Home � � Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Yahoo-Google Search Alliance in Japan Gets Regulatory Approval”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Yahoo-Google Search Alliance in Japan Gets Regulatory Approval”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Yahoo-Google Search Alliance in Japan Gets Regulatory Approval”


Yahoo-Google Search Alliance in Japan Gets Regulatory Approval

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 05:21 AM PST


The search deal signed between Yahoo Japan and Google has been given approval by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission.

The deal, signed in July 2010, was quite a surprise for Microsoft, which had expected Yahoo to sign a search deal with it instead. Yahoo had chosen Google as partner because it perceived its search technology as superior to Microsoft’s, but announced at the time that the “does not impact the global rollout and implementation of the Yahoo! search alliance with Microsoft, except in the Japanese market."

With the move, Yahoo Japan and Google had effectively cornered the Japanese search market, causing concern with Japan’s anti-monopoly watchdog which launched an investigation into the deal.

The deal has now been blessed, but Japan’s Fair Trade Commission said it would continue to monitor the alliance for possible breaches of Japan’s anti-monopoly laws.

More About: anti-monopoly, Google, japan, monopoly, Search, Yahoo

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Gowalla Turns the Tables, Integrates With Foursquare

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 04:01 AM PST


Gowalla, the popular geosocial network, has released version 3 of its iPhone app, an update that not only includes an improved interface and new features, but deeply integrates the app with Foursquare, its bigger and better-known rival.

Gowalla 3 is focused on reducing the barriers to checking in, improving the visuals of the interface, and adding new tools to make checking in more fun and useful. It makes its debut in the iPhone app store today and on other mobile devices in early 2011, starting with the Android.

It is the company’s decision to integrate Gowalla with Foursquare, its rival in geolocation, that will capture all of the headlines, though. The Foursquare integration has two key components. First, Gowalla now lets you broadcast your checkins on not only its app, but Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook Places and Foursquare as well. Gowalla even lets you earn Foursquare badges and Facebook Deals through the iPhone app. As an added bonus, Gowalla also pulls in Foursquare Tips whenever you check in.

The second component of the Foursquare integration is just as impressive, though. Gowalla has created a new Universal Activity Feed, an aggregated stream of checkins coming from Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook Places. Instead of opening up multiple apps to see where your friends are hanging out, you can see all of their geosocial activity from one interface.

Gowalla 3 has other new features, as well. It has added better Retina Display support, moved the checkin button into a more prominent location, added photos to the Activity Feed, and bookmarking for keeping track of your favorite locations. There is also a new feature called Notes that lets you leave short messages for your friends as specific locations the next time they check in. Unlike Foursquare Tips, each Gowalla Note is only meant for one person, which makes leaving a cute note for your boyfriend or girlfriend at your favorite spot a far more intimate experience.


What Will Foursquare Do?


Gowalla CEO Josh Williams explained to Mashable that the company’s future is as a “socially curated guidebook.” It’s not focusing on delivering deals (there are many ways to get deals, from coupons to group buying) or providing elaborate game mechanics. Instead, it wants to help users discover locations through useful information delivered in a fun way. The geolocation startup is trying to solve the problem of how to get a smile on a person’s face every time they check in. It even wants to making checking in to the same location (say a coffee shop) a unique experience each time.

The new Gowalla isn’t a radical reinvention of the service; it still has checkins, an elegant design and the same Trips and Stamps that have helped it cultivate an active userbase. However, its decision to add Foursquare positions Gowalla as the richest universal checkin app on the market.

Gowalla did not work with Foursquare on this integration; it was all done through the API. That leaves the real possibility that Foursquare could throw a big wrench into Gowalla’s plans by blocking its rival’s use of the API. The threat posed by Gowalla 3 is real; that alone could force Foursquare’s hand in the name of competition. It would also create a firestorm of controversy.

The ball is now in Foursquare’s court. Will they let Gowalla use its API, despite the potential damage it could cause its business? Will it block Gowalla, potentially igniting a developer and anti-competitive controversy? Could it even turn the tables by adding Gowalla integration into its app?

Gowalla has thrown down the gauntlet. It’s Foursquare’s move now.

More About: checkin, facebook, Facebook Places, foursquare, geolocation, gowalla, trending

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BBC iPlayer Coming to the U.S. as an iPad App

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 02:41 AM PST


BBC’s iPlayer is going international and will reach U.S. customers in the form of a subscription-based iPad application soon.

The iPlayer has been launched in 2007, initially offering BBC’s programming – including shows such as Doctor Who and Top Gear – through a desktop client, and later spreading to other platforms such as the BlackBerry.

Unfortunately, the iPlayer has been available only for UK customers due to licensing constrains, similarly to Hulu which has only been available in the North America. Now, the BBC is about to change that with a subscription-based, on-demand service, launching first for the Apple’s iPad sometime next year.

“I can announce here that we’re going to be adopting a pure paid subscription model for the global iPlayer for launch—in part to get audiences used to using the service, but more importantly so we can generate additional value from the service in terms of the user data that it gives us,” said BBC.com’s Managing Director Luke Bradley-Jones at the Digital TV Summit.

The details such as the cost of the subscription fee and the exact date of the launch are unknown at this point.

[via paidContent]

More About: bbc, ipad, iPlayer

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Impressive Zoom HD Camcorder Now Available

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 11:55 PM PST


The Zoom Q3HD Handy Video Recorder is a powerful handheld camcorder that records 1080p HD video and 24-bit/96kHz HD audio.

Although 1080p video has become fairly standard among Flip-style video devices, few of them have focused adequate attention on audio quality.

Zoom has tackled this issue with a dual microphone design that captures high-quality (24-bit/96kHz) stereo sound. The device also allows users to set audio levels and mic gains for for highly precise HD audio. And a built-in HDMI port enables the device to be easily connected to home theaters for media playback.

There are, however, two downsides. Like other cameras in this class, the Zoom Q3HD, somewhat ironically, lacks an optical zoom, so it will only be effective at shooting nearby objects.

The other problem is its price. At $300, it’s among the costliest cameras in its class. But if you’ve been looking for a compact video solution with solid audio, the Zoom Q3HD could be worth the investment.

More About: 24-bit/96kHz, camcorder, Flip, hd audio, hd video, q3hd, zoom

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The Perils of Digital Snooping

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 11:12 PM PST


As anyone passing through a U.S. airport discovered last week, privacy is a precious thing.

And while we can’t expect it from grope-happy TSA officers, everyone should be able to demand a certain level from family and friends. So let’s start with this week’s most obvious shining bauble of a takeaway point: Don’t snoop.

A few decades ago, snooping had pretty clear-cut definitions: jimmying open the lock on Sally’s diary and reading about her awkward fumblings with Billy, listening behind a closed door with a tumbler pressed against the wood, or slicing open a neighbor’s mail. (We soon learned this last one is illegal, meaning that 10-year-olds still freeze in abject fear whenever they realize they’ve accidentally ripped open their sister’s card and brace themselves for policemen to swing in through the windows, handcuffs at the ready.)

Nowadays, accidental espionage is the norm. You grab your girlfriend’s phone to check the time — and bam, there’s a text from her ex-boyfriend. You crack open your daughter’s laptop to show her a Flickr album — kapow, there’s her friends-only Blogspot in fully accessible glory. You surf to Gmail the day after your friend used your computer, and hello, friend’s inbox.

And if you do suspect bad behavior, e-investigation is almost too easy. Like it or not, from time to time your eye will fall on something that’s not meant for you, and when that happens you’re a big fat privacy invader.

In fact, a recent British survey found that 14% of wives spy on their hubbies’ e-mails, 13% read his texts and 10 percent check his Web-surfing history. (The same survey found that about half as many men keep up the same spousal spying). An Australian survey found that 73% of those who check their partners’ texts found out things they later wished they hadn’t.

So hang on, snoopy. You can minimize the damage both to your own conscience and to your relationship by following our three rules of digital snooping.

And so begins my Netiquette column — which I write with my Stuff Hipsters Hate co-blogger, Andrea Bartz — this week over at CNN.


Check out the column at CNN.com >>

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, ThomasTroy


Reviews: Billy, Flickr, gmail, iStockphoto

More About: cnn, netiquette, social media, Stuff Hipsters Hate

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New Comparison Engine Helps You Make Decisions on Products and Services

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 10:34 PM PST


The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: FindTheBest.com

Quick Pitch: FindTheBest is a socially curated comparison engine helping people make faster and more informed decisions, unhindered by marketing bias.

