a turn for a more scintillating and satisfying book finding system?
Enter Reading Trails, a new social network that takes a fresh approach to finding books online. The site lets you piece your book breadcrumbs together to create a trail, for example, “Fairytales with a twist.” User trails are connected through intersections, which are just books that are shared across multiple trails.
To get started with the site you can either view existing trails or create your own. Trails are user-defined, and allow for adding books, descriptions, and tags. Once more and more books are added to trails, you’ll start to discover where your literary interests intersect with other users. Finding those intersections can be a pretty handy tool for discovering must new reads or passed over diamonds in the rough.
With Reading Trails you can also create widgets from trails, purchase books through Amazon or Abebooks, find books at a library, write reviews on books in other trails, and share trails across various social sites. And if you’re looking to follow in the footsteps of literary professionals, you can browse the trails of established authors and professors handpicked by the Reading Trails teams.
See Also: 50+ Sites for Book Lovers
- NYC Job Seekers: Mashable New Year Networking, January 15th
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:27:02 +0000 -
Mashable’s New Year Networking event takes place on January 15th: come join, mingle and possibly find a job!
As part of the event, we are offering two free tickets and a free Mashable Job Board posting to any company hiring in January. For more information on this offer, please send a short description of the job being offered and the company name to newyearnetworking |at| mashable . com
With great networking, complimentary Peroni Italian Beer (while supplies last) and the company of Mashable readers, it’ll be a cozy gathering to welcome in 2009.
Thanks to Peroni for supplying beverages. Two sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact newyearnetworking |at| mashable . com for more information.
Tickets are now on sale and there are only 150 public tickets remaining for advance purchase.
Mashable’s New Year NYC Networking
Where: 212 Restaurant & Bar, 133 East 65th Street, NYC
When: Thursday, January 15th from 7 pm – 10 pm
Cost: Early Bird ($10), Regular ($15) and Door Pricing ($20)
Tickets: Through Eventbrite, 21+ Only
Socialize: Tell your friends and mingle on the Facebook event page
Mashable: Join Tamar Weinberg, Adam Hirsch, Sharon Feder, Brett Petersel and more…
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:Stats: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Social NetworkingAd Revenue Estimates for Social Networks Take a DiveThe Daily Poll: Are You Suffering from Social Networking Fatigue?The Xing ThingFacebook to Make $100 Million+ in 2007comScore Reports 89% Increase for Facebook UsersThe Social Networking Awards 2006 - Call for Sponsors and Suggestions
- How the Famous Tweeple Got Hacked
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:19:18 +0000 -
digg_url = 'http://mashable.com/2009/01/05/how-the-famous-tweeple-got-hacked/';
digg_title = 'How the Famous Tweeple Got Hacked';
digg_bodytext = 'So how did the Twitter accounts of Barack Obama, Britney Spears, Facebook, and others get broken into and littered with inappropriate messages earlier today? It wasn’t residue from this weekend’s phishing problems, but rather, a breach of Twitter’s customer support tools. \n\nFrom the Twitter blog, “These accounts were compromised by an i';
So how did the Twitter accounts of Barack Obama, Britney Spears, Facebook, and others get broken into and littered with inappropriate messages earlier today? It wasn’t residue from this weekend’s phishing problems, but rather, a breach of Twitter’s customer support tools.
From the Twitter blog, “These accounts were compromised by an individual who hacked into some of the tools our support team uses to help people do things like edit the email address associated with their Twitter account when they can’t remember or get stuck. We considered this a very serious breach of security and immediately took the support tools offline. We’ll put them back only when they’re safe and secure.”
Yikes. On one hand, it’s good to know that Twitter was able to identify the problem and get it under control relatively fast, but on the other, who knows how many accounts could still be vulnerable. Needless to say, it’s probably a good time to change your password. Kudos to Twitter for at least being transparent about the situation.
