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Android Smartphone Costs Dropping Big Time, Says Schmidt
February 29, 2012, 11:27 pmMuch of Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt's keynote discussion at Mobile World Congress Feb. 28 concerned very forward-looking, sci-fi-type stuff. Sample: people will deploy robots on their behalf to conferences and concerts when they can't be both places at once. People will experience both activities through the robot via a screen they...
Google Plus A "Ghost Town"? Or Still Being Built?
February 29, 2012, 5:23 pmYesterday, the Wall Street Journal ran a piece that compared the popularity of Google+ with that of Facebook. Despite the "apples vs oranges" nature of that comparison, the WSJ said that Google+ is a "virtual ghost town" compared to Facebook. They referenced figured from comScore that said that Plus users spent an average of three minutes a month...
Google Plus A “Ghost Town”? Or Still Being Built?
February 29, 2012, 5:07 pmYesterday, the Wall Street Journal ran a piece that compared the popularity of Google+ with that of Facebook. Despite the “apples vs oranges” nature of that comparison, the WSJ said that Google+ is a “virtual ghost town” compared to Facebook. They referenced figured from comScore that said that Plus users spent an average...
Cary Tilds from Mindshare on the 'Big Idea' and Technology - #AdVision
February 29, 2012, 4:52 pmIt's pretty common to assume that most campaigns start with one "big idea." Picture the brainstorming session as it has transformed throughout the years: "We will have a paperboy stand on the street corner and yell 'EXTRA!' to attract attention to our special edition!" "We'll go from door-to-door, demonstrating how effective this household product...
cognitiveSEO Launches Link Tracking & Analysis Tool
February 29, 2012, 4:47 pmCognitiveSEO is a tool that aims to provide all of the data and analysis necessary for link building campaigns in a single platform. Among the features SEOs may like: link profile analysis, advanced competitive research, and rank tracking.
Is The Playstation 4 Ditching The Cell Processor?
February 29, 2012, 4:37 pmAccording to sources in the gaming world, Kotaku has reported that the PlayStation 4 will not use Sony's Cell processor nor any possible successor. As we all remember, Sony developed the current cell processor in combination with Toshiba and IBM at the tune of 1 Billion Dollars. The report further states that following a Forbes report , That AMD...
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin To Launch Space Shuttle This Summer
February 29, 2012, 4:37 pmAmazon CEO Jeff Bezos is more than just the boss of one of the world's biggest e-businesses. He's also a venture capitalist in the field of space exploration. Blue Origin , the space travel venture owned by Bezos, is preparing to test out a new system for aborting a launch, perhaps as soon as this summer.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin To Launch Space Shuttle This Summer
February 29, 2012, 4:26 pmAmazon CEO Jeff Bezos is more than just the boss of one of the world’s biggest e-businesses. He’s also a venture capitalist in the field of space exploration.
Blue Origin, the space travel venture owned by Bezos, is preparing to test out a new system for aborting a launch, perhaps as soon as this summer. Bezos’ company received...
Flying Robots Synced So Well They Play Music Together
February 29, 2012, 4:23 pmAn amazing display of the synchronous capabilities of flying quadrotor robots was staged at TED today.
In an article earlier this month, we discussed the ability of these machines to be programmed to fly in tight formations, including in three-dimensional setups, and to avoid objects. (See that video below.)
At the conference today, the machines...
Windows 8 Consumer Preview Gets Reviewed
February 29, 2012, 4:23 pmAs we reported this morning, the Windows 8 consumer preview is here. Now is your chance to try out the new Metro user interface and other features that Microsoft is working on with the new operating system.
While the verdict is still out for some people in regards to their opinion on the changes made to the consumer preview of Windows 8, the...
The Avengers, Spider-Man, And More Marvel Graphic Novels Come To iTunes
February 29, 2012, 4:22 pmListen up, comics fans - you can now get dozens of Marvel graphic novels on iTunes. Marvel has just announced 80 titles that are now available through the iBooks app or by simply heading to iTunes . Today, Marvel has entered a bold new era in digital comics. For the first time ever, classic stories"from the first appearance of the Avengers to the...
Facebook Mobile Apps Ads: One More Way Users Increase Facebook's Riches
February 29, 2012, 4:22 pmDuring Facebook's fMC keynote address, Mike Hoefflinger announced several new tools available to businesses that will increase the amount of interaction they have with their Facebook fans. The tools - Pages, Offers, Premium for Facebook, and Reach Generator - look to seriously step-up the amount of exposure ads get on Facebook. Hoefflinger...
Windows 8 Preview Released, Twitter Reacts
February 29, 2012, 4:22 pmToday Microsoft released a Consumer Preview of its new Windows 8 operating system at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, to much interest - the preview has already been downloaded over 3 million times, according to USA Today. Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft states, "with Windows 8, we reimagined...
Windows 8 Brings A Host Of New Features
February 29, 2012, 4:20 pmAs we reported this morning, Microsoft has made the consumer preview of Windows 8 available as a free download today. The new OS aims to revolutionize Windows, unifying user experience across multiple platforms – laptop/desktop computers, phones and tablets, and the Xbox gaming console.
The big new feature of Windows 8 is the Metro user...
Facebook Mobile Apps Ads: One More Way Users Increase Facebook’s Riches
February 29, 2012, 4:11 pmDuring Facebook’s fMC keynote address, Mike Hoefflinger announced several new tools available to businesses that will increase the amount of interaction they have with their Facebook fans. The tools – Pages, Offers, Premium for Facebook, and Reach Generator – look to seriously step-up the amount of exposure ads get on Facebook....
American Express Payments Now On Facebook
February 29, 2012, 4:09 pmIf you are a regular addict of Facebook and you have some debts to pay or cash gifts to give, you can now get those chores done without ever leaving the social networking site. Serve from American Express has launched their digital payment app for Facebook. You can send, receive and request money effortlessly with their new tool.
It is simple to...
Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit Against Facebook
February 29, 2012, 4:06 pmFacebook is now facing a nationwide class action lawsuit filed in a California District Court. Law firms Murphy PA and Girard Gibbs accuse Facebook of violating its own privacy policy by continuing to track cookies after the user has logged out. Facebook has been accused of this nefarious activity many times before. Numerous lawsuits have been...
Blizzard Announces 600 Layoffs, WoW Team Not Effected
February 29, 2012, 3:51 pmEarlier today Blizzard announced that it had laid off 900 employees from various departments. Blizzard then clarified by saying "Constant evaluation of teams and processes is necessary for the long-term health of any business. Over the last several years, we've grown our organization tremendously and made large investments in our infrastructure in...
Facebook Timeline for Brands - Businesses React On Twitter
February 29, 2012, 3:51 pmEarlier today, Chris Gabbard did an article about the new Facebook Timeline For Brands . This is a more business-centric version of Facebook's ubiquitous Timeline layout. Facebook plans to have all personal and brand pages running on Timeline by the end of March. Chris noted some of the reactions to the new looks, all positive. And, some...
SXSW Band Demographics
February 29, 2012, 3:51 pmAccording to research by Sonos , the 2012 South By Southwest showcase will attract 500 bands to Austin, TX - from all over the place. The charts below show the bands' origins worldwide, as well as where outfits are coming from in the U.S., as American bands make up over half playing the festival. Interestingly, 2 bands are coming from Estonia (the...
Facebook Timeline for Brands – Businesses React On Twitter
February 29, 2012, 3:42 pmEarlier today, Chris Gabbard did an article about the new Facebook Timeline For Brands. This is a more business-centric version of Facebook’s ubiquitous Timeline layout.
Facebook plans to have all personal and brand pages running on Timeline by the end of March. Chris noted some of the reactions to the new looks, all positive. And, some...
The $35 PC Raspberry Pi Sells Out In Minutes
February 29, 2012, 3:30 pmLinux based Raspberry Pi sold out yesterday and crashed makers Premier Farnell or RS Components websites. The revolutionary PC is the size of a credit card and features a USB port for a keyboard, Ethernet port, SD card slot, and an HDMI port for video output. "The idea", says Eben Upton, the founder of the charity behind the scheme,
Amazon Kindle Owners' Lending Library Hits 100,000 Titles and Grows Royalties for Authors
February 29, 2012, 3:30 pmOne million Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) select books have been borrowed since the launch of the Kindle Owners' Lending Library program in November. The library now houses over 100,000 books, which is a huge increase considering the library started out with only 5,000 titles, and includes a third of the Top 20 Kindle Best Sellers like The Hunger...
Feds Indict Former Online Gambling Billionaire
February 29, 2012, 3:15 pmOn Tuesday, Federal prosecutors in Baltimore released an indictment against Calvin Ayre, the Canadian founder of Bodog, one of the biggest gambling sites on the interent. Ayre is accused of running an illegal gambling business and conspiring to commit money laundering, and for years was able to elude U.S. law enforcement, prompting Forbes to write...
Brad Keselowski Using Twitter During Daytona 500 Approved By NASCAR
February 29, 2012, 3:15 pmBrad Keselowski made history on Monday when he began tweeting from inside his car during some downtime at the Daytona 500. It was thought that Keselowski would be reprimanded as he was tweeting on the race track even though the cars weren't moving. NASCAR was apparently cool with his tweeting during the race according to Yahoo! Sports .
Florida Man Threatens Obama On Facebook
February 29, 2012, 3:15 pmA miami, Florida resident has been taken into custody by Secret Service agents after posting a series of threatening messages on Facebook regarding President Obama's forthcoming visit to University of Miami. The messages were posted on Facebook via the account alias, "Jay Valor". On Tuesday, February 21st Joaquin Amador Serrapio, Jr. posted: "Who...
Video SEO Tactics to Get Ranked
February 29, 2012, 3:10 pmVideo content should be part of your content strategy if it isn’t already as people really like it and it can be easier to rank video content for competitive keywords than ‘normal’ content when video results are incorporated into the SERP. Tom recently filmed an interview at Grovo on talking about about how important videos will...
February 2012 #adCenter Desktop Upgrade: A More Streamlined and Simplified Experience #ppc #sem
February 29, 2012, 3:10 pmThis months Desktop upgrade is all about enhancing navigation and simplifying bulk editing and data imports. If you didnt upgrade to the latest version when we suggested you do so last week, now is the time; youll need the latest version in order to ensure your campaign imports run smoothly . If you missed the February release post summarizing...
ESPN's Facebook Page To Stream Conference Basketball Tourneys
February 29, 2012, 3:00 pmMarch Madness technically doesn't begin until the NCAA Tourney tips off March 13th (play-in game) or March 15th (the real games), but to me, March Madness definitely encompasses the conference tournaments that play such a big role in who gets in the big dance and who gets left out. And now, you'll be able to watch all the action while browsing...
February 2012 adCenter Release: Updates to Device Targeting, Bid and Budget Enhancements
February 29, 2012, 2:54 pmTheres an expression that I first heard during my new employee orientation here at Microsoft thats stuck with me ever since: drinking from the fire hose. That one phrase was the perfect descriptor for what it felt like to sort through all the new-to-Microsoft information from deciphering an endless (and ever-changing) list of acronyms,
Canadian Mounties Use Twitter To Enforce Traffic Laws
February 29, 2012, 2:44 pmEarlier this month, a story made the rounds about a tech-savvy community leader in Kenya who ingeniously utilized Twitter as a tool for fighting crime in his village. Turns out that wasn't exactly an isolated incident of Twitter being used by communities to deter crime as the Canadian town of Sackville has adopted a similar strategy.
Online Petition Created To Help Save Terra Nova
February 29, 2012, 2:44 pmWe all know how the power of the Internet population's voice can change opinions on a topic. Take SOPA for example " a subject where so many people have been speaking up about their opinions pertaining to how it affects them. This premise has been channeled to help continue the story of the recently aired FOX television show Terra Nova . If you...
Leap Year 2012 Humor: A Collection of Leap Day Memes
February 29, 2012, 2:44 pmReddit is truly a great place for web content, truth be told. With today being a Leap Day , Redditors are not disappointing with their unique way about things . We've seen numerous comical posts, and quite a few images / memes. This post is an homage to some of the creations by Redditors. We're not trying to compile a comprehensive Leap Day / Leap...
Avengers Assemble! Full Trailer To the Movie Here
February 29, 2012, 2:29 pmThe long-awaited full trailer to the new Avengers movie is here! The teaser trailer gave you a whiff. Now, open up and indulge in the full sonic and visual onslaught that is Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Nick Fury. This thing is already heating up the social networks; get it before the view counter breaks. This...
Miley Cyrus Attacked By Trolls, Complains To Twitter
February 29, 2012, 2:29 pmMiley Cyrus, better known to her pre-teen fans the world over as Hannah Montana, has fallen victim to one of the oldest online attacks in the books - the Twitter death threat. What did she do about it? She complained to Twitter to better enforce their site. The Daily Mail is reporting that the star was attacked on Twitter with some Internet trolls...
Chinese Overcome Firewall, Use Facebook
February 29, 2012, 2:29 pmFor unknown reasons, Chinese web users were able to get past that country's firewall, and briefly access typically blocked social networking sites like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. China typically blocks any website its government might deem as a threat to social stability, and puts similar products in place which censor whatever they'd like,...
New Facebook Brand Pages Guide: Everything You Need to Know
February 29, 2012, 2:23 pmFacebook's new timeline-styled brand pages launched today and all Pages will switch over to the new format as of March 30. Some brands have already made the change. This guide will walk you through the new features and offer tips to get you ready.
New MLB App launches Today Featuring Subscription Plan
February 29, 2012, 2:14 pmMajor League Baseball has thrown its fans a curveball. Starting today the new MLB.TV app is going to be available on the App Store and Android Marketplace. This time there is a twist. The basic app is completely free to download, where in the past it was $14.99 to download. MLB now offeres a subscription service. You can pay a 1 time fee of $14.99...
Eric Schmidt Speaks at Mobile World Congress 2012
February 29, 2012, 2:13 pmExecutive Chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt spoke at the Mobile World Congress yesterday and he had some provoking things to say about where he sees the World going and the role he sees technology playing. His presentation began by introducing Hugo Barra, director of Android products to demonstrate the Chrome app for Android. Barra and Schmidt...
First Look at Isis Mobile Wallet
February 29, 2012, 2:13 pmWe are getting our first glimpse of Isis , the mobile wallet app that will be available to more than 100 million United State Credit Card holders this summer. The new app will compete with Google Wallet and Opera , offering a secure and convenient way to pay with your credit card on your mobile phone. The UI looks simple enough, with a list of...
Exploring the New Features in Bing Webmaster Tools
February 29, 2012, 2:13 pmPosted by Daniel Butler This post was originally in YouMoz , and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc. Bing recently announced some pretty cool new features within their Webmaster Tools, so in this...
Facebook Responds To “Discover New Games” Problem
February 29, 2012, 2:07 pmThis morning we ran a story about a problem with Facebook’s “Discover New Games” feature. Some users who visited Facebook’s games page were being told that their friends were playing certain games. In many cases, though, those friends had either not played the game in a long time, or had never played it at all.
I sent Facebook a request...
Michael Arrington: Arianna Huffington Is A Touchy Psychopath
February 29, 2012, 1:58 pmTechCrunch has been leaking writers for some time now, and yesterday the leak moved up the food chain as the site's Editor in Chief Erick Schonfeld stepped down yesterday. He's been replaced by Eric Eldon, who says that his plan is to "build on the best of what the site has been over the years." When the news broke on TechCrunch, Founder Michael...
DataSift Asks Marketers What They Would Do Two Years Of Twitter Data
February 29, 2012, 1:53 pmTwitter search is a frustrating thing. It sticks to the overall mantra of the social media outlet which is to manage what is current. What is now is now and what has passed is, well, in the past. Having historical access to Twitter data has simply been elusive. Now Twitter has partnered with a UK firm, DataSift to provide marketers with Twitter...
Microsoft Flight Available Now, Free To Play
February 29, 2012, 1:42 pmMicrosoft Flight Simulator is one of the most venerated simulation franchises in gaming. The newest game, Microsoft Flight , was announced as a free-to-play game to be released this Spring. Microsoft apparently thinks the end of February is close enough to Spring and released the game yesterday according to the game's official blog . The game was...
Pew Surveys Perceptions of How Always-On Technology Will Impact Generation Y
February 29, 2012, 1:27 pmThe Pew Research Center designed a survey to assess how tech insiders, critics, and students perceive how always-on technology (AOT) will impact teens and twenty-somethings of the Y Generation. The survey was administered online from August 28 to October 31, 2011 as part of Pew's ongoing project on the Internet and American life. Among the...
Davy Jones of The Monkees Dead at 66
February 29, 2012, 1:27 pmAnd then there were three. Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Micky Dolenz - The Monkees were a made-for-television pop band that held a great fan base long after their TV show ended. Today, those fans received the sad news that Davy Jones had died in his home of a massive heart attack in his sleep. He was 66. Jones, born in Manchester,...
How Mobile, Social & Trust Are Shaping Local Search Usage [Study]
February 29, 2012, 1:17 pmOnline local listings are the most trusted and relevant results to access local business information, especially as consumers are adopting new technologies, applications and social networks, according to a new study from comScore and Localeze.
DataSift Asks Marketers What They Would Do With Two Years Of Twitter Data
February 29, 2012, 1:16 pmTwitter search is a frustrating thing. It sticks to the overall mantra of the social media outlet which is to manage what is current. What is now is now and what has passed is, well, in the past. Having historical access to Twitter data has simply been elusive.
Now Twitter has partnered with a UK firm, DataSift to provide marketers with Twitter...
Review of SEO SpyGlass 5.0.3
February 29, 2012, 1:06 pmI recently tested out the software SEO SpyGlass which is part of the SEO Powersuite. SEO SpyGlass is a simple-to-use backlink checker. If you want to do well in SEO you have to understand the importance of keeping track of your competitor's back-linking strategies. SEO SpyGlass can help you do that and also help you .
Google's Susan Wojcicki Gives Keynote At SMX West
February 29, 2012, 12:36 pmSusan Wojcicki, Google's Senior Vice President for Advertising, gave the keynote address today at the annual Search Marketing Expo (SMX) in San Jose, California. During the address, which was moderated by Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land, Wojcicki discussed Google's past, hinted at Google's future, and addressed some of the issues currently...
Google’s Susan Wojcicki Gives Keynote At SMX West
February 29, 2012, 12:27 pmSusan Wojcicki, Google’s Senior Vice President for Advertising, gave the keynote address today at the annual Search Marketing Expo (SMX) in San Jose, California. During the address, which was moderated by Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land, Wojcicki discussed Google’s past, hinted at Google’s future, and addressed some of the issues...
Facebook fMC Keynote Address To Marketers, Businesses
February 29, 2012, 12:20 pmToday might as well be the debutante ball for Facebook as they look to win the confidence of investors and businesses with some major announcements related to how advertisements will be deployed across the website. Perhaps the biggest announcement will involve the implementation of ads on Facebook's mobile apps. Thus far, the mobile Facebook...
Toshiba Excite Out March 6th
February 29, 2012, 12:20 pmToshiba will launch its Excite 10 LE Tablet on March 6th, a day before the Apple iPad 3 event in San Francisco. First unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, the Android-based Excite claims the status as the thinnest tablet in existence.
The Excite 10 LE will have a 10.1 inch display at 1280 x 800 pixels, featuring Gorilla Glass....
Premium For Facebook Lets Brands Publish Ads In News Feeds, Mobile App
February 29, 2012, 12:13 pmToday might as well be the debutante ball for Facebook as they looked to win the confidence of investors and businesses with some major announcements related to how advertisements will be deployed across the website. Perhaps the biggest announcement involved the implementation of ads on Facebook’s mobile apps. Thus far, the mobile Facebook...
Apple Appeals to High Court in China over IPad Trademark
February 29, 2012, 12:05 pmThe Higher People's Court of Guangzhou heard the latest appeal from Apple today, after a lower court ruled in favor of Chinese tech company Proview, which says it owns the trademark "IPad" in China. A Lawyer for Apple told the court, "The value of iPad's trademark rocketed after Apple launched the tablet computer in January 2010, In the eyes of...
DVR Usage Increasing Among Television Viewers
February 29, 2012, 11:49 amAs television and devices that take advantage of our screen time continue to evolve, so does our utter obsession with using TV grow. Nielsen posted on its blog a study the group recently conducted that looked at what Americans have been using their TVs for in the past six years. To preface the study, Nielsen shows how TV usage has changed over the...
Cloud Technology Is Embraced By UK Mainstream
February 29, 2012, 11:49 amIntellect , the IT trade association of the UK has announced their release of a series of reports that suggest cloud technology has become a staple in business to business environments despite previous unpopularity when first introduced. A prominent case study of Really Simple Systems (RSS) reveals that the popularity of cloud technology has...
Apple Rejects eBook Because It Links To Amazon
February 29, 2012, 11:49 amAny good and successful company knows that it probably shouldn't go out of its way to promote its competition. I mean, you don't see Microsoft putting out ads that talk about how awesome Google Docs is. But in the realm of content, should stores limit the presence or even reject items that promote a competitor? Apparently, that's what is happening...
My News: Now with 180% Percent more News (Tastes Better Too!)
February 29, 2012, 11:44 amStarting today, we've begun rolling out a new version of My News to all users.
Netflix Might Become Part of Cable Packages
February 29, 2012, 11:34 amAt the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in San Francisco Tuesday, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings stated that he envisions cable TV evolving into an on-demand internet platform, and that Netflix will become just another cable provider. "It's not in the short term, but it's in the natural direction for us in the long term. Many...
European Union: New Google Privacy Policy Isn't Lawful Or Fair
February 29, 2012, 11:34 amUpon the eve of Google's new and controversial Privacy Policy going into effect , the tech company received a resounding rebuke from the European Union yesterday as France's regulator said that the new policy seems to violates the EU's rules regarding data protection. Given the possibility, CNIL, the French administrative authority that monitors...
The Second Avengers Trailer Is Online, and It’s Awesome
February 29, 2012, 11:32 amThis morning, we joined in the tease for the second full-length trailer for The Avengers, and now that it’s live, the anticipation meter is now getting close to an “off the charts” level, at least for this writer.
The biggest fear surrounding The Avengers is, after four years of build up, coupled with multiple 2-plus hour...
European Union: New Google Privacy Policy Isn’t Lawful Or Fair
February 29, 2012, 11:29 amUpon the eve of Google’s new and controversial Privacy Policy going into effect, the tech company received a resounding rebuke from the European Union yesterday as France’s regulator said that the new policy seems to violates the EU’s rules regarding data protection. Given the possibility, CNIL, the French administrative...
MacBook Pro Getting An Update In April?
February 29, 2012, 11:19 amWith all the rumors and excitement zipping around about Apple's newest iOS devices, one can almost forget sometimes that they actually make computers, too. Part of this, of course, is Apple's fault. When was the last time you saw them sending out invitations to a major press event to unveil the latest model of iMac? And yet, while everyone is...
Lamar Smith Doesn't Care About Personal Privacy on the Internet
February 29, 2012, 11:19 amWhile SOPA is holding on to its dying breaths for dear life, Lamar Smith has apparently moved on to bigger and better things: Monitoring every aspect of your online behavior, details which would be available to any government agency without a warrant , all in the name of "protecting children" from the evils of adults, or something. Actually,...
Leap Year 2012: Famous & Infamous February 29th Birthdays
February 29, 2012, 11:19 amYou think your birthday is special? Pshh, think again . Your day has nothing on today (February 29th), as it only happens once every four years, which is more commonly known as a Leap Day, which takes place during a Leap Year ( Read more on that here ). To put that in perspective for you rapper Ja Rule, born today, is only celebrating his 9th...
9 Things You Might Not Know about DKI
February 29, 2012, 11:19 amAt its core, Dynamic Keyword Insertion (DKI - basics here) is an efficiency tool. As opposed to sitting around all day doing manual keyword stuffing into your ads, this little tool will do it for you automatically! Plus, it's a great source of buzzwords - for instance, "We used the DKI code to dynamically increase .
Bing Apps now available with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview
February 29, 2012, 11:19 amToday the Windows Team announced the availability of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview at a Microsoft event in Barcelona. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview availability, along with the opening of the Windows Store, will make exciting new apps available to everyone. Bing is part of excitement with three new apps now available in the Windows Store so the...
Twitter's Promoted Products Goes Mobile
February 29, 2012, 11:13 amIn an official blog post last Tuesday, Twitter announced that they're bringing the Promoted Accounts to their iPhone and Android mobile apps and at the m.twitter.com. This important step was made nearly two years after they introduced the Promoted Tweets. Twitter's Future in Mobile Advertising About 55% of Twitter users are accessing the service...
Lamar Smith Doesn’t Care About Personal Privacy on the Internet
February 29, 2012, 11:11 amWhile SOPA is holding on to its dying breaths for dear life, Lamar Smith has apparently moved on to bigger and better things: Monitoring every aspect of your online behavior, details which would be available to any government agency without a warrant, all in the name of “protecting children” from the evils of adults, or...
Windows 8 Consumer Preview Now Available
February 29, 2012, 10:48 amWindows has announced the release of Windows 8 consumer preview. It's available to download now for anyone interested in trying out the new operating system. Windows Experience blog is already posting tips on how to better navigate the system. According to Microsoft, the new operating system is supposed to be more simplified, more user friendly,...
USAF Looks To Work Hand In Hand With Silicon Valley
February 29, 2012, 10:48 amIn 1947, following World War 2, the United States Army Air Forces became the United States Air Force. They aso became one the preeminent research and development teams in the United States. But in the last 20 years that title has gone to the private sector. The USAF plans to meet with companies such as Apple, Google, and Facebook to talk about...
SPAM Turns 75, Rolls Out New Advertising Campaign
February 29, 2012, 10:27 amEverybody love SPAM, right? No, not the kind that you have email filters for, but the kind that comes in a can - SPiced hAM. Ok, not everybody loves SPAM. Hawaii really does though. Personally, it's hard to say no to a fried SPAM sandwich, but then again I've always been a fan of the world's little culinary oddities.
Restaurant Calls 1% Tip Story a Hoax
February 29, 2012, 10:27 amA Newport Beach, CA banker recently prompted public outrage after apparently leaving a 1% tip for a waitress named Breanna, adding a small note to the check reading "get a real job." But according to the True Food Kitchen , the restaurant where the tip and advice were given, the whole thing is a hoax. Apparently, a picture of the note on the check...
Rage Faces In Real Life
February 29, 2012, 10:27 amIf you're any kind of experienced Internet user, you're probably awfully familiar with the rage face memes that permeate across a large number of platforms. While Reddit deserves a large amount of the credit for the growing the popularity surrounding these images, they've grown beyond just the fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuu subreddit . These faces have...
Facebook May Be Misreporting What Games You Play
February 29, 2012, 10:27 amFacebook’s games tend to have a surprisingly polarizing effect on the social network’s users. Many, of course, love them. Some even spend hours on end playing them. On the other hand, those that don’t play them tend to find them annoying – especially the notifications that tend to populate their newsfeed. Because if there’s one thing...
A+E Networks And thePlatform Team Up For Mobile Video Content
February 29, 2012, 10:26 amYou might have never heard of thePlatform, but you’ve certainly heard of the A+E Networks family of channels including, of course, A&E but other channels like Lifetime and History. The two companies have teamed up to expand its programming to more people.
In a company blog post, thePlatform announced the partnership that will see A+E...
Is TechCrunch Following the Aol Way Into Oblivion?
February 29, 2012, 10:23 amI rarely, if ever, write about other blogs. As you know, if it weren’t for those blogs we wouldn’t have much to write about so for that I am very grateful.
What is interesting though is watching TechCrunch as it goes from Silicon Valley powerhouse to an era of the great exodus of familiar faces. The latest change is at the top (yet...
Best Buy Return Policy Will Extend To 30 Days
February 29, 2012, 10:12 amCurrently Best Buy gives purchasers 14 days to return desktops and notebook computers, tablets, monitors, projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors, DJ equipment and lighting, pro audio and home recording equipment. Everything else they carry has a 30 day return policy. Well news has leaked out that this policy is going to change in...
Google Fiber: New Patent Reduces Installation Cost
February 29, 2012, 10:12 amIn an effort to reduce the cost and time required to connect homes to the Google Fiber network, the company has developed a device that will enable rapid connection to homes without the hassle and cost of digging. In the patent application, Google stated that current connection method "requires significant effort and time" and indicated .
New Facebook Timeline for Brand Pages
February 29, 2012, 9:57 amAs promised, Facebook has begun to "roll out" its new timeline for brand pages . This is the next step in a series Facebook has taken to phase in the new feature for all users. Soon the option will no longer be, well, an option, as Facebook plans to have all personal and brand pages running on timeline by the end of March. Reaction to Timeline for...
IBM Cuts Another 1,000 Jobs, Enjoys a 7% Increase in Profits
February 29, 2012, 9:57 amOver 1,000 U.S. IBM employees were "let go" during the past week. This comes as no surprise. IBM has been decreasing American jobs for half a decade. IBM has reduced its American workforce by over 21,000 employees since 2007. It is not possible at this time to pinpoint exactly how many IBM employees have been let go over the past two years because...
Adoption
February 29, 2012, 9:57 amSeth Edlavitch and Melissa Segal decided to explore less conventional methods in their desire to become parents after a devastating miscarriage. After five years of trying to bring new life into the world, the couple decided to post the following message on Facebook: "Loving, professional couple looking to adopt a newborn in the U.S. Melissa has...
After Five Years a Couple Finds Dream Baby by Networking on Facebook
February 29, 2012, 9:55 amSeth Edlavitch and Melissa Segal decided to explore less conventional methods in their desire to become parents after a devastating miscarriage. After five years of trying to bring new life into the world, the couple decided to post the following message on Facebook: “Loving, professional couple looking to adopt a newborn in the U.S....
Wyoming House Bill 85: Armageddon Goes To The Park State
February 29, 2012, 9:41 amLack of food rations. No electricity. No more government. Money is meaningless. Martial law. Sounds like the end of the world, doesn't it? To Wyoming it sure does, and accordingly the state government has drafted a bill to prepare for the consumate collapse of society so that the Park State can march onward into a future uncertain. House Bill 85...
iPad Trade-ins on eBay On the Rise
February 29, 2012, 9:41 ameBay has stated that customers are trading in their first and second generation iPads ten times more than they were last February, likely in anticipation of Apple's release of its iPad 3 . eBay said it received 125K tablet trade-in offers this month, 97.6% being iPads. These offers fall under eBay's Instant Sale Program , which is different from...
Modern Warfare 3 DLC Available Now For PS3
February 29, 2012, 9:41 amIf you're a member of Call of Duty Elite Premium, you can now download the maps for your PS3. The first two maps, Piazza takes place in Italy and offers close quarter combat, while Liberation is set in New York City and features wide open spaces perfect for your inner sniper. Overwatch, the next new map, is scheduled to come out on Playstation 3...
European Virtual Console Gets 13 New Titles In March
February 29, 2012, 9:37 amThe virtual console was a great idea when Nintendo launched it alongside their Wii console in 2006. It’s unfortunate then that classic game releases have been slowing down over the past few years. It’s doubly true for our friends in Europe. That’s all about to change.
Nintendo of Europe has announced that March is going to be the biggest...
Firefox Add-on Tracks Who Is Tracking You
February 29, 2012, 9:36 amOk, this one comes from the "I know, that you know, that I know" file. We are all pretty much aware that we are being tracked online. What we don't fully know is just how much information different online and offline entities have and what their intentions are with that data. I believe that in the vast majority of cases the tracking is INTENDED to...
Wyoming Doomsday Bill: When Armageddon Visits The Park State
February 29, 2012, 9:30 amLack of food rations. No electricity. No more government. Money is meaningless. Martial law. Sounds like the end of the world, doesn’t it? To Wyoming it sure does, and accordingly the state government has drafted a bill to prepare for the consumate collapse of society so that the Park State can march onward into a future uncertain.
House...
iPad 3 Awesome Concepts [Viral Video]
February 29, 2012, 9:26 amThe folks at Aatma Studio , an animation wonderland, have just released a video showcasing some awesome concepts for the iPad 3. These are not official Apple features. But, the minds at work here are onto some cool stuff. Edge-to-edge retina capability? They've got that. Magnetic link between two iPads that can then share a contiguous screen? Yep....
SEO content marketing roundup, week ending February 29th
February 29, 2012, 9:26 amHappy birthday, Panda! In this week's latest and greatest Web writing news, celebrating its one-year birthday, comes Panda 3.3. Meanwhile, content marketers discuss PR and the future of email, mobile (and content) marketing, SEO/search pro's talk Google's Panda 3.3 and its new analytics, while social media marketers take note of Facebook's display...
SEO, Analytics, Financials, All In One Place
February 29, 2012, 9:25 amHow’s business? It’s a question small business owners are asked a lot. But it’s one that is increasingly difficult to answer because of the complexities of running a modern business. WebControlRoom.com is a free tool that has been developed to help small businesses answer this question by providing a real time performance report with data...
Weekly Webinar Round-Up 2/29/12
February 29, 2012, 9:10 amRoll up your sleeves and see what's out there this week on the webinar circuit. Hope you find something you like! Become an Industry Hero February 29th, 7 pm PST Presenter: Susan Purifoy Cost: Free Description: Susan's business knowledge database can take you from industry zero to industry hero! Register Live Webinar + Report: The State .
Mozilla Addresses Online Tracking With Collusion
February 29, 2012, 8:55 amBecause privacy is such the buzz word in relation to Internet activities nowadays, something like this from a popular browser developer only makes sense. What we have is the Collusion add-on from Mozilla , a Firefox extension that allows users to see which sites are tracking their movements across the web. According to the description, Collusion...
Top 100 Restaurants In US for Service
February 29, 2012, 8:55 amIn recognition of how vital service is to the dining experience, OpenTable, Inc., a provider of free, real-time online restaurant reservations for diners and reservation and guest management solutions for restaurants, has announced the 2012 Diners' Choice Award winners for the 100 restaurants in the United States providing the best service. These...
Google Maps Nearly Ignited War Between Nicaragua & Costa Rica In 2010
February 29, 2012, 8:55 amGoogle, it seems, should stick to playing RISK when it comes to defining the borders that separate dominions of countries - especially when the involved countries already have a history of border disputes. However, Google has Google Maps, as you know, and one of the main things that makes maps so useful is the demarcation of borders (otherwise,...
All Facebook Business Pages WIll Go to Timeline on March 30
February 29, 2012, 8:50 amIf you have a business page on Facebook you have been officially put on the clock to make sure it presents well in the new Timeline format that all personal pages now have. Facebook has set a March 30th deadline for all business pages going live in the Timeline format. TechCrunch reports Overall, Timeline should inspire users to spend more time...
7 Free or Low Cost Tools to Improve Landing Page Conversion Rates
February 29, 2012, 8:50 amLooking for fresh ideas on landing page testing? Do you have $157? If so, you can try all these tools. Yes, all. A single landing page that increases your conversion rate 20 percent would pay for your investment immediately and for months to come.
It's Not SEO Anymore, It's Marketing. Deal With It.
February 29, 2012, 8:29 amI've had people learn that I've recently written a book called Optimize and they ask what it's about. I say it's about optimizing customer discovery and engagement with content. The response I usually get is something like, "Oh, cool. I thought it was about SEO." Most people that have learned I've recently written a book called Optimize ask what...
Microsoft Drives Cloud Computing in Tourism
February 29, 2012, 8:26 amYesterday in Madrid, Microsoft announced that it became a strategic partner with the UN World Tourism Organization, in hopes to drive the implementation of new technologies, primarily cloud computing, in tourism. The new partnership would be beneficial to the 155 UNWTO member countries, and over 400 affiliate members from the private sector,...
Client Horror Story: Are You Sitting Down? We Changed Our URLs!
February 29, 2012, 8:24 amThe moment you hear your client say these words, your SEO radar goes on alert: "Are you sitting down?" In other words, beware of what clients decide to do on their own when you're at a conference. Upon returning from SES San Jose in August 2009 and embarking on a conference call with the client .
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Gets First Major DLC March 20
February 29, 2012, 8:24 amKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning made quite the splash early this month when it launched on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. It was the first game from 38 Studios, but had the backing of fantasy heavyweights like R.A. Salvatore and Todd McFarlane. EA today announced that Amalur will be getting its first major piece of DLC on March 20. It's called The Legend of...
YouTube Adds More Caption Options
February 29, 2012, 8:21 amYouTube began offering caption support in 2006. In 2012 over 135 million videos have enabled automatic captions. This is over triple the number from July of last year, when YouTube began offering speech recognition captions in Japanese.
Automatic captions with speech recognition are now offered in Japanese, English and Korean, making it much...
Leap Year 2012: US Prepares for Leap Day (February 29th)
February 29, 2012, 8:09 amToday is a strange day, as it's February 29th - a Leap Day. A day which only happens once every four years. Why you ask? Well during a Leap Year a Leap Day is added, this is to keep our calendars in order. To look into the shenanigans of a Leap Year, let's break it down a bit more. Where did Leap Year come from? Over 2,000 years ago, Julius Caesar...
Pandora Cuts Back On Interruptions In Honor Of Leap Day
February 29, 2012, 8:09 amIn honor of Leap Day, Pandora has announced that listeners today will hear fewer interruptions in their music, thanks to a deal with Lexus. Pandora's first limited interruption experience spans all Pandora platforms - web, iOS, and Android. Listeners on those platforms will have fewer commercial breaks in their music. Now, the attentive reader...
20 Ways to Cultivate Brand Unawareness in Social Media
February 29, 2012, 7:58 amThis is a guest post by Brad Shorr. Many businesses use social media to promote brand awareness, and it can be quite effective. Because social media is largely personality-driven, a savvy entrepreneur can level the playing field against much larger competitors and establish his company as a widely recognized, credible source. Unfortunately, for...
LinkedIn Adds Follow Button for Companies
February 29, 2012, 7:58 amIf you're in the Business to Business business, then you need a new LinkedIn Follow Button on your company website. The new button makes it simple for people to follow your company updates and news through their LinkedIn feed. To add it to your website or blog, visit the LinkedIn developer page and get the code in two clicks. You can get an "In...
Google+ a Ghost Town of User Engagement?
February 29, 2012, 7:33 amGoogle CEO Larry Page said during his last earnings conference call that Google+ has over 90 million users . He declined to reveal the user engagement of those users . Now comScore reveals that Google+ users only spend an average of 3 minutes there a month, compared to 405 minutes per user on Facebook. People are spending close to 7 hours a month...
Reaching Your Target Market Through Social Media
February 29, 2012, 7:12 amSocial networking sites provide users with new ways of connecting with each other. Other than that, they've integrated tools and platforms that allow sharing in all its forms. This type of media has increased in popularity through the years, because of the people's desire to belong and build a community around their interests. Marketers saw .
Non-Google Link Strategy: An Example of Stealth Link Marketing
February 29, 2012, 6:25 amLink opportunities are everywhere. You just have to stop thinking about Google in order to see them. It isn't easy. Yes, Google is important, but nothing is better than doing significant business regardless of which way the Google winds blow.
The One Skill that Makes an Online Entrepreneur Unstoppable
February 29, 2012, 5:13 amPop quiz, hotshot: What's the most important skill you must have in order to be successful as an entrepreneur, especially in an online business? Is it salesmanship? Is it social media savvy, or SEO knowledge? Is it writing and content marketing? (Because I know a great blog about that.) Or is it tech stuff, like the ability to set up and manage a...
Windows 8 Consumer Preview Announced
February 29, 2012, 4:43 amWith Windows 8, the whole experience of Windows has been reimagined. It's designed to work on a wide range of devices, from touch-enabled tablets, to laptops, to desktops and all-in-ones. We've designed Windows 8 to give you instant access to your apps, your files, and the information you care about most so you can spend less time navigating and...
Google+ Local Marketing Pilot Programs for Large Brands Show Promise
February 29, 2012, 4:17 amOpportunity abounds for nimble brands that embrace Google+. Local marketers have a new but challenging opportunity to tackle. Here's why brands should launch a local marketing Google+ pilot program and which metrics to focus on and track.
Think And Act Like a Publisher Part 2 : How To Write Headlines That Sell #smallbiz #writetip
February 29, 2012, 3:36 amIf you visit a newsagent and scan past the magazines on offer youll see an array of headlines trying to stand out in a cluttered space. Whatever your interest -from philately to photography- publishers try to entice you to choose their publication and read their stories. How to stand out from the crowd Running a small business is difficult enough...
Leap Year 2012 Google Doodle Frogs Share Stage With Gioachino Rossini
February 29, 2012, 2:13 amThe frogs are back, and this time it's musical. Today's leap year Google Doodle on Google's homepage marks two occasions: the extra day that shows up almost every four years on February 29, and the birthday of composer Gioachino Rossini.
Yahoo Threatens Facebook With Lawsuit Over Advertising Patents
February 29, 2012, 1:22 amYahoo has warned Facebook it will take legal action if it doesn't sign licensing deals for patents Yahoo believes the social network is using for its advertising systems, according to reports. Is Yahoo looking for some stock in Facebook?
Last Ditch Efforts to Halt New Google Privacy Policy
February 29, 2012, 12:56 amEven as users remain ignorantly blissful, last-ditch efforts continue to prevent Google's new privacy policy from being implemented this Thursday, March 1. French regulators call the policy unlawful while privacy group EPIC continues its fight.
Mozilla Firefox 'Collusion' Add-On Tracks Who's Tracking You
February 29, 2012, 12:50 amCollusion looks to offer more transparency to users by creating a visualization of how your data is being spread to different companies as you navigate the web.
Last Ditch Efforts to Halt Google New Privacy Policy
February 29, 2012, 12:30 amEven as users remain ignorantly blissful, last-ditch efforts continue to prevent Google's new privacy policy from being implemented this Thursday, March 1. French regulators call the policy unlawful while privacy group EPIC continues its fight.
Stop Paying for Stupid Clicks: Negative Keywords for Positive ROI
February 29, 2012, 12:20 amPosted by KeriMorgret One of my guilty pleasures is looking through the search query reports(SQR) of an AdWords campaign for the cringe-worthy search queries that led to someone clicking on a PPC ad. Really Google? You felt that goat transportation cost was related to my keyword of freight costs ? Or that a babe cam search should show my ad for...
February Linkscape Update: 66 Billion URLs
February 28, 2012, 7:05 pmPosted by randfish After some wrestling with Amazon's EC2 and the tragic loss of many hard disks therein, we've finally finished processing and have released the latest Linkscape update (previously scheduled for Feb. 14). This new index is, once again, quite large in comparison to our prior indices, and contains a mix of crawl data going back to...
Google Discovery House at SXSW
February 28, 2012, 6:29 pm[Originally posted on the Google Agency Blog ] We're just as excited as you are to roll into Austin this year for South by Southwest Interactive 2012 for another Texas-sized festival packed with BBQ, margaritas, and the most exciting digital chatter of the year. This year, we'll be packing up some of our favorite things about Google and bringing...
10 Reasons Why I LOVE the adCenter Desktop Tool #smx #12D
February 28, 2012, 6:14 pmThis morning I am speaking at SMX West, in the " Best Practices With adCenter For Bing & Yahoo " session. Specifically, my presentation will focus on the different features of the adCenter desktop tool that I love. To accompany my presentation I thought.
Seven New Markets in pubCenter Now Live!
February 28, 2012, 5:33 pmFollowing our previous post , we would like to announce the availability of seven new markets in pubCenter. This means that Windows Phone developers located in Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, and Switzerland are now able to make money using the Microsoft Advertising solution. Our goal is to help you make money using Microsoft...
Google+: Why User Counts & Low Engagement Don't Matter
February 28, 2012, 5:07 pmExternal estimations of Google+ adoption and engagement look pretty grim... if you're expecting users to engage. In comparing Google+ to Facebook, we need to acknowledge that Google is setting a framework where engagement may not matter.
How Google Makes Liars Out of the Good Guys in SEO
February 28, 2012, 4:57 pmPosted by wilreynolds This past week I gave the keynote presentation at Searchfest in Portland and I hit on a few themes that seemed to resonate with the audience, and with Rand. So I wanted to share them here. Its what I have been passionate about trumpeting for some time now. And its that the "Good Guys" of SEO, the people who do the things like...
IBM Banks Heavily On Quantum Computing
February 28, 2012, 4:42 pmScientific researchers at IBM Research in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. say they have come up with a quantum computing solution that harnesses the underlying quantum mechanics of Matter. The researchers say that they could deliver the technology within the next decade. A quantum computer would bring to reality a theoretical device capable of performing...
Netflix Transitioning To Television
February 28, 2012, 4:42 pmMore than half of all Netflix viewing is now television. The company known best for featuring feature films is becoming an Internet streaming service for television shows. For over a year, Netflix has been bulking up on old TV shows in an effort to challenge HBO. Home Box Office had been threatening Netflix lately with the success of streaming...
Google+: Why User Counts & Low Engagement Doesn't Matter
February 28, 2012, 4:36 pmExternal estimations of Google+ adoption and engagement look pretty grim... if you're expecting users to engage. In comparing Google+ to Facebook, we need to acknowledge that Google is setting a framework where engagement may not matter.
Police Break Down Wrong Door Hunting iPhone
February 28, 2012, 4:26 pmA recent burglary victim near Sherwood, Nottingham attempted to track his stolen iPhone with Apple's Find My iPhone app on his iPad, only to have police bust into the wrong apartment. Maybe Robin Hood took it. According to The Telegraph, after the owner of the stolen phone tracked it via GPS, police were sent to the wrong vacant apartment, leaving...
Atari Wants You To Remake Pong
February 28, 2012, 4:26 pmPong is one of the greatest games ever made. Maybe not for its compelling gameplay, but for its simplicity that brought video games to millions of households. Atari has never really captured that kind of magic again, but they are going to try this year. Atari has announced via their Web site a contest for indie developers to remake Pong for the...
Google Village: The Googleplex Goes To SXSW
February 28, 2012, 4:26 pmIt shouldn't surprise anyone that Google's going to this year's South by Southwest music festival. SXSW is cool, Google is cool ( right? ), so they play well together. What is surprising, however, is that Google decided it wasn't enough to just send its envoys to the festival and have instead chosen to construct a makeshift Googleplex for the...
Stan Lee Revealed As A Playable Character In New Spiderman Game
February 28, 2012, 4:16 pmStan Lee is Marvel, Marvel is Stan Lee. So it makes perfect sense that he has a cameo in nearly every single thing that Marvel makes right? But up until now he has never been a playable character in a video game. This new Spiderman game bucks that trend.
Stan Lee is the creator of many characters in comics history. Including iconic names such as:...
MPAA Responds to “Bully” Petition
February 28, 2012, 4:16 pmA little while ago we brought you a story about a petition asking the MPAA to reconsider its R rating of the documentary Bully. The film, which explores the problem of bullying in American schools, narrowly missed receiving the PG-13 rating that its makers wanted. The Weinstein Company, which produced the film, argued that the R rating would...
Reddit Hosting Sprint To Fix Their API At PyCon 2012
February 28, 2012, 4:11 pmReddit wants you to join them at PyCon 2012. What is PyCon? Read on to find out. Reddit, as defined by them in a blog post , is "a bit unique." I would use other adjectives to describe the Web site, but I can't argue that unique is a good term for them as well. My definition, however, relates to the content of the site, whereas they mean their...
Jaleel White, Kid Rock, and the Daytona 500
February 28, 2012, 4:11 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Enjoy! @NotBillWalton The Bill Walton Trip Danica...
Mozilla Marketplace Now Open To Developers
February 28, 2012, 4:11 pmLast week we brought you news that Mozilla would be opening their new Marketplace to developers at this week's Mobile World Congress. Today, Mozilla announced that the Marketplace is now live and accepting app submissions. The Mozilla Marketplace is intended to be a completely platform-agnostic app market. It will offer web apps that users can...
iPhone 5 Ugly? Twitter Thinks So.
February 28, 2012, 4:04 pmAfter concept designs for the iPhone 5 hit the Interwebs recently, reactions started rolling in. The design is based off Apple’s Magic Mouse, and is in no way an official Apple design, but people are freaking out, nonetheless.
Whether the device actually ends up being aesthetically displeasing or not, it could bode ill that people are...
Ben Rudolph: Windows Phone Evangelist on Technology and What's Next
February 28, 2012, 3:50 pmIf youve been reading the headlines or sifting through your social networks lately, theres no doubt youve seen or heard a few words revolving around Windows Phone: A design gem . The thing is gorgeous. and this little hashtag: #smokedbywindowsphone Smoked by what? We sat down with Ben Rudolph, Director of Windows Phone Evangelism, to elaborate...
Bing Tests New Results Pages
February 28, 2012, 3:50 pmBing is testing some new looks for its search results pages. Liveside's Michael Gillett, crediting @ParasValecha for the tip, says they've been testing several different designs over the past few months, but that more people are now seeing one like this: Image Credit: Michael Gillett It's worth noting that there is a greater ID presence, with the...
Nightmare Busters: First New Super Nintendo Title in 15 years To Be Released In 2013
February 28, 2012, 3:50 pmSpotted on Reddit today, the boys over at Super Fighter Team are in the midst of making the first Super Nintendo game for release in the United States in more than 15 years. This Run'n'Gun title has a tentative ship date of 2013 and demand has been so high that they have started taking pre-orders. Super Fighter Team is a video game development,...
Flickr Announces Justified View, A Seamless Display Of Contacts
February 28, 2012, 3:50 pmFlickr's got a new way for users to view their contacts that, if you're a regular user of Google's image search, may appear a little familiar to you. The new viewing option announced by Flickr, called Justified, creates a mosaic of images from your contacts using a seamless display of images associated with your contacts. Or, as Flickr describes...
IAB Rewards Mobile Ad Unit Innovation
February 28, 2012, 3:45 pmA smartphone is not a small computer. A tablet is not flat laptop. And yet, many advertisers and content producers think in these terms when creating mobile materials. Many, but not all. The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) recently invited developers and designers to submit new ideas for mobile ads and the winners have been selected. Here...
Google+ Plus SEO Benefits- Tips To Make It Work For You
February 28, 2012, 3:45 pmGoogle+ Plus SEO Benefits Google+ is a little too new for most of us to know about it, or how to use it to our advantage. It doesn't help that Google is pushing it on everyone like the popular kid in school with the newest, coolest toys, saying that you "have" to have a profile if you want to be a somebody. And then there's the horrible reviews as...
Webmaster Tools announces new features
February 28, 2012, 3:45 pmWe're at SMX West this week, just in time to announce a couple of new tools/features for webmasters around the world. Remember all those Birds-of-a-feather lunch chats last year? Those tweets you sent me? The surveys we sent out? Well, we've been busy with that feedback working on tools to help you. Today we're announcing our organic keyword...
Tracking Micro Conversions with Event Tracking for Improving SEO Campaigns
February 28, 2012, 3:40 pmConversions. The one metric we all know we should be focusing on, and yet it's the one thing that gets overlooked the most. So many of us focus on just one main conversion point, and forget how many other types of visitor engagement exist on our sites. These other engagement points, or less-important conversions are what experts call "micro...
Online Petition Asks MPAA To Change “Bully” Rating
February 28, 2012, 3:21 pmWhen the MPAA gave director Lee Hirsch’s documentary Bully an R rating, Harvey Weinstein was angry. Weinstein is co-chairman of The Weinstein Company, which is distributing the film. Bully is a documentary dealing with, as you might guess from the title, the issue of bullying in American schools. The film is meant to give a realistic picture of...
Yelp Could Reach Value Of $840 Million With IPO
February 28, 2012, 3:20 pmAfter three months of preparation Yelp has reached a consensus about a value for their stock and is almost ready to go public. Currently they report a target of $12- $14 per share and at that price, value of the company could soar to around $840 million. The shares will be made available on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker...
New Application Statistics for Android Developers
February 28, 2012, 3:10 pmApp Publishers on the Android Market are getting a revamped version of the Application Statistics tool to help them fine tune development and marketing. Application Statistics is a set of dashboards in the Android Developer Console that displays installation performance along a variety of dimensions, including countries, platform versions, and...
Skyrim PC Patch Fixes Mods, Adds Load Order Functionality
February 28, 2012, 3:06 pmIt was a great boost to the modding community when Bethesda announced integration of the Steam Workshop for Skyrim mods. While it still has a ways to go before it can really compete on the same level with established communities like Skryim Nexus, it’s a great start. This latest patch makes it even better.
On the Bethesda blog, the...
Bing Webmaster Tools Gets Organic Keyword Research Tool, API
February 28, 2012, 3:05 pmAt SMX West today, Microsoft’s Bing revealed some updates to Bing Webmaster Tools. There’s a new organic keyword research tool and an API.
On the keyword research tool, Bing’s Duane Forrester explains, “This tool allows you to perform keyword research on any phrase you enter. It resides within your WMT account and offers...
My Kingdom for a ReTweet [Infographic]
February 28, 2012, 3:02 pmOn Twitter, a ReTweet is like currency. Some people generously spread it around. Some are stingy with it and some use it as a bargaining chip for an alternate reward.
For marketers, ReTweets are particularly important because they’re the best way of growing your Twitter following, and in turn, your customer base.
Here’s part of an...
AT&T Proposes Charging Developers For Data Usage At The Expense Of Net Neutrality
February 28, 2012, 2:54 pmAT&T may have found a solution to their ever growing problem of skyrocketing mobile data usage. At the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain, AT&T revealed that it has a possible pay plan in the works make the providers of mobile services, pay for the cost of data usage associated with things like streaming movies and smart...
This Angry Birds USB Slingshot Is The Best Thing Since The Duck Hunt Gun
February 28, 2012, 2:46 pmAre you still in love with Angry Birds, but sick of that repetitive finger sliding motion necessary to launch the little guys? In what appears to be the most intriguing game-appropriate controller since the big orange gun in Duck Hunt, “rapid prototyping for microcontroller” company mbed has developed a big wooden slingshot with which...
Bing, Nokia Unify Map Designs, Make Aesthetically Pleasing World
February 28, 2012, 2:46 pmBing and Nokia conjunctively announced today that they’re unifying their respective map designs in order to provide a clearer, more visually appealing map for their users. The lovechild of the cartographic coupling will amplify the details of the mapping service so users will more easily – at least this is the hope – find where...
Twitter Expands Promoted Accounts, Promoted Tweets In Timelines To Mobile Apps
February 28, 2012, 2:45 pmTwitter just announced the expansion of its Promoted products (also known as ads) across its mobile experience.
While Promoted Trends and Tweets have been on Twitter’s mobile search for a while (and likewise for Promoted accounts and Promoted Tweets in the timeline), Promoted accounts are now coming to Twitter’s iPhone and Android...
Stratfor Email Leaks Reveal U.S. Plans To Indict Wikileaks Founder
February 28, 2012, 2:39 pmAs you are all aware of by now, Wikileaks made a huge stink over the weekend by releasing 5GB of internal emails from Stratfor, a global intelligence company. Some of those emails concern Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange.
The Sydney Morning Herald, who secured the emails from Wikileaks, reports that there was a specific email that points to...
EPIC Files Emergency Appeal Against Google
February 28, 2012, 2:23 pmThe Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a consumer watchdog group, has just appealed a court ruling in a Google privacy case, in which they’d asked that the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google’s latest privacy policy changes. On February 18th, EPIC’s initial request was denied by federal court, after the FTC...
Microsoft May Or May Not Be Involved In New Antitrust Complaints Against Google
February 28, 2012, 2:20 pmMicrosoft may or may not be involved with antitrust complaints against Google in Europe, related to Google+. Pretty vague, I know, but conflicting reports are painting it that way.
Reuters first reported: “Microsoft and several other companies have complained to EU antitrust regulators about Google’s social networking tool,” and...
SEO Solution, InferClick, New From SearchDex
February 28, 2012, 2:17 pmIn the realm of search engine optimization offerings, SearchDex, a digital marketing service and solutions provider, today announced at eTail Palm Springs the release of InferClick, a new solution to help empower online retailers with actionable insights into consumer behavioral patterns.
InferClick, the behavioral data analytics technology from...
SonicWall Locks Up Your Mobile Workforce
February 28, 2012, 2:05 pmSonicWall, Inc. has released Mobile Connect Client app for Google Android tablets and smartphones. It provides top-notch network-level access to academic, corporate, and government resources over encrypted SSL VPN connections. Once it is installed on your device, users gain access to a variety of SonicWall products.
The purpose for these products...
New Apple TV Launching Alongside iPad 3?
February 28, 2012, 2:01 pmEarly this afternoon we brought you news that Apple had begun sending out invitations to the launch event for the iPad 3. The event will take place on March 7th in San Francisco. Of course, scarcely is one rumor put to bed than another rears its head. Now it looks like Apple may actually be launching two new products next Wednesday: the iPad 3,...
PayPal Coming To 2,000 The Home Depot Stores Across U.S.
February 28, 2012, 1:51 pmAre you an avid PayPal user and a home remodeling aficionado? Well, you may want to listen up.
While PayPal has been in a small number of The Home Depot stores for a few weeks now, the payment company is now planning to roll out the program to all 2,000 of their stores across the country. The PayPal blog details the payment company’s plans to...
Dancing With The Stars Season 14 Cast Announced, Twitter Reacts
February 28, 2012, 1:50 pmI cannot believe that we are now up to Season 14 of Dancing With the Stars, ABC’s most-watched reality show. I remember the first season of Dancing With the Stars in 2005, where the big talk of the show was the battle between Kelly Monaco and John O’Hurley. The show has definitely flourished since then, bringing a variety of talent...
New App Helps Arizona Smokers Quit
February 28, 2012, 1:49 pmThe Arizona Smokers’ Helpline announced today, that they are now offering a free iPhone app that will help people kick their smoking habit. Call It Quits combines all of the recommended tools that help you quit for good: peer support, instant access to a quit coach, and progressive goal-setting. The app is also available through the...
Google Giving Away A Million Dollars For Finding Chrome Exploits
February 28, 2012, 1:43 pmGoogle announced that it will be sponsoring rewards for those who find Chrome exploits. This will be part of the CanSecWest security conference taking place March 7-9.
Earlier this month, Google announced the expansion of the Chromium Security Rewards program, first announced two years ago. The company, at the time, said it had already issued...
HarperCollins Pisses Off Teen Girls
February 28, 2012, 1:32 pmTeen-girl creative writing website Inkpop, owned by HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. announced on its blog yesterday that it is “merging” with Figment, a competitor, effective tomorrow. What that really means is that HarperCollins is selling Inkpop.
From their blog:
We’re excited to announce that the inkpop site and community will be...
Google is checking your conversions--are you?
February 28, 2012, 12:41 pmby Mike Moran
I've talked before about how Google might have cracked the code on qualified sales leads through search. Somehow, sites are seeing drops in traffic but not all of them are seeing commensurate drops in revenue, because Google is figuring out which keywords drive revenue for each site. So, the question is whether you know...
Brightcove Announces Update To App Cloud At Mobile World Congress
February 28, 2012, 12:15 pmBrightcove has announced an update to their App Cloud development platform at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today. The update adds cloud services, push messaging, and content-level analytics that should make it easier for app owners to engage their customers and keep track of the effectiveness of content and ad campaigns.
App Cloud is a...
Mobile Carriers’ CEOs Pissed About Bad ROI
February 28, 2012, 12:04 pmThis weeks Mobile World Congress was plagued by reports of bad return on investment (ROI) for mobile data by heavy hitters mobile industry. Their primary complaint is that they generate too little revenue in return for offering data from providers like Google. Now some providers want to introduce a tiered structure plan for data consumers.
Many...
Exclusive: How Universal Does Social Commerce, And Why Your Business Should Do It Too
February 28, 2012, 11:52 amUniversal Pictures is using Facebook to create buzz and drive ticket sales for a number of its new films, including Big Miracle, Safe House, and The Lorax, and is utilizing social media management platform Friend2Friend for some social commerce efforts.
We had a conversation with Friend2Friend CEO Roger Katz to learn more about Universal’s...
Millions Unprepared For Retirement
February 28, 2012, 11:50 amMillions of business owners are unprepared for retirement. So what are they waiting for? According to the latest research from The American College, the majority of small business owners are concerned but not planning for retirement yet. The American College is the nation’s largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial...
Xbox 360 and Kinect Now Come In White
February 28, 2012, 11:48 amHave you been on the fence about getting an Xbox 360 with Kinect or did you just not like the color scheme? Well, Microsoft has a deal fo you.
Major Nelson announced today on his blog that a special edition white Xbox 360 is shipping to stores across the world today. What makes a white Xbox 360 so special? I mean, the original design was in white....
HTTPS Everywhere Updated To Detect Security Holes
February 28, 2012, 11:46 amThe Electronic Frontier Foundation has announced an update to their HTTPS Everywhere Firefox extension. The update adds a “Decentralized SSL Observatory” feature that looks for weaknesses in the encryption of sites that users are visiting. When it detects a security weakness, it alerts users that they are on a site that could leave them...
Jeremy Lin’s Boxers Up For Grabs On eBay
February 28, 2012, 11:44 amI’m just as tired of all the Linsanity jokes as I’m sure you are, in fact, I’m more tired of the Jeremy Lin jokes than I am of the hype that surrounds him. I don’t care that ESPN spends the entire day talking about him because that’s just less time that they have to talk about Tim Tebow. The point of this is to say...
Yahoo Unfriends Facebook, Considers Lawsuit Over Patent Claim
February 28, 2012, 11:38 amYahoo’s had a rough go of it so far in 2012 and the company could certainly stand to take a more active role instead of reacting to how the tech world changes around them. So what better way to get back in shape than to pick a fight with the biggest kid in the playground? That seems to be Yahoo’s course of action today as it has openly...
Impending Bat Flu Hysteria Possible
February 28, 2012, 11:35 amScientists have recently confirmed finding genetic fragments of the flu virus in bats, according to the CDC. The research was posted online Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The flu is common in humans, birds and pigs and has been documented in dogs, horses, seals and whales. Now the bat.
“Most people...
FTC Approves Integrity Children’s Privacy Compliance Program Thanks to Aristotle
February 28, 2012, 11:30 amThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved The Integrity Children’s Privacy Compliance Program, designed by Aristotle International, as a “safe harbor” program under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) on Friday. The COPPA rule grants websites that target viewers ages 13 and under permission to collect...
Lady Gaga Crashes Harvard And Brings Her Mother
February 28, 2012, 11:22 amOn February 29th viewers should tune in to http://bornthiswayfoundation.org/live between 4:00-5:30pm EST to see Lady Gaga and her mom, Cynthia Germanotta present a live conference from Harvard University on the exploration of ways to reach youth and create a new culture of kindness, bravery, acceptance and empowerment. Her new non-profit...
Could Obama’s Privacy Plan Threaten the Internet?
February 28, 2012, 10:46 amThe ongoing debate over online privacy is in the spotlight once again. However, this time, it’s the White House that’s at the center of the controversy.
Last week, the Obama Administration announced a privacy plan that would give consumers more control over their data. In the first-ever introduction of federal privacy policy, the...
TechCrunch Loses Yet Another - This Time, It's The Editor
February 28, 2012, 10:42 amThe transition at AOL's TechCrunch continues as editor Erick Schonfeld has stepped down. This is just the latest in a series of pre-AOL acquisition TechCrunchers leaving. Some have banded together at the site PandoDaily. More on all of that here . The TechCrunch editor title has now gone to Eric Eldon. Eldon and fellow TechCruncher Alexia Tsotsis...
Mercedes Bringing Siri To Its A Class
February 28, 2012, 10:30 amMercedes Benz has always been at the fore front of automobile technology. 4 wheel independent suspension in 1931, crash test program in 1958, antilock brakes in 1978. Some of these were pioneered by Mercedes, most were standard in the S-Class years before they were standard on any other manufactures cars.
Now we get the great announcement that...
HBO Go Launching On Xbox 360 April 1st, Just In Time For Game Of Thrones
February 28, 2012, 10:25 amApril Fools Day joke or legit? Apparently, HBO Go is coming to the Xbox 360 on April 1st.
During an HBO event in San Francisco Monday night, HBO co-president Eric Kessler told Engadget that Microsoft’s console will finally be getting the much-anticipated HBO Go app on the first day of April. When Microsoft released the latest Xbox 360...
TechCrunch Loses Yet Another – This Time, It’s The Editor
February 28, 2012, 10:19 amThe transition at AOL’s TechCrunch continues as editor Erick Schonfeld has stepped down. This is just the latest in a series of pre-AOL acquisition TechCrunchers leaving. Some have banded together at the site PandoDaily. More on all of that here.
The TechCrunch editor title has now gone to Eric Eldon. Eldon and fellow TechCruncher Alexia...
Audi A8: 2012 Connected Car of the Year
February 28, 2012, 10:16 amAudi A8 recently was honored in the first annual Connected World Connected Car of the Year awards, which spotlights vehicles with technology that strikes the right balance between safety, convenience, and infotainment. Chosen by the editorial team at Connected World magazine, Audi A8 was selected for its unmatched Audi connect™ infotainment...
Illumishare: Microsoft’s Amazing Remote Interaction Technology
February 28, 2012, 10:11 amYou may have heard it said that we’re living in the future. Thanks to the increasing pace of innovation, we have technology at our fingertips that was the stuff of science fiction just a few short years ago. Now, Microsoft Research has unveiled a remarkable new technology called Illumishare. Illumishare allows users to interact with physical...
Online Karaoke Company Doubles Database Using Relationship Marketing
February 28, 2012, 10:09 amAn online Karaoke company has doubled the size of its e-mail database in the past year by utilizing Emailvision’s relationship marketing platform instead of generic e-mail marketing. Lucky Voice, the leading online Karaoke company in the United Kingdom, implemented Emailvision’s Campaign Commander, an online customer relationship...
Sony Tablet Goes Two-Screen: Priced Less Than $400
February 28, 2012, 10:02 amThis thing looks awesome! On March 4th Sony will release its new tablet which will feature dual screens. If you sign up for a two-year data plan with AT&T, they sell it for $399.99. Not a bad deal if you have the scratch.
Sony already has apps available which are optimized for the device including games, lifestyle, and entertainment-based...
Social Networking Drives TV Ratings
February 28, 2012, 9:58 amAccording to a TV Guide user study, social networking discussion about television shows drives tune-in, loyalty and live viewing ratings. Due to social network impressions, 17% of respondents polled said they became a fan of a particular show, and 31% claimed they continued to watch a program. Twenty seven percent said that they watch more live...
Motorola Defy Device in Torture Chambers
February 28, 2012, 9:57 amMotorola is letting people splash water on their phones at trade shows.
The Motorola Defy is an Android smartphone with a touchscreen, large display and access to the thousands of apps in the Android marketplace.
The device has a Corning Gorilla Glass display for impact and scratch resistance. At a trade show today, Motorola placed the Defy in...