Genius Idea: A few years back Kevin O’Connor — the man who founded DoubleClick and sold it to Google for $3.1 billion — noticed that he repeatedly had a difficult time comparing objective information on product and services on the web.

That problem prompted O’Connor to create FindTheBest, a site that serves up comparison grids for everything from smartphones to e-readers to venture capital firms to colleges to dog breeds to ski resorts to cities.

FindTheBest is really self-explanatory: People can use the site to find the best [insert anything here]. Whatever the topic, visitors can look at comparison charts for products and services — which the startup refers to as “comparison apps” — that highlight all sorts of variables and allow for advance filtering, making the service both practical and amusing. Those curious about comparing dog breeds, for instance, can browse all breeds, select a few to compare side-by-side or sort and filter breeds by dog qualities such as height, weight and temperament.

Human editors are responsible for building the more than 450 comparison apps, but FindTheBest encourages consumers and companies to supplement the available data and even add their own ratings and reviews. Ninety percent of users are adding accurate data, so in next UI release, FindTheBest will start promoting these consumer editing features to encourage even more member engagement, says O’Connor.

The startup will also eventually add in social elements so users can better surface information on the products their friends like. The comparison apps are designed to be objective in nature and pull from publicly available data sets, but O’Connor believes that users will want ways to sort and filter items based on their friends’ input.

Earlier today, FindTheBest announced that it closed an undisclosed round of funding as part of Kleiner Perkins $250 million sFund for social innovation. The funding will allow O’Connor and team to accelerate product development.


Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark


Microsoft BizSpark

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.


Reviews: Google

More About: bizspark, doubleclick, findthebest, sfund, spark-of-genius, startup

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Hulu Eyes Global Expansion

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:29 PM PST


In an interesting move for the global online and entertainment markets, Hulu could soon move to expand internationally.

Citing “an ‘unmet need’ for online television service in markets around the world,” Hulu CEO Jason Kilar told The Wall Street Journal his company would even be willing to take on additional investors to accelerate its expansion.

By most accounts, the move would be a logical one. Hulu is among the leading providers of premium video content online. Due in part to its parent companies, Disney, NBC and News Corp, Hulu brings to the web some of the best programming that television has to offer.

Although much of of Hulu’s content appears days or weeks after its initial air date, those shows and movies would still be available in certain world markets sooner through Hulu than through more traditional means. If Hulu were able to step into other markets around the globe, it would land a decidedly heavy blow against competitors like Netflix, which is also attempting to scale its video streaming businesses.


Reviews: Hulu

More About: disney, Jason Kilar, nbc, netflix, News Corp, video on demand

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Why Gilt Groupe Is Getting Into Full-Price Retail

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:49 PM PST


Invitation-only flash sales site Gilt Groupe plans to launch a full-price men’s retail site in summer 2011, the company announced Tuesday.

The forthcoming website will offer a “tightly edited” range of men’s apparel, gadgets and other accessories alongside a mix of editorial content.

The site will be helmed by John Auerbach, previously the general manager of Gilt’s men’s flash sales site, as president. Gilt has brought in Tyler Thoreson, the former executive editor of men.style.com, and Andy Comer, a former multimedia editor of GQ, to oversee creative and editorial duties on the site.

A full-price men’s retail site is a significant new venture for Gilt, which has built its business selling discounted rates on designer clothing, accessories, travel, decor and, most recently, local services. Already viewed as a competitor among e-retailers in this space, many of whom have begun to host flash sales of their own, the New York-based startup is now in even more direct competition high-end online men’s retailers such as Net-a-Porter, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Bluefly and Yoox.

When asked why Gilt was embracing full-price retail after building a business on limited-time discount offers, Auerbach explained that it had more to do with complementing men’s shopping habits than expanding their business model. “Men shop differently than women… It’s often said that women tend to buy something they like and then find an occasion to wear it, while men will think about the occasion and outfit themselves accordingly,” he said, noting that the site will offer apparel and accessories current to the season to better accommodate occasion-specific dressing.

“There are very few men’s-only shopping destinations and most outlets treat men’s online retail as either a commodity or an afterthought… [Men] deserve an e-commerce experience designed with their needs [as well],” he added.

Gilt currently has 400,000 male members — a significant percentage of its member base, which falls in the 3 to 4 million range — who generate $100 million in sales annually. Gilt plans to keep its flash sales sites separate from its full-price retail site.

More About: fashion, gilt, gilt groupe

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Mashable is Hiring & Other Great Job Opportunities

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 07:02 PM PST


If you’re seeking a job in social media, we’d like to help out. For starters, Mashable’s Job Lists section gathers together all of our resource lists, how-tos and expert guides to help you get hired. In particular, you might want to see our articles on How to Leverage Social Media for Career Success and How to Find a Job on Twitter.

But we’d like to help in a more direct way, too. Mashable's job boards are a place for socially savvy companies to find people like you. This week and every week, Mashable features its coveted job board listings for a variety of positions in the web, social media space and beyond. Have a look at what's good and new on our job boards:


Mashable Job Postings


Ad Ops Manager at Mashable in New York, NY.


VP Product at Mashable in San Francisco, CA.


Front End Web Developer at Mashable in San Francisco, CA.


UI Designer at Mashable in San Francisco, CA.


VP of Sales at Mashable in New York, NY.


Events Content Coordinator at Mashable in New York, NY.


Ruby on Rails Developer at Mashable in San Francisco, CA.


Mashable Job Board Listings


Community Manager at Green Dream LLC in Los Angeles, CA.


Technical Services Analyst at HCSS in Sugar Land, TX.


Director/Associate Director of Ad Sales at Howcast Media in New York, NY.


Account Supervisor/Director – Digital Public Relations at PMK*BNC in West Hollywood, CA.


Lead Contnet Strategist at Brain Traffic in Minneapolis, MN.


PHP Developer at Ultra Logistics in Fair Lawn, NJ.


Digital Account Group Supervisor at GolinHarris in New York, NY.


SEO Specialist at Empirecovers.com in Jenkintown, PA.


Associate Producer at Arkadium in New York, NY.


Web Graphic Design & Content Manager at Stanford Law School in Stanford, CA.


Senior Director, Digital Media at WETA TV/Radio in Arlington, VA.


Product Manager at BabyCenter, LLC in San Francisco, CA.


Vice President of Media/Marketing at Ashoka in Arlington, VA.


Video/Graphics/Editor/Shooter at John Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, MD.


Social Media Internships at Sterling Publishing Co, Inc. in New York, NY.


Information Architect at Blue Fountain Media in New York, NY.


Video Production Assistant at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, MD.


New Media Coordinator at a national TV talk show in Burbank, CA.


PHP Web Developer at Spartz Inc. in Chicago, IL.


Business Development Associate at New York Post in New York, NY.


QA Manager at Bazaarvoice in Austin, TX.


Youth Marketing Manager at PETA in Los Angeles, CA.


Social Media Manager at PETA in Los Angeles, CA.


Director of Social Media Strategy at Likeable Media in New York, NY.


Social Media Community Manager at Gerson Lehrman Group in New York, NY.


Senior Interactive Web Project Manager at TIG Global in Chevy Chase, MD.


Senior Social Media/Web Developer at Goldberg & Osborne in Phoenix, AZ.


Manager of Internet Marketing at Anchor Wave Internet Solutions in Tucson, AZ.


Digital Media Intern at Global Fund for Children in Washington, DC.


Interactive Project Manager at Interactive Partners in New York, NY.


Associate Director, Digital Project Management at Digitas in New York, NY.


Media Supervisor at Digitas in Stamford, CT.


Director, Global Marketing Capabilities at American Express in New York, NY.


Manager, Marketing Insight and Analysis at 1800flowers.com in Carle Place, NY.


VP, Director of Research at Universal McCann in San Francisco, CA.


Group Media Director at Universal McCann in San Francisco, CA.


Media Planner at Universal McCann in San Francisco, CA.


Media Supervisor at Universal McCann in San Francisco, CA.


Mobile Developer at IAC and Emerging Businesses in New York, NY.


Associate Product Marketing Manager at appssavvy in New York, NY.


Director, Brand & Communication Strategy at Universal McCann in San Francisco, CA.


UX Interactive Mobile Designer at IAC Mobile Lab in New York, NY.


Product Manager, Platform at appssavvy in New York, NY.


Product Manager, Ads and Video at appssavvy in New York, NY.