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:No, Steve Jobs Didn’t Die; Just More HackingReddit Hacked, FixedTwitter API Wiki Hacked?Chocolate Rain: YouTube Hack, Screw Up, or Something Else?MySpace DownFamous Twitter Users Get Hacked; Who’s to Blame?MySpace’s Tom Hacked
- 10 Free Music Based Games for the iPhone & iPod Touch
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:25:14 +0000 -
digg_url = 'http://mashable.com/2009/01/05/free-iphone-music-games/';
digg_title = '10 Free Music Based Games for the iPhone & iPod Touch';
digg_bodytext = 'Music-based games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band have become wildly popular, so it only makes sense that similar games are being created for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Both devices have a plethora of gaming apps, but only a handful of those are free and based around music. Here are 10 - perfect for long hours stuck in airports, commuter trains, and';
Music-based games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band have become wildly popular, so it only makes sense that similar games are being created for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Both devices have a plethora of gaming apps, but only a handful of those are free and based around music. Here are 10 - perfect for long hours stuck in airports, commuter trains, and so on.
What are some of your favorite music-based games for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and which do you wish existed?
Aero Drum Free
While it may not be as exciting as beating the skins of an actual drum kit, Aero Drum Free will still help you work out some of your frustrations by beating out a sick rhythm. Just follow the dots to play snare, cymbal and bass drum and try to beat the scores.
As with all of the “X Game Free” versions, this is a trial version, and there are more features in the paid app. (App Store Rating: 2 stars)
Aero Guitar Free
At some point or another, everyone has “played” air guitar, but with the help of Aero Guitar Free, now you can actually feel like you are accomplishing something! This free version of the app will allow you to sample the game before you buy the full one, and will teach you the basic of up strokes, down strokes and basic tapping.
Another rhythm action game, but at least it makes you feel like you are doing more than just tapping. (App Store Rating: 2 stars)
Aero Synth Free
Ever wish you had the mad skills of a club DJ? Well, more than likely you never will, but Aero Synth Free will at least help you live out that fantasy a bit more. Tap along as the electronic music plays and keep the beat going, but if you miss one of the bubbles in the four streams, the music goes back to its original intro until you are on track again.
The side scrolling nature of this game is a bit prohibitive as your hand can hide the lower streams. (App Store Rating: 2.5 stars)
Chrimbell
There is nothing quite like the sound of bells playing along with a Christmas carol, and with Chrimbell you can reproduce that sound to go along with some old time hits. Choose from Christmas carols like “Away In A Manger” or “Jingle Bells” and then choose your bell and get to playing.
It appears it does need the built-in speaker of the iPhone or iPod Touch version 2 to work as I couldn’t get any sound on my iPod Touch 1. (App Store Rating: 2.5 stars)
Mardo’s Music Trivia - Lite Version
Who doesn’t love to test their knowledge of trivial facts? With Mardo’s Ultimate Music Trivia you can see how well you do across a whole range of musical genres from punk to country.
The lite version is very lite, but it will give you a feeling for how the full version plays and if it will even interest you. (App Store Rating: 2 stars)
rePete Lite
Harking back to the days of the Simon electronic game, rePete Lite allows you to choose a playing grid of 4, 6 or 9 light boxes and then uses lights and sound to show you the pattern you need to remember.
As with most memory games out there, watch out for the addictive factor. (App Store Rating: 2.5 stars)
synthPond Lite
A fairly complex app, synthPond Lite allows you to place different types of nodes around the screen to create synthetic music. You can change their pitch, speed and a whole lot more.
While most lite versions of games really scale back on their features, this one seems to be complete in all the right places. (App Store Rating: 2.5 stars)
Tap Tap Revenge
Have a desire to tap your iPhone or iPod Touch screen to a rhythm? Then Tap Tap Revenge is your answer. With a name obviously inspired by Japan’s mega-popular Dance Dance Revolution, the actual game play takes its cues from the addictive Guitar Hero.
While the music is generic in this version, that is what allows them to keep it being released for free. I personally find the game a bit frustrating, but then I have huge fingers and am not exactly known for my ability to keep a beat. (App Store Rating: 3 stars)
ThumbStruck Free
Compared to other rhythm-based games, ThumbStruck Live has you hitting the musical elemental balls on three bars instead of the usual one. Your thumbs will be dancing all over the board to keep up with this one.
This game definitely steps up the rhythm-based genre by requiring you to be a lot more agile and coordinated to hit all three sections of the board. (App Store Rating: 2.5 stars)
Xmas In Space: Play-a-Long Christmas Carols
Who knew they had Christmas on other planets? Well, according to Xmas In Space:Play-a-Long Christmas Carols, they do, and they have sent you a music app that allows you to play along with bells or harps to some of your favorite Christmas carols.