Smartphone Laser Projections In the Works
February 28, 2012, 9:55 amMobile phones currently on the market are capable of showing high quality images and video, but the phones' small size sets insurmountable limits on screen size, and thus the viewing experience. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, EpiCrystals Oy and the Aalto University are developing a better laser light source for projectors that will be...
Smartphones Are The New Window Shopping
February 28, 2012, 9:55 amOne interesting finding from Google's research on the habits of smartphone users is how often consumers are using their devices for product research and service/merchandise purchases. Almost 90% of American smartphone users have taken action after viewing promotional content on their devices. More than one-third of American users have actually...
Opera Payment Exchange Taking Mobile Payments Around The World
February 28, 2012, 9:53 amEverybody is getting into the mobile payment business these days. While Google Wallet has been one of the most talked about (and hacked) mobile payment options, Opera now offers their own alternative.
Opera Software, developer of the Opera browser, announced today the launch of the Opera Payment Exchange program. Their goal is to provide the...
Netflix Lessens the Sting of Starz Losses With Oscar Flicks
February 28, 2012, 9:40 amBack in September 2011, a collapse in negotiations left Netflix and Starz unable to come to terms on a deal that would extend the contract between the two companies. At the time, Starz said that they had to protect the "premium nature of the brand" by making sure they keep the "appropriate pricing and packaging of our exclusive brand." According...
New iPhone App Sends 30 Photos At Once
February 28, 2012, 9:40 amA new iPhone app has been released that lets users snd large images and videos, even up to 30 images at a time. Kicksend for the iPhone lets consumers send original high quality photos directly from their iPhone to anyones email address or desktop privately. As Kodak shutters their camera and video manufacturing business, mobile sharing is on the...
Apple Preparing To Launch Developer ID Program
February 28, 2012, 9:40 amWhen the Mac App Store launched a year ago, reactions were generally positive. Some, however, worried that Apple was moving toward the "walled garden" approach it has taken with the iOS platform. While software can be loaded onto a Mac from any source - internet download, disc, or whatever - iOS apps can only be installed via the App Store. The...
Buffer: Now Available for LinkedIn
February 28, 2012, 9:40 amAfter surpassing the 150 million users' milestone, LinkedIn becomes the third social media that supports the Buffer app. The application is a social media content manager that lets you schedule and share content that you find on the Internet. It offers a personal, efficient and consistent way to build your online presence across social media .
Stratfor Remains Steadfast Against Wikileaks; Emails' Content Circulates
February 28, 2012, 9:25 amFollowing a data dump of over five million of their emails by Wikileaks , Stratfor, the global intelligence company caught in the sights of the whistleblower organization, has responded with a statement that seeks to downplay the security breach as well as emails' import. The company decried the theft as "deplorable, unfortunate - and illegal."...
Justin Bieber Sued Over Joustin’ Beaver Android/iOS Game
February 28, 2012, 9:17 amApparently Justin Bieber and his lawyers don’t like it when somebody turns the popstar into an anthropomorphic beaver.
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Justin Bieber’s lawyers filed a cease and desist order to RC3, a smartphone app maker who recently released a game called Joustin’ Beaver. The game is a satire of the popstar’s...
Americans Disenchanted by Meatloaf Turn to Social Media for Mentors and Inspiration
February 28, 2012, 9:09 amStudies indicate that social media plays a huge role in the recipes we use, the foods we purchase, the meals that we plan, and even how we choose to cook certain items,"' almost half of consumers learn about food via social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, and 40 percent learn about food via websites, apps or blogs." This comes as...
Romney Targeted By Text Message Spam
February 28, 2012, 9:09 amRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is being targeted by the latest practice of voter suppression in the form of political text message spam. Progressive organization Revolution Messaging has been working to raise the awareness of this dangerous new tactic by calling on the Federal Communications Commission to put a stop to it....
IBM Advances Practical Quantum Computer
February 28, 2012, 9:09 amScientists at IBM have recently have made big gains in quantum computer device performance, which may speed up the realization of a practical, full-scale quantum computer, according to a press release on the matter. A quantum computer makes direct use of quantum mechanical phenomena to perform operations on data, and could be able to solve...
YouTube Update: Google+ Integration, Annotations Editor, Channel Feed and More
February 28, 2012, 9:09 amAs more contents are being uploaded and shared on the site, YouTube has found more ways for users to enjoy their videos. Announced last February 16, the video-sharing site got a new way to promote a user's Google+ profile, added Annotations Editor options, allows users to post on Channel Feed and more. Your Google+ Profile .
Official Google announcement: changes in the algorithm
February 28, 2012, 8:36 amYesterday, Google announced 40 changes in the ranking algorithm. The most important changes were another Panda update and changes in the way Google evaluates links. How do these changes affect the rankings of your web pages?
Demand Media Launches New Social Ad Formats
February 28, 2012, 8:18 amDemand Media has introduced some new rich media ad units, incorporating its “Social Feed” ad management tools. Essentially, they bring social media into display ads, where potential customers can actually interact with the brand’s community from the ad itself.
Here are a couple examples (Social Feeds Billboard and Twitter...
South By Southwest Crowds Get Verizon 4G LTE
February 28, 2012, 8:18 amVerizon is literally gearing-up for the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas. Anticipating huge crowds for the media and film conference, Verizon has increased coverage and capacity to handle the massive surge of traffic. Both 3G and 4G devices should perform optimally without a need for interruption. Particular venues which...
PlayStation Networking Going Down For Maintenance Thursday
February 28, 2012, 8:18 amThe PlayStation Network is going down on Thursday, but it doesn't have anything to do with the nasty business that went down last year. Sony announced on the PlayStation blog that the PSN will be going down for "signficant maintenance" on Thursday, March 1. The maintenance will start around 8 a.m. PST and end around 10 p.m. PST. What makes this...
Angelina Jolie's Leg, "Undefeated" Part of Twitter's Most-Tweeted Moments of The Oscars
February 28, 2012, 8:18 amNow that we're a couple of days removed from The Academy Awards, what's your take on the night? Do you still think The Artist deserved best picture? Have you had time to ruminate on Billy Crystal's performance as host - and does that change your opinion? How about Angelina Jolie's leg - you have that one out of your head yet? Here's what we do...
Four (4) Must-Attend Sessions at Conversion Conference West 2012 for Search Engine Optimizers
February 28, 2012, 8:18 amAs search engine optimizers, we're always looking for new ways to attract visitors or getting that coveted spot on search engine rankings. In our book, increasing traffic means increasing revenue, and most of us have never really questioned this assumption - at least not until we notice the discrepancy between our traffic volume vs. the .
Angelina Jolie’s Leg, “Undefeated” Part of Twitter’s Most-Tweeted Moments of The Oscars
February 28, 2012, 8:08 amNow that we’re a couple of days removed from The Academy Awards, what’s your take on the night? Do you still think The Artist deserved best picture? Have you had time to ruminate on Billy Crystal’s performance as host – and does that change your opinion? How about Angelina Jolie’s leg – you have that one out...
Wes Anderson Directed 2 Hyundai Azera Commercials
February 28, 2012, 8:04 amWes Anderson movies aren’t for everyone. He has a very unique and strange way of telling a story, that I personally dig immensely. This past Sunday, during the Academy Awards, Anderson brought his quirkiness to the small screen with two commercials for the Hyundai Azera.
The first commercial, titled Talk to My Car, has a Knight Rider-ish...
Paypal Puts Publishers' Panties In A Wad
February 28, 2012, 8:03 amSo what's got e-book publisher for independent authors Smashwords and others who are concerned about censorship all worked up? Apparently, PayPal issued Smashwords an ultimatum regarding certain categories of erotica published through the site. Mark Coker, Smashwords founder reported the payment processor PayPal had told the publisher to remove...
How to Implement Video Microdata for Google & Schema.org
February 28, 2012, 8:00 amSearch engines are using machine readable structured data for reviews, images. and now videos. This guide will help get you up to speed with microdata and schema.org best practices, so that you can start adding markup to your web pages.
Paypal Puts Publishers’ Panties In A Wad
February 28, 2012, 7:48 amSo what’s got e-book publisher for independent authors Smashwords and others who are concerned about censorship all worked up? Apparently, PayPal issued Smashwords an ultimatum regarding certain categories of erotica published through the site. Mark Coker, Smashwords founder reported the payment processor PayPal had told the publisher to...
Using Social Media to Deal with Unhappy Customers
February 28, 2012, 7:32 amEvery business experiences negative word of mouth, and the damage can worsen when the bashing is done online. However, the way you handle things is what sets you apart from other brands. A great response to any negative comments is an opportunity to convert complaining customers to loyal patrons. Keep on reading to know how .
3 Underused Paid Search Metrics
February 28, 2012, 6:25 amPaid search is all about numbers. For those who are really looking to take their PPC optimization to the next level, these metrics that are either new, or not used frequently enough, are the right places to start extracting additional insight.
Google, Evil And The Binary Curse
February 28, 2012, 6:20 amThe whole Is Google Evil Meme? has grown to be a ridiculous, farcical debate, prone to solemn punditry by some of the most authoritative voices in high-tech. I've defended Google countless times here, but I've never subscribed to the notion that Google is good, much less evil. No business deserves the evil mantle. Well, except maybe Enron. You...
Mainstream Media's Take on Google+ v. Facebook
February 28, 2012, 6:20 amGoogle+ is not doing well if you listen to this report from the Wall Street Journal . Average time spent per month on Google+ is 3 minutes (not a typo) while on Facebook it is 6 to 7 hours. The one thing that is talked about, however, is how the Google+ play is as much a way to unify other Google services as much as it is a way to compete against...
Mainstream Media’s Take on Google+ v. Facebook
February 28, 2012, 6:14 amGoogle+ is not doing well if you listen to this report from the Wall Street Journal. Average time spent per month on Google+ is 3 minutes (not a typo) while on Facebook it is 6 to 7 hours. The one thing that is talked about, however, is how the Google+ play is as much a way to unify other Google services as much as it is a way to compete against...
Online Marketing Best Practices: Software & Technology Marketing
February 28, 2012, 5:54 amAt TopRank Online Marketing, we work with clients in many different industries each facing a unique set of problems. One of the industries we provide online consulting for regularly is software. Be it network monitoring, healthcare system and hospital software, email marketing, project management, or B2C software, promoting technology solutions...
3 Psychological Triggers that Can Move Your Audience from Indifference to Desire
February 28, 2012, 5:49 amI'd like to tell you about a powerful but elusive emotion that you can trigger to increase traffic, click-throughs, and conversions. Used properly, it can entice your reader to give you their full attention and follow your call to action. But there's a catch. Despite its intensity, this emotion is fickle . And it's often mishandled in copywriting....
6 steps to a smart (sane) Google+ strategy
February 28, 2012, 5:13 amAnother social network? What's a brand to do! There's no denying it - Google+ is going to be an important part of social media and search from now on. Its enormous growth in the past seven months has gotten the attention of the search industry, competing social networks and marketers alike. Google+ has more than 90 million users - nearly as much...
Who or What is Your Social Persona?
February 28, 2012, 5:08 amWhen implementing your social media marketing campaigns, one of the first things you have to do (before you even think about building your profiles) is decide who or what is going to be your social persona. Are you going to build your social brand around an actual person (say the VP of Marketing) or stick with the company's name (@CompanyX)? There...
SEO Agency versus In-House SEO: Does It Really Matter?
February 28, 2012, 4:17 amThis is a guest post from Amanda DiSilvestro of ResourceNation.com It is no secret that SEO is crucial to the success of a small business, but what many do not realize is that there are different ways to fulfill this crucial need. Many new business owners work with SEO on their own; meaning they decide which keywords to target, focus on getting...
Social Search Result Rankings for Top 500 Tech Writers [Study]
February 28, 2012, 4:17 amBy looking at the search rankings of 500 influential technology writers, this study aims to gain a better sense of how Google ranks social networks - including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ - in its search results for personal brand queries.
Twitter Does A Deal For Two-Year Tweet Archive
February 28, 2012, 3:59 amFirms can search tweets back to January 2010 in order to plan marketing campaigns, target influential users or even try to predict certain events.
Opera Launches Payment Exchange Platform, With APIs For Developers
February 28, 2012, 2:51 amOpera Software is diving deeper into the mobile payments spectrum with the introduction of the Opera Payment Exchange.So far, Opera has already inked deals and formed partnerships with InMobi SmartPay, Yandex.Money and Bango, and the Oslo-based enterprise is planning to further expand coverage worldwide throughout the year.
Yahoo Seeks Licensing Fees From Facebook
February 28, 2012, 2:33 amYahoo has asserted claims on patents that include the technical mechanisms in the Facebook's ads, privacy controls, news feed and messaging service, according to a source briefed on the matter.
Why an Optimized Content Strategy is Crucial for Social & Search
February 28, 2012, 2:24 amSuccess in social media and organic search is only possible with an optimized content marketing strategy. If you don't have the latter, you may as well forget about being remotely successful with the former. You need content. Now. Here's why.
92 Ways to Get (and Maximize) Press Coverage
February 28, 2012, 1:33 amPosted by chriswinfield This post was originally in YouMoz , and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc. I love Ben Affleck's first scene in the movie "Boiler Room." I always felt that the quote above...
Google Announces 40 New Algorithm Changes For February
February 28, 2012, 1:24 am"Link evaluation. We often use characteristics of links to help us figure out the topic of a linked page. We have changed the way in which we evaluate links; in particular, we are turning off a method of link analysis that we used for several years. We often rearchitect or turn off parts of our scoring in order to keep our system maintainable,...
Google Analytics Multi-Channel Funnel Tips from my #SearchFest Presentation
February 28, 2012, 12:20 amOn February 24, I spoke at SEMpdx’s SearchFest on Advanced Analytics with Conrad Saam. I covered quite a few Google Analytics tips that I consider rather custom or advanced, and my slide deck is attached at the end of this post.If you are in the Portland area, you missed a great conference, and I’d strongly encourage you to consider...
YouTube Creator Playbook Version 2 Indicates Two-Dimensional Thinking
February 28, 2012, 12:16 amYouTube has updated the YouTube Creator Playbook, which compiles important tips, best practices, and strategies to build greater audiences on YouTube. While content and audience are covered smartly, one dimension is missing: video advertising.
First Tweet From a Driver Racing in Daytona 500
February 27, 2012, 10:39 pmRace car driver Brad Keselowski became the first driver known to tweet while racing. The Daytona 500 was under a red flag stop which means all cars including Brad Keselowski’s were stopped on the track. That’s when Brad Keselowski decided to make Twitter history by tweeting:
>> (Note – this article is being updated in real-time...
Daytona 500: Fire Breaks Out, Twitter Has A Blast
February 27, 2012, 10:18 pmIt's been one wacky event after another for this Daytona 500. It was initially supposed to begin at 1:00 on Sunday. The rain delayed it for hours , before it was finally cancelled for the day , to be postponed until Monday at Noon. After all the complaints that it would be happening while everyone was at work (oh yeah, and some more rain), they...
First Tweet From a Driver Racing in the Daytona 500
February 27, 2012, 9:48 pmRace car driver Brad Keselowski became the first driver known to tweet while racing. The Daytona 500 was under a red flag stop which means all cars including Brad Keselowski's were stopped on the track. That's when Brad Keselowski decided to make Twitter history by tweeting: @keselowski Brad Keselowski Fire! My view http://t.
Daytona 500: 2nd Lap Wreck Takes Out GoDaddy Girl Danica Patrick
February 27, 2012, 7:09 pmThe Daytona 500 finally got underway this evening, after a rain delay yesterday, followed by a cancellation for the day . Originally, it was rescheduled for Noon today, but after numerous complaints, it was rescheduled again for 7:00PM . No more than 2 laps in, there was a wreck involving Jimmie Johnson, Trevor Bayne and GoDaddy girl Danica...
New 'South Park' Episodes Arriving March 14th; Twitter Jumps For Joy
February 27, 2012, 5:16 pmSince November 16th, all has been quite on the South Park front as fans (and critics, probably - you know they can't get enough of that show) have waited for news on the next season. With one afternoon tweet, Comedy Central, the network that South Park calls home, started the countdown to the premiere of the show's 16th season. @ComedyCentralPR...
The End of the Facebook Gaming Boom?
February 27, 2012, 5:16 pmAccording to a report from IHS Screen Digest Media Research , Facebook gaming is on the decline. Social gaming giant Zynga disputes this claim, but the research firm has put together a compelling argument none-the-less. According to them, the total number of users is stagnating, new users are more and more expensive to come by, competition is...
Fallen Iraq War Vet's Photo Used Unwittingly On Dating Sites
February 27, 2012, 5:01 pmWhen a photo is put on the internet, we all know how easy it is for that photo to be taken and used in a variety of ways - many ways that aren't compatible with the original intent of the poster. The parents of one fallen U.S. soldier know this all too well. They have filed lawsuits against two online dating sites: PlentyofFish.com and True.com...
Kate Upton Films New Steamy Carl's JR Commercial/Twitter Blows Up
February 27, 2012, 5:01 pmThere have been several beautiful women doing steamy commercials for Carl's JR. From Paris Hilton's carwash video , to Audrina Patridge in a bikini , to Kim Kardashian taking a bath . Now Kate Upton has made one of the hottest commercials I've ever seen. It makes the GoDaddy commercials seem tame. Here is the original: Here is the directors cut....
Priceline Releases Fourth Quarter, Annual Earnings Report
February 27, 2012, 4:45 pmThe Priceline Group has released its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2011, as well as for the whole year. In addition to Priceline.com, the Priceline Group consists of Booking.com, Agoda.com, and RentalCars.com. The Priceline Group as a whole took in $991 million in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of 35.5% over the...
Women Spearheading Facebook Defriending
February 27, 2012, 4:45 pmFacebook users appear to be beginning to realize that their Facebook friends will never be their actual, in-real-life friends - and women especially have began to trim down their digital buddy lists. According to a Pew study , more users are also untagging themselves from photos, deleting comments and cleaning up wall posts. And women and younger...
Google Changes How It Evaluates Links
February 27, 2012, 4:45 pmGoogle announced a bunch of changes it made to its algorithm over the course of February, and some of those changes are more interesting than others. So far, we've taken a closer look at the increased sensitivity of the Panda update, some location-based changes to YouTube suggestions , and the increased importance of image search optimization ....
New ‘South Park’ Episodes Arriving March 14th; Twitter Jumps For Joy
February 27, 2012, 4:45 pmSince November 16th, all has been quite on the South Park front as fans (and critics, probably – you know they can’t get enough of that show) have waited for news on the next season. With one afternoon tweet, Comedy Central, the network that South Park calls home, started the countdown to the premiere of the show’s 16th...
Kate Upton Films New Steamy Carl’s JR Commercial/Twitter Blows Up
February 27, 2012, 4:44 pmThere have been several beautiful women doing steamy commercials for Carl’s JR. From Paris Hilton’s carwash video, to Audrina Patridge in a bikini, to Kim Kardashian taking a bath. Now Kate Upton has made one of the hottest commercials I’ve ever seen. It makes the GoDaddy commercials seem tame.
Here is the original:
Here is the...
Fallen Iraq War Vet’s Photo Used Unwittingly On Dating Sites
February 27, 2012, 4:32 pmWhen a photo is put on the internet, we all know how easy it is for that photo to be taken and used in a variety of ways – many ways that aren’t compatible with the original intent of the poster. The parents of one fallen U.S. soldier know this all too well.
They have filed lawsuits against two online dating sites: PlentyofFish.com...
WoW Helps Senior Citizens With Their Cognitive Reasoning
February 27, 2012, 4:30 pmVideo Games have a long history of helping people with their medical problems. I remember a very early edition of Nintendo Power about a kid who almost lost his sight. While in the hospital, he had a NES with Super Mario Bros. 3 to play, but all he could make out was a blob. The exercise his eyes got by playing this game day after day dramatically...
Dell Helps Enterprise Customers Get Results Fast
February 27, 2012, 4:30 pmToday, Dell has announced a new end-to-end IT platform, which is supposed to feature the fastest, most simplified, and most powerful tools for innovation yet. Is that true? Who knows, but they talk a good game for enterprise customers. Brad Anderson, President of Enterprise Solutions Group at Dell elaborates on what their offering: "Customers tell...
Vote For Your PSN Gamers Choice Award In A Special Way
February 27, 2012, 4:30 pmThe awards season is here, and no one is spared! This year the Playstation Blog is having people vote for their Gamers Choice Award in a fairly unique way. By downloading the theme for the game you are voting on. It's kinda neat unless you have the 20 GB version and need all the space you can get.
The Artist, Danica Patrick, and Miracle Whip
February 27, 2012, 4:14 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Today we have fallout from the Oscars dominate...
Google+ Helps Small Business Share Recipes With The World
February 27, 2012, 4:14 pmGoogle+ for businesses isn't just for the H&Ms and Samsungs of the world. It also helps small businesses connect with their fans in meaningful ways. The Google Small Business Blog , as part of an on-going series of posts, features a small business and how they are leveraging use of Google+ to help their business grow. The company this time is one...
Google Image Search Optimization Now More Important To SEO
February 27, 2012, 4:14 pmGoogle announced forty changes it has made to its algorithm/search quality efforts over the past month. One of them was the increased sensitivity of Panda . Another was " more locally relevant predictions in YouTube ". I'm not going to run down every single one fo them again, but there are a few that stuck out to me. Another of these would be an...
Google's Mobile World & Vision for 2012
February 27, 2012, 4:04 pmAs smartphone ownership continues to grow, going mobile and mobile optimization are becoming a business necessity. To coincide with the annual Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Google has revealed smartphone usage stats and 2012 predictions.
Social Media Pruning is on the Rise
February 27, 2012, 3:59 pmFreedom From FBI Tracking Devices Is Here
February 27, 2012, 3:59 pmIf you've been persecuted or harassed by the FBI in the past, you have good reason to celebrate. The FBI can no longer utilize GPS tracking technology to monitor movement without a warrant to do so. The Supreme Court has ruled that no GPS tracking can take place in an investigation without a proper warrant being secured first. This prompted the...
Facebook Saves Digg Via Open Graph
February 27, 2012, 3:59 pmFacebook's Timeline, Ticker, and Open Graph, a web that shows people and everything they care about (i.e. movies, pets, friends), have played a huge role in increasing Digg's traffic by 35%. Digg page views in January were the highest that they have been since October of 2010 when the new CEO, Matt Williams, apologized to site fans for past...
Mad Men Season 5 Poster: Don Draper And A Naked Mannequin
February 27, 2012, 3:59 pmDon Draper is back. Well, almost' as Mad Men returns with a two-hour premiere on March 25th. To make sure that you've got plenty to obsess and ponder over until then, AMC released the official season 5 poster today. The poster features Don Draper (Jon Hamm) staring at a reflection of himself and two mannequins in a store window, one of which is...
Microsoft and Nokia Hang SmartPhones Lower than Apple's Microsoft and Nokia Hang SmartPhones Lower than Apple's
February 27, 2012, 3:48 pmby Todd Bailey What brands are producing great fruits of labor regarding the smartphone market? As digital technology ushers users into the future, what mobile phones will they be bringing along? The New York Times reports Microsoft and Nokia hope lower prices and a robust assortment of sales networks prompt consumers to pick lower-hanging,...
Microsoft and Nokia Hang SmartPhones Lower than Apple's
February 27, 2012, 3:30 pmby Todd Bailey
What brands are producing great fruits of labor regarding the smartphone market? As digital technology ushers users into the future, what mobile phones will they be bringing along? The New York Times reports Microsoft and Nokia hope lower prices and a robust assortment of sales networks prompt consumers to...
Google’s Mobile World & Vision for 2012
February 27, 2012, 3:30 pmAs smartphone ownership continues to grow, going mobile and mobile optimization are becoming a business necessity. To coincide with the annual Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Google has revealed smartphone usage stats and 2012 predictions.
Former Employee Sued Over Twitter
February 27, 2012, 3:28 pmNoah Kravitz, was recently sued by his former employer PhoneDog , for keeping and renaming his Twitter account he'd kept for that company. Phonedog seeks $340,000 in damages - $2.50 per follower (Kravitz had amassed 17K during his time at Phonedog), per month, for 8 months. Kravitz argues that PhoneDog has overestimated the value of the account,...
Infographic Depicts LinkedIn's Key Demographics
February 27, 2012, 3:28 pmBusiness Insider published an interesting infographic today breaking down the demographics of LinkedIn 's some 157 million users. They got their information from a recent report released by Zoomsphere , which provides statistics on the major social networks, and it breaks down like this: The United States boasts the most users with over 61 million...
Supreme Court To Decide If Tech Firms Can Be Responsible For Assisting In Human Rights Violations
February 27, 2012, 3:28 pmHow do you feel about U.S. and European companies selling surveillance equipment to authoritarian regimes to better equip them in oppressing their people? Well, the Global Online Freedom Ac t that we reported on before would seek to combat this particular problem. Problem is that the bill in question has failed to pass multiple times in the past....
LEGOs In Space: Astronaut Builds LEGO Model Of ISS While Aboard ISS
February 27, 2012, 3:28 pmLEGO has carved out a pretty capacious corner for itself in the heart of nerd culture. There’s the endless selection of video games based on nerd-adored franchises like Batman and Star Wars. Recently, an engineer constructed a fully flexible prosthetic arm completely out of legos. People love that stuff.
Space, alternately, occupies...
Infographic Depicts LinkedIn’s Key Demographics
February 27, 2012, 3:13 pmBusiness Insider published an interesting infographic today breaking down the demographics of LinkedIn‘s some 157 million users. They got their information from a recent report released by Zoomsphere, which provides statistics on the major social networks, and it breaks down like this:
The United States boasts the most users with over 61...
Spotify and Artists Still Disagree Over Royalties
February 27, 2012, 3:07 pmSpotify and artists are in the midst of a battle of sorts over royalties that each feel is deserved. The thing in question is, how much? How much is a digital stream worth? Some services pay more than others, some charge more to play than others. If the record companies are to be believed, then as of right now, the average artist has to have their...
Consumers' Financial Lives Becoming More Digital
February 27, 2012, 3:07 pmCha-ching! In the United States, half of all bill payments made (by households with access to the Internet) are being paid online. Nearly forty percent of mobile banking users have paid a bill using their phone and one out of every four online households have used mobile banking. Interesting numbers and findings from the latest Fiserv Consumer...
Consumers’ Financial Lives Becoming More Digital
February 27, 2012, 2:52 pmCha-ching! In the United States, half of all bill payments made (by households with access to the Internet) are being paid online. Nearly forty percent of mobile banking users have paid a bill using their phone and one out of every four online households have used mobile banking. Interesting numbers and findings from the latest Fiserv Consumer...
Google+ Sucks Despite All the Free Hippie Love
February 27, 2012, 2:52 pmIn the past, I've not been shy about hiding my dislike for some of Google's practices. In fact, I've called them everything from an arrogant bully to an incestuous circle jerk, trapped in a filter bubble world .
iPad 3 About To Get A Price Hike?
February 27, 2012, 2:52 pmOf all the rumors floating around about the iPad 3, most have focused on two things: specs and release date. Very little attention has been paid to the new tablet's price, probably because most have assumed that the price points for the iPad 3 would match those of the previous two iPads. Now, however, it looks like that may not be the case.
Chopper Goes Haywire: 4 Injured In Brazil
February 27, 2012, 2:52 pmThe Regional Service for the Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents in Brazil has their hands flu with the mystery of why a rescue helicopter literally shook itself to pieces on wednesday of last week. The chopper carried four passengers who all sustained injuries during the malfunction. Presently, official believe that the rotor...
Android Chief Says His Tablets Will be 'Winning' in 2012
February 27, 2012, 2:52 pmFrom high-end iPads that do everything but make you a cappuccino to the entertainment-based Kindle Fire, tablets are popping up in homes all over the US. In the world of smartphones, the lower priced Androids take the lead , but when it comes to tablets, it's still all about the "i." Android chief Andy Rubin, says that's going to change in 2012....
Android Chief Says His Tablets Will be ‘Winning’ in 2012
February 27, 2012, 2:47 pmFrom high-end iPads that do everything but make you a cappuccino to the entertainment-based Kindle Fire, tablets are popping up in homes all over the US.
In the world of smartphones, the lower priced Androids take the lead, but when it comes to tablets, it’s still all about the “i.”
Android chief Andy Rubin, says that’s...
"Do Not Track" Button Really Doesn't Keep Companies From Tracking You
February 27, 2012, 2:37 pmRemember how awesome it was last week when Google finally gave internet privacy a +1 and agreed to implement a " Do Not Track " button on Chrome? Remember how even awesomer it was when other companies like Yahoo! and AOL agreed to respect people's privacy and join the fellowship of internet privacy proponents? Since then, we've enjoyed a veritable...
Google Algorithm Updates Announced: Panda Gets More Sensitive
February 27, 2012, 2:37 pmI wasn't expecting this to come until early March, since the month isn't even over yet, but Google has gone ahead and released its monthly list of updates: 40 changes for February . While we'll take a deeper look into the list soon, it's worth noting right off the bat that there is a Panda update listed. Late last week, in light of Panda's...
Pinterest Clears Up Copyright Fears With Site Opt-Out
February 27, 2012, 2:31 pmPinterest has responded to concerns over copyrighted material by allowing websites to opt-out of being featured on the site.
Dropbox Acquires Cove
February 27, 2012, 2:25 pmDropbox just bought online collaboration and communication tool Cove, for an undisclosed amount, according to Forbes. Also acquired in the deal were the engineering team that manages Cove, former Facebook executives Aditya Agarwal and TechFellow winner Ruchi Sanghvi, who will join Dropbox immediately. Akhil Wable and Joshua Jenkins will also move...
Game of Thrones Season 2 Trailer: "Power and Grace"
February 27, 2012, 2:21 pmBrace yourself' season 2 of Game of Thrones is nearly upon us. From the way the first season ended, we pretty much know what to expect from season 2, and it can't get her soon enough. To help build hype for the show, HBO debuted a new trailer for the second season through their video app/site HBO Go this past weekend. Check it out for yourself...
Google+ Announces Webinar For Businesses
February 27, 2012, 2:21 pmGoogle+ is no Facebook yet, but it's slowly becoming the social networking site that could. For that fact alone, businesses may want to hop on board to target the ever growing and diversified audience the site attracts. On the Inside AdWords blog , the company announced that they would be holding a webinar tomorrow at 10 a.m. What will this...
Do You Know The Twitter Bird's Name?
February 27, 2012, 2:21 pmUntil today, I never knew that I had been disrespecting Twitter's logo by referring to it as "the Twitter bird." Apparently, the bird has a name, and it's Larry. Twitter's API guy Ryan Sarver tweeted this just a little while ago. It shows Twitter designer Doug Bowman talking about the evolution of the Twitter logo. Check out the name: .@ stop...
Opera Software Updates Mini And Mobile
February 27, 2012, 2:06 pmOpera has announced updated versions of their web browser software and it is ready for download now. Their smartphone browser is now in its 12th version and it is supposed to be faster and easier than ever. Not only that, a new feature called Smart Page has the ability to integrate Facebook and Twitter, so you can get all of your social updates in...
Pinterest's Copyright Policy Needs Revising
February 27, 2012, 2:06 pmAttorney Connie J. Mableson, whose website dmcahandbook.com contains information about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other intellectual property issues, has some observations about Pinterest and the copyright questions surrounding it of late. Ms. Mabelson has represented internet and E-commerce companies, websites, Usenet providers,...
Worklight Acquired By IBM
February 27, 2012, 2:06 pmIBM just announced that it has completed the acquisition of Israeli smartphone/tablet software provider Worklight . The acquisition plans were announced at the end of January. IBM says Worklight will become an important piece of its mobility strategy, "helping clients dramatically reduce mobile application time to market, cost and complexity." It...
CognitiveSEO Version 2 Makes Its Debut
February 27, 2012, 2:06 pmLast week I had the privilege to take a virtual tour with founder Razvan Gavrilas on the Version 2 release of CognitiveSEO. Now, if you've never heard of this before, there is a reason for being in stealth mode for so long. CognitiveSEO was in development for two years before debuting in Beta mode in .
Microsoft's Mobile Filmstrip wins IAB Mobile Rising Stars Competition
February 27, 2012, 1:56 pmOn the heels of last nights unveiling of exciting research the IAB has conducted with IPG Media Labs and Microsoft Advertising , I am thrilled to share more great news from todays IABs Annual Leadership Meeting: the IAB has selected Microsoft Advertisings Mobile Filmstrip ad unit as a winner in the 2012 Mobile Rising Stars competition .
Game of Thrones RPG Gets a Limited Edition Art Book
February 27, 2012, 1:50 pmFor gamers, winter isn't coming until mid-may, but you have a chance to get your hands on some awesome Game of Thrones materials if you pre-order with a specific set of retailers. Cyanide Studios' upcoming RPG "Game of Thrones" is based on the bestselling George R. R. Martin book A Song of Ice and Fire and of course the hit HBO series set to kick...
Interview with Local Marketing Experts Jake Puhl & Adam Zilko
February 27, 2012, 1:25 pmThis is Eric here at SEO Book and today we're going to be talking all things local search with a couple of local search experts from Firegang.com . Jacob Puhl and Adam Zilko are joining us today, thanks for the time guys and we are thrilled to have you here. Adam: Thank you. Jacob: Thank you. For our readers (and listeners), this is quite a deep,...
The Return of GoTo / Overture (and AOL)?
February 27, 2012, 1:25 pmOverture wasn't able to build itself into a credible search destination in part because their brand was positioned incorrectly as being primarily about paid ads that only would backfill with other results in when the ad auction was empty, so as a destination it was seen as a payolla engine. Likewise AOL peaked because it was seen as a walled...
Social Engagement ROI & the Value of Exchange
February 27, 2012, 1:25 pmHow do you measure your online marketing performance? What are your goals, your KPIs and how do you measure ROI? These are pretty common questions in the world of social media marketing. As companies evolve their people, process and technology to attract, engage and inspire customers through content, I think attention on a broader view of the...
Spring Cleaning: Improve Performance in Your Microsoft Advertising adCenter Campaigns
February 27, 2012, 1:20 pmSpring will soon be in the air and with longer days and warmer temperatures come a few tasks such as cleaning your house and maintaining your yard after winters storms. If your search account needs a little house-cleaning too, you should add this to your to-do list as well. Honestly, just checking on the basics can greatly improve your campaign...
Page Post Units Replaces Facebook Homepage Ads
February 27, 2012, 1:19 pmAccording to a leaked document from GigaOm, Facebooks plans to replace homepage ads with page post formats. A spokesperson from the social network giant confirmed the news on Inside Facebook: "This [is] a change that brands were informed of last month, in which Facebook's premium ad units that point onsite will now also be associated .
How Businesses can Use Facebook Timeline
February 27, 2012, 1:19 pmFor the past months, Facebook Timeline has been the talk of the town. There's no place in the online marketing world that's not discussing about the redesigned profile. Moreover, the new profile design is being met by both approval and objection. But come to think of it, the social network giant is just looking for .
Retailers Are Shutting Down Their Facebook Stores
February 27, 2012, 1:19 pmIn an attempt to monetize from their large fan base, retailers set up their Facebook Stores for the first time last year. However, many of those shops are shutting down. According to a Bloomberg report, Gap, J.C. Penney, Nordstrom, and GameStop opened up their shop on the social network giant in 2011. Unfortunately, they all .
Is your site ready for your mobile users?
February 27, 2012, 1:19 pmLast December, we posted about the massive shift to mobile we've seen in your users over the past two years. Still, 4 out of 5 online publishers don't have a mobile-optimized website, and they risk losing their fastest-growing audience. Today, we're launching a new suite of tools at howtogomo.com to help publishers build mobile-friendly...
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Announced At Mobile World Congress
February 27, 2012, 1:14 pmSamsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Announced At MWC Samsung unveiled their latest tablet today at the Mobile World Congress. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is designed to bring features introduced with the recently-launched Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet hybrid (" phablet ," if you will). The Galaxy Note 10.1 includes Samsung's S Pen stylus and the S Note software...
Mozilla Pioneers Open Web Devices Platform
February 27, 2012, 1:14 pmAt today's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Mozilla and Telefónica Digital announced in a press release that they have teamed up to create a new mobile platform that will facilitate the first HTML5 -based devices running on the open Web. The new Open Web Devices platform (OWD), will help to establish HTML5 as the next major environment for...
StumbleUpon Updates Android App; Integrates Android Beam, More Google+
February 27, 2012, 1:14 pmAmidst the clamoring of all things mobile at the Mobile World Congress in Spain, StumbleUpon announced an update to their mobile app for Android today that will feature a bevy of new features. Android users can look forward to a deeper integration to Google+ as well as improved sharing capability through Android Beam, the Bump-like app that allows...
SEO for eCommerce
February 27, 2012, 1:14 pmeCommerce sites are some of the largest in the world. With thousands or even millions of products come thousands or millions of links, which means that implementing and managing a SEO strategy for an eCommerce site is extremely difficult and time consuming. Having optimized content on product description pages is one of the most important .
Flickr Enables Users to Block Pinterest Pinning
February 27, 2012, 1:14 pmEven though the virtual pinboard site is still in private beta, Pinterest has rapidly grown to over 13 million users. While the innovative company has experienced explosive growth and become one of the top traffic referrers worldwide, they have recently come under fire due to affiliate link-swapping and copyright infringement concerns. To provide...
4 Hot Digital Advertising Trends You Can't Ignore
February 27, 2012, 1:14 pmListen, the way most people talk about marketing online makes it sound like all you need to succeed is a simple social media strategy, an email newsletter and a sound SEO strategy. Yeah, while those are fundamental, if you truly want to compete you need to go beyond the basics and get on the cutting .
Web Site Migration Guide - Tips For SEOs
February 27, 2012, 1:14 pmPosted by Modesto Siotos This post was originally in YouMoz , and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc. Site migrations occur now and again for a various reasons but arguably are one of those areas...
IAB Catches Up with Larger Display Ad Units
February 27, 2012, 12:10 pmSince 2009 leading brand publishing representatives for the Online Publishers Association (OPA) have been requesting larger digital ad portfolio units and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), a corporate juggernaut consisting of over 500 top notch media and technology firms and recognized for selling 86% of online advertising in the United...
More Fall Under The Influence Of Inbound Marketing
February 27, 2012, 12:08 pmA collection of marketers, business owners, executives and entrepreneurs make up the sample for the latest inbound marketing survey from Hubspot. To be included participants had to be familiar with their organization’s marketing strategies and be able to report on its success with drawing in new customers.
Hubspot has been doing this report...
Domino’s Pizza Now Covers More Than 80% Of Smartphone Pie With New Android App
February 27, 2012, 12:06 pmImagine this fast food miracle: You can now order a pepperoni pizza from the palm of your hand from nearly any Domino’s Pizza in America. Listen, you don’t get to be the recognized world leader in pizza delivery without thinking big. Domino’s Pizza announced today, the launch of its new Android smartphone ordering app. Combined...
Pokemon Black and White 2 Announced For DS: Twitter Reactions
February 27, 2012, 12:04 pmNintendo announced today that Pokemon Black Version 2 and Pokemon White version 2 are scheduled to release in Japan this June. Nintendo will follow up with the European and North American release in autumn.
The titles are for the DS rather than 3DS, but are still playable on both systems due to 3DS backwards compatibility. Fans of the...
Buddy Media Acquires Facebook Ads API Partner Brighter Option
February 27, 2012, 12:03 pmOne of the world’s largest social enterprise software companies, Buddy Media, announced today that it has acquired Brighter Option, a London-based Facebook Ads API partner providing innovative social ad management software. By adding this valuable feather in its cap, Buddy Media will become the company in the world to combine social...
Stratfor Responds To Wikileaks Release Of Company’s Emails
February 27, 2012, 11:47 amThe Wikileaks (and Anonymous) release of Stratfor’s emails must have been a huge blow to the company. How do you handle such a PR nightmare? Insist that Wikileaks is personally attacking your company.
Stratfor issued a public statement today regarding the Wikileaks release of their emails last night. In it, they say that “thieves compromised...
Act of Valor Assaults Box Office
February 27, 2012, 11:38 amIn what was a very slow weekend for new releases, the Navy SEAL action flick “Act of Valor” took the top spot with $24,700,000 beating “Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds” with $16,000,000 , and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” with $13,475,000.
In 2007, Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh of Bandito Brothers Production...
Obama’s Google+ Flooded With Chinese Comments
February 27, 2012, 11:27 amPresident Obama has a Google Plus page for his re-election. Recently, people in China found they were suddenly able to acces the page. From there things went quite nuts.
Postings have flooded the page in what some people are calling the “Occupy Obaba” movement by the Chinese. Rather than some form of protest against Obama, as the name...
Facebook Open Graph App Submission Checklist
February 27, 2012, 11:26 amFacebook now has an Open Graph Checklist for application developers developing apps for the Facebook Timeline. The company says that 90% of the app submissions its received have been fully reviewed and responded to (as of this past Thursday). The rest will be reviewed within the next few weeks, it says.
For new submissions, the checklist should...
eBay Announces New Partnerships
February 27, 2012, 11:26 amToday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, eBay announced new partnerships with Three.co.uk, Yotal and Entradas, and unveiled new mobile app updates that enhance mobile commerce capabilities. eBay and Three.co.uk have paired up to deliver Android devices preloaded with eBay mobile apps, on the UK’s fastest growing mobile network....
Smart Online Launches Apps For Dummies
February 27, 2012, 11:24 amHaven’t you heard, building your own apps is the latest technology craze? Last week we reported that Amazon Simple Workflow will be helping consumers create, manage, and maintenance their own apps. Today, Smart Online is introducing their service to help users do the same for mobile apps. This tuesday, the company will demonstrate their new...
Samsung Unveils Galaxy S WiFi 4.2 At Mobile World Congress
February 27, 2012, 11:17 amSamsung Unveils Galaxy S WiFi 4.2
Samsung has announced the new Galaxy S WiFi 4.2 at the 2012 Mobile World Congress. The new device is a wifi-only version of Samsung’s Galaxy S smartphone. The device promises “the best of Android” as well as a powerful gaming platform. It includes a gyroscope for gaming and an enhanced audio system.
The...
Photoshop Touch Now Available For iPad 2
February 27, 2012, 11:15 amPhotoshop is a fun little program that has inspired many works of art and many convincing fake images. Unfortunately, users were tethered to their desktops or laptops when they wanted to make hilarious “Nope, Chuck Testa” images. Starting today, users can now make them on the go.
Adobe announced on the Photoshop blog today that...
Jimmy Kimmel’s “Movie: The Movie” Is The Star-Studded Answer To “The Artist”
February 27, 2012, 11:14 amIf you’re like me, Jimmy Kimmel’s post-Oscars show is one of the best things about Oscar night. After the 3+ hour award ceremony and some questionable bits from host and presenters alike, Kimmel’s broadcast usually serves as a a nice refreshment.
This year, he’s hit another homerun with his star-studded trailer for the...
Mass Effect 3 Live-Action TV Trailer, We’re All Screwed
February 27, 2012, 11:13 amMass Effect 3, the flagship title for BioWare in 2012 is receiving some massive marketing push from EA. You know you’ve made it when your video game receives the live-action trailer treatment. ME3 can now join the club, with Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3, Skyrim, Halo 3: ODST, Fear 3, and more.
I’m torn on the use of live-action...
HTC One Series Unveiled At Mobile World Congress
February 27, 2012, 10:52 amAt the Mobile World Congress 2012, HTC has unveiled their latest line of Anroid-based smartphones. The HTC One series consists of three phones designed to appeal to a range of customers and their varying budgets.
All three phones will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, as well as HTC’s own branded user experience, HTC Sense 4. The HTC One line...
Android Users: Facebook May Have Read Your Text Messages
February 27, 2012, 10:47 amYou may not know it, Android users, but when you installed the Facebook mobile app on to your phone, you gave Facebook access to read your text messages. This fact rose to the surface yesterday after a report from the The Sunday Times revealed Facebook may or may not have been reading the text messages stored on the phones of Android users. And...
RG3 Is Announced As Newest EA Cover Athlete
February 27, 2012, 10:46 amRobert Griffin III, the young man who just ran a 4.41 40 yard dash at the NFL scouting Combine has been announced as the cover athlete for EA’s NCAA Football 13. RG3 was one of the most dynamic players in all of college football last year. He was the winner of the Heisman trophy beating Andrew Luck for the award. He also won the Davey...
Facebook Video: Dad Shoots Laptop Followup
February 27, 2012, 10:41 amThree weeks ago, when we did an article about the father who shot his daughter’s laptop in a Facebook video, little did we know the firestorm response that would result.
The original video has been viewed on Youtube over 30 million times. Many people responded with comments of approval for the father taking a hardline stance in his home. In...
Facebook Aims To Improve Its Mobile Ecoystem
February 27, 2012, 10:39 amAt Mobile World Congress today, Facebook CTO, Bret Taylor announced a couple initiatives where Facebook is working with partners in the industry on mobile web standards and payment improvements.
When Facebook filed for its IPO earlier this month, Facebook expressed that mobile is something of a risk factor for the company.
Facebook said:...
Daytona 500 Time Moved: What People Are Saying On Twitter
February 27, 2012, 10:15 amThe Daytona 500 was supposed to run yesterday, but it was delayed for hours by rain, before ultimately being canceled for the day. Initially, it was rescheduled for Noon today, but it’s now been changed for 7:00PM Eastern.
People were already tweeting their disgust yesterday about the rescheduling, as many would be at work. Some talked...
Site Clinics at #LinkLove
February 27, 2012, 9:39 amWe introduced the site clinics at our SearchLove conferences last year and they proved to be hugely popular, so they are making a come-back again for 2012.We love sharing knowledge here at Distilled and this is a great opportunity to sit down with one of our expert SEO consultants and discuss some of the niggling worries you have about your...
Europe Gets New Panasonic Eluga Power
February 27, 2012, 9:28 amEurope is being treated to a new super-fast charging smartphone from Panasonic. The Eluga Power features a 1280 x 720 high-definition touch screen and can reach a 50% charge in 30 minutes! that’s impressive!
Here’s the spec’s and features from Panasonic:
Features
A 1280×720 HD, 5.0 inch LCD screen with a 9.6mm thin...
Harry Potter in School Libraries Digitally Now
February 27, 2012, 9:26 amPottermore, the online experience and home of the Harry Potter eBooks created by J.K. Rowling and partnered by Sony, announced today it has entered into an exclusive worldwide eBook and digital audiobook distribution agreement with OverDrive for public and school libraries. Under the terms of the agreement, OverDrive, a leading global distributor...
Nokia Launches Low-Cost Lumia Phone
February 27, 2012, 9:22 amToday at Mobile World Congress, Nokia launched the Lumia 610, a low-end Windows phone, roughly a year after announcing that it would discontinue development of it’s proprietary operating system Symbian, in an attempt to boost sales. Still, the company also announced a new Symbian phone, that can shoot 38-megapixel pictures.
The Lumia 610...
uTorrent Android App In The Works
February 27, 2012, 9:20 amAndroid users may very well be seeding and leeching right from their mobile devices pretty soon. TorrentFreak is reporting that the uTorrent dev team is currently working on a uTorrent app for Android.
uTorrent owners BitTorrent Inc. had little to say about the upcoming app – only that it’s in the works and they don’t have any...
LinkedIn Follow Company Button For Sites Launched
February 27, 2012, 9:09 amLinkedIn announced the launch of a “Follow Company” button that companies can use on their sites. It’s basically like those you see from other social networks, and frankly, it’s a little surprising this didn’t already exist, but it’s here now.
A LinkedIn spokesperson tells WebProNews in an email:
LinkedIn...
ASUS Padfone Finally Revealed at MWC
February 27, 2012, 9:00 amThe time has finally come for the ASUS PadFone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Previously announced at last years CES, the PadFone features a smartphone/tablet combo. In essence the PadFone combines a 4.3″ Super AMOLED screen powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), with a 10.1″ tablet that increases the battery...
New Windows Handsets To Accompany Apollo
February 27, 2012, 8:55 amLater this year, when Microsoft announces the availability of the Windows Apollo operating system, HTC is planning to be there with new Windows Phone devices as well. “You will see a new range of Windows Phones from us when Microsoft releases their new Apollo operating system,” tells HTC’s chief product officer, Kouji...
iPad 3 Getting A Quad-Core Processor After All?
February 27, 2012, 8:54 amLast week we brought you news that an image of the iPad 3’s logic board had leaked, with a processor labeled A5X. The processor appears not to be the quad-core processor that the tablet has been rumored to be getting. It appears, though, that rumors of the A6 processor’s demise may have been exaggerated.
According to a recent report from...
Oscars Have Little Effect On Top 10 Pirated Movies
February 27, 2012, 8:50 amDo Oscar nominations correlate to increased piracy? Let’s find out!
TorrentFreak keeps a tally on the most pirated films each week, but this week is special as it comes on the coattails of the Oscars. People were aware of the nominations for a while so one would assume that the most pirated films would be those films that received the most...
Skype Releases Beta for Windows Mobile
February 27, 2012, 8:45 amTelephony king Skype just announced its new Skype for Windows Phone Beta app. This now makes Skype available on almost all of the leading mobile smartphone operating systems. The gold version of the app will be available in April.
You can now download the beta version directly from your Windows Phone or at the Marketplace from your computer to...
How to Optimize Tablets vs. Smartphones
February 27, 2012, 8:00 amAlthough smartphones and tablets share many common attributes, they differ greatly as it relates to where the devices are used, what they use them for, and most importantly, how you should market via search to consumers on the different devices.
Inbound Marketing Lead Sources More Important to Marketers
February 27, 2012, 7:45 amIt is likely to come as little surprise that marketers are still finding inbound marketing lead sources increasingly important in their business. It certainly makes sense. SO much so that you don’t really think about it and the implications. That is until you read something like HubSpot’s State of Inbound Marketing 2012. You can...
LinkedIn Now Adds 'Follow Company' Button
February 27, 2012, 6:35 amStarting today, companies will be adding this button to their websites, making it easier for any consumer on the web to begin following companies of interest, on LinkedIn.
8 Steps to Guest Blogging Artistry for Free Links, Recognition & Exposure
February 27, 2012, 6:00 amOnline marketers want links, recognition, and exposure. Guest blogging has become a key link building practice based on exchanging worthwhile content for improved rankings and more perks. Here are eight steps for honing your guest blogging craft.
Premise 2.0: The Complete Digital Sales and Lead Generation Engine for WordPress
February 27, 2012, 5:23 amWhen anyone wants to quickly and easily create, test, and optimize landing pages with WordPress, our Premise software is the way to go. No doubt. And the one-time fee, bundled optimization education, copywriting advice (from within WordPress), and included custom graphics have made Premise the go-to choice for thousands of online marketers and...
Do you know who you're writing for?
February 27, 2012, 5:08 amWelcome back! Today's Web-writing video addresses a fundamental copywriting step that a lot of people choose to blow off: researching the target audience you're writing for before you start writing.
Google Images Adds Previews to Related Searches
February 27, 2012, 2:00 amGoogle is now displaying a visual preview of images when you hover over links to related searches in Google Images. Hovering will open a dark gray box with previews of three to five images from the related searches – no click-through required.
Google Docs Mobile Experience Improves
February 27, 2012, 1:22 amGoogle Docs is one of those Google properties that makes a lot of people nervous. It makes some nervous about security but it makes others very nervous competitively. So much so that they make funny videos to make it look like they are not threatened. Nice try. The latest improvement gives Android mobile users even greater interaction.
Google Dumping Clearwire Stake
February 27, 2012, 12:47 amGoogle will sell its 6.5 percent stake in wireless Internet service provider Clearwire for roughly $47 million (a discounted stock price of $1.60 per share), according to an SEC filing. Google initially invested $500 million in the company in 2008.
Create Crawlable, Link-Friendly AJAX Websites Using pushState()
February 27, 2012, 12:21 amPosted by RobOusbey Many people have an interest in building websites that take advantage of AJAX principles, while still being accessible to search engines. This is an important issue that I've written about before in a (now obsolete) post from 2010 . The tactic I shared then has been superseded by new technologies, so it's time to write the...
Apple Chomps Into Google's Jelly Belly With App Search
February 26, 2012, 11:35 pmApple is finally doing search, or at least search for applications, somewhat completing a debate ignited nearly two years ago by analysts and pundits. Last week, Apple acquired Chomp, whose application helps users of iOS and Android devices find an app they'd like. It's an application search app, which is a big deal for an App Store that has more...
Best Picture Oscar Goes To The Artist, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 10:59 pmThe Artist won the coveted Best Picture Oscar. Here's the trailer: The nominees were: Hugo Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers Midnight in Paris Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers Moneyball Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers The Tree of Life Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner and Grant Hill, Producers...
Actress In a Leading Role Oscar Goes To Meryl Streep, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 10:44 pmMeryl Streep won the Actress In a Leading Role Oscar for her role in The Iron Lady. The nominees were: Glenn Close Albert Nobbs Viola Davis The Help Rooney Mara The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Meryl Streep The Iron Lady Michelle Williams My Week With Marilyn Here's some Twitter reaction: @JKrollie Jessica Kroll I wanted Michelle Williams to win,...
Actor In a Leading Role Oscar Goes To Jean Dujardin, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 10:28 pmThe Oscar for Actor In a Leading Role was awarded to Jean Dujardin for his role in The Artist. A lot of people thought George Clooney was going to get this one, but no such luck for him. The nominees were: Demián Bichir A Better Life George Clooney The Descendants Jean Dujardin The Artist Gary Oldman Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Brad Pitt Moneyball...
Directing Oscar Goes To Michel Hazanavicius, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 10:13 pmThe Oscar for Directing was awarded to Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist.The nominees were: The Artist Michel Hazanavicius The Descendants Alexander Payne Hugo Martin Scorsese Midnight in Paris Woody Allen The Tree of Life Terrence Malick Here's some Twitter reaction: @PhilDornhegge Philipp Dornhegge Directing: check.
NBA All-Star Game Impresses Twitter
February 26, 2012, 9:58 pmThe NBA All-Star game just ended, and the West beat the East 152 - 149. I didn't watch it, but judging from the conversation going around Twitter, it was a hell of game. Some are already talking about watching it again. Here's a small sampling of what's being said: @TheMikeLacy That One Kid Although I prefer the home run derby to saturdays events...
Writing (Original Screenplay) Oscar Goes To Midnight In Paris, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 9:58 pmWoody Allen won the Oscar for Writing (Original Screenplay) for Midnight in Paris. The nominees were: The Artist Written by Michel Hazanavicius Bridesmaids Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig Margin Call Written by J.C.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) Oscar Goes To The Descendants, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 9:42 pmThe Descendants won the Oscar for Writing (Adapted Screenplay). The nominees were: The Descendants Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash Hugo Screenplay by John Logan The Ides of March Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon Moneyball Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin.
Actor In a Supporting Role Oscar Goes To Christopher Plummer, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 9:27 pmThe Oscar for Actor In a Supporting Role went to Christopher Plummer. The nominees were: Kenneth Branagh My Week With Marilyn Jonah Hill Moneyball Nick Nolte Warrior Christopher Plummer Beginners Max von Sydow Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Some Twitter reaction: @slasher48 Andrea Christopher Plummer is so damn flawless. I need him to talk all...
Visual Effects Oscar Goes To Hugo
February 26, 2012, 9:12 pmHugo won the Oscar for visual effects, the film's fifth award of the night, having won for Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Cinematography and Art Direction. The nominees were: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson Hugo Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann and Alex Henning Real Steel...
Robert Downey Jr. Tebows At Oscars, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 8:56 pmThe Tebowing craze continues. Robert Downey Jr. even Tebowed at the Oscars. Downey Jr. presented the award for Documentary Feature with Gwyneth Paltrow. The award went to Undefeated: Here's what they're saying about the Tebowing on Twitter (I'm sure video will be available soon): @TheInSneider Jeff Sneider Robert Downey Jr. just Tebowed! 1 minute...
Film Editing Oscar Goes To The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 8:36 pmThe Oscar for film editing went to the team behind The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. It's the same team that won last year for The Social Network. Both films, of course, were directed by David Fincher.
Actress In a Supporting Role Oscar Goes To Octavia Spencer, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 8:23 pmThe Oscar for Actress In a Supporting Role went to Octavia Spencer for The Help.
The nominees were:
Bérénice Bejo
The Artist
Jessica Chastain
The Help
Melissa McCarthy
Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer
Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer
The Help
Here’s some Twitter reaction to Spencer’s win:
@TammyLynneRexTammy RecksiedlerOctavia Spencer just...
Costume Design Oscar Goes To The Artist, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 8:20 pmThe Artist won the Oscar for Costume Design, beating out Hugo, which won both of the previous Oscars awarded. Here's the trailer: The nominees were: Anonymous Lisy Christl The Artist Mark Bridges Hugo Sandy Powell Jane Eyre Michael O'Connor W.E.
Foreign Language Film Oscar Goes To A Separation (Iran), Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 8:14 pmThe Oscar for Foreign Language Film went to A Separation (Iran).
Here’s the trailer:
The nominees were:
Belgium, “Bullhead”
Michael R. Roskam, director
Canada, “Monsieur Lazhar”
Philippe Falardeau, director
Iran, “A Separation”
Asghar Farhadi, director
Israel, “Footnote”
Joseph Cedar,...
Oscars For Cinematography, Art Direction Go To Hugo, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 8:05 pmThe first two Oscars of the night both went to the film Hugo. Those would be the awards for Cinematography and Art Direction.
WikiLeaks Publishes Global Intelligence Files: Over 5 Million Emails
February 26, 2012, 7:03 pmAs previously reported , WikiLeaks has been tweeting that it was about to release some "extraordinary news". Shortly thereafter, the WikiLeaks Twitter account posted that it just released, "The Global Intelligence Files. Over 5 million emails". Along with that, was a link to a press release: @wikileaks WikiLeaks WIKILEAKS RELEASE: The Global...
Sacha Baron Cohen Dumps Ashes On Ryan Seacrest On Oscars Red Carpet, Twitter Finds It Hilarious
February 26, 2012, 7:03 pmIt looks like they're quickly being taken down from YouTube, but as of the time of this writing, here's one version that shows it: @sidneyblaire Sidney Robichaud Ryan Seacrest wearing Kim Jong Il #bestdressed 33 seconds ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto @GBS402 Giorgia Smith Sacha Baron Cohen - what...
Oscars Red Carpet: Twitter Reaction
February 26, 2012, 6:15 pmThe pre-Oscars Red Carpet extravaganza just hit the airwaves, and naturally it didn’t take long for Twitter to explode with commentary. We’ll pull out some of the highlights here, up to the show.
Side note: It’s good to see that the Rob Zombie Woolite commercial is still in the rotation for tonight’s event:
Here’s...
WikiLeaks About To Release "Extraordinary News"
February 26, 2012, 5:57 pmUpdate: Since this was posted, WikiLeaks tweeted: @wikileaks WikiLeaks 9 2 minutes ago via Mobile Web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto @wikileaks WikiLeaks 8 50 seconds ago via Mobile Web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto So, apparently that "10â³ wasn't a reference...
Notes from IAB: Rising Star Formats Outperforming Standard Ad Units According to IAB Study
February 26, 2012, 5:52 pmTonight is a good night! I am currently in the sunny city of Miami at the Interactive Advertising Bureaus (IAB) Annual Leadership Meeting. First off, I want to congratulate Microsofts very own John Genna, Prabhakar Goyal and Beth Uyenco on the IAB Service Award they just received. John was recognized for his work spurring greater creativity in...
WikiLeaks About To Release “Extraordinary News” [UPDATE]
February 26, 2012, 5:42 pmUpdate: Here we go:
@wikileaksWikiLeaksWIKILEAKS PRESS RELEASE is also here. http://t.co/oGGkJVCT is under a huge world-wide traffic load http://t.co/dsatr2US 57 seconds ago via Mobile Web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by...
2012 Oscar Predictions From Google & Yahoo
February 26, 2012, 5:21 pmWho will take home the Oscar at the 84th Annual Academy Awards tonight? Google predicts "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" might be the "underdog" winner for best picture, but Yahoo backs "War Horse" as best picture based on search trends.
Cameron Winklevoss: Desktop Usage Will Peak This Year
February 26, 2012, 4:25 pmThere's no question that mobile web usage is on the rise, as more and more people purchase smartphones and tablets. Feature phones still play a role too. Half of the famed Winklevii (made more famous from Armie Hammer's portrayal of the twins in the hit film The Social Network) went so far as to suggest that this will be the year desktop usage...
Daytona 500 Canceled: Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 4:19 pmAs reported earlier, the Daytona 500 was experiencing a rain delay, and plenty of people were complaining (and rejoicing) on Twitter. Now, they’ve gone ahead and canceled it for the day, and it will run (hopefully) tomorrow at Noon.
In 53 years of the race’s existence, this has never happened. There has never been a cancellation....
Razzies: Adam Sandler Sets Record, Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 3:54 pmAdam Sandler has made cinematic history with his film Jack and Jill. He has set the record for most "Razzie" nominations in one year by one person. The Razzies' site says : With three critically-panned movies released by his Happy Madison Productions, 2011 was A Berry Bad Year for Adam Sandler, who now totally dominates the list of contenders for...
Where To Get Paid The Most For Web And Software Development [Infographic]
February 26, 2012, 3:23 pmIt looks like Australia is the place to be if you want to maximize your wealth, developing. Staff.com put out the following infographic looking at average annual salaries for web developers, software developers, graphic designers, and some other positions. Australia is pretty much ahead in all categories except graphic design, where it's beaten...
Verizon's $4 Billion Spectrum Deal: Public Knowledge On How It Hurts Consumers, Competition
February 26, 2012, 3:00 pmLast year ,Verizon announced it would purchase mobile spectrum licenses from several cable companies for about $4 billion. Competitors think this will give Verizon too much power and hurt competition. Complaints from T-Mobile USA, Sprint Nextel, Public Knowledge, and the National Consumer Law Center have been filed with the FCC, trying to get...
Verizon’s $4 Billion Spectrum Deal: Public Knowledge On How It Hurts Consumers, Competition
February 26, 2012, 2:44 pmLast year ,Verizon announced it would purchase mobile spectrum licenses from several cable companies for about $4 billion. Competitors think this will give Verizon too much power and hurt competition.
Complaints from T-Mobile USA, Sprint Nextel, Public Knowledge, and the National Consumer Law Center have been filed with the FCC, trying to get...
Daytona 500 Rain Delay: Twitter Reacts
February 26, 2012, 2:29 pmFox's pre-race crew were talking about how Danica Patrick was going to crank of the ratings for the Daytona 500. Unfortunately, weather got in the way, and the race is currently on delay. I wonder how much that will impact those ratings. Luckily, the race is still getting plenty of attention, and while Fox shows some race footage from last...
Tools to Help SEOs With ADD Get Work Done
February 26, 2012, 1:22 pmA vast majority of SEOs believe they "suffer" from ADD. After all, SEOs are being asked to do a lot. Today, many tools are available to help folks organize their SEO work, so that ideas result in action items which (hopefully) result in results.
Tool to Help SEOs With ADD Get Work Done
February 26, 2012, 10:28 amA vast majority of SEOs believe they "suffer" from ADD. After all, SEOs are being asked to do a lot. Today, many tools are available to help folks organize their SEO work, so that ideas result in action items which (hopefully) result in results.
Are Google's Results Better After A Year Of Panda Updates?
February 26, 2012, 7:54 amIt's hard to believe that it's already been a year since Google first launched the Panda update. OK, who am I kidding? It feels like an eternity ago. But it's been a year. How much work have you done on your site to comply with Panda in that amount of time? Now that you've had a year to get to know it, how do you think Google has done with the...
SES London 2012 - Day 3 Coverage #SESLondon
February 26, 2012, 12:34 amThe final day of SES London 2012, much like Day 1 and Day 2, was packed full of great tips and strategies on keywords, link building, local and social search, and much more. Here's a roundup of Day 3 live blogging and coverage of SES London 2012.
SES London 2012 – Day 3 Coverage #SESLondon
February 26, 2012, 12:00 amThe final day of SES London 2012, much like Day 1 and Day 2, was packed full of great tips and strategies on keywords, link building, local and social search, and much more. Here's a roundup of Day 3 live blogging and coverage of SES London 2012.
Google Privacy Policy: 36 Attorneys General Express Strong Concerns
February 25, 2012, 1:42 pmThe National Association of Attorneys General said in an open letter to Google CEO Larry Page stating that the group had "strong concerns" with the the way Google plans to consolidate its multiple privacy policies into one single agreement.
Guardian Cross, New Game From Square Enix, Announced For iOS
February 25, 2012, 11:39 amSquare Enix, one of the few major publishers releasing core games on mobile devices, have announced their new game. The game in question is called Guardian Cross and was announced on their Facebook page . There's not much to go on yet, but the information bar on the page provides some initial details: A new fantasy card battle game coming out this...
Apple Buys Chomp to Improve App Search
February 25, 2012, 11:34 amApple, which now boasts more than 500,000 apps in its App Store, is aiming to improve search and discovery features. In a deal rumored to be worth $50 million, Apple has acquired start-up Chomp to revamp App Store search and recommendations.
Police Crackdown On BitTorrent Trackers In Sweden
February 25, 2012, 11:24 amWe reported that the Sweden Supreme Court held up the conviction of the Pirate Bay founders. It seems that decision has had more of an effect on file-sharing sites across the net in Sweden than previously thought. TorrentFreak is reporting that Swepiracy, a site that facilitated torrent downloads, has been shut down by authorities in Sweden and...
Yahoo! Mail Gets Awesome Marketing Stunt
February 25, 2012, 10:23 amI’m really skeptical of marketing stunts pulled by companies because they usually end being pretty lackluster. Yahoo! on the other hand has created something wholly unique and fun that I can totally get behind.
Yahoo! announced on their mail blog that they began to ship around the country a giant purple mailbox that they dubbed “The...
Google Images Safe Search No Longer Blocks 'Sex'
February 25, 2012, 10:07 amI remember searching for reproductive systems during high school on Google Images to find some pictures for a science project. I'll leave it up to your imagination what I found. Well. Google is now making it easier for other children to make the same mistake I did. Page Traffic Buzz has found that Google no longer blocks searches for "sex" or...
Google Images Safe Search No Longer Blocks ‘Sex’
February 25, 2012, 9:58 amI remember searching for reproductive systems during high school on Google Images to find some pictures for a science project. I’ll leave it up to your imagination what I found.
Well. Google is now making it easier for other children to make the same mistake I did. Page Traffic Buzz has found that Google no longer blocks searches for...
Facebook Storefronts: Why Brands Fail
February 25, 2012, 9:41 amExecutives from social technology startups share several reasons why four high-profile brands - Gamestop, Gap, JCPenney, and Nordstrom - have reportedly shuttered their Facebook storefronts over the past year and how to advance F-commerce.