Social Media Manager at Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, NV.


Senior ColdFusion/Facebook App Developer at Advanced Media Productions in Natick, MA.


PHP Web Developer at Advanced Media Productions in Natick, MA.


Mashable’s Job Board has a variety of web 2.0, application development, business development and social networking job opportunities available. Check them out at here.

Find a Web 2.0 Job with Mashable

Got a job posting to share with our readers? Post a job to Mashable today ($99 for a 30 day listing) and get it highlighted every week on Mashable.com (in addition to exposure all day every day in the Mashable marketplace).

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, YinYang


Reviews: Mashable, iStockphoto

More About: jobs


What Google’s Acquisition of Groupon Would Mean for LivingSocial

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 06:17 PM PST


If you haven’t heard, Google is very, very close to acquiring Groupon for a price in the $5.3 to $6 billion range. The press has been quick to speculate what the acquisition will mean for Google, but has said little about what it would mean for Groupon (besides the cash it would put in its founders’ wallets), nor the implications for Groupon’s number-two competitor, LivingSocial.

First, the benefits. According to sources familiar with their respective marketing budgets, Groupon and LivingSocial each spend more than $1 million per month on advertising through Google alone — a huge share of their overall advertising spend. If Google acquires Groupon, the latter will have search inventory set aside for it in the same way YouTube does, effectively cutting a substantial share of Groupon’s advertising costs and, in theory, making it a more profitable business by lowering its operating costs. Groupon will also likely have more prominent placement on Google’s local search product pages, such as those under the Google Places banner.

Another benefit for Groupon is the authority that the Google brand will lend to the (comparatively small and not well-known) startup, especially given the recent stain Groupon has acquired within the small business community.

There is, however, the concern that Groupon will not integrate smoothly into Google, a frequent outcome of the acquisition process. It certainly wouldn’t be the first startup that has gone to Google to die.

That would clear the path for LivingSocial and other competitors in the group buying space. If and when Google acquires Groupon, LivingSocial would become a much more attractive prospect for acquisition or an IPO. At 10 million users (compared to Groupon’s 12 million) and $500 million in projected revenue for 2011, it’s not far behind Groupon currently.

In fact, rumors have surfaced that Amazon is now looking to make a significant investment in the Washington, D.C.-based startup with a valuation in the multi-billions; sources close to the matter have likewise confirmed that word about Amazon’s interests is circulating through the office, although LivingSocial has officially declined to comment. (Amazon currently has no investments in location-based services, although it has tested the daily deals space with the acquisition of Woot.)

There’s also an immediate benefit, as the search advertising costs for LivingSocial and similar services will fall with less competition over the same keywords once inventory is set aside for the Groupon.

Clearly, the benefits for LivingSocial don’t end here, and this startup could likely face significant challenges against a competing service backed by the Goliath of Internet companies. How do you envision the future of group buying in the event of Groupon’s acquisition? What other benefits (or downsides) do you see for Groupon and its competitors?


Reviews: Google, Internet, YouTube

More About: amazon, Google, groupon, living social

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New Michael Jackson Song Premieres Exclusively on Ping

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 05:25 PM PST


Yet another single from Michael Jackson’s posthumous record, Michael, has hit the web and this time it can only be found in one place: on Apple’s newly minted social network, Ping.

The release of “Much Too Soon” follows close on the heels of previous singles, “Hold My Hand,” which debuted on November 23 on Jackson’s official website, and “Breaking News,” which hit the web on November 8. Michael will be released December 14.

“Breaking News” prompted a boatload of speculation among fans and family members that the song was not, in fact, sung by Jackson, impelling Epic Records to release a statement confirming the song’s authenticity.

“Much Too Soon” has not been met with such derision; comments on Ping are largely positive, as are comments under the announcement on Jackson’s website.

The song will be available in full on Ping for the entire week, yet is not currently up on Jackson’s own site. It’s an interesting move, considering Apple’s social network really has yet to fully take off among musicians and fans.

For example, Jackson has 56,981 followers on Ping, while 24,786,370 Like the musician on Facebook and 259,746 follow him on Twitter. Naturally, both of these networks include plugs for the Ping placement, but it’s still an intriguing choice for such a high-profile release — although iTunes does offer a platform for purchase, the fans don’t seem to be flocking to the social network in droves.

We’ve reached out to Epic Records for comment on the move.


Reviews: Facebook, Ping, Twitter

More About: apple, michael jackson, music, Ping

For more Entertainment coverage:


5 Better Ways to Read “Hacker News”

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 04:22 PM PST


The Web Development Series is supported by Rackspace, the better way to do hosting. Learn more about Rackspace’s hosting solutions here.

Hacker NewsHacker News is one of our favorite places to find interesting stories, learn about apps and side projects from the dev community and stay connected to the early stage startup scene.

The only problem is the interface. It’s simple and easy to get used to, but it’s also a trifle — dare we say it? — ugly.

We’re not the only ones with the same complaint. Over the years, many a developer/designer has tried his or her hand at reimagining the Hacker News interface. Here are a few we like and think are interesting.


1. Hacker News UX


This is a clever extension for Google Chrome users. It basically delivers the same no-frills UI to which you’re accustomed, but splits it into two columns. On the left, you will see the top stories, and on the right, the newest, giving you an integrated, at-a-glance interface for exploring both the popular and the fresh on Hacker News.

Cooler still is the tooltips feature. When you hover over a username on Hacker News, you’ll immediately see the user’s stats and bio.

Another Chrome extension of interest is Hacker News OnePage, which, as the more astute among you might guess, creates a single-page interface in two columns, with top stories on the left and individual stories’ comment threads on the right.


2. hckr news


This site is, as the creator writes, a minimalist Hacker News alternative that displays a “chronologic list of items that have made it onto the Hacker News homepage.”

You can filter this list by number of posts — just see the top 10 if you’re pressed for time; if you’ve got a couple hours to burn, you can browse through the top 50%. You can view what’s new or easily catch up if you’ve spent a few days offline — like, say, if you were in a coma or otherwise unable to access the Internet.

The thoughtful chap who designed hckr news also made Chrome and Safari extensions that help manage and monitor comments on the site.


3. Flipboard


We’ve gone on before about how Flipboard is a great, gorgeous interface for Twitter and general, end-user social media tools, but we’re not alone in thinking it’s also an awesome way to digest Hacker News. It brings Flipboard’s typically glossy, magazine-like interface to the bare-bones feed, rendering it easier to skim and read.

Polaris Venture Partners’s Ryan Spoon writes that the way the Flipboard app renders Hacker News is “inspiration to (re)consider product design.”


4. Hacker Newspaper


Suppose you don’t use Chrome and don’t own an iPad. Here’s a UI you can try out in any browser.

As you might gather from the name, this “miniapp” gives Hacker News a traditional newspaper-like skin. Its creator considered that the “complex, structured heirarchy” of a print paper had a lot of sophistication that most for-geeks publications lack. Hacker Newspaper marries this heirarchy with an hourly update from the Hacker News feed via a Python script. It’s easy to read and easy on the eyes, as well.


5. “Hacker Monthly”


If there’s anything more old school than a print-like interface on the web, it’s an actual print publication.

Hacker Monthly is just that: a print curation of the top-rated articles and stories posted to Hacker News. You can subscribe to the print version for $88 per year, and you can get a year-long digital subscription for $29. Single editions run $10 plus shipping for a physical copy or $3 for the digital edition.

And just think of all the time you’ll save when you don’t have to make — or, heaven forbid, read — those troublesome comments.


What Did We Leave Out?


Aside from “the point of Hacker News,” is there anything you think we’ve missed? We’d love to hear about your favorite Hacker News redesigns or alternatives in the comments.


Series supported by Rackspace


rackspace

The Web Development Series is supported by Rackspace, the better way to do hosting. No more worrying about web hosting uptime. No more spending your time, energy and resources trying to stay on top of things like patching, updating, monitoring, backing up data and the like. Learn why.


More Dev & Design Resources from Mashable:


- 11 Trends in Web Logo Design: The Good, the Bad and the Overused
- Essential Web Design Advice From a Wireframing Master [INTERVIEW]
- 10 Beginner Tips from PHP Masters
- 10 Intermediate and Advanced Tips from PHP Masters
- 4 Game-Changing Trends in Web App Design

Image based on photo from Flickr, dsevilla.