Though the game has no way to measure how well you did, the song mixes are cute, and the fire crackling sound is oddly comforting. (App Store Rating: 2.5 stars)
Interested in more resources? Check these out:
- “100+ iPhone Games That Use the Accelerometer”
- “12 Great Free Games for the iPhone and iPod Touch”
- “40+ Free iPhone Music Apps”
- “Top 10 Free iPhone Apps to Lose Weight”
Image courtesy of iStockPhoto, rustycloud
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:Knibble Offers Free Games for iPhoneBejeweled Optimized for the iPhoneGreystripe iPhone 3G API Lets Game Developers Earn Ad RevenueiPhone Apps: 300 Million DownloadsiPhone Smoking App: Should It Be Banned?Free iPhone Apps!Box.net Extends Your iPhone Storage
- Mashable Tech & Social Media Events Discount Guide: 2009 Edition
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:24:46 +0000 -
Here’s Mashable’s latest round-up of upcoming Web 2.0 events, parties, and conferences. For more upcoming event listings, check out Mashable’s Events section.
Not on this list? Contact us and let’s establish a media partnership.
January 11-13, 2009: Affiliate Summit West is the largest Affiliate Summit, the premier affiliate marketing conference, of the year. This three day conference includes an exhibit hall with affiliate merchants, vendors, and networks, as well as multiple tracks of educational sessions covering the latest trends and information from affiliate marketing experts. The keynote speaker for Monday, January 12 will be Gary Vaynerchuk, star of Wine Library TV and Director of Operations at Wine Library in Springfield, NJ. A 15% discount for Mashable readers is available with code MASHABLE15.
January 13, 2009, London: E.Factor hosts Commercial Opportunities in Mobile Phone Entertainment. Attend and learn more about this emerging face of advertising.
January 14, 2009, Las Vegas: Online reputation management expert and author Andy Beal will host a second one-day online reputation management “master class.” Whether you’re responsible for your company’s online brand or wish to add online reputation management services to your agency, this event is your opportunity to learn from the best in the industry. The entire workshop is limited to 24 attendees, and a $100 discount is offered to Mashable readers when you register with code mashable.
January 15, 2009, New York City: Mashable is ringing in the New Year with a networking event to warm the soul. With great networking, complimentary Peroni Italian Beer (while supplies last) and the company of Mashable readers, it’ll be a cozy gathering to welcome in 2009. At this NYC extravaganza, Mashable is offering 2 free job postings to companies looking to hire in January. The cost is $10 for early bird tickets (which are nearly halfway sold out), so sign up now. Find out more about this spectacular event on Mashable’s New Year NYC Networking Event post.
January 16-18, 2009, New York City: A group of top New York iPhone developers formed the iPhone Boot Camp NYC by creating a meetup for iPhone developers and wannabe developers. In January, iPhone Boot Camp NYC is offering three full day workshops on iPhone Development, covering basic to advanced iPhone Development. The workshops are limited to fifteen developers and the goal is to train dozens of developers, then spin off a company so each developer has a chance to work full time on the applications in a community of fellow developers. A 10% discount off the already discounted early-bird rate to Mashable readers is available using discount code mashable.
January 20-22, 2009, Mountain View, CA: Cloud Connect is the premier technology event for defining, framing, developing, and transitioning your IT portfolio into the cloud. As organizations consider cloud computing to process their business’ critical data, it is imperative they understand the platforms, applications and risks of moving traditional information out of the corporate data center and into the cloud. Cloud computing continues to gain steam, but there’s still significant ambiguity around this emerging architectural approach and about how many of your applications and how much of your data can safely and efficiently be moved to the cloud.
Through a combination of thought leadership, unconference-style sessions, hands-on learning, and real-time development, Cloud Connect attendees will address the technical and non-technical barriers to cloud computing by discussing and developing solutions of their own in real time. The event is completely free; get more information and register at www.cloudconnectevent.com.
January 21, 2009, Amsterdam: E.Factor is hosting an event entitled Following the Trend which will cover how to understand trends. Keynote speakers of the evening are Rob Wageman and Marjan Ippel.
January 28-30, 2009, Barcelona, Spain: The first ever Barcelona Search Marketing event features 3 days of meeting, networking, and workshops, with the best Spanish and worldwide Internet experts. The conference will discuss search engine optimization, marketing online, search marketing, social media and more. Get a 50% discount with code SCBandME.
