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Mashable: Latest 17 News Updates - including “Yahoo Finance Now Available As a Native iPad App”

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Mashable: Latest 17 News Updates - including “Yahoo Finance Now Available As a Native iPad App”

Yahoo Finance Now Available As a Native iPad App

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 04:13 AM PST


After launching a Yahoo Finance iPhone app in September 2009, Yahoo has now launched an iPad-specific version of the service called MarketDash.

The app supports multitouch operation and lets the users read finance-related news, manipulate views of stock charts in various time spans, plot points in time and compare stock tickers.

The app syncs across all available platforms – iPhone, iPad and Android – so any changes you make in the iPad version will show up in apps on other platforms as well.

You can get the app free from Apple’s App Store and check out a video overview of the app below.

More About: ipad, Yahoo, yahoo finance

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Motorola Atrix Now Available at AT&T, Amazon and Walmart

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 02:12 AM PST


Motorola’s flagship Android smartphone, the Atrix, is now available for purchase at AT&T, or at retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Radioshack.

The phone costs $199.99 at AT&T, provided you sign a two-year contract. Amazon and Radioshack offer it for $149.99, and Walmart has set the price even lower at $129.99 if you activate a new account before Thursday.

The Atrix is not only one of the most powerful Android 2.2 smartphones on the market, with a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 1GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 960×540 qHD screen – it is also one of the most versatile ones thanks to a laptop and multimedia dock which considerably extend the phone’s functionality.

[via Engadget]

More About: amazon, Atrix, att, Motorola, radioshack, WalMart

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Personal Sub Could Be Easiest, Safest Yet [PICS]

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:31 PM PST


Hop into this Ego Compact Semi Submarine, and without any extensive training you can be on your way to exploring the deep blue sea in no time.

Why is this called a semi-submarine? The entire boat is not submerged, but it’s more like a pontoon boat with a transparent waterproof compartment hanging from its middle.

That means James Cameron is not going to be using one of these subs for that deep-water shoot for his Avatar sequel, but it’s still suitable for giving you an eye-popping view of the undersea world. Think of it as more akin to snorkeling than scuba diving.

The little boat cruises along at a leisurely sightseeing pace that’s unspecified by its maker, which will only say that its batteries will last eight hours at cruising speed or four hours at top speed.

It’s built by South Korean company Raonhaje, which plans to sell fleets of these Ego Semi-Submarines to resorts, and single units to individuals and yacht owners. The company offers to build custom moorings for the craft, as well as hoists for yachts.

We’re thinking super-safe leisure subs like these would be a huge hit at a resort, especially seaside marinas near coral reefs, with their colorful and bustling underwater wildlife. Just think, even people who can’t swim can enjoy the spectacular view.


Ego Semi-Sub





Ego Semi-Sub, Topside





Ego Semi-Sub Side View





Ego Semi-Sub Seating





Ego Semi-Sub Drydock





Ego Semi-Sub Colors Available




More About: Boats, Ego Compact Semi Submarine, Electric boat, leisure craft, Sub, trending

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Xbox Kinect Vs. Sony PS3: How 2 Companies Handle Hacking

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 07:54 PM PST


Imagine you’re a gaming console manufacturer, and some kid hacks your console to do “neat tricks.” Do you help him or sue him?

The question isn’t a hypothetical one; currently, two rival companies have each taken one of these roads. What remains to be seen is which approach will be more profitable, both financially and in terms of gamer goodwill.

Microsoft is set to release a Kinect software developer kit (SDK) to academics and enthusiasts later this spring; the company really is welcoming hackers and curious minds to go to town on its hands-free gestural control interface.

Who could have guessed that the Windows maker, which has struggled to shake an unjustly stodgy image, would be the first to invite experimental development on its gaming platform? Or that its biggest rival in the gaming space, Sony and the PlayStation 3, would be gathering some bad PR of its own for suing PS3 hackers at the same time?

Why Is Sony Suing?

Here’s the skinny: Sony is suing, among other entities, George Hotz, a.k.a. geohot, a 21-year-old hacker who is well known for his iPhone jailbreaking. In fact, Hotz created the first-ever public software exploit for jailbreaking the iPhone 3GS. After working on jailbreak software for the iPhone 4, iPad and a slew of other Apple devices, Hotz turned his attention to the PlayStation 3.

Hotz hacked on the PS3 for at least seven months, successfully opening up the console for homebrew games and PS2 emulation. Along the way, he released the root key (also known as the metldr key), which decrypted the PS3′s loaders, allowing anyone who wanted to open up their own PS3s to do so.

Because of that, Hotz is now knee-deep in a bitter lawsuit with Sony, a lawsuit that’s cost him more than he can afford to pay. In fact, he had to beg the Internet for the more than $10,000 he needed to cover his legal bills.

While Sony says Hotz violated copyrights and committed computer fraud, Hotz, who claims to have never played a pirated game in his life, retorts, “They don’t really care about piracy; they care about control.”

How Microsoft Is Helping Hackers

In a stark contrast, Microsoft seems to not give two shakes about control, at least as far as hacking with the Kinect is concerned.

The company’s brand new gestural control system is as hot as it is financially successful. While many corporations would keep a money-maker like that tightly locked down, Microsoft is doing everything it can to invite more hackers to play with and create experiments with the Kinect.