Reviews: Chrome, Flickr, Google Chrome, Hacker News, Internet, Python, Safari, Twitter

More About: Flipboard, hacker monthly, hacker news, hacker news UX, hacker newspaper, hckr news, UI, UX, web development series

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Amazon Bans WikiLeaks From Its Servers

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 03:14 PM PST


Whistleblower website WikiLeaks has been kicked off Amazon.com’s U.S. servers after moving its operations just a day ago.

The move by Amazon comes after questioning from U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, the chairman of the House Security Committee.

“This morning Amazon informed my staff that it has ceased to host the Wikileaks website,” Senator Lieberman said in a statement.

“I wish that Amazon had taken this action earlier based on Wikileaks’ previous publication of classified material. The company’s decision to cut off Wikileaks now is the right decision and should set the standard for other companies Wikileaks is using to distribute its illegally seized material.”

WikiLeaks has been the center of attention this week due to its release of more than 250,000 sensitive U.S. diplomatic cables. As a result, the U.S. government has been stepping up pressure against the website, which has also been the target of of multiple distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.

Yesterday, in an attempt to thwart the DDoS attacks, WikiLeaks moved its operations from its Swedish servers to Amazon Web Services, the e-commerce giant’s cloud computing and hosting platform. That didn’t even last for a day though; the whistleblower website is once again hosted on its Swedish servers.

Amazon isn’t saying why it kicked WikiLeaks to the curb. While it could have been to protect its servers from inevitable DDoS attacks, we suspect pressure from the U.S. government probably had something to do with it.

That’s not the only problem plaguing it, either. Yesterday, founder Julian Assange was placed on Interpol’s wanted list for sex crimes he’s accused of committing in Sweden.


Reviews: Wikileaks

More About: amazon, amazon web services, amazon.com, AWS, ddos, DDoSA, julian assange, trending, wikileaks

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StumbleUpon Poised to Launch Pro Accounts Early Next Year

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 02:40 PM PST


At the start of next year, businesses, publications and brands will be able to join StumbleUpon as “Pro” users, curating both their own content and suggested content in order to reach a larger audience.

The StumbleUpon team — Founder & CEO Garrett Camp, Director of Communications Mike Mayzel and Senior Product Manager Jeff Eddings — dropped by Mashable HQ today to chat a bit about the project, which is tentatively called “StumbleUpon Pro.”

The idea is that businesses and publications can sign up for the discovery service as something between a regular user and a paid content provider. A pro account would essentially work the same way a verified account on Twitter does, giving the publication/company/business a level of legitimacy and authority that will entice regular StumbleUpon denizens to follow it.

Naturally, accounts like this won’t contain merely a stream of a company’s own content — that would be boring — but that content will more effectively reach interested users given the likely boost in following. The team wasn’t exactly sure how the Pro accounts would be denoted on the site — perhaps with a badge or some other indication.

Right now, it looks as though this service will be free, but businesses and publications can also pay to have their content featured more prominently using StumbleUpon’s existing ad platform.

According to Eddings, this move aims to answer one question: “Who are the people who are here to discover stuff, and who are the people who are here to get discovered?”

Image courtesy of Flickr, Laughing Squid


Reviews: Flickr, Mashable, StumbleUpon, Twitter

More About: MARKETING, social media, social news, stumbleupon

For more Social Media coverage:


Popular Pulse News App for iPad Gets a Big Facebook Infusion

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 02:27 PM PST


Alphonso Labs is releasing an update to its popular — and now free — Pulse News Reader app for iPad that now offers users the ability to consume three different types of Facebook streams. The update is big step forward for the young startup and represents its intentions to continue to add new, and social, information streams into the experience.

Application [iTunes link] users can now digest Facebook in three distinct sections: News links, Status updates and My wall. The separation is designed to make it easy for Pulse users to visually browse and consume filtered Facebook information in a unique fashion.

The Facebook implementation is both slick and fresh. The links section smartly separates out the news items your friends are sharing, while the status updates section makes it easy to flick through and read the short musings of your Facebook friends. Plus, in viewing your wall as a stream, Pulse has provided users with a convenient tool for quickly glimpsing “Likes” and comments on your posts and chiming in if need be.

Today’s update also includes enhanced sharing options and support for video.

Prior to this release, Pulse users could only add new sources through RSS feeds, but users have clamored for social information streams — Twitter and Facebook especially — says Co-founder Akshay Kothari. Twitter streams are also in the works, Kothari says.

Pulse for iPad is first to get the Facebook-infused update, but its mobile applications for iPhone and Android will soon be updated with the new information source as well.


Reviews: Android, Facebook, Twitter, news

More About: alphonso labs, facebook, ipad, pulse, pulse news, startup

For more Startups coverage:


YouTube Launches Skippable Ads

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 02:21 PM PST


YouTube has officially launched its new TrueView ad format, allowing site visitors to avoid watching ads they’re not interested in. Users will now be able to look for a countdown button that will let them skip an ad after it plays for five seconds. In some cases, viewers will be able to select which ad to watch out of three pre-roll options.

As we reported back in June, YouTube had been experimenting with the button — allowing users to stop ads from playing — for awhile. The other option, allowing users to select which ad to watch, is similar to the one offered on Hulu, where long-form video content has typically had a stronger presence.

It looks like some advertisers are reacting positively to the new ad format. Some have said TrueView is a cost-effective advertising option that provides them with a better ability to target their audience.

“Thus far, we’ve seen about a 40% view-through rate and since we only pay when potential customers actually watch a video, we have more control over our budget,” said Lee Topar, director of online marketing for GoPro, in a statement to Google’s Inside AdWords blog.

TrueView, which is presently only available to advertisers with managed accounts, isn’t all that widespread on YouTube just yet. Advertisers can decide whether they’d like to use TrueView or stick with the usual non-skippable platform. Meanwhile, YouTube says it’s working on providing more choice and control in advertising to its users.

YouTube TrueView

YouTube Ad Choices


Reviews: Google, Hulu, YouTube

More About: advertising, trueview, web video, youtube

For more Web Video coverage:


Track Santa in Real-Time With Google Maps This Holiday

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 02:03 PM PST

Christmas Eve might not be for another 23 days or so, but Google and NORAD already have the online Santa Tracker ready to go.

NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, has been tracking Santa and his sleigh since 1955. Since 2007, Google has partnered with the organization to make sure that Santa and his reindeer can be tracked in real-time using Google Maps.

The noradsanta.org website is now up for all to see with a special countdown timer to Christmas Eve. The website will release new holiday games that kids can play each day leading up to the holiday.

At 2 a.m. ET on December 24, the real-time tracking will commence and you can follow along Santa’s trek as he delivers toys to boys and girls all over the world.

This is one of my favorite holiday traditions and it’s always a great way to kick-off the season.


Reviews: Google, Google Maps

More About: Google, norad, santa claus, santa tracker

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Google Reader Finally Gets an Android App

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:44 PM PST


Google Reader has finally arrived on Android, with an app that allows users to access most of the features of the popular RSS tool from their smartphones.

It's a bit curious that it took so long for Google to develop an app for Android – its own operating system – but it's well-worth the wait (iOS users have enjoyed an optimized version of Reader for several years).

It syncs up with your existing Google Reader account, such that your unread counts, starred items and subscriptions are consistent from desktop to mobile. Each news item can be starred, liked, or shared, and you can even add “Notes,” just as you can in the web app.

There's also integrated search as well as a "send" feature that integrates with the applications on your device. With the latter, for example, I can share out a Mashable article to Twitter using Seesmic – my Twitter Android app of choice – or to Facebook using Facebook's native app.

Overall, Google Reader for Android does exactly what you'd expect it to, and potentially puts a big dent in the future prospects of third-party clients like NewsRob. It's now available in Android Market or you can use the QR code below:


Reviews: Android, Android Market, Facebook, Google, Google Reader, Mashable, Seesmic, Twitter

More About: android, google reader, rss, rss reader

For more Mobile coverage:


5 Stylish Computer Mice for the Design Aficionado

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 12:55 PM PST


As a companion to the list of stylish keyboards we recently brought you, we’ve turned our attention to another vital PC peripheral: the humble computer mouse.

Whether you’re a Mac or a PC, you don’t have to put up with a boring, bland input device. A stylish mouse can easily add a touch of design chic to your computing setup, and in some cases even offer improved ergonomics.

So take a look at the five seriously stylish options we’ve highlighted and let us know in the comments below just what it is that pushes your buttons as far as mouse design goes.