Pinterest Users Can No Longer Pin Copyrighted Flickr Images
February 25, 2012, 9:31 amI'm sure all you Pinterest users love to share images with each other since that's kind of the point of the site. Sometimes sharing runs into a little trouble called copyright infringement. Venture Beat is reporting that Flickr has blocked users from sharing certain images on Pinterest. It would appear that the photo sharing site is using the...
L.A. Times Launching A Paywall For Their Online Content
February 25, 2012, 8:45 amIt's no surprise that the traditional newspaper model is a failing model - at least in major cities. One of the ways to offset the decline in revenue is to launch a paywall. The L.A. Times is the latest newspaper to launch such a program. On Friday, the L.A. Times announced the launch of a new membership program for their Web site - that's...
Google Affiliate Network Getting A List Of Improvements
February 25, 2012, 8:14 amAre you a member of the Google Affiliate Network? You may want to listen up then. Google announced on their Affiliate Network blog a host of changes coming to the service that should make everything faster and better organized for advertisers and publishers who use the service. The company comes swinging out of the gate with an update to the...
Nvidia Kepler Video Cards Rumored To Be In Production
February 25, 2012, 7:44 amIt's been a long time waiting, but Nvidia appears to finally be starting production on its line of Kepler GK104 video cards. For those unaware, Nvidia has been working on the new 28nm production process for a new video card codenamed Kepler. Fudzilla got word from their sources that Nvidia has been talking to its partners and the new cards are...
Android Market vs. App Store Prices: Why Android Users Pay Double [Study]
February 25, 2012, 7:38 amAnalyst firm Canalys' App Integrator study found that the top 100 paid applications on the Android service carry an average cost of $3.74, compared to an average cost of $1.47 for the most popular paid iOS apps, likely due to a smaller audience.
7 Sensible Content Marketing Links
February 25, 2012, 5:20 amThis week on The Lede: How Lists (and List Posts) Make Sense of the World How to say No . . . Especially to Things You Want to Do 85+ Copywriting Resources The Best Content Marketing Infographics on the Planet 8 Principles of Product Naming If you want more useful links than the seven we highlight here every week, follow @copyblogger on Twitter .
Cup of Joe: Lets Get Dirty And Talk About Value
February 24, 2012, 11:33 pmHere's an amazing story of a guy that discovered how to basically make money out of thin air, or fresh soil that is. You see I used to know this guy. Lets call him Tom. Tom sold dirt. That's right, he sold dirt fresh out of the ground. It all started when he began leasing a vacant lot not far from my house. While passing by I saw his beat up truck...
Cup of Joe: Let’s Get Dirty And Talk About Value
February 24, 2012, 11:20 pmHere’s an amazing story of a guy that discovered how to basically make money out of thin air, or fresh soil that is. You see I used to know this guy. Lets call him Tom. Tom sold dirt. That’s right, he sold dirt fresh out of the ground. It all started when he began leasing a vacant lot not far from my house. While passing by I saw his...
Managing Bingbot - crawl control in your hands
February 24, 2012, 6:46 pmI don't mean "in your hands" as in on your smartphone, as an app, etc. "In your hands" here means under your control. Putting the power with the people, though I admit that an app would be super cool for this feature. Hmmm..... What we've covering in this video is how to control Bingbot through Webmaster Tools. Well, less about the actual how (...
Google Predicts Oscar Winners
February 24, 2012, 4:53 pmThe folks at google have crunched the numbers relating to historical search data and the Oscar's. And, what they have found could shed some light on, or even predict, the Oscar winners this weekend. The Google search team broke down the search data on three Oscar's categories: Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Based on their data, they...
AdamEve.com Argues Over America's Adult Content Viewing Habits
February 24, 2012, 4:38 pmWe do a lot of articles about a certain company with an Apple as their logo. This is not the one we usually report about. AdamEve.com claims to be America's most trusted source for adults products. The company is well known for not shying away from asking questions about sexual behavior, so it shouldn't come to anyone's surprise that in a recent...
AdamEve.com Argues Over America’s Adult Content Viewing Habits
February 24, 2012, 4:30 pmWe do a lot of articles about a certain company with an Apple as their logo. This is not the one we usually report about. AdamEve.com claims to be America’s most trusted source for adults products. The company is well known for not shying away from asking questions about sexual behavior, so it shouldn’t come to anyone’s surprise...
iPhone User Wins Throttling Suit Against AT&T
February 24, 2012, 4:29 pmEarlier this month we reported that AT&T was throttling the data connections of customers who still had the old unlimited data plan and used more than 2 gigabytes of data per month. The practice struck many as unfair, since users who were paying for unlimited data were not only getting their connection throttled, but were actually getting...
Google Goes To Botswana, Offers Up Safari Street Views
February 24, 2012, 4:27 pmLater this year, Google Street View will officially be available in Botswana now that Google has decided to give that endlessly fun boots-on-the-ground mapping feature to Botswana. The map service will be replete with the usual street-level fare in order to hopefully encourage the growth of the country’s budding tourist industry.
If...
Google Goes To Botswana, Offers Up Safari Street Views In 2012
February 24, 2012, 4:27 pmLater this year, Google Street View will officially be available in Botswana now that Google has decided to give that endlessly fun boots-on-the-ground mapping feature to Botswana. The map service will be replete with the usual street-level fare in order to hopefully encourage the growth of the country’s budding tourist industry.
If...
Chrome For Android Beta Gets An Update
February 24, 2012, 4:27 pmEarlier this month, Google announced the beta version of Chrome for Android Though it’s only available for select countries and languages for devices running Ice Cream Sandwich.
Today, Google announced an update to the beta channel for Chrome for Android. Google’s Srikanth Rajagopalan writes:
Chrome for Android has been updated to...
Woman: More Common Sense On Facebook
February 24, 2012, 4:26 pmA survey of 2,277 adults by Pew Research reports that users have become more active in managing their relationships and taking advantage of privacy controls when compared with data from a few years ago. The study looks at accounts from Facebook, LinkedIn, and My Space. The fact that more users are taking advantage of privacy controls...
Playstation Vita Having Major Mini Problems
February 24, 2012, 4:23 pmThe newly released Playstation Vita, which was launched in North America on Feb 22nd, is having a little bit of a hiccup with playing free PS+ mini's. According to reports from the EU Playstation Blog , when players try to launch a PS+ free mini, they get a C1-2858-3 error code. As of right now, the problem seems to be contained to just the PS+...
Cisco To Acquire High-Speed Networking Company Lightwire For $271 Million
February 24, 2012, 4:23 pmCisco announced today that it intends to acquire Lightwire , which develops what are described as "advanced optical interconnect technology for high-speed networking applications." The price: $271 million. Cisco says the acquisition would allow it to deliver cost-effective high-speed networks, for service provider and data center customers to...
Reddit Creates The Freedom Of Internet Act
February 24, 2012, 4:23 pmThe users of Reddit are more than just Internet warriors who fought bravely against SOPA and PIPA with the legendary Net blackout of January. They are also amateur legislators which they have proven by writing a law of their own. The law is called "The Freedom of Internet Act" and it seeks to be what SOPA and PIPA aren't - a level-headed approach...
Danica Patrick Boosts NASCAR Popularity
February 24, 2012, 4:20 pmDanica Patrick’s presence has been driving NASCAR ratings and popularity, according to Neilsen. In general, Patrick is 233% more recognized than the average race car driver, generates more social media buzz and boosts TV ratings. Nascar has noted the “Danica Effect,” and 4-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon states,...
Blekko Tests Search Ads
February 24, 2012, 4:17 pmStartup search engine Blekko has recently begun to test search ads on its site. It works with several large brands through feeds from Google and Bing but doesn't have direct relationships with any confirmed brands as of right now.
Apple Giving Away $10,000 Gift Card For 25 Billionth App Download
February 24, 2012, 4:09 pmApple has a special prize for whoever downloads the 25 billionth app from the App Store: a big, fat $10,000 iTunes gift card (which you can spend on apps, music, and books, or course).
There are two ways in which you can enter the contest. The first is simple – you download an app. The second is a way to enter without downloading...
Does Windows Have One Foot In The Grave?
February 24, 2012, 4:07 pmFifteen years ago Microsoft's Windows operating system reigned supreme in the computer world. Windows enjoyed near ubiquity in both the business and consumer computing markets. Challengers to Microsoft's hegemony were few and paltry. Apple, Microsoft's perennial rival, was in dire straits. Steve Jobs had only just returned to the company, which...
MapQuest For Android Can Fix What Google Maps Sometimes Gets Wrong
February 24, 2012, 4:07 pmFace it, Google: sometimes, you get it wrong when it comes to mapping out directions. In my experience with mapping directions generated by Google, I have taken many an erroneous exist and been directed to intersections that didn't exist. Once, I even arrived at the porch of a household that was totally not expecting me (because we had no idea who...
Should I Send This Email? [Infographic]
February 24, 2012, 4:07 pmEmail at work can slow your day down like mad. Inbox overload is a huge problem in offices around the world, even if all your email is legitimate business mail.
If you are still getting old-school spam, have a talk with your IT department or look for a solution to that for your small business. But, Viagra spam aside, there are tons of things that...
Stephen King Reads the First Chapter of The Shining Sequel
February 24, 2012, 4:07 pmWhen Stephen King announced his plan for a sequel to his smash hit, The Shining, the idea of psychic vampires perhaps scared some of King’s followers, especially in light of his criticism of Stephanie Meyer.
While the wave of relief concerning Dr. Sleep hasn’t completely fallen upon us, the chance to revisit the world of Danny Torrance...
Big AOL Shareholder Starboard Wants New AOL Board, AOL Not So Much
February 24, 2012, 3:52 pmStarboard, one of AOL's biggest shareholders (5.2%) is apparently unhappy with AOL's current board, and wrote a letter to the company nominating five new board members. AOL disagrees with Starboard's assessment that these changes are needed. The whole thing follows a previous letter from Starboard in December, when the shareholder blasted the...
32 Million People Logged Into Skype At Same Time
February 24, 2012, 3:52 pmSkype announced today that it has reached a milestone in internet usage. They had 32 million people logged onto their service at the same time. I had no idea Skype had become so popular. With the rising cost of long distance and telephone bills in general, you can save a lot of money and aggravation by communicating with Skype. The service works...
Airlines Experiment with Social Seating
February 24, 2012, 3:52 pmIf you can use a social network to find a life partner, why not a flight partner? A new article in the New York Times talks about how some airlines are using social media to help frequent fliers find more compatible seatmates. KLM's Meet and Seat program uses Facebook and LinkedIn profiles to help match up fliers on the same flights. The...
Follow the Oscars Live on Twitter
February 24, 2012, 3:52 pmOscar night is upon us, and it promises to be the biggest one yet for twitter followers. The award show is trying to increase buzz by observing a growing trend in social media: viewers simultaneously tweeting on their favorite TV shows while they watch them. According to Bluefin Labs, a social Media analytics company, during last year's broadcast,...
The Oscars Look to Top 13 Million SMC's
February 24, 2012, 3:36 pmNot long ago, we measured the success of a TV special by the number of viewers who tuned in. These days, it's the number of social media comments that counts. This year's battle for top honors began with The Super Bowl. They pulled in an impressive 12.2 million SMC's (Twitter, Facebook and other social networks combined) which put them up 578%...
Be Like Darwin With iNaturalist App
February 24, 2012, 3:36 pmThe iNaturalist app, developed by iNaturalist.org , allows users to photograph various species in nature, log them, and then contribute observations to the iNaturalist website, a social network for naturalists. Users can also get some insight from fellow naturalists for help in identifying plants and animals they come across, and the app...
Limp Bizkit, Daytona, and Chris Brown's iPhone Problems
February 24, 2012, 3:36 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Enjoy! @agentbizzle brian altano Congrats to Limp...
The Simple Rules For Covering Jeremy Lin
February 24, 2012, 3:36 pmAfter ESPN's unfortunate choice of words to describe one of Jeremy Lin's basketball loses, the concept of treading lightly in relation to Lin's race has become something of a hot button issue. Thankfully, the Asian American Journalists Association is here to help. In order to avoid any potential embarrassment, the AAJA released something of a...
People like Chicken Nuggets & Other Things We Learned from Facebook
February 24, 2012, 3:36 pmJanuary was a good month for Digg with an increase in page views by 35% (our highest level since October of 2010) and Facebook referral traffic up by 67 percent.
The Oscars Look to Top 13 Million SMC’s
February 24, 2012, 3:25 pmNot long ago, we measured the success of a TV special by the number of viewers who tuned in. These days, it’s the number of social media comments that counts.
This year’s battle for top honors began with The Super Bowl. They pulled in an impressive 12.2 million SMC’s (Twitter, Facebook and other social networks combined) which...
Facebook Creates A Challenge For SEC
February 24, 2012, 3:21 pmAccording to the Securities and Exchange Commission, it has become increasingly more difficult to regulate and minimize insider trading. A predominant reason for this is social media like Facebook and Twitter. The ease at with insiders can share and disseminate information among groups is astounding. Mary Shapiro,
Are Google’s Results Better After A Year Of Panda Updates?
February 24, 2012, 3:09 pmIt’s hard to believe that it’s already been a year since Google first launched the Panda update. OK, who am I kidding? It feels like an eternity ago. But it’s been a year. How much work have you done on your site to comply with Panda in that amount of time?
Now that you’ve had a year to get to know it, how do you think...
Chris Brown Accused By Fan Of Stealing Her Phone
February 24, 2012, 3:06 pmOn Sunday night, the ever feuding Chris Brown had another incident in what seems to be a never ending stream to constantly remind us of how much of a terrible human being he is! According to the accuser, when she approached Chris Brown's vehicle to take a picture of him, he snatched the phone from her hand and said "Bitch you ain't going to put...
Mario Brothers + Lana Del Rey Cover = Awesome Parody
February 24, 2012, 3:06 pmAs Lana Del Rey's ascension up the popularity charts continues " is she America's answer to Adele? " her current hit, Video Games sports the kind of title that would attract the parody crowd, especially those who are fans of gaming. Enter Jenny Bede and her interpretation of Video Games ; however, instead of being a melancholy love song that uses...
Data Promises New Technology May Help You Lose Your Reading Glasses
February 24, 2012, 3:06 pmIt's not often you hear about a new technology product that has so far had 100% positive results and this one promises excellent eye saving news for all those currently using reading glasses who would like to lose them . A study recently published in Scientific Reports showed that a new technology product actually helped the participants suffering...
Richard Branson Puts Maldives President On Notice: Twitter Reactions
February 24, 2012, 2:28 pmVirgin founder, media tycoon, and fabulously haired billionaire Richard Branson penned an open letter to interim Maldives president Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik to express his shock upon finding out that Waheed was involved in the military coup that unseated the previous president, Mohamed Nasheed.
After saying how pleased he was to have met Waheed...
Open Source Now On Par With Proprietary Software
February 24, 2012, 2:27 pmI’m a huge proponent of open source software. I’ve always found it to be just as good as proprietary software that I would have to pay an arm and leg for. Microsoft Word? Ha, I use Open Office. iTunes? Even a bigger jovial laugh as I use foobar.
Anyway, Coverity released the results of their 2011 Coverity Scan Open Source Integrity Report...
Chill: Pinterest for Video Collection
February 24, 2012, 2:26 pmChill.com is being branded as “Pinterest for Video”. Let’s take a look at this site and see what things are like there. But, first, let’s take a look back at the history of Chill.
Chill is not a new site. Back in 2011, Chill was branded more as a place where people could DJ sets of YouTube videos for spectators. You had to...
Hack Displays Porn To Young Children At South Carolina Best Buy
February 24, 2012, 2:15 pmSay what you want about what was broadcast for a couple of minutes at one South Carolina Best Buy, but it was probably better than that repetitive Dave Matthews Band concert that they usually show. Customers in Greenville, South Carolina are shocked after they were subject to a few minutes of porn. The pornographic image was broadcast on the...
Linsanity Continues on eBay
February 24, 2012, 1:59 pmI just' I can't accidentally the word I'm thinking of to describe my dismay. Believe it or not, I actually get the hype surrounding Jeremy Lin. I really do. He's singlehandedly provided some much-needed fresh air to a New York Knicks franchise that was struggling to overcome the stain of Isiah Thomas. It also helps that Lin's insanity is happening...
Steve Jobs' Birthday Today
February 24, 2012, 1:59 pmToday would've been the 57th birthday of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, who passed away last October after a long battle with cancer. Fan commemoration has been a trending topic, and there had been speculation that Apple was going to release the iPad 3, to honor their chief. While this turned out to be just a rumor, last year, Apple celebrated by...
Share The Story Of Your First Car With Subaru
February 24, 2012, 1:59 pmHopefully all of us remember our first car, if not, you may have some better stories to tell than the rest of us. Either way, thinking about your first ride usually brings back some interesting memories. And for many, it occupies a special place in our hearts'. no matter how much of a P.O.S it was. Subaru is hoping you'll share those memories and...
Steve Jobs’ Birthday Today
February 24, 2012, 1:57 pmToday would’ve been the 57th birthday of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, who passed away last October after a long battle with cancer. Fan commemoration has been a trending topic, and there had been speculation that Apple was going to release the iPad 3, to honor their chief. While this turned out to be just a rumor, last year, Apple celebrated...
Oklahoma Violent Game Tax Killed In Subcommittee
February 24, 2012, 1:47 pmWe reported previously on a tax in Oklahoma that targeted video games with a “Teen,” “Mature,” or “Adults Only” rating. The bill in question would implement a one percent tax increase on those titles. The fate of said bill has been decided.
Video Game Voters Network is reporting that the bill in question, House Bill 2696, was defeated...
YouTube Promotes Australian Laneway Music Festival
February 24, 2012, 1:43 pmWhile growing up in Australia in the 90′s, I remember one of the biggest musical events that the country geared up for was the well-known outdoor concert called The Big Day Out. This is a multi-day event where the country’s (and the world’s) big-named rock bands perform in various outdoor stadiums all around the continent. Think...
Jabberbox Facebook Page Taken Down
February 24, 2012, 1:28 pmJabberbox Designs, makers of the Jawbox case for Bluetooth headsets, recently announced that its Facebook fan page was recently taken offline. Jabberbox says that Facebook cited a copyright infringement complaint. According to Facebook's help page on the subject, their policy on removing alleged copyrighted or infringed upon content does not allow...
Friday Humor: Collection of Geeks & Nerds Infographics
February 24, 2012, 1:13 pmAll of these infographics have different criteria, but I believe I am a geek. The first IG makes it clear I meet the "geek criteria" (see my bio below). I do have a broad collection of superhero shirts and Star Wars shirts. I also wear jeans all the time. The Anatomy of Nerds + Geeks .
Don't Let Google's Privacy Policy Out You: Clear Your Web History Before March 1st
February 24, 2012, 1:13 pmGizmodo 's got a helpful guide today that guides Google users through the steps to remove your search history. You might be wondering why cleaning out your Web History might be such a big deal right now but, lest you forget, Google's new and dubious Privacy Policy jumps into action next Friday, March 1, at which point all of your Web History will...
TechCrunch Sheds Another Of Its Old School Writers
February 24, 2012, 12:58 pmAfter AOL acquired TechCrunch, the popular tech blog started going through a lot of changes. They weren't all immediately noticeable, but it didn't take too long for things to be very publicly coming apart at the seams. That's no slight on TechCrunch as it stands today. It still has writers that deserve the respect of being taken seriously. Some...
Don’t Let Google’s Privacy Policy Out You: Clear Your Web History Before March 1st
February 24, 2012, 12:53 pmGizmodo‘s got a helpful guide today that guides Google users through the steps to remove your search history. You might be wondering why cleaning out your Web History might be such a big deal right now but, lest you forget, Google’s new and dubious Privacy Policy jumps into action next Friday, March 1, at which point all of your Web...
Google Analytics Certification and How to Pass the GAIQ Test
February 24, 2012, 12:42 pmPosted by Slingshot SEO This post was originally in YouMoz , and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc. When I hear the word, cookies, I generally think of warm, gooey homemade chocolate chip cookies....
Apple Wants To Slice Keyboards
February 24, 2012, 12:27 pmApple has an interest in developing and reinventing thinner and lighter keyboard accessories according to a new patent application discovered by AppleInsider this week. The patent application describes several ways a keyboard could be shrunk in size without affecting its performance and is titled, "Single support lever keyboard mechanism." Apple...
Google-Branded Tablet Coming Soon?
February 24, 2012, 12:23 pmBack in December we brought you news that Google might have their own Google-branded tablet in the works. In an interview with an Italian newspaper, Eric Schmidt said that Google was working on a high-quality tablet to challenge the iPad. In the interview Schmidt promised that the tablet would be available sometime in the next six...
The Oscars: Finish the Phrase "#MoviesWereBestWhen" and Win A Year of Free Movies Nights
February 24, 2012, 12:11 pmThe stage is set and the red carpet is primed to roll out for The 84 th Annual Oscars telecast airing live this Sunday, Feb. 26 (7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT) on ABC. To get you in the spirit, @Bing will be taking a look back at the epic moments from the Academy Awards over the years and we want to hear from you. On Sunday, February 26th, we will tweet a...
Win A Year of Free Redbox Rentals With Bing's Oscar-Night Twitter Contest
February 24, 2012, 12:11 pmDo you have a gripe about the current state of filmmaking? Do you long for the golden age where (most) ideas were original and the world had never even heard of Michael Bay? If so, you can voice your critiques of modern cinema while possibly winning free Redbox rentals for a year. Sunday night is Oscar night, and it's also the kickoff of Bing's...
Apple Preparing To Adopt A Smaller Dock Connector?
February 24, 2012, 12:11 pmApple may be preparing to abandon the current dock connector model found in their iOS and iPad devices, according recent rumors. The shift would be simply a matter of real estate. A smaller connector would allow more room inside the device case for a range of upgraded internal components. While such a move may be an inconvenience in the short term...
The Mu Is The Future Of Plugs
February 24, 2012, 12:11 pmI like to think that the USB outlet adapter that my Android gets its power from is already pretty small. A team in the UK has made it even smaller. Say hello to the Mu, a transformable folding USB adapter for your phone. It's a pretty neat little accessory that fits in your pocket and folds out to handle all your recharging needs. The device was...
Your Road Map to Social Media Success
February 24, 2012, 12:11 pmWhether you are new to social media or have been creating campaigns for years, listen up. There is always room for improvement in social strategy development, especially since we work in an industry that is ever changing. So where do you start? Simply Business created this step-by-step flow chart to take businesses through the steps .
The Microsoft Advertising Accredited Professionals Program is now available in India!
February 24, 2012, 12:01 pmHello India! Weve heard your suggestions on expanding accreditation for Microsoft Advertising adCenter to other countries. Today, we are excited to announce the Microsoft Advertising Accredited Professional program is now available in India. Waittheres more! We are pleased to offer this program to you for FREE!!!! What will all this include?
181 Million Americans Watched 40 Billion Online Videos in January
February 24, 2012, 12:00 pmThe comScore Video Metrix service reported this week that 181 million U.S. Internet users watched nearly 40 billion videos of online video content in January 2012. Also, we take a closer look at video game entertainment network Machinima.
Win A Year of Free Redbox Rentals With Bing’s Oscar-Night Twitter Contest
February 24, 2012, 11:51 amDo you have a gripe about the current state of filmmaking? Do you long for the golden age where (most) ideas were original and the world had never even heard of Michael Bay? If so, you can voice your critiques of modern cinema while possibly winning free Redbox rentals for a year.
Sunday night is Oscar night, and it’s also the kickoff of...
The Associated Press Goes Bold With New Logo
February 24, 2012, 11:30 amIn what some would consider a bold move, the associated press has changed their logo of almost 30 years. The finished product is no doubt the result of intense labor by a team of highly-skilled graphic designers who have set out to leave their mark on the world with the masterpiece. Above I have shown you the previous logo and below I will unveil...
Steam Takes Over the Video Game World (Infographic)
February 24, 2012, 11:29 amWhile the concept of digital distribution is still a sore point among many content providers across the entertainment industry, there’s at least entity that not only has embraced digital distribution, it has mastered it. No, I’m not talking about Netflix or iTunes, two services that have also successfully brought digital distribution...
The Google Strikes Back: Taps Veteran Lobbyist To Counter Recent Political Scrutiny
February 24, 2012, 11:24 amGoogle seems to be accepting the realization that when you’re as big as they are, you draw a lot of legal scrutiny when you start tampering with people’s privacy. Perhaps in anticipation of more trouble to come, or to preclude future problems, the company has decided to tone up their political muscles in Washington by appointing former...
What Does Santorum’s Social “Buzz” Mean?
February 24, 2012, 11:19 amToday, MSNBC released some findings and stats on the social media buzz surrounding the three remaining GOP presidential candidates. Their analysis of the data indicated that Rick Santorum had the most social “buzz” of the three candidates. Let’s look at a few points from the MSNBC analysis.
“In the week leading up to the...
Google Street View Maps Reef
February 24, 2012, 11:08 amGoogle Street View is set to take cameras underwater to map Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, in conjunction with The University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute, for a comprehensive study on coral health, dubbed the Catlin Seaview Survey. Also involved are the non-profit organization Underwater Earth and insurance company Catlin....
Google, Bing, Twitter & YouTube: Latest Comings & Goings
February 24, 2012, 11:00 amGoogle will reportedly promote one of its own executives to CEO of Motorola. Meanwhile, Google has hired a veteran lobbyist and lost a pair of ad execs to Twiter. And Bing is for leaving. Here’s a rundown of the latest industry comings and goings.
Tim Cook Hints At Amazing Apple Products To Come
February 24, 2012, 10:58 amApple CEO Tim Cook addressed a meeting of Apple’s shareholders yesterday, and some of what he had to say offers some interesting hints of things to come. Cook began by noting that this was the first shareholder meeting since the death of Steve Jobs, and used part of the time to pay homage to Jobs and the way his death had impacted Apple as a...
Xbox Live Enforcement Says Gamer’s Last Name Is Offensive
February 24, 2012, 10:51 amXbox Live can be a pretty nasty place sometimes, but at least Microsoft keeps the offensive usernames out of the public view. That could be a problem, however, as some names are those offensive terms.
Kotaku is reporting that a young man named Christopher Gooche used his last name in his gamertag on Xbox Live. He’s been using it since 2004 when...
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City PC Release Date Announced
February 24, 2012, 10:43 amCapcom has just announced the PC release date for their upcoming Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. Patient PC gamers will have to wait almost two months longer than console gamers, as the PC version is set to launch on May 18th.
Here’s what Capcom has to say about the PC version:
Featuring NVIDIA 3D Vision support, stunning high...
Proview Files Another Suit Over Apple iPad
February 24, 2012, 10:41 amApple is being sued once again by Proview. This time they have filed in California against the technology giant, claiming they believed that were selling the rights of the iPad trademark to an IP developer, not an entity that represents competition in computer hardware sales.
Elliot Papageorgiou, a Shanghai-based partner and executive at law firm...
Exclusive Interview With The Scientist Using PageRank For Chemistry
February 24, 2012, 10:32 amA couple weeks ago, we reported on Washington State University chemistry professor Aurora Clark, who is applying the Google PageRank concept to water molecules to determine molecular shapes and chemical reactions “without the expense, logistics and occasional danger of lab experiments.”
As explained in the original announcement about this...
The Truth About Pinterest?
February 24, 2012, 10:30 amPinterest is the new “it” thing to have, or, well, be apart of, especially if you’re a regular Internet user. As Mike points out, while the idea may not be necessarily new, the desire to be included as a member is real. People are practically tripping over themselves to get a Pinterest invite, or at least to be a Pinterest...
Google Chrome Announces Inclusion of Do Not Track Button in Future Releases
February 24, 2012, 10:19 amWhen the Federal Trade Commission suggested a do-not-track button approximately two years ago, the idea was initially resisted by most large technology companies. These companies, which included major search engines and software producers, earn a substantial portion of their revenues from online advertising and tracking. However, last year...
Apple Gets 26.6% Piece Of Mobile PC Market
February 24, 2012, 10:19 amAccording to a report from DisplaySearch released yesterday, Cupertino-based Apple now has 26.6% share of the mobile PC market thanks to impressive fourth quarter shipments of iPads and MacBooks. Apple topped number two HP by shipping a total of 23.4 million units. This is nearly three times the amount reported by HP. Apple's iPad made up 18.7...
Medal of Honor Warfighter Announced, Promo Image Revealed
February 24, 2012, 10:16 amI’m sure somebody will be happy about this, but EA has announced a sequel to its Medal of Honor reboot.
In what may be the most uninspiring title in the already uninspiring pool of military shooter titles, the new Medal of Honor will come with the subtitle “Warfighter.” Danger Close, the developers of the first game, will be back on...
LG To Unveil Mozilla Phone At Mobile World Congress?
February 24, 2012, 10:04 amThere are rumors this morning that LG Mozilla may be about to unveil the first smartphone to run Mozilla's Boot 2 Gecko operating system at the upcoming Mobile World Congress. Citing "a source close to the matter" ExtremeTech says that the phone could be ready as early as next week, but that the Boot 2 Gecko OS probably won't be ready for public...
Google Gets Into the TV Business
February 24, 2012, 10:04 amBack in March of 2011, Google announced that it was getting into the broadband business: As part of our overall goal to make the web better for users, last year we announced a new project: to provide a community with Internet access more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have today. The response was overwhelming"nearly 1,100 cities...
The Meme Drinking Board Game: Imbibe With Your Favorite Internet Pals
February 24, 2012, 10:04 amStill trying to figure out what to do on your Friday night? You could go to the bars, but it's crowded and you're tired of paying eight bucks for a crappy beer. You could go to the movies - but then again that really cuts in on your beer drinking. Here's an idea: How about you gather some of your best friends, some good beer, and a die and sit...
The Simpsons 500th Episode Intro In Slow Motion
February 24, 2012, 9:44 amLast Sunday, Fox's long-staying The Simpsons hit its 500th episode plateau , and one of the absolute treats of the milestone episode was the introduction segment. As you're probably aware, each Simpsons episode begins with the group making their way to the family couch. The route in which the Simpsons arrive at their destination is up to the...
Google Offers Great Deal On Junk Investment
February 24, 2012, 9:28 amSome hard times are coming for Clearwire Corporation. Google has filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to shed their 6.5 percent stake in the 4G wireless providers corporation. Clearwater's major investment in WiMaxx was supposed to cement them as a premier wireless broadband provider, but it just simply didn't happen....
Facebook Drives Traffic To Mobile Apps
February 24, 2012, 9:28 amFacebook mobile has been a huge success for the company and it has even brought the riches to mobile app developers who are on Facebook. James Pearce took to the Facebook developers blog to give some tips on how developers can grow their mobile apps and games with the Facebook platform. Pearce says that Facebook has 425 million monthly users which...
Nike's Galaxy Foamposite Causes Riots, Twitter Fun
February 24, 2012, 9:13 amWhat some are calling the "most anticipated Nike releases to date," the release of Nike's Galaxy Foamposite shoes did not disappoint, at least on an entertainment front. Yes, it the enjoyment was coupled with a tinge of sadness as you watch a nation of youngsters do everything short of selling their souls, all to own a piece of Nike's sole. Bad...
Google Now Shows When Your Favorite Bands Are Playing Close By
February 24, 2012, 9:13 amGoogle announced the addition of upcoming concert dates to search results for bands and music artists, by location. The goal is for users to be able to see when they're favorite music acts are performing somewhere within their own vicinity. "If they aren't touring near you, the new results for concerts won't appear, but if the band happens to be...
Pinterest: A New Way To Do Old Stuff
February 24, 2012, 9:13 amA few days back, I wrote an article about other sites that were popping up that are using the Pinterest layout. Copycats, if you will. There are direct Pinterest competitors, aiming for the same target audience. Something like that is to be expected. Build something innovative and there will be others that copy it, then seek to improve on it,...
Could Facebook Face A Class Action Lawsuit Over Its Questionable Tracking Habits?
February 24, 2012, 8:57 amThe kicks just keep getting harder to find for Facebook when it comes to explaining away that sneaky habit of tracking internet users even after they've logged out of the site. Today two lawyers in Baltimore became the latest to file a lawsuit against the online social network charging that Facebook spies on Internet browsing habits and violates...
Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Getting More Visual With Updates
February 24, 2012, 8:57 amDevelopers take note - Microsoft is introducing some big changes to Visual Studio 11 that will hopefully make your job easier. On the Visual Studio blog yesterday, Monty Hammontree, Director of User Experience in the Microsoft Developer Tools Division, laid out the changes the team is making to Visual Studio 11. The changes are focused on...
ShopIgniter Brings Group Gifting To Facebook With New Social Commerce App
February 24, 2012, 8:57 amShopIgniter announced today that is launching a social commerce platform on Facebook that give brands a direct way to do business with customers. With what they're calling Enterprise Social Commerce Platform, the new tool will help brands offer a variety of purchasing opportunities such as flash sales, group gifting, and new product launches....
Nike’s Galaxy Foamposite Causes Riots, Twitter Fun
February 24, 2012, 8:54 amWhat some are calling the “most anticipated Nike releases to date,” the release of Nike’s Galaxy Foamposite shoes did not disappoint, at least on an entertainment front. Yes, it the enjoyment was coupled with a tinge of sadness as you watch a nation of youngsters do everything short of selling their souls, all to own a piece of...
Racing Not Mentioned in Patrick’s Twitter
February 24, 2012, 8:49 amDanica Patrick’s Twitter, which she updates quite often, is fairly atypical of those accounts found surrounding the auto racing circuit. She might mention a sunset, grey hairs, feeling vaguely sore – But little detail in mentioned about actual racing.
@DanicaPatrickDanica PatrickSunset! I call this hidden rays and tired voice. Haha....
Jay-Z Faces Competition From Rapping Russian Billionaire
February 24, 2012, 8:42 amAccording to recent estimates, Mikhail Prokhorov is the third richest man from Russia and the 32nd richest man in the entire world. But all the money in the world can't buy you rap skills. The Russian billionaire has gone viral with a performance he made as a guest appearance on a Russian comedy show called "Projector Paris Hilton." The appearance...
Up Close And Personal With The iPad 3 Retina Display
February 24, 2012, 8:42 amA week ago we brought you news that a retina display for Apple's forthcoming iPad 3 had made it into the wild. The 2048×1536 display has a pixel density of 260 pixels per inch. While that's a bit less than the 300 pixels per inch that Steve Jobs defined as a retina display, it still counts because the iPad is usually held a bit farther away from...
Is It Time To Upgrade To A Tablet Computer?
February 24, 2012, 8:42 amWhat do you think? When it's time for you to buy a tablet, is it better to spend the extra bucks and get the iPad, or can you live with something that costs half as much and shares some of the same features? A recent study put out by Broadbandgenie.co.uk reports that only 8.5% of consumers are willing to go 'budget' with their tablet purchase....
Baidu To Take On Google In South America
February 24, 2012, 8:42 amThere is one word that comes to mind when evaluating Baidu's 2011 financial performance: gangbusters . Although Google CEO and co-founder, Larry Page, used that very same word to describe Google's Q3 2011 earnings , this seems very applicable to the Chinese search giant's outstanding performance in the year gone by. Baidu's release of its...
Privacy Prompts Public Concern from Web Sites to White House
February 24, 2012, 8:26 amMarch 1st is next week, when Google combines privacy policies together, supporting a 'better' user experience. The notion of privacy has been a recent, ongoing conversation, first discussed in detail by the online marketing world, then slowly making its way around the nation's households, even the White House. The New York Times reports of a .
Looks Like Apple Is Making Some iTunes Improvements
February 24, 2012, 8:26 amApple has acquired Chomp, which provides an app search engine for iPhone, iPad and Android apps, according to various reports. It will be interesting to see how long Chomp offers Android app search, which Verizon announced in September it would replace its VCast with . MG Siegler, who appears to be the first to have reported on the acquisition,...
504 Percent Growth For Android Ad Impressions
February 24, 2012, 8:26 amMillennial Media , the largest independent ad network is releasing a yearly report on performance of smartphone operating systems on its network in 2011. According to the report, Android continued its growth as a platform with ad impressions growing 504 percent year-over-year on Millennial's network. To give you some background, last year, Android...
Pinterest Marketing Tips & Tricks to Drive Targeted Traffic
February 24, 2012, 8:26 amIs Pinterest just a toy, or a legitimate source of targeted traffic? One early adopter shares his experience with Pinterest marketing, how it converts in comparison to channels like Facebook and YouTube, and some dos and don'ts for marketers.
Killzone 3 Multiplayer Going Free-To-Play
February 24, 2012, 8:11 amOne of the PlayStation 3's best multiplayer shooters is going free-to-play next week. On the PlayStation Blogcast this week, Sony revealed that Killzone 3's multiplayer will be available as a free download next week. To clarify, there is no single-player component involved in this - it's just the multiplayer. It will be free-to-play, however, and...
Google Picking Ad Sales Guy to Lead Motorola (Maybe)
February 24, 2012, 7:20 amNo one is raving about the job Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha has done in the last couple years . The last couple of quarters have been iffy as Motorola missed expectations both times. But Jha did preside over some of my favorite phones, such as the Motorola Droid X, Droid Razr and my new favorite, the 3300 mAh super-charged, long-lasting Droid...
Online Marketing News: Facts Tell & Stories Sell, Start-up Tips from Tech Giants, Mobile Skyrockets, Breaking Up With Customers
February 24, 2012, 6:54 amThe History of Content Marketing From the dawn of time people with things to sell have been using stories to attract, engage, and retain customers ala # optimize . The infographic above from the Content Marketing Institute takes us all the way through the evolution of content marketing and provides some meaningful insight into what companies have...
SES London Day 2: #PPC Campaign Structure Tips from #seslondon
February 24, 2012, 6:44 amOn Wednesday I had the chance to share my thoughts at SES London on PPC Campaign Architecture. For those of you running PPC at a large-scale, with tens or hundreds of thousands of keywords, getting the architecture right is essential, and will provide the framework for your campaigns future success. The three characteristics of a scalable...
Google Improves Related Image Search
February 24, 2012, 6:39 amSometimes it's fun to just see Google make a search change like the good old days and just leave it at that. Yesterday Google rolled out an improved feature in image search that pertains to related searches. Instead of getting a whole new screen you can simply preview another search term's images by mousing over the term. Pretty cool. Oh and by...
Generate 7100% ROI by attending LinkLove
February 24, 2012, 6:29 amA sensationalist heading it may seem, but this is in fact a real case study from one of our attendees to our Conferences last year.David Cohen had made the decision to move from a direct response marketing model to an inbound marketing model and was looking for some help on how to do it. On the advice of an SEO friend of his he bought a ticket to...
PPC Scams to Avoid
February 24, 2012, 6:18 amWhen choosing somebody to manage your PPC campaigns, An old warning rings true: buyer beware. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Here are some of the approaches you should be suspicious of when looking to outsource PPC.
Mozilla Marketplace Gearing Up For App Submissions
February 24, 2012, 6:08 am...we are incredibly proud to announce that the Mozilla Marketplace will open for developer submissions next week during Mobile World Congress.If you are an app developer interested in distributing and monetizing your app across device and platform silos, you should submit your app to the Mozilla Marketplace.
Google+ Circles Added to Google Voice
February 24, 2012, 5:52 amThe blurring of the lines between what is one Google product vs. another is picking up speed. Yesterday Google announced in one of the most sparse blog posts you will find regarding the introduction of a new feature, that your Circle habit can now be moved over to Google Voice. To help make it even easier for you to organize your contacts, today...
How to Build a Legendary Copywriting Career
February 24, 2012, 5:32 amJohn Carlton is a force of nature. He's that rare breed who can write fascinating copy, and is just as fascinating to listen to. Every story ends up a great story. Through the lens of his remarkable journey to and through the copywriting trade , John delivers practical business tips and killer copywriting advice in this first half of a two-part...
How Best to Deal With Sites Framing Your Own Site and Adding Ads
February 24, 2012, 4:43 amWebmasterWorld Members discuss how best to deal with sites framing your and adding their own adverts.
Google Will Overtake Facebook in Display Ad Sales by 2013 [Report]
February 24, 2012, 4:25 amFacebook's ad sales revenue will increase $2 billion year-over-year, totaling $5.1 billion for 2012, according to a new eMarketer forecast. However, the researcher predicts Google will overtake Facebook in display ad sales by 2013.
Google, Apple, Microsoft Agree to Mobile App Privacy Changes
February 24, 2012, 2:22 amLess than a week after a Federal Trade Commission report condemned the lack of privacy policies and disclosures from mobile application providers, Google, Apple, and Microsoft have agreed to improve privacy protections for their customers.
Facebook Premium Ad Upgrade Details Leaked
February 24, 2012, 12:29 amFacebook's premium ads are getting a facelift. The company has been testing several soon-to-be-announced ad units, which leaked documents claim will produce more engagement, better recall, and a "significant increase in purchase intent.
The Math of CRO - Whiteboard Friday
February 23, 2012, 11:58 pmPosted by rickperreault This week we are talking about math.... Don't worry it's not the tough kind that Isaac Newton used to do, but the math behind Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). This week Rick Perreault from Unbounce joins us to show the value behind CRO and how you can show its value to your clients/bosses. After watching what Rick has...
WebmasterWorld Weekly Roundup February 23
February 23, 2012, 11:43 pmWebmasterWorld's weekly roundup of hot topics and discussions you may have missed in the last few days. (-Subscription required)
It's Our First Pandaversary!
February 23, 2012, 7:06 pmSharing is caring! Please share :) Embed code is here.
Salesforce Earnings: Company Beats Estimates
February 23, 2012, 5:03 pmSalesforce released its earnings report for fiscal Q4 and full-year 2011, beating most estimates. Quarterly revenue was $632 Million, up 38% YoY. Full-year revenue was $2.27 Billion, up 37% YoY. "Salesforce.com's 38% revenue growth in the fourth quarter was a spectacular finish to our fiscal year, a year in which we delivered 37% revenue growth...
Recent Research: BlackBerry Is Out!
February 23, 2012, 4:26 pmBad News for Research in Motion (RIM). A recent research report shows that 27% of RIM users have already replaced their BlackBerry devices or are on their way to doing so. Currently BlackBerry holds about a 70% rate for company-purchased smartphones, but those numbers decline dramatically as businesses plan for the next two years.
Here are the...
DISH Network Closing 500 Blockbuster Stores
February 23, 2012, 4:24 pmDISH Network issued their quarterly earnings report today. The company brought in $3.63 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2011. Net income during the same period came to $313 million. Revenue for the year totaled $14.05 billion, with a net income of $1.52 billion. Income and revenue numbers for both the quarter and the year were up for...
Business Management On the Go With New App
February 23, 2012, 4:16 pmOnline sellers are constantly making decisions away from their computers - whether deciding to purchase inventory at an auction or choosing their shipping options at USPS. Now, sellers can be better informed when making those decisions. Outright , an online accounting solution, today announced that it has released a mobile application that online...
2013 Ford Mustang Daytona 500 Ad To Be Previewed In Google+ Hangout, YouTube, Facebook
February 23, 2012, 4:16 pmFord Motor Company announced today that it will be providing a sneak preview of its upcoming "Mustang Inner TV" ad via Google+ Hangout, YouTube and Facebook, in the latest of its social-savvy marketing tactics. The ad will be shown nationally during the Daytona 500 on Sunday. The ad will actually hit the Google+ Hangout first at 11 a.m. EST via...
Facebook Annexes Momentus Media, Marketing Magicians & Makers Of 8-Bit Avatars
February 23, 2012, 4:16 pmNow that Facebook is the current leader in online ad revenue, the company is likely to not relinquish that honor so easily. Perhaps to curtail any future slow-down of revenue growth, the social networking company has acquired social marketing shamans Momentus Media. Really, this is one of those circle-of-life moments that happens every now and...
Facebook Hires Chris Turitzin From Momentus Media, Marketing Magicians & Makers Of 8-Bit Avatars
February 23, 2012, 4:16 pmCorrection: The original headline read, “Facebook Annexes Momentus Media, Marketing Magicians & Makers Of 8-Bit Avatars.” Upon publishing the article, a Facebook PR rep, Alex Kirschner, wrote to clarify that Facebook is not in fact acquiring Momentus Media but only hiring Chris Turitzin. In an email, Kirschner explained,...
Pay the Fan and MRN Unveil Free Fantasy Racing
February 23, 2012, 4:13 pmMotor Racing Network, in agreement with Pay the Fan, are launching free 2012 fantasy racing gmaes. According to Pay the Fan, users can “come play where the pros play, and sign up for a chance to win over $15,000 in cash and prizes!”
The fantasy racing games are said to be easy to learn, but difficult to master, and users can sign up...
Advertising in the Right Context - GroupM CEO Rob Norman
February 23, 2012, 4:11 pmClose your eyes for a moment and pretend you've just been tasked to orchestrate a multi-screen campaign that targets men aged 24 - 54 in urban areas that index high for professional sports viewership. Relatively easy a few years ago, but what about now? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of options. There are tablets, smart phones, PCs,...
Mass Effect 3 Kinect Voice Commands Detailed
February 23, 2012, 4:08 pmIt’s been public knowledge since last year that Mass Effect 3 would be using the Xbox 360 Kinect for voice commands. Funny thing about voice commands in games though, you have to be awfully specific for them to work.
If you are going to be getting Mass Effect 3 on the Xbox 360 and have a Kinect, Microsoft and EA have issued a “cheat...
Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL, Hulu & Digitas Partner On "Digital Content NewsFronts"
February 23, 2012, 4:01 pmGoogle, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL, Hulu and Digitas are partnering on " Digital Content NewFronts ". During a two-week period from April 19th to May 2nd, each partner will host an independent event in NYC to connect brands with content. The events are invitation-only. "We're really looking forward to meeting with our clients in May, to talk about...
Max Payne 3 PC Screenshots Arrive
February 23, 2012, 4:01 pmToday, Rockstar has released the first screenshots from the upcoming PC version of Max Payne 3. If you're out of the loop, here's how they describe the new entry in the series: For Max Payne, the tragedies that took his loved ones years ago are wounds that refuse to heal. No longer a cop, close to washed up and addicted to pain killers, Max takes...
Facebook Groups Is Not For Promotions
February 23, 2012, 4:01 pmApparently Facebook wants to remind users that Facebook Groups is for creating a circle of people who are involved on the same project or working together for some purpose not so much for advertising or promotion. The slight change replaces the single profile picture with a slide featuring all who are included in the project. All Facebook ,
UK's Mail Online Near 100 Million Users
February 23, 2012, 3:46 pmAssociated Newspapers' Mail Online was close to having 100 million readers in January, and growth doesn't appear to be showing signs of slowing down. The Associated Newspapers network of websites drew 99,218,476 monthly browsers, a 17.88% increase compared with last December, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations numbers published today....
Critically Important Patent May Affect Rights And Revenue For Electronic Advertising
February 23, 2012, 3:46 pmICAP Patent Brokerage , the world's largest intellectual property brokerage and patent auction firm, is offering for sale a patented method for targeting advertisements in electronic communications. The patent portfolio announced covers a broad range of communication activities including ad placement, use of user demographics, user remuneration...
Chinese Officials Raid "Apple China" Warehouse, Seize iPhone Gas Stove
February 23, 2012, 3:46 pmMost everybody knows that when you go to China, you have to be careful of the products you buy. While many of the products you can buy in China are, of course, genuine, there are also a lot of knock-offs. If you find a deal on a Rolex watch, for example, that's too good to be true, you can bet that it's probably a fake. There have even been...
Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL, Hulu & Digitas Partner On “Digital Content NewsFronts”
February 23, 2012, 3:45 pmGoogle, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL, Hulu and Digitas are partnering on “Digital Content NewFronts“. During a two-week period from April 19th to May 2nd, each partner will host an independent event in NYC to connect brands with content. The events are invitation-only.
“We’re really looking forward to meeting with our clients in...
Chinese Officials Raid “Apple China” Warehouse, Seize iPhone Gas Stove
February 23, 2012, 3:41 pmMost everybody knows that when you go to China, you have to be careful of the products you buy. While many of the products you can buy in China are, of course, genuine, there are also a lot of knock-offs. If you find a deal on a Rolex watch, for example, that’s too good to be true, you can bet that it’s probably a fake. There have even been...
Narrative Science, The Robotic Content Farm, Is Looking At More Languages
February 23, 2012, 3:15 pmHave you read about Narrative Science? This is a company that is creating web articles using computers. We've referenced them on more than one occasion as a "robotic content farm" . It makes you wonder where we're headed in terms of web content? Will our jobs become obsolete as the content machines rise or will that human element always be needed?...
Google Is Onboard For More Internet Simplicity
February 23, 2012, 3:15 pmThe white House has introduced a new online privacy protection bill. The bill aims to give consumers a broader understanding of how their privacy can be protected and also give them the tools to do it. While some believe the recent government interest in online privacy may have been spurred on by Google's recent announcement of a new unified...
JK Rowling, Gas Prices, and The Male Dictionary
February 23, 2012, 3:15 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Enjoy!
Google Adding Improvement To Related Image Searches
February 23, 2012, 2:59 pmGoogle is bringing an improvement to their image search function. Spoiler: It's a really good improvement. Peter Linsley, product manager for Google, detailed today on the official Google blog the change coming to image search over the next few weeks. Linsley reminds everybody about the related search links in blue that dot the top of every image...
Digital Advertising Alliance Supports Privacy Bill Of Rights
February 23, 2012, 2:57 pmThe CEO’s of the member organizations of the Digital Advertising Alliance have issued a statement in support of the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights announced by the White House this morning. The DAA expressed appreciation at the administration’s acknowledgement of the organization’s efforts to protect consumer privacy through self-regulation...
February Release News: Upgrade Your Desktop and a Reporting Delay Heads Up
February 23, 2012, 2:54 pmOver the past few weeks, weve made some announcements about changes that are coming soon to Microsoft Advertising adCenter. If youre a Desktop user, please take note that you will need to upgrade to the latest version of the tool in order.
Ads on Your TV, Your Phone and Now Your Glasses?
February 23, 2012, 2:49 pmImagine you're walking down the street and as you pass a Starbucks, an ad for their latest frothy delight appears on your glasses. On the inside of your glasses, where only you can see it. The New York Times says that the day is nearly here thanks to secret augmented reality glasses created in a Google lab. First of all, let's take a moment to...
Google Set To Leapfrog Facebook In Advertising Revenue Next Year
February 23, 2012, 2:44 pmMaybe Microsoft's claim that Google is the " world's largest advertising company " may not have been so far off the mark if current predictions come true. Last year, Facebook leaped past Yahoo! to become the top seller of online ads. This year, Facebook will likely know how Yahoo! felt when that happened because Google is currently on track to...
Conan O'Brien Takes Two Screens To a New Level
February 23, 2012, 2:44 pmThe Team Coco Tablet App steps into the entertainment fray, bringing the "two screens" phenomenon to late night. Armed with the knowledge that many TV viewers have their smartphone or tablet handy when watching shows, the Team Coco visionaries aim to harness that power in a deliberate fashion. Their concept: watch Conan with the Team Coco Tablet...
The White House Fights To Protect Consumers
February 23, 2012, 2:29 pmThe White House has been working diligently to draft a new privacy protection bill to safeguard user's information and preserve the internet as a facilitator of innovation and economic growth. This comes at a time when Google has drawn a lot of attention to how user's data is being collected and utilized to provide what they are calling an...
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Will Be Decided By Twitter Votes
February 23, 2012, 2:29 pmThis year's Slam Dunk contest is going to be different from contests of the past. First off, all four participants are first-timers - Chase Budinger, Paul George, Jeremy Evans, and Derrick Williams. The format is also new, and it's highlighted by a voting setup fueled by social media. That's right, Twitter will help decide the 2012 Slam Dunk...
SafeGov Wonders How Secure Google's Cloud Is
February 23, 2012, 2:13 pmSafeGov.org security experts have been questioning whether or not Google has a sufficient level of security surrounding their cloud services, for the protection of government information that it hosts. According to PRN, recent incidents have prompted SafeGov to speculate that Google indeed does not maintain adequate control measures over certain...
Google Voice Gets Circles a la Plus
February 23, 2012, 2:12 pmFor those who use Google Voice, the telephony product from Google Labs, the announcement today that Voice is getting Circles must have been welcome news.
I’ve had a Google Voice number for years. I’m sure there is a good way I could utilize the thing, but I’ve just been squatting. However, I do use Google Contacts to organize all...
YouTube Publishes New Creator Playbook
February 23, 2012, 2:09 pmYouTube makes a Creator Playbook that seeks to help YouTube producers and directors make the best videos possible. YouTube has changed though and the site has updated its Creator Playbook to reflect that.
The new Creator Playbook features all the information that was in the original, but now it’s been updated to include entries on important new...
Mobile Mix: Android Impressions Up 504%
February 23, 2012, 1:58 pmAs Frank pointed out this morning, the war between Android and iPhone makes for good blog content. So continuing with that thought, we have data from Millennial Media's Mobile Mix 2011 Year in Review. Here's the OS comparison chart from 2010 vs 2011. Look at Android just soaking up nearly half the pie. Turning toward apps, we find that Games was...
Aion Going Free-To-Play This Month
February 23, 2012, 1:53 pmAion is joining the ranks of every MMO that isn't World of Warcraft or Star Wars: The Old Republic by going free-to-play this month. The change from subscription to free-to-play is hardly ever a smooth transition, but Aion seems to be getting it right. On the official Web site , it says that players will be able to access all of the game's world...
What Community Builders Can Learn From Research
February 23, 2012, 1:53 pmPosted by thogenhaven Two weeks ago, Tom Critchlow suggested that we work to close the gap between inbound marketing and content marketing communities . It's time to build bridges again, this time between inbound marketing and research. In this post, you'll find research on participation patterns, how to spot high-value users, seeding content in a...
SafeGov Wonders How Secure Google’s Cloud Is
February 23, 2012, 1:46 pmSafeGov.org security experts have been questioning whether or not Google has a sufficient level of security surrounding their cloud services, for the protection of government information that it hosts. According to PRN, recent incidents have prompted SafeGov to speculate that Google indeed does not maintain adequate control measures over certain...
Dennis Woodside Said To Be New Motorola Mobility CEO
February 23, 2012, 1:37 pmIf a tweet from Bloomberg is accurate, Google has found a new CEO for its Motorola Mobility unit. Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility received regulatory approval ten days ago. The man would be Dennis Woodside, who currently heads Google's Americas operations. Bloomberg tweeted the following: @BloombergNews Bloomberg News BREAKING: Google...
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Daytona 500 Viral Ad Shows The Driver Really Loves Diet Mountain Dew
February 23, 2012, 1:37 pmNASCAR is gearing up for the biggest race of the year, which also happens to be the first race of the year. The legendary Daytona 500 has been thrilling fans since 1959, and one the race's most prominent participants loves Diet Mountain Dew so much that he's willing to give up his car for it. Well, he's that overzealous in a new viral ad that's...
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Daytona 500 Viral Ad Shows The Driver Really Loves Diet Mountain Dew
February 23, 2012, 1:27 pmNASCAR is gearing up for the biggest race of the year, which also happens to be the first race of the year. The legendary Daytona 500 has been thrilling fans since 1959, and one the race’s most prominent participants loves Diet Mountain Dew so much that he’s willing to give up his car for it.
Well, he’s that overzealous in a...
The Complete Guide To Using The Brand New Buffer For LinkedIn
February 23, 2012, 1:22 pmThere are over 200 million Tweets being posted every day on Twitter. Another 4 billion items are shared on Facebook daily. But what about LinkedIn? The 3rd largest Social Networking behemoth recently unveiled their latest numbers, which weren't any less impressive. Over 150 million people have joined the service, as was recently announced. In...
Friending Your Kids On Facebook Not Good Enough According To Recent Study
February 23, 2012, 1:06 pmThe leading online monitoring service for kids' social networking activities, SocialShield , released some concerning findings today from a consumer study. The study surveyed more than 4,000 parents and reveals that less than 8% are aware of cyberbullying incidents involving their own child. According to George Garrick, SocialShield's CEO,...
Mobile Devices Generate Nearly 10% Of All Internet Traffic
February 23, 2012, 12:51 pmcomScore released their annual report that assess the ever-changing landscape of mobile technology. The report, "2012 Mobile Future in Focus," examines what's changed in the past year as well as how those changes will shape the upcoming year in the mobile device industry. "2011 proved to be a groundbreaking year for the mobile industry, with...
Mobile Devices Generated Nearly 10% Of All Internet Traffic In 2011
February 23, 2012, 12:42 pmcomScore released their annual report that assess the ever-changing landscape of mobile technology. The report, “2012 Mobile Future in Focus,” examines what’s changed in the past year as well as how those changes will shape the upcoming year in the mobile device industry.
“2011 proved to be a groundbreaking year for the...
Microsoft Takes Aim At Google With "Smoked By Windows Phone" Campaign
February 23, 2012, 12:36 pmAt the Consumer Electronics Show in January Microsoft launched their "Smoked by Windows Phone" challenge. Microsoft challenged conference-goers to pit their phones against phones running the Windows Phone operating system. Those whose phones won received $100, while those whose phones weren't up to the challenge got upgraded on the spot to HTC...
Microsoft Takes Aim At Google With “Smoked By Windows Phone” Campaign
February 23, 2012, 12:21 pmAt the Consumer Electronics Show in January Microsoft launched their “Smoked by Windows Phone” challenge. Microsoft challenged conference-goers to pit their phones against phones running the Windows Phone operating system. Those whose phones won received $100, while those whose phones weren’t up to the challenge got upgraded on the spot to...
Google, Microsoft, Yahoo Working With White House on Do No Track Browsing
February 23, 2012, 12:20 pmGoogle, Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL are on board with a new White House "Do Not Track" technology plan that will give more control to users and more power to the Federal Trade Commission. A new Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights was also introduced.
New Tumblr Content Policy Will Ban Self-Harm, Pro-Ana Blogs
February 23, 2012, 12:20 pmTumblr is entering thorny territory today with the announcement of an update to their content policy. In an official blog post , Tumblr announced that they plan to revise their current policy in a way that will prohibit self-harm blogs. To make sure that everybody has the same understanding here, self-harm blogs can include anything from pro-ana...
Journalist Marie Colvin Murdered in Syria
February 23, 2012, 12:18 pmAs we all know, the current bloodshed in Syria continues to grow. With this outrage, Syrian forces recently announced that they would kill any journalists that set foot on Syrian soil. This premise killed the dedicated, talented, and unique reporter and journalist for Britain’s The Sunday Times Marie Colvin on February 22nd, 2012.
Marie...
Facebook, Google Seek to Expand Dublin Offices
February 23, 2012, 12:17 pmIn Dublin, 40% of offices bought or leased in 2011 were held by American companies, and internet companies like Google and Yelp are seeking more space in the Irish capital. Facebook seeks to double the size of it’s Dublin office, where its European headquarters sits, according to The Washington Post.
After Ireland borrowed $113 billion from...
Yahoo and Bing: Look How Well Our Ads Are Doing
February 23, 2012, 12:05 pmAs you may know, Microsoft and Yahoo have a "search alliance" which sees Microsoft powering Yahoo's organic search results, as well as migrating Yahoo Search Marketing to Microsoft's adCenter. The organic transition has already happened worldwide, and the ad platform transition is still in the process. In fact, the companies just announced that...
Jet Set Radio Set For Release On XBLA And PSN
February 23, 2012, 12:05 pmSega has been kind of meh lately with their XBLA and PSN releases of classic Dreamcast games. The only really good one in the last release was Crazy Taxi. Before all the Sonic fans pick up their pitchforks, Sonic Adventure 2 would have been a better choice then the original and you know it. Anyway, Sega seems to setting things right by bringing...
The Panda Update, 1 Year Later: A Guide to What We Know
February 23, 2012, 12:03 pmIt’s hard to believe, but tomorrow will mark one year since Google launched the first “Panda” algorithm update. Originally impacting 11.8% of US queries, Panda sent SEOs and “Panda-lized” webmasters rushing to find the fix.One year later, we know a lot more about Panda, with several clients recovering from the update. I’ve compiled...
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Beta Keys Now Being Offered Via Survey
February 23, 2012, 11:49 amOn Valentine's Day, Valve kicked off the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive beta. For the first wave, they gave out beta keys to the top 7000 active players in CS:S and CS 1.6. After the initial round of testing, they announced phase two, which involved 2,000 more beta keys to different Counter-Strike sites across the globe. In doing that, they...
Office Depot Will Now Offer NOOK Tablet
February 23, 2012, 11:49 amOffice Depot is celebrating 25 year in the business of providing quality products and services to customers worldwide. Today they announced that they are partnering with the world's largest book seller, Barnes & Noble to offer their cutting-edge ebook readers, The Nook series. Office Depot joins a long list of retailers who already carry the...
Comcast Launches New 'Mini-Hulu'
February 23, 2012, 11:49 amOn Tuesday, Comcast launched Xfinity Streampix, a new streaming video subscription service . Steampix features movies and full seasons of TV shows, and comes bundled with certain TV/internet and TV/internet/voice packages, or can be added for $5/month for current Comcast TV customers. Comcast's licensing partners at launch include ABC/Disney, NBC...
Office Depot Will Now Offer NOOK Tablets
February 23, 2012, 11:40 amOffice Depot is celebrating 25 year in the business of providing quality products and services to customers worldwide. Today they announced that they are partnering with the world’s largest book seller, Barnes & Noble to offer their cutting-edge ebook readers, The Nook series. Office Depot joins a long list of retailers who already...
Comcast Launches New ‘Mini-Hulu’
February 23, 2012, 11:33 amOn Tuesday, Comcast launched Xfinity Streampix, a new streaming video subscription service . Steampix features movies and full seasons of TV shows, and comes bundled with certain TV/internet and TV/internet/voice packages, or can be added for $5/month for current Comcast TV customers.
Comcast’s licensing partners at launch include ABC/Disney,...
Mozilla Introduces “Personas” Sign-Ins
February 23, 2012, 11:29 amMozilla has introduced Personas, a project formerly called BrowserID. It is a multi-browser website authentication mechanism that is similar to Facebook Connect. The procedures set up by Personas allow users to login to websites that support their BrowserID signing and avoid lengthy verification processes.
From the Mozilla Identity...
Interview: Skimlinks CEO on Pinterest Relationship and Affiliate Marketing
February 23, 2012, 11:29 amJust in case you haven't heard, Pinterest is currently one of the hottest startups. In fact, based on data from ratings firm comScore , it is the third fastest growing site in the U.S. So, apparently if you haven't jumped on board with it, you should. However, as with so many startups, Pinterest's blissful beginning was slightly interrupted...
Time Warner Release Statement On Consumer Privacy Bill Of Rights
February 23, 2012, 11:29 amThis morning we brought you news that the Obama administration had announced the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, a program to introduce enforceable codes of conduct and legislation governing the way various businesses handle internet users' private data. Time Warner, one of the nation's largest internet and media companies, has issued a statement...
Matt Cutts Explains How Google Handles Paid Directories [Video]
February 23, 2012, 11:29 amHave you ever wondered about how Google handles paid directories? Well, Matt Cutts answers the question "Are paid directories held to the same standards as paid links?" from the famous Blind Five Year Old and I personally liked what Matt had to say. Before you decide to pay to be in an online directory or .
Google HUD Glasses: Possible Features & Implications for Marketers
February 23, 2012, 11:14 amA heads up display would likely integrate Google Goggles, Google Voice Search, Local Search, some iteration of OCR technology, and a camera. Here are examples of how the glasses might be insanely valuable to people and how advertisers might benefit.
Yelp Check-In Title System To Match Real-World
February 23, 2012, 11:14 amYelp has made some changes to their title system to make their check-in system more of a reflection of the real world. For those of you who don't know what a check-in is, Yelp offers this explanation: "A check-in is a simple way to keep tabs on where you've been, broadcast to your friends where you are, and discover more about other people in your...
Biz Stone: Too Much Twitter Use Is Unhealthy
February 23, 2012, 11:14 amAs more and more outlets pop up and more and more people rely on existing networks for communication, it's no surprise that many of us feel addicted to social media . I'm sure your mother or maybe even your doctor has told you that spending all day on Twitter is not advised. But now, one of Twitter's founders is saying that same thing: spending...
Microsoft / Yahoo Search Alliance Expands in UK, Ireland, France
February 23, 2012, 11:14 amMicrosoft and Yahoo have begun the migration of Yahoo Search Marketing accounts in the UK, Ireland and France to Microsoft adCenter. This is, of course, part of the " Search Alliance " between the two companies, with Microsoft powering Yahoo Search, both on the organic side of things, as well as on the paid side. The transition has been complete...
Steve Jobs' Facebook Timeline Deleted
February 23, 2012, 10:58 amA Facebook Timeline depicted the life or Steve Jobs was taken down Wednesday, after a request for a comment on the profile from Mercury News. The timeline, under the name "Steve Paul Jobs," was exhaustive, depicting Jobs' life with status updates, photos, videos and employment changes, amongst other things. A Facebook spokesperson told Mercury...
Twitter Welcomes Two Google Advertising Execs To The Flock
February 23, 2012, 10:58 amTwitter's stepping up their international advertising game by not just taking a page out of Google's playbook, but by taking actual Google players. Two former Google advertising executives, Shailesh Rao and Stephen McIntyre , have been hired on by Twitter as the company seeks to expand its advertising efforts in the international arena. Given that...
Bot or Not Lets You Test the Human Element in Any Twitter Account
February 23, 2012, 10:27 amIf you're active on Twitter, you've probably encountered plenty of bots - fake users that spam the hell out of you with links, free iPad offers, and other dubious things. These accounts are just a part of the Twitter experience, and many times they are incredibly easy to spot. But sometimes you're up in the air about whether an account is...
NASCAR Driver Honors Thousands Of Twitter Fans
February 23, 2012, 10:27 amNASCAR's Brad Keselowski will be racing in the Daytona 500 this Sunday and again in NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series race on Friday at Daytona. For the race on Sunday, Keselowski has found a new way to take thousands of his fans along with him. The web savvy race car driver has taken sponsorship and social media promotion to a new level. To...
Daniel Von Bargen Of Seinfeld Attempts Suicide
February 23, 2012, 10:19 amYou might know him as Mr. Kruger, George’s boss on the hit TV show Seinfeld. Monday morning Daniel Von Bargen attempted suicide with a gunshot to the temple. After the attempt, he called 911 for help. He sounds unbelievably clam as he speaks to the 911 operator:
“I’ve shot myself in the head … and I need...
Bing Linked Pages: Bing's Answer To Google's Profiles?