January 31, 2009, San Francisco, CA: The Teens in Tech Conference is bringing youth and technology together in San Francisco. Learn from teenagers what they think about the current trends of teenage technology. Feel inspired to create technology, at a younger age at the Teens in Tech Conference. From developers, to entrepreneurs, to video-blogging, find it at the 2009 Teens in Tech Conference. Only 25 tickets are available at this discounted rate of 250 for the entire event!
February 2-4, 2008, New York City: OnMedia NYC is where cutting-edge technology CEOs from the back streets of Silicon Valley meet the global advertising and media establishment. This two-and-a-half-day executive event features CEO presentations and high-level debates on which forces are disrupting user behavior and creating new opportunities in the marketing, branding, advertising, and public relations industries. At OnMedia, our editors will also honor the OnMedia 100 Top Private Companies. Fifty of the top CEOs from the OnMedia 100 will pitch their market strategies to a panel of industry experts in our “CEO Showcase.” Mashable readers get a whopping 50% discount by using this registration link: https://alwayson.goingon.com/cart/add/30500.
February 4-5, 2009, Denver, CO: Web Directions focuses on professional development for web designers and developers, interaction designers, user experience professionals and other practitioners in the web arena, whether they work as a contractor, in a design agency, in small or large businesses, in government, education or the not-for-profit sector.
The conference features two in depth days of leading web design and development experts, an optional two days of half day intensive hands on workshops, as well as numerous networking opportunities. Whatever your or your company’s role in building or managing web sites, applications or communities, Web Directions is full of practical, valuable insights, education and inspiration. Book before December 5th for just $795 — but Mashable readers can get another $50 off, simply by using the promotional code WDN09MB.
February 4-6, 2009, New York, NY: Registration is now open for the O’Reilly Money:Tech Conference, where Wall Street meets Web 2.0 and insight turns into opportunity. Explore the new world of finance as the sharpest minds in the investment community show how new Web 2.0 applications are revolutionizing finance, and how you can profit from it, even in the face of today’s increasingly volatile market. New times demand new tools. Register Now & Save: https://en.oreilly.com/money2009/public/register. Mashable readers get a 15% off discount on top of that using code mt09msh. View the growing lineup of speakers at http://en.oreilly.com/money2009/public/schedule/speakers.
February 6-7, 2009, Orlando, FL: In today’s economy, maintaining a competitive advantage is crucial, whether you are a freelancer, or run a development shop. Using the productivity benefits of Rails helps us to stand out in the crowded space of developers and development firms. And the Rails core team hasn’t kept us wanting, adding features such as internationalization, compatibility with Ruby 1.9 and JRuby, thread safety, and much more. And if the Rails Rumble proved anything, it’s that a small team of Rails developers can accomplish a great amount with little time. So how do we as developers continue to improve how we work and what we produce? Get more information by attending the acts_as_conference.
February 6, 2009, Los Angeles, CA: Startonomics is a one-day conference aimed at equipping you with metrics and models for success. You’ll hear from veterans who’ve been there, done that, and won. Learn the hard-knock lessons and strategies that matter, whether you’re a startup exec, an investor, or an aspiring entrepreneur. Speakers include: Mark Jeffrey (Mahalo), Jim Benedetto (MySpace), Mike Jones (Tsavo) and more! Book now and get $200 off the regular price! Only 50 available and going fast!
February 9-10, 2009, San Jose, CA: User-generated content is a rapidly developing revolution in media. Average Joe internet users now wield power over online content, and businesses are adapting to respond to this trend. UGCX is the first conference and trade show organized to bring together content-trendsetters and business leaders to examine how these worlds collide and what the future holds.
Sessions within this two-day conference in San Jose, California, will focus on successful case studies and business models that are driving traffic and revenue to content sites worldwide. Mashable readers can save 15% with priority code UGCXMASH.
February 11, 2009, New York City, NY: The Online Community Unconference East is a gathering of online community professionals - managers, developers, business people, tool providers, investors - to discuss experience and strategies in the development and growth of online communities. Those involved in online community development (and social software in general) share many common challenges: community management, tools, marketing, business models, legal issues. As we have found with our past events, the best source of information on all of these challenges is other knowledgeable practitioners. See the event FAQ for more information, and when you’re ready, register with code mashable for a $20 discount.