1. Microsoft Arc Mouse


The wireless Arc mouse is designed for portability — it folds down to 60% of its full size — without losing any functionality of a desktop mouse. Aesthetically, it’s gorgeously sleek and curvy and there are some decent features too. The ambidextrous Arc boasts six month’s battery life, four programmable buttons and a tidy snap-in transceiver.

Cost: $49.95


2. Hippus Handshoe Mouse


The Handshoe mouse is said to fit your hand “like a glove,” with ergonomics the reason behind that curvaceous design. Available in small, medium and large, wireless and wired, and in different colors, the mouse’s hand-friendliness is the cherry on top, as far as desirability goes.

Cost: From $99


3. Apple Magic Mouse


Apple’s Magic Mouse brings multi-touch goodness in a seamless, low-profile shell. The input device’s touch controls include the ability to move in any direction with the swipe of a finger and to scroll with two, while the entire mouse is one clickable button. It’s said to be much more intuitive (once you get the hang of it!) than being restricted to buttons and a scroll wheel.

Cost: $69


4. Intelligent Design Titanium Mouse


This is about as high-end as computer peripherals come. With a price tag that could cover the cost of a computer itself, you’ve got to really value design to shell out out on this pricey peripheral. If you do, you’ll be getting a mouse made of grade one titanium with a neodymium scroll wheel. It is a thing of beauty — if you can stand to look at it after forking over that much cash.

Cost: 399 Euros (approx $527)


5. Eclipse Touchmouse


With a brushed aluminum finish, the industrial looking Eclipse Touchmouse adds an element of touch with a rectangular module on top that boasts four-way on-screen scrolling. In addition, the “quicktouch” tech lets you use shortcut commands (a combination of mouse button and movements) to carry out certain actions.

Cost: $47.99


BONUS: Logitech MX Air Mouse


This mouse offers 3D features in its operation with its dual purpose functionality as a remote control, or as Logitech phrases it, “in-air cursor control.” In addition to laser tracking for ordinary mouse movement, the MX Air Mouse offers motion control of your media and scroll touch functionality that is said to be “hyper-fast.”

Cost: $149.99


More Tech Resources from Mashable:


- 10 Comfortable Lap Desks for Cozy Computing
- 10 Cool and Unusual Laptop Sleeves [PICS]
- 5 Beautiful Keyboards to Spice Up Your Boring Desk
- 10 Cool Cable Management Solutions [PICS]
- Top 10 Geekiest Decorations for Your Home or Office [PICS]

More About: accessories, apple, computer mouse, gadgets, input devices, List, Lists, mice, microsoft, mouse, peripherals

For more Tech coverage:


Chrome Approaches 10% Browser Marketshare [STATS]

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 12:20 PM PST


Net Applications has just released its browser usage share statistics for November 2010, and the decline of Internet Explorer continues to be a cogent trend.

Meanwhile, Google’s Chrome browser continues to increase its share of the market, topping 9.3%, a new record according to Net Applications’s data.

Microsoft continues to be the overall browser leader, with all versions of Internet Explorer representing 58.4% of browser usage. That’s a drop of more than a percentage point since October, but still more than double its closest rival, Mozilla Firefox.


Internet Explorer 6.0 usage is down to about 13.7% worldwide; that figure might very well sink below 10% in the next six months. Microsoft is hoping that the upcoming launch of Internet Explorer 9 will help compensate for that, however.

The big story, of course, continues to be the success of Google Chrome. Keep in mind, Chrome has only been available for Mac and Linux users for about 12 months. In that time the browser has managed to not only erode IE usage figures, but the usage of Firefox as well.

Apple’s Safari, which like Chrome is based on the open source WebKit rendering engine, was up slightly for the month with a 5.3% share of the browser market.

What web browser do you use these days? Have you switched to Chrome or Firefox, or does IE still power your web experience?

[via PC World]


Reviews: Chrome, Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Linux, Mozilla Firefox

More About: Browsers, chrome, Firefox, google chrome, internet ex, stats, usage share, web browsers

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Mashable Awards: Announcing The Full List of Finalists

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 11:42 AM PST


The Mashable Awards, our annual contest highlighting the very best the web has to offer, is entering its final round.

After receiving 700,000 nominations, we’ve narrowed down the 40,000+ nominees to just five finalists per category. You have from now until December 15 to pick the winners. If you have questions about the Mashable Awards and the list of finalists, please post them to our GetSatisfaction page.

Here is the full list of the finalists in each category. You can vote once per category per day. Get voting!


Vote For Your Favorites »


Social Media


Must-Follow Brand

Most Creative Social Media Campaign

Must-Follow Personality

Best Social Media Customer Service sponsored by BlackBerry

Best Social Media Management Tool

Best Social Media Service for Small Business


Startup/Company


Most Promising New Company

Entrepreneur of the Year

Best New Gadget

Best Location-Based Service


Web


Best Internet Meme sponsored by Dynadot

Best Music Discovery Service

Best Online Game

Best Use of an API

Best Web Video

Best Website User Experience

Breakthrough Website Design


Mobile


Best Mobile App sponsored by Mobile Future

Best Mobile Device

Best Mobile Game

Best Mobile Platform

Best Mobile User Experience


Social Good


Most Creative Social Good Campaign

Most Influential Social Good Champion sponsored by Yahoo!

Must-Follow Non-Profit


The Mashable Awards Gala at Cirque du Soleil Zumanity (Vegas)


In partnership with Cirque du Soleil, The Mashable Awards Gala event will bring together the winners and nominees, the Mashable community, partners, media, the marketing community, consumer electronics and technology brands and attendees from the 2011 International CES Convention to Las Vegas on Thursday, January 6, 2011. Together, we will celebrate the winners and the community of the Mashable Awards at the Cirque du Soleil Zumanity stage in the beautiful New York New York Hotel. The event will include acts and performances from our partner Cirque du Soleil Zumanity. In addition, there will be special guest presenters and appearances.

Date: Thursday, January 6th, 2011 (during International CES Convention week)
Time: 7:00 – 10:00 pm PT
Location: Cirque du Soleil Zumanity, New York New York Hotel, Las Vegas
Agenda: Networking, Open Bars, Acts, Surprises and the Mashable Awards Gala presentations
Socialize: Facebook, Foursquare, Meetup, Plancast, Twitter (Hashtag: #MashableAwards)

Register for Mashable Awards Gala at Cirque du Soleil Zumanity stage (Las Vegas - 2011 International CES convention) [Ticketed Event] in Las Vegas, NV  on Eventbrite

Thanks to our sponsors:

Mashable Awards Gala Partner:

cirque logo From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a global entertainment organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has over 5,000 employees, including more than 1,200 artists from close to 50 different countries.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to nearly 100 million spectators in 300 cities on five continents. In 2010 Cirque du Soleil, will present 21 shows simultaneously throughout the world, including seven in Las Vegas.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com

Mashable Awards Online Partner:

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The Fresh Diet is like having a Cordon Bleu chef prepare your meals in your own kitchen. There’s no cooking, cleaning, shopping – just fresh prepared delicious meals, hand delivered to your door daily! Whether you want to lose weight or just want to eat healthy, The Fresh Diet can help you meet your goals. The best news, we’re giving away a FREE week of The Fresh Diet every day on our Facebook page. Just click here to become a fan and you could be the next winner. Join now!

Mashable Awards Gala Premier Partner:

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands includeFord, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford, please visit http://facebook.com/ford.


LG Electronics is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 84,000 people working in 115 operations including 84 subsidiaries around the world. With 2008 global sales of $44.7 billion, LG comprises of five business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, Air Conditioning and Business Solutions. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances and business solutions, all under LG's "Life's Good" marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

Mashable Awards Partner:

Join us at the 2011 International CES®, the global platform for inspired ideas and innovation. With 2,500 exhibitors, CES continues to be the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow and always reflects the dynamic consumer electronics industry. The International CES is not open to the general public and all attendees must be in the CE industry to be eligible to attend the show. Register FREE for the 2011 CES with priority code MSHB, an exclusive promotion for Mashable Readers.

Mashable Awards Category Sponsor, Gala Silver Sponsor and After Party Sponsor:

Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications including the BlackBerry® wireless platform and the new BlackBerry PlayBook. For the latest on the BlackBerry PlayBook visit the Inside BlackBerry Blog.

Mashable Awards Category Sponsor:

Win an iPad!

Join us on Facebook to learn how to enter Dynadot's I Can Haz iPad Giveaway!