February 23, 2012, 10:12 amBing has launched "Linked Pages," which allow people to link sites related to themselves in search results for when people search for the person's name. Pretty interesting, especially since Bing allows users to simply add links that they just like. "Search for yourself," suggests Ian Lin of Bing Social Search. "Try including your city, school, or...
More People Think Facebook, Twitter Negatively Affect News Quality
February 23, 2012, 10:12 amA new survey from Craig Newmark's pro-philanthropy initiative, craigconnects , shows that social media isn't really making any headway in changing how people get news about politics and elections. Furthermore, most who participated in the survey said that social media sites like Facebook and Twitter had a negative effect on the quality of news in...
Rumor: Nintendo Looking To Add Video Content For Wii U
February 23, 2012, 10:12 amIt's no secret that Microsoft and Sony have both been immensely successful with their game consoles that also act as entertainment hubs that include features like Netflix and Hulu. It seems that Nintendo wants to get in on the game. According to unnamed sources speaking to Ad Week , it appears that Nintendo is in preliminary talks with content...
Google Launching Innovative Pay-TV Programming
February 23, 2012, 10:12 amLast year, Google announced plans to build a fiber-optic broadband Internet network infrastructure in Kansas City. The ultra-high-speed network, which is expected to deliver Internet speeds 100 times faster than a typical broadband connection, is named Google Fiber. The new Internet service is expected to debut by the end of June in undisclosed...
Bing Linked Pages: Bing’s Answer To Google’s Profiles?
February 23, 2012, 10:03 amBing has launched “Linked Pages,” which allow people to link sites related to themselves in search results for when people search for the person’s name.
Pretty interesting, especially since Bing allows users to simply add links that they just like.
“Search for yourself,” suggests Ian Lin of Bing Social Search....
Sacha Baron Cohen Banned From Oscars
February 23, 2012, 9:56 amDeadline reported that the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has pulled actor Sacha Baron Cohen's tickets from the 84th Academy Awards. Due to his plans to attend the ceremony , or at least the red carpet, in character as Admiral General Aladeen from his movie The Dictator , the Academy has decided to bump him entirely. Cohen was invited...
Samsung Shows Off Advanced Smartphone SDRAM Technology
February 23, 2012, 9:52 amSpeaking at this year’s International Solid-State Circuits Conference, which ends today, Samsung unveiled their new LPDDR3 DRAM chips. The new chips decrease power consumption over the LPDDR2 chips, drawing 1.2V of power. The 4 Gigabit chips also enjoy a major increase in data transfer speeds, with speeds reaching 6.4 Gigabits per second...
SES London Day 3 - Keyword Remodelling - Social Informing Keyword Research, Keywords Informing Website Design #seslondon
February 23, 2012, 9:51 amI dont know about you but to me it seems social is much more on the agenda than any other previous year Ive attended SES. Its been mentioned in the context of social search, search engine optimization and today in the advanced keyword modelling session- social was almost likened to a free marketing focus group. Its a way to know what your...
Twitter: Sacha Baron Cohen Banned From Oscars?
February 23, 2012, 9:48 amDeadline reported that the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has pulled actor Sacha Baron Cohen‘s tickets from the 84th Academy Awards. Due to his plans to attend the ceremony, or at least the red carpet, in character as Admiral General Aladeen from his movie The Dictator, the Academy has decided to bump him entirely.
Cohen was...
YouTube Hires Bing General Manager To Be New VP Of Marketing
February 23, 2012, 9:41 amGoogle has hit Bing where it hurts by hiring away its general manager of marketing. AdAge is reporting that Google has hired Danielle Tiedt, former general manager of marketing for Bing. She led the recent "Bing is for Doing" ad campaign and was around when the search engine first launched. What will she be doing under Google? She's going to...
Fancy Launches New Commerce Platform
February 23, 2012, 9:41 amNew York startup Fancy , an online catalog and high-end Pinterest competitor, today added a social commerce platform that allows brands and merchants to sell products directly on the site. Fancy has roughly 250,000 users, compared to Pinterest's over 10 million, but maintains some competitive advantages. Fancy, where users can go an "fancy" things...
Google Agrees On "Do Not Track" Button For Chrome, Acts The Holy Fool
February 23, 2012, 9:26 amBy at least one account, Google has withdrawn from the finger-pointing game of who's responsible for making consumer privacy vulnerable and acknowledged the plea of consumers that say, "Hey, seriously, we really don't want you following us everywhere we go on the internet." Following this week's scandal that Google was circumventing privacy...
Foxconn FLA Audit: Inside Apple Production
February 23, 2012, 9:26 amIt costs Apple $250,000 to join the Fair Labor Association (FLA). ABC News' Bill Weir was in China for the first ever FLA audit of Apple's production floor inside Foxconn and it wasn't surprising what he found. But, before I get into that, I think it's interesting to mention that Apple had plans to partner with the FLA long before the ominous New...
YouPorn Hacked, Chat Service User Data Exposed
February 23, 2012, 9:10 amPopular adult site (actually, just popular site will do) YouPorn is under fire after user data was lifted and exposed. In all, millions were said to have been affected, with thousands still currently exposed after much of the data was posted on pastebin. First reported by Anders Nilsson at EuroSecure, info for millions of users of YouPorn's chat...
Facebook Ad Revenue Set to Continue Growth Pattern
February 23, 2012, 9:00 amFacebook is in its IPO quiet period but I suspect they knew that it would not mean that people would stop talking about the service. Since many cannot apparently function on a daily basis without hitting the 'book there will be no slowing the Facebook train of popularity. Of course, there is always something that could come along but we are not...
White House Announces Privacy Bill Of Rights
February 23, 2012, 8:55 amIn response to the recent series of controversies regarding the personal privacy on the internet, the Obama administration has unveiled a new Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. Intended to be a framework for both corporate codes of conduct and legislation, the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights is designed to protect individuals from having their...
Facebook Incident Launches First Amendment Fight
February 23, 2012, 8:55 amWhile it may not be surprising that something you post on your Facebook wall could get you in legal trouble, it may surprise you that a judge has ordered a man to post something on his wall or to face jail time. According to court records in Cincinnatti, Ohio, Mark Byron was charged with and found guilty of civil domestic violence against his...
Girls Gone Wild Founder Loses Defamation Suit
February 23, 2012, 8:55 amNevada district court judge Mark Denton awarded casino mogul Steve Wynn $7.5 million in a defamation suit against Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis Wednesday. The damages were awarded after Wynn testified in a 'prove up hearing,' to where a lawsuit goes uncontested. Francis had tried to seek a continuance in the case, to retain a new attorney,...
ResearchGate Receives Funding From PayPal Co-Founder
February 23, 2012, 8:34 amIt seems there's a social network for everything and everybody these days. Not all of them take off, but I'm glad to see that ResearchGate has received funding to keep expanding. ResearchGate announced yesterday their completion of its Series B financing. For those, like me, who don't know what ResearchGate is; it's essentially a social networking...
Spotify Update Includes Gapless Playback And Crossfade
February 23, 2012, 8:26 amSpotify announced the launch of some new features for “gapless playback” and crossfade. The features come with an update to its desktop version that is rolling out this week.
Gapless playback enables songs to play right after one another without pause. The company says this is ideal for dance and classical music in particular, as well...
Storify Launches New App for iPad
February 23, 2012, 8:23 amStorify, the popular drag-and drop storytelling tool is now available for iPad. The brand new, free app makes Storify available for mobile devices for the first time. Like the Storify website, the app lets users curate content from Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites. Storify’s Marketing Director, Jeff Elder...
How to Write Title Tags For Search Engine Optimization
February 23, 2012, 8:19 amProperly written title tags are critical to your SEO strategy. Title tags tell search engines what your page is about. This guide covers everything you need to know about title tags and offers best practices for title tag optimization.
How to Do Keyword Research [Infographic]
February 23, 2012, 8:19 amThanks to the Internet and search algorithms, people have learned to express their informational need in the form of keyword queries. Keywords can be easily called the major concept of the global theory of search optimisation because they are the point to start out any web search. Undoubtedly, one of the main tasks of SEO .
SES London 2012 Day 2: Social Media Marketing - Killer Advertising Tactics #seslondon #socialmedia
February 23, 2012, 8:14 amIt's 2:15pm, the slot directly after a carb heavy lunch, and there appears to be a post-lunch induced Twitter lull in the room. Can the Social Advertising experts shake up the audience with their tough talking Killer Social Media Tactics? Today's session hosted by Kristjan Mar Hauksson of Nordic eMarketing was split into two presentations with...
T-Mobile Loses 800K Customers, Blames Lack of iPhone
February 23, 2012, 8:12 am2011 was an interesting year for T-Mobile, mostly due to the AT&T merger drama whose slow death was finalized in December when AT&T officially pulled the plug on the deal. After the FCC and DOJ voiced their disapproval, the deal began a slow decline that eventually ended in AT&T talking about failures in innovation and owning...
Talk iPhone All You Want but Google Owns the Mobile Ad World
February 23, 2012, 8:08 amIf you are taking mobile seriously for your business (and there is a high likelihood that you should) then you need to understand a few things. First, the device and system wars between the Apple fanboys and Android maniacs are real but it's a diversion. Why? SImply because the second point, as shown by the findings from a Bytemobile study (link...
Chinese Court Rules In Favor Of Apple, Can Keep Selling iPads
February 23, 2012, 8:03 amIt looks like Apple's arguments yesterday in court worked as the Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Court is going to allow the company to keep selling iPads in the city. Three out of the five Apple stores in China are in Shanghai so this a massive win for the company. Reuters is reporting that sources in China are saying that Apple has won its...
Modern Social Bookmarking - Not Your Older Brother's Social Bookmark of Years Past
February 23, 2012, 7:32 am2011 saw big changes in the social bookmarking/sharing world. Some of the larger social news sites were retired and another was indecline. Here's a deep look at the changes, trends, successes and audiences of the 2012 social bookmark world.
Modern Social Bookmarking – Not Your Older Brother’s Social Bookmark of Years Past
February 23, 2012, 7:00 am2011 saw big changes in the social bookmarking/sharing world. Some of the larger social news sites were retired and another was indecline. Here's a deep look at the changes, trends, successes and audiences of the 2012 social bookmark world.
comScore Releases the "2012 Mobile Future in Focus" Report
February 23, 2012, 6:56 amcomScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the 2012 Mobile Future in Focus report. This annual report examines the mobile and connected device landscape, covering several mobile markets measured by comScore, through an exploration of key trends driving smartphone adoption growth, mobile media usage in...
How to Get More Clicks in Google's Evolving SERPs
February 23, 2012, 6:31 amRecent presentational changes to Google's search results have affected click-through rates, but you can increase CTRs with a mix of traditional (e.g., optimizing text snippets) and new methods (e.g., Google+, rel="author", and self hosted videos).
Meaningful SEO Metrics #SESLondon
February 23, 2012, 5:45 amWhat good is great content optimization and social media promotion without meaningful measurement? This session at SES London focused on three different perspectives towards measuring performance which were as relevant to any online marketing as they were to Search Engine Optimization. In fact, that notion of "SEO is Marketing" lends really well...
How Will You Define Your SEO Success?
February 23, 2012, 5:14 amWhat is your "magic number" of success? How many orders shipped, new clients signed or dollars earned would it take you make you jump for joy in your office? Success, even when applied to our businesses, is a very personal definition. For instance, having a sufficient (and steady) workload to justify hiring a new employee might be how you judge...
US Administration Moves To Start Consumer Privacy Legislation
February 23, 2012, 5:13 amThe Obama administration plans to work with Congress to enact legislation to protect peoples' online privacy based on a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights being unveiled tomorrow.At the same time, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and AOL are committing to work with Do Not Track technology in most major Web browsers so people can stop companies from tracking...
Introducing Entreproducer: The Business of Independent Digital Media with Brian Clark
February 23, 2012, 5:09 amI get three questions a lot: Why aren't you writing more? When are you putting out a book? What's with referring to yourself in the third person in the headline? I have no good answer for the third one. Let's move on. For the other two, the answers can be found at the site of my new multimedia email newsletter, Entreproducer . I'll be writing...
How to charge for freelance copywriting services
February 23, 2012, 4:28 amProbably the most common question that freelance copywriters ask me is "How much should I charge?" I know what these folks are really asking. They want me to gaze into a crystal ball and reply, "You should charge $X per page. If you charge that rate, clients will love you and you'll make lots of money. Now go forth and write." If it was only that...
Microsoft and Yahoo! Search Alliance: the migration starts today in the UK and France #bingyahoo
February 23, 2012, 3:26 amMicrosoft and Yahoo! are keen to bring advertisers the benefits of our combined audiences as soon as possible. We have completed the transition of organic searches globally , which means that any user performing a search on Yahoo! from a PC or a mobile is provided with Bing-powered results. With regards to consolidation of the audiences on one...
Bing Vision, Newspaper Imaging Coming to Windows Phones in UK
February 23, 2012, 2:14 amBing Vision add-on will add the option to scan in QR and bar codes as well as image recognition tools that will allow users to view sites and retail information by scanning images. Bing Imaging for Newspapers will also launch in March.
Twitter Tries to Hook Local SMBs on Self-Serve Advertising
February 23, 2012, 12:21 amTwitter and American Express have announced a partnership that will see the companies offer $100 of complimentary Twitter advertising to the first 10,000 SMBs that sign up. Participants will gain access to Twitter's self-service advertising system.
Making Your Digital Stories Rock!
February 23, 2012, 12:04 amThis time of the year rocks at Microsoft Advertising. From Skype inventory expanding to Asia to our new People Powered Stories social advertising solutions , there is so much exciting stuff going on across the business. On top of everything, I get to travel around the region with Rich Media Rocks , our annual roadshow dedicated to harnessing the...
Google's Fiber Plan Taking Shape as Cable TV Power Play
February 22, 2012, 11:34 pmGoogle's Fiber ambitions for high-speed Internet access are slowly but surely coming together in the form of paid TV programming, and it's something we should have seen coming. Remember when we first learned of Fiber two years ago this month, when wacky political wonks jumped in shark tanks and ice-cold water to win Google's hand for the Fiber? It...
The 2 User Metrics That Matter for SEO
February 22, 2012, 10:47 pmPosted by Dr. Pete In the wake of Googles Panda updates, theres been a lot of fear regarding user metrics and how they impact SEO. Many people are afraid that bad signals in analytics data, especially high bounce rates and low time-on-site, could potentially harm their rankings. I dont think Google is tapping into analytics data directly (Ill...
Amazon, Apple, Google, HP, Microsoft and RIM Agree To Improve Privacy In Mobile Apps
February 22, 2012, 10:10 pmThese platforms have agreed to privacy principles designed to bring the industry in line with a California law requiring mobile apps that collect personal information to have a privacy policy. The majority of mobile apps sold today do not contain a privacy policy.
BloomReach Marketing Platform Aims to Expose Your Best Content in Organic Search & Social
February 22, 2012, 9:10 pmCloud marketing platform BloomReach has launched with a suite of three intelligent discovery tools for businesses. BloomReach accomplishes some pretty incredible things for web businesses in need of a holistic, well-rounded marketing approach.
Comcast's New Streampix is About Giving Customers What They Want
February 22, 2012, 5:30 pmComcast has a new video streaming service called Streampix that allows users to watch old movies and TV shows on demand. The general consensuses on the web is that the service will become a direct competitor to Netflix, and Boston.com even went so far as to blame the Comcast announcement for a drop in Netflix's stock price . The Streampix service...
Comcast’s New Streampix is About Giving Customers What They Want
February 22, 2012, 5:13 pmComcast has a new video streaming service called Streampix that allows users to watch old movies and TV shows on demand.
The general consensuses on the web is that the service will become a direct competitor to Netflix, and Boston.com even went so far as to blame the Comcast announcement for a drop in Netflix’s stock price.
The Streampix...
Google Privacy Policy: State Attorneys General See Privacy Risk
February 22, 2012, 4:54 pmThe continuing saga of Google's new unified privacy policy has taken an interesting turn today as the attorneys general (or other ranking legal officials) from 36 US states and territories posted a letter to Google CEO Larry Page to express concern over the company's new unified privacy policy . The letter ( PDF ), which comes from the National...
Google TV Service May Be On The Way For Kansas City
February 22, 2012, 4:28 pmKansas City must be feeling like the prettiest girl at the Google Pageant these days. First the city gets chosen as the starting location for Google Fiber, the company’s project to broaden access to and increase the speed of the internet, and now it looks as if the largest city in Missouri may get to be the first place to try on some kind of...
Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Battles Onto Vita Today
February 22, 2012, 4:27 pmAlongside all the great content already hitting the PlayStation Vita today, Capcom is releasing Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 for the titular handheld.
For those who don’t know about the fantastic Marvel vs. Capcom series, imagine taking all the greatest characters and fighters from both the Marvel and Capcom universes and mashing them together...
BloomReach SEO Platform Aims to Expose Your Best Content in Organic Search & Social Channels
February 22, 2012, 4:23 pmCloud marketing platform BloomReach has launched with a suite of three intelligent discovery tools for businesses. BloomReach accomplishes some pretty incredible things for web businesses in need of a holistic, well-rounded marketing approach.
Dell Reports Record Revenues in 2011
February 22, 2012, 4:23 pmDell reported record-high revenues for the 4th quarter of 2011, though profits were slightly down. Desktop and laptop sales slumped, while server sales have increased. Dell's revenue for Q4 last year was $16 billion, up 2%, while its net income was down 18%, at $764 million, compared to $927 million for the 4th quarter of 2010. Dell called 2011...
SES London Day 2: Social Media Solutions on a Budget at #seslondon
February 22, 2012, 4:18 pmSocial Media Solutions on a Budget at #seslondon #socialmedia We are at Day 2 of the SES London event and today I have attended an interesting session about how to increase your social media presence with no or a small budget. The speakers showed us a wealth of great free to low-cost tools. Combined with a clever strategy these will have you up...
Quora Currency System Now Includes Promotion
February 22, 2012, 4:16 pmQuara has announced that users can now spend their credit to promote their content. Spending credits will allow users to broadcast to a larger audience. If it ia a promoted item it will appear with a special icon on the reader’s screens. So if you have something important to share, or a burning question, you can spend some credits and get...
Digital Coupons Use Helps Atlanta To Become Most Frugal City In U.S.
February 22, 2012, 4:07 pmAtlanta knows how to save a buck or two, according to a new study from Coupons.com. In a survey released today identifying the most frugal cities in the United States, the Big Peach is the best at not spending a lot. These are complicated economic times and people are looking for whatever break they can get when it comes to parting ways with their...
Digital Coupons Help Atlanta Become Most Frugal City In U.S.
February 22, 2012, 3:53 pmAtlanta knows how to save a buck or two, according to a new study from Coupons.com. In a survey released today identifying the most frugal cities in the United States, the Big Peach is the best at not spending a lot.
These are complicated economic times and people are looking for whatever break they can get when it comes to parting ways with their...
Space Elevators: The Only Way To Travel To Space In 2050
February 22, 2012, 3:52 pmRecall when Charlie and Willy Wonka traveled around Earth in a glass elevator in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator ? Remember how fun that sounded? Your childhood dreams (or adulthood dreams, depend on when you read the book) of taking a stellar trip in an elevator might be a reality in the foreseeable future.
Smartphones Becoming A Major Shopping Accessory
February 22, 2012, 3:52 pmSmartphone owners are becoming increasingly dependent on their phones to help them shop, according to a recent report from Nielsen. Nearly a third (29%) of smartphone owners use their phones while they shop. What's more, many want the option to use their phone to pay for their merchandise. The most popular activity for shoppers using their...
Mobile Ad Dollars Versus Time Spent: The Great Divide
February 22, 2012, 3:42 pmThere's a certain logic to the concept of spending the most ad dollars in places where people spend the most time. But then, bus shelter ads are effective. People don't spend a lot of time there, but when they are there, they're bored and probably more likely to examine the ad than an ad on a flipping magazine page. Flurry took a look at the Time...
SES London 2012 - Day 2 Coverage #SESLondon
February 22, 2012, 3:37 pmDay 2 of SES London 2012 has come to a close. The day, much like Day 1, was packed full of great tips and strategies on SEO tools and metrics, PPC architecture, and more. Here's a roundup of today's live blogging and coverage of SES London 2012.
Broadband Spectrum Will Expand In the U.S.!!!
February 22, 2012, 3:37 pmU.S. Vice President Joe Biden has released a report highlighting the need for expansion of the United States broadband spectrum. At the core of his report is what he calls the "spectrum crunch" or huge surge in wireless internet traffic brought about by the popularity of wireless devices like smartphones and tablets. His main concern is that...
National Margarita Day, Lent, and Texting For Beginners
February 22, 2012, 3:37 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Enjoy! @BettyFckinWhite Betty F*ckin' White It's...
Twitter Offers Tips On Smooth Animation For iPhone
February 22, 2012, 3:37 pmIs your iPhone app plagued by slowdown when attempting to scroll down pages? Does the animation hit lag? Twitter could have potentially hit similar problems with their newest app update for iPhone, but avoided it with some simple tweaking. Twitter's engineering blog addressed the concern above in a blog post titled, "Simple Strategies for Smooth...
Meet Mozzers at #SMX West 2012
February 22, 2012, 3:36 pmPosted by jennita Conferences are always a great way to get out and meet the SEOmoz community. Luckily we have SMX West coming up next week and quite a few Mozzers will be attending, speaking, live blogging and tweeting. We want to get a chance to meet as many of you as possible so I forced everyone to decide on a schedule so youll know where to...
Plastic Surgeon Gets Personal With 100,000 Followers On Twitter
February 22, 2012, 3:01 pmAtlanta Plastic Surgeon, Dr. John LeRoy is one of the most active plastic surgeons on the social network with a Twitter following @JohnLLeRoyJrMD of over 100,000. Dr. LeRoy is committed to having a strong online presence and has always been an early adopter of technology as one of the first Atlanta practices to have a website back in 1996. Dr....
MegaUpload Founder Posts Bail, Twitter Reaction
February 22, 2012, 3:01 pmKim DotCom, founder of MegaUpload, was released from jail today on bond, after a New Zealand court deemed that he wasn't a flight risk. Though the NZ Crown might appeal the decision to set DotCom free for the time being, it had been deemed that it is unlikely that he would be able to access the funds to flee the country. Kim was quoted as saying,...
The Beatles Launch Ringtones Exclusively Through iTunes
February 22, 2012, 3:01 pmFor those The Beatles fans who don't know how to make their own ringtones or just want to spend more money on their favorite band, T he Beatles are now offering ringtones based on their songs exclusively through iTunes. The ringtones all last 30-seconds and come from 27 of the bands number one hits. Those hits include "I Want To Hold Your Hand,"...
SES London 2012 – Day 2 Coverage #SESLondon
February 22, 2012, 3:00 pmDay 2 of SES London 2012 has come to a close. The day, much like Day 1, was packed full of great tips and strategies on SEO tools and metrics, PPC architecture, and more. Here's a roundup of today's live blogging and coverage of SES London 2012.
T-Mobile Calls for Government Emergency Breakthrough on Verizon Deal
February 22, 2012, 2:56 pmby Todd Bailey Is it better to make nice with competitors (perhaps if it's financially beneficial)? In some cases, it may be better to damper notions of competition and pickup on financially-sound sentiments regarding partnerships. However, are such unions good for other brands in the industry? The T-Mobile brand does not appreciate the planned...
Google Bringing Android To Desktops And Laptops?
February 22, 2012, 2:45 pmA patent application recently filed by Google suggests that there may be plans in the works to bring the Android operating system to desktop and notebook computers. The new patent is one of several recent filings that suggest that Android will be making the jump from phones and tablets to computers. As reported by Patently Apple,
So You Think Your Changes Will Help Your Customer? Prove It!
February 22, 2012, 2:40 pmby Mike Fleming Two posts ago, I talked about the importance of laying a web analytics foundation for your company by measuring, valuing and analyzing the critical few visitor behaviors on your site that have an impact on your bottom line. In my last post , I talked about the step after that, which is determine why the data you've collected is...
Google's Patent Battle With Microsoft & Apple Escalates
February 22, 2012, 2:30 pmMicrosoft has filed a formal complaint against Motorola with the European Commission over what it sees as a clear abuse of its industry standard patents, with Google's tacit backing. This follows a similar filing by Apple demanding EC intervention.
E-Prescriptions May Reduce Medication Errors
February 22, 2012, 2:20 pmPreventable Adverse Elements, or PAEs, account for 50 to 100,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. One major contributor to PAEs is patient medication errors, and the implementation of e-prescription systems can cut down on these mistakes, according to Patexia.
Part of the problem with medication errors is the multiple steps needed to administer a...
Google Docs App For Android Update Will Help You Fine Tune Your Best Man Speech
February 22, 2012, 2:14 pmA new update to the Google Docs app for Android does a few things, but most importantly brings a popular feature from the desktop version of Google Docs to mobile: real-time document editing. From the official Google blog : We want to give everyone the chance to be productive no matter where they are, so today we're releasing a new update to the...
Yahoo! Search Trends: Online Searches Show Odds Are Forever In Favor of The Hunger Games
February 22, 2012, 2:14 pmTwilight's on its final run. Harry Potter has flown out of the theaters. What's next? The Hunger Games. And, people are scouring Yahoo! for anything they can find out about the upcoming movie. Did you know?: Of the total searches on Yahoo! this year (past 365) for The Hunger Games, Twilight Breaking Dawn: Part I, and Harry Potter and the Deathly...
Facebook Making Premium Ads More Personal
February 22, 2012, 2:14 pmFor those that felt Facebook ads and sponsored posts just weren't cutting it, some new leaked documents from the social network detail their plans to change how premium ads are displayed starting February 29. In leaked documents obtained by Gigaom , Facebook will reportedly be upgrading its premium ads. Facebook claims that the new ads will have a...
Google Supports the European Cloud Partnership
February 22, 2012, 2:04 pmPosted by Patrick Ryan, Policy Counsel, Open Internet Last year, we were excited about the effort initiated by the U.S. government to promote cloud adoption through the Cloud First initiative. Through this initiative, the federal government declared that taxpayers' money should be used in a more productive way, and having the government run its...
Google’s Patent Battle With Microsoft & Apple Escalates
February 22, 2012, 2:00 pmMicrosoft has filed a formal complaint against Motorola with the European Commission over what it sees as a clear abuse of its industry standard patents, with Google's tacit backing. This follows a similar filing by Apple demanding EC intervention.
Amazon Disputes Terms With Publisher
February 22, 2012, 1:59 pmAmazon has removed any e-book offerings from Independent Publishers Group (IPG) until some new terms can be reached regarding compensation. Though print editions of the distributors books are still available, the new terms Amazon has proposed would significantly cut revenue on both print and electronic titles for IPG. Currently IPG is the second...
German Police Arrest File Sharing Operator
February 22, 2012, 1:44 pmGerman police raided file-sharing locker Skyload.net last week, and arrested it's operator, along with the guy who provided hosting for the site, according to Networld. The Dresden Attorney General's office initiated the raid in response to a complaint led by the German copyright agency. Skyload.net is accused of putting more than 10,000 movies on...
The Microsoft Office For iPad Squabble Spills Over To Twitter
February 22, 2012, 1:44 pmYesterday, we reported on an upcoming version of Microsoft Office for iPad . The famous productivity suite has always been noticeably absent from iOS, and the news that an app might be making its way to the most popular tablet in the world set the interwebs ablaze. The new came courtesy of The Daily , who claimed that an image was in fact the new...
Guild Wars 2 Beta Sign Up Goes Live
February 22, 2012, 1:44 pmWhat is possibly the most anticipated MMO of the year, Guild Wars 2 has finally announced that beta test sign ups are finally open. Guild Wars 2 is the sequel to the immensely popular Guild Wars, an MMO that bucked a lot of the traditional MMO trends like subscription fees. Many MMOs that have failed using a traditional model have now gone the...
SMX West: Use Our 10% Off Discount Code, Share Your Thoughts and Enter to Win an XBOX #smx #ppc #sem
February 22, 2012, 1:38 pmSMX West starts next week, are you excited? Having been to a couple of SMX conferences in the past myself, I can say without a doubt that its one of the best out there for online marketers. Theres always a great mix of speakers from across the industry; if you dont walk away from this event feeling like you learned something new, then youre...
How Offering Workshops Can Help You Bring In Clients Over Time
February 22, 2012, 1:13 pmBecause I own my own company I know how hard it can be to continually bring in new clients and keep a steady flow of income. You have to have a plan for 6+ months down the road and offering workshops or classes might just help you. I believe a very important part of consulting .
Google HUD Glasses Will Be On Your Face By The End Of 2012
February 22, 2012, 12:57 pmThose rumors about some Google HUD glasses on the horizon were more than a mirage: turns out these things are really happening. In case holding a phone in your hand and occasionally looking up to scan your surroundings is simply too taxing of a task for you to handle, Google is ushering in a new era of browsing by launching these browser specs.
Mozilla Marketplace Opening To Developers At Mobile World Congress
February 22, 2012, 12:22 pmMozilla Marketplace Opening To Developers Next Week Mozilla has announced that the new Mozilla Marketplace will be open for developers beginning at this year's Mobile World Congress. Developers can begin submitting apps in a wide variety of categories at the conference next week. The Mozilla Marketplace is intended to be a completely...
Fan Trailer for John Carter Outdoes Disney's Official Work
February 22, 2012, 12:22 pmAs many of you know, WebProNews is a big supporter of user-generated content, especially when it takes an established property and makes it better. In fact, the user-generated era is producing some incredible content, as the tools of the Internet makes hosting and distribution so much easier than they've ever been before. With that in mind,...
Fan Trailer for John Carter Outdoes Disney’s Official Work
February 22, 2012, 12:14 pmAs many of you know, WebProNews is a big supporter of user-generated content, especially when it takes an established property and makes it better. In fact, the user-generated era is producing some incredible content, as the tools of the Internet makes hosting and distribution so much easier than they’ve ever been before.
With that in mind,...
CIA Changing The Way They Buy Software
February 22, 2012, 12:06 pmThe CIA is changing the way it buys technology in hopes to stay on top of the constantly evolving technology landscape. Reuters is reporting that in a meeting with software vendors on Tuesday, the CIA's top tech officer, Ira Hunt, told vendors that the agency was changing the way they do business. The way the CIA had done business before was that...
Scroogle Gets Screwgled After Days Of DDoS Attacks
February 22, 2012, 12:06 pmOptions to prevent Google's gropey hands from gathering your browsing information have dwindled today due to the shuttering up of Scroogle. For those unawares, Scroogle was a search engine that acted as an " online condom " to enable users to practice safe searching while preventing companies like Google from tracking your habits. The main cause...
Google Launching Futuristic HUD Glasses Later This Year
February 22, 2012, 12:06 pmAccording to a recent New York Times article, Google is planning to launch technologically advanced glasses with a heads-up display later this year. The futuristic glasses, which will appear similar to Oakley Thumps sunglasses, will continually stream real-time information to the lenses using a 3G/4G connection. The project, which is being led by...
Scroogle Gets Screwgled For Good After Days Of DDoS Attacks
February 22, 2012, 12:03 pmOptions to prevent Google’s gropey hands from gathering your browsing information have dwindled today due to the shuttering up of Scroogle. For those unawares, Scroogle was a search engine that acted as an “online condom” to enable users to practice safe searching while preventing companies like Google from tracking your habits....
45 SEO and Social Media Tools #SESLondon
February 22, 2012, 11:56 amI really lucked out after moderating the morning session at SES London on Social Media Tools by joining the SEO Tools of the Trade session that followed. Both sessions had great speakers and I've decided to combine my notes for both into one post about social media automation tools and SEO tools. The sources for the SEO tool recommendations...
Contestants Angry Over "Biggest Loser"
February 22, 2012, 11:51 amRecently NBC announced a secret twist on their hit show, 'Biggest Loser' where celebrities compete to see who can shed the most excess pounds. The show's producers leaked word that it may allow previous contestants to return to the show to compete for the $250,000 grand prize. Immediately the current stars were pissed off! To express their great...
Compare Your 40 Time With Rich Eisen, NFL Draft Prospects
February 22, 2012, 11:51 amThe NFL Scouting Combine begins today (2/22) as teams get ready for the meat market-like approach to evaluating future NFL prospects, in preparation for the upcoming NFL Draft. The Combine is popular event in the sports world, getting almost as much attention as the NFL Draft itself. When you hear NFL pundits say the season never ends, this is...
AT&T Lightening Up On Data Throttling?
February 22, 2012, 11:51 amEarlier this month we brought you news that AT&T had started throttling the data streams of certain smartphone users. Those who had managed to hang onto AT&T's now-defunct unlimited data plans were reportedly having their connections throttled after 2.1 gigabytes of data usage per month. This practice raised quite a few eyebrows, since those who...
Contestants Angry Over “Biggest Loser”, Twitter Reaction
February 22, 2012, 11:38 amRecently NBC announced a secret twist on their hit show, ‘Biggest Loser’ where celebrities compete to see who can shed the most excess pounds. The show’s producers leaked word that it may allow previous contestants to return to the show to compete for the $250,000 grand prize. Immediately the current stars were pissed off! To...
Whitney Houston's Death Coverage Examined By Lewis Black
February 22, 2012, 11:35 amLewis Black isn't happy. This fact is evident anytime he opens his mouth. Black, known for his angry rants, while simulating a mental breakdown, has a segment on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, where he examines various aspects of our society. On last nights episode, his segment "Back in Black", took a look at how the media handled the death of...
Russian Web Ad Spending Overtakes Print
February 22, 2012, 11:24 amOnline advertising expenditures were up 56% in Russia in 2011, overtaking print ads for the first time. The internet presently accounts for 16% of ad spending in Russia, still a far cry from TV ad dominance.
Web ads in the UK overtook print in 2010, and eMarketer projects the same in the U.S. in 2012. eMarketer estimates online advertising...
Twitter Helps Man Sell Home For $135,000 Above Asking Price
February 22, 2012, 11:24 amA tech-savvy Melbourne homeowner used social media to go all out in selling his home and was rewarded with $135,000 above his asking price. Not bad for a little extra work around the house. Real Estate agents, neighbors and most everyone in general is impressed with the 33% increase Kurt Opray received above median home sales for his Northcote...
Heinrich Hertz Doodle: Did Google Get It Wrong?
February 22, 2012, 11:23 amI’m sure by now you’ve all seen today’s animated Google Doodle. The multi-colored never-ending wave pattern honors Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, who is best known for his studies on electromagnetic waves (and the fact that the unit of frequency, the Hertz, is named after him).
Now there is talk on the interwebs that Google got it...
Facebook, Google Support Program To Help Kids Connect Safely
February 22, 2012, 11:20 amThe Family Online Safety Institute has announced A Platform for Good. The program is designed to help kids, teenagers, parents, and teachers connect and share safely on the internet. The program has been endorsed by some of the biggest names in the tech, social media, telecommunications, and search. Partner organizations include Facebook, Google,...
Managing Your Online Reputation in Foreign Languages
February 22, 2012, 11:20 amEstablishing a reputation for a business or brand online takes time and effort. Losing that good reputation, on the other hand, can happen in the blink of an eye. A switched-on business is aware of what is being said about their product or service and who is saying it, poised to step in and manage .
PlayStation Vita Gets Launch Day Apps, Games
February 22, 2012, 11:20 amThe PlayStation Vita launched today in the U.S. and Sony already has a couple of nice apps out for the device. We already reported on the Vita having Netflix support right out of the gate. The functionality is nice and may be the fastest that Netflix has come to a game console yet. The other apps that are free to download for Vita users are Live...
Toyota and Microsoft Advertising Bring their Appetite for Life to the Deep South
February 22, 2012, 11:15 amInspiration can come from lots of places, but none may be as simple as sharing a meal with friends, family or even strangers. Food brings people together no matter their cultures or walk of life. Often food is a direct representation of the wonderful people who grow, cultivate and make it. Recognizing this, Microsoft Advertising and Toyota have...
In Southwestern Ontario? Come Join Me, Bryan Eisenberg in London " Feb. 28
February 22, 2012, 11:15 amIf your job or company revolves around online marketing, and you've always wanted to see Bryan Eisenberg in action, the keynote alone is worth the small price of this year's eMarketing Conference at Fanshawe College in London, ON. As always, it should be a great day of learning and networking' and all within friendly reach of the "breadbasket"...
Make a Good Search Impression with Bing's Linked Pages
February 22, 2012, 11:09 amWhether its an old friend, a former classmate or ( ahem ) yourself, searching for people is one of the most common things we do on the web. Last year, we took the first step to bring expanded search results of your Facebook friends into Bing, making it easier to find friends and friends of friends more quickly. With people search being such a...
UPDATE: Twitter Responds On Sarkozy Parody Account, Banned Political Accounts
February 22, 2012, 10:49 amYesterday I wrote about Twitter banning a parody account of French President Nicolas Sarkozy as well as three other accounts that were known to have been politically opposed to Sarkozy. On the day Sarkozy announced he will seek re-election, these four accounts were suspended by Twitter. As of this morning, the parody account for Sarkozy,...
iPad Mini Being Tested, Christmas Release Wouldn't Affect iPad 3
February 22, 2012, 10:49 amAlthough most iPad/iPhone rumors are met with a great deal of skepticism, rumors concerning a possible iPad Mini are met with even more skepticism. Between Steve Job's famous proclamation about smaller tablets feeling like giant smartphones and the fact that iPad Mini rumors have been around for years, it's understandable why many think that Apple...
T-Mobile, MetroPCS Want the FCC To Stop Verizon's Spectrum Grab
February 22, 2012, 10:49 amVerizon Wireless has ideas of securing a big chunk of the unused wireless spectrum by purchasing it from companies like Time Warner, Bright House Networks, and Cox Communications. Such an agreement would give Verizon Wireless increased access and control over the wireless spectrum, something Verizon is already assured before the acquisition,...
Microsoft Argues Motorola’s Policy On Patents
February 22, 2012, 10:29 amMicrosoft has filed formal complaints with European Union’s competition regulator regarding the price Motorola is charging for the use of patented technology. Microsoft is claiming the the 2.25% they are charging for a video patent is well over what other patent holders charge for their use. For example, Motorola receives almost $23 dollars...
Spam Levels Down, Mobile Malware On The Rise
February 22, 2012, 10:23 amMcAfee has released their quarterly threat report for the fourth quarter of 2011, and some of the results may surprise you. The report examines the biggest threats to online security for both the fourth quarter and all of 2011. The report shows that while spam email seems to be on the decline, malware remains a significant threat.
While malware...
CM Punk Feuding With Chris Brown Via Twitter
February 22, 2012, 10:18 amOn Sunday, April 1, CM Punk will take part in quite possibly the biggest match of his professional wrestling career. He'll be going up against Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 28 to defend his WWE Championship. It appears as though Punk cannot wait for a brawl, and has started taking shots, via Twitter, against R&B singer/dancer Chris Brown. Why you...
Will Sacha Baron Cohen's Dictator Crash The Oscars?
February 22, 2012, 10:18 amSacha Baron Cohen's new film, The Dictator , is "the heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed." If you've seen the trailer, you know that it's probably going to be a wild and unpredictable as Cohen's previous hit films Borat and Bruno . Apparently Cohen wants to...
Google Australia Introduces Student Ambassadors
February 22, 2012, 10:16 amGoogle Australia’s official blog introduced it’s newly appointed student ambassadors Tuesday, at the inaugural Google Student Ambassador Summit at it’s Sydney office. Google selected 52 students from 23 universities across Australia and New Zealand, who will learn about Google products and programs, and organize campus events at...
Will Sacha Baron Cohen’s Dictator Crash The Oscars?
February 22, 2012, 10:00 amSacha Baron Cohen’s new film, The Dictator, is “the heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.” If you’ve seen the trailer, you know that it’s probably going to be a wild and unpredictable as Cohen’s previous hit films Borat...
Borderlands 2 Gets Its Launch Date Trailer
February 22, 2012, 9:58 amThe hyperbole is coming hard and fast from Gearbox Software has they are prepping to release the sequel to their fun hit, Borderlands . While the rumblings about the sequel picked up speed in 2011, thanks in large part to the teaser trailer , the hype is getting ready to kick into overdrive now that the release date has been revealed. Before that...
comScore to Speak at the Deutsche Bank 2012 Media and Telecom Conference
February 22, 2012, 9:52 amcomScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced that Dr. Magid Abraham, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Deutsche Bank 2012 Media and Telecom Conference in Palm Beach, Florida.
MegaUpload's Kim Dotcom Granted Bail
February 22, 2012, 9:42 amKim Dotcom has scored a win in his extradition case to the U.S. where he and his company, MegaUpload, face multiple charges including racketeering and criminal copyright infringement. Reuters is reporting that Dotcom's effort to win bail have finally been rewarded as he was allowed to return home today after fighting to be granted bail for nearly...
Facebook Lawyers Strike Back Against Ceglia
February 22, 2012, 9:42 amMore bad news for Facebook scammer Paul Ceglia. Shortly after the judge ordered him to reimburse Facebook almost $76,000 for legal fees in the false contract scam, an updated court filing shows new evidence that he knowingly fabricated the case against the social media giant and founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Netflix on Playstation Vita at Launch
February 22, 2012, 9:42 amNetflix has reported on their blog that it's streaming video content will be available for the Playstation Vita as it launches today in the U.S. Netflix has been available to subscribers across a range of consoles, including Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony's Playstation 3. This is the first time the service is available on a Sony...
Making an Effective Social Media Editorial Calendar
February 22, 2012, 9:37 amEven before the birth of the Internet and Social Media, an editorial calendar has been a handy friend for advertisers. It has helped traditional marketers effectively send out their message when promoting a product. According to a study conducted by the Dominican University of California, people who write down goals, share, and update it weekly .
MegaUpload’s Kim Dotcom Granted Bail
February 22, 2012, 9:33 amKim Dotcom has scored a win in his extradition case to the U.S. where he and his company, MegaUpload, face multiple charges including racketeering and criminal copyright infringement.
Reuters is reporting that Dotcom’s effort to win bail have finally been rewarded as he was allowed to return home today after fighting to be granted bail for...
From snowflakes to surfactants: meet the YouTube Space Lab regional winners
February 22, 2012, 9:32 amAt the end of January, we invited you to choose your favorite YouTube Space Lab experiment ideas from sixty finalist teams, and today we have our winners! More than 100,000 of you cast your votes that combined with the scores from our panel of judges to decide the regional winners for the final stage of the competition. Find out who won below and...
Google Street View Comes To Russia, Captures Period Actors At Peterhof
February 22, 2012, 9:28 amЗдравствуйте, Google Street View! Yesterday Google announced the addition of two Russian cities, St. Petersburg and Moscow, to the Street View experience via their Lat Long Blog. As vast as Russia is, it’s my hope that Street View will continue to add other cities from Russia in order to expand the opportunity to feast your eyes...
ACTA Referred To European Court of Justice
February 22, 2012, 9:11 amIs the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement treaty, otherwise known as ACTA, compatible with what is referred to as the EU's "fundamental rights and freedoms?" Some EU officials are asking that very question, and to help determine the answer, EU trade chief Karel De Gucht indicated the highly-flammable " at least from a social sense " piece of...
Foxconn Hid Underage Workers, Improved Conditions To Pull Wool On FLA Inspectors [REPORT]
February 22, 2012, 9:11 amYou remember those audits of Foxconn facilities that took place last week? According to one labor rights activist, we should really take the initial reviews with a grain of salt. Of course, many were already skeptical of any report that labeled working conditions inside a Foxconn factory as "satisfactory" after all of the stuff we've heard about...
Adobe Outlines Future Of Flash Player And AIR
February 22, 2012, 9:11 amAdobe has been a leading player in creating tools for Web content creation for the past decade with Flash Player. With the emergence of HTML5 and other similar technologies, Adobe has to refocus their strategy on what Flash will mean two or three years from now.
Google Correlate expands to 49 additional countries
February 22, 2012, 9:11 amPosted by Matt Mohebbi, Software Engineer In May of this year we launched Google Correlate on Google Labs. This system enables a correlation search between a user-provided time series and millions of time series of Google search traffic. Since our initial launch, we've graduated to Google Trends and we've seen a number of great applications of...
Amazon: Simple Workflow Service Webinar March 13th
February 22, 2012, 8:41 amIf your a web developer, Amazon has created an exciting new product for you. Simple Workflow (SWF) is a service for building scalable, resilient applications and it makes creating and managing them much easier than it has been in the past. The service allows users to administer, scale, tune, patch and upgrade without any hardware or software....
Microsoft adCenter: Making AdWords-like Location Targeting Changes
February 22, 2012, 8:35 amTargeting your potential customer is easy with Google AdWords. Regardless of his or her location, all you need is to build your keyword list, incorporate it with your ad copy, and set your targeting options. Unfortunately, the case is not the same with Microsoft's adCenter. That's why they're redesigning their adCenter, to mirror the Google .
Track & Segment Your Way to More Accurate Bounce Rates
February 22, 2012, 8:25 amIn analytics, there are two truths about bounce rates: if you aren't tagging your downloads or on-page events correctly, you could be missing out on the full picture; and segmentation is everything - it helps you discern "good" from "bad" metrics.
Twitter Will Reach 500 Million Users In T-Minus 5 Hours
February 22, 2012, 8:25 amIn a little less than 6 hours, Twitter will officially have 500 million registered users. This estimate is only slightly off from the projections made last month; on January 13, Twopcharts calculated that Twitter would hit the watermark on Valentine's Day . Being only eight days off still doesn't really change anything in this arbitrary...
Apple Begins Fight Over iPad Name In Shanghai Court
February 22, 2012, 8:25 amThe legal drama between Apple and Proview hit new heights today as arguments from both sides were heard in a Shanghai court. As you're all probably familiar with by now, Proview claims to own the iPad trademark in China. A claim that Apple says is bogus as they claim to have bought the iPad trademark across numerous Asian countries, including...
Twitter Updates Mobile Apps for Android, iPhone
February 22, 2012, 8:14 amFor those of you who use the official Twitter mobile app on either your iPhone or your Android smartphone, it’s update time. Both platforms are seeing and “new and improved” Twitter app, although, the changes are a bit cosmetic; at least for the iOS environment.
Over at the Twitter blog, the changes are detailed, and for Android...
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz Google Doodle Gets Wavy
February 22, 2012, 8:13 amToday’s Google Doodle honors German Physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz who is probably best known for the unit of measurement that bears his name.
Hertz’s experiments in electromagnetism paved the way for wireless communications, as he was the first scientist to prove the existence of electromagnetic waves. His early research served as...
Google Releases Youtube Instructional Videos
February 22, 2012, 8:10 amGoogle Webmaster Central has released a few Youtube clips describing the best methods for indexing video content, to supplement their Webmaster Tools dialogue. Along with a description of common video indexing mistakes webmasters make, Google also added tips on video indexing markup, and a clip on video platform restrictions. Google also added a...
An Interview with Jordan Kasteler About His New Social Media Marketing Book
February 22, 2012, 8:10 amJordan Kasteler has had quite the career. He was the Senior SEO Analyst at Overstock.com, a co-founder of Search and Social, the SVP of Content Development / Managing Partner of BlueGlass Interactive, Inc. the CMO at Steelcast and is now the Online Marketing Strategist at PETA. Jordan is extremely smart and has built a very .
Weekly Webinar Roundup 2/22/2012
February 22, 2012, 8:10 amMany of the webinars this week offer basic techniques for the web programs or services the company provides. Raven Tools and SEOMoz both give in-depth webinars concerning their programs. For the hour it takes to watch, is well worth the time to try and figure the program out for yourself. Enjoy and learn something new .
LinkedIn Advertising Tips For Beginners
February 22, 2012, 7:54 amWith more than 150 million members, LinkedIn can be an extremely important and effective advertising opportunity when used correctly. Here are tips on how to set up your account, create your first LinkedIn ad, target your ad, and set your budget.
Google to Face Legal Vultures on Privacy, Will Others As Well?
February 22, 2012, 7:44 amGoogle is getting ready to face the legal music for its latest dalliance with regard to privacy. That makes sense only in a world where lawyers run the show. I don't understand the process of how these things work. I am not a lawyer and I did not spend the night in a Holiday Inn Express so I am SOL in understanding what is about to hapen....
Microsoft and Yahoo! Search Alliance: the migration starts today in UK and France
February 22, 2012, 7:39 amMicrosoft and Yahoo! are keen to bring advertisers the benefits of our combined audiences as soon as possible. We have completed the transition of organic searches globally , which means that any user performing a search on Yahoo! from a PC or a mobile is provided with Bing-powered results. With regards to consolidation of the audiences on one...
Guide to the Facebook Open Graph
February 22, 2012, 7:32 amOpen Graph is Facebook’s new protocol which allows 3rd party websites and webapps to connect user activity on-site with user activity on Facebook. Through defining “objects” (piece of content) and “actions” (watch, read, listen etc) Open Graph enables your product to become an integral part of the user’s and...
Facebook Premium Ads Coming Feb. 29 With Some Lofty Claims
February 22, 2012, 7:23 amQuiet period, schmiet period. As Groupon haas proven there is no such thing in the new world of Internet marketing and communications. Facebook just happened to "leak" some documents regarding their new Premium Ads set to go live on Feb. 29 to the CEO of iStrategyLabs who just so happened to post them to GigaOm , well, you get the point....
Owners Shuts Scroogle Down for Good
February 22, 2012, 7:13 amAfter last week's report that Google is blocking private search engine Scroogle, the site was shut down for good. Owner Daniel Brandt blames Google and the DDoS attack made by those who have personal vendettas against him. He shared on BetaBeat: "Scroogle.org is gone forever. Even if all my DDoS problems had never started in .
Google Kills AdSense for Domains
February 22, 2012, 7:03 am"After evaluating the benefits of our partner network, weve decided to retire the Hosted domains product within AdSense. Going forward, undeveloped domains will only be served through our existing AdSense for Domains distribution network."
How to Focus Your PPC Analysis & Optimization
February 22, 2012, 6:17 amWith wave after wave of insightful stats, a common hazard for PPC managers is losing site of the shore and getting lost at sea. Here's how you can avoid losing sight of your core business objectives when you're neck-deep in statistics.
Why Blind Obedience is Killing Your Business
February 22, 2012, 5:15 amPicture three men racing through a tall hedge maze. The first man runs off and begins following paths randomly, hoping to stumble upon the exit. The second man is more methodical. He puts one hand on a wall of the maze and resolves to keep moving forward slowly, never taking his hand off the wall. Eventually, thanks to the rules of topology, he...
Site Logs Show Traffic Surge: Human or Zombie
February 22, 2012, 4:26 amWhen a site jumps from 10,000 to 40,000 visits in a day, how best to establish whether this is real human traffic, or zombie robots.
SEO content marketing roundup, week ending February 22nd
February 22, 2012, 4:14 amAnalyze this! In this week's latest and greatest Web-writing news, the common theme running throughout is analytics in some shape or form. Be it applied Google Analytics for content and social media, or web analytics of the SEO/search kind, marketers from all corners of the blogosphere seem focused on data-generated insights into consumer...
Three Huge Social Networks International Marketers Should Not Neglect
February 22, 2012, 4:08 amFacebook might be the world's biggest social network, rapidly on its way to reach the magical one billion user mark, but it is not the only one. Here are a few others that are highly competitive in their domestic markets: Vkontakte (In contact) : Russia's leading social network has more than 110 million registered users and 33 million daily unique...
Setting Up Actionable SEO Dashboards in the New Google Analytics
February 22, 2012, 3:02 amThere have been many mixed reviews about the latest Google Analytics UI . Putting the frustration of having to learn a new UI aside (here's a great guide to navigating the new Google Analytics interface ), the new Google Analytics actually brings to the table great customization options. One of my favorites being custom dashboards. Both the old...
vBulletin + VBSEO Exploit in the Wild
February 22, 2012, 2:55 amvBulletin installations running VBSEO should be updated to the latest version. There is an exploit going around.
Wavy Google Logo Honors Heinrich Hertz
February 22, 2012, 2:21 amThe wavy blue, red, yellow, and green logo on Google's homepage today is in honor of Heinrich Rudolph Hertz. The German physicist, who was instrumental in the discovery of electromagnetic and radio waves, was born on this date 155 years ago.
Buying Links is Shallow, Short-Term Thinking. Buying Blogs? Now that's a Strategy.
February 22, 2012, 2:20 amPosted by randfish I've been running an experiment with some dark-hatted links for several months, consistently hoping Google will catch them and remove their value. So far... Nothing. Well, except top 3 rankings for all the anchor text pointed at those pages. Google's webspam team has all the incentive, brainpower and money in the world,
Describing Videos On The Web Using schema.org Markup
February 22, 2012, 2:13 amSchema.org is a joint effort between Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! and is now the recommended way to describe videos on the web.
Google Enhances Ad Sitelinks
February 22, 2012, 1:00 amGoogle is upping its game with improvements to ad sitelinks. The new sitelink option gives users more options while delivering more clicks for advertisers. On average, Google said the click through rate is 30 percent higher for ads with sitelinks.
Google Forecloses on Mortgage Comparison
February 22, 2012, 12:26 amIs a new version of Google's mortgage comparison service in the works? After scaling back the service in November, mortgage comparison went offline earlier this month. Mortgage comparison search is also gone from the Google Advisor site.
Google Apps Privacy Attacked by Microsoft in "Googlelighting" Video
February 21, 2012, 11:25 pmFor a company without major cloud computing collaboration clout, Microsoft has a good sense of humor regarding its competition with Google. Coming from the underdog - if only because Google has over 4 million business customers thanks to a four-year head start in Web-based collaboration software for businesses - "Googlelighting" is cute. It's a...
Heads Up: Reporting Delays Expected in Microsoft Advertising adCenter API
February 21, 2012, 7:14 pmSome adCenter API users may experience up to a 2-6 hour delay with API performance reports beginning Thursday February 23 at 8pm PST through between 10pm PST and 2am PST on Friday February 24. Reports are expected to be running normally by 2am PST on Friday, February 24.
Twitter Fails At Satire, Bans Nicolas Sarkozy Parody Account
February 21, 2012, 4:45 pmTwitter’s giving itself all kinds of new powers in 2012. Aside from revising their privacy policy wherein they enabled themselves to censor tweets on a country-by-country basis, they’ve now assumed the power to arbitrate the definition of satire. First up: Twitter apparently doesn’t like the way satire sounds in French so...
Video Markup Hits Schema.org (Google, Bing, Yahoo)
February 21, 2012, 4:29 pmLast year, Google, Bing and Yahoo teamed up to announced schema.org, an initiative to supporta a common set of schemas for structured data markup on web pages.
Schema.org got some rich snippet markup for music a couple months later, which servies like MySpace, Rhapsody and ReverbNation immediately started implementing.
Google announced today...
Websites Let You Cash In Your iPad 2 Towards An iPad 3
February 21, 2012, 4:29 pmWith the launch of the iPad 3 imminent, those who are planning to upgrade, are no doubt wondering how best to pay for latest iteration of Apple’s magical device. While there’s been little information on the iPad 3’s pricing, it is unlikely that the price tag will drop much (if at all) from the cost of the iPad 2 or original iPad. That means...
You May Suffer From Nomophobia
February 21, 2012, 4:29 pmNomophobia or “no mobile phone phobia” is the fear of losing or being separated from your beloved electronic appendage and for 66% of people surveyed a common ailment and serious issue. According to a study conducted by SecureEnvoy, a security-authentication company, ladies are first with the disorder and tend to worry about their...
As Smartphone Owner Growth Grows, So Mobile App Markets Must Grow
February 21, 2012, 4:28 pmIn the next three years, the number of smartphone shipments worldwide is expected to more than double. That might be easy to believe if, for instance, we were talking about five shipments doubling to ten. Big deal. In actuality, though, those numbers are going to go from 472 million in 2011 to 982 million by 2015.
That’s nearly ONE BILLION...
Persona 4 Arena Announced For Summer Release
February 21, 2012, 4:24 pmGood news for Persona and fighting game fans everywhere – Atlus has announced Persona 4 Arena for release in the U.S.
For those who have just joined the party, Persona 4 Arena takes the established characters from the much loved and critically acclaimed PS2 JRPG Persona 4 and pits them against each other in a fighting game for the ages.
The...
Google Flight Search Comes To Mobile
February 21, 2012, 4:20 pmToday, Google wants to make it easier to find flights on your mobile device, as they have announced that their Flight Search feature has come to Android and iOS devices. Now, when you search “flights from X to X” on your mobile device, you’ll see the same Flight Search box that you’ve seen on your desktop for a few months...
Epic Video: Microsoft Attacks Google's "Googlighting Stranger"
February 21, 2012, 4:19 pmThis is the cheesiest-and most awesome-video I've seen in a while. The fact that it happens to be Microsoft in a full on attack* of Google Apps, means that I have the perfect excuse to share it with you: And, I'm laughing because I'm a Google Apps user. * Bonus points for using YouTube to host it!
New Social Study: Men Get Personal, Women Talk Shop
February 21, 2012, 4:19 pmWomen may be tops when it comes to communicating but online, they’re more careful about what they say and to whom.
A new study from UK company uSamp shows that overall, men were more apt to share personal information online, topping women in every area except one – brand’s liked.
78% of the UK women surveyed said they’d be...
Facebook Helps South Dakota Mayor Win Race
February 21, 2012, 4:19 pmLast June, relatively unknown politician Sam Kooiker decided to run for Mayor of Rapid City, SD. The two-term incumbent mayor of the town of 70,000 was already a household name, and had quite a bit more campaign funds than Kooiker did – but in the end, this didn’t matter, as Kooiker won regardless. And his use of Facebook and a...
ICANN CEO Should Be Chosen By April
February 21, 2012, 4:17 pmBack in August, ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom announced that he would be stepping down at the end of his term. He said he’d stay until July. We haven’t heard much about the CEO search in the time since the announcement, but ICANN provided an update today.
ICANN released the following statement:
The CEO Search Committee has been actively...
SES London 2012 - Day 1 Coverage #SESLondon
February 21, 2012, 4:14 pmAvinash Kaushik's keynote kicked off SES London 2012 today, and what followed was a day filled with tips on landing page optimization, PPC, link building, and more. Here's a roundup of today's live blogging and coverage of SES London 2011.
Watery Super-Earth Found With Hubble Telescope
February 21, 2012, 4:14 pmNASA has supplied these images of what they are calling GJ 1214b. Others have adopted the name "water world" to describe the watery planet. Discovered in 2009, it was one of the first planets identified that actually has an atmosphere. A subsequent 2010 inspection of the planet suggested that the atmosphere contained a great deal of water. In...
Legal Claims Can Be Served On Facebook & Twitter, Say UK Judges
February 21, 2012, 4:14 pmFor those of you on the lam, it might be time to batten up the hatches on your social network availability because the long-arm of the law stretches a little further today due to a ruling in the United Kingdom that clears the way for lawyers to serve legal claims to defendants via Facebook . Justice Nigel Teare granted permission to a lawyer...
Mass Effect 3 Extended Trailer Released
February 21, 2012, 4:14 pmWe reported last week on EA releasing a teaser for a Mass Effect 3 trailer that would air during The Walking Dead. Well, that trailer did air, but EA did us one better. They released an extended version of that trailer online for all to enjoy. You can watch the trailer now, but I would like to point out a few things in the trailer worth...
New markup for multilingual content
February 21, 2012, 4:04 pmMany websites serve users from around the world. There are different approaches to serving content appropriate to your users' language and/or region. Last year, we launched support for explicit annotations for web pages rendering the same content with different language templates. Today we're going further with our support for multilingual content...
SES London 2012 – Day 1 Coverage #SESLondon
February 21, 2012, 4:00 pmAvinash Kaushik’s keynote kicked off SES London 2012 today, and what followed was a day filled with tips on landing page optimization, PPC, link building, and more. Here's a roundup of today's live blogging and coverage of SES London 2011.
SES London: Google Talks Bounce Rate, Social Signals You Should Be Measuring
February 21, 2012, 3:59 pmSearch Engine Strategies London is going on right now, and Googler Avinash Kaushik gave a keynote address that appears to have left attendees inspired. State of Search's Louis Venter has an extensive account of Kaushik's speech. One interesting part is what he says about bounce rate. I'm not sure if these were Kaushik's exact words, but Venter...
Epic Video: Microsoft Attacks Google’s “Googlighting Stranger”
February 21, 2012, 3:53 pmThis is the cheesiest–and most awesome–video I’ve seen in a while.
The fact that it happens to be Microsoft in a full on attack* of Google Apps, means that I have the perfect excuse to share it with you:
And, I’m laughing because I’m a Google Apps user.
* Bonus points for using YouTube to host it!
(Hat-tip)
...
Nanorobots Destroy Cancer Cells
February 21, 2012, 3:53 pmToday researchers at the Wyss Institute at Harvard Medical School unveiled a DNA nanorobot that can seek out and destroy leukemia cells, by administering a therapeutic payload that causes malignancies to self-destruct, all while leaving healthy cells untouched.
A technique for building structures from genetic material, called DNA Origami, was...
iPad 3 Landing In Germany In March. Or Maybe April.
February 21, 2012, 3:43 pmWhile the date for the U.S. unveiling of the iPad 3 is widely agreed to be March 7 , there is still some speculation about when Apple's next tablet will be making its way to foreign shores. New products usually make their way to a selection of European and Asian countries within a few weeks of their U.S. release, with launches in other countries...
Flickr Gets A New Look On February 28th
February 21, 2012, 3:43 pmMarkus Spiering, head of product management at Flickr is excited to announce a new look for the photo viewer interface that will be available february 28th. Enthusiasts who enter the download page will witness a page that appears more like an app than a website. Photos will be larger and more organized than on previous templates and the whitespace...
Facebook Improves iOS App Distribution
February 21, 2012, 3:43 pmDo you have an iPhone app that gets traffic from Facebook for iOS? Maybe you want to start directing people from Faebook for iOS to your app? Either way, Facebook released some new tools for developers today that should make directing traffic to your app much easier. For people who want to take advantage of these development tools, Facebook has...
What Did 181 Million US Internet Users Do In January?
February 21, 2012, 3:33 pmIf you answered "watched an online video" to our headline question then you're absolutely right! New data from the comScore Video Metrix shows that in January 2012, 181 million U.S. Internet users watched nearly 40 billion online videos. In January of 2011, that number was 171 million . That's a heck of a jump up in the space of one year. The big...
The Trouble with Tribbles: Beyond Google's Cookiegate Browser Settings Hype
February 21, 2012, 3:23 pmGoogle's circumvention of Safari privacy settings is just the tip of the user tracking iceberg. Privacy and user experience are in serious conflict, with billions of advertising dollars at stake as search and social converge.
Mardi Gras, Brady Quinn, and Doritos Tacos
February 21, 2012, 3:23 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Enjoy! @jennabrom Jenna Bromberg I don't know, king...
Christchurch Earthquake " One Year Later: live streaming the memorial service on YouTube
February 21, 2012, 3:13 pmCross posted from the Google New Zealand Blog On the one year anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake, the New Zealand Herald is providing full coverage of the city's memorial services on YouTube, commemorating the lives that were lost and those who are still affected by the tragedy. The live-stream of the memorial services starts today on NZ...
Mardi Gras Contributes To Economic Prosperity
February 21, 2012, 3:08 pmMint Life brings us this lovely infographic showing us just how profitable Mardi Gras is for New Orleans. I won't go into any great detail as the infographic is made to speak for itself, but come on? Any party that racks ups a bar tab of $3.4 million has got to be fun!
Copyright Laws Could Break The Internet As We Know It
February 21, 2012, 3:08 pmIf you're going to try to sue a website because of the site's members' activity, you might want to reconsider given a new report about the success rate of such legal pursuits. Internet lawyer Catherine Gellis, author of "2011 State of the Law Regarding Owner Liability for User-Generated Content," says that the chances for successfully suing a...
The Trouble with Tribbles: Beyond Google’s Cookiegate Browser Settings Hype
February 21, 2012, 3:00 pmGoogle’s circumvention of Safari privacy settings is just the tip of the user tracking iceberg. Privacy and user experience are in serious conflict, with billions of advertising dollars at stake as search and social converge.
Bill Maher To Kick Off Yahoo Comedy Channel With New Standup
February 21, 2012, 2:52 pmOn Thursday night, Bill Maher will take the stage for his new comedy special, CrazyStupidPolitics: Live From Silicon Valley . The show will take place at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, but you can watch it live, and for free via Yahoo. Actually, you can only watch in through Yahoo. Bill Maher's new special marks the debut of Yahoo...
Syndicate Jacks Into Retail Today, Gains Positive Reviews
February 21, 2012, 2:52 pmWar never changes, unless its being fueled by corporations that want to rule the financial world. If you're thinking of Perfect Dark, you have to go further back to 1993. We're talking about Syndicate. EA announced the launch of Syndicate today, the sequel/reimagining of the Bullfrog classic strategy game from 1993. The new Syndicate is a...
Developing For Chrome For Android: Google Engineers Speak
February 21, 2012, 2:52 pmGoogle launched Chrome for Android earlier this month. It's in beta, and is only available for select countries and languages for devices running Ice Cream Sandwich, but an Android version of the browser has been long awaited. It's bound to be popular as availability expands. It could even prove to be the first step in the convergence of Google's...
Comcast Unveils Xfinity Streampix On-Demand Streaming Service
February 21, 2012, 2:27 pmComcast has announced a new streaming video service that will bring customers a wide variety of content. Xfinity Streampix will be availble to customers who subscribe to Comcast’s Xfinity service. Streampix will allow users to stream shows that are no longer on the air in their entirety, as well as past seasons of current shows. Streampix is...
Yandex Adds Social Search Results, Partners With Twitter
February 21, 2012, 2:21 pmRussia's top search engine Yandex has made two big moves on the social search front. In addition to incorporating content from popular social networks into its search results, Yandex has partnered with Twitter to make tweets searchable in real time.
Art, Science and Technology Create Robotic Artist
February 21, 2012, 2:17 pmThe Center for Art and Media ZKM in Karlsruhe, Germany has developed a robot installation that can render life like sketches of subjects with remarkable accuracy and character. The technology is now part of an array of robots used to design high-tech reflectors and other safety devices at the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies...
Microsoft Updates SkyDrive
February 21, 2012, 2:06 pmOn Monday, Microsoft announced it's updated version of SkyDrive, to correlate with the upcoming release of Windows 8. This could coincide with the launch of Google Drive, which has been rumored to be ready within the next few weeks, and would compete directly with it and other cloud storage services Microsoft says that Skydrive will be tightly...
Asura's Wrath Launches Today, Receives Positive Reviews
February 21, 2012, 2:06 pmThe long awaited game where players punch everything, including a giant space Buddha, is finally upon us. Capcom launched Asura's Wrath today for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. For those who are unaware of the insanity that is Asura's Wrath, let me fill you in. Players take on the role of a deity inspired by Asian mythology who takes it upon...