February 12, 2009, Santa Monica, CA: The highly-anticipated Twiistup will hold their 5th and largest event to date on Thursday, February 12th at a massive hangar in Santa Monica, CA. Ten showoffs have been selected to showcase their products and services to an audience of investors, entrepreneurs, press and other influencers in tech, media and entertainment. You can find out how to apply and register for the event by clicking here.
February 12-13, 2009, Washington DC: The Center for Social Media invites established as well as aspiring filmmakers, non-profit communications leaders, funders, and students to our fifth annual Making Your Media Matter conference where we will explore the theme: Ethics, Money and Mission. How can media makers connect their ethical and aesthetic values with their financial needs? This is a perfect opportunity to learn and share cutting-edge practices for creating media that matters. Please visit the website for more information and to register. Mashable readers can use the code MSHBLEMYMM to attend the event for $75.
February 20-22, 2009, Los Angeles, CA: SCaLE is an annual open-source technical, business and users conference held in the Southern California area. SCaLE 7X will feature tutorial sessions designed to show users of all skill levels what Open Source can do and how to do it. Whatever your interest is in Open Source, SCaLE 7X will have something for you. Mashable readers save 40% with discount code mash1.
March 9-10, 2009, London: The Social Networking World Forum is the perfect event for professionals to learn and discuss the future development of social media. The two day conference and exhibition will provide a focused platform for the global social media industry. The conference aims to address core issues such as monetization, future technologies/services, engaging social groups with brands and how businesses can get the most out of social and business networks. Additionally, as part of the event, there will be a Networking Party in the evening on March 9th. Be sure to be there!
March 9-12, 2009, San Jose, CA: Registration is now open for the eighth annual O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference, O’Reilly’s flagship event for disruptive, innovative and groundbreaking thought. ETech 2009 will feature exciting program content in new areas of urban sustainability, personalized healthcare, mobile telephony and materials & mechanics. Register by January 12 and Save $300 - https://en.oreilly.com/et2009/public/register. Mashable readers get a 15% off discount on top of that using code et09mash. View the growing lineup of speakers at http://en.oreilly.com/et2009/public/schedule/speakers.
March 16-18, 2009, Orlando, FL: The Gartner Portals, Content & Collaboration Summit is the productivity-minded event focused on finding better ways to deliver resources, streamline content delivery and storage, and bring people together for greater efficiency.
Mashable.com readers will receive an exclusive $200 discount off the standard rate. Register at gartner.com/us/pccspring or call 1 866 405 2511 and reference priority code PCCMASH.
March 24-26, 2009, San Fransisco, CA: The Business of Community Networking is a best practice conference to create social networks and measure ROI of online marketing. Help your business interact, network and exchange knowledge using social media, reach new customers and make your performance soar. For $200 off the current price, use promo code DZR892 when registering.
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:Windows Live Hints at an Upcoming Events FeatureWhatsThePlan Launches Event Planning with a CommunityWevent is Flickr Plus EviteSocializer is not Affiliated with Socializr. But it Does the Same Thing.LinkedIn Events Bring Conference Networking OnlineWindows Live Spaces Takes on EviteEventsPad is a Lackluster User-Generated Event Blog
- Famous Twitter Users Get Hacked; Who’s to Blame?
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:24:08 +0000 -
Twitter is being blindsided today by a new wave of attacks, this time involving the takeover of the accounts of prominent users. Barack Obama, Britney Spears, CNN’s Rick Sanchez, Fox News, and Facebook’s official accounts are amongst those that have been targeted thus far, with each sending out an obviously fake message ranging from explicit comments to ads for online scams. Here’s what the Fox News account looked like earlier today:
The only way to conceivably execute this type of prank is to obtain the passwords needed to access the accounts being compromised. And, unless all of these famous folks had easy-to-guess passwords, it means something else is afoot. Over the weekend, a phishing scam left many ordinary Twitter users vulnerable, and it’s conceivable that the folks maintaining the impacted celebrity accounts fell for it. But, that’s not necessarily the case.
You may recall Twitterrank, the application a few months ago that some initially thought might be a phishing scam, a claim that its developers quickly refuted. While we’re not blaming Twitterank, there are so many applications out there – lacking any form of secure authentication with Twitter – that there are just lots of different ways that these passwords might have been compromised. An outright scam, a disgruntled employee, or a prank meant to prove a point? Who knows.