Dynadot is an ICANN accredited domain name registrar and web host where you can register the perfect domain name affordably, reliably, simply and securely. Whether you are a blogger, business owner, or planning on creating the next best Internet meme you need a domain that represents you. Let Dynadot help you establish your web identity today.


Mobile Future is a broad-based coalition of businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals interested in and dedicated to advocating for an environment in which innovations in wireless technology and services are enabled and encouraged. Our mission is to educate the public and key decision makers on innovations in the wireless industry that have transformed the way Americans work and play and to advocate continued investment in wireless technologies.

Our "Mobile Year in Review 2010″ animation launching this December will prove a glimpse into the most notable breakthroughs in the wireless industry this year.


Yahoo! is an innovative technology company that operates the largest digital media, content, and communications business in the world. Yahoo! keeps more than half a billion consumers worldwide connected to what matters to them most, and delivers powerful audience solutions to advertisers through its unique combination of Science + Art + Scale. Yahoo! is proud to sponsor this Mashable Award because Yahoo! is focused on connecting individuals to a community of millions so they can change the world together. That's How Good Grows at Yahoo!. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal.

Mashable Awards Gala Silver Sponsor:

Aro Mobile is an intelligent mobile experience that includes better email, connected contacts, smarter calendar and improved browsing.

The Aro system automatically learns what's important in your life—the people, places, dates and organizations you care about most. In your communications, Aro automatically identifies people, places, events, dates,organizations and locations. From any recognized term, Aro offers quick action menus to speed up your day.

The unique Aro experience is powered by advanced web services: next generation natural language processing and semantic data analytics services. Aro gives you the power to see through the clutter and focus your mobile life.

Mashable Awards Gala VIP Lounge sponsor:

Influxis image

Influxis specializes in the deployment of creative streaming solutions. Services include large scale deployment, mobile streaming, turn-key applications, and enterprise support with custom network options. With the unique combination of a worldwide network, knowledgeable developer support and nearly a decade of streaming media experience, Influxis is an essential partner to businesses, advertisers, developers, educators, and others who seek expertise in innovative streaming.


Reviews: Android, BlackBerry Rocks!, Evernote, Facebook, Flavors.me, Foursquare, Gowalla, HootSuite, Internet, Last.fm, Mashable, Nimbuzz, Pandora, RSS Graffiti, SugarSync, TweetDeck, Twitter, Yahoo!, eBuddy, iPhone, uberVu

More About: Awards, entrepreneurs, gadgets, las vegas, mashable, mashable awards, mashable awards 2010, Nominations, social media, startups, tech, web

For more Social Media coverage:


5 Innovative Classroom Management Tools for Teachers

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 11:15 AM PST

The Smarter Products Series is supported by IBM. Find out more about how IBM is working to create a Smarter Planet.


Few teachers are drawn to the profession for its administrative duties. But the reality of attendance taking, lesson planning, grading and parental communications is that they’re a big part of the job.

These tasks, however, need not take over. With help from the many online services and mobile apps designed for teachers, it can be easy to efficiently organize and complete classroom management responsibilities.

Here are five of our favorite virtual tools for tackling some of the most common classroom chores.


1. Digital Gradebook: SchoolCircuit


SchoolCircuit won us over by making its online gradebook easy to access for parents and students, and easy to manage for teachers. By assigning access codes to create accounts, teachers can give students and their parents the ability to check grades, attendance and assignments, as well as messages from the teacher and upcoming events. This feature alone goes a long way in saving time for teachers who are used to fielding inquiries about grades and due dates.

The interface makes it easy to create classes and notifies the teacher when students and parents create their accounts. The grading feature itself is equal parts flexible and easy to use; the teacher can choose his or her own grading scale; choose to make certain assignments weighted; and color code by late, missing or complete assignments.

Another similar free option is Engrade, which also includes options to build online quizzes and create class wikis.


2. Give Feedback Online: Backboard


Backboard

As more students complete their work on computers, why not skip the paper drafts and give input online? Backboard enables groups to access a shared document and make notes and corrections. It saves time in group projects, draft assessments and even grading.


3. Create and Grade Quizes: ClassMarker


Instead of printing paper quizzes and grading them by hand, teachers can use ClassMaker to make online assessments that are graded instantly. Teachers can choose between five different formats including essay responses (obviously excluded from the “instant grading” feature). They can also randomize test questions and set time limits.

The free version allows unlimited use of the basic functionality. For $25 per year, teachers can remove advertising and also have access to e-mailed results, overall question percentages, overall quiz results percentages and learner score averages.


4. Manage Lesson Plans: PlanbookEdu


PlanbookEdu is a free, online lesson plan book that functions much like a paper book with a couple of important exceptions. First, since it is cloud-based, it’s impossible to forget at home or at school. It also makes customizing and editing easier, and each box functions much like its own tiny text pad. The capability to easily share plans with substitute teachers, colleagues and administrators — probably the biggest advantage — comes only with the $20 per year premium version.

Also worth checking out is TheLessonPlanBook and Apple’s Lesson Planner web app.


5. Take Attendance: Attendance for iPhone


Attendance

It shows in the features that this $4.99 app was created by a teacher. Instead of typing each student’s name manually, users can upload from an address book or a CSV file. Teachers can snap headshots of the students with their phones or upload them from an address book to display with the names while taking attendance, and the attendance statuses are customizable. A “random student” feature helps teachers avoid calling on the same students to answer questions too often.

It’s also easy to e-mail attendance reports, or other announcements, to particular students or to the whole class. Using the same method, teachers can back up the data they’re inputting on the app during call.


Series Supported by IBM

The Smarter Products Series is supported by IBM. Find out more about how IBM is working to create a Smarter Planet.


More Education Resources from Mashable:


- 8 Ways Technology Is Improving Education
- The Case For Social Media in Schools
- 7 Fantastic Free Social Media Tools for Teachers
- 5 Fun and Safe Social Networks for Children
- How Online Classrooms Are Helping Haiti Rebuild Its Education System

Image courtesy of Flickr, George Eastman House


Reviews: Flickr

More About: apps, attendance, classroom management, education, gradebook, List, Lists, Smarter Products Series, students, teachers, teaching, tools, web apps

For more Tech coverage:


Cyber Monday Makes History: Online Spending Exceeds $1 Billion

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 10:34 AM PST


New data from comScore suggests that Cyber Monday may have been the heaviest online spending day in history with a record-breaking $1.028 billion in online spending — a 16% jump in spending when compared against the same day last year.

The figure also represents the first time single-day online spending has exceeded the $1 billion threshold, according to comScore. The company predicts that there will be even more billion-dollar online spending days before the online holiday shopping season is over.

This year there were 4% more online shoppers (9 million) spending on average 10% more per transaction ($60.05), altogether accounting for a 6% bump in total transactions (17.1 million). While this is good news for online retailers, employers might have experienced a loss in worker productivity on Monday as nearly half of all dollars spent on online purchases were made from work computers.

“The online holiday shopping season has clearly gotten off to a very strong start, which is welcome news. At the same time, it's important to note that some of the early strength in consumer spending is almost certainly the result of retailers' heavier-than-normal promotional and discounting activity at this early point in the season,” said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni.

All in all, this holiday season is proving to be a big year for online retailers — they also enjoyed a fruitful Black Friday, seeing an overall 15.9% growth in sales from last year.

Image courtesy of Flickr, bowena


Reviews: Flickr

More About: ComScore, cyber monday, cyber monday sales, online shopping, trending

For more Business coverage:


“Top Chef” Facebook Game Coincides With “All-Stars” Premiere

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 10:10 AM PST

Chef Hat

Top Chef fans gearing up to watch Wednesday night’s premiere of Top Chef All-Stars can now play a new Facebook game featuring their favorite “chef’testants.”

Top Chef Challenge — which launched today — gives players a chance to show which chefs they’re rooting for during the show’s newest season, where 18 contestants who nearly won previous seasons will compete once again for the “Top Chef” title. The goal is for players to get their favorite chef’testants as many points as possible each week a new episode airs, while earning some Top Chef badges. There’s even a chance to meet the game’s winning chef’testant.

Once fans playing the game pick their favorite contestant for the week, they will be directed to a page that lists three challenges that must be completed that day for their chef of choice to earn points. The players will also have to complete each challenge by a designated time.

The first challenge involves sharing a message with friends about which All-Star a player is supporting via Facebook or Twitter — this earns chef’testants five points. The next challenge requires players to share another message that explains why they’re supporting a particular chef in order to earn that person 10 more points.