Asura’s Wrath Launches Today, Receives Positive Reviews
February 21, 2012, 1:55 pmThe long awaited game where players punch everything, including a giant space Buddha, is finally upon us.
Capcom launched Asura’s Wrath today for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. For those who are unaware of the insanity that is Asura’s Wrath, let me fill you in. Players take on the role of a deity inspired by Asian mythology who takes it upon...
Twitter Hashbang URLs Will Soon Be A Thing Of The Past
February 21, 2012, 1:51 pmFavstar.fm founder Tim Haines had a Twitter conversation with Twitter engineer Dan Webb, and found that Twitter is apparently moving away from hashbangs in its URLs. Haines shared the conversation at a Storify link , but here are the relevant tweets: @timhaines Tim Haines Reading a gazillion articles on hashbang URLs (#!). 99% of them seem to be...
Kindle Fire Owners Want The iPad 3 [SURVEY]
February 21, 2012, 1:51 pmOn a day where we saw some supposed leaked images of the iPad 3 emerge as well as heard a rumor about a 10-inch Kindle Fire in the pipeline , deal aggregator TechBargains.com unveils some pretty compelling information about who's clamoring for the iPad 3. And unfortunately for Amazon, it appears that the subset includes quite a few Kindle Fire...
Social Media Is Proving To Be An Effective Job Performance Predictor
February 21, 2012, 1:30 pm Social media is continuing to prove to be a useful hiring tool and a two-way street for both employees and employers. Hopeful job applicants continue to use the internet to search and apply for employment and 91% of employers are now using social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to screen applicants for jobs. The good news from a...
Working the Algorithmic Trend
February 21, 2012, 1:20 pm2011 was a year of shifts for Google, with all the updates seeming to give hints of a huge shout which, at its end, formed the word Panda. As all of us know, the Panda Update centralized content and the importance thereof, making the user the priority, not the post. Duplicated content was removed, sites .
iPad Proves Value In Medical Field
February 21, 2012, 1:17 pmA new study of from the University of Sydney reveals that tablet computers like the iPad are just as reliable as secondary display devices as are their LCD companions when it comes to medical evaluation and diagnosis. The results come from a sample of eight examining radiologists who compared their ability to recognize nodules in chest x-rays on...
SES London Day 1: How To Optimize Your Landing Pages for Conversion Happiness #seslondon
February 21, 2012, 12:59 pmWere reporting from SES London to share some top PPC and social tips with those attending who love a re-cap and those chained to desk, unable to make it. We wriggled our way to the front seats of the Landing page optimization session this morning. If visitors arrive on your site but conversions arent up to scratch - your landing pages are one...
China Telecom To Begin Selling iPhones Next Month
February 21, 2012, 12:44 pmChina Telecom has announced that they will start carrying Apple's iPhone 4S next month. All models of the iPhone will be available on a selection of the company's plans. Chinese customers who want an iPhone can pre-order one beginning March 2. The phone will be available for purchase on March 9. Of the three major Chinese mobile carriers, China...
Google's Matt Cutts Explains Fetch as Googlebot in "Submit to Index via Google Webmaster Tools"
February 21, 2012, 12:29 pmMatt explains this newer feature and tells you about all the options you have with Fetch as Googlebot.
Apache HTTP Server 2.4 Now Available
February 21, 2012, 12:17 pmThe popular Apache HTTP Server software has just received a long-overdue update. According to an announcement from the Apache Software Foundation, Apache HTTP Server 2.4 is available now.
The update includes several major improvements, including better overall performance, asynchronous I/O support, better timeout and rate/resource limiting...
IPv6 Internet Seeing Increase In DDoS Attacks
February 21, 2012, 11:49 amHave you moved to the cutting edge of the Internet that is IPv6 yet? If so, did you make the move because you thought it would be safer than IPv4? Well, turns out that may not be true anymore.
In what Arbor Networks called “A Milestone in IPv6 Development,” they detail on their blog the first distributed denial of service attacks on the IPv6...
Samsung Spins Off LCD Business To Make Way For OLED
February 21, 2012, 11:47 amSamsung has announced a new plan to return the company’s flat-panel display business to profitability. The company’s board of directors has voted to spin off Samsung’s LCD business into a separate firm called Samsung Display Co. The new firm will be entirely owned by Samsung Electronics, but will start off with 750 billion South Korean won...
Retail Investors Are Treated By Google Finance
February 21, 2012, 11:36 amGoogle Finance Service is bringing even more value to their retail investors by giving them access to real-time London stock exchange prices. This is a service and value that has only been afforded to subscribing customers of expensive specialized services such as those offered by Bloomberg LP and Thomas Reuters. Google already offers this service...
Interview: How New Startup Nicira Could Change the Future of Networking
February 21, 2012, 11:36 amCloud computing is a topic that we’ve heard more and more about in recent years. The concept is truly incredible and has given businesses much more flexibility as well as a means for saving money.
Up to this point, memory, storage, and CPU have all been virtualized. However, the network has not been virtualized until now. Nicira, currently...
WHI Solutions Acquired By eBay [Breaking]
February 21, 2012, 11:27 ameBay just announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire WHI Solutions, which provides software and digital catalog solutions for auto parts distributors and retailers.
eBay’s Richard Brewer-Hay writes about the acquisition on the eBay Ink blog, which explains that eBay is gaining the expanded selection and access to enhanced...
iPhone Loss Leaves Man Blind In Atlanta
February 21, 2012, 11:27 amA Georgia Tech grad student found himself in a compromising position after he lost his smartphone. Vincent Martin is blind and his phone has special software that allows him to interact via voice recognition. Last friday he had to make a special trip to the veterinary clinic to allow his guide dog Karson to undergo a series of diagnostic tests....
Android Passes iOS In UK Market Share
February 21, 2012, 11:27 amA new study shows that Android has overtaken the iPhone as the most-used smartphone in the UK. Among smartphones in use by consumers on a daily basis - not just sales - Android has 36.9% of the market, compared to 28.5% for Apple's iPhone. The survey data comes from Kantar WorldPanel ComTech and was published earlier today in The Guardian. The...
Yahoo! Seeks to Avoid Lawsuit in India
February 21, 2012, 11:27 amYahoo! filed to be removed from a mass lawsuit against various social networking sites reportedly accused of hosting offensive religious content. The lawsuit in question has stood, despite Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal recently denying that the Indian government supports internet censorship. During a Dehli district court hearing on...
Skyrim Arrow In The Knee Shirt Brings Back Dead Horse Internet Joke
February 21, 2012, 11:26 amI used to think this joke was funny. Then, like most denizens of the interwebs, I saw it everywhere and it lost any semblance of humor. Then, I saw this shirt – and I’m pretty sure that I want it.
Skyrim players will immediately recognize the joke contained in today’s deal of the day at woot.com’s spin-off site for...
Skyrim Arrow In The Knee Shirt Brings Back Dead Horse Meme
February 21, 2012, 11:26 amI used to think this joke was funny. Then, like most denizens of the interwebs, I saw it everywhere and it lost any semblance of humor. Then, I saw this shirt – and I’m pretty sure that I want it.
Skyrim players will immediately recognize the joke contained in today’s deal of the day at woot.com’s spin-off site for...
Optimization Tips For AdSense Rolling Out To Publisher Accounts
February 21, 2012, 11:11 amGoogle just announced a new kind of optimization tips it will be rolling out for AdSense users. They'll show publishers how to make changes to their AdSense for Content ad unit type or format setting right in the account. Google indicates that these tips wil help publishers earn more, so they're probably worth paying attention to. "To generate...
Microsoft Office iPad App On The Way?
February 21, 2012, 11:11 amBack in November of 2011, rumors of an upcoming Microsoft Office app for the iPad elicited both excitement and skepticism, with a hearty dose of pessimism thrown in there as well. There exists Office-like apps for the iPad, but many people (like me, lifetime PC users who now spend a lot of time on an iPad) have failed to get behind any of them -...
Apple And Proview Enter Negotiations Over iPad Name
February 21, 2012, 11:11 amThe hotly contested legal battle between Proview and Apple over the iPad name may soon start moving towards a conclusion. Proview today said that the company is moving towards talks with Apple over the iPad name dispute. I'm sure both Apple and Proview are hoping to reach a settlement to not have this drag out any longer than it needs to. As we...
Social Media and the Millennial Brain
February 21, 2012, 11:11 amSocial Media has become a double edged sword. It gives businesses easy access to their customers and aids in communicating with them, but at the same time it gives employees a forum to waste time and possibly to do harm to the brand. A well thought out social media policy is a must for businesses .
How to (Properly) Use Tumblr to Market Your Brand
February 21, 2012, 11:11 amAccording to comScore's State of the U.S. Social Network Market, Tumblr is one of the most consistently growing social networks out there. In December 2011 it had 15.9 million U.S. visitors, which is up from November 2010. Most of that growth has occurred since April 2011. But this is not just about sheer number of .
Microsoft Snipes (Only) at Google Over Browser Settings Circumvention Controversy
February 21, 2012, 10:56 amMicrosoft accused Google of circumventing Internet Explorer user settings in a blog post Monday but forgot to mention this information was released two days ago and also named Facebook as a culprit. Google quickly sent out a rebuttal.
FairSearch Coalition To Protest Google More Heavily In Europe
February 21, 2012, 10:56 amThe FairSearch Coalition announced that it has expanded its presence into Europe, with the launch of a new site at FairSearchEuopre.org . The organization says that as its membership has grown, it has realized that the concerns it was founded on are not limited to the U.S. That is true. Its members (including Microsoft) operate internationally,...
Nebraska Debates Ownership of Facebook, Twitter, and Email Accounts of the Deceased
February 21, 2012, 10:41 amIf you are the executor of someone's will in the state of Nebraska, you might have some extra responsibilities given to you in the near future. State Senator John Wightman is the sponsor of a bill that would give the deceased's representative power over their internet life - Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, email. The bill, LB783 , comes as an amendment...
Are You Ready for Mobile Facebook Ads? Here They Come!
February 21, 2012, 10:25 amApparently, when Facebook filed its plans to go public, analysts saw nothing but "red flags" that the social network had thus far failed to monetize its 425+ million mobile users' The disclosure sent up red flags for analysts, because the company also said it does not "currently directly generate any meaningful revenue from the use of Facebook...
Weinsteins Team Up with Netflix for Film Deal
February 21, 2012, 10:20 amNetflix and The Weinstein Company announced an exclusive, multi-year licensing agreement that will make foreign, documentary and certain other films available for streaming for U.S. customers. This will prompt some movies to be released directly to Netflix, instead of traditional cable channels. Critically acclaimed film, "The Artist," which has...
BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Available For Download
February 21, 2012, 10:20 amIn January we brought you news that Research In Motion was showing off the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 at CES. Well, it looks like the day PlayBook owners have long been waiting for has finally arrived. RIM has announced the release of BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0, the latest operating system for their BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. The new software...
Chevrolet and Microsoft Bring America's Music Festivals to You - Wherever You May Be
February 21, 2012, 10:15 amThis year, many Americans will travel far and wide to see music artists play at the country's greatest music festivals - Noise Pop, Coachella, Ultra and SXSW - and to immerse themselves in the scene. Planning a trip like this can be a lot of work but, thanks to Chevrolet, Microsoft Advertising and The FADER, Inc., it just got easier. And for those...
YouTube Next Cause: Helping Nonprofits with Video Marketing
February 21, 2012, 10:15 amYouTube announced its "YouTube Next Cause," a whole day summit to help nonprofit organizations with video marketing. As posted on the program's application page: "YouTube Next Cause is a new program designed to help innovative organizations that are already changing the world learn how to better use online video to drive action' At an exclusive .
Sony Google TV Root Makes Your Smart TV Smarter
February 21, 2012, 10:05 amDo you know what happens when you start to incorporate more sophisticated technologies into TVs? People start to hack them to enable more functionality than the manufacturer ever intended. The target today is the Sony Google TV with GTVHacker releasing what they call, "The GTVHacker Sony Recovery Downgrader & Rebooter." You may be asking yourself,...
Ex-Google Employees Unite To Innovate E-Mail
February 21, 2012, 10:05 amThree young men from Australia are sick of the antiquated way we view our email and have left their bureaucratic and frustrating positions at Google to pursue a new way for users to interact with their email. Cameron Adams, Jochen Bekmann and Dhanji Prasanna have developed a product they're calling Fluent. The product is capable of integrating...
Yandex Gets Twitter Access, Launches Social Features. Should Google Worry?
February 21, 2012, 9:49 amYandex, the Russian search engine giant, announced a new social networking search program. The announcement doesn't mention Twitter specifically, but Search Engine Land is reporting that the search engine has made a deal with Twitter to gain access to the Twitter Firehose. Little has been said about how Yandex will actually used this, but reporter...
The Single Most Important Word In Any Business
February 21, 2012, 9:34 amI want to ask you to take a little test.
Go out and grab five or six of your best customers and pose this question to them: What’s one word you would use to describe how you think about our organization?
The ability to capture and hold one word in the mind of your intended market is perhaps the most telling measure of marketing...
Barnes & Noble Posts Q3 2012 Results, Announces 8GB Nook
February 21, 2012, 9:29 amThe financial results for Barnes & Noble third quarter of the financial year have been released and, initially, all signs point to yes for the bookseller as speculation grew over the last year that the bookseller was headed toward bankruptcy. The company is reporting an increase of 2.8% in comparable store sales that, while not as high as last...
Simpsons 500th Episode Sets Records, Creates Buzz
February 21, 2012, 9:29 amMatt Groening's cartoon creation and The Fox TV series "The Simpsons" has set another record with the running of it's recent milestone 500th episode on Sunday, February 19th. "The Simpsons" is now one of the longest-running sitcoms in television history, saddling up next to "Gunsmoke," which holds the record with 635 episodes and closing in on...
U.S. Pirate Party Announces First Conference
February 21, 2012, 9:29 amYou may or may not be aware of the Pirate Party, the political group founded in Europe that fights for online freedoms and privacy rights, but they are a very real political party. They have not had much of a presence in the United States, but that's about to change. On the official blog for the Massachusetts Pirate Party, the group has announced...
Mardi Gras 2012 Takes Over The Twitterverse
February 21, 2012, 9:15 amFor all of Mardi Gras’ religious implications, it always winds up being one of the best parties of the year. And not just Fat Tuesday, of course – that’s just when we stuff ourselves so full of food that we long for a few-week fast. The Mardi Gras season has been in full swing for a while now in famous hub locations like New...
Russia Urges UN Envoy to Syria on Twitter
February 21, 2012, 9:13 amRussia proposed that the UN send a special envoy to Syria on Twitter Tuesday, to help coordiniate security and humanitarian efforts. Russia's foreign ministry has urged the U.N. Security council to prompt the U.N. Security General to set these efforts in motion. Russia proposes that the SC call on the UN Sec-Gen to send a special envoy to Syria to...
More iPad 3 Leaks Confirm Latest Rumors
February 21, 2012, 9:07 amWith Apple set to unveil the new iPad 3 in just two weeks (maybe), the rumors and leaks are coming fast and furious now. Several components of the device have leaked out in the last two weeks, giving us an increasingly clear picture of what Apple’s next tablet will look like.
The latest leak comes from M.I.C. Gadget, who appear to have gotten...
Zimbabwe Canes Teenager For Facebook Slander
February 21, 2012, 8:58 amIn Aprile 2011, the U.S. state department released a report on human rights in Zimbabwe. In the report U.S. government officials outline many abuses of power and savage acts perpetrated by the Zimbabwe government and their security forces. Specific cases include mass beating of high school and college students, torture of protesters, unlawful...
10-Inch Kindle Fire Set For Q2 2012?
February 21, 2012, 8:58 amAccording to reports, Amazon has tapped Foxconn to manufacture a 10-inch version of their popular Kindle Fire tablet, and you could have your hands on one pretty soon. The reports comes from DigiTimes , who quote sources that say "Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) has obtained ODM orders for 10-inch Kindle Fire from Amazon and will...
Anonymous Poses Threat To U.S. According To Official
February 21, 2012, 8:58 amIt appears that Anonymous may pose more of a threat to the U.S. government than initially thought. The Wall Street Journal is reporting General Keith Alexander, director of the NSA, has said that Anonymous may be capable of taking down power grids via a cyberattack in the next few years. The statements were reportedly made in meetings at the White...
The Key to Social Media Success is Understanding Your Audience
February 21, 2012, 8:48 amWhat are customers saying about your brand? I recently attended a great presentation by Taylor Pratt ( @taylorpratt ) of Raven Tools at OMS in San Diego. He focused on the importance of using content marketing for improved social engagement. TopRank has been a long time and well-recognized advocate for the notion of customer centric content...
The Power of Positive PPC Ads and Attitude
February 21, 2012, 8:42 amWhen it comes to gut feel, creating vivid mental images and positive associations with your ad copy starts to carry the day. It's the subtleties of mental images and emotional associations that determine winning and losing PPC ads.
Can your website visitors trust you? 4 things that you can do.
February 21, 2012, 8:36 amBefore people purchase something on your website, they have to trust you. If your website does not look trustworthy, then you won't get many sales no matter how many visitors your website has. There are four things that you should do to show your website visitors that your company can be trusted.
Brighter Option Integrates Page Insights to its Ads API
February 21, 2012, 8:35 amLondon-based software development company, Brighter Option, announced its updated Social Ad Management tool. The company has integrated the Facebook Page Insights API to its SAM, which allows it to make ad creative and optimization more efficiently. It also helps businesses select effective ad creative for page post ads. Page post ads are new...
Google Responds To Microsoft's Internet Explorer Charge
February 21, 2012, 8:25 amYesterday, Microsoft revealed that Google's been sidestepping a privacy setting in Internet Explorer in order to continue tracking users' browsing habits despite the users selecting a feature to block websites from collecting data on them. Google, as you could imagine, responded to the incendiary charge with a statement they shared with...
Google Responds To Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Charge
February 21, 2012, 8:18 amYesterday, Microsoft revealed that Google’s been sidestepping a privacy setting in Internet Explorer in order to continue tracking users’ browsing habits despite the users selecting a feature to block websites from collecting data on them. Google, as you could imagine, responded to the incendiary charge with a statement they shared...
The Million Dollar Mindset - How to Create a Website and Sell it Off for Six Figures
February 21, 2012, 7:54 amThe following is a guest post written by Patrick Meninga of Make Money With No Work . He recently built and sold his flagship website for $200,000. I want to tell you about the mindset required to create wealth on the Internet. The actual mechanics of building successful websites are actually pretty basic: you put up useful content, gain...
Google Purchases Patents From Former Competitor
February 21, 2012, 7:23 amWhen Cuil launched in July of 2008, they claimed to be the world's largest search engine and to have figured out a more advanced method of generating web results than Google's PageRank. The search startup, which was founded by industry veterans from Google and IBM, claimed that they could crawl the web at 10% of .
Three Ways to Target Your Facebook Audience
February 21, 2012, 7:18 amBecause many users are sharing a handful of personal information on Facebook, marketers are using the social network to target their potential market. In relation to this, the social network giant connects advertisers with users based on a particular demographic. Good thing, there are various ways on how you can target your audience using the .
4 Foundational Secrets to Effective PPC Advertising
February 21, 2012, 7:00 amAs you plan your next AdWords campaign, be willing to spend for results, but start by spending your creative energy first. How can you get the right message to the right people at the right time in a way that sets you apart from your competition?
Google Privacy Uproar Continues but What's Really Going On?
February 21, 2012, 6:57 amThe Google flap over privacy continues and the machine moves with fine efficiency. Take a look at these headlines. Google Bypassing User Privacy Settings - MSDN Microsoft: Google Bypasses Privacy Settings in Internet Explorer,
New Killer Facebook Broad Targeting Options
February 21, 2012, 6:52 amWhether your Facebook ads are targeting people who have recently moved, pregnant women, educators, ethnicities, or people looking to buy a car, these quick, easy, and practically painless options are great for local business and big business alike.
Google Privacy Uproar Continues but What’s Really Going On?
February 21, 2012, 6:47 amThe Google flap over privacy continues and the machine moves with fine efficiency. Take a look at these headlines.
Google Bypassing User Privacy Settings – MSDN
Microsoft: Google Bypasses Privacy Settings in Internet Explorer, Too – All Things D
Google Privacy Fiasco Lesson: There Is No Privacy – Computerworld
Not Just Google:...
22 Ways to Create Compelling Content When You Don't Have a Clue [Infographic]
February 21, 2012, 5:30 amYep, we're introducing the first-ever Copyblogger infographic. It's about our favorite topic " creating great content. And, as has been our style since the beginning, we're practicing what we preach. This infographic demonstrates how to repurpose existing content in a different media format, get more bang from your archives, and reach new and...
Why Should You Organize Your Blog Commenting?
February 21, 2012, 5:04 amBlog commenting is in incredibly useful form of link building for multiple reasons. Not only is a great way to get a valuable inbound link, it can also help build your online brand, improve your reputation as an industry expert, is the first step in developing a blogger outreach program and much more. However, just like you need to keep your link...
LinkLove 2012: NBED
February 21, 2012, 4:51 amWith less than six weeks until LinkLove 2012 commences, we thought you might want a little insight in to what you can expect from this years line-up. We’ve been chatting and working closely with our speakers over the last couple of weeks. They are now busy wading and mining through data, testing theories and preparing hard to bring you the...
LinkLove 2012: Session Sneak Preview
February 21, 2012, 4:51 amWith less than six weeks until LinkLove 2012 commences, we thought you might want a little insight in to what you can expect from this years line-up. We’ve been chatting and working closely with our speakers over the last couple of weeks. They are now busy wading and mining through data, testing theories and preparing hard to bring you the...
Content is Currency: the powerful synergy of mobile & social media marketing
February 21, 2012, 4:49 amToday we feature our interview with Jon Wuebben, author of Content is Currency: Developing Powerful Content for Web and Mobile . Jon recently honored the SuccessWorks' SEO Copywriting Certification community with an interactive webinar highlighting the essential takeaway's from his new book. Jon's presentation on the synergistic power and...
Twitter and Yandex Team Up For Real Time Search
February 21, 2012, 4:30 amTwitter will give Yandex access to its so-called firehose of all public tweets, the two companies said on Tuesday, in an agreement similar to the one the social short-messaging site has with Microsoft's search engine, Bing.
Using AdSense Mobile? Your Code Expires on May1, 2012
February 21, 2012, 4:01 amTo make it easier for publishers to use AdSense to monetize mobile web pages, we've migrated all mobile ad unit sizes, including the mobile banner ad unit, into the core product.The new AdSense ad code automatically formats the ads for the device. We will continue to support high-end ad requests from our AdSense for mobile content product until...
Microsoft Advertising UK Challenges UK Brand Marketers and Agencies to a Global Innovation Battle!
February 21, 2012, 3:37 amFollowing on from the global Microsoft Advertising Story Awards announcement blog, we wanted to let folks in the UK know a bit more about this competition and most importantly whats in it for you! To recap, Microsoft Advertising is inviting brand marketers, advertising agencies and creative agencies in the UK to submit their most creative and...
Bing Testing New SERPs Layout
February 21, 2012, 3:20 amReports come in of new, clean looking Bing SERPs layout.
The New SEO Process (Quit Being Kanye)
February 21, 2012, 12:06 amPosted by iPullRank The responsibilities of SEO practitioners have changed to include far more of the digital ecosystem, yet for so many, much of the SEO process remains the same. Currently there are several segments of SEO strategy seen as optional that are actually absolutely imperative to the success of an SEO campaign, as well as to the...
Google+ Share Box Comes to the Home Page
February 20, 2012, 11:35 pmAnyone else think this is just wrong? There will no doubt be some search traditionalists and Google lovers who will see this as sacrilege. I see it as another shining example of how Google+ is coming to be synonymous with Google. Or is Google becoming synonymous with Google+. Increasingly, the lines are blurring. Search Engine Land's Danny...
Smartphone Data Should Tell Marketers to Get Mobile Now
February 20, 2012, 11:25 pmSmartphones are not the wave of the future. They are the wave of now. Whether you are defined as a Millenial or someone older but with a substantial income the smartphone is a part of the existence of the majority in major demographic groups. A recent survey from Nielson did more to state the obvious, especially for marketers, that the devices are...
SMB Bing PPC
February 20, 2012, 7:04 pmTest content to make sure it's showing up in the RSS feed.
Cary Tilds from Mindshare on Technology and Brand Stories
February 20, 2012, 6:28 pmIn the second installation of our Mindshare mini-series, we talk with Cary Tilds, leader of Digital Media operations, on how technology is woven throughout the campaign process at Mindshare from start to finish. "It starts way upstream in research and brand planning," she begins. Then, through a dizzying array of technology deployments...
Foursquare For BlackBerry Gets "Explore" Improvements
February 20, 2012, 4:40 pmFoursquare announced an update with some new features for its BlackBerry app today. The improvements mainly come to the "Explore" feature. "Every time you find a place with Explore, we find the right recommendations for you, based on where you've been, lists you follow, time of day, and the 1,500,000,000 check-ins from the foursquare community,"...
Microsoft: Google Bypasses Privacy Settings On Internet Explorer
February 20, 2012, 4:27 pmLately you have to imagine that Larry Page and the rest of the Google leadership wake up every morning and, before the grogginess of the morning has even flaked off, make a wish that there will be no more privacy controversies concerning the search engine company that day.
Well, hate to break it to you Google, but today will not be one of those...
iPad 3 Retina Displays Being Made By Samsung?
February 20, 2012, 4:25 pmAnother series of images has leaked showing the iPad 3's retina display. The images come from inside one of Samsung's factories in China, and show the display being packaged for shipment. The displays pictured are apparently being packaged for shipment to Samsung's facilities in Korea. From there they will be sent on to Apple. The images come from...
Antenna Farmers Raise Technology On Iowa Soil
February 20, 2012, 4:25 pmIn 2007 Google purchased 1,000 extra acres across from its mull million dollar Council Bluff communication center in Iowa and today they are attempting to get permission and permits to place an extensive array of satellite antennas on the property. The antennas would would provide data, digital audio, and digital video signals to users of the...
Viral Videos: Goldeneye 64 Mod, Tim Tebow Reads Dr. Seuss, & Sun Tornadoes
February 20, 2012, 4:25 pmA viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, via social media, sharing sites, or good 'ole email. Everyday we highlight some of the best that are currently viral and some that are trending that way. Today's videos feature a dancing russian mom, a surfing turtle, a cat and chick hanging out, & Mr. Zulu checking...
Foursquare For BlackBerry Gets “Explore” Improvements
February 20, 2012, 4:22 pmFoursquare announced an update with some new features for its BlackBerry app today. The improvements mainly come to the “Explore” feature.
“Every time you find a place with Explore, we find the right recommendations for you, based on where you’ve been, lists you follow, time of day, and the 1,500,000,000 check-ins from the...
Panasonic Announces Eluga Smartphone
February 20, 2012, 4:22 pmPanasonic Europe has announced it’s new Android Smartphone called the Eluga, which combines sleekness and durability.
The Eluga is IP 57 certified, meaning that it is water and dust proof, and weighs in at 3.6 ounces. Waterproof, as in it can be completely submerged, and still function. With it’s ultra-thin frame, it has the largest...
Antenna Farmers Raise Technology For Google
February 20, 2012, 4:10 pmIn 2007 Google purchased 1,000 extra acres across from its mull million dollar Council Bluff communication center in Iowa and today they are attempting to get permission and permits to place an extensive array of satellite antennas on the property. The antennas would would provide data, digital audio, and digital video signals to users of the...
Anonymous Threatens Vic Toews Over C-30
February 20, 2012, 4:10 pmAnonymous seems to pick a lot of targets these days that they feel are deserving of their unique brand of Internet vigilantism. Their latest target - Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. We reported last Tuesday that Toews introduced C-30 - a bill that would require ISPs to collect information on citizens that would be accessible by the...
Mobile Users Asked to Pay for NCAA March Madness
February 20, 2012, 3:59 pmWhen you've got something people want, it only makes sense to ask them to pay for it, right? But that logic doesn't always work when it comes to mobile content. There are plenty of studies that show people are reluctant to plunk down more than .99 for an app they'll likely use every day. On the other hand, several newspapers have had luck with...
Content Marketing Infographic Looks At “Heart Of Online Success”
February 20, 2012, 3:57 pmContent+ put together the following infographic breaking down “the anatomy of content marketing,” which it calls the “heart of online success”. It draws on data from a variety of sources as cited at the bottom.
Some interesting stats it lays out:
- Word of mouth is the primary factor behind up to 50% of buying decisions
-...
Pinterest Uses Metatag To Help Copyright Fight
February 20, 2012, 3:54 pmPinterest has been under fire lately with accusations that their site is nothing more than a place for people to indiscriminately use copyrighted material for their own ends. The powers that be at Pinterest have said that they will address that in the future, but meanwhile, they have made a small overture to helping stem the flow of copyrighted...
The One Thing You Absolutely Need To Know About Writing For The Web
February 20, 2012, 3:54 pmTitles are incredibly important when you're writing for the web. Startup Stats CEO Nick O'Neill wrote an interesting blog post discussing the importance of titling articles on the Internet in which he looks at an example of a New York Times story, which Forbes also covered with a different title, only to see more shares and traffic than the...
Presidents Day, Kurt Cobain, and Cookies
February 20, 2012, 3:54 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Enjoy! @BorowitzReport Andy Borowitz If Kurt Cobain...
Facebook Helps Sell Beer For Microbrewer New Belgium
February 20, 2012, 3:18 pmWill Facebook help you sell beer? It sure will, just ask the number three craft brewer in America, New Belgium Brewing. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, New Belgium has grown over the past twenty years to become a staple for microbrew drinkers with their Fat Tire line of beers. Currently the Microbrewer has over 400,000 fans on Facebook and...
Man Doesn't Like Facebook Photo Tags, Sues
February 20, 2012, 3:18 pmMineapolis resident Aaron Olson really didn't like the photos his uncle Randall posted on his Facebook Timeline. So, he sued for harrassment. Then lost. Then tried for an appeal. And lost again. Randall Labrie posted reportedly embarrassing photos of Olson in front of a Christmas tree, and added snarky comments to the images. Olson didn't take...
iPad 3 Getting 8 Megapixel Camera To Match iPhone 4S?
February 20, 2012, 3:18 pmAnother set of images purporting to be components from the new iPad 3 has leaked. This set appears to show that Apple's next-generation tablet will have an 8 megapixel camera to match the one found in the iPhone 4S. The images come from Apple Daily ( Google Translation ) a tech site based in Taiwan.
Four Stars for Microsoft's People Powered Stories Ads
February 20, 2012, 3:08 pmSocial advertising is all about using the comments and recommendations of one person to influence the buying habits of another. Facebook does this handily by mentioning which of my friends like the ads that appear in my sidebar. But, to be effective, recommendations don't have to come from friends. A recent study by BazaarVoice showed that 51% of...
BrailleTouch App Aids Visually Impaired With Keyboard Of The Future
February 20, 2012, 3:03 pmWhen you think about it, it really doesn't make any sense that we still use QWERTY keyboards on handheld devices. There are so many characters that it actually requires two or three (or more?) screens in order to display all of them, the keys themselves are small enough to promote eyestrain, and typos are prominent if you happen to have fingers...
Four Stars for Microsoft’s People Powered Stories Ads
February 20, 2012, 2:50 pmSocial advertising is all about using the comments and recommendations of one person to influence the buying habits of another. Facebook does this handily by mentioning which of my friends like the ads that appear in my sidebar. But, to be effective, recommendations don’t have to come from friends.
A recent study by BazaarVoice showed that...
Skyrim Interactive Map App Comes To iOS
February 20, 2012, 2:48 pmSkyrim is a big place, and sometimes it helps to have a little guidance. If you're the kind of player who wants to thoroughly explore every little nook and cranny of the magnificent landscape, Bethesda and Prima think you might like their new app. Now available for download ,
Whitney Houston and Waffle House Trending
February 20, 2012, 2:48 pmGetting Twitter reactions to Whitney Houston's funeral was an odd enough task to start with. Most Twitter reaction material is about weaves , political races, and that sort of thing. I figured it would be a bunch of sad comments and lyrics, with some dark humor thrown in. Then came Waffle House. Thoughts on Whitney Houston's funeral this past...
Gear Up for the Oscars with Ross Mathews and #BingIt
February 20, 2012, 2:37 pmOscar season is in full swing and TV personality, Tonight Show correspondent and Chelsea Lately regular and guest host, Ross Mathews , will be in the center of the red carpet action on the 26 th . You have a chance to get Ross inside perspective on this years Oscars. He will be our guest on this weeks #BingIt chat where he will share his take on...
MegaUpload Hit With Additional Charges
February 20, 2012, 2:26 pmThe MegaUpload MegaSaga continues with a Virginia grand jury bringing additional criminal charges against the Web site and its operators.
As we reported before, the original indictment against the operators included charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, conspiracy to commit money laundering and...
Twitter Hashtag for Researchers Made
February 20, 2012, 2:26 pmA Vancouver researcher has started a Twitter hashtag that is taking off in the research community.
Raul Pacheco-Vega is a Vancouver-based researcher, educator and consultant in environmental politics and policy. He has conducted research in the field of environmental public policy and politics for over 10 years. His main teaching interests include...
UK Newspapers Prompt Shutdown Of Cell Phones
February 20, 2012, 2:22 pmAs we reported last month, Facebook has become a popular way to stay connected while serving time behind bars. While some may use the social networking site just to pass time, other more insidious characters have been using their profiles to send threatening messages or mock victims and their families.
The Daily Record in the UK has also been...
Google Acquires "Google Killer" Cuil's Patent Applications
February 20, 2012, 2:17 pmOften when some new search product comes along, the blogosphere wonders aloud whether it's a Google Killer. A recent example of this would be Siri. Google may have a response to Siri in the works, but nothing's killing Google in the foreseeable future. Back in 2008, a search engine called Cuil launched . 2 years later, its servers were shut down....
Transistor the Size of a Single Atom Made
February 20, 2012, 2:17 pmThe race to build a quantum computer just got a huge boost. A team in Australia has constructed a transistor that is the size of a single atom. And, they say it is "perfect". The tiny electronic device, described today in a paper published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, uses as its active component an individual phosphorus atom patterned...
Google Acquires “Google Killer” Cuil’s Patent Applications
February 20, 2012, 2:07 pmOften when some new search product comes along, the blogosphere wonders aloud whether it’s a Google Killer. A recent example of this would be Siri. Google may have a response to Siri in the works, but nothing’s killing Google in the foreseeable future.
Back in 2008, a search engine called Cuil launched. 2 years later, its servers were...
Four Dead in Avalanches, Twitter Reaction
February 20, 2012, 2:01 pmAn avalanche claimed the lives of three skiers in an out-of-bounds area of Stevens Pass Ski Resort near Skykomish, WA on Sunday. A snowboarder died in a separate avalanche at The Summit at Snoqualmie in nearby Easton, WA, less than an hour earlier. During the Stevens Pass tragedy, professional skier Elyse Saugstad recalls hearing her friend shout...
Google TV Turns Your Phone Into A Remote
February 20, 2012, 2:01 pmThere's no denying that Siri has become the next big thing for Apple. Google appears to be taking the idea behind Siri and applying it to where it's needed most - the television. Patently Apple got the exclusive scoop on a new patent filed by Google that brings text and voice control to a Google television via a remote or smartphone.
iPhone 5 Release Date Rumor: September to October?
February 20, 2012, 2:01 pmJapanese Apple blog Macotakara is reporting that we might have to wait a little longer for the next-gen iPhone than previous rumors have led us to believe. According to "reliable sources," Apple will stay on the schedule set in 2011 and release the iPhone 5 sometime in the Fall, between September and October. The iPhone 4S was launched in October...
Twitter Sells Past Tweets For Reference
February 20, 2012, 1:46 pmTwitter is now offering access to 30 days of historical tweets through Gnip . The service, called 30-Day Replay, would be a handy tool for companies that already keep an eye on their social media presence but need to do some comparisons to older items that they were not aware of. Gnip describes the serve on their blog and offers this as an example...
iPad Finds A New Competitor In Pakistani Military
February 20, 2012, 1:46 pmSince first being released the iPad has grown steadily in popularity. With that fame has come many manufacturers who are hoping to cut into Apple's profit margins with their own incarnations of the popular tablet. The latest competitor may come as a surprise to many. The Pakistani Military has started offering what they call the PACPAD1 , a low...
Lessons Learned by an Over-Optimizer
February 20, 2012, 1:46 pmPosted by shirtsthatgo This post was originally in YouMoz , and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc. I own and run ShirtsThatGo, which is a small ecommerce site running on the Volusion platform. I...
How Much Are You Paying to Send Customers Away?
February 20, 2012, 1:30 pmEngaging in online marketing is all about customer acquisition, ROI and profits. If you see growth in these three areas, you can be reasonably confident that your online marketing efforts are paying off in some form or another. But things might not always be as they appear. While it's never a bad thing to grow .
Stupid Man Attempts to Steal iPad In Michigan
February 20, 2012, 1:10 pmBad news for an iPad thief who turned out to be less than a mastermind of petty crime. This past saturday, the aspiring thief lured a prospective iPad seller to a meeting place in Ann Arbor , MI. where he intended to gain an opportunity to steal the product. When the victim arrived at the meeting place, the 600 block of Armstrong, the thief was...
Facebook Wiretapping Case Moves To California
February 20, 2012, 12:55 pmLast year, a woman in Mississippi filed a lawsuit against Facebook, alleging that the social networking site violated U.S. wiretap laws by tracking her browsing history. In the suit, Brooke Rutledge accused the site of breach of contract, trespassing, unjust enrichment, and invasion of privacy. Now, in what may be a sign that the case is getting a...
New Nook Tablet Set For February 22nd Launch?
February 20, 2012, 12:55 pmDespite making hardware of comparable quality and price for years, Barnes & Noble's line of Nook readers and tablets has been hard-pressed to compete with Amazon's Kindle devices. Though the original Nook Tablet launched only 2 days behind the Kindle Fire, it has not been seen as a significant competitor. Part of the reason for this has been the...
Sony Xperia S Available For Pre-order In Britain
February 20, 2012, 12:24 pmBritish phone retailers have begun making the new Sony Xperia S smartphone available for pre-order. The phone is scheduled for a March 5 release date in the UK. Those who want to pre-order one can get it for as little as £21.50 per month. That price comes from the O2 network, and only gets a very basic service plan - 100 minutes, 500 texts, and...
Facebook Continues To Yank Breastfeeding Photos
February 20, 2012, 12:24 pmAnother day, another set of breastfeeding images removed from Facebook. This time, the affected group of breastfeeding activists hail from the Respect The Breast Facebook page. The page's founder, Heather Stultz, told the Huffington Post that in the last few month, 38 breastfeeding photos have been removed from the group's photo section - 4 in the...
Microsoft Adds Tenth Member to Board
February 20, 2012, 12:11 pmMicrosoft Corp. today announced that John W. Thompson, chief executive officer of privately held Virtual Instruments and former chairman and CEO of Symantec Corp., was appointed to the company’s board of directors, returning the board’s size to 10 members.
Thompson currently serves as CEO of Virtual Instruments, a privately held company...
Kenyan Chief Is A Twitter Boss, Uses Tweets To Foil Thieves
February 20, 2012, 12:08 pmA leading community organizer in Kenya has been using Twitter to help rally people to come to the aid of those in need. And no, to clarify with you flat earth-believers out there, I'm not talking about President Obama. I'm talking about someone who is actually Kenyan, Chief Francis Kariuki , who's been using Twitter as a means to send out alerts...
Block Advertisers From Your Google Search Results
February 20, 2012, 11:53 amIf you don't want to see more ads from a certain advertiser in your Google search results, it appears that you can now eliminate them. At least some users can, for some ads. It's unclear whether this is a test or is a new feature in the process of rolling out, but some are seeing ads appear above search results that say "Block all domain.com ads."...
Oracle Drops One Patent Claim In Suit Against Google
February 20, 2012, 11:53 amOracle, perhaps most commonly known for Java, may be slowly giving in to Google over their year and a half long legal fight over the Android operating system. We reported on the legal fight when it first broke out back in 2010. At that point in time, Oracle was claiming that Google infringed upon their patents with the search engine giant's use of...
Beijing Drops 20 Year Old Movie Quota
February 20, 2012, 11:53 amChina has added 14 slots to the 20 Hollywood blockbusters they already allow into the country per year, as long as the additional films are in Imax or 3D. At the close of China vice president Xi Jinping's recent visit to the U.S., some Chinese trade sanctions on Hollywood were lifted, which could lead to more 3D and Imax movies being greenlit....
More Hollywood Films to be Released in China
February 20, 2012, 11:48 amChina has added 14 slots to the 20 Hollywood blockbusters they already allow into the country per year, as long as the additional films are in Imax or 3D. At the close of China vice president Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the U.S., some Chinese trade sanctions on Hollywood were lifted, which could lead to more 3D and Imax movies being...
How to Get More Visitors to Your Blog
February 20, 2012, 11:43 amBusiness blogging takes a lot of time and effort to do well. After all, you need to brainstorm a relevant and useful topic, write a post, proof and edit it, post it, and then moderate it. This process needs to be repeated on a regular basis. The reason why many business blogs fail is because there is no immediate gratification. It takes a long...
The Bodyguard Stream Pulled From Netflix Instant
February 20, 2012, 11:35 amWhile there may not be a law against capitalizing on the death of famous entertainers, it certainly feels like an unethical approach, especially when it comes from a company that clearly cares more about milking money out of consumers than it does making 20 year old content available to them.
That’s right. As detailed in a Google+ post by...
Congress Gets Involved In Google's Latest Privacy Scandal
February 20, 2012, 11:22 amGoogle made news in a big way last week with the revelation that they had engineered an exploit that circumvented privacy settings in Safari (desktop and iOS versions) in order to allow their ads to set tracking cookies on users' computers. Google responded quickly to the Wall Street Journal's report,
Google Apps Continue to Create Corporate "Kumbayas"
February 20, 2012, 11:22 amThe Roche Group, one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups has joined the Congregation of other corporations singing praises for Google Apps as the solution to their communication and collaboration problems. The problem for the Roche Group was how to enable their more than 90,000 employees in over 140 countries to communicate...
13 Unconventional Link Building Strategies
February 20, 2012, 11:22 amNeed to build links to your websites in order to increase your traffic and improve your rankings? Well, there's article marketing, social bookmarking, and - blah, blah, blah' Let's face it - you've probably heard the same old link building strategies repeated ad nauseum around the net. So if you're ready to try something new .
Location Targeting Changes Coming Soon to Microsoft Advertising adCenter
February 20, 2012, 11:12 amAs Bob Wiley so eloquently put it, There are two kinds of people in this world: those who like Neil Diamond, and those who dont. As a card carrying member of Red Sox Nation whos belted out Sweet Caroline from.
Congress Gets Involved In Google’s Latest Privacy Scandal
February 20, 2012, 11:11 amGoogle made news in a big way last week with the revelation that they had engineered an exploit that circumvented privacy settings in Safari (desktop and iOS versions) in order to allow their ads to set tracking cookies on users’ computers. Google responded quickly to the Wall Street Journal’s report, saying that the workaround was solely...
5 Powerful Facebook Guerilla Marketing Tips to Outsmart Competitors
February 20, 2012, 11:07 amContinuing from my previous post, 11 tips for a better Facebook ad campaign , I thought I'd share with you some simple yet powerful tactics to outsmart your competitors and reach out to your target audience. Facebook offers some incredible targeting options, so here are my five top tips to get the most out of these features.
Location Targeting Updates Coming to Microsoft Advertising adCenter API
February 20, 2012, 11:07 amIf you saw the post on the adCenter Blog about the location targeting updates that are in the process of rolling out, no doubt you have some questions around what this means for the API. If you are using the adCenter API, you can expect the following changes based on the version of the API you use. While it is not required to upgrade to V8 of the...
Google Apps Continue to Create Corporate “Kumbayas”
February 20, 2012, 11:03 amThe Roche Group, one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups has joined the Congregation of other corporations singing praises for Google Apps as the solution to their communication and collaboration problems. The problem for the Roche Group was how to enable their more than 90,000 employees in over 140 countries to...
Public Utilities Get Smarter And Give-In To Customers
February 20, 2012, 11:02 amA new report by Pike Research shows that customers have been increasing their demand for communication with public utility providers via social networking. It is estimated that about 57 million customers engaged their providers via social networking in 2011, and experts predict the number will reach 624 million by the end of 2017. More and more...
Nintendo 3DS Hits 5 Million Sales In Japan
February 20, 2012, 11:02 amThe Nintendo 3DS got off to a rocky start when it launched early last year, but it has quickly picked up steam. That steam is most apparent in its home country of Japan as Nintendo announced today that the 3DS has sold 5 million units in the country since its release. This makes the 3DS the fastest selling game console in Japan.
Apple Outgrows Its Peers [Infographic]
February 20, 2012, 11:02 amA new infographic provided by Statista charts the growth of Apple in relation to other tech companies from the fourth quarter of 2011 versus the fourth quarter of 2010. A couple of interesting things to note from the data: Apple's growth of 73%, compared to Microsoft's 5%. Once up a time, that would have seemed like a joke. Apple had gambled on...
Facebook Losing Popularity on Australia
February 20, 2012, 10:46 amAustralians are apparently tiring of Facebook, even though the page garners every 1 in 6 pageviews on the continent, according to Experian Hitwise Australia . While Facebook remains by far the most popular social networking site in the country, the time users spent at the site is down by roughly 21% in the last year. The data was taken over a 1...
Web Browsing Via Windows Drops
February 20, 2012, 10:46 amWeb browsing while using Windows OS is down by almost 7%, according to a report by ad network Chikita, regarding browsing trends, taken from August 2011 to February 2012. This number has been mainly affected by the increasing popularity of iOS. Also, for the first time, the use of iOS has surpassed Mac OS on the web just recently. Still, Apple, if...
Optimizing Your PPC Ads with a Tweak
February 20, 2012, 10:41 amWhen it comes to optimizing your pay-per-click ads, there are two things that you can do: Overhaul your ad copy or tweak it. However, there are those who are resistant to the tweak approach. They think that a small change on an ad will only result to minimal improvement. They didn't know that both approaches .
Sports and Social Media [Infographic]
February 20, 2012, 10:28 amA new infographic released by GR Marketing gives some eye-opening stats and facts about social media use among sports fans and watchers.
Among the tidbits to note:
81% of people prefer the Internet for their sports news over radio and other traditional sources
During a televised game that they are watching, 83% of people will check game updates...
VLC Player Upgrades To The Twoflower Version
February 20, 2012, 10:27 amThe video player of choice — well, at least it should be for any web savvy individual — VLC, is famous for its ability to overcome most file format hurdles during its playback process, has been updated to the 2.0 level. Introducing “Twoflower,” the next step in the evolution of VLC’s fantastically robust media...
Mardi Gras Tweets: Beads, Boobs, Beer and Babies
February 20, 2012, 10:16 amLaissez Les Bon Temps Roulez! Tomorrow is the "Tuesday" in Fat Tuesday. King cakes are being baked, boxes of beads are being sold, bras are being left at home. As people get ready for the parades and wild abandon of Mardi Gras, they're taking to Twitter to announce their intentions and scope out the action. We'll start you off with this one from...
See Foxconn's Apple Operations In China
February 20, 2012, 10:16 amWe've been covering the unfolding saga of Apple and their supplier Foxconn and the supposed worker abuses at their plants in China. We have covered everything from worker suicides at the plants, to petitions from concerned citizens, to inside interviews with Foxconn employees. Most recently we reported that Apple has partnered with the Fair Labor...
Google Under Fire: Tech Giant Bypassed Safari Users' Privacy Settings
February 20, 2012, 10:16 amDue to recent changes, Google's privacy policies have been closely scrutinized by industry experts, government regulators, and consumer advocacy groups over the past several months. On Friday afternoon a Stanford graduate student and tech researcher, Jonathan Mayer, discovered that Google was using a special computer code to bypass the privacy...
UK Court Rules The Pirate Bay Illegal
February 20, 2012, 10:14 amIn what could be a major hit for The Pirate Bay, a UK high court has ruled the Web site violates copyright law on a major scale.
The Guardian is reporting that Justice Arnold of the London High Court has ruled that both the Web site, The Pirate Bay, and its users “unlawfully share copyrighted music.”
Record labels are wanting to use this...
FTC Responds To EPIC Google Privacy Suit
February 20, 2012, 10:04 amTwo weeks ago we brought you news that the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a privacy watchdog, had filed suit against the Federal Trade Commission to compel the agency to block the planned rollout of Google’s new unified privacy policy, scheduled to go into effect March 1. Google responded quickly to the suit, saying that “EPIC...
See Foxconn’s Apple Operations In China
February 20, 2012, 10:04 amWe’ve been covering the unfolding saga of Apple and their supplier Foxconn and the supposed worker abuses at their plants in China. We have covered everything from worker suicides at the plants, to petitions from concerned citizens, to inside interviews with Foxconn employees. Most recently we reported that Apple has partnered with the Fair...
John Glenn School Live-Tweets The Friendship 7 Mission On 50th Anniversary Today
February 20, 2012, 10:00 amFifty years ago today, astronaut John Glenn made history by boarding a Mercury space capsule and becoming the first American to orbit the earth. The Friendship 7 made three orbits around the earth in a little less than five hours and was moving at speeds around 17,000 miles per hour (top that, Doc Brown). As if that wasn't a fever-inducing dose of...
comScore Releases January 2012 U.S. Online Video Rankings
February 20, 2012, 9:55 amcomScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released data from the comScore Video Metrix service showing that 181 million U.S. Internet users watched nearly 40 billion videos of online video content in January.
Senator John McCain Proposes Cybersecurity Bill
February 20, 2012, 9:45 amCybersecurity is one of those funny things that is talked about, but nothing is really ever done about it. We can, and have implemented new safeguards on our infrastructure. It doesn't change the fact that there isn't a national standard at which all infrastructure owners must operate under. The good news is that there was a cybersecurity bill...
John Glenn School Live-Tweets Friendship 7 Mission On 50th Anniversary
February 20, 2012, 9:42 amFifty years ago today, astronaut John Glenn made history by boarding a Mercury space capsule and becoming the first American to orbit the earth. The Friendship 7 made three orbits around the earth in a little less than five hours and was moving at speeds around 17,000 miles per hour (top that, Doc Brown). As if that wasn’t a fever-inducing...
Getting Started: Successful PPC Advertising on LinkedIn
February 20, 2012, 9:39 amWith over 100 million users, LinkedIn proved itself as a business-to-business community that's more than just a pile of resume. In fact, it became a successful social media platform for business professionals, providing opportunity for companies to generate lead. Thus, it's important to know how businesses can advertise on the B2B social network...
Mark Zuckerberg Has Linsanity, Too
February 20, 2012, 9:29 amAs you can see, the world clearly belongs to Jeremy Lin and we're all just living in it because he allows us to exist. The glow from Lin's swagger is so bright, tech industry mavens are even drawn to it. Just ask Mark Zuckerberg. Who knew the kid who was portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg as being socially inept would one day rise to the point of...
Nielsen: Smartphones Are For The Young, Wealthy
February 20, 2012, 9:29 amSmartphones are rapidly replacing feature phones in the pockets of Americans, and Nielsen's new smartphone penetration survey reveals a few ket insights. You're more likely to own a smartphone if you're young or if you're wealthy (especially both) and people that have bought mobile phones in the past few months are overwhelmingly choosing...
Iran Blocks Email, Social Networking Sites Again Ahead Of Elections
February 20, 2012, 9:29 amIran is once again cutting its citizens off from the internet in advance of the country's parliamentary elections. According to reports circulating this morning, the country has blocked most secure socket layer - SSL - connections. That cuts off anything that uses "https" protocols, including most email services, YouTube, and social networks like...
ESPN's Overreaction Indicates A Linsanity Tipping Point
February 20, 2012, 9:09 amOver at FreeDictionary.com , the word/term "chink" has a number of definitions, including the word's racial epithetical implications. There's also this specific example " 1. a small narrow opening, such as a fissure or crack, chink in one's armour , a small but fatal weakness " while the armor relation was bolded, perhaps the following phrase, "a...
Happy Presidents Day 2012! : Twitter Reactions
February 20, 2012, 9:09 amHappy Presidents Day everyone! Today we honor all the men who have occupied the position of United States President. Originally, the holiday was enacted by congress to pay tribute to George Washington, the first president, and the first American citizen to be recognized with a civic holiday. In the past, most businesses and schools were closed on...
Facebook Friend Request Gets Jail Time
February 20, 2012, 9:09 amJacob Jock was called up for jury duty. Defendant comes in to courtroom. Jacob Jock likes how she looks. Jacob Jock sends defendant friend request on Facebook. Judge jails juror Jacob Jock. It's easy to understand how ill-advised the whole thing was. It gets better. After being dismissed off the jury for his actions, the 29 year-old of Sarasota,...
Let Your Business Do the Visual Tweeting!
February 20, 2012, 9:04 amOftentimes, businesses find it difficult to create a visual presence on Twitter. However, the micro-blogging site is one social media that marketers can't ignore since more users keep their Twitter feed open the whole day. Being able to share visually appealing content to your followers is one way to engage them in real time. Follow .
iPads Should Be Pulled From Shops, Lower Chinese Court Says
February 20, 2012, 8:53 amApple's legal battle with Proview over the iPad patent got a little more troubling for the company today as a lower Chinese court ruled that stores in China should stop selling iPads . While this ruling may only affect the Guangdong province, which is close to the southern coast of the country near Hong Kong, Proview, which is based in China, has...
Chrome Password Generator Aims To Protect Your Accounts
February 20, 2012, 8:29 amPasswords on the Internet are a necessary evil. They can help protect your accounts, but are easily stolen by various means. People, including myself, are also not very creative so we end up using the same passwords for every site making ourselves even more vulnerable. A new extension for Chrome seeks to remedy the problem.
The Chromium Projects...
Image Of iPad 3 A5X Processor Leaked
February 20, 2012, 8:22 amAn image of the motherboard in Apple's next tablet, presumably to be called the iPad 3, has leaked. The image (see above) shows the tablet's A5X central processor, as well as a pair of flash memory chips. Unfortunately, nothing in the picture gives any hint about what the processor's capabilities are. Rumors have suggested that both the iPad 3 and...
Man Trapped In Car In Snow for Two Months
February 20, 2012, 8:22 amPeter Skyllberg, age 44, of Sweden was found Friday trapped in his car in the snow. He was about a mile deep in the woods, and claims he had been stuck there since December 19! Details on how he became stranded, whether or not he had been reported missing, etc. are very sketchy-to-nonexistent at this point. Lots of questions are being asked about...
Presidents Day Gets Cool Theme From Bing
February 20, 2012, 8:22 amToday the United States is celebrating Presidents Day, the holiday that celebrates our first president, George Washington, or George Washington & Abraham Lincoln, or all the leaders of our country - depending on who you ask. Presidents Day (or Presidents' Day) is the common term for the actual federal holiday celebrating Washington's Birthday on...
My 17-Point Checklist For Teaching Good Writing and Blogging
February 20, 2012, 8:22 amImage Credit One important lesson from "The Checklist Manifesto" is the idea of creating checklists to guard against failures in complex situations. Investment manager Mohnish Pabrai studied his own investment failures as well as those of notable investors like Warren Buffett and ended up with a 70-point checklist, meant to keep himself from...
Man Trapped In Snow 2 Months- Twitter Responds
February 20, 2012, 8:13 amPeter Skyllberg, age 44, of Sweden was found Friday trapped in his car in the snow. He was about a mile deep in the woods, and claims he had been stuck there since December 19!
Details on how he became stranded, whether or not he had been reported missing, etc. are very sketchy-to-nonexistent at this point. Lots of questions are being asked about...
Google Home Page Gets The Share Box
February 20, 2012, 8:07 amA couple weeks ago, Google announced an update to its new Google Bar (the navigation bar that spans across Google products), and showed the Google+ share box appearing on Google's home page. We're not sure if this is 100% rolled out yet, but many users are now seeing that share box: Even if you're not seeing it on the home page, you've likely seen...
F'd Commerce: Facebook Stores Closing Doors
February 20, 2012, 7:26 amWhat do Gamestop, JC Penney, Nordstrom and The Gap have in common. They all went headlong into creating Facebook stores and have since shuttered them for their own reasons. One thing all reasons must have in common is that the stores weren't working. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the power of f-commerce. It's also not a condemnation since...
F’d Commerce: Facebook Stores Closing Doors
February 20, 2012, 7:12 amWhat do Gamestop, JC Penney, Nordstrom and The Gap have in common. They all went headlong into creating Facebook stores and have since shuttered them for their own reasons. One thing all reasons must have in common is that the stores weren’t working. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the power of f-commerce. It’s also not a...
Google Stealth Launching Latitude Leaderboards
February 20, 2012, 7:09 amNow check check-ins earn you points which are tallied and used to rank Google+ users on a global leaderboard, just like on Foursquare.
Yelp Reviews Aid Local Search Optimization on Apple Siri Results
February 20, 2012, 7:00 amThe hypothesis: Yelp reviews are a primary optimization key for local listings in Siri. Here are the results for one experiment designed to undertand Apple's data sources and explore the causality between Yelp reviews and listing position.
Enterprise SEO: 4 Trends to Watch in 2012
February 20, 2012, 6:30 amIn 2012, we can expect to see further corporatization of SEO in the enterprise; rich snippets proliferate (and spam); an increasing need for social and Google+ strategies; and domain authority will remain the heavyweight champion.
SEO Migration Plan - Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail - SES London 2012
February 20, 2012, 5:43 amNo SEO Migration Plan is much scarier than this pic of Big Ben. One of the classic scenarios for the intersection of web design/development and search engine optimization is when companies decide to update their web site's design and content management system. Companies that expect new business and continued visibility to various audiences through...
The Downton Abbey Guide to Irresistible Narrative Marketing
February 20, 2012, 5:23 amEvery content marketer needs to build relationships with readers . To have a chance at achieving your marketing goals, you need readers who love what you do. What if there were a blueprint for telling irresistible stories, for making almost everything you write have an impact in the hearts and minds of your readers? Look no further than Downton...
Google Accused of Tracking Safari Users
February 20, 2012, 4:21 amA report says Google was ignoring settings on Safari intended to block tracking tools. Google platforms were reportedly able to log user activity on both the OS X and iOS versions of the browser. Google says the report "mischaracterizes" the issue.
A 3-part pocketbook guide to business blogging
February 20, 2012, 4:11 amGreetings! Today we're featuring Heather's highly popular "how-to" business blogging video posts, as well as a third written post that asks "are you too busy to blog?" Good question, no? No matter the size of your business, from enterprise to soloprenuer, a business blog is a fundamental part of any smart content marketing strategy in this highly...
FTC on Mobile Apps: Will Android, Apple Please Think of the Children?
February 20, 2012, 3:28 amThe Federal Trade Commission has released the results of a report complaining that mobile applications for children lack privacy policies and disclosure. Apps specifically marketed to children were evaluated in the App Store and Android Marketplace.
Verified Accounts Launch for Facebook VIPs
February 20, 2012, 2:42 amFacebook has unveiled an authenticated account system which will target accounts of celebrities and popular figures with a large number of subscribers. Account owners can authenticate their identities by submitting a government issued ID.
Facebook Timeline Apps Deliver Big Traffic for Pinterest, More Sites
February 20, 2012, 1:00 amSome of Facebook's timeline app partners are apparently giddy with the relationship so far. Since Pinterest started its open graph integration last month, the virtual pin-up board has seen its daily visitors increase by 60 percent.
Monitor Which Social Networks Your Visitors are Logged Into With Google Analytics
February 20, 2012, 12:28 amPosted by Tom Anthony At Distilled's SearchLove conference in London back in October, Mat Clayton from Mixcloud provided a great snippet of Javascript that could be used to record whether visitors to your site were logged into Facebook or not. This has a few uses,
Google, Facebook Offer News Sites Lessons on Ad Targeting [Study]
February 20, 2012, 12:00 amOnly three news sites - CNN, Yahoo News and The New York Times – out of 22 appeared to use high levels of ad targeting, according to a Pew Research Center study. In these cases, 45 percent or more of the ads were different from one user to the next.
Google's Latitude Starts Check-Ins
February 19, 2012, 11:42 pmHailed as a Foursquare competitor, Google's Latitude now is offering a checkin-in service with a leaderboard feature. Since Latitude is barely spoken of and is one of the few social options out there that makes Google+ look like a social media world beater you can see why this hasn't been done with any fanfare. Engadget reports Google didn't...
Google’s Latitude Starts Check-Ins
February 19, 2012, 11:30 pmHailed as a Foursquare competitor, Google’s Latitude now is offering a checkin-in service with a leaderboard feature. Since Latitude is barely spoken of and is one of the few social options out there that makes Google+ look like a social media world beater you can see why this hasn’t been done with any fanfare.
Engadget reports
Google...
Google Cookiegate a Case of Competitive Politics, Not Privacy
February 19, 2012, 11:21 pmEvery reporter under the sun painted Google's use of cookies to insert its Google+ functionality on Apple's Safari browser as an invasion of users' privacy. The rub is this: Google and a few other advertising companies have secretly tracked the Web browsing habits of millions of people using Apple's Mac computers, iPhones and iPad tablets. Apple's...
Academy Awards: Biggest Snubs of All Time
February 19, 2012, 8:58 pmIt's understandable, occasionally, that a great film might not win a Best Picture Oscar. Sometimes, there is something else that year that just outshines it. For example, Star Wars lost to Annie Hall . Fargo lost to The English Patient . And, Philadelphia lost to Schindler's List . In a year like that, everyone can go home with their head held...
#whyyoweave Funniest Twitter Trends
February 19, 2012, 7:21 pmIt's the latest version of "Yo Mama" jokes. You remember "Yo Mama" jokes, right? Yo mama so ugly that she looked out the window and got arrested for mooning. Yo mama so fat that when she wears a yellow raincoat, people yell "taxi!" The modern update is Why Yo Weave'? With the hashtag #whyyoweave on Twitter, the jokes are aimed at making fun of...
Foursquare Getting Competition From Google?
February 19, 2012, 6:28 pmGoogle Latitude is popular among the Google faithful as a way to “check in” at locations on a map. Android phone users especially have ease-of-use for functions like this (see video below). But, now Google has quietly added another wrinkle to the Latitude functionality.
Now, when you check in to a given location, your presence is noted...
Mary Kay Ash Pink Mansion For Sale
February 19, 2012, 6:19 pmMary Kay Ash sold beauty products to millions of American women. And, she got a lot of them to sell the stuff for her. She drove a pink Cadillac, and she gave away more than a few of those to super sales-ladies. But, would you buy her pink mansion for $3.3 million? Ash died late last year after a lifetime as a successful businesswoman.
Whitney Houston Tribute By Chris Cornell
February 19, 2012, 6:04 pmWhitney Houston's tragic death is still making a dark wave throughout the entertainment industry. Her funeral is still hot news. The whispered discussion of her fall from grace as America's favorite entertainer is only starting to cool. Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden, picked up a Martin guitar and stood solo at a recent concert to sing...
"Mad Men" Promos- Don Is Back!
February 19, 2012, 5:33 pmAMC is gearing up for the long-awaited return of their hit series "Mad Men" on Sunday, March 25. In anticipation of the return of Don Draper, et al, AMC is running a pair of video promos to whet the appetites of the "Mad Men" faithful. Jon Hamm and John Slattery are featured in the compilation video spots that highlight their "Don Draper" and...
“Mad Men” Promos- Don Is Back!
February 19, 2012, 5:22 pmAMC is gearing up for the long-awaited return of their hit series “Mad Men” on Sunday, March 25. In anticipation of the return of Don Draper, et al, AMC is running a pair of video promos to whet the appetites of the “Mad Men” faithful.
Jon Hamm and John Slattery are featured in the compilation video spots that highlight...
The Long Bubble
February 19, 2012, 4:52 pmHigh level principles here, not a raft of charts, facts, and stats. Some of it is speculative. With that out of the way, let's have a deeper look at the warped reality field you're likely to have to endure over the next couple of years. As we've seen blatantly from recent asset bubbles in stocks, dot com funding, and housing: money and assets warp...
Gordon Flips On Date of Earnhardt's Death
February 19, 2012, 4:42 pmIt always makes 'em nervous when there's a wreck in a NASCAR race. Jeff Gordon is a household name in racing, and his nasty slide and flip in the Budweiser Shootout was a big deal. Jeff made contact with Kyle Bush's bumper near the end of the 75-lap race at the Daytona Speedway and ended up sliding on his roof. Gordon walked away unharmed. Gordon...
Gordon Flips On Date of Earnhardt’s Death
February 19, 2012, 4:20 pmIt always makes ‘em nervous when there’s a wreck in a NASCAR race. Jeff Gordon is a household name in racing, and his nasty slide and flip in the Budweiser Shootout was a big deal.
Jeff made contact with Kyle Bush’s bumper near the end of the 75-lap race at the Daytona Speedway and ended up sliding on his roof. Gordon walked away...
Microsoft May Be Planning New Music Service
February 19, 2012, 11:40 amMicrosoft has never had much luck in the digital music space. Their Zune service was relatively ignored and I don’t know a single person who uses last.fm on their Xbox 360. The company may be planning to change that.
CNET got the exclusive scoop from insiders that Microsoft is in talks with record companies to create a new music service to...
Broken Link Building Guide: From Noob to Novice
February 19, 2012, 11:39 amPosted by Anthony D. Nelson This post was originally in YouMoz , and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc. Howdy Mozzers, My name is Anthony and I'm from Fargo , ND. First-time YouMozzer here. After...
YouTube Ad Blitz Winners Announced
February 19, 2012, 11:24 amYou may remember that YouTube was running the Ad Blitz again this year that allowed users to vote on the best Super Bowl ads from this year's big game. YouTube compiled the results and released them on Friday letting us all know which videos America thought were the best. We reported previously on what other groups and agencies had to say about...
Facebook Hack Nets Eight Month Prison Sentence
February 19, 2012, 10:32 amFacebook doesn't take too kindly to being hacked. This was made rather apparent this week when a young man was sentenced to eight months in prison for hacking the social networking site. Reuters is reporting that Glenn Mangham, a 26-year-old British student, said that he hacked Facebook from his parent's house last year. The hack was apparently so...
Safari User Sues Google Over Privacy Snafu
February 19, 2012, 10:17 amWe previously reported that Google has hit a bit of rough spot due to allegations that the search giant exploited a loophole in Apple's Safari browser to track users. It seems that Safari users want to get in on the "shame on you, Google" party. Bloomberg is reporting that Matthew Soble, a Safari user from Illinois, is suing Google over a breach...