It’s all speculation right now, and we’re still waiting for official word from Twitter. But this type of attack is clearly going to be a huge PR nightmare as Twitter tries to lure more celebrity users, and may make users think a bit harder before blindly entering their credentials into third-party websites. That goes for services like Facebook Connect and MySpace ID too.
Update (10:35PT): Twitter has updated its status blog and indicates the situation is under control:
“A number of high-profile Twitter accounts were compromised this morning, and fake/spam updates were sent on their behalf.
We have identified the cause and blocked it. We are working to restore compromised accounts.
As a precaution, it would be prudent to reset your Twitter password and make sure email in your settings is your own.
More details to come.”
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:How the Famous Tweeple Got HackedTwitter API Wiki Hacked?No, Steve Jobs Didn’t Die; Just More HackingReddit Hacked, FixedElection Results According to TwitterMySpace’s Tom HackedNetscape Hacked
- BlogTalkRadio Relaunches; Does It Have a Future?
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:23:56 +0000 -
BlogTalkRadio, which lets anyone setup their own online radio show, is getting a laundry list of new features today. Poking around the redesign, the focus is clearly to get visitors listening to more shows. Take for example the new search results layout, where you can now play shows right on the page, subscribe to a specific keyword via RSS (i.e. – get all “sports” shows streamed to Google Reader), and tab over to see additional shows without leaving the page.
While the enhancements, which also include a more streamlined approach to subscribing to shows in iTunes, are great from a usability standpoint, from a business perspective, they also should help BlogTalkRadio with one of their key metrics: listeners.
Unlike publishers that depend purely on text or graphical ads, BlogTalkRadio, which raised $4.6 million last summer, also sells ads in shows, splitting revenue with publishers. The more listeners, the more inventory there is to sell. And while hardly immune from the overall slowdown in online ad spending, the format is more compelling than most, as show hosts pitch products from their targeted sponsors. The company also offers branded stations for the likes of Sun Microsystems and the US Department of Defense.
So far, BlogTalkRadio is handily beating its most comparable competition: TalkShoe. Here’s a look at Google Trends data:
The bigger competition is perhaps live video, where sites like UStream also attract significant audiences for live broadcasting. That said, audio has its advantages, such as being less bandwidth intensive and more convenient to carry on your iPod.
Do you think the online talk radio medium has a future? Let us know what you think in the comments.
---Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:BlogTalkRadio Raises $4.6M for User-Generated BroadcastsCinchCast: Podcasting Made Even EasierNowLive Launches Talk Radio Broadcast ServiceTalkShoe Releases Spontaneous Mobile Audio StreamingiWon’s Relaunch: Does it Need a Social Network?Rootly’s Third Relaunch Offers More CustomizationShelfari Relaunches (Again) with Better Search
- Are Paid Online Dating Sites Dead?
- Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:45:19 +0000 -
A recent launch suggests that the web’s love affair with paid dating sites may be coming to an end. DowntoEarth is a new, completely free dating site with an interesting pedigree.
According to DowntoEarth’s Privacy Policy, this new, free entrant is “part of the IAC/InterActiveCorp family of businesses.” IAC, of course, acquired Match.com in 1999, and is also behind Match.com’s spin-off site Chemistry.com. Despite its success with paid dating, then, IAC is testing the waters with a free model.
Markus Frind, CEO of rival free dating site (and startup anomaly) Plentyoffish.com, somewhat self-servingly claims the move is a victory for free dating sites. He writes: “Downtoearth is headed up by Jacob Solotaroff, the former Director of Product Management and Member Integrity at Match.com…It looks like the project was started back in June 2008,” and “It looks like match.com realizes they are losing marketshare fast and paid sites don’t really have a future.”
Despite his obvious bias, Frind may have a point: the incredibly low cost of providing a dating service makes it difficult to justify payment for the basic level of service. Which leads us to ask: Are paid dating sites a thing of the past? If you are paying for Match.com, does the new free alternative appeal to you, or are you happy paying for the more established service?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
More Online Dating Resources From Mashable
-Top 5 Online Dating Site Trends
-20+ Dating Sites for Geeks and Freaks
-Plentyoffish Not in Danger of Over Fishing, Increases Market Share
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