If both challenges are completed, fans are then given a bit.ly link to share with friends via various methods (Facebook, Twitter, e-mails and IM). The link leads everyone back to the original Facebook app — and every click that link receives will give a chosen chef 10 bonus points. Even if a chef has already been eliminated from the show, he or she can remain in the running on Top Chef Challenge. There will be a winning chef’testant each week — the challenge’s weekly winner will be publicly visible on an “All-Star Leaderboard” that refreshes in real time.

Of course, this isn’t the first time social media has been used as a promotional tool for a TV show. In September, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s sixth season kicked off with a social media campaign — fans could use the Sunny Tweets app on the FX website to post their thoughts about the show directly to its Facebook page or their Twitter streams. MTV has also been using a Twitter Tracker during a number of live events like the Video Music Awards and even a President Barack Obama town hall broadcast.

Check out a couple of screencaps below:

Top Chef Challenge Badges

Top Chef Challenge: Choose Your Chef'testant

Thumbnail courtesy of Flickr, juspan


Reviews: Facebook, Flickr, STAR, Twitter

More About: facebook, social gaming, television, top chef, top chef challenge

For more Entertainment coverage:


Evernote Beta for Mac Adds Notebook Sharing

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:59 AM PST


Evernote has added two of its most requested features to the latest version of its desktop application for OS X. Evernote 2.0 Beta for Mac now features in-app notebook sharing and Notebook Stacks, a new notebook organizational feature.

Users of the desktop application can now share their Notebooks without having to visit the website. The app features a full suite of sharing options that make it easy to adjust the sharing permissions of a particular notebook. Premium users will also now have the ability to allow others to edit their shared notebooks and see the history of edits.

The Notebook Stacks is an organizational feature that functions just like it sounds: Notebooks can now be stacked together in a hierarchical structure. For instance, you can create a notebook for recipes and then bind notes to the group. Associated content can then be accessed quickly through simple tabulation.

Since this is a beta release, Evernote isn’t currently providing a direct download link. To get Evernote 2.0 Beta for Mac, install the latest OS X desktop release, and then go to preferences and select “update to beta versions when available” from the software update tab.


Reviews: Evernote

More About: apps, evernote, os x, productivity

For more Tech coverage:


Verizon Wireless to Launch 4G LTE Service on December 5

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:50 AM PST


Verizon Wireless confirmed this morning that its 4G network would launch on Sunday, December 5. Long Term Evolution (LTE) service will be available in 38 cities and 60 airports immediately upon its launch.

The network will support 5 – 12 Mbps download speeds and uploads of 2 – 5 Mbps. These speeds are about the same as many home broadband connections in the U.S., which makes it extremely fast by mobile standards. It’s not quite the speed of lighting from the commercial, but it is about 10 times faster than Verizon’s existing 3G network.

Interestingly, Verizon isn’t launching its 4G service with any mobile handsets. The first device to support Verizon’s LTE network will be the LG VL600 USB modem, with the Pantech UML290 following soon. Both devices will sell for $100 after a $50 rebate and a two-year contract.

Verizon subscribers will be able to select from two 4G LTE mobile broadband plans: $50 per month for 5 GB of data or $80 for 10 GB.

While there is no cap on how much bandwidth one can consume, we are concerned that there is no unlimited plan available. Overages will cost $10 per GB in both of Verizon’s LTE plans. Despite its impressive speeds, the cost of these packages means that an avid Internet user would be unable to switch to LTE as a primary source of broadband. This also means that we’re not yet likely to see a cord-cutting revolution like the one that occurred when people switched from landlines to cellphones.

Verizon’s initial LTE offering is both ambitious and aggressive. Its launch in 38 cities will immediately make it the largest provider of 4G wireless in the U.S. The carrier has stated that it will gradually expand its 4G footprint and hopes to have completed expansion by the end of 2013.

Here is the list of the 38 cities that will get Verizon 4G LTE on Sunday, December 10:

  • Akron, Ohio
  • Athens, Georgia
  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • Baltimore, Maryland
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • Columbus, Ohio
  • Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Dallas, Texas
  • Denver, Colorado
  • Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Houston, Texas
  • Jacksonville, Florida
  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Miami, Florida
  • Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota
  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
  • New York, New York
  • Oakland, California
  • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Orlando, Florida
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Rochester, New York
  • San Antonio, Texas
  • San Diego, California
  • San Francisco, California
  • San Jose, California
  • Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
  • St. Louis, Missouri
  • Tampa, Florida
  • Washington, D.C.
  • West Lafayette, Indiana
  • West Palm Beach, Florida

Reviews: Internet

More About: 4G, LTE, verizon wireless

For more Tech coverage:


Beyond Viral: How Successful Marketers Are Embracing the Social Web

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:26 AM PST

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Matthew Latkiewicz works at Zendesk.com, customer support software. He writes for and edits Zengage, Zendesk's blog about customer engagement. He also writes about wine for McSweeney's and imagines stuff at his own website, youwillnotbelieve.us.

Just as early television shows were essentially radio plays shot on film, the earliest attempts by online marketers mimicked the worlds of television and print. While banner ads and pre-roll commercials are still with us, of course, a new generation of marketing professionals and companies are exploring techniques more native to the web: multi-platform marketing campaigns that encourage interactivity.

Marketers who take advantage of the Internet's unique capabilities have the potential to build increasingly engaged customer communities. Here’s a look at three major trends.


1. User-Generated Content Contests


Doritos hosted its first Crash the Superbowl campaign in 2007. Like a lot of big companies, Doritos bought a commercial slot for the Superbowl, but instead of hiring a production company to make a 30-second spot, Doritos turned to its consumers. "Grab your camera and create your Doritos commercial," the company advertised. Anyone could create and submit a spot. These spots were put to a vote online, and the finalists received $10,000 and the winning spot ran in the very expensive Superbowl slot.

More than 1,000 people submitted videos, and Doritos generated a lot of attention for the campaign, ranking high in a number of surveys that tracked buzz and impact of the Super Bowl commercials.

These kinds of campaigns are very popular on the Internet at the moment and they range in scale. SolidWorks, makers of computer-aided design (CAD) software, worked with the design firm Small Army to build a campaign that involved its very active community. Christine Washburn, VP of marketing at SolidWorks, says, "We wanted to do something that would involve them and be very visible for new potential members of the community."

Small Army came up with Let's Go Design, an interactive web series. Users submit design ideas in response to challenges proposed by the show. Ideas are voted on and ultimately incorporated.

What works: Activity and participation around the brand.

If users get involved, they can win. And the voting structure generates even more activity. Washburn reports that SolidWorks’ "web traffic is up by a factor of four in comparison to previous campaigns."

When this doesn't work: Your brand doesn't carry either the same kind of mass appeal as Doritos or the committed fandom of SolidWorks.

Branding consultant Lisa Merriam wrote a case study of a failed contest campaign by a company called Levia. It tried a campaign similar to Doritos, asking consumers to submit a video about the healing power of light.

Doritos is a mega-brand [with] millions and millions of passionate consumers. And Levia®? You probably never heard of it. Levia® is a device that uses light to treat psoriasis. The set of people who suffer from psoriasis and who have heard of Levia® and who have the technical know-how to produce video and who care enough to come up with winning concepts about light's power to heal is an infinitesimally small set of people — certainly not a crowd.


2. Making a Consumer Community


Marketers have jumped on the relatively recent explosion of online communities. If customers have the ability to talk to one another, why not create an incentive and a space for them to talk about your brand?

One way to accomplish this is to offer customers something they might actually do in real life. Marketing agency Movement Strategy, for instance, recently created an online forum for two of its NBA clients, the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks. The site — NuggetsVsKnicks.com — operated during an actual game between the Nuggets and the Knicks, giving the fans a place to cheer on their team (and trash talk the other). By integrating with Facebook — users cheered by “Liking” their team — Movement Strategy was able to give a real-world analog to the digital interaction.

What works: Campaigns that encourage community among their customer base can really help to build loyalty.

When this doesn't work: When the campaigns are lazy.

It's not fair to say that most company Facebook Pages don't work, but often the conversations there offer a relatively low level of engagement. Contests, questions and announcements all encourage participation from the customer, but not necessarily participation with each other.