Facebook Wins Lawsuit Against Power.com
February 19, 2012, 9:20 amWhat does the word power evoke? You probably don’t think of a defunct Web site that just lost their case against Facebook.
The Next Web is reporting that Facebook has finally won its lawsuit against Power.com, a social networking hub that collected data and content from a variety of social networking sites.
What Power.com was doing was...
Anti-Terror Plan In UK Seeks To Spy, Store Personal Data On Everyone
February 19, 2012, 9:00 amWe live in a world full of terror. To protect its people from this terror, the UK wants to store all of its citizens personal data - phone calls, text messages, online browsing history - to combat whatever terror is threatening them next. The Telegraph is reporting that the UK is cooking up a new anti-terror plan. The plan would require land line,...
How to use Twitter in Online Marketing
February 19, 2012, 8:50 amThat social media are essential in online media campaigns has become a truism. But how do you combine your Twitter strategy with your search engine marketing campaign, and how do you generate enough followers for Twitter to make a difference? Why should you use Twitter in your online marketing? There are at least three answers to this question: 1....
New Windows 8 Logo Sparks Debate
February 19, 2012, 8:29 amWe reported Friday on the aesthetic changes that Microsoft is making to the Windows 8 logo. Does anybody actually like it? PC Mag published a report that had technology journalists weighing in on the new design. The results are somewhat surprising. Since we have to get the hatred out of the way first, there are quite a few people who absolutely...
Search Engine News Wrap-up Jan 19
February 19, 2012, 8:14 amEssential search and search engine industry reading from the last week. DuckDuckGo Has Its First Million-Search Day Search Engine Land: The growth chart continues to trend in the right direction for alternative search engine DuckDuckGo. WolframAlpha's Stephen Wolfram Talks About New Paid Knowledge Engine AllThingsD: A techie's techie, Wolfram...
Social Media Wrap-up Feb 19
February 19, 2012, 8:14 amHere is some essential social media and networking reading from the last week or so. 13 ways stories support social media and marketing Heidi Cohen: Stories are the heart and soul of social media because they connect us. Pinterest: The Numbers Game State of Search: Pinterest is probably the newest 'hot' item on the social web. Whether or not it...
Search Engine Marketing Wrap-up Jan 19
February 19, 2012, 8:14 amInteresting posts and articles from the world of search engine marketing and optimization. How Google Might Filter Blog Posts from Google Blog Search SEO by the SEA: Google has been granted a patent on Blog Search, and how the search engine might filter blog posts out of blog search based upon a number of factors. Writing Great Content Will NOT...
Elizabeth Smart Gets Married, Twitter Reaction, Photos
February 19, 2012, 7:53 amElizabeth Smart, kidnapping and rape victim, was married to Matthew Gilmour today after pushing the ceremony forward. According to MSNBC , the marriage took place at Hawaii in the Laie Hawaii Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The marriage was originally planned to take place this summer, but was moved to today to avoid any...
Interview: What the FBI's Social Media Monitoring Tool Could Look Like
February 19, 2012, 5:14 amIn January, the FBI openly requested help from the tech community in the development of a social media application. The bureau is seeking a system that could help it sift through social networking sites for signs of potential terrorism, crime, or other matters of national security. According to Sean Gourley , the co-founder and CTO of quantitative...
Interview: What the FBI’s Social Media Monitoring Tool Could Look Like
February 19, 2012, 5:00 amIn January, the FBI openly requested help from the tech community in the development of a social media application. The bureau is seeking a system that could help it sift through social networking sites for signs of potential terrorism, crime, or other matters of national security.
According to Sean Gourley, the co-founder and CTO of quantitative...
Barcode Hero Makers Kima Labs Acquired By Groupon
February 18, 2012, 2:58 pmAs previously reported, Groupon acquired Hyperpublic ,which could help it compete with Google and Foursquare. The company has also acquired Kima Labs, creators of Barcode Hero. The following message appears on the Barcode Hero site ( via TechCrunch ): We're excited to let you know that Kima Labs, the team behind Barcode Hero, has been acquired by...
Whitney Houston Funeral: Westboro Baptist Church Pickets, Tweets God's Hate
February 18, 2012, 1:51 pmWestboro Baptist Church picketed Whitney Houston's funeral today. Shocker. You may recall when they said they would picket Steve Jobs' funeral . Then Penn State football coach Joe Paterno's . While covering Twitter reaction to Whitney's funeral today, we stumbled across some tweets from old Margie Phelps, a top member of the church,
Whitney Houston Funeral: Westboro Baptist Church Threatens Picketing, Tweets God’s Hate [Updated]
February 18, 2012, 1:45 pmUpdate: It sounds like this didn’t actually happen, and that WBC is using Twitter to manipulate the media. NJ.com reports:
Star-Ledger reporters on the scene said access to that area had been restricted all day, and confirmed no active protests were occurring in the place depicted in the photograph.
Westboro Baptist Church threatened to...
Whitney Houston Funeral: Westboro Baptist Church Pickets, Tweets God’s Hate
February 18, 2012, 1:45 pmWestboro Baptist Church picketed Whitney Houston’s funeral today. Shocker.
You may recall when they said they would picket Steve Jobs’ funeral. Then Penn State football coach Joe Paterno’s. While covering Twitter reaction to Whitney’s funeral today, we stumbled across some tweets from old Margie Phelps, a top member of the...
Help with Nomenclature for Links & Brand Mentions
February 18, 2012, 11:48 amPosted by randfish Hey gang - short blog post on a topic our product and marketing teams have been noodling around with. As many of you know, we've got our Linkscape index, which is crawled, processed and served out on a monthly basis (there's a new index about every 30 days). We also have a newer datasource, Blogscape, aka Freshscape (which is...
Whitney Houston Funeral: Live Twitter Reaction
February 18, 2012, 10:36 amThe funeral service of Whitney Houston, who was found dead a week ago, will begin at 12:00PM Eastern today (Saturday), and it is being streamed live online. If you wish to watch the service itself, go here . It's also being broadcast on CNN on TV, if you want to keep it here. We'll be providing live tweets of note below. Whitney, while often...
Whitney Houston Funeral: Where To Watch It
February 18, 2012, 10:06 amIt's hard to believe it's already been a week since Whitney Houston was found dead , but it has, and today is her funeral, which is being streamed live online by the AP. Unfortunately, they haven't made the player embeddable (typical of the AP), but we will be providing live updates from the Twitterverse throughout the ceremony. If you wish to...
RIP Madonna Twitter Trend Appears, Lady Gaga Fans, Will Smith Get Blamed
February 18, 2012, 9:45 amOh, Twitterverse. Sigh. This morning, RIPMadonna was trending on Twitter. Because Madonna is dead? Of course not. She's totally alive. But that doesn't stop the Twitterverse from spreading rumors. Fake death rumors on Twitter are becoming about as common as men on Google+ . Anyone looking at the RIPMadonna tweets can easily tell that Madonna isn't...
Aereo Will Let You Stream Live TV To Your Phone, Tablet Or PC
February 18, 2012, 9:14 amAereo is a new service launching next month, that could be another step in the greater cord cutting trend . It lets you stream local broadcast channels to your mobile device, tablet or PC. It's starting out in New York, but one would expect it to expand. Here's the company's stated mission: One day, a group of brilliant engineers at Aereo created...
iPhone 4 Owner? Apple May Owe You $15.
February 18, 2012, 8:28 amWhen Apple released the iPhone 4, it was the company's most successful product launch up until that date. A lot lot of consumers, however, were frustrated to find that there were major reception problems, in a scandal which became known as Antennagate. It led to the departure of Apple's executive in charge of iPhone hardware , though it is even...
Hyperpublic Could Help Groupon Compete With Google In Local Search
February 18, 2012, 7:58 amSo Google wants to enter Groupon's turf ? Maybe Groupon will just enter Google's. Groupon has acquired Hyperpublic, a company that builds local databases for developers. Glancing at some of the projects that Hyperpublic has been working on, there are some search-related dealings. A message on the Hyperpublic site says: Today is an INSANE day! We...
Eric Schmidt Reduces His Stake In Google
February 18, 2012, 7:06 amFormer Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who now goes by the title Executive Chairman, is reportedly reducing his stake in the company from 2.8% to 2.1% by selling $1.45 billion in stock as part of a trading plan adopted in November. This is according to the Wall Street Journal , which cites a regulatory filing, and says the plan calls for Schmidt to sell...
7 Sharp Writing and Marketing Links
February 18, 2012, 5:14 amThis week on The Lede: David Ogilvy on writing A 7-step social media marketing strategy David Mamet's legendary "storytelling 101â³ memo What to do when you don't feel like working If you want more useful links than the seven we highlight here every week, follow @copyblogger on Twitter . // How to Write, by David Ogilvy On September 7, 1982,...
Cup of Joe: Hulu Is Losing Out On Revenue, Are You?
February 17, 2012, 11:51 pmAbout 3 years ago I got really angry with something that Wolf Blitzer said on CNN, and I canceled my cable. At the time everyone thought I was crazy. well actually everyone still thinks I am crazy, but not as much as back then. Because now a days services like Hulu and Netflix are slowly carving away at cable television's stronghold. Despite the...
What Happens to a Site's SEO If The Sitemap is Removed
February 17, 2012, 9:22 pmWebmasterWorld Members discuss the impact on SEO in Google if a sitemap is removed.
ReportDefinition XML Schema Definition is now available
February 17, 2012, 5:06 pmUnlike reports in previous AdWords API versions, v201109 AdHoc reports are downloaded by POSTing XML to a URL rather than defining them using a SOAP service; therefore they have no WSDL document to describe the XML payload. To ensure that your ReportDefinition XML is valid when sending it to the API, we are now publishing an XML Schema Definition...
iPad 3 Definitely Getting A Retina Display
February 17, 2012, 4:56 pmRumors that the iPad 3 would be getting would be getting a retina display appear to have been confirmed today. MacRumors appears to have actually gotten their hands on an iPad 3 display. The new display is the same size as the iPad 2 - 9.7 inches - but packs in double the amount of pixels. While they could not actually power the display, the did...
Gamers Pave The Way For Cheap Cancer Research
February 17, 2012, 4:56 pmGamers are somewhat reviled by the media and politicians as being violent psychopaths who use violent first-person shooters and other "murder simulators" to play out acts that may lead to real life consequences. Those extreme graphics causing all the violence, however, may end up saving lives. A research lab at Wake Forest University is using...
Efficiency Updates Coming Soon to Microsoft Advertising adCenter API
February 17, 2012, 4:46 pmAlthough this information was posted to the adCenter Blog, we wanted to make sure API users are aware of the changes that are coming to adCenter as well. Heres a quick summary of the changes that you could start to see as early as mid-February: As always, if you have any questions or comment, feel free to leave them in the comments below, post a...
iPads Improve Kindergarteners' Literacy Scores
February 17, 2012, 4:41 pmNearly a year ago, in April 2011, we told you about a small town in Maine that was set to become the first town in America to give every kindergartener an iPad to be used in their education. Auburn, Maine, a town of 24,000, gave roughly 285 students iPads (staggered, but more on the later) at the start of the 2011-2012 school year. "The more...
Gorillas As Fascinated With iPhones As Humans Are [VIDEO]
February 17, 2012, 4:41 pmWe here at WebProNews are not much different from the readers of our fair site because, like you, we love all things gadgety. Flash us a new hand-held device and we're like Yogi Bear drifting toward a freshly set picnic. While the fascination with smartphones and tablets are fast becoming a standard component to the human condition, Mark Rober...
Top 50 Sites In the U.S. According to comScore
February 17, 2012, 4:41 pmcomScore released its Media Metrix Top 50 U.S. Web Properties report for January. Among the findings: a lot of people are spending a lot of time online. "In January, the average U.S. Internet user spent a record 36 hours online, reflecting the growing importance of digital media to Americans' daily lives," said Jeff Hackett, executive vice...
iPads Improve Kindergarteners’ Literacy Scores
February 17, 2012, 4:21 pmNearly a year ago, in April 2011, we told you about a small town in Maine that was set to become the first town in America to give every kindergartener an iPad to be used in their education. Auburn, Maine, a town of 24,000, gave roughly 285 students iPads (staggered, but more on the later) at the start of the 2011-2012 school year.
“The...
Payroll Tax Cut Bill Comes With Spectrum Auction Funding
February 17, 2012, 4:20 pmToday, Washington passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, extending the Payroll Tax Cut and unemployment benefits. Part of this was the authorization of the FCC to auction off wireless spectrum, which was proposed in the National Broadband Plan , introduced in 2010. Essentially, broadcasters with spectrum to spare forfeit the...
The Anti-SOPA System Administrator's Todo List
February 17, 2012, 4:20 pmTodo lists are a great way to plan ahead for the day's events. It gives an idea of how to divvy up your time. What, however, would such a list look like for a systems administrator who is firmly against SOPA/PIPA and any other Internet regulation the United States government introduces? It might look something like this, courtesy of the news...
Amazon Sellers Complain
February 17, 2012, 4:16 pmAmazon is encouraging their retailers to comply with new 24/7 buyer communication requirements, and is getting complaints from sellers, who say new policies are forcing them to stay open for business 7 days a week.
One seller told Tamebay, “basically, they are now forcing us to respond to 90% of messages within 24 hours. We already work 6...
The Anti-SOPA System Administrator’s Todo List
February 17, 2012, 4:07 pmTodo lists are a great way to plan ahead for the day’s events. It gives an idea of how to divvy up your time. What, however, would such a list look like for a systems administrator who is firmly against SOPA/PIPA and any other Internet regulation the United States government introduces?
It might look something like this, courtesy of the...
Yelp Sets Share Price For March IPO
February 17, 2012, 4:05 pmIn November we reported that Yelp had filed for its IPO. The original filing stated that Yelp intended to raise $100 million. Yesterday Yelp filed paperwork with the SEC to set its share rpice and the date of its IPO. According to the new filing , Yelp is set to go public on March 2, and will trade with the stock symbol YELP. Initial share prices...
Civilization V Expansion Announced
February 17, 2012, 4:05 pmCivilization V was one of the best games of the year when it was released in 2010. There was some noticeable omissions, however, that kept the game from being the best it could be. Now it's 2012 and 2K has announced the first expansion pack for the title - "Gods and Kings." It is currently slated for a late Spring 2012 release. The expansion will...
Facebook Stores: A Failed Experiment or Worth Another Shot?
February 17, 2012, 3:55 pmGamestop, Nordstrom, Old Navy, The Gap. All blockbuster retailers who know how to drive customers to spend big bucks and not one of them had success selling on Facebook. The failure of F-commerce is an interesting conundrum. Facebook is the most visited site in the universe. People also spend money on Facebook to buy virtual items and upgrades for...
7 Out of 10 Children Use the Family Tablet
February 17, 2012, 3:55 pmThere's a new TV commercial with a mom and dad having a spell-talk discussion about whether it's okay for their child to use their Pantech Element tablet . Dad's concerned, but mom assures him that it's okay, because it's w-a-t-e-rproof. Then there's the new Kindle commercial with the sexy woman at the beach. She's reading on a Kindle and she gets...
Siri For Android: Utter Is Another, More Impressive Clone
February 17, 2012, 3:50 pmWe've covered some other Siri clones for Android . A new one called Utter does something different, as it taps into the various apps on your phone. "The difference being that it tends to use the default applications already installed on you device to give you a more personal experience with more functionality - unlimited functionality even,...
Michael Jordan, Angry Birds, and Quinoa
February 17, 2012, 3:50 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Enjoy! @bheater Brian Heater There's a loud kid in an...
Leaked Super Bowl Ads Didn't Do Companies Any Favors
February 17, 2012, 3:50 pmBefore the Super Bowl, many companies were eager for consumers to feast their eyes on the much-anticipated commercials set to debut during the game. Some literally couldn't wait and "leaked" their commercials a few days early. This was likely done to generate some early buzz for products, but a new analysis reveals that the plan may have backfired...
comScore Media Metrix Ranks Top 50 U.S. Web Properties for January 2012
February 17, 2012, 3:50 pmcomScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its monthly analysis of U.S. web activity at the top online properties for January 2012 based on data from the comScore Media Metrix service. Tax sites rapidly grew in January as millions of Americans looked to begin preparing to file. Many Americans also booked...
Authorities Return JotForm.com, Still No Answers
February 17, 2012, 3:14 pmYesterday we brought you news that the U.S. government - the Secret Service, specifically - had seized and shut down JotForm.com without any warning or explanation. When JotForm founder Aytekin Tank called the Secret Service to ask why his business had been seized, the agent he spoke to said she was too busy to talk to him and said she would call...
Jotform.com Is Back In The Hands Of Its Rightful Owner
February 17, 2012, 3:14 pmThe Jotform.com domain was returned today. The only problem is that the feds still aren't saying what caused the suspension in the first place. You may remember yesterday when we reported that Jotform.com was suspended by the federal government for apparently no reason. When the Jotform team attempted to contact the Secret Service as to why their...
The Mystery of Paul McCartney Solved
February 17, 2012, 3:14 pmWell, folks, you asked. At least the future brain surgeons and rocket scientists of America did. It's a question that burned in our collective conscious as we staggered about, trying to figure who the hell that was performing with during The Grammys ? Who the hell is Paul McCartney? Thanks to the hard-hitting investigative reporting of Funny or...
Facebook Timeline For Brands: Marketing Game Changer Or Potential Spam Machine?
February 17, 2012, 2:58 pmIt wasn't that long ago that Facebook users were informed by Facebook that they would be getting the Timeline whether they like it or not . Indeed, some do not like it, particularly the way it highlights things from the past. Some love it and find it to be a vast improvement of the Facebook profile. Either way, it's here to stay for the...
New Windows Logo Strikes Minimalistic Chord
February 17, 2012, 2:58 pmFor most of my life, the word "Windows" has only called up one mental image: the Windows 98 loading screen, chugging away on my basement computer, a Packard Bell. Interesting home computing choices aside, the image of Microsoft's Windows, that wavy blue, yellow, red, and green flag flying gallantly across the screen is gone forever. Well, at least...
Submitting your content directly to Bing
February 17, 2012, 2:48 pmFour easy ways to make sure your content gets in, or back in, to the Bing index. URL/Domain submit - submit your domain to us if you have a new website. Submit URL feature inside Bing Webmaster Tools,
CBS Will Charge Fans For March Madness Online Access
February 17, 2012, 2:48 pmMarch Madness is looming o’er the heads of college basketball fans so it’s time to begin strategerizing how to watch as much of the NCAA tournament as possible. At least in the beginning of the Madness, many games will be played and broadcast at the same time, creating a conflict of interest when it comes to picking a game. In previous...
Netflix Now Offering DVD-Only Plan
February 17, 2012, 2:48 pmNetflix is now offering a DVD-only subscription plan, starting at $7.99 per month.
Santosh Hegde, Director of DVD Engineering at Netflix, states that beginning today, subscribers can have access to roughly 100,000 DVD and Blu-Ray titles directly, separate from a streaming content subscription. Netflix is also offering a free monthlong trial to...
Prince of Persia Versus The Real World
February 17, 2012, 2:28 pmHow many of you have dreamed of living in a video game world? Or, perhaps taking aspects from your video game and converting it to real life? Considering the current popularity of Skyrim , if that happened now, there'd be a helluva lot of dragons flying around. Let's say, however, the game you wanted to bring to life was classic 2-D side scroller,...
App Store Approaches 25 Billion Downloads, Apple Announces Contest
February 17, 2012, 2:28 pmApple's iOS App Store is approaching its 25 billionth app download, the company announced today. In celebration of the milestone, they've announced a contest. The person who downloads the 25 billionth app will win a $10,000 gift card to the App Store (not, unfortunately, to the Apple Store). Of course, the gift card will also work on music...
Angry Birds Space Announced For March 22
February 17, 2012, 2:28 pmOne of the world's most popular games is getting its first proper sequel. Rovio announced via its Web site , Angry Birds Space. Not much is known about the game yet besides that it takes place in outer space and it's launching on March 22. It does give us the tagline, "One small fling for a bird, one quantum leap for birdkind." I was never the...
Friday Humor: Siri & The Big Bang Theory [Video]
February 17, 2012, 2:28 pmOn a recent episode of The Big Bang Theory Raj started developing a relationship with Siri (on his iPhone). This video took all the great Siri parts of that episode. Since it is Friday and you may need a laugh after a long hard week I thought I might share it with you. Have a .
Yahoo! Search Data Predicts 'War Horse' to Win Best Picture Academy Award
February 17, 2012, 2:28 pmYahoo!'s Search Data and Movie Expert Reveal Which Oscar Nominees Are Movie-goers' Favorites and the Academy's Favorites The Academy Awards are upon us and Yahoo! has collected data for the most popular nominee-related searches executed from January 1st to February 5th, 2012. Kicking off the data with Best Picture, 'War Horse' was the top searched...
Location: A Ranking Factor in Organic SERPs
February 17, 2012, 2:28 pmPosted by MichaelC We're all familiar with: personalization , SPYW , and the mix of organic + local + shopping + news etc. we call " universal search ". Today, we're going to talk about the results that APPEAR to be pure organic, ignoring AdWords, Google Places results, image, news, video, shopping, social influenced results , etc. Now, looking...
Yahoo! Data Picks "War Horse" For Best Picture Academy Award
February 17, 2012, 2:07 pmYahoo! thinks they've decoded the mysterious voting process for the Academy Awards and it's all based on the strength of search trends related to nominees. The search data is a pretty good measure of what the public favors the most, but whether that reflects the will of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Based on the fact that Yahoo!...
American Women Hold Most of the Money
February 17, 2012, 2:07 pmA new infographic released by Marketing Zeus outlines some revealing details about how money is distributed among the sexes in America. According to a Virginia Tech study , 60% of all personal wealth and 51% of all stocks in America are held by women. You'd think that advertisers and marketers would sit up and take notice of that. But, 91% of...
Foxconn Raises Worker Pay By Up To 25%
February 17, 2012, 2:07 pmApple's manufacturing arm in China is making a PR push, saying on Friday that they have raised the wages of their workers by 16-25% this month. "As a top manufacturing company in China, the basic salary of junior workers in all of Foxconn's China factories is already far higher than the minimum wage set by all local governments," the company said...
Sony Playstation Vita £199.99 on eBay
February 17, 2012, 1:52 pmSony is releasing it's Playstation Vita in the U.S. and Canada on Febuary 22nd, and eBay is teaming up with Zavvi to offer a pre-order deal of £199.99. The Vita is region-free, so one can get it a little early through this eBay deal for roughly $315 USD. £199.99 on eBay is the cheapest online so far, as even on Zavvi's site , the Vita is...
The Pirate Bay: RIAA Is Kid Screaming For Candy
February 17, 2012, 1:52 pmThe RIAA and The Pirate Bay are at it again. Both groups have fired at each other over blogs that paint each other in a negative light. Let's watch the fireworks, shall we? Mitch Glazier, Senior Executive VP of the RIAA wrote a blog post titled, "The Pirate Bay: Exhibit A For Why Foreign Rogue Websites Must Be Effectively Addressed." In the blog...
Make Social Part of Your DNA - Social Media Week London #smwdna #smwldn #social #socialgood
February 17, 2012, 1:31 pmAt a random street in central London three people turn up from different directions looking at their phone then at a closed black door. Then they look at each other, then at next door where people almost fall out of a small theater type building. Its Social Media Week and a mix of marketing professionals, community managers and small business...
Pat Buchanan Out: People Respond Online
February 17, 2012, 1:21 pmAfter he served ten years as an analyst, MSNBC has shown Pat Buchanan the door . Protests have gone on for years about Buchanan's statements and perceived racism. Buchanan maintains that this is all a conspiracy by the left to have him ousted. And, there were coordinated and concerted efforts to petition and pressure MSNBC to can him. Most who are...
How to Become a Panda's Best Friend
February 17, 2012, 1:21 pmWith the launch of Panda, SEOs are more nervous than ever when it comes to their site's survival in the search results. The mood has become more and more tense with many publishers scrambling to "fix" their pages in hopes of redemption. People are reading horror stories of seemingly innocent websites being affected by Panda. .
Facebook Ads Offers FastTrack and Start to Success
February 17, 2012, 1:21 pmWith the changes that Facebook is undergoing, advertisers need a new set of skills to succeed in social media marketing. On the other hand, the social network giant must educate marketers to smooth out the learning curve. Thankfully, they're offering two introduction programs for first-time advertisers: FastTrack and Start to Success. FastTrack...
Pat Buchanan Canned Over Book at MSNBC
February 17, 2012, 1:01 pmAfter an uproar about his publication of a book in October called "Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025??", MSNBC has finally bowed to the pressure from various groups and fired Pat Buchanan. Some have viewed Buchanan's book as anti-Semitic, pro-White, and generally racist overall. MSNBC asked Buchanan to not appear on its network...
KFI Radio Hosts John & Ken Suspended After Whitney Houston Remarks
February 17, 2012, 12:45 pmThe United States might guarantee freedom of speech, but it doesn't protect people from the repercussions that result from acting like a jerk while you're on the job. That second point is even more salient when you work in the media and you tactlessly extol why certain people deserve to die.
Google Translate Saves The Day And A Life
February 17, 2012, 12:30 pmGoogle Translate, Google's free online language translation tool can help identify languages and instantly translate words, phrases and web pages. Two Oregon State Police troopers recently put this new tool to the test using the app to communicate with an impaired Chinese driver who didn't speak English.
Google Stops Indexing Blogger Blogs On Custom Domains
February 17, 2012, 12:14 pmGoogle's Blogger has had some issues where new posts on custom domains aren't being indexed by Google. Bloggers have been complaining about it , understandably, on Google's Webmaster Help forum ( via Barry Schwartz ). Apparently, Google initially thought it was happening as the result of normal updating, but Google's John Mueller chimed in to say,...
msnNOW - Know What's Now'..NOW!
February 17, 2012, 12:09 pmHot on the heels of our People Powered Stories announcement on Valentine's Day, the team at MSN have shone a bright light on the public's thirst for real-time news, views and trending topics with the release of NOW.msn.com . In a post on the MSN Blog , the team tells us: We scour the most interesting trends from real-time sources like Facebook,...
U.S. Calls for Ban on Mobile Devices While Driving
February 17, 2012, 11:54 amThe U.S. Department of Transportation has encouraged automakers to design devices that would block the use of mobile devices while a vehicle is moving. The plan extends to texting, the dialing of 10-digit phone numbers, the keying in of address on GPS systems, etc., unless the car is in park. On these non-binding guidelines issued today,...
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance - Worst Comic Book Movie Ever?
February 17, 2012, 11:54 amBatman & Robin, Superman IV: Quest for Peace, Catwoman - will Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance go down as being worse than these films? The movie comes out this weekend, so we'll just have to wait and see how the cinema going population responds to Ghost Rider. While we wait, there are a few bits of evidence we can look at. First, what did the...
Asthma Attack Kills Pulitzer Winner
February 17, 2012, 11:54 amForeign correspondent Anthony Shadid has died in Syria. Mr. Shadid had won two Pulitzer Prizes for his coverage of the war in Iraq. His assignments had taken him into danger many times. Once he was shot in the shoulder. He went into Syria on a motorcycle across rugged terrain. In 2011, Shadid and three colleagues were reported missing in Eastern...
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance – Worst Comic Book Movie Ever?
February 17, 2012, 11:52 amBatman & Robin, Superman IV: Quest for Peace, Catwoman – will Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance go down as being worse than these films? The movie comes out this weekend, so we’ll just have to wait and see how the cinema going population responds to Ghost Rider. While we wait, there are a few bits of evidence we can look at.
First,...
HBO Go Comes To Samsung’s Smart TVs
February 17, 2012, 11:43 amSamsung’s line of Smart TVs are about to receive an influx of content, provided you are an HBO subscriber and your television is compatible with the HBO Go application. This means not only will applicable Samsung Smart TV owners be able to access HBO’s library, instead of being limited to what’s currently being broadcasted...
Internet Welcomes 8 New Users Every Second
February 17, 2012, 11:42 amWith the population of the world hovering just below 7 billion and the ways to access the internet continue to expand, slowly but surely people around the world are getting around to checking out this “internet” thing everybody seems to like so much. In fact, people are logging onto the Internet for the first time at the rate of eight...
Sony Ericsson Drops The Ericsson
February 17, 2012, 11:39 amSony Ericsson has been an established name in the cellphone market for years. All of that changes now. Sony announced that the transaction to acquire Ericsson's 50 percent stake in Sony Ericsson was completed on February 15. This now makes Sony Ericsson a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony. Sony Ericsson will be renamed to "Sony Mobile...
Google Drive Spotted, Logo Appears Rather Googley
February 17, 2012, 11:23 amIs Google preparing for an imminent launch of their rumored cloud storage service Google Drive? Last week, we reported that Google was prepping their launch of Google Drive , a cloud service that would compete with existing services like Dropbox and Apple's iCloud. Google Drive is said to work like any other cloud storage service - you upload...
Stats on Facebook 2012 [Infographic]
February 17, 2012, 11:23 amThe folks at Infographic Labs have made an extremely informative infographic full of Facebook stats. The stat that shocks me the most is that there are 250 million photos uploaded daily! Another shocker is the personal worth of Mark Zucherburg based on his shares of FB (see IPO section)..wow. Facebook made $1 Billion in 2011 .
Apple Sells More iOS Devices Than Macs
February 17, 2012, 11:08 amApple has been making Macintosh computers for the past 28 years. The company's newer iOS devices, while only being on the market for a relatively short time, have already outpaced the Mac business. Speaking to Fortune Magazine , Apple CEO Tim Cook, spoke on iOS growth especially that of the iPad which has sold 55 million units to date: This 55 is...
Google Exploited Loophole To Track Safari Users' Browsing Habits
February 17, 2012, 11:08 amGoogle has made plenty of news lately over concerns with how they handle user privacy. Now it looks like they may have been circumventing privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser - on computers and iOS devices alike - in order to track users' web browsing habits for the purposes of advertising. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal...
Twitter, Wikipedia 'Squatter' Sites Fined For Posing As Twitter, Wikipedia
February 17, 2012, 11:08 amTypos happen. They're inescapable if you use a computer. This is why keyboards come with a Delete key. Given then that typos are expected, it was inevitable that someone out in the internet would find a way to profit from those typing mistakes. Here's an example: You've unwittingly mistyped the name of a website and ended up somewhere that is...
Twitter, Wikipedia ‘Squatter’ Sites Fined For Posing As Twitter, Wikipedia
February 17, 2012, 10:56 amTypos happen. They’re inescapable if you use a computer. This is why keyboards come with a Delete key. Given then that typos are expected, it was inevitable that someone out in the internet would find a way to profit from those typing mistakes.
Here’s an example: You’ve unwittingly mistyped the name of a website and ended up...
Google Exploited Loophole To Track Safari Users’ Browsing Habits
February 17, 2012, 10:55 amGoogle has made plenty of news lately over concerns with how they handle user privacy. Now it looks like they may have been circumventing privacy settings in Apple’s Safari browser – on computers and iOS devices alike – in order to track users’ web browsing habits for the purposes of advertising.
According to a report by the Wall...
John Cleese Answers YouTube Comments via YouTube Video
February 17, 2012, 10:53 amOne of the best aspects of social media is its world-shrinking capabilities. It, in many ways, allows regular folks to reach out and touch the people/entertainers they admire. Granted, you won’t always get a response to these contact attempts, but there’s a sense of satisfaction knowing the tweet you’re getting ready to post is...
SOPA Version 2: JotForm Domain Seized Without Due Process
February 17, 2012, 10:32 amOn Wednesday, the Secret Service seized the JotForm.com domain and left hundreds of thousands of websites with "broken" forms. Although it was the Secret Service that initiated the investigation, it was Go Daddy (JotForm's domain registrar) that suspended the domain without warning. JotForm, which provides a WYSIWYG web form creator and hosting...
YouTube Aims To Help Nonprofit Orgs
February 17, 2012, 10:32 amYouTube announced a big initiative on their blog today, structured to help nonprofits. Next Cause is aimed at using online video to help organizations involved in charitable projects around the world. From Youtube: We're excited to share the latest addition to the Next Creator family of programs: YouTube Next Cause for nonprofits. YouTube Next...
Google Loved By Both Men And Women, According To Desired Brands Survey
February 17, 2012, 10:17 amIf you're ever having a fight with your significant other, know that you can find common ground over your shared love of Google, Dove, and Southwest Airlines. Brand insight firm Buyology has just released the results of their 2012 Most Desired Brand Index. The list "quantitatively types and measures consumer relationships with brands using...
Google's New Privacy Policy: Danny Sullivan Provides Insight
February 17, 2012, 10:16 amIn January, Google announced that it was overhauling its more than 60 privacy policies and replacing them with one. As Alma Whitten, Google's Director of Privacy in Product and Engineering, wrote in the announcement , the idea is to create a "beautifully simple, intuitive user experience across Google." The search giant said the main change for...
Man Finds 26K in Safe Bought on eBay
February 17, 2012, 10:16 amCanoga Park, California eBay seller James Labrecque always states in his auctions that "WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET," all-caps. Well, in one of his recent auctions , $26,000 was included in what the buyer got. A Bartlett, TN eBay buyer was able to get the safe for $122.93, later finding all the cash inside after bringing it to a welder. For...
Google’s New Privacy Policy: Danny Sullivan Provides Insight
February 17, 2012, 10:06 amIn January, Google announced that it was overhauling its more than 60 privacy policies and replacing them with one. As Alma Whitten, Google’s Director of Privacy in Product and Engineering, wrote in the announcement, the idea is to create a “beautifully simple, intuitive user experience across Google.”
The search giant said the...
'Iron Sky' Pits President Sarah Palin Against Nazi Invaders From Space
February 17, 2012, 10:01 amA very peculiar sci-fi movie called " Iron Sky " is making its way through the circuit of film festivals in Europe this season, yet it is conspicuously not coming anywhere near the United States. The flick is replete with great stuff Americans love to watch: spaceships, fighting Nazis, fighting Nazi invaders from space , Jerry Bruckheimer-levels...
Modern Warfare 3 Free To Play This Weekend, On Sale
February 17, 2012, 10:01 amSteam will occasionally offer up free weekends on PC games to allow interested gamers a chance to try out the game before buying it. This weekend's game is a big one. Steam announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be free-to-play this weekend. This will allow gamers to play the entire multiplayer portion of the game on the PC for free...
Jeremy Lin Is HUGE On Twitter
February 17, 2012, 9:59 amThe New York Knicks white-hot trending topic point guard, aside from being the talk of the sports world — move over, you Super Bowl-winning Giants, it’s Lin Time — he’s also one of the most popular topics on Twitter, especially during his ascension from relative unknown to household name territory.
The story of...
Groupon VIP: Would You Pay $30 A Year For A Better Groupon Experience?
February 17, 2012, 9:59 amGroupon is launching a new premium service for its “best customers” called Groupon VIP. Basically it just gives users access to deals early and later after they’ve expired for everyone else. It costs $30 a year .
BusinessInsider has a screen cap of an email from CEO Andrew Mason introducing the program. It says:
I’m...
Second Life Creator Acquires LittleTextPeople
February 17, 2012, 9:46 amLinden Lab , makers of Second Life, has been kind of quiet for a while. They broke that silence today with an acquisition and announcement of new products. Linden Lab announced their acquisition of LittleTextPeople, a game development studio that specializes in writing, programming and designing next-generation interactive fiction.
Social Network Use in the U.S. [Infographic]
February 17, 2012, 9:46 amThe Statista infographic below rounds up some big pieces of info on social network use in the U.S. The most obvious thing to take away from the data right off the bat is that Facebook dwarfs everyone else. Surprise. A few quick points: Facebook has 167,000,000 unique visitors per month. The average Facebook user spends 6.5 hours on the site each...
Messages Only For OS X Mountain Lion After Beta
February 17, 2012, 9:25 amWhen Apple unexpectedly announced OS X Mountain Lion yesterday, they offered Mac users a taste of things to come in the form of a beta version of the new Messages app. The app works just like Messages for iOS, in that it allows users to send text, video, and picture messages to any other device running the app – Mac, iPhone, iPod Touch, or...
Nevada Developing Driverless Car Regulations
February 17, 2012, 9:25 amNevada has resumed putting laws into place that will allow companies to begin testing self-driving vehicles. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Director Bruce Breslow says the DMV is now developing new licensing procedures, and the state's legislative commission approved moving forth with new regulations on Wednesday. Last June, Nevada had began...
Google+ Brand Pages Grow 1400% Since December
February 17, 2012, 9:25 amOne way to judge the popularity of Google+ is with total user growth, and some estimates put the network at over 100 million users . Those projections indicate that Google+ could have 400+ million by the end of 2012. Another metric is interaction with brands on the site. Google opened up Google+ to eager brands back in November of 2011, and within...
Facebook Open Graph Apps: A Bunch Of New Ones
February 17, 2012, 9:10 amFacebook announced a new round of Open Graph apps that will help users populate their timelines by sharing the content they're consuming. The new round includes apps from Buzzfeed, CBS Local (LA and NY), CMT, The Daily Show, GetGlue, Huffington Post, Mashable, MSNBC.com, MTV News, Pixable, Sporting News (which will actually launch next month) and...
Proview Seeks $2 Billion From Apple In U.S. Courts
February 17, 2012, 9:10 amThe legal drama between Apple and Proview just got more interesting. As we previously reported , Proview, a small Chinese company that makes monitors, claims to own the iPad trademark in China. Apple claims to have bought the trademark a few years ago when they first began selling the iPad. It got worse when Proview sought an injunction against...
Facebook Content Standards: Arty Nudity Okay; 'Moose Knuckles' Not So Much
February 17, 2012, 9:10 amThe next time you feel like photoshopping a blown-apart head of one of your enemies and then uploading it to Facebook, the site moderators are perfectly fine with that - just make sure that the picture doesn't actually depict any of the insides of that head. That doesn't make sense,
Facebook Content Standards: Arty Nudity Okay; ‘Moose Knuckles’ Not So Much
February 17, 2012, 9:04 amThe next time you feel like photoshopping a blown-apart head of one of your enemies and then uploading it to Facebook, the site moderators are perfectly fine with that – just make sure that the picture doesn’t actually depict any of the insides of that head.
That doesn’t make sense, but it doesn’t matter because...
Google Goggles Gets Currency Recognition
February 17, 2012, 8:54 amWhen Google launched Google Goggles in 2009 the service was cool, but still pretty limited. While there were lots of things you could search for just by taking a picture, there were lots more that the Google Goggles wouldn't recognize. Since the launch, however, Google has been steadily increasing the number of things Google Goggles would...
Anonymous Continues Anti-ACTA Attack On U.S. Government
February 17, 2012, 8:54 amAt some point, there's going to be a massive, mainstream media-friendly bust where a bunch of 20-somethings are led away for the world to see, with FBI officials holding press conferences claiming the scourge of the Anonymous hacker group has been eliminated. Until that time, however, sit back and enjoy the ride as Anonymous takes down yet another...
Pinterest Finally Speaks - The Latest
February 17, 2012, 8:54 amPinterest has been maddeningly silent about some of the press items floated the past few weeks. The Skimlinks "scandal" came and went on its own, pretty much. Skimlinks CEO Alicia Navarro did speak up and calm the tempest in a teapot about how "sneaky" (or not) the monetizing of links on Pinterest had been. Then, there's the "copyright issue". As...
Pinterest Finally Speaks – The Latest
February 17, 2012, 8:40 amPinterest has been maddeningly silent about some of the press items floated the past few weeks. The Skimlinks “scandal” came and went on its own, pretty much. Skimlinks CEO Alicia Navarro did speak up and calm the tempest in a teapot about how “sneaky” (or not) the monetizing of links on Pinterest had been.
Then,...
5 Indispensable Tips for Affiliate Marketing Beginners
February 17, 2012, 8:39 amWhat's one of the most reliable ways to earn an income online? If done right, Affiliate Marketing is a hard model to beat. Problem is, there's a lot of bad (and unethical) advice out there on how to approach it. So, I've invited Sonia Simone and Jessica Commins to jump on the line today to counter that bad advice, and offer their best strategies...
Rift Sets World Record For Most In-Game Marriages
February 17, 2012, 8:32 amEver since the Guinness World Records committee began keeping track of video game records, there has been some really odd attempts at breaking records that nobody even thought about before. This is one of those records.
Trion Worlds, publisher and developer of the MMORPG Rift, held a world record attempt on Valentine’s Day to host the highest...
Link Building - a Helpful Guide to Prospecting and Analysis
February 17, 2012, 8:29 amCreative Link Building, Link Prospecting or even Link Scouting - call it what you will, the premise is the same: you are looking for opportunities to build links. Over the years there have been many different ways that people have been doing this; one of my personal favourites is using Majestic SEO and Open Site Explorer. However useful this is, I...
Want To Cancel Your Cable In Favor Of The Web? How Cable Companies Aim To Stop You
February 17, 2012, 8:20 amThe FCC has a fight on its hands between cable companies and Internet streaming set-top box companies such as Boxee. The cable companies are pushing the FCC to make a change to current regulation in order to allow them to encrypt basic cable programming.
Do you want to cancel your cable and get all of your viewing entertainment online? Let us...
Twitter Self Serve Ads Available To 10,000 Businesses
February 17, 2012, 8:18 amBack in December, Twitter Chief Revenue Officer Adam Bain revealed that the company had begun testing self-serve ads with some of its existing advertisers. Now, according to a report from AdAge , these ads have been opened up to 10,000 small businesses - American Express cardmembers and merchants can register to use the platform on a first come,...
Facebook "Suggested Guests" Feature Comes To Events
February 17, 2012, 8:18 amFacebook is currently testing a new feature housed within the event pages. It's called "Suggested Guests" and it does just that - provides a series of suggested guests that you can then invite in one click. The Suggested Guests box is appearing at the top right corner of an event page, above the sponsored stories box and some ads. The box displays...
Google Patents New Lockscreen Method
February 17, 2012, 8:18 amGoogle has just patented their new lockscreen method for Android, as an answer to Apple's "slide to unlock" functionality. Google's new unlock feature is unique in that the user can execute a separate command while simultaneously unlocking the phone. Basically, users can drag apps to the unlock area for easy access. The patent also includes a...
Public and Social Community Remember Whitney Houston
February 17, 2012, 8:18 amWith the passing of International star Whitney Houston there has been tremendous reaction by her many loyal fans and supporters. As most of the reaction comes from people that have supported her through the years, companies and webmasters have even taken-part of the reflection. BET.com, the leading global entertainment Media Company targeting the...
4 Localization Tips for Savvy Global Businesses
February 17, 2012, 8:18 aminternational websites are a serious game and require serious thought and attention. Here are some top tips on how to tackle the localization of your product's website and online presence, and land gracefully on a cushion of dollar bills.
Twitter Self Serve Ads Available To 10,000 Businesses [Updated]
February 17, 2012, 8:17 amUpdate: Twitter just posted an official announcement about this, with a link to a sign-up form. The company says:
Soon, small businesses based in the United States will have the chance to take their Twitter marketing efforts to a new level. Starting in late March, we will introduce a new advertising offering that makes it simple for companies of...
Internet Gains 8 Users Per Second [Infographic]
February 17, 2012, 8:03 amThe nifty Pingdom infographic below will tell you that 7.9 people per second become new Internet users. That's 2.3 Billion people, or 32.7% of the world's population. So, what do we do on there? Let's put that in perspective with a few more facts, shall we? As of the moment I write this, there have been' 125,586,000,000 emails sent so far TODAY...
Media Attribution: How to Start Optimizing Your Media Allocations
February 17, 2012, 7:12 amIf you're ready to begin seeing the "true value of media performance" and get the most out of your digital budget, you need to know how to get this boulder moving' And fast. Your boss expects results this quarter! Now what?
Are You Delivering the Goods on Social Media?
February 17, 2012, 7:12 amRestaurant owners are probably some of the busiest workers going. That being said, some are social media savvy and others would have trouble defining what the term means. Along with serving up the right food concoctions, restaurant owners are best served when they have a good social media plan in place to promote their eatery .
Coming Soon: Facebook Timeline for Brands
February 17, 2012, 7:12 amAs reported by Kunur Patel on Ad Age, Facebook plans to bring Timeline to brands. In fact, they've briefed the executives about it. Introducing the Facebook Timeline During the f8 conference last September, Facebook introduced the transformation of its more than 800 million users' profile pages to Timeline. However, it wasn't clear that time if .
Registration for Twitter Self Serve Ad Platform Opens for 10,000 Small Businesses
February 17, 2012, 7:02 amTwitter has been working up to its more broadly offered self serve ad platform for a while now. To this point, there are about 100 advertisers that have been allowed to use the system but Twitter is about to expand that capability significantly as it looks to make 2012 a big year. This strategy is part of a larger plan for the social media company...
Online Marketing News: Left vs. Right Brained Marketers, A Better User Experience, Management: Think Twitter, Growing Beyond Keywords
February 17, 2012, 7:02 amWhat Are Social Channels Good For? Sure you've setup your company profiles and pages on social media. However, do you know what channels are best used for which type of interaction? This infographic by Grovo shares some great insight into specific uses for many of the popular social media platforms. Did you know? 40% of people like brands for...
Which Online Market Is The Fastest Growing In Europe?
February 17, 2012, 4:17 amYesterday, comScore released an Overview of European Internet Usage for December 2011 . The release, highlighting internet usage in 49 European markets and providing individual reporting on 18 of those markets, shows that the Russian internet audience continues to be Europe's largest with more than 53.3 million unique visitors during the month....
Twitter Gears Up For Small Business Advertising Starting March
February 17, 2012, 3:45 amStarting today, American Express Cardmembers and merchants can register to participate in the initial introduction of this new offering via ads.twitter.com/amex. We will launch this new offering more widely later this year.
Google Bypassing iPhone Browser Privacy Settings
February 17, 2012, 3:33 amGoogle Inc. and other advertising companies have been bypassing the privacy settings of millions of people using Apple Inc.'s Web browser on their iPhones and computers tracking the Web browsing habits of people who intended for that kind of monitoring to be blocked.
Social Advertising: Is it worth the buck?
February 17, 2012, 2:09 amAs marketers, we hear and talk a lot about social media. Social media is on the rise in Singapore, with nearly half of the country's leading marketers believing that social media advertising spend will increase this year. But what really excites social media advertisers? Word-of-mouth marketing? Strengthening the brand? What are the challenges?...
Roles & Responsibilities of a Web Marketing Team - Whiteboard Friday
February 17, 2012, 12:01 amPosted by randfish This week we talk about how the different roles and responsibilities of a web marketing team. What does it take to have a successful marketing team that will take your brand to the next level? What metrics should your team measure? Your marketing team will go through a few different stages while your company grows and this video...
We'll Believe Android 5.0 Coming in Q2 When We See It
February 16, 2012, 11:30 pmSometimes you read reports and just shake your head. That was the case for this DigiTimes report that said Google is rushing Android 5.0 "Jelly Bean to market in the second quarter . The reason? "Adoption of Android 4.0 has fallen short of original expectations and Microsoft will launch Windows 8 in the third quarter of 2012." Huh? True, Ice Cream...
Excel Hints for PPC
February 16, 2012, 6:48 pmExcel is one of the best tools for PPC. Downloading your data into Excel gives much more scope for analysis and complex change than using a browser interface or AdWords Editor. You may have already read Distilled's Excel for SEO or some of PPCHero's Excel tips , but here are my own hints. Concatenation If there's one thing you can put into...
5 Edgy Paid Search Techniques' and New Ad Units Coming in 2012
February 16, 2012, 6:02 pmElsewhere , I've expressed skepticism that black hat techniques are relevant to the world of paid search. Let's look at some aggressive techniques that are worth considering - and aren't necessarily black hat. Let's call them "edgy." Confusion in "hat" debates in PPC arose when some players began calling "edgy" techniques "black hat." If you're...
Babs Rangaiah from Unilever on Digital Storytelling
February 16, 2012, 5:47 pmAt CES this year, I caught up with Babs Rangaiah who must have one of the most fascinating jobs in the industry as Unilever's VP of Global Media Innovation. In this short clip, we talk about their approach to storytelling through digital and what's exciting him right now coming out of Microsoft. Think you can tell a great story through digital?...
Facebook Timelines for Brands? Time to Start Thinking Inside the Box
February 16, 2012, 5:42 pmOn February 29, Facebook will be conducting their first event made specifically for marketers. At that time, AdAge believes they'll make a big announcement - Timelines for brand pages. Don't panic. It might not be as bad as it sounds. Last year, David Fischer, Facebook VP of Marketing and Business Partnerships, told AdAge that Timelines for brands...
Demand Media: eHow Hasn't Been Affected By Panda Since July
February 16, 2012, 4:50 pmI think it's safe to say that Demand Media has survived the Panda update. The company put out its Q4/full-year 2011 earnings report today, including a 5% quarterly increase in revenue for its content/media business and a 15% year-over-year increase. Considering the Panda update first launched just about a year ago, it hasn't hurt Demand Media too...
Demand Media: eHow Hasn’t Been Affected By Panda Since July
February 16, 2012, 4:35 pmI think it’s safe to say that Demand Media has survived the Panda update. The company put out its Q4/full-year 2011 earnings report today, including a 5% quarterly increase in revenue for its content/media business and a 15% year-over-year increase. Considering the Panda update first launched just about a year ago, it hasn’t hurt...
Time Warner Cable Brings Streaming App To PCs And Macs
February 16, 2012, 4:28 pmIn an attempt to stay relevant with the kids, Time Warner is bringing its streaming service to PCs and Macs. The service was originally only available for the iPad and iPhone.
The software is currently in beta form and works on all major browsers. I unfortunately, or fortunately depending on who you ask, do not have Time Warner Cable so I can’t...
Max Payne 3 Trailer Released
February 16, 2012, 4:24 pmA new trailer for Max Payne 3 has been released, and it sees Max hitting the streets of São Paulo, Brazil looking for Fabiana, the kidnapped wife of real estate mogul Rodrigo Branco. In true Max Payne fashion, he quickly finds himself alone on the streets of an unfamiliar city having to fight his way out.
@RockstarGamesRockstar GamesThe...
Sarkozy Unveils His New Facebook Timeline
February 16, 2012, 4:21 pmFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy recently unveiled his new Facebook Timeline, and some of his opponents are thinking that Facebook might have helped with this directly, according to France 24.
Sarkozy’s new Timeline contains roughly 700 pictures, dating back to his birth, and many describe milestones he’d achieved while in office,...
Mountain Lion, Jeremy Lin, and Hot Air Balloons
February 16, 2012, 4:20 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you’ve got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You’ve only got 140 characters to make an impression.
And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day’s most entertaining tweets.
Enjoy!
@fauxTimCookNot Tim CookWant to try OS...
Facebook Flash Sales Boost Fan Interest 368%
February 16, 2012, 4:19 pmFlash sales may appear to be a fleeting trend in online commerce, but the recent success of the business model on Facebook might argue otherwise. If you don't know, flash sales consist of sales featuring high discounts that are offered for a short amount of time. Aside from being an effective way to move a lot of products and offer shoppers a...
Demand Media Earnings: Content/Media Revenue Up 15% YoY
February 16, 2012, 4:19 pmDemand Media just released its fourth quarter and fiscal 2011 financial results, beating analysts' expectations, but posting a net loss for the year. The loss includes $5.9 million of "accelerated non-cash amortization expense associated with content intangible assets removed from service in conjunction with the Company's previously announced plan...
Twitter Completes Rollout Of New Design
February 16, 2012, 4:19 pmIn December Twitter announced that they were launching a simplified interface. The new design started out on Twitter's mobile interface, both on the web and on Twitter's official iOS and Android apps. At the same time it was rolled out to a selection of web users. That number has gradually increased in the two months since the initial...
Facebook Posts Turned Into A Book
February 16, 2012, 4:04 pmWhen Cynthia Legette Davis began posting inspirational messages for her Facebook friends in 2010, little did she know the posts would wind up as a book. But that's exactly what happened. The inspirational Facebook posts now make up Davis' newest book entitled, "Peace Tips for Life - Ideas and Inspiration for Personal Peace". "I originally wrote...
Porn Apps For Android Quite Popular, Infographic Shows
February 16, 2012, 4:04 pmMiKandi, which provides an app store for adults, has put together an infographic looking at "a year in the life of adult apps" for mobile devices. There's nothing graphic, but if you're offended by adult words, be warned that there are some of those. "Despite spending NO money on marketing and having NO distribution through the other Android App...
Zynga Changes The Game On Cloud Computing
February 16, 2012, 4:04 pmWhile Zynga's games may look simplistic, there's a lot of power and technology behind their games. Zynga detailed the evolution of their zCloud servers that host all of their games yesterday. It's a fascinating look at the technology behind the social games that everybody knows and loves (or hates). The company hosted its games on third-party...
Flickr, Vimeo Sharing Coming To OS X Mountain Lion
February 16, 2012, 3:49 pmThere's plenty of buzz today following Apple's unexpected announcement of OS X Mountain Lion. Most of the attention is being focused on the numerous iOS features that are being incorporated into the new operating system - Reminders, Notes, Messages , Twitter integration and the Notification Center. One feature that's getting less attention is the...
Facebook, Twitter Won't Require Anti-Piracy Software, Court Says
February 16, 2012, 3:49 pmEurope's top court dealt a blow to anti-piracy crusaders and tallied a win for proponents of Internet freedom today by ruling that social networking sites cannot be required to set up an anti-piracy filtering system. The ruling involves a case brought against Netlog , an online social network based in Belgium, by a music royalties firm claiming...
Narrative Science, The Robotic Content Farm, Generates Articles From Tweets
February 16, 2012, 3:25 pmWe first reported on Narrative Science at the height of the big content farm discussion, prior to Google's release of the Panda Update about a year ago. We asked if the next wave of content farms would eliminate humans, as what Narrative Science does, is produce stories from computers. "We tell the story behind the data," its description said....
YouTube Announces New Features Including Google+ Integration
February 16, 2012, 3:25 pmYouTube is marching forward in its insistence to change the site - admittedly in ways that make everything work and look better. The company took to its official blog today to announce four new features ranging from social media integration to making video tools better. The first change that we all saw coming was more Google+ integration on your...
Timeline of An Office Romance [Infographic]
February 16, 2012, 3:25 pmFrom the fine folks at MTV, here comes a frighteningly accurate infographic featuring the evolution - and devolution - of an office romance. Infographics have become all the rage lately. And, they are a good way to present information in an easy-to-digest format, putting relevant pieces of information together in one place, but without too much...
Actively Allow Consumers to Pinpoint Interest in Your Brand
February 16, 2012, 3:20 pmby Todd Bailey What's the latest craze in online marketing? It's still before lunch; there's still time. The question is jocose but tagged with realism; there are tons of ways to 'socialize' on the Web through social media sights, Pinterest (featured in the New York Times ) being the latest to pass the social threshold (and the first to reach...
Twitter Makes HTTPS the Default Setting for Users
February 16, 2012, 3:10 pmTwitter will use encryption by default when users sign in. Although Twitter is making HTTPS the default setting for users, you can turn it off in your account settings. Twitter joins Facebook and Google+ in giving users the option sign in via HTTPs.
Posting Someone's Photo To Facebook Without Permission Is Rude, Says Majority
February 16, 2012, 3:10 pmI'm sure plenty of you know the feeling: You wake up after a night of partying a little too hard and the first thing that you think (other than how much you need a glass of water) is "Man, I hope I didn't do anything stupid last night." And beyond that, "man, I hope nobody took a picture of it." But sure enough, you log on to Facebook to find that...
Facebook Social Games Breakdown [Infographic]
February 16, 2012, 2:54 pmSocial gaming like Words With Friends, FarmVille and Mafia Wars is big business. An infographic released by Prism Online Casino explores Facebook social games, particularly the reasons why each are so popular. Among the observations are that people are into the games for stress relief, mental stimulation, social interaction and relaxation. The...
NUKEMAP Uses Google Maps API To Let You Blow Up The Outside World
February 16, 2012, 2:54 pmPeople make a lot of novel uses of Google Maps technologies. Some people give you ways to share your love with the world. Some people promote nature conservation . You can even take a virtual spelunking tour . While all of those are impressive, none are quite as ambitious as NUKEMAP , an interactive Google Map that lets you select any city and...
Google May One Day Face Lawsuit From Music Industry
February 16, 2012, 2:26 pmThe entertainment industry doesn’t like search engines. They may take that dislike to the next level soon.
TorrentFreak is reporting that IFPI wants Google to play nice with the entertainment industries by removing “pirate” Web sites from search results and giving preference to legal options.
We reported last month that Google and other...
Study: Retailers Not Optimized for Tablets
February 16, 2012, 2:23 pmAccording to a study released today by Zmags , most retailers are not ready for the tablet revolution. While many businesses are aware that mobile is the way to go when trying to reach their customers, apparently quite a few are content to let their existing websites stand as "good enough". They are not planning to optimize them for mobile, either...
Mark Zuckerberg On Pinterest: Real or Fake?
February 16, 2012, 2:23 pmAs previously reported, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg now has a Pinterest account . Whether that's real or fake is a little unclear. It's been reported on as if it's real, without any actual indication that it is (at least that I've seen). I've reached out to Facebook for comment, though I'm not sure they'll bother with something like this. Until I...
Facebook Launches Verified Accounts: Nicknames and Pseudonyms Now Allowed
February 16, 2012, 2:23 pmFacebook, which has been built on the premise of people using their birth names rather than pseudonyms, will soon allow prominent public figures and celebrities to use a nickname instead of their real name. In the past, Facebook has had a "real name policy" that has required users to only use their real birth names. .
"What My Friends Think I Do" Meme Popular on Facebook
February 16, 2012, 2:08 pmEver since the dawn of the latest update of Facebook, picture sizes within the Facebook feed have increased. This helps memes become more viral on the well-known social networking site, along with various cute ICanHasCheezburger pictures. Recently,
Porn Site Caught Using Teens' Facebook Photos
February 16, 2012, 1:53 pmGirls at a Boston area Vocational High School are a little more than upset after it was discovered that a porn site had been using their Facebook photos without their knowledge or consent. CBS Boston reports that photos from the accounts of 17 different Bay Path Regional school were lifted and displayed on a porn site. Local officials say that...
“What My Friends Think I Do” Meme Popular on Facebook
February 16, 2012, 1:38 pmEver since the dawn of the latest update of Facebook, picture sizes within the Facebook feed have increased. This helps memes become more viral on the well-known social networking site, along with various cute ICanHasCheezburger pictures.
Recently, you may have seen a new meme start to arise on Facebook with images segmented into six sections...
Blekko Gets Ads, DuckDuckGo Gets A Million Searches In A Day
February 16, 2012, 1:32 pmBlekko sought out from the start to become the " third search engine " behind Google and Bing (Yahoo, for all intents and purposes counted as Bing, since Bing powers Yahoo Search). Google and Bing serve search ads to monetize their efforts. Now, the "third search engine" is testing ads, according to a report from MediaPost . These ads, however,...
Mobile Now a Core Component of Google AdSense
February 16, 2012, 1:32 pmGoogle AdSense for mobile was put in place while people were still using flip phones, in order to allow companies to monetize their mobile content. With the advent of smartphone popularity, Google has just made it easier for vendors to use AdSense mobile, by migrating all mobile ad unit sizes, as well as the mobile banner ad unit, into the core...
Social Media Helps Teens See Other's Needs
February 16, 2012, 1:32 pmParents, social media may not be that bad for your teen after all. According to a new study, conducted online in January by Harris Interactive , more than half of teens (55%) say social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have made them more aware of the needs of others. This is a huge increase from 2011 when a little more 4 in 10 (44%) said...
Porn Site Caught Using Teens’ Facebook Photos
February 16, 2012, 1:26 pmGirls at a Boston area Vocational High School are a little more than upset after it was discovered that a porn site had been using their Facebook photos without their knowledge or consent.
CBS Boston reports that photos from the accounts of 17 different Bay Path Regional school were lifted and displayed on a porn site. Local officials say that...
5 Call Tracking Insights You Wish You Had
February 16, 2012, 1:17 pmThe data that I analyze in Google Analytics drives a lot of the decisions I make (are you in the same boat?). One report that I now take for granted and one that you probably wish you had is phone tracking conversions. Being able to see phone call conversions enables me to understand the true .
Social Media Helps Teens See Other’s Needs
February 16, 2012, 1:06 pmParents, social media may not be that bad for your teen after all.
According to a new study, conducted online in January by Harris Interactive, more than half of teens (55%) say social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have made them more aware of the needs of others. This is a huge increase from 2011 when a little more 4 in 10 (44%) said...
FTC Totally Concerned About Privacy On Mobile Apps For Kids
February 16, 2012, 1:01 pmIn all likelihood, mobile app developers probably don't discriminate when it comes to sponging information from kids and adults alike. To most of them, private info is a bunch of little white pellets and they are insatiable Pac-Mans. However,
iPad's Biggest Competitor Is iPhone 4S, Not Kindle Fire
February 16, 2012, 1:01 pmAccording to a recent study by iSuppli, the iPad so thoroughly owns the tablet market that its nearest competitor isn't a tablet at all: it's the iPhone 4S. In the fourth quarter of 2011 Apple shipped 15.4 million iPads. That number was lower than expected for the quarter, but the hit to the iPad's market share came from the iPhone 4S, which...
iPad’s Biggest Competitor Is iPhone 4S, Not Kindle Fire
February 16, 2012, 12:51 pmAccording to a recent study by iSuppli, the iPad so thoroughly owns the tablet market that its nearest competitor isn’t a tablet at all: it’s the iPhone 4S. In the fourth quarter of 2011 Apple shipped 15.4 million iPads. That number was lower than expected for the quarter, but the hit to the iPad’s market share came from the iPhone 4S, which...
What will it take to move Canadian retail online?
February 16, 2012, 12:41 pmAt an ecommerce industry event recently, I heard some amazing statistics " and amazing, but all-too-familiar, anecdotes " about the sorry state of Canadian etail. Let's be clear: the Canadian consumer is at the forefront of the digital lifestyle. On average, more connected, more into online apps, more into searching, more into Facebook and...
Apple Quietly Drops "Mac" From OS X's Name
February 16, 2012, 12:31 pmWhen Apple unexpectedly announced OS X Mountain Lion this morning, they trumpeted a host of new features. Mountain Lion is getting Messages (which is already available in beta), Reminders, and Notification Center from iOS. It's getting Gatekeeper for security. It's getting deep Twitter integration. One change that Apple didn't talk about, though,...
StumbleUpon Brings Back Source Links and More
February 16, 2012, 12:15 pmOn December 5, 2011, StumbleUpon launched their biggest redesign ever, which streamlined a huge amount of their code, along with a number of drastic changes that completely changed the way StumbleUpon looks and operates. Although most of the changes on the site where received positively, two changes came under criticism. This included the removal...
JotForm.com Suspended By US Feds
February 16, 2012, 12:15 pmThe U.S. government is continuing its happy-go-lucky censorship of Web sites for reasons blown way out of proportion. It was revealed yesterday that JotForm.com had its domain suspended. The reason behind the suspension was not exactly clear. Aytekin Tank took to the JotForm.net blog to explain exactly what had happened and what users can do to...
Apple Quietly Drops “Mac” From OS X’s Name
February 16, 2012, 12:05 pmWhen Apple unexpectedly announced OS X Mountain Lion this morning, they trumpeted a host of new features. Mountain Lion is getting Messages (which is already available in beta), Reminders, and Notification Center from iOS. It’s getting Gatekeeper for security. It’s getting deep Twitter integration. One change that Apple didn’t talk about,...
Colbert Report Cancels Tapings Due To "Unforeseen Circumstances"
February 16, 2012, 11:44 amAnyone who tuned in to the second half of Comedy Central's nighttime comedy block last night saw a new episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, but a rerun of The Colbert Report (a new episode with interview guest Claire Daines was scheduled). We now know that the reason for the rerun is that Comedy Central has cancelled taping of the hit show...
Cisco Challenges Microsoft's Skype Acquisition In EU Court
February 16, 2012, 11:44 amConcerned that Microsoft's acquisition of Skype could leave other video communications services out in the cold, Cisco is planning to challenge the deal through the European Union's highest court. Although the European Commission already approved the acquisition last year, Cisco wants to ensure that calls made through other video services, such as...
Zynga Earnings Released [Infographic]
February 16, 2012, 11:44 amOnline gaming giant, Zynga , released their fourth quarter and year-end earnings report on Valentines Day. That report, made easy-to-understand by the info graphic below, revealed some interesting things about Zynga. In 2011, Zynga generated $1.14 Billion in revenue. Zynga paid out $510 Million in stock-based compensation expenses in 2011, which...
Cisco Challenges Microsoft’s Skype Acquisition In EU Court
February 16, 2012, 11:38 amConcerned that Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype could leave other video communications services out in the cold, Cisco is planning to challenge the deal through the European Union’s highest court. Although the European Commission already approved the acquisition last year, Cisco wants to ensure that calls made through other video...
New SmartPill Broadcasts to iPhone
February 16, 2012, 11:29 amAccording to a new article in Chemical & Engineering News , the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society , drug companies have been studying a pill containing a biodegradable chip that can transmit information to a user's iPhone. Proteus Biomedical has developed a biodegradable digital device that transmits medical data to iPhones, or...
Apple's Stock Drops After Proview Trademark Troubles
February 16, 2012, 11:29 amHow big is Apple? Their individual share price is above $500. Well, it used to be. Now it's gone below $500 a share. What could have caused this? A tiny Chinese company that is giving Apple a big headache. We reported earlier this week that Proview, a Chinese display manufacturer, holds the trademark to the iPad name. The Shenzhen Intermediate...
AOL's New iPad Optimized Site Goes Live
February 16, 2012, 11:29 amAOL has announced the launch of a new iPad-optimized version of their site today. The site is designed to take advantage of the iPad's touch screen and to provide iPad users with easy access to AOL's content and services. The new page, which was announced on AOL's blog this morning, incorporates touch gestures like tapping and swiping to browse...
Colbert Report Cancels Tapings Due To “Unforeseen Circumstances”
February 16, 2012, 11:26 amAnyone who tuned in to the second half of Comedy Central’s nighttime comedy block last night saw a new episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, but a rerun of The Colbert Report (a new episode with interview guest Claire Danes was scheduled).
We now know that the reason for the rerun is that Comedy Central has cancelled taping of the hit...
Imagine an Online Life in the Offline World
February 16, 2012, 11:24 amby Stoney deGeyter I often find myself wishing I had the same conveniences in real life like I do on the Web. While a lot of the "offline" world has been made possible (and easier) online-such as using social media to stay connected with friends and family-we haven't really been able to transfer the magic of offline into the real world. I often...
Smartphones Becoming Primary Camera For More People
February 16, 2012, 11:24 amNary a person would disagree that people these days enjoy taking photos. Lots of photos, in fact. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, and now the ascendant Pinterest have not only facilitated but likely encouraged people to take more pictures since the those sites have bridged the gap between the pictures you take and the people with whom you...
Crowdfunded Startup Opening 30 Cafes On Same Day
February 16, 2012, 11:24 amNew Perspectives Cafe , a start up company, is combining polling and crowdfunding to create a unique event. New Perspectives Cafe is opening thirty stores nationwide, at the same date and time, using a crowdfunding model of finance. In addition to this, New Perspectives Cafe is letting members vote on the cafe's menus, theme nights, events,...
Journey Release Date Announced For March 13
February 16, 2012, 11:24 amOne of the most anticipated games on the PlayStation Network finally has a release date. Journey, thatgamecompany's beautiful desert exploration game, has been announced to launch on March 13. Journey will cost an affordable $14.99. You may know thatgamecompany for their previous games, flower and flow. Both games are considered to be some of the...
AOL’s New iPad Optimized Site Goes Live
February 16, 2012, 11:19 amAOL has announced the launch of a new iPad-optimized version of their site today. The site is designed to take advantage of the iPad’s touch screen and to provide iPad users with easy access to AOL’s content and services.
The new page, which was announced on AOL’s blog this morning, incorporates touch gestures like tapping and swiping to...
Google Falsely Flagged as Malware by Microsoft
February 16, 2012, 11:18 amThe world's most popular search engine was falsely identified by Microsoft as malware for four hours on Valentine's Day due to a faulty software security update, leaving many frustrated Internet Explorer users unable to access Google.
Phishing Tips: How to Protect Your Account and Report Scam Emails #smb #smallbiz
February 16, 2012, 11:13 amAlthough there is a segment of the population who associate the term phishing with the darlings of the jamband music genre, here in the tech world, it refers to something much more sinister. Given that we recently received some reports of phishing emails being sent to adCenter users, we wanted to take a minute to make sure youre aware of both the...
Volunia Improvements are Coming Soon
February 16, 2012, 11:13 amAfter Volunia's public beta release, founder Massimo Marchiori shared with Sean Carlos on Search Engine Land the reason of its early release. According to Marchiori, they released the social search engine to gather user feedback. After a week of exposure, they collated all relevant data they can use to understand their users and enhance the .
Apple’s Stock Drops After Proview Trademark Troubles
February 16, 2012, 11:12 amHow big is Apple? Their individual share price is above $500. Well, it used to be. Now it’s gone below $500 a share. What could have caused this? A tiny Chinese company that is giving Apple a big headache.
We reported earlier this week that Proview, a Chinese display manufacturer, holds the trademark to the iPad name. The Shenzhen Intermediate...
Whitney Houston's Funeral Will Be Streaming Live
February 16, 2012, 11:08 amWhen Whitney Houston died suddenly over the weekend she left behind scores of shocked fans. While her cause of death remains in doubt, funeral arrangements for the pop star have proceeded. On Tuesday it was announced that Houston's funeral would be a small, private affair. The service is to be held at noon on Friday at New Hope Baptist Church in...
WebmasterWorld Weekly Roundup February 16
February 16, 2012, 10:50 amWebmasterWorld's weekly roundup of hot topics and discussions you may have missed in the last few days. (-Subscription required)
Hulu Plus On Wii Now A Reality
February 16, 2012, 10:29 amToday, Wii owners are getting another option when it comes to streaming content. Hulu has announced that its paid subscription service, Hulu Plus, is now available through the Nintendo Wii.
“We want to be everywhere, on every screen where people want to watch their favorite shows and discover new ones on their own schedule. Wii is not only...
comScore Appoints Judy Bahary as Senior Vice President of CPG Marketing Solutions
February 16, 2012, 10:18 amcomScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced that Judy Bahary has joined comScore as Senior Vice President of Marketing Solutions for the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry and will be based in Chicago. Ms. Bahary will be responsible for comScore's business development efforts and existing client...
Myspace Entertainment Gets New President
February 16, 2012, 10:17 amMyspace has tapped Roger Mincheff to lead Myspace Entertainment as president. Myspace Entertainment will be Myspace’s internal production and entertainment division responsible for original programming and content.
Mincheff has inked his first deal with Fox Digital Entertainment and Kia Motors to deliver WOLFPACK OF RESEDA. Premiering...
Ghost Hunters Co-Lead Investigator, Grant Wilson, Leaves The Show
February 16, 2012, 10:11 amLast night on Ghost Hunters, co-lead investigator, Grant Wilson, announced that he was departing from the show.
Of the departure, Wilson said, “It is with mixed emotion that I am announcing my departure from the cast of Ghost Hunters. While paranormal investigating has always been and will remain a passion for me, after enjoying nearly eight...
Robotics Industry To Create 1 Million New Jobs
February 16, 2012, 10:10 amAccording to the International Federation of Robotics , increasing use of robots will create 1 million new jobs in the next 5 years. The announcement is based on a study, "Positive Impact of Industrial Robots on Employment," conducted by the market research firm Metra Martech . Many of these jobs will relate to engineering, software and...
Apple Awarded Patent On MacBook Air Design
February 16, 2012, 10:10 amApple is back at it again. The company is registering patents that may help them kill off competitors. Mashable is reporting that Apple was awarded 19 patents with one of them being the design of the MacBook Air. Ultrabooks are the competitor to the MacBook Air in looks and functionality. Apple could use this new patent to stop the sale of...
Nielsen: 70% Of Kids In Tablet-Owning Households Use Them
February 16, 2012, 10:10 amKids these days: they get everything they want. I mean, smartphones before they hit puberty is not unheard of and just look at the gaming systems they get to enjoy - Xbox 360s and PS3s. My childhood was Super Mario 3 and Oregon Trail. Well, on second thought, my childhood was pretty awesome. And now, Nielsen is reporting that 7 out of 10 kids in...
Marketing Usability: Effectively Turning Communication Into Action
February 16, 2012, 9:54 amThis post comes from our Social Media Channel sponsor Full Sail University . From a technical standpoint, your website might look pretty good. You've validated your HTML. Every button and link goes where it's supposed to go. And your shopping cart actually works. Adhering to usability best practices on your website is key, but don't stop measuring...
Google Makes Google+ Circles Cleaner, People Easier To Find
February 16, 2012, 9:54 amGoogle announced some changes to Google+ Circles this week. The company is rolling out an update designed to make the experience cleaner, and make suggestions better. The Circles Page, for example, has a new left-hand navigation menu, quick access to your email address books, and the Circles shrink when you're using a smaller screen. More...
Pinterest: What the Latest Studies Tell Us
February 16, 2012, 9:54 am"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." A report released by RJMetrics yesterday contained some eye-opening stats about Pinterest . Statistics are a funny thing. They tell you what is there, but the interpretation of those numbers is often where things can get tricky. First, the bare facts according to RJMetrics...
Mass Effect 3 Teaser Trailer Now Online - "Take Earth Back"
February 16, 2012, 9:24 amA new 52 second teaser trailer has been released for the upcoming Mass Effect 3 game, which is slated to come out next month. The trailer is part of an even bigger trailer which will air during this Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead on AMC. The Mass Effect 3 demo was recently released. If you haven't found the time to check it out yet, this...
Facebook Gives Verified Accounts To Popular People
February 16, 2012, 9:24 amWe often talk about how the major social networks are getting more and more like one another . Facebook, Twitter and Google+ seem to all borrow ideas from their social network peers. Now, Facebook is taking a page out of the Twitter/Google+ book, and launching verified accounts and pseudonyms. We know how Facebook feels about accountability and...
Apple Announces OS X Mountain Lion, Coming This Summer
February 16, 2012, 9:24 amApple has announced OS 10.8 Mountain Lion, the latest update to their Mac OS X operating system. Mountain Lion follows the trend begun with OS 10.7 Lion of bringing popular features from the iOS mobile operating system back to the Mac. The beta version of Mountain Lion is available to developers today, with a public release this summer. The new...
Does Social Media Help You Spend More Than You Normally Would?
February 16, 2012, 9:08 amYou probably realize by now I am a research skeptic in most instances. I am what many call a "high skeptic". All that means is that I come at these things form the angle that researchers will have to prove to me that they are genuine rather than the opposite approach which would be to just accept research as real just because it is research. So...
Notch Provides Psychonauts 2 Details
February 16, 2012, 9:08 amWe reported last week that Notch, the creator of Minecraft, offered to fund Psychonauts 2 via Twitter. The Internet gamer population literally exploded with the news. The hype may have gotten a little out of hand, however, and Notch took to his blog to set the record straight. Notch clarifies that his tweet that offered to fund Psychonauts 2 was a...
Mass Effect 3 Teaser Trailer Now Online – “Take Earth Back”
February 16, 2012, 8:58 amA new 52 second teaser trailer has been released for the upcoming Mass Effect 3 game, which is slated to come out next month. The trailer is part of an even bigger trailer which will air during this Sunday’s episode of The Walking Dead on AMC.
The Mass Effect 3 demo was recently released. If you haven’t found the time to check it out...
Microsoft Accidentally Marked Google.com As Malicious Site
February 16, 2012, 8:53 amIf you're a Windows users, it may have gone rogue on you this week by telling you that Google.com is a dangerous site to visit. This isn't another one of Microsoft's competitive prods at Google ( this time ), but rather the result of an error in the updates to Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Forefront released earlier this week. Users...
Yahoo! Updates Mail for Android
February 16, 2012, 8:53 amYahoo! has just updated their Yahoo! Mail for Android App, offering multiple new ways to customize notifications, amongst other modifications. Users can now option notifications with sound, vibrate or silent, and can add a status bar. Also what's new is the "select all" checkbox, similar to the former "edit" option, for users to select and manage...
Messages Beta Launched Alongside OS X Mountain Lion Preview
February 16, 2012, 8:53 amToday, Apple released a developer preview of their new OS X Mountain Lion. It's set to bring some popular things from iOS to the Mac like Messages, Notes, Reminders, and the Notification Center. That dev preview includes the all new Messages app which does away with iChat and allows for users to send and receive free messages, photos, and videos....
Google AdWords Introduces Enhanced Sitelinks
February 16, 2012, 8:42 amGoogle's sitelinks are said to deliver 30% higher click-through rates compared to traditional ads. In relation to this, they are continuously looking for ways on how to enhance it. Last February 14, they've unveiled one of their strongest performing experiments: The enhanced sitelinks. What is Enhanced Sitelinks? Sitelinks are links to your...
EU Court: Social Networks Not Responsible For User Content
February 16, 2012, 8:24 amA European court has found that social networks can’t be held responsible for the content its users post – score one for the Internet.
SABAM is a name you may not be familiar with but it’s essentially the RIAA of Belgium. The group represents authors, composers and publishers of musical works. They have a beef with Netlog, a social...
Facebook Timeline For Brands Coming Late February [REPORT]
February 16, 2012, 8:23 amBrands that want to utilize Facebook’s spiffy new Timeline feature won’t have to wait too much longer. According to apprised executives quoted in AdAge, Facebook plans to begin rolling out Timeline for Brands at the end of February.
Apparently, Facebook plans to announce Timeline for Brands at their first-ever fMC event held...
Would You Like to Pay by Cash, Credit Card or Twitter?
February 16, 2012, 8:22 amI received an email this week about a new ebook on the rise of the app. I was interested, so I visited the website and found something I'd never seen before, a "Pay with a Tweet" option. Click the option, and you get a pre-filled Tweet (which can be altered somewhat) that mentions the product along with a link so others can get in on the deal. I...
msnNow From Microsoft Highlights Bing, Facebook, Twitter Trends
February 16, 2012, 8:22 amMicrosoft just launched a new MSN service called msnNOW , which the company says is designed to surface breaking trends from across the web, show what people are saying about the trends and why they matter. "msnNOW scours real-time sources, including Facebook, Twitter, Bing, and BreakingNews.com, so you can stay up on what everyone is talking...
Does the Follower / Following Ratio Matter in Terms of True Influence on Twitter? [POLL]
February 16, 2012, 8:22 amThere are Twitter users that have 25,000 followers, but they follow 24,870. Do they have true influence or does the person that has 5000 followers and follows 230 people have more influence? There are a lot of people out there are "teaching" others how to use Twitter and they brag about their Twitter followers, but .
Google Launching Android 5.0 Jelly Bean Soon?
February 16, 2012, 8:20 amReports are circulating this morning that Google is preparing to launch the next major update to their Android operating system sooner than expected. Android 5.0 Jelly Bean may be coming as sometime in the second quarter of 2012, possibly at Google’s I/O conference in late June.
According to a report from DigiTimes, the launch will be timed to...
Able Remote Lets You Control Google TV With Your Voice
February 16, 2012, 8:19 amA new Android app called Able Remote lets you operate Google TV using voice commands.
“Able Remote turns your Android smartphone or tablet into a remote control for your Google TV,” says Leon Nicholls, the app’s creator, “Just as you can customize your phone with apps, Able Remote lets you create your own remote button...
App Store Optimization
February 16, 2012, 8:12 amThe arena of app stores is much like the way organic search results used to be. Knowledge on app store optimization can still provide a big advantage over your competitors and it can be a lucrative way to exploit your old fashioned SEO skills.
Mobile Devices Will Overtake Human Population in 2012
February 16, 2012, 8:01 amIt's a good thing humans come with two hands because we're gonna need'em if we're expected to handle the bulk of cell phones and tablets that are going to be cramping up our planet in the near future. A new study from Cisco predicts that 2012 will be the year that mobile devices will surpass the world's population of humans. As impossible as that...
Using Social Media to Promote Your Small Business
February 16, 2012, 7:51 amSmall businesses nowadays use social media to promote their brand. However, not everyone knows how to do it right. If you're one of them, there's no need to worry. Just follow the simple tips below on how you can promote your small business through social media, and you're off to a good start. Select One .
Social Media Insight from 6 Successful Brands on Google+
February 16, 2012, 7:25 amGoogle+ is slowly but surely attracting a more diverse user base and big brands are taking notice. Many have fully integrated the platform into their social media strategies. Is Google+ a part of your social media strategy? It should be!
Spring Forward with Search Strategies for Travel Marketers
February 16, 2012, 6:24 amWe are quickly approaching the travel industry's high season. Roughly 40 percent of the industry's annual impression volume takes place between May and August, leaving only a few months for travel marketers to get their accounts in order.
Facebook Advertisers Testing New Sponsored Stories Actions: Want, Own, Played & More
February 16, 2012, 5:38 amA limited number of Facebook advertisers are testing what appears to be the next iteration of Sponsored Stories. They are targeting the social site's users who have played video games, watched videos, or listened to songs, among other examples.
Are You Making These 7 Mistakes with Your About Page?
February 16, 2012, 5:27 amDoes thinking about it make you stumble and sweat? Have you put it off, because you're worried it will suck? You're not alone " lots of website owners have an easier time proposing marriage than they do writing a solid About Page . If that's you, you're probably overcomplicating things. A good About Page is simple, straightforward, and it...
EU Court Rules Against Anti-Piracy Filtering System
February 16, 2012, 5:20 amIn its judgement the ECJ ruled that a system would be a "serious infringement" of Netlog's freedom to conduct its business "since it would require Netlog to install a complicated, costly, permanent computer system at its own expense".But it also said there was a risk of infringing rights to the protection of personal data, as a filtering system...
The SEO Importance of Original Content
February 16, 2012, 5:12 amIn light of last's month post outing now infamous (and new Internet meme) Ocean Marketing for plagiarizing from this very blog, I thought it was important to stress the importance of original content, which is imperative for online marketing success. Not only the foundation of good SEO, content also feeds your social media marketing campaign,...
The Netherlands and France Have the Highest Penetration of Online Banking Users in Europe
February 16, 2012, 4:41 amcomScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released an overview of internet usage in Europe, showing 381.5 million unique visitors went online in December 2011 for an average of 27.5 hours per person. This release highlights internet usage in 49 European markets aggregated into the European region and provides...
Your SEO is not the problem
February 16, 2012, 4:05 amWho do you blame when your sales are slow? We're not getting business because the graphic designer designed our logo wrong. We're not getting business because our competitors have way more money. We're not getting business because the SEO company we hired didn't do it right. We're not getting business because we're a small business, and Google...
Musings on Meatball Sundae
February 16, 2012, 4:00 amFor 2012 I made a couple of New Year’s resolutions.I’m not going to lie, most have fallen by the wayside already – however one which seems to have stuck (for now at least) is reading more books. First up – Meatball Sundae by Seth Godin.I figured I really ought to read this – not just because everyone else already has...
Cisco Will Challenge Microsoft Skype Deal at EU Court
February 16, 2012, 3:50 amCisco has said it will challenge Microsoft's $8.5bn takeover of Skype at the EU's top court.
Apple Says Apps Must Get Explicit Permission To Download User Data
February 16, 2012, 3:07 amApps that collect or transmit a user's contact data without their prior permission are in violation of our guidelines,......any app wishing to access contact data will require explicit user approval in a future software release.
The Inside Scoop to Finding Link Building Opportunities with Free Alerts
February 16, 2012, 12:24 amPosted by neilpatel This post was originally in YouMoz , and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc.
How Google Comes Out Cleaner Than Apple on Privacy
February 15, 2012, 11:33 pmPath's privacy snafu of collecting address book data and storing it on remote servers without permission opened the floodgates of media hellhounds on that startup, along with Twitter, Foursquare, Yelp and others. This comes a week after Google spent a couple weeks being demonized for its planned privacy policy changes, which go into effect next...
DuckDuckGo Hits New Milestone: 1 Million Searches
February 15, 2012, 11:28 pmDuckDuckGo has good reason to quack. The small startup search engine announced that it received more than 1 million searches for the first time on the eve of Valentine's Day. More than a million searches were also conducted on Valentine's Day.
The Importance of Sitemaps
February 15, 2012, 10:09 pmWebmasterworld Members discuss the value of sitemaps.
Apple to Require "Explicit User Approval" For Contact Data Access
February 15, 2012, 7:07 pmAs previously reported, Apple received a letter from Congress questioning the company about the way it allows iOS app developers to treat users' contact info. AllThingsD is sharing a statement it received from an Apple spokesperson: "Apps that collect or transmit a user's contact data without their prior permission are in violation of our...
Apple to Require “Explicit User Approval” For Contact Data Access
February 15, 2012, 6:55 pmAs previously reported, Apple received a letter from Congress questioning the company about the way it allows iOS app developers to treat users’ contact info.
AllThingsD is sharing a statement it received from an Apple spokesperson: “Apps that collect or transmit a user’s contact data without their prior permission are in violation of...
Yahoo Web Analytics Version 10.3.19 Gives Product A Facelift
February 15, 2012, 6:21 pmYahoo is giving Yahoo Web Analytics a refresh, and as a start, has launched version 10.3.19.
“We want to make the YWA user experience better – we know that our customers love the product functionality but they would like to see some changes in the interface. We’re hoping that this part of the UI refresh helps to improve usability,”...
Cary Tilds from Mindshare on Navigating Digital in 2012
February 15, 2012, 5:24 pmIn the first of a series of three vignettes with Mindshare 's Leader of Digital Media Operations, we ask Cary Tilds how marketers should be looking to navigate digital in 2012. Learn what she means by an "Asset and Hub" approach, why HTML 5 is an important technology play, and why you need to set money aside! Cheers, Mel Carson - Digital Marketing...
Elections, The Olympics and the End of the World: What's Next for Social Video
February 15, 2012, 5:14 pm"In February 2011, Volkswagen's 'The Force' ad stormed the Superbowl to become the most shared ad of all time in just six days, jumping from 100,000 to 1,000,000 views in just a few hours." That's the first line of Unruly's " What's Next for Social Video Insight Report " and it really explains it all, doesn't it? In the past, a clever TV ad might...
Elections, The Olympics and the End of the World: What’s Next for Social Video
February 15, 2012, 5:02 pm“In February 2011, Volkswagen’s ‘The Force’ ad stormed the Superbowl to become
the most shared ad of all time in just six days, jumping from 100,000 to 1,000,000
views in just a few hours.”
That’s the first line of Unruly’s “What’s Next for Social Video Insight Report” and it really explains it all,...
Anonymous Threatens To Take Down Entire Internet
February 15, 2012, 4:58 pmAnonymous just keeps on making grander threats, but they have finally made the greatest threat possible - shutting down the entire Internet. In a pastebin post that we won't link to for obvious reasons, a member of Anonymous posted a document called "Operation Global Blackout." You may remember #OpGlobalBlackout from a previous Anonymous video...
Microsoft's Slick New Metro Interface Was Designed On A Mac
February 15, 2012, 4:43 pmLate last week CNET ran a story on Metro, a user interface discussed at length by Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer at last month's CES. While Xbox and Windows Phone users already have a taste of Metro, the tile-based format will also be making its way on to Windows 8 in the not-too-distant future. The interesting thing about the CNET article ,...
Microsoft’s Slick New Metro Interface Was Designed On A Mac
February 15, 2012, 4:29 pmLate last week CNET ran a story on Metro, a user interface discussed at length by Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer at last month’s CES. While Xbox and Windows Phone users already have a taste of Metro, the tile-based format will also be making its way on to Windows 8 in the not-too-distant future.
The interesting thing about the CNET article,...
Viral Video: Santorum Paid Ad Shows Brown Froth
February 15, 2012, 4:28 pmFile this in the Unbelievable category. Even given Rick Santorum's " Google problem " (you know the one we mean), some PR firm produced a video for him featuring the candidate being shot with brown goop. The video has a Mitt Romney look-alike shooting mud at a cardboard cut-out of Rick Santorum. In the end, the "Romney" guy gets shot with the...
Obama Cuts Funding for Mars Mission
February 15, 2012, 4:20 pmWhen President Obama laid out his budget on Monday, NASA’s Mars mission plans took a hit. Planetary science budgets were cut by roughly 21%, while more money was allocated to human exploration, space technology and new spacecraft development. The focus has shifted towards new ways of getting men and women into space, while putting the...
iPad Adoption Reducing Business Printer Use
February 15, 2012, 4:12 pmA recent study conducted by Morgan Stanley has some interesting implications for one of historical mainstays of the modern office: the printer. The forward march of computer technology has prompted more business to switch to paperless operations, or at least to reduce their paper use considerably. Now it seems that the growing tablet market - and...
Assassin's Creed 3 Release Date Announced
February 15, 2012, 4:12 pmUbisoft held a conference call today with investors to announce a couple of new products for the coming year - the most exciting being Assassin's Creed 3. Joystiq reports that Ubisoft president Yves Guillemot announced today that Assassin's Creed 3 will launch October 30, a far cry from the usual late November release. They probably changed up the...
Single Men and Britney Spears Rule on Google+ [Infographic]
February 15, 2012, 4:07 pmIf you're on Google+, you probably don't need an infographic to tell you that the site is populated mostly by men. You don't need one, but I have one for you anyway because infographics rule, along with single men. According to Website-Monitoring.com, men make up 61% of Google+, 32% are women and 1% are other. Other? Strange and wonderous things...
Assassin’s Creed 3 Release Date Announced
February 15, 2012, 4:04 pmUbisoft held a conference call today with investors to announce a couple of new products for the coming year – the most exciting being Assassin’s Creed 3.
Joystiq reports that Ubisoft president Yves Guillemot announced today that Assassin’s Creed 3 will launch October 30, a far cry from the usual late November release. They probably...
Chris Brown, Dave Mustaine, and The Best In Show
February 15, 2012, 3:52 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Enjoy! @TheFakeESPN The Fake ESPN Kim Kardashian wins...
Nature Conservancy Uses Google Maps To Improve Adopt-An-Acre Program
February 15, 2012, 3:52 pmIt's a funny thing about land: they're not making any more of it. In that case, it's probably a good idea to conserve as much of it as we can since it's a limited resource. The Nature Conservancy, as if you couldn't already infer from that name, takes the conservation of natural habitats very seriously and, as of today, have made it easier for...
CleanSpace One Literally Takes Down Space Junk
February 15, 2012, 3:36 pmThere's a lot of trash on the earth. That's why we have people and machines that help clean it up. There's also a lot of trash in space. There's nobody cleaning that up - until now. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, or EPFL for short, has announced CleanSpace One. It's a program designed to build numerous satellites dedicated to...
Study: Online Role-Playing Games Hurt Marriages
February 15, 2012, 3:21 pmOnline role playing games negatively affect real-life marital satisfaction, according to a new Brigham Young University study published today in the Journal of Leisure Research. The study reports that 75 percent of spouses of sword-carrying, avatar-loving gamers wish they would put less effort into their guilds and more effort into their marriage....
Exclusive Interview: Boxee Speaks Out About Cable Encryption Dispute
February 15, 2012, 3:06 pmThe FCC has a fight on its hands between cable companies and Internet streaming set-top box companies such as Boxee . The cable companies are pushing the FCC to make a change to current regulation in order to allow them to encrypt basic cable programming. Their argument is that they would be able to answer service calls remotely instead of sending...
Google Earth Pro 6.2 Arrives, Delights Cartophiles Everywhere
February 15, 2012, 3:06 pmAfter the Google Earth team improved the imagery of the planet's oceanic topography (at the expense of one fabled city ) they decided to threw all of us surface-dwellers a treat and upgrade the imagery of Earth's above-sea level areas. Before we get going, though, I want to point out something at the risk of being a map scrooge: the latest update...
Congress Questions Apple On Address Book Controversy
February 15, 2012, 2:50 pmLast week news broke that the popular photo-based social networking app Path was uploading and storing users' iPhone address books on their servers, in apparent violation of Apple's development guidelines. Path set a land speed record for corporate response , apologizing and issuing an update to the iOS version of Path that allowed users to opt...
Chirpify Lets You Buy and Sell on Twitter
February 15, 2012, 2:50 pmA Portland, OR startup called Chirpify has aligned with PayPal to introduce a platform to where users can buy and sell things, and donate and transfer funds using Twitter . Chirpify calls this ' T-commerce ,' and users can make and receive direct payments in a way similar to writing a check. To pay someone for anything, simply tweet their name,...
State Taxes Affiliated with Brick-and-Mortar
February 15, 2012, 2:45 pmby Todd Bailey Why would FatWallet, a company with a reported-2010 revenue of $12 million, readily accept a $100,000 moving cost, changing locales from a $5 million, custom-built office a year later? No, the move was not due to online motions but offline ones, associated to state taxes as relayed in the New York Times . It also has to do with...
Get Higher-Ups to See the Value of Your Online Efforts
February 15, 2012, 2:45 pmby Mike Fleming There is one report that will work for any type of website, and it qualifies as my nominee for the best web analytics report: Outcomes by All Traffic Sources... this report represents two things you should care about more than anything else: sources of traffic and Outcomes ...you can strongly infer the kinds of people coming to...
Facebook and Facetones Reach Agreement
February 15, 2012, 2:26 pmVringo, Inc. a provider of software platforms for mobile social and video applications, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Facebook, Inc., the world’s leading online social network, relating to the use of Vringo’s Facetones mark and domain name.
Facetones lets you enjoy your friends’ latest Facebook photos...
Apple Seeks Permission To Sue A Bankrupt Kodak
February 15, 2012, 2:19 pmIt's bad form to kick a man while he's down. It's even worse form to sue a company while their filing for bankruptcy. Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is requesting approval to file a lawsuit against Kodak, the beleaguered camera company that filed for bankruptcy last month. Apple alleges that Kodak is infringing on their patents that cover...
Computer Engineers Help Scientists With RNA Code
February 15, 2012, 2:19 pmComputer engineers may have just provided the medical community a new way of figuring out exactly how one of the three building blocks of life forms and functions. University of Central Florida Engineering Assistant Professor Shaojie Zhang used a complex computer program to analyze RNA motifs - the subunits that make up RNA (ribonucleic acid). RNA...
Twitter Or Facebook: Who Has Sexier (And More Sexed) Users?
February 15, 2012, 2:19 pmYour preferred social media site may indicate whether or not you got some sexy results for Valentine's Day yesterday, according to a new survey from Euro RSCG . The poll, which the digital agency conducts every year, found that Twitter brings the people looking for exciting adventures in sex and romance; or, rather, those Indiana Joneses of...
Adele Blew Up Twitter During The Grammys
February 15, 2012, 2:19 pmThe 2012 Grammys have come and gone, and for many people they will be remembered as Adele’s big night. She won a total of six awards on the night, including Pop Vocal Album, Pop Solo Performance, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and the most important Album of the Year award for “21.”
And it was during that big win that the...
YouTube Adds New Sports Channels
February 15, 2012, 2:04 pmIn their continuing push to make the site a more channel-driven experience for users, YouTube is announcing more new channels to their growing lineup. Today's emphasis: The wide world of sports. The first new channel is Bleacher Report , which will showcase the offbeat sports news show BR5 as well as NFL Draft 365 , Full Ride , and more. With...
TED Exhibition To Include Music Experiment
February 15, 2012, 2:04 pmA Simon Fraser University graduate student project that melds music, meditation and modern technology has landed a rare spot as an exhibit at TEDActive 2012 in Palm Springs, California this month. Jay Vidyarthi's project, Sonic Cradle , allows individuals to use their breathing to shape musical sounds while they sit suspended in a totally dark...
Romney, Gingrich Latest to Join the Search Engine 'Spreading' Game
February 15, 2012, 2:00 pmHey, you know what this country needs? Another reason to keep normal people out of politics. Rick Santorum’s icky problem might be a little less problematic for him now that all the cool kids are getting their own Spreading sites.
Foxconn Receives Initial Review From FLA
February 15, 2012, 1:49 pmWe reported earlier this week that Apple joined with the Fair Labor Association to perform independent audits on the Foxconn facilities where iPads are manufactured. The preliminary results are in and it may surprise you. Reuters reports that the FLA president, Auret van Heerden, made some initial comments regarding his visit to the Foxconn...
Politicians Need Reputation Managers
February 15, 2012, 1:13 pmFor politicians and public figures, there are few things more embarrassing then having a name synonymous with scandal or disgrace. Former Congressman Anthony Weiner is a prime example of this, remembered now for little more than his lewd conduct on Twitter. However, one increasingly prominent national political figure has a PR problem that might...
Search Engine Market Share, January 2012
February 15, 2012, 1:13 pmBing Rewards Monthly Sweepstakes Winners and New Sweepstakes
February 15, 2012, 1:13 pmWe are pleased to announce the winners, pending official confirmation, of the three Bing Rewards sweepstakes that ended on January 31. Our latest monthly sweepstakes have now begun, plus were offering a brand new opportunity to win with Bing Rewards. Keep reading for details on the great prizes were offering and how to enter, but first...
The Walking Dead Video Game: Behind the Scenes & Screenshots
February 15, 2012, 12:57 pmWhat started out as a blip on the zombie-dar with the first issue of The Walking Dead #1, has now turned into a comic book powerhouse, which in turn has spawned one of the most watched shows on television. Now, the series will be receiving the video game treatment by way of Telltale Games. We've known about the video game adaptation for awhile...
Capitol Records Denied Injunction In Cloud Case
February 15, 2012, 12:42 pmCapitol Records (EMI) was denied a motion request for a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court in New York on February 8. ReDigi , an online marketplace for pre-owned digital music and revolutionary cloud service technology that verifies the legitimacy of a digital music file before it can be uploaded for storage, won a major victory in...
Bulgaria Joins the No ACTA Crowd
February 15, 2012, 12:27 pmDid this past weekend's anti-ACTA movement in Europe get their message across to the ruling governments? While the fallout is still being measured, at least one country has decided to say "no" to the treaty, putting them with the small, but growing group of foreign governments that, at least at this point, have rejected ACTA. The latest country to...
Did Mark Zuckerberg Join Pinterest Or Is That A Fake-out Account?
February 15, 2012, 12:27 pmGuess who's joined Pinterest? If you guessed the high priest of social networking himself, Mark Zuckerberg, then give yourself a hand and get yourself an extra large latte today. The Godfather of Facebook has indeed joined up with the upstart pinboard-sharing site, but so far he looks like he's entering the Pinterest waters slowly as he's only...
Siri Will Be Learning Japanese Soon, Says Siri
February 15, 2012, 12:27 pmSiri, the personal assistant software on the iPhone 4S, may have given clues about upcoming features. When asked which languages Siri speaks, she replies that she speaks English, French, German, and Japanese, and that the languages can be changed in the iPhone's settings app. What's interesting, though, is that when you actually go to Siri's...
Laptops Made of Paper
February 15, 2012, 12:11 pmThere is now a possibility your new computer will be made of paper. Paper PP Alloy , developed by PEGA Design , is made of the combination of recyclable paper and polypropylene . According to PEGA, Paper PP Alloy is not only environmentally friendly, but also strong, sturdy and flexible. The materials used to construct it are also easier to get...
Kindle Touch Gets Handwriting Recognition
February 15, 2012, 12:11 pmThe Kindle Touch just got a new functionality - handwriting recognition. Puzzazz, a developer of puzzle games for Kindle devices, announced their new game yesterday. Sudoku Unbound #3 for the Kindle Touch introduces TouchWrite technology for the device that allows users to write with their fingers. The product page explains the new tech: Place...
Twisted Metal Movie: Sweet Tooth, Dollface, and Brian Taylor?
February 15, 2012, 12:11 pmOn Valentine's Day, Sony gave a sweet gift to gamers (especially those with a strong sense of nostalgia) by releasing an all new Twisted Metal game on the PS3 . It follows the tried and true recipe that endeared older Twisted Metal games to millions of fans - crazy characters, car combat, and homicidal mayhem. Now, in news that will either excite...
Nomenclature: The Industry Case For and Against SEO
February 15, 2012, 12:06 pm"SEO is dead" is the debate that just won't die. Last week, Andy Betts inspired us to consider again the role and definition of SEO in the age of convergence and collaboration. Search marketers and industry leaders share their thoughts.
Apple Kills Siri On Jailbroken iPhones
February 15, 2012, 11:40 amApple appears to have made some changes that make it difficult or impossible to run Siri clones on jailbroken iOS devices other than the iPhone 4S. According to a number of sources, Apple has changed the requirements for establishing a successful connection between Siri and the back-end servers that process most requests. Apple has reportedly...
StumbleUpon Update Gives Users Option To Hide That iFrame
February 15, 2012, 11:40 amLet it never be said that the StumbleUpon team doesn't listen to its users. After considering the concerns of people that wanted an option to hide the StumbleBar, that omnipresent iFrame that floats above any site you're browsing while logged into StumbleUpon, StumbleUpon has announced that users will now be able to hide the Stumblebar while...
Pinterest Spawning Look-Alikes, Competitors, Porn
February 15, 2012, 11:25 amSince Pinterest is making huge waves, it should be no surprise that there are clones popping up all over. Some may even have been parallel development rather than "copying" Pinterest. But, it ain't about who got to the starting line first, it's about who's ahead in the race. And, Pinterest is the lead dog . Some "clones" are Pinterest competitors....
Email Makes Us Spend Two Hours Reading It
February 15, 2012, 11:25 amEmail is an important part of our everyday life, even if you don't think about it while you're deleting everything in your inbox. Baydin , makers of the email plug-in Boomerang , compiled data from 5 million emails and found some interesting stats about our email usage habits. The average email user receives about 147 messages every day, and...
Remove App Lets You Clear Unwanted Clutter From Your Photos
February 15, 2012, 11:25 amCould this be the end of the photobomb? A new camera app promises to make taking that perfect photo easier than ever, without the complications of heavy Photoshopping. It's called Remove and comes from Scalado, a Swedish company known for their camera technology. With Remove, you can take a photo without having to wait for the perfect moment -...
9 Audiences Your Content Marketing Should Address
February 15, 2012, 11:25 amEveryone is different when it comes to interests, education, skill levels in different industries, etc. One of the biggest mistakes I see businesses and bloggers making is limiting their audience. If you want your content to do well or you want your sales copy to help you convert you have to write for multiple demographics .
Chris Brown is Twitter's Lastest Victim
February 15, 2012, 11:10 amThe Twitter killer is at it again, and its latest victim is someone who, in all honesty, the Twitter Killer should've targeted after first. At least that way, we would've been spared from seeing his Grammy performance. Way to go, CBS. Glorifying a woman beater like that. What's next? A lifetime achievement award for the now-deceased Ike Taylor for...
Promoting Your Old YouTube Videos
February 15, 2012, 10:44 amOftentimes, your YouTube video that once became viral will be buried and forgotten. But there's no need to whine. There are four simple ways to relive your clip's time of glory. Read further to know how you can promote your old YouTube videos again. Rework Your Keywords When reliving your old videos, it's best to .
Google Wallet Restores Prepaid Card Use After Issuing Fixes
February 15, 2012, 10:39 amAfter temporarily disabling the provisioning of prepaid cards, the Google Wallet team has reinstated the use prepaid cards via Wallet after issuing a few security fixes. In update to the blog post that originally announced Google's decision to flip the off switch on prepaid cards , Vice President of Google Wallet and Payments, Osama Bedier,...
Facebook Action Ads: Designed for Investors or Advertisers?
February 15, 2012, 10:39 amWhen Facebook announced the Open Graph at the f8 conference last September, marketers immediately realized that the additional Facebook actions would eventually lead to new marketing options as a result of increased social context. Now, Inside Facebook is reporting that Facebook is testing a new type of Sponsored Story that is based on Open Graph .
Facebook Changes App Activity Requirements For Sponsored Stories
February 15, 2012, 10:25 amIn January, Facebook began rolling out their Sponsored Stories initiative, where advertisers can promote your friends’ activity after the fact. For instance, if John Jones liked Ben & Jerry’s or mentioned them in a status earlier in the day, the story could be promoted to the top of your news feed later in the day. Facebook...
Poll Shows Small Business Use of Mobile Tech On The Rise
February 15, 2012, 10:21 amAT&T has released the results of a poll concerning the use of mobile technology by small businesses. The Small Business Technology Poll was a nationwide survey of small businesses with between two and 99 employees. The results show that small businesses use mobile technology heavily, and that their use is on the rise.
According to the survey,...
Global Entertainment Industry Sees Growth
February 15, 2012, 10:21 amThe world has been long addicted to media-driven entertainment, since the time of black and white TV, and now with digital content making it’s way into every mobile device, plasma screen, music player, satellite phone, video game console, etc., the demand is growing, which bodes well for the forecast of the global entertainment industry....
Mike D of the Beastie Boy to Rock the AT&T Net Neutrality Vote
February 15, 2012, 10:18 amWhen AT&T holds their next annual shareholder voting process, the SEC is commanding that net neutrality be included in the list of items to be voted on. This means shareholders will be allowed to at least influence AT&T's postion on providing a truly neutral wireless Internet to their mobile subscribers. Naturally, AT&T resisted such a...
PlayStation Certification May Be Coming To HTC Devices
February 15, 2012, 10:18 amSony making smartphones PlayStation certified was one of the coolest things the company announced last year. The functionality has been brought to Sony's phones, but it may soon be coming to HTC phones. Pocket Lint's sources reveal that HTC is going to be on the first manufacturers to get PlayStation certification for their smartphones and...
Selling More Shoes with Multi-Channel Funnels
February 15, 2012, 10:08 amShoes of Prey , an online retailer that sells custom-made shoes globally, have made significant improvements in their online conversion rates thanks to insights gleaned from their Multi-Channel Funnels reports. Through taking action based on these insights they were able to increase their conversion rate by 40%, increase same-day purchases by 20%,...
Windows Media Center Gets Kinect Support
February 15, 2012, 10:03 amWindows Media Center was always one of the coolest pieces of software that Microsoft put out. Kinect support makes it 20 percent cooler. Thanks to the release of Kinect for Windows , a developer has added in support for the hardware for the PC version of Windows Media Center. This allows users to control Windows Media Center with gestures and...
Twitter Caught Storing Users' Phone Contacts For 18 Months (Or More)
February 15, 2012, 10:03 amIs it even surprising anymore to find out that social media companies have been covertly plumbing personal information from users? Maybe it's because I've become so acclimated to having a minimum level of privacy in this age of the social network-powered Matrix. Maybe it's because nearly every Internet company is doing it. At this point, every...
Twitter Caught Storing Users’ Phone Contacts For 18 Months (Or More)
February 15, 2012, 9:49 amIs it even surprising anymore to find out that social media companies have been covertly plumbing personal information from users? Maybe it’s because I’ve become so acclimated to having a minimum level of privacy in this age of the social network-powered Matrix. Maybe it’s because nearly every Internet company is doing it. At...
Google+ Is Still A Bunch Of Dudes
February 15, 2012, 9:47 amGoogle+ isn't quite walking yet, but its motor skills are progressing quite nicely and its probably eating some sort of solid food by now. In its growth from newborn to 7-moth-old baby, one of the most talked about demographics of the network has been its gender diversity - or lack thereof. Google+ is progressing from an all-male frat house to a...
Brazilian Developer Vostu Lays Off Staff After Zynga Lawsuit
February 15, 2012, 9:17 amZynga has been accused of being a copycat , but there are copycats of Zynga as well. Zynga doesn't take too kindly to being copied. TechCruch is reporting that Brazilian social games developer, Vostu, has laid off a portion of its staff. The layoffs could be in response to the settlement of a lawsuit between Vostu and Zynga back in December that...
Apple Cuts iAd Pricing, Boosts Developers' Cut
February 15, 2012, 9:17 amIt looks like Apple is taking some steps to revitalize their iAd mobile advertising platform. The company has lowered the starting price of an iAd advertising campaign to $100,000 - a mere 10% of the original price. They have also thrown a bone to app developers, increasing their take by 10% also. Now, developers get 70% of iAd-generated revenue,...
Schools Discuss New Student/Teacher Policies for Facebook and Twitter
February 15, 2012, 9:17 amIn the classroom, it's a good thing when students follow along with their teachers, and it's even better if the class likes the instructor. Still, new considerations have arisen, as some see a connection on a social network being not much different than a teacher tutoring a student after school hours.
Jeremy Lin's Game-Winner Keeps Linsanity Going Strong
February 15, 2012, 9:01 amApparently, last night was supposed to be the beginning of the end of Linsanity as New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni reintroduced Amare Stoudemire to the starting lineup. The thinking is once these established players made their way back to the Knicks' rotation, it would cut down on Lin's touches and attempts from the field. Perhaps this fear...
Pinterest Juggernaut At A Glance [Infographic]
February 15, 2012, 9:01 amPinterest . It's the latest and greatest. It's huge . It's funneling traffic to retail sites like mad. It's not just for women , but it's sure mostly women. They're releasing an API . We've talked about it a lot already, but there's plenty more to come. But, for now, here's a neat little infographic brought to you by the fine folks at Mashable...
Apple Cuts iAd Pricing, Boosts Developers’ Cut
February 15, 2012, 8:55 amIt looks like Apple is taking some steps to revitalize their iAd mobile advertising platform. The company has lowered the starting price of an iAd advertising campaign to $100,000 – a mere 10% of the original price. They have also thrown a bone to app developers, increasing their take by 10% also. Now, developers get 70% of iAd-generated...
Oprah's Self-Promoting Tweet Draws Ire Of Nielsen, Fans
February 15, 2012, 8:46 amOprah surely wants her brand new show "Oprah's Next Chapter" (airing on her OWN network ) to become a big hit like her previous TV offering, but her methods of promotion have landed the global icon in hot water. Grammy night just happened to be the night that Oprah's new show premiered. How does a media princess get people to flip the channel? By...
Facebook Sponsored Stories, to Integrate Open Graph Action
February 15, 2012, 8:36 amA spokesperson from Facebook confirmed to Inside Facebook that they're testing a new advertising model for their Sponsored Stories. This new model, which is being tested to selected advertisers, integrates Open Graph action to Sponsored Stories. Brands are now allowed to sponsor an advertisement when a user listens, watch or read their offerings....
R18+ Games Bill Heading To Australian Parliament
February 15, 2012, 8:29 amThere has finally been progress in the fight for Australian gamers’ right to determine for themselves what they can play.
GameSpot AU is reporting that the Australian Federal Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare has introduced R18+ legislation to parliament. He just recently had the legislation cleared by the Labor Party.
You may be wondering...
Googles Sites, Encrypted Search Return To Iran (For Now)
February 15, 2012, 8:27 amFor now, it appears, Google has returned to the people of Iran. Last week the government blocked sites like Gmail, YouTube, and encrypted search before the weekend, which maybe-not-so coincidentally also marked the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. It’s a little murky as to whether Iran’s officials prevented access to Google sites...
Beginner's Guide to Google Analytics: What to Track
February 15, 2012, 8:25 amBefore you can do anything else with Google Analytics, you need to understand what you're trying to track and why. Here are a few ideas for some types of data you may want to track correctly from the beginning in Google Analytics.
Weekly Webinar Round Up for 2/15/2012
February 15, 2012, 8:15 amOpen up some space on your daily planner for some of the webinars this week. If you see webinars offered that would be of interest to SearchEngineJournal.com readers, please email them to me at laura@searchenginejournal.com. Thanks! Raven Tools Walk Through February 16th at 11:00 EST Presenter: Raven Tools Cost: Free Description:A general...
3 Free Tools to Establish Competitors Online
February 15, 2012, 7:49 amOften, people running websites have a unique interpretation of who their online competitors are. Depending where you do your SEO, you will have seen this manifested in a variety of ways: In house - Director asking "Why don't we rank number one for BMW instead of BMW.com? We sell models of BMW cars" Agency - Chances are you've held back giggles as...
Libsyn Unveils its Podcast Repository MyLibsyn
February 15, 2012, 7:49 amPodcast host and publisher Liberated Syndication (libsyn) recently unveils its cross-platform podcast repository, MyLibsyn. Similar to Netflix's content syndication, MyLibsyn provides free and paid content from a central app. It also aggregates content over multiple platforms such as the Web, iOS and Android for a set price. How MyLibsyn Works...
SEO: A Force for Good
February 15, 2012, 7:34 amThink about what the web would look like without SEOs working to help legitimate sites rank for the terms that they should rank for. The more optimized and targeted a website becomes, the greater the chance a potential customers will find it.
Video Interview: Social Media Marketing at GM - Charlotte Blank, Manager of Social Media
February 15, 2012, 7:13 amAt the recent Online Marketing Summit in San Diego I caught up with Charlotte Blank , Manager of Social Media at General Motors to talk about digital marketing. In this short interview I asked Charlotte a few fundamental questions about digital and social media marketing related to customers: 1. How does GM segment digital marketing activities...
SEO content marketing roundup, week ending February 15th
February 15, 2012, 7:08 amHappy Valentine's Day' after. Whether you woke up with an engagement ring and/or a serious hangover, you'll find some select goodies in this week's latest and greatest Web writing news (sans the heart-shaped box - sorry!). Content marketers discuss blogging and websites, social media marketers continue to buzz about Pinterest and Google+, while...
How Local Small Businesses are Evolving Their Online Marketing Strategies
February 15, 2012, 6:17 amSmall businesses are merely scratching the surface when it comes to penetrating the web for marketing needs. Are decades-old mom-and-pop businesses finally open to reaching a target audience through alternative means like Google and Yelp?
Apple Drops iAd Pricing As Mobile Ad Share Declines
February 15, 2012, 6:14 amApple is once again slashing the minimum amount it charges advertisers to run a campaign on its iAd mobile ad system and boosting the amount it pays mobile app developers,
Twitter Goes Down Same Path Regarding Contact Data
February 15, 2012, 6:07 amIf you have been able to stomach the recent back and forth between investors in Path (CrunchFunders Michael Arrington and MG Siegler) and the rest of the online space about CrunchFund investment Path's use of contact data then you can say you have made it. Congrats. It has been painful to watch these cloistered Silicon Valley high priests act the...
How to Create Smarter Content Using Semantic Keyword Research
February 15, 2012, 5:36 amEver hear two people arguing and then someone dismisses their differences like this: "Well, that's just semantics"? What the person means by that is the difference boils down to "just" a difference in the meaning of the words. In other words, the meaning of a word isn't all that important. Really ? For serious SEO professionals (and marketers),...
Social Media Salary Guide [Infographic]
February 15, 2012, 5:24 amOne of the most interesting exercises anyone can undertake is discovering their worth in the marketplace. It can be an exhilarating or frustrating experience depending on which end of the marketing you happen to find yourself.
Onward Search has put together a neat infographic using data from Indeed.com to show the salary range of social media...
Be Careful Using AdWords for Keyword Research
February 15, 2012, 12:17 amPosted by randfish For the past decade, most of us in the field of search have relied on Google's AdWords data (either in the public tool, the API or the tools inside AdWords accounts). It's the best source we've got, but many marketers may not realize that sadly, the numbers and queries may not always match up to what's actually happening on...
Google PageRank Used in Molecular Chemistry Research
February 14, 2012, 11:26 pmGoogle is well known for its collegiate roots, hatched as it was by co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin at Stanford University back in the late 1990s. So it's only fitting that PageRank, the defining algorithm that set Google apart from Overture, Yahoo, Microsoft and many others to date, is being applied at another university. However, rather...
Google's Street View Goes Beyond The Streets Of Japan
February 14, 2012, 4:36 pmGoogle Street View in Japan took a new angle on its service last week and chose to feature extensive footage of several outdoor wonders from the Japanese landscape. The project features 360-degree tours of Okubo-mabu mineshaft and the Akiyoshi-do limestone caverns. The idea is that users of Google Street View can explore the Japanese countryside...
Google’s Street View Goes Beyond The Streets Of Japan
February 14, 2012, 4:23 pmGoogle Street View in Japan took a new angle on its service last week and chose to feature extensive footage of several outdoor wonders from the Japanese landscape. The project features 360-degree tours of Okubo-mabu mineshaft and the Akiyoshi-do limestone caverns. The idea is that users of Google Street View can explore the Japanese countryside...
Amazon Prime Might Not Be As Popular As You Think
February 14, 2012, 4:20 pmApparently, Amazon Prime isn’t as popular as many would like to think.
Current estimates from analysts have put the amount of Amazon Prime subscribers at 10 million or even more, a figure that would make the program a giant success in anyone’s mind. But according to three insiders quoted by Bloomberg, those analysts are way off. ...
People Powered Stories Ad Product Introduced By Microsoft
February 14, 2012, 4:20 pmMicrosoft and Bazaarvoice have entered an advertising partnership resulting in the introduction of a new social advertising solution called People Powered Stories. This was revealed in a presentation from Jenn Creegan, General Manager for Display Advertising Experiences at Microsoft Advertising in her Social Media Week presentation.
PPS will...
Laser Scanner Foils Terrorists, Lets Travelers Enjoy Bottled Drinks On Planes
February 14, 2012, 4:19 pmIf you’re a light traveler, you’ve no doubt dealt the vexing fluid restriction that comes with traveling via airplane. It’s always a devil’s gambit of whether or not the particular TSA agent you’re dealing with will permit you to hold onto your toothpaste or shampoo if they happen to exceed the 100ml volume limit....
UK Shuts Down Popular Music Blog
February 14, 2012, 4:16 pmRnBXclusive.com was one of the most popular blogs dedicated to R&B/hip-hop music. It even had over 250,000 fans on Facebook . The site is now dead thanks to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. TorrentFreak is reporting that SOCA not only took down the popular music blog, but they also arrested the site's operators. Their crime - defrauding the...
Google Enhanced Ad Sitelinks Launched For AdWords
February 14, 2012, 4:03 pmGoogle announced the launch of enhanced ad sitelinks, which the company calls its “strongest performing experiments.”
Google says that on average, clickthrough rates are 30% higher for ads with sitelinks, compared to ads without.
On the Inside AdWords blog, Google shows the following example. The first ad shows sitelinks. The second...
Spray-On Antennas Unveiled at Google’s Solve For X Event
February 14, 2012, 4:03 pmAt Google’s Solve for X fest, Chamtech Operations unvelied thier new nanotech-based spray-on antenna kit, for use on existing antennas, as well as relatively antenna-shaped, upright builds.
The science is basically nano-capacitors in a can, that can be sprayed onto a tree or a pole to make an antenna. The “paint” also can boost...
Computer Programs That Think Like Humans
February 14, 2012, 4:00 pmIn the 1800s, "intelligence" meant that you were good at memorizing things. Today "intelligence" is measured through IQ tests where the average score for humans is 100. Researchers at the Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have created a computer program that can score 150. IQ tests...
Viral Videos: V-Day'Ugh, Puppy Flava Flav, & Puppet Requiem For A Dream
February 14, 2012, 4:00 pmA viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, via social media, sharing sites, or good 'ole email. Everyday we highlight some of the best that are currently viral and some that are trending that way. Today's videos feature a crap-ton of Valentine's Day material, an argentinian boxing match gone wrong, russian...
The Gap Joins with Fashion Blogs for Truly Sharable Ads
February 14, 2012, 3:45 pmThe Gap knows that it's not about the individual pieces in your wardrobe, it's how you put them together that counts. Jeans and a t-shirt can be punk, preppy or Paris depending on how you mix and match the colors, prints and accessories. This is the concept behind their new Styld.by campaign which takes the simple catalog shoot and turns it into a...
Canadian Anti-Privacy Bill Is Just Like H.R. 1981
February 14, 2012, 3:45 pmCanadian Conservatives are trying to push through a new network monitoring bill and anybody who opposes such a blatant attack on privacy are said to be supporters of child pornography. The Globe and Mail reports that Public Safety Minister Vic Toews is set to introduce Lawful Access legislation into the House of Commons today. Now that the...
Zynga Earnings: Revenue Up 91% in 2011
February 14, 2012, 3:45 pmZynga just released its Q4 and full-year earnings report. Revenue was up 91% year-over-year to $1.14 billion in 2011. Online game revenue was $1.07 billion, an increase of 85% year-over-year. Ad revenue was $74.5 million, an increase of 226% year-over-year. Q4 revenue was up 59% to $311.2 million. This was the company's first quarter as a public...
Viral Videos: V-Day…Ugh, Puppy Flava Flav, & Puppet Requiem For A Dream
February 14, 2012, 3:31 pmA viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, via social media, sharing sites, or good ‘ole email. Everyday we highlight some of the best that are currently viral and some that are trending that way.
Today’s videos feature a crap-ton of Valentine’s Day material, an argentinian boxing match gone wrong,...
Google PageRank Applied To The Molecular World
February 14, 2012, 3:29 pmWashington State University chemistry professor Aurora Clark claims to have adapted Google's PageRank algorithm for use in moleculaRnetworks, which is designed to enable scientists to determine molecular shapes and chemical reactions "without the expense, logistics and occasional danger of lab experiments." "What's most cool about this work is we...
Kate Upton, Valentine's Day, and Candy Heart Rejects
February 14, 2012, 3:29 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Today, we have a love-inspired daily best...
George Lucas: Lack Of Talent Insults Glenn Beck
February 14, 2012, 3:14 pmI'm not familiar with who Glenn Beck is or what angles he takes, but apparently the re-released 3D version of Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace really pissed him off. In fact, it sounds like he really doesn't like any of the Star Wars acting, production, or storyline. Beck is calling for Lucas to "go away". He claims that Harrison Ford was...
Google Tries to Diagnose Health Conditions on Symptom Searches
February 14, 2012, 3:09 pmGoogle is adding a new health search results feature. Whenever you search for a symptom or multiple symptoms of an illness, Google will show you a list of possibly related health conditions related to your query to get you to answers more quickly.
The Future of Location-Based Marketing is Cool. . . or Scary
February 14, 2012, 2:59 pmYesterday, I wrote about a stat that said more men than women remember and enjoy mobile ads. I stated that I never remember the ads I've seen and now I know why. The ads I've seen aren't cool. Westin Hotels and the Weather Channel had an ad campaign last year called " Wipe Away Your Weather." You check the app for the current weather. If it's...
Google: Valentine's Day Searches On The Rise
February 14, 2012, 2:59 pmWhat are you going to do for Valentine's Day? If you don't know yet, Google has a few tips for you. On the Google blog today, Jim Lecinski, VP of U.S. Sales for Google, posted some interesting facts about Valentine's Day that only the search giant that is Google can provide. The company reveals that searches for "valentine's day dinner,"...
Microsoft's Latest Jab: Google Docs Is A Cupcake Without The Icing
February 14, 2012, 2:59 pmMicrosoft's been laying down some heat on Google lately. First there was that barbed volley the two companies traded regarding the true nature of Google's updated Privacy Policy . Today's round features a video released on the Why Microsoft blog that ridicules Google Docs for coming up a little short in the style department. Apropos of Valentine's...
FairSearch: Google Is Lying
February 14, 2012, 2:59 pmThe FairSearch Coalition put up a blog post today saying Google lied about a FairSearch ad campaign. The post references a recent Public Policy Blog post from Google's Betsy Masiello that went by the title: " Busting Myths About Our Approach to Privacy ." The first "myth," as Masiello puts it, says: Myth: In 2011, Google made $36 billion selling...
FairSearch: Google Is Lying [Updated]
February 14, 2012, 2:39 pmThe FairSearch Coalition put up a blog post today saying Google lied about a FairSearch ad campaign.
The post references a recent Public Policy Blog post from Google’s Betsy Masiello that went by the title: “Busting Myths About Our Approach to Privacy.”
The first “myth,” as Masiello puts it, says:
Myth: In 2011,...
Indian Government Won't Censor Social Media
February 14, 2012, 2:38 pmAccording to Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal , no Indian government will ever crack down on social media, to try to calm fears of China-like censorship of sites like Google and Facebook. Still, a Delhi trial court recently forced 21 websites to block content that might offend certain religious groups. Google and Facebook were included...
Indian Government Won’t Censor Social Media
February 14, 2012, 2:28 pmAccording to Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, no Indian government will ever crack down on social media, to try to calm fears of China-like censorship of sites like Google and Facebook. Still, a Delhi trial court recently forced 21 websites to block content that might offend certain religious groups. Google and Facebook were included...
Whitney Houston Funeral Closed To Public
February 14, 2012, 2:23 pmWhitney Houston will be honored friday at noon in a funeral service at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Houston was found dead in her Beverly Hills hotel room Saturday afternoon. Officials are still waiting on toxicology reports to determine the cause of her death, but many believe it could have been the result of an interaction...
TED Quotes Launched Today, Will Soon Grace Status Updates Near You
February 14, 2012, 2:07 pmGo log in to any of one of the social networking sites you belong to and undoubtedly you will see an update from that one friend of yours who only speaks in quotes. You may even have more than one if you're lucky. My friends that do this are prototypical literati who share day-making quotes from noted authors and artists. My knee-jerk inclination...
German Scientists Make Iron Transparent
February 14, 2012, 2:07 pmScientists at DESY have made iron transparent. Well, let's back up a moment. DESY is the Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron , or "German Electron Synchrotron", the biggest German research center for particle physics. What they have been working on there is making atomic nuclei transparent with the help of X-ray light. At the same time they have also...
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Digital Editions: Kate Upton, Zoomed
February 14, 2012, 2:07 pmPeople, it's that time of the year again. Winter might be bearing down for one last push, but you can use your tablet to warm things up. That's because the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has dropped. And unlike your father's SI Swimsuit Issue, you won't have to flip through pages to see this year's models. The SI Swimsuit Digital Editions...
Introducing Enhanced Ad Sitelinks
February 14, 2012, 1:57 pmWe've talked before about how useful ad sitelinks can be . They give users more options, and deliver advertisers more clicks. On average, the clickthrough rate is 30% higher for ads with sitelinks than those without. And we've continued experimenting with new ways to make sitelinks even better. Today, we're taking the covers off one of our...
The difference between planning, project management, line management and leadership
February 14, 2012, 1:54 pmI often get asked about my view on growing teams and managing people. I love chatting with would-be entrepreneurs and up-and-coming managers about the bits and pieces I’ve learnt. I don’t consider myself an expert by any stretch of the imagination – I had barely managed anyone before Distilled – but I often feel that I...
"Goodnight iPad" Is A Bedtime Story For The Tech Age
February 14, 2012, 1:52 pmHave you ever wanted a children's book that speaks to the current tech obsessed generation? You're in luck then. Ann Droyd brings us a parody of " Goodnight Moon " called "Goodnight iPad." The book is billed as "A parody for the next generation." It's a bedtime story like the stories we grew up with that calmed our hearts and taught us valuable...
Hotmail's Spam Protection Amongst Best in Business
February 14, 2012, 1:37 pmAccording to this Gadgetwise column in the New York Times, Microsoft's Hotmail offers the best spam protection in the business. SITI, or spam in the inbox, rates have been reduced to record lows, with the advancement of Hotmail's Smartscreen⢠technology. Reportedly, Microsoft has been able to keep SITI rates down to below 3%. Microsoft also...
Google+ iOS App Gets Instant Upload
February 14, 2012, 1:37 pmToday, the Google+ iOS app is getting an upgrade to include a feature that's been the most demanded by users - instant upload. Instant upload automatically puts every photo and video that you take using your smartphone into a private album within Google+. From there, you can choose what to share (and importantly what not to share) with your...
“Goodnight iPad” Is A Bedtime Story For The Tech Age
February 14, 2012, 1:29 pmHave you ever wanted a children’s book that speaks to the current tech obsessed generation? You’re in luck then.
Ann Droyd brings us a parody of “Goodnight Moon” called “Goodnight iPad.” The book is billed as “A parody for the next generation.” It’s a bedtime story like the stories we grew up with that calmed our...
Hotmail’s Spam Protection Amongst Best in Business
February 14, 2012, 1:20 pmAccording to this Gadgetwise column in the New York Times, Microsoft’s Hotmail offers the best spam protection in the business. SITI, or spam in the inbox, rates have been reduced to record lows, with the advancement of Hotmail’s Smartscreen™ technology. Reportedly, Microsoft has been able to keep SITI rates down to below...
Google Public DNS Handles Over 70 Billion Requests Per Day
February 14, 2012, 1:16 pmBack in late 2009, Google announced the launch of Google Public DNS , its free global domain name system resolution service, which allows people to use it as an alternative to their current DNS providers. It's now the biggest such service in the world, according to Google, handling an average of over 70 billion requests a day. Google Public DNS...
Bonnaroo Lineup Announced Via Spotify
February 14, 2012, 1:16 pmThe 11th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival wil be held June 7-10, 2012 in Manchester, Tennessee. Usually, folks flock to the Bonnarroo webpage to see what the lineup will be for the festival. Then, they're off to iTunes, YouTube, et al to listen to samples of the acts they don't know as well. Not this year. The Bonnaro folks announced their...
SEO Collaborating With Blogger- Three Ways To Build Mutually Beneficial Relationships
February 14, 2012, 1:16 pmNo online marketing strategy could exist and survive without content marketing. It is the content that makes one website different from the other, creates a value in the eyes of the reader, and consequently results in attracting traffic and quality links, which ultimately lead to a higher ranking. Businesses adopt several strategies to attract...
Electric Car Pollution Worse Than Gas?
February 14, 2012, 1:01 pmConventional wisdom tells us that berthing car exhaust is bad. It further tells us that electric cars would cut down on emissions and thus be better for the breathing population. But, some new studies focusing on China have brought up some challenging observations on that topic. What if electric cars were worse? How could that be? Findings from...
Google+: The Ultimate You-Sourced Search Engine
February 14, 2012, 12:45 pmPosted by Erica McGillivray Google+ has crept into SERPs near you. From getting hyper-personalized results popping up everywhere to recommending people to follow or showing you results you've +1'd or posts you've made, Google+ isn't giving you the choice to ignore it. (Unless you use Bing, Yahoo!, or another search service entirely.) Sure, there...
Young Hollywood Network Talks New YouTube Channel
February 14, 2012, 12:28 pmYouTube's move to back original programming on its site is beginning to get carried out as many new channels are launching. Last year, the video portal announced that it would be adding more than 100 channels of professionally produced content from various media and production companies. The Young Hollywood Network (YHN) is one of the new...
Search Engines Crazy in Love on Valentine's Day 2012
February 14, 2012, 12:23 pmAll the major search engines are celebrating Valentine's Day this year with special logos or pictures on their home pages. In addition to Google's Valentine's Day Doodle featuring Tony Bennett, Bing, Yahoo, Baidu and others are sharing the love.
Want More From Google Maps? Make Sure You Are Logged In
February 14, 2012, 12:12 pmI like Google. For the most part I tend to side with them on most issues like free market concerns and so on. I usually don't have any issue with the privacy stuff either mainly because it's my choice whether I want to be "tracked" by Google or not. As you may have noticed I said usually. What made me think a bit more today was something that most...
Travel Warnings To Mexico: Don't Display Electronic Devices!
February 14, 2012, 12:12 pmThe U.S. State Department has updated a warning to Americans who wish to travel to Mexico. Travel.State.Gov makes several safety recommendations regarding travel to Mexico and personal safety while visiting there: "U.S. travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has been engaged in an extensive effort to counter TCOs which engage in...
Canada Kiss Map Helps You Share Smooch Info With The World
February 14, 2012, 12:12 pmSome people might not be so willing to broadcast all the details of their longitudinal life, but some might not find any harm in leaving a public memento of a memorable smooch. However, if you live in Canada - and you have smooched people - there's an app to help people mark the special locations of memorable kisses. And what better day than...
The Young Hollywood Network Talks New YouTube Channel
February 14, 2012, 12:12 pmYouTube's move to back original programming on its site is beginning to get carried out as many new channels are launching. Last year, the video portal announced that it would be adding more than 100 channels of professionally produced content from various media and production companies. The Young Hollywood Network (YHN) is one of the new...
Search Engines Crazy in Love on Valentine’s Day 2012
February 14, 2012, 12:00 pmAll the major search engines are celebrating Valentine’s Day this year with special logos or pictures on their home pages. In addition to Google’s Valentine’s Day Doodle featuring Tony Bennett, Bing, Yahoo, Baidu and others are sharing the love.
Travel Warnings To Mexico: Don’t Display Electronic Devices!
February 14, 2012, 11:50 amThe U.S. State Department has updated a warning to Americans who wish to travel to Mexico. Travel.State.Gov makes several safety recommendations regarding travel to Mexico and personal safety while visiting there:
“U.S. travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has been engaged in an extensive effort to counter TCOs which engage...
Metal Gear Online Shutting Down June 12
February 14, 2012, 11:48 amMetal Gear Solid 4 launched almost four years ago to critical acclaim for its film-like presentation and expertly realized gameplay. There was another component to the game that didn't get talked about as much, but was still popular with hardcore fans - Metal Gear Online. Konami announced today that they will be taking Metal Gear Online offline on...
Online Digital Photos Could Endanger Kids
February 14, 2012, 11:48 amA study published in the International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics this month suggests that parents and caregivers could be putting children at risk if they upload digital photos that are automatically "geotagged" by their camera. Joanne Kuzma of the University of Worcester, England, has analyzed photos that clearly show...