A lot of brands use Twitter contests in a similar way. A few years ago Squarespace, for instance, gave away an iPhone a day to anyone who mentioned Squarespace in a tweet. While this kind of activity can generate a lot of buzz, the actual customer engagement in the brand is low — the equivalent of dropping your business card in a fishbowl.

Even worse is when Facebook and other social network integration is used as a gimmick. Last March, Absolut sponsored a short film by Spike Jonze, the director of Being John Malkovich. The film, titled I'm Here, was designed to be shown on the web. Before watching, the viewer is first walked through an invitation process using Facebook Connect. The friends you invite are cleverly integrated into an introductory cut scene, during which, you "enter" the theater to watch the film. Their photos appear on the VIP passes of other people in the theater. The whole thing works to give you a sense that you are watching this film with people who you know.

Except in this case, the experience stops there. As soon as the film starts, the connection to your community ends. The introduction has nothing to do with the film itself and instead feels tacked on and gimmicky. Absolut hinted at what could be done but didn't actually do it.


3. Choose Your Own Adventure


Perhaps the most exciting development in multi-platform interactive campaigns is the ability of the customer base to participate in and affect the outcome of a story.

At Blogworld 2010, Ford announced an online marketing campaign to promote its new Focus. The campaign, called Focus Rally, pits six teams against each other in a reality-style adventure game where the viewers make the important calls for the participants.

"It's a little bit like a choose your own adventure here, but the people at home were choosing the adventure for these players. It's kind of cool how interactive the show is going to be," says Focus Rally producer Neal Konstantini.

Specifically, the Focus Rally competitors must rely on the network capabilities of the car and their social networks to solve challenges. "[I]f you're in Albuquerque and you're stuck and you run out of gas," Konstantini explains, "you're going to have to get on Facebook and tell your network, 'I'm stuck. I need gas. Help me.'"

What works: When the web is integrated into both a compelling storyline and effective brand messaging.

When this doesn't work: When you expect interaction to be what solely carries the campaign.

"It's not enough to be interactive," says Michal Ann Strahilevitz, associate professor of marketing at Golden Gate University. "It has to be truly compelling, engaging and persuasive to the target market. If you build it, they may or may not come."

Choose your own adventure campaigns build off the Internet's potential as a story-telling device. These kinds of campaigns "require the audience's presence and participation in order to be complete," says Mike Monello, co-founder and executive director of Campfire, an advertising agency in New York. Monello was one of the creators of The Blair Witch Project and used viral Internet distribution before there was a name for such a thing.

In a recent campaign that Campfire created for the Discovery Channel's Shark Week programming, the team produced a series of videos about famous shark attacks throughout history. Like Absolut's promotion of I'm Here, Campfire used Facebook Connect to personalize users’ experience of the site and videos. But whereas Absolut's choice felt tacked on at the end, Campfire accessed users’ Facebook information to build a personalized shark attack for the visitor. It integrated personalization into the branding and the storytelling.

"Telling stories is one of mankind's most enduring traditions," Campfire explains on its website. "Our increased connectedness has only made spreading them faster, more pervasive, and more effective."


More Business Resources from Mashable:


- 5 Ways to Sell Your Expertise Online
- 4 Misconceptions About Marketing in Social Games
- Small Biz Checklist: 5 Important Tasks for the End of the Year
- HOW TO: Boost Holiday Sales With Commonly Overlooked Marketing Strategies
- Why SMS Marketing Still Makes Sense for Small Business

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, IvanWuPI


Reviews: Facebook, Internet, SquareSpace, Twitter, iPhone, iStockphoto

More About: business, Campfire, Crash the Superbowl, doritos, facebook, Focus Rally, I'm Here, List, Lists, MARKETING, online marketing, Shark Week, social media marketing, squarespace, twitter, viral video

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Start a #PreventionRevolution on World AIDS Day

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:03 AM PST

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The United Nations AIDS Program (UNAIDS) is calling for a “Prevention Revolution” today on World AIDS Day. UNAIDS is hoping to capitalize on last year’s massive social media mobilization to get its hashtag — #PreventionRevolution — to trend worldwide on Twitter and raise awareness.

The movement has been gaining steam with organizations like @MTVStayingAlive, @UN, @WorldBank and artists including @AnnieLennox, @30SecondstoMars and @CraigDavid tweeting and posting the hashtag.

Every day, more than 7,000 people are infected with HIV. There are five new HIV infections for every two people who access HIV treatment. This last statistic has helped spur UNAIDS to push for a revolution in how AIDS is prevented.

Even though there is still no cure or vaccine for AIDS, the best preventatives are awareness, knowledge and safe sex. If you’re interested in spreading awareness, head on over to UNAIDS’s Facebook Page, or send out a tweet with the hashtag #PreventionRevolution to show your support and add your voice this World AIDS Day.

What do you think of the campaign? Is there a better way to combat the spread of AIDS or will there be more initiatives like the #PreventionRevolution?

More About: #preventionrevolution, AIDS, hashtag, hiv, social good, twitter, UN, unaids, world aids day

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With Google Decision Imminent, Groupon Makes an Acquisition

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:50 AM PST


Although Groupon already has a multi-billion buyout offer on the table from Google, it looks like the Chicago-based startup is still ready to do some buying of its own.

The daily deal giant announced Wednesday that it has acquired Ludic Labs, a small, privately owned, Silicon Valley-based marketing firm. The details of the acquisition have not been released.

MarketWatch reports that Groupon expects to expand the Ludic staff from 25 to 100 in the next year.

Groupon also detailed some of its long-term strategy plans early Wednesday, announcing a new Deal Feed and plans for Groupon Stores, the latter of which will allow shop owners to set up virtual stores on Groupon's platform to create as many deals as they want.

More About: groupon, ludic labs

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Android & iOS Top List of “Most Desired” Smartphone Platforms [STATS]

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:24 AM PST


Nielsen has just released the data from its U.S. smartphone survey in October 2010. According to the report, Android and iOS are essentially tied as the “most desired” smartphone operating system amongst mobile users planning an upgrade.

The report also broke broke down the current marketshare for smartphones in the U.S. Smartphones now account for 29.7% of the total mobile marketshare.

Of smartphone operating systems, RIM’s BlackBerry and Apple’s iOS are at a statistical dead heat. Each platform possesses a 27% share of the smartphone market. The Android platform, which was barely a blip on the radar in October 2009, is close behind with 22.7%.

The study goes on to break down smartphone OS desirability across a variety of different demographics.

Some highlights from that data:

  • Aside from iOS and Android, the next most common answer for “most desired smartphone” is “not sure.”
  • 35% of current smartphone owners are interested in purchasing an iPhone as their next device, versus 28% for an Android phone.
  • For feature phone owners, Android leads with 28%, while 25% of feature phone users say they most desire an iPhone.
  • BlackBerry interest across the board is under 15% and Windows Mobile was listed as “most desired” by less than 10% of those surveyed.

Age and Gender Stats


At this point, the fact that the iPhone and Android platforms generate the most user interest and desirability isn’t really a surprise; it continues to confirm an ongoing trend.

Where Nielsen’s data gets more interesting is when it is broken down by age and gender.

Check out this chart of desired smartphone platforms by age:

When it comes to “next desired smartphone OS” by age, the iPhone leads in the 18 to 24, 25 to 34 and 55+ demographics. The largest differential is actually in this oldest age group, where the iPhone outpaces Android 26.46% to 20.3%.

Historically, Apple really hasn’t targeted the 55+ age bracket — at least not in its direct advertising. The iPad, however, has already shown some serious success in this age group, perhaps indicating that the iPad has produced a halo effect for older smartphone buyers.

In the 35 to 54 demographic, Android nudges past the iPhone. This is a demographic that has long been associated with the BlackBerry. To see that the BlackBerry is the most desired OS by less than half of those surveyed is telling.

The divide by gender is even more telling. Nearly 31% of women said they wanted their next smartphone to be an iPhone, compared with 23% for Android. On the flip side, 33% of men preferred Android over 29% for the iPhone.

Whereas Apple has taken a gender-neutral approach in its advertising — with some of its ads (ex. FaceTime) skewing toward women, the most prominent ads in the U.S. for Android — notably the “Droid Does” campaign from Verizon — have been overwhelmingly masculine.

In print, online and on TV, I can’t actually recall seeing an Android ad that didn’t have a more masculine bent.

Are there any aspects in this data that surprise you? How does this survey align with your own plans for a future smartphone? Let us know in the comments.


Reviews: Android

More About: android, iOS, iphone, mobile stats, Nielsen, statistics, stats

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