Should News Organizations Pay People For Their Tweets?
February 14, 2012, 11:48 amLet me start off by saying: No. I don't think news organizations should have to pay people for referencing their tweets. But this is a similar logic to how some traditional news organizations operate. The Associated Press is about to enter a new era, as its President and CEO Tom Curley steps down. This was announced late last month , along with...
People Powered Stories - Moving Beyond the 'Like' with Social Advertising
February 14, 2012, 11:42 amToday at Social Media Week in New York I introduced a new social advertising solution I am pretty excited about. Were calling it People Powered Stories (PPS) . With it, advertisers can incorporate real peoples ratings and reviews about their products within a rich brand ad.
Promoting Your Content through Pinterest
February 14, 2012, 11:42 amIn the recent weeks, Pinterest made its way to various social media news sites and blogs. In fact, there are old and new sites that are following the online pin board's design. Considered as a hot new visual bookmarking tool, it showed an explosive growth that made businesses clamor to promote their brand on a .
No Twitter IPO For A Couple Years Says CEO
February 14, 2012, 11:32 amNow that Facebook has taken the plunge and filed their S-1 documents , much of the attention has been redirected to Twitter. It's not like discussion about a possible Twitter IPO is anything new, it just seems to have intensified since the Facebook IPO filing. Apparently, all of that buzz is for naught - at least if you ask Twitter's CEO. In...
Mobile App for Volunteers Released
February 14, 2012, 11:32 amCabot Creamery, best known as the makers of " The World's Best Cheddar " has developed a mobile app for volunteers. Reward Volunteers® , created in conjunction with Chalo Inc. , is the world's first app designed to allow volunteers to log their hours, post them to Facebook, and garner rewards for their time, for themselves and their causes....
10 Advanced SEO Tactics That Will Increase Your Blog's Traffic
February 14, 2012, 11:32 amStarting a blog is pretty simple. Actually getting people to visit it is hard. It's not enough to just create great content and hope they will come' Because they won't. Today's successful blogs dig into a deep bag of tricks that include SEO, design and analytics'and then combine these elements into ever more advanced tactics .
Google-Motorola Acquisition Approved in U.S., EU
February 14, 2012, 11:27 amIn a pair of announcements made just hours apart, the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission each announced that the $12.5 billion acquisition had been cleared by their respective anti-trust authorities and could proceed.
Romney Has A Santorum Problem (With Search Engines)
February 14, 2012, 11:17 amYou can't bottle lightning, but you can at least flick the lights on and off really quickly to create a similar albeit campier effect. That seems to be what's happening with online activists/pranksters trying to duplicate the magnificent hex Dan Savage cast upon Rick Santorum when he codified "Santorum" to mean something other than some guy's...
Chinese iPad Trademark Could Halt Global Sales
February 14, 2012, 11:17 amProview International Holdings is a company in China known for their CRT and LCD monitors. They also own the iPad trademark in China which is causing a bit of trouble for Apple. Since Proview owns the iPad trademark in China, they can do what they want with it. Apple is fighting them in China over the use of the name, but so far, it's not working...
For Sale: Empire State Building - Okay Condition
February 14, 2012, 11:17 amWould you like to own a piece of American history? Empire State reality, the company who currently owns the massive structure, is going public with the Empire State Building. Their goal is to raise $1 billion with the offering. The capital that is generated will go towards covering the expenses of the IPO, repaying past loans, and financing future...
For Sale: Empire State Building – Okay Condition
February 14, 2012, 10:58 amWould you like to own a piece of American history? Empire State reality, the company who currently owns the massive structure, is going public with the Empire State Building. Their goal is to raise $1 billion with the offering. The capital that is generated will go towards covering the expenses of the IPO, repaying past loans, and financing future...
Happy Valentines Day - From Hollywood [Video]
February 14, 2012, 10:56 amWhile the two camps of Valentine's Day supporters and haters will continue to express their feelings on Twitter , perhaps it's as good a time as any to take a small portion of your day to sit back and enjoy the tear-inducing moments Hollywood has provided us over the years. It is Valentine's Day after all. This video was released today, to help...
Google Earth Used To Doublecheck Government Data
February 14, 2012, 10:26 amScientists are learning that Google Earth is a good way to verify government activity. "This shows the promise of Google Earth for collecting and verifying data, which means a few trained scientists can use a freely available program to fact-check governments and other large institutions," says Jennifer Jacquet, a post-doctoral researcher at the...
Smartphone Connectivity In Vehicles Grew In 2011
February 14, 2012, 10:26 amDo you still use the radio or CD player in your car or do you prefer to use new portable media devices like smartphones? A new study from the NPD has found the answer and it may suprise you. The NPD Group has found that the popularity of using portable media devices is growing. How much has the use of these devices grown? NPD's retail tracking...
An Infographic To Help You with Valentine's Day Flowers
February 14, 2012, 10:25 amHappy Valentine's Day from SEJ! I was looking at all the Valentine's infographics and found one that I thought could be very helpful for many of you today. The 411 On Flower Etiquette by FrugalDad.com. If you are planning on buying flowers for someone today you might want to scan the IG below. Learn what .
Maine Football Coach Posts Nude Photo of Himself Online, Quits.
February 14, 2012, 10:21 amA longtime high school football coach in South Paris, Maine resigned Monday, after accidentally posting a nude photo of himself on his Facebook wall, according to the Lewiston Sun Journal. Oxford Hills Comprehensive High football coach Paul Withee was also a math and science teacher at the school, and claims the completely nude image of himself...
Taylor Swift’s ‘Safe & Sound’ Music Video – The Hunger Games Theme Song
February 14, 2012, 10:14 amIf you’re a fan of Taylor Swift and are looking forward to the upcoming release of ‘The Hunger Games‘, then you’re going to have a great Valentine’s Day. The theme song for The Hunger Games, ‘Safe & Sound’, was written by Taylor Swift, specifically for the movie. There’s now a music video to go...
Online Dating: How To Spot a Liar
February 14, 2012, 9:50 amOnline dating is rough enough when people are all above-board and honest about themselves, their past, their plans and preferences. But, when you throw dishonesty into the mix, it can get ugly fast. No one wants to wind up investing time in ursine a relationship that started off on lies, online or off. Two professors are now shedding some light on...
All Marketers Should Be Multi-Channel Marketers
February 14, 2012, 9:39 amThere are still a lot of businesses that conduct business as usual. They produce products as they always have (with updates here and there). They market their products the same way. They adopt the attitude that many failing organizations do which is "Well, we have always done it this way." Well, needless to say the emphasis on companies using that...
Shakira Mixes It Up With A Sea Lion In Africa
February 14, 2012, 9:34 amWhile visiting Cape Town in South Africa, pop singer Shakira got too close to some local sea life and got a show of her own. She commented on the incident on her Facebook page in great detail. Obviously she does't watch very much Animal Planet or Discovery or she would know that wild animals are not just animated stuffed toys.
Women Are Less Cynical About Valentine's Day On Twitter
February 14, 2012, 9:34 amIf you're feeling listless about Valentine's Day, you're likely to find some agreeable company on Twitter as most men and women on the site don't really care all that much for the holiday, either. Granted, you're more likely to encounter women than men who're talking positively about Valentine's Day, but either way: 68% of men and 68% of women...
Google Maps Gives Users New Way To Access Previously Used Directions
February 14, 2012, 9:34 amGoogle has a new way to access directions you've recently looked up on Google Maps. Under the My Places tab, on the left panel, you will see see them appear. You'll also have the ability to filter results to access only the previous directions from the "more" tab. "This historical archive of directions results makes it quicker and easier to...
Google AdWords Launches Placement Exclusion List and List Suggestions
February 14, 2012, 9:29 amAfter introducing the negative keyword lists last January 2011, Google once again introduced new ways of managing multiple campaigns through lists. They've added the placement exclusion list and list suggestions, which will sit in AdWords' "Shared Library" in the left navigation panel. Placement Exclusion Lists Similar to negative keyword lists,...
Twitter Goes to HTTPS As Default
February 14, 2012, 9:24 amTwitter is erroring on the side of caution these days. While users have had the option to use HTTPS when accessing the site now Twitter is setting it as the default. The Twitter blog explains Last year, we added the option to always use HTTPS when accessing Twitter.com on the web. This setting makes your Twitter experience more secure by...
Women Are Less Cynical About Valentine’s Day On Twitter
February 14, 2012, 9:21 amIf you’re feeling listless about Valentine’s Day, you’re likely to find some agreeable company on Twitter as most men and women on the site don’t really care all that much for the holiday, either. Granted, you’re more likely to encounter women than men who’re talking positively about Valentine’s Day, but...
104th Annual American Toy Fair: Care Bears And Ninja Turtles Still Big
February 14, 2012, 9:19 amTechnology was the big seller this past year. While physical toy sales fell by over two percent, iPad and other tablets sold like hot cakes at breakfast time. Toymakers have latched on to that trend and are hoping to turn things around this year by integrating the physical toy into applications for tablet-style devices. EVP of Marketing for Jakks...
Life At Google: Photos And Videos
February 14, 2012, 9:19 amEver wonder what life's like at Google? If so, you may want to follow Google's Life at Google Google+ Page and YouTube channel . They are posting numerous images and videos from inside Google's various offices. This week, Google is sharing a slew of photos from the Mountain View Googleplex. Here are some of them. Notice the basketball court and...
Linux Professionals Most Valuable Tech Employees
February 14, 2012, 9:18 amThe tech industry is relatively booming compared to the rest of the economy and they’re looking to hire – you’ll just want to learn Linux before you go job hunting.
The Linux Foundation and Dice has partnered to compile the “2012 Linux Jobs Report.” The subtitle for the study, “Strong demand drives higher salaries, more perks...
eBooks Are Beginning to Replace Textbooks in the Classroom.
February 14, 2012, 9:03 amTechnology has forced changes in the role of textbooks in education, and e-books have been gaining popularity, along with standard textbook rental. Companies like Chegg rent both standard textbooks and e-textbooks, and Amazon's Kindle Store claims students can save up to 80%, as well as designate the length of the rental. Two of the most popular...
Valentine's Day Tip: Words With Friends Prowess Increases Your Chance Of A Hookup
February 14, 2012, 9:03 amIf you're a Words With Friends or Scramble With Friends player, you might have already seen a little push by Zynga to get you to play their (already widely popular) games. Beginning a couple of days ago, Zynga began pushing messages to players correlating the lover's holiday with wordplay - "So and so put a move on you (with words)" and stuff like...
Does 1 Million New Users Mean MySpace Is Coming Back?
February 14, 2012, 8:48 amYesterday something occurred that we haven't seen in a long, long time. That rare creature was positive news about the oft-maligned MySpace. The latest incarnation that is Justin Timberlake fueled (heck, he played Sean Parker in The Social Network so why not?!) project registered an increase of 1 million new users in January. Not bad considering...
Facebook Profiles Get "Add to Map" Feature
February 14, 2012, 8:38 amA couple of Facebook users are seeing an "Add to Map" button in the top corner of their profile page. The new feature encourages users to post content that will be visible on their map and Timeline. It also allows them to indicate a place they've been to and tag friends they're with. Facebook is .
The fab four: how to create a natural backlink profile
February 14, 2012, 8:36 amUnnatural backlink profiles can have a negative impact on the positions of your web pages in Google's search results. If you want to get high rankings that last, your website must have a backlink profile that confirms that your website can be trusted.
SEO Consulting for 2012
February 14, 2012, 8:27 amIt's 2012, and SEO has never been more difficult. Convincing business owners to utilize us is an uphill battle. SEO is not easy. Even the brightest and most talented of Internet marketing managers don't have the capacity to devote to the effort. It takes dedication, persistence, patience, scientific inquiry and a heart of stone. Oh, .
4 Ways to Kill Your PPC Health
February 14, 2012, 8:22 amAn agency/client PPC relationship is a lot like a doctor/patient relationship. Both parties are responsible for the health of the campaign, and they need to work together. Not doing so can lead to less than optimal PPC well-being.
Valentine's Day Marketing Strategy - Did Your Brand Get it Right?
February 14, 2012, 8:17 amSt. Valentine's Day has become one of the biggest events in the retail calendar. Second only to Christmas, it is a huge money maker for brands, with 32% of gifts being bought online . In America, it is expected that a whopping $3.5billion will be spent on jewellery alone . Men are the biggest spenders, buying all sorts of gifts for their loved...
Valentine's Day Google Doodle Is Heartwarming, Controversial
February 14, 2012, 8:12 amToday's animated Google Doodle is simple, heartwarming, and slightly controversial? Let's start with the un-controversial part, which is basically 99% of the Doodle. A young lad sees the love of his young life playfully jumping rope, completely oblivious to his existence. Of course, he thinks - what about searching Google for tips on how to woo...
iPad 3 Release Date Announcement - March 7th (Rumor)
February 14, 2012, 8:12 amRumors of the iPad 3 continue to creep towards the precipice of reality. Today's installment: iMore has "sources who have been reliable in the past" that say the iPad 3 will be be announced (not launched?) on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. These rumors come and go like phases of the moon, so take this information with however many grains of salt you...
Twisted Metal Brings Car Combat To The PlayStation 3
February 14, 2012, 8:12 amSony has released the ultimate Valentine's Day gift to PlayStation gamers everywhere - Twisted Metal. For those that need an introduction to Twisted Metal, it's the car combat game that defined the PlayStation and was first unleashed upon the world in 1995. This is the first time the series has made its way to the PlayStation 3. The game was...
iPad 3 Release Date Announcement – March 7th (Rumor)
February 14, 2012, 8:09 amRumors of the iPad 3 continue to creep towards the precipice of reality. Today’s installment: iMore has “sources who have been reliable in the past” that say the iPad 3 will be be announced (not launched?) on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. These rumors come and go like phases of the moon, so take this information with however many...
Valentine’s Day Google Doodle Is Heartwarming, Controversial
February 14, 2012, 8:03 amToday’s animated Google Doodle is simple, heartwarming, and slightly controversial?
Let’s start with the un-controversial part, which is basically 99% of the Doodle. A young lad sees the love of his young life playfully jumping rope, completely oblivious to his existence. Of course, he thinks – what about searching Google for...
How to Build Trust in Your Brand Using Video
February 14, 2012, 7:51 amThis is a guest post by Neil Davidson . Instead of requiring users to navigate, scroll, and click to access information, online video is a one-stop destination for information. It takes less time to engage the user than reading, and the user is then engaged until ready to follow an embedded call to action. In today's society, the personal...
How to Make PPC Count Without Conversion Tracking
February 14, 2012, 7:36 amImagine for a second a PPC advertiser's worst nightmare: You log into AdWords and your keywords, ads and campaigns all have zeros in the conversion stat column! Worse yet, it isn't a performance problem - just a tracking problem.
Google Wallet is Easy to Hack and Exploit
February 14, 2012, 7:26 amGoogle Wallet, which initially launched in September of 2011, has decided to temporarily suspend its provisioning of prepaid cards as a result of two newly discovered security vulnerabilities. Recently, a security research team uncovered a potential threat to the overall security of the Google Wallet. The initial issue, which revealed that a...
Better Content Marketing for Improved Social Engagement: Michael Stelzner #OMS12
February 14, 2012, 7:10 amDoes your business need better content marketing like this Social Media Examiner contest participant? In 2009 Michael Stelzner ( @mike_stelzner ) decided to run an experiment. He wanted to see if he could repeat his previous success in a new industry. That experiment led to the launch of Social Media Examiner in October of that same year. Michael...
Think and Act Like a Publisher #SEO
February 14, 2012, 7:00 amNick James is founder of Fresh Business Thinking , the leading website for small-to-medium size businesses in the UK. Over 55% of traffic to Nicks websites comes from search engines pointing queries to top quality ideas and information making Nick something of a content evangelist. In addition to Fresh Business Thinking Nick runs International...
How To Get Started With Twitter and To Keep Growing Followers
February 14, 2012, 6:50 amAre you a late adopter of Twitter? Or you've tried it and can't 'get it,' or are you keen to grow your follower base. This might be the thread for you.
Google Public DNS Serves 70 Billion Requests Per Day
February 14, 2012, 6:39 amToday, we're no longer an experimental service. We're the largest public DNS service in the world, handling an average of more than 70 billion requests a day.
Valentine's Day 2012 Searches: Gifts.com, Yelp Win Big [Infographic]
February 14, 2012, 6:29 amIn anticipation of Valentine's Day, Gifts.com appeared in the top five search results for 60 percent of non-geographic "gifts" keywords during January; RedEnvelope.com placed a distant second, with a 37 percent share of search, Conductor reports.
comScore Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Results
February 14, 2012, 5:43 amcomScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2011. In the fourth quarter of 2011, comScore achieved record quarterly revenue of $62.6 million, which was an increase of 22% over the fourth quarter of 2010. Fourth quarter revenue was negatively...
Winter of your discontent? 6 steps to fighting freelancer's funk
February 14, 2012, 5:23 amFebruary's a hard month. You start to have doubts about seeing through your new year's resolutions . . . It's when bills pile up . . . deadlines start to loom . . . your belly flab hasn't shrunk noticeably . . . and colds and flus catch you unawares. The sparkle of the holidays has disappeared and you feel a little deflated. And - ah yes -...
56 Ways to Market Your Business on Pinterest
February 14, 2012, 5:17 amIn case you've been living in a mountain cave in Bhutan for the past couple of months, Pinterest is a relatively new social networking site that allows users to create online image collages, then quickly and easily share those collages " called "pinboards" " with other Pinterest users. It's fun, easy, and catching on like wildfire right now. Part...
3 Ways B2B Companies Can Leverage Social Media
February 14, 2012, 5:07 amSocial media is not just for B2C companies! In fact, some studies have shown that B2B companies are seeing better results with social media marketing than many B2C brands are. Here are three ways B2B companies can better leverage the power of social media to help their own bottom lines. Use social media in conjunction with offline activities....
How to create a successful business blog
February 14, 2012, 3:30 amRome wasn't built in a day - and similarly (if on a somewhat smaller scale!), building up a successful blog doesn't happen overnight. As with anything, it takes hard work, determination and commitment to get a blog on its feet, and even more to build up a readership through earning the trust and respect of your audience. Here are some top tips on...
Signup Today for the Boston SEO Training Class
February 14, 2012, 3:14 amAre you a marketing professional, website developer or designer, or local business owner in the Boston, MA area looking to learn more about SEO? Register today for the Boston SEO class on February 22, 2012 with Nick Stamoulis, President of Boston SEO firm Brick Marketing! This all day SEO workshop will teach you the most effective best practice...
Google Voice Search Vs. Siri in Battle For Speech-driven Ads
February 13, 2012, 11:24 pmAnyone who reads this blog knows I'm a pretty faithful follower of John Battelle's own Search Blog. Battelle sparked an interesting conversation about the mobile ad opportunities voice search technologies such as Google Voice Actions and Apple's Siri virtual assistant. Battelle wrote: Driving into work yesterday I realized how useful voice search...
Valentine's Day 2012 Google Doodle Animates Tony Bennett's 'Cold, Cold Heart'
February 13, 2012, 11:19 pmGoogle's 2012 Valentine's Day Doodle is an animated love story, set to Tony Bennett's "Cold, Cold Heart". The video is embedded on the homepage, with a hand-sketched effect Google logo. Also,
Valentine's Day 2012 Google Doodle Animates Tony Bennett's ‘Cold, Cold Heart’
February 13, 2012, 11:00 pmGoogle’s 2012 Valentine’s Day Doodle is an animated love story, set to Tony Bennett’s “Cold, Cold Heart”. The video is embedded on the homepage, with a hand-sketched effect Google logo. Also, Google has a fun Easter Egg for you this Valentine’
Google's Amit Singhal Interview: Developing The Knowledge Graph
February 13, 2012, 9:55 pmIt's definitely something to keep in mind as we try to make sense of the way SERPs are evolving.
Google Wallet Disables Prepaid Cards Until Security Flaw Fixed
February 13, 2012, 8:40 pmThe company said it has temporarily disabled the use of prepaid cards on its retail platform as it looks to remedy a security flaw which could allow an attacker to steal the PIN number on Google Wallet systems. Google says a fix is coming soon.
Google's Motorola Mobility Acquisition Approved By Justice Department
February 13, 2012, 7:13 pmEarlier, we reported that Google had won approval from the European Commission for its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility. Now, the United States Department of Justice has granted its approval as well. Now things should start getting interesting. The DoJ said it was closing its investigations into not only this acquisition, but also...
Google’s Motorola Mobility Acquisition Approved By Justice Department
February 13, 2012, 7:06 pmEarlier, we reported that Google had won approval from the European Commission for its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility. Now, the United States Department of Justice has granted its approval as well.
Now things should start getting interesting.
The DoJ said it was closing its investigations into not only this acquisition, but also...
Twitter Makes HTTPS Default
February 13, 2012, 5:20 pmTwitter announced today that HTTPS will now be on by default for all users signing into Twitter.com. The setting became optional last year, but now it's the norm. Twitter says on its official blog : This setting makes your Twitter experience more secure by protecting your information, and it's especially helpful if you use Twitter over an...
Google On Search Quality And User Happiness
February 13, 2012, 5:20 pmHere's a pair of interesting Google videos. The first one is a presentation from Google's "Uber Tech Lead for Search Quality and User Happiness" Dan Russell. Here's the abstract for it: How well DO people search on Google? Although popular opinion is that "everyone is above average," that obviously can't be true. The truth is that self-perceptions...
Exclusive: More On Google's New Health Search Results
February 13, 2012, 5:00 pmAs previously reported , Google is rolling out a new search feature that adds a box of quick answer-type results for health-related queries. In the official announcement on the Inside Search blog, Roni Zeiger made a point to say, "The list is not authored by doctors and of course is not advice from medical experts." Given the importance of search...
Exclusive: More On Google’s New Health Search Results
February 13, 2012, 4:30 pmAs previously reported, Google is rolling out a new search feature that adds a box of quick answer-type results for health-related queries.
In the official announcement on the Inside Search blog, Roni Zeiger made a point to say, “The list is not authored by doctors and of course is not advice from medical experts.”
Given the...
NASA Faces The Biggest Budget Cuts In Four Years
February 13, 2012, 4:29 pmNASA will be forced to operate on a budget of just over $17 billion next year after being asked to reduce their spending. This is their biggest cut in four years and Bill Nye, CEO of space exploration group, The Planetary Society says it will devastate the group and explains further: "Science is the part of NASA that's actually conducting...
Pinterest In UK Very Different [Infographic]
February 13, 2012, 4:29 pmPinterest is taking off like a scalded cat in the United States. The social site has attracted lots of attention in the past few months due to its phenomenal growth rate and the amount of traffic it is sending out to linked retailers . But, a study of Pinterest's performance elsewhere has revealed some interesting little tidbits that businesses...
Dunkin' Donuts Twitter Contest Promotes Bad Dates This Valentine's Day
February 13, 2012, 4:29 pmValentine's Day is tomorrow and at this point in our hyper-consumer age it's no longer novel or ideal to decry how this is a prefab holiday devised by Hallmark and chocolate confectioners in order to sponge up money from all-to-eager sweethearts ready to fork it over in the name of love. Instead, this year, stop worrying and learn to love the...
Brazil's Carnival goes social with Google
February 13, 2012, 4:18 pmWhile you may have heard of Brazil's Carnival (or Carnaval ), not everyone will have the chance to fly to Brazil to experience what are arguably the largest annual street festivals (+ music concerts + dance parties + culture fests) in the world. Every year, Brazilian cities compete to be the country's top Carnival destination: This year, we're...
Dunkin’ Donuts Twitter Contest Promotes Bad Dates This Valentine’s Day
February 13, 2012, 4:16 pmValentine’s Day is tomorrow and at this point in our hyper-consumer age it’s no longer novel or ideal to decry how this is a prefab holiday devised by Hallmark and chocolate confectioners in order to sponge up money from all-to-eager sweethearts ready to fork it over in the name of love. Instead, this year, stop worrying and learn to...
Whitney Houston: Suicide Is Not The Cause?
February 13, 2012, 4:13 pmWhitney Houston's brother-in-law, Billy Watson told ABCNews.com today that: "Oh, no, this is accidental," "She wouldn't have left her daughter like that. She wouldn't have done that to her daughter." This comes after Houston was found unconscious in the bathtub on saturday at her Beverly Hills hotel. Because alcohol and prescription drugs were...
Mobile Devices Influencing Consumer Purchases
February 13, 2012, 4:13 pmAccording to the Google Mobile Ads Blog , in a 2011 study conducted in tandem with Ipsos , consumers are using mobile devices more and more, to help command the points of purchase while shopping online or in-store. During the holiday shopping season, 41% of consumers made purchases directly on their smartphones, 46% noted that they picked out...
A Valentine's Day Rube Goldberg Device For Your Wining, Dining, And Sexy-Timing
February 13, 2012, 4:13 pmTuesday, February 14th is Valentine's Day and let's face it: all of your posturing about "corporate holiday" this and "let's be untraditional this year" that is probably not going to fly with your significant other. You're going to have to do something - so why not make a quick little Rube Goldberg device? Nothing says "I love you" like intricate...
What Every Social Media Manager Loves to Hear: "They Like Us and Listen'" #ppc #ppcchat #smb #smallbiz
February 13, 2012, 4:08 pmIf you knew me in person beyond this glowing little box on your desk or in your hand - at some point, you would hear me say, Its all about perspective. Thats pretty much my mantra, because how we perceive the world informs what our own individual reality is and everyone has their unique version of it based largely on the experiences theyve had. ...
Whitney Houston: The Top Search Trends According To Yahoo
February 13, 2012, 4:03 pmAs you’ve probably heard by now, singer Whitney Houston died over the weekend. Yahoo emailed us a list of the top Whitney Houston-related search trends from the weekend.
On the day of the Grammy’s, “Whitney Houston” was the top search on Yahoo, followed by her daughter “Bobbi Kristina” (searches were up 1,082%). Searches for...
A Valentine’s Day Rube Goldberg Device For Your Wining, Dining, And Sexy-Timing
February 13, 2012, 3:56 pmTuesday, February 14th is Valentine’s Day and let’s face it: all of your posturing about “corporate holiday” this and “let’s be untraditional this year” that is probably not going to fly with your significant other. You’re going to have to do something – so why not make a quick little Rube...
SXSW 2012 In Austin Coming Up Fast
February 13, 2012, 3:43 pmThe famous South By Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas is coming up next month. The festival consists of three parts: Interactive, Film and Music. The Film and Music portions of the festival have their own followers and scene in their own right. Lots of new bands get discovered and independent films get picked up. The "Interactive" portion...
LinkedIn Blows Other Social Networks Out Of The Water For Recruiting [Report]
February 13, 2012, 3:36 pmBullhorn Reach released a new “Social Recruiting Activity Report,” finding that LinkedIn rules the roost in terms of social networks most used by employers for recruiting purposes. Not a huge surprise, given the nature of LinkedIn.
The firm measured LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter’s frequency of usage by recruiters and their effectiveness for...
The Grammys, Valentine's Day, and Who Is Paul McCartney?
February 13, 2012, 3:27 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you've got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You've only got 140 characters to make an impression. And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day's most entertaining tweets. Today's Twitterverse is still buzzing about the...
Asus Under Fire For Transformer Prime GPS Issues
February 13, 2012, 3:27 pmIt's the iPhone 4 reception problem all over again - it's just turning into a class action lawsuit this time. Colin Fraser is leading a class action lawsuit against Asustek for their Transformer Prime tablet. The lawsuit alleges that the metallic case of the tablet makes its GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities useless according to Courthouse News Service ....
"Bloggers Under Fire" Launched By EFF
February 13, 2012, 3:12 pmThe Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), along with Global Voices Online's Threatened Voices project, announced a new project called Bloggers Under Fire . The initiative is aimed at putting the spotlight on threats Internet users are facing around the world. The landing page for the project tracks instances of where bloggers and other web users...
The Grammys, Valentine’s Day, and Who Is Paul McCartney?
February 13, 2012, 3:11 pmTwitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you’ve got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You’ve only got 140 characters to make an impression.
And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day’s most entertaining tweets.
Today’s Twitterverse is still buzzing...
Wikipedia Appears on Page 1 of Google for 99% of Searches [Study]
February 13, 2012, 3:07 pmGoogle loves Wikipedia. Everyone knows it, and many aren't that happy about it, especially when some of their poorly written content outranks actual websites. But did you know Wikipedia pages appear on Page 1 of Google for 99 percent of searches?
“Bloggers Under Fire” Launched By EFF
February 13, 2012, 3:01 pmThe Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), along with Global Voices Online’s Threatened Voices project, announced a new project called Bloggers Under Fire. The initiative is aimed at putting the spotlight on threats Internet users are facing around the world.
The landing page for the project tracks instances of where bloggers and other web...
Whitney Houston: What Caused Her Death?
February 13, 2012, 2:56 pmAs many of you may have heard , Whitney Houston was found dead in her Beverly Hills hotel room on Saturday afternoon. After being found unconscious by a member of her entourage, hotel security contacted 911. Paramedics arrived and administered CPR but were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM. Autopsy reports of Houston's body...
New App Turns Smartphones Into Your Wireless Therapist
February 13, 2012, 2:56 pmWhile you're busy wondering how the government is tracking your behaviors via your smartphone, in the future your smartphone might be trying to influence your behavior based on your mood. And no, this isn't a smartphone-as-mood ring device, either - this is something that will tap into your personal psychology. In what sounds like the psychiatric...
Wikipedia is the 99% of Google Search Results [Study]
February 13, 2012, 2:51 pmGoogle loves Wikipedia. Everyone knows it, and many aren't that happy about it, especially when some of their poorly written content outranks actual websites. But did you know Wikipedia pages appear on Page 1 of Google for 99 percent of searches?
Real Men Like Mobile Ads
February 13, 2012, 2:41 pmFile this one under, I'm not sure what to make of it, but here goes. eMarketer reports that 69% of men, aged 18-29, remember seeing an ad on their mobile phone. This is compared to only 42% of women. Now, here's where it gets really wacky. 40% of men said they actually enjoyed the ads. Women? Only 15%. Here's the proof: How crazy is that? The...
Valentine's Day Slam: Vote For Your Favorite YouTube Proposal Videos
February 13, 2012, 2:36 pmAnyone who's been the proposer in a mariage proposal situation knows it's anything but a game. Sure, the proposee can be put in an awkward position by the whole thing, and that sucks. But for the proposer, the marriage proposal is the culmination of weeks and weeks of night sweat-inducing anxiety and oftentimes months of elaborate planning. No, my...
Valentine’s Day Slam: Vote For Your Favorite YouTube Proposal Videos
February 13, 2012, 2:33 pmAnyone who’s been the proposer in a mariage proposal situation knows it’s anything but a game. Sure, the proposee can be put in an awkward position by the whole thing, and that sucks. But for the proposer, the marriage proposal is the culmination of weeks and weeks of night sweat-inducing anxiety and oftentimes months of elaborate...
Steam Details Extent Of Hacking Attack, Backup File Was Stolen
February 13, 2012, 2:21 pmYou may remember late last year that Steam, Valve's digital distribution platform, was hacked and taken down for a while. The extent of the damage wasn't exactly known until now. On Friday, Gabe Newell took to Steam to tell users exactly what happened: Dear Steam Users and Steam Forum Users: We continue our investigation of last year's intrusion...
Google Gives Health Searches Special Treatment
February 13, 2012, 2:10 pmDid you know that Google is still a search engine? Despite what you might think from their advertisements and the coverage the press gives (guilty as charged) you might forget that Google is still more about search than it is about anything else. An addition to how the search engine leader handles health related searches reminds us that search is...
Rumor: Apple Threatening Pegatron Over Ultrabook Production
February 13, 2012, 2:05 pmAsustek makes a MacBook Air competitor called the Zenbook. The Chinese manufacturer of the Zenbook, Pegatron Technology, just got an order to make iPhones for Apple. I bet you can see where this is going. 9to5Mac is reporting that Apple has allegedly laid down an ultimatum to Pegatron - either stop making the Zenbook or lose their business. It...
Yahoo Reportedly Getting Big Reorganization
February 13, 2012, 2:05 pmThere are a lot of changes happening at Yahoo these days. Recently, we've seen the appointment of Scott Thompson (pictured above) to the CEO position. We've seen co-founder and former CEO Jerry Yang step down from all positions at the company. We've seen the announcement of key board members stepping down as well. We've even seen the introduction...
Apple Shares Crossed The $500 Milestone Today
February 13, 2012, 2:05 pmWhen it comes to money, Apple is the pinball wizard who never misses the replay. Every few days in 2012 (and every day every year, really, but 2012 especially), it seems like the company keeps getting richer and richer. Today would be one of those days as Apple shares exceeded the $500 mark for the first time. Apple shares were inching toward this...
Modiv Makes Mobile Coupons More Social
February 13, 2012, 1:55 pmMy name is Cynthia and I'm a couponer. I began redeeming coupons found in the Sunday paper, but soon graduated to buying multiple papers in order to increase my savings. Then I discovered printables - online coupons that I could download right from my computer, and digital coupons that applied directly to my store card! It's a coupon lollapalooza...
Harvard Creates Paper Robots That Run Off Air
February 13, 2012, 1:50 pmResearchers at Harvard University have discovered a way to use paper to manufacture robots that can produce semi-complicated actions via air channels called pneuNets. The group, which is lead by Professor George Whitesides, utilizes silicones to create tiny air channels (or Balloons) that can lift weight up to 120 times their own. Ramses Martinez,
Finding Romance in Video Chat Rooms on the Rise
February 13, 2012, 1:50 pmAccording to a study conducted by Stargazer Video Chat , finding love online via video chat is on the rise in 2012. With online dating being a 4 billion dollar industry, garnering 593 million hits from U.S. users alone in 2011, video chat has emerged as "the next-best-thing to in-person meetings," according to Stargazer . Still, 17% of married...
Deadmau5 Trolls Skrillex At The Grammys, Tweets His Phone Number To The Masses
February 13, 2012, 1:50 pmWhat's better than a little bit of good, simple, old-fashioned trolling? If you watched the Grammys last night, you probably caught the Foo Fighters/deadmau5 performance (or better yet, Dave Grohl's awkward dancing once he left the stage and deadmau5 took over). Despite what you think of his performance, that mouse helmet, or all the crazy kids...
The SEO's Guide to GA 5, Part II: Top 3 Features for Setting & Achieving SEO Goals
February 13, 2012, 1:34 pmIf you're an SEO who's still fumbling with the latest version of Google Analytics (version 5), fumble no more. Here is a quick overview of 3 features you should know to help make your job easier. These tips will also help you keep demonstrating the importance of your laborious SEO efforts and make you look .
Google Health Search “Improvements” Announced
February 13, 2012, 1:14 pmGoogle announced today that it has made efforts to improve the quality of health-related searches.
Google’s Chief Health Strategist, Roni Zeigler, MD, writes on Google’s Inside Search Blog:
Every day, people search on Google for health information. Many of these searches relate to symptoms they or their loved ones may be...
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Trailer Releases, Grab Your Ax
February 13, 2012, 1:04 pmIt was only a matter of time before a movie was made, based on Seth Grahame-Smith's New York Time's bestselling book, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. The book which spawned this legendary cover (which poses as a decoration in my house). The movie has been in the works for some time now, and now we have an official trailer to enjoy. There's a lot...
Breaking: EU Approves Google To Buy Motorola
February 13, 2012, 1:04 pmAfter five months, European Union regulators have approved of the purchase of Motorola Mobility by Internet search giant Google, Inc. The main reason Google wants to purchase Motorola is to increase its stable of patents. The EU was mainly concerned about the stifling of competition of the deal were to go through. At this point, the commissioners...
European Commission clears Motorola deal
February 13, 2012, 12:33 pmWe're happy that today the European Commission approved our proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility, which we announced in August. This is an important milestone in the approval process and it moves us closer to closing the deal. We are now just waiting for decisions from a few other jurisdictions before we can close this transaction. As we...
Googleplex Project X: Google's New Secret Hardware Testing Lab
February 13, 2012, 12:28 pmReportedly, Google is in the process of completing over $120 million worth of renovations and projects for its Mountain View headquarters. The latest project, which includes building a "secret lab" to test new hardware and devices, is being headed up by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and has been named "Project X." According to news reports, .
Google Encrypted Search, Gmail, YouTube, Blocked in Iran
February 13, 2012, 12:23 pmIran's government seems to be ramping up its censorship of popular websites, targeting Google's encrypted search, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Videos, among others. The government began blocking these sites Feb. 10, the company confirmed.
Valentine's Day Google Doodle In Japan Features Tony Bennett Ballad
February 13, 2012, 12:12 pmIn case you weren't aware, we here in the United States are at the end of the quotidian cycle. North America is literally the last continent to say goodbye to a calendar day and we're also last to greet the new days. This phenomenon is owed to the International Date Line, which demarcates where calendar days start and end. The existence of the...
MIT's Free Online Course Enrollment Begins Today
February 13, 2012, 12:12 pmThe power and knowledge that education brings to somebody is priceless. MIT is cutting the price for that priceless education down to its namesake - free. Bloomberg is reporting that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will begin offering a free online course today that anybody can take. Students around the world can take the class and upon...
Tiger Woods Gets A Tech Beatdown At Pebble Beach Pro-Am
February 13, 2012, 11:57 amPhil Mickelson isn't the only one who crushed Tiger Woods over the weekend. Lately, we all know that Tiger Woods has been struggling to get his game back on track after a series of injuries and off-the-course indiscretions knocked him off his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' Major Championship record. But until now, we didn't really know just how far...
Living Social: New Venue in Washington, D.C.
February 13, 2012, 11:57 amLiving Social is going to be trying something different to promote special events, new products, and unique vendors. Today it announced the forthcoming opening of a new physical venue space in the Washington, D.C. area. The space will provide a much needed workspace for classes, social events, exclusive pop-up restaurants, and other unique...
MIT’s Free Online Course Enrollment Begins Today
February 13, 2012, 11:56 amThe power and knowledge that education brings to somebody is priceless. MIT is cutting the price for that priceless education down to its namesake – free.
Bloomberg is reporting that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will begin offering a free online course today that anybody can take. Students around the world can take the class and...
Valentine’s Day Google Doodle In Japan Features Tony Bennett Ballad
February 13, 2012, 11:55 amIn case you weren’t aware, we here in the United States are at the end of the quotidian cycle. North America is literally the last continent to say goodbye to a calendar day and we’re also last to greet the new days. This phenomenon is owed to the International Date Line, which demarcates where calendar days start and end. The...
Zynga Sued Over Patent Infringement By Small Tech Company
February 13, 2012, 11:28 amZynga is being taken to court, but not over their games – it’s over patents.
Personalized Media Communications filed a patent suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Zynga. They claim that the social games maker has infringed on four of their patents.
The complaint alleges that Zynga’s games like...
SMW2012: San Francisco Lineup for Monday
February 13, 2012, 11:26 amWe gave you the Monday lineup of Social Media Week events for NYC in a previous article . There are tons of events in the San Francisco area, as well. For a complete listing, go to this page . Here are a few interesting examples for today in SF: Keynote Address: Social Data is a Crystal Ball Keynote: Social Media Trends and How Marketers Are...
YouTube For Google TV Gets Some Improvements
February 13, 2012, 11:26 amGoogle is launching updates to YouTube for Google TV with the goal of making it faster and easier to find good content. "First you'll notice the app works faster with smoother navigation for a better experience," says product manager Jurek Foryciarz. "Next, we've added a new feature called Discover, which lets you browse YouTube channels by...
SMW12: Live Video Feed Lineup From Conference
February 13, 2012, 11:24 amThe Social Media Week conference is happening in 12 cities around the world this week. We discussed the conference in general here earlier. And you can sneak a peek at the lineup for the week here.
There is a wealth of material coming as video via Livestream. The Social Media Week channel at Livestream allows you to look at the videos planned for...
The Pirate Bay Switching To Magnet Links February 29
February 13, 2012, 11:11 amThe Pirate Bay is the torrent site that refuses to die. Their founders were sentenced to prison and they still keep on chugging. They are now changing the site in a fundamental way on February 29 that will keep them one step ahead of the legal system. The Pirate Bay announced today that February 29 is the day that any torrent that has more than 10...
Lego Prosthetic Arm Makes Robots Less Scary, More Kid-Approved
February 13, 2012, 11:11 amCould you really be afraid of a Rise of the Machine -esque future if your robot tormentors were made of Legos? Probably not. Nevertheless, giving you a glimpse of that possible future is this Lego model of a fully mobile prosthetic arm and hand. The model, created by Max Shephard, is fully capable of digital flexion/extension and full wrist...
NASCAR Seeks Silicon Valley Sponsorship
February 13, 2012, 11:11 amNascar has announced that it is seeking sponsorship from technology companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google. NASCAR has about 90 million fans and has been around for over 60 years. Recently they are hoping to incorporate more technology into the sport and they believe it's relevant to add more technology-based sponsorship to the competition....
Why Yellow Pages Will Be Dead in Five Years
February 13, 2012, 11:11 amLet me start of by saying that I do have a Yellow Pages listing for my SEO company, Brick Marketing. It costs me about $50 a month for the profile on the Yellow Pages website. It's a good way to help with my local link building, get a FEW additional local visitors and YP.com is .
SMW12: San Francisco Lineup for Monday
February 13, 2012, 10:59 amWe gave you the Monday lineup of Social Media Week events for NYC in a previous article. There are tons of events in the San Francisco area, as well. For a complete listing, go to this page.
Here are a few interesting examples for today in SF:
Keynote Address: Social Data is a Crystal Ball
Keynote: Social Media Trends and How Marketers Are...
Mobile Search Marketing - A Key to Success
February 13, 2012, 10:50 amFor the past years, the only way people can find answers to their questions through mobile devices is through text, phone call, or mobile email. However, these methods are inefficient and frustrating. But due to the advancements of mobile technology, much of this has improved and almost rival desktop searching. Why Online Marketers Should Adapt .
SMW2012: NYC Conference Lineup for Monday
February 13, 2012, 10:40 amThe Social Media Week conference takes place in 12 cities around the world. You can learn more about the conference in general here , including information on how to follow the conference on Twitter and blogs. If you are curious about what the conference is, this earlier pos t is the place to start.
Jennifer Hudson's Whitney Houston Tribute Wows Twitter
February 13, 2012, 10:40 amAt the 54th annual Grammy Awards, it was Adele who walked off carrying a lot of gold. But singer and Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson stole at least a little bit of her thunder with a simple, but moving tribute to the late Whitney Houston. I'll reserve comment about many aspects of the Grammys, but I'll just say that to many denizens...
S. Korea ISP Wants Cut Of Internet TV Profits From Google, Apple
February 13, 2012, 10:24 amWhile Google, Apple, Samsung, and other technology leaders race to populate your living room with Internet-enabled televisions, an internet service provider in South Korea might be revealing itself to be a green-eyed monster for all that Internet TV action. KT Corp, South Korea's top ISP, has stated it will demand a cut in the profits that...
Microsoft India Hacked By Evil Shadow Team
February 13, 2012, 10:24 amOn sunday, a group of hackers calling themselves Evil Shadow Team infiltrated Microsoft's online store in India and stole usernames and passwords for many who attempted to access the site. Today any attempting to access www.microsoftstore.co.in will receive the following message: "The Microsoft Store India is currently unavailable. Microsoft is...
SMW2012: Early Tweets From Social Media Week
February 13, 2012, 10:24 amTo give you an idea of the kinds of activity going on at the Social Media Week 2012 conference (SMW), let's have a look at some of the tweets coming out of the conference. You can follow the Twitter feeds and discussions from the event live yourself with the hashtag breakdown found in this earlier article . "A great thing about social media is it...
Jennifer Hudson’s Whitney Houston Tribute Wows Twitter
February 13, 2012, 10:18 amAt the 54th annual Grammy Awards, it was Adele who walked off carrying a lot of gold. But singer and Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson stole at least a little bit of her thunder with a simple, but moving tribute to the late Whitney Houston.
I’ll reserve comment about many aspects of the Grammys, but I’ll just say that to...
Global Hotel Exchange Gives Impetus Back to Hoteliers
February 13, 2012, 10:14 amHoteliers across the world are eagerly anticipating next month's launch of Global Hotel Exchange (GHX), a ground-breaking new trading platform that promises to redefine the landscape for online bookings, putting hotels back in control with an emphasis firmly on hotel/customer relationships. GHX, with its unique 'owner-centric' features, will...
Twitter Algorithm Can Predict News Popularity
February 13, 2012, 10:04 amNews sites already know how to modify their stories to gain maximum search potential, but what if you could do the same with Twitter? Researchers at HP Labs were looking into the very matter with their new research, "The Pulse of News Media: Forecasting Popularity." The three researchers, Bernardo Huberman, Sitaram Asur and Roja Bandari used the...
Social Media Week 2012: What Is It About?
February 13, 2012, 9:49 amSocial Media Week (SMW) has taken on the theme for the 2012 conference of "Empowering Change Through Collaboration". The worldwide event will look at how social media affects and is affected by global events including weather, political change, etc. The following promo video was released last year, but bears a review here on the first day of the...
Whitney Houston Death Broken By Citizen Twitter Journalists 42 Minutes Before AP
February 13, 2012, 9:48 amWe all know that information travels fast on Twitter. And with the emphasis put on Twitter recently (due in large part to the Arab Spring protests) as the new conduit for real-time news, many argue that the social network is now making everyone a journalist. Just don't say that to some people. Whether or not you believe that Twitter is now a...
10 Things International Web Marketers Need To Know
February 13, 2012, 9:43 am'.and will learn at the International Search Summit @ SMX West The International Search Summit provides training, advice and insight to those working in the challenging discipline of international digital marketing. Here are just 10 things that anyone involved in multinational web marketing should know - and that can be found at ISS @ SMX West on...
Essential Resources on Social Business for Online Marketing
February 13, 2012, 9:38 amAttributes of a Socially Optimized Business - Dachis Group Add "social" to just about anything and you'll boost interest in your topic by at least 50%. While many consultants appear to be employing that tactic to boost their interesting-ness, it's not the case with the topic of social business. As companies work to figure out what role social...
FLA And Apple Conduct Audits Of Final Assembly
February 13, 2012, 9:27 amToday, Apple announced that the Fair Labor Association will begin conducting a series of special audits at Foxconn’s Chinese final assembly plants. Per Apple’s request, the FLA will be inspecting plant safety, process documents, factory and dormitory conditions, working hours, and management practices. The inspections will encompass...
Apple iPad Beats Samsung Galaxy Tab In Its Own Country
February 13, 2012, 9:17 amSamsung is a Korean company. Apple is an American company. Who does South Korea prefer? When it comes to tablet computers, it appears that Apple is the clear winner. The Korea Herald is reporting that the Apple iPad has sold more than 1 million units in South Korea since its launch on November 30, 2010. The iPad 2 was introduced in the country on...
MySpace Gains A Million New Sign-Ups: Good Sign
February 13, 2012, 9:17 amMake all the MySpace jokes you want, but it still has a lot of users. You may not want to count it out just yet.
In fact, MySpace has gained over a million sign-ups since launching its new music player in December, the company announced today. The player is drawing 40,000 sign-ups a day in the U.S., on average.
“The numbers tell an amazing...
Reddit: No Sexual Content Featuring Minors
February 13, 2012, 9:02 amReddit has made an announcement concerning a topic that has hounded the online community for some time now - as of Sunday, they are adding a new overarching rule concerning sexually suggestive content featuring young girls. "Today we are adding another rule," they said in a blog post . "No suggestive or sexual content featuring minors." This might...
Iran May Have Shut Off All Internet Access Now
February 13, 2012, 9:02 amConfirming what was reported on Friday, Google said today that Gmail and YouTube have been blocked in Iran since February 10. Reports began circulating at the end of last week leading into this the weekend's anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. The degree to which Gmail and Google access has been revoked is unclear,
Guild Wars 2: The Developers Love It, Will You? [Video]
February 13, 2012, 9:02 amWhen looking at the title of the video, your reaction might be - well, duh . What else would the developers of Guild Wars 2 say about the game they've created? When you start to watch the video, it becomes obvious these people are more than just excited about their product. They really do seem to be in love with it. For those who have been playing...
Connecting Google+ with Google Earth
February 13, 2012, 8:52 amGoogle+ is moving even further throughout the Google ecosystem. Last week The Google Lat Long blog tells us: With the recent release of Google Earth 6.2, you can easily share screenshots of your explorations with the people in your Google+ circles. Give it a try: just open Google Earth, sign in to your Google account via the button on the top...
Groupon Gets More Personalized
February 13, 2012, 8:47 amEverything on the web is getting more personalized these days, it seems. Take Yahoo's new C.O.R.E. system as one of the latest examples. Another example would be a new system Groupon is reportedly testing, which would give users more control over the types of deals they receive. According to Bloomberg , which interviewed CEO Andrew Mason, some...
Australia Content Industry Pushing For New Internet Laws
February 13, 2012, 8:47 amAustralia content owners and ISP executives met last Wednesday in Sydney to hammer out potential laws and policies in response to content piracy. The meeting, led by Roger Wilkins, secretary of the Attorney-General's office, sought to create a draft proposal that would combat piracy while being acceptable to both industries and the government...
NASA: Goodbye To Mainframe Computer
February 13, 2012, 8:47 amNASA is saying goodbye to their last mainframe computer. Marshall Space Flight Center powered down their IBM Z9 last week and ushered in a new era where advanced calculation would no longer rely on the supercomputer. NASA CIO Linda Cureton explains that the high-cost, high-maintanence machine is no longer needed and that calculations can be done...
Bing Gets Ahead of Yahoo in comScore's Search Engine Rankings
February 13, 2012, 8:41 amA leader in measuring the digital world, comScore released its January 2012 search engine ranking for the US market last February 9. According to the figures they presented, Google gained shares last month while Bing outranked Yahoo in "explicit core search." US Explicit Core Search For those who are not familiar with the term, a .
Social Media Week Conference Kicks Off Today
February 13, 2012, 8:38 amSocial Media Week (SMW) kicks off today. The week-long conference spans 12 cities around the world and encompasses over 1000 events in places like Hamburg, Hong Kong, London, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington, DC.
News about SMW is easily had on Twitter using the following handles and...
Top 5 Lessons Inbound Marketers Can Learn from Super Bowl Advertisers
February 13, 2012, 8:36 amThis guest blog post comes via HubSpot. It is written by Donald Nosek, VP of Strategy for ymarketing, a data-driven, digital marketing agency specializing in inbound marketing, and a VAR for HubSpot. So what can the greatest outbound marketing event of the year teach inbound marketers? As we did last year, we've looked at key social media markers...
13 Ways to Get More Pinterest Followers
February 13, 2012, 8:31 amPinterest - the web's latest social media craze, is a great way to build awareness for your blog or website. But as with most social media promotion techniques, your ability to influence others through your Pinterest presence is limited if you don't have that many people following you in the first place. So today, we'll .
Basic SEO Troubleshooting With XML Sitemaps
February 13, 2012, 8:26 amA quick overview of sitemap guidelines and limitations on Google and Bing and some sitemap optimization tips. Also learn a technique that will help you identify crawling and indexation issues using multiple sitemaps in Google Webmaster Tools.
Foursquare Launches Explore Mobile
February 13, 2012, 7:04 amWith Foursquare's Explore, it's now easier for users to find nearby places worth visiting. From mobile, they brought the functionality to their recently redesigned website. While there, the feature got additional capabilities such as the four filtering options: 'I haven't been to yet', 'I have been to before', 'My friends have been to', and 'Have .
Richard Petty Driving Experience Revs Up Fan Engagement 700% on YouTube
February 13, 2012, 6:33 amWorking closely with Google, the Richard Petty Driving Experience team implemented a "hugely successful" YouTube TrueView in-stream ad promotion that raised viewership from just over 14,000 to more than 117,000 during a 30 day promotion.
Three Ways to Optimize SEO Content for Customer Interaction
February 13, 2012, 6:12 amThree Ways to Optimize SEO Content for Customer Interaction Your SEO optimization efforts are a bit like a romantic relationship. You have to woo the customer, then win them. Your SEO efforts for discovery are like the first date. You only get that one chance to make a first impression, so you'd better make it a good one. Optimizing your SEO for...
Will A Site Suffer In Google SERPs Without Using Social Media
February 13, 2012, 5:39 amWebmasterWorld Members discuss how lack of social media activity might eventually negatively affect the site's positioning in Google SERPs.
7 Essential Tips for WordPress Beginners
February 13, 2012, 5:21 amRaise your hand if this sounds familiar ' You meet someone and they say all the right things. They're full of compliments and accolades. Except , something bugs you about them. Their words don't quite match their actions. They can be forgetful, and even mean . Eventually, the glow wears off, and you see them for who they really are. It's not what...
Does your site suffer from "content mullet" syndrome?
February 13, 2012, 4:04 amRemember the mullet? That late 70â²s - 80â²ish hairstyle that all allegedly cool dudes (and hot chicks) once sported? You know,`a la those hair-tossing rock 'n roll bands and tough leathered chicks of the time (circa Styx, Journey, Pat Benatar, etc.) ? Well, in this week's Web-writing video, Heather takes the notorious mullet into another...
UK's ITV Warns Apple Off Using its Brand For Apple TV
February 13, 2012, 3:32 amApple has never confirmed plans for an "iTV" but expectations that it is preparing to launch one are gathering pace.
Data Visualization Principles: Lessons from Tufte
February 13, 2012, 12:18 amPosted by MikeCP When I began to practice SEO 8 years ago, I never would have guessed that I'd be writing a post about data visualization. Perhaps I might have foreseen myself writing about web analytics or information architecture, but data visualization seemed like something for the statistics fans. But today in web marketing, the emphasis on...
Does Gmail's Perpetual Window Play Fast, Loose With Data?
February 12, 2012, 11:48 pmThis fine piece in Wired about a "perpetual window into Gmail" caught my attention this weekend for two reasons. First, I live in Gmail. It's my primary, personal e-mail haven. Second, considering the data-sucking sounds Path made this month, the idea that Gmail is playing fast and loose with my 411 is alarming to say the least. Here's the rub:...
Grammy Awards Reaction on Twitter
February 12, 2012, 10:29 pmStay tuned to this article for live updates via Twitter of the Grammy Awards. Expect heartfelt comments on the death of Whitney Houston, tweets live from Grammy winners, reactions backstage and booze inspired tweets from the after parties.
Tweets updating live – (Reload this page often – updates in real time):
@openskyeKevin...
LIVE UPDATES: Grammy Awards Reaction on Twitter
February 12, 2012, 8:22 pmStay tuned to this article for live updates via Twitter of the Grammy Awards. Expect heartfelt comments on the death of Whitney Houston, tweets live from Grammy winners, reactions backstage and booze inspired tweets from the after parties.
Tweets will be updated with the latest ones on top:
@piersmorganPiers MorganOn a positive note, it would...
Google+ Commercial Shown During Grammy Awards
February 12, 2012, 7:47 pmA new Google+ commercial was show live during the Grammy Awards Sunday night on CBS. Here is the commercial: Bradley Horowitz posted this statement on his Google+ page: "Instant Upload has already saved my own precious photos numerous times.. This commercial is really moving. Especially since it's based on a true story from one of our team mates."...
Steve Jobs Wins Grammy Posthumously
February 12, 2012, 6:02 pmSteve Jobs was awarded a Grammy Trustees Award. The award was accepted by Apple senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, on behalf of Steve Jobs family.
An understandably emotional Eddy Cue told the Grammy pre-show audience:
“I would like to thank you for honoring Steve with the Trustees Grammy Award. Steve was a...
Grammy Awards Reaction Live on Twitter
February 12, 2012, 5:54 pmStay tuned to this article for live updates via Twitter of the Grammy Awards. Expect heartfelt comments on the death of Whitney Houston , tweets live from Grammy winners , reactions backstage and booze inspired tweets from the after parties. Tweets will be updated with the latest ones on top: @cmilove CountryMusicIsLove GRAMMY for Country Song...
Watch the Grammy Awards Backstage Live on the iPad or iPhone
February 12, 2012, 5:23 pmDownload a free app for your iPad or iPhone and you can watch backstage action while you watch the live Grammy Awards on CBS TV. With this app or by watching on the Grammy Live website, the 54th Grammy Awards become a multi-screen experience.
AT&T Raising Smartphone Upgrade Fee Today
February 12, 2012, 1:48 pmIn a move that some consumers may not like, AT&T is raising the fee to upgrade from a previous device today.
The upgrade fee for the past decade has been a nice, cheap $18. The new upgrade fee hitting today sees it raised to $36. Granted, phones cost a lot less a decade ago and people weren’t upgrading them every two years like they...
Microsoft Store India Hacked, Passwords Leaked
February 12, 2012, 1:22 pmThe Indian Microsoft store Web site has been hacked. The Web site is currently inaccessible, but it previously feature a message from a hacker group called EvilShadowTeam. From the language used in the hack and those claiming responsibility, the attack seems to have come from a Chinese group according to WP Sauce .
Netflix Pays $9 Million In Privacy Lawsuit Settlement
February 12, 2012, 12:51 pmYou know how Netflix keeps your instant queue and personal information after you cancel a subscription in the case that you may sign up again in the future? Yeah, they paid $9 million to settle a lawsuit over that. Paid Content is reporting that Netflix announced Friday that it will pay to settle claims that they illegally kept user rental...
Which Social Media Platform Should Small Businesses Use?
February 12, 2012, 12:36 pmYou're a small business and you don't know which social media platform to use to successfully market yourselves. This handy infographic should help with that. Today's infographic comes from Imbue Marketing and they want to help small businesses get the word out about their business on the Internet. It can be a daunting task with all the options...
Whitman Capital President Accused Of Google Insider Trading Scheme
February 12, 2012, 12:05 pmInsider trading is not cool and one financial giant is learning that the hard way. Bloomberg is reporting that Doug Whitman, founder and president of Whitman Capital, was charged with using illegal tips on Google, Polycom and Marvell Technology to gain more than $900,000. An indictment filed in Manhattan federal court yesterday said that Whitman...
SNL Spoofs Verizon's 4G LTE Ads
February 12, 2012, 11:45 amSaturday Night Live has been accused by some people these days of not being that funny anymore and that all of its good actors have moved on. SNL proved last night that they still got it. A sketch last night on SNL spoofed Verizon's ads where a person walks into a store to look for a new phone while an employee barrages them with specs and...
SNL Spoofs Verizon’s 4G LTE Ads
February 12, 2012, 11:24 amSaturday Night Live has been accused by some people these days of not being that funny anymore and that all of its good actors have moved on. SNL proved last night that they still got it.
A sketch last night on SNL spoofed Verizon’s ads where a person walks into a store to look for a new phone while an employee barrages them with specs and...
Kim Jong-Un Is Not Dead According To U.S. Official
February 12, 2012, 11:14 amWe reported Friday that Twitter and Weibo exploded with rumors that North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-Un had been killed in an assassination attempt. It turns out that those reports were just untrue. A U.S. official told CNN that there was no evidence to back up the rumors of the North Korean leader's death. At the time, they said it's hard to say...
UPDATED: Whitney Houston Dead – Xanax, Drowning & Twitter Reaction
February 12, 2012, 10:53 amMusic superstar Whitney Houston, age 48, has died according to the Associated Press. Publicist Kristen Foster told the AP that Houston has died, but did not officially reveal the cause and the location of her death.
Update 11:52 AM – The L.A. Times is reporting on erratic behavior by Whitney Houston just prior to her death, “The...
Facebook Can Fire Zuckerberg "At Will"
February 12, 2012, 10:43 amMark Zuckerberg is valuable to Facebook as their CEO. That doesn't mean the company can't just fire him like any other employee. The First Post is reporting that Facebook has the right to terminate Zuckerberg under any reason they see fit, including no reason at all. His tenure at Facebook is on an "at will" basis which means that he could be...
Facebook Can Fire Zuckerberg “At Will”
February 12, 2012, 10:33 amMark Zuckerberg is valuable to Facebook as their CEO. That doesn’t mean the company can’t just fire him like any other employee.
The First Post is reporting that Facebook has the right to terminate Zuckerberg under any reason they see fit, including no reason at all. His tenure at Facebook is on an “at will” basis which means that he could...
Power Guest Posting for SEO
February 12, 2012, 10:23 amProviding great content to authoritative people who are searching for it is a great way to build relationships with important people. This process outlines the basic tactics for power guest posting: finding websites, coming up with content,
New Xbox To Feature Tablet Controller
February 12, 2012, 10:12 amWe previously reported on the changes that may be coming to the next Xbox. There's an even bigger change coming if reports are to be believed. CVG is reporting that sources close to Microsoft are claiming that the new controller for the Xbox 720 will "be a matt-black media hub with a mission to bring games to life in your living room with...
ACTA Protests Erupt Across Europe
February 12, 2012, 9:23 amWe reported Friday on the organization of massive anti-ACTA protests around the world. We are now able to see just how big and widespread the protests were.
Reuters is reporting that over 25,000 protesters took to the streets across various German cities to protest ACTA. They also report that 4,000 Bulgarians were outside protesting the treaty in...
Bing at The GRAMMYs: Finish the Phrase "#MusicWasBestWhen" to Win Concert Cash
February 12, 2012, 9:05 amWere heading to the GRAMMYs. @Bing will be coming to you live from The 2012 GRAMMYs celebrating great music and capturing all the happenings at the show. Today, we will tweet a question from the @Bing Twitter handle asking you to complete the statement I think #MusicWasBestWhen.. To participate, mention @Bing within your answer and include the...
Interview: FCC Lifeline Program - Will the Revamp Solve the Fraud?
February 12, 2012, 5:46 amOn January 31, the FCC announced a complete overhaul of its Lifeline program. The program has been around for 25 years and is part of the Universal Service Fund. Its purpose was to help low-income families and those that live in rural areas have access to telephone service. It began with providing landline telephones but then added cell phones in...
Interview: FCC Lifeline Program – Will the Revamp Solve the Fraud?
February 12, 2012, 5:30 amOn January 31, the FCC announced a complete overhaul of its Lifeline program. The program has been around for 25 years and is part of the Universal Service Fund. Its purpose was to help low-income families and those that live in rural areas have access to telephone service.
It began with providing landline telephones but then added cell phones in...
Whitney Houston Dead - Twitter Reaction
February 11, 2012, 7:46 pmMusic superstar Whitney Houston, age 48, has died according to the Associated Press. Publicist Kristen Foster told the AP that Houston has died, but did not reveal the cause and the location of her death. WebProNews will update this article as information becomes available. Here is Twitter reaction: @DENISE_RICHARDS Denise Richards So sad to hear...
Whitney Houston Dead – Details and Twitter Reaction
February 11, 2012, 7:41 pmMusic superstar Whitney Houston, age 48, has died according to the Associated Press. Publicist Kristen Foster told the AP that Houston has died, but did not officially reveal the cause and the location of her death.
TMZ is now reporting:
“Our sources tell us a member of Whitney’s entourage found her in her oom at the Beverly Hilton...
Facebook And Spotify Reveal Top Songs For Love And Breakups
February 11, 2012, 1:29 pmWith Valentine's Day in mind, Facebook determined which songs are played most by people in the U.S. on Spotify as they change their relationship statuses on Facebook to reflect new relationships and breakups. "Every day, people are breaking up and entering into relationships on Facebook," says Facebook data scientist Jonathan Chang. "When they do,...
Mark Zuckerberg Google+ Profile More Relevant Than Facebook Profile?
February 11, 2012, 12:48 pmLet me preface this by saying that I don't consider myself to be part of the anti Search Plus Your World crowd. I think it has its pros and cons. I will say that I don't like when it leads to Google serving me less relevant results (which I think is happening more as a result of other algorithm tweaks as well). I searched for "mark zuckerberg" and...
Content rules the social media roost
February 11, 2012, 12:17 pmToday we welcome Paul Kontonis of the International Academy of Web Television and Digitas to get us ready for Social Media Week, with a look at video on the web. 2012 is being touted as being THE year for web video. Between YouTube's investment in original channels, Netflix's original content deals, and Tom Hanks partnering with Yahoo on original...
Minecraft Pocket Edition Updated On Android, Soon iOS
February 11, 2012, 12:12 pmMinecraft Pocket Edition for Android got an update today, adding survival mode and some other features. Here's the full list of what's new, from the Android Market : 1. Major version 0.2.0 (first survival update) 2. New mode! Choose between Survival and Creative mode when creating a map 3. New blocks; most notably doors, fences and fence gates 4....
Valentine's Day Infographic Shows How Expensive Love Is
February 11, 2012, 11:52 amWhether you're doing you Valentine's Day shopping online or off, it's going to cost you. If you're in the right business, it's good time to profit from the love (or at least affection) of other people. LiveScience put together the following infographic looking at "the price of love". It combines data from the National Retail Federation,...
Valentine’s Day Infographic Shows How Expensive Love Is
February 11, 2012, 11:35 amWhether you’re doing your Valentine’s Day shopping online or off, it’s going to cost you. If you’re in the right business, it’s a good time to profit from the love (or at least affection) of other people.
LiveScience put together the following infographic looking at “the price of love”. It combines data...
Most Popular Jan. 2012 Articles on SEJ
February 11, 2012, 11:31 amWe have a lot of very talented people writing for SEJ. As a thank you to them I want to highlight their January articles. The articles below are the top 15 most visited posts that were not news related. I want to present them one more time in case you missed them. Also, keep tabs .
Fake iPhone 4S App For Android: Trick Your Stupid Friends
February 11, 2012, 11:16 amThere's an app in the Android Market called Fake iPhone 4S , which is designed to "Trick your friends into thinking you have the new iPhone 4S!" That's what the app description says. I guess having idiot friends is a prerequisite. The description continues: This app is a full-screen working replica of the iPhone 4 home screen. It even replaces...
CIA.gov Not Available, Anonymous Takes Credit [Updated]
February 11, 2012, 11:15 amUpdate: CNN is reporting that sites affiliated with Mexico’s mining ministry and the state of Alabama were also taken down. They’re also reporting that the CIA’s site was back up by this morning, but cia.gov is currently down from where we are sitting.
What you’re seeing is a screenshot of what happens when you try to...
Google Readying Google Drive, Dropbox-Like Cloud Storage
February 11, 2012, 10:00 amGoogle is readying a Dropbox-like service and will soon enter the cloud computing storage market. The Google Drive is expected to allow users to store documents, photos and videos on the cloud and make them accessible from any connected device.
Map Shows Areas That Lack 3G (Or Better)
February 11, 2012, 9:39 amCheck out this map. It shows areas that lack 3G (or better) access. Data comes from the FCC. The map's description says: This map made w