Microsoft’s big test came last November when a prominent Google engineer staged a Kinect-hacking contest. Previously, Microsoft had made statements that it wanted to make Kinect tamper-proof and would work with law enforcement to ensure that it remained so. But the company changed its tune last November, saying it was “excited to see that people are so inspired” by the possibilities inherent in the Kinect.

Since then, hackers have used the Kinect for everything from World of Warcraft “magic” to music video production.

And today, given the success of Kinect hacking for Xbox, Microsoft announced it will release a non-commercial “Kinect for Windows” SDK. The company says the reason for “a starter kit for application developers is to make it easier for academic research and enthusiast communities to create even richer experiences using Kinect technology.”

The SDK is coming from Microsoft Research (MSR) in collaboration with the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB), and it will give devs “deep Kinect system capabilities such as audio, system APIs, and direct control of the sensor.”

A commercial version of the SDK will be available soon.

Which Company Is Right?

The bigger picture Microsoft is trying to convey is that, as a company, Microsoft has long been excited about natural user interfaces; and it wants you, the hacker, to be excited about them, too. Granted, there are still likely some strings attached, and we doubt the company would be tickled to have you blog about Xbox jailbreak codes.

Nevertheless, suing users who hack your console versus helping users who hack (part of) your console are two interesting and opposed actions that are likely to be judged with great relish in the court of popular opinion.

How should Sony be handling geohot and other PS3 hackers who just want to make the console do neat tricks? Is this lawsuit really doing anything other than garnering the multinational corporation a boatload of bad PR?

In the comments, tell us what you would do if you were a Sony exec. We look forward to reading your responses.

More About: geohot, george hotz, hacking, kinect, microsoft, PS3, sony, trending, xbox

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Game Input Device Controlled By Kissing [VIDEO]

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 06:27 PM PST


There’s already a variety of ways to control a videogame, and now artist Hye Yeon Nam has one more. She’s figured out how to roll an on-screen bowling ball with a lot of rapid tongue action.

How does Kiss Controller work? It’s done with magnets. One of the players provides sensor input with a small magnet stuck to the tongue, while the other wears a headset receiver that senses the direction and speed of that magnet. According to Hye, the object of the game is to “increase the speed of the ball by moving the tongue faster while kissing.”

From what we can see in the video, this experimental adventure is either an art project, an excuse for this young artist/inventor to do some very special research with her lab partner, or both. But who knows, maybe this research could result in some unforeseen input device, maybe even the next Kinect or PlayStation Move?

Looks like this project missed Valentine’s Day by about a week. Perhaps the idea could be combined with existing input devices that are capable of controlling objects using brainpower, such as that XWave headset we tested that let us move graphics on an iPhone screen using the power of the relaxing mind.

Better yet, let’s just keep the kissing and the gaming separate, at least for now. Technology will catch up eventually.

More About: art project, input devices, Kiss Controller, trending

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Rumor Roundup: The MacBook Pro Edition

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 05:23 PM PST


Various rumors and web reports indicate that Apple will be releasing updates to its MacBook Pro line later this week, possibly as soon as Thursday. It’s about time, too — with the exception of the redesigned MacBook Air, Apple hasn’t updated its best-selling MacBook Pro lineup since April 2010.

The latest rumors of the new machines run the gamut — everything from faster processors and integrated SSDs to larger trackpads and support for Light Peak is on the table. Separating fact from fiction is tough — even the best Apple predictors have imperfect track records, but we’ve done what we can to tally up the big rumors. We’ll also offer up our own thoughts on how plausible or implausible something sounds.

Rumor 1: Launch Date This Week

Sources: iSpazio (Italian Mac blog), AppleInsider

Rumor: As the MacBook Pro supply chain tightens across the world, five new MacBook Pro models are set to debut this week, most likely on Thursday.

Plausibility: Almost guaranteed. The second-best indicator of new Apple products are fluctuations in supply chain availability for items that tend to sell at a regular pace. When estimated shipping dates start to to drift upward, it’s usually a good sign that a new model series is about to drop.

The best indicator of new Apple products is the inevitable leaking of SKU and model numbers. Best Buy inadvertently leaked five new Apple SKUs on Sunday.

Other Thoughts: There are currently six laptops in the MacBook Pro lineup and it isn’t clear what model has been dropped from the lineup. Our guess is one of the 15-inch variants or the 17-inch MacBook Pro is on its way out.

AppleInsider reports that the reason for the Thursday release date (Apple products usually come put on a Tuesday) is intentional — February 24, 2011 is Steve Jobs’s 56th birthday.

Rumor 2: New Models Will Use Intel’s Sandy Bridge

Sources: CNET (for MacBook Air), PCMag, AppleInsider

Rumor: Apple will be one of the first OEMs to ship laptops running on Intel’s new Sandy Bridge architecture.

Plausibility: 60%. Apple tends to be the first or the last OEM to jump on a major Intel platform. The Mac Pro line tends to be at the front-of-the-line with the latest chip architectures while Apple tends to wait a few cycles for its notebook systems. The big promise of Sandy Bridge, however, could indicate Apple wants to try to stay ahead of the curve.

Other Thoughts: Last month, Intel discovered a design flaw in Sandy Bridge’s companion chipset. This flaw required the company to recall shipments and delay production — it will also cost the company $1 billion in revenue and replacement costs. All reports indicate that Apple will not be affected by this delay.

Rumor 3: Bigger Trackpad and OS-only SSD

Sources: BGR

Rumor: The new MacBook Pro will feature glass trackpads that are even larger than those on current MacBook Pro units. Additionally, the OS will be loaded onto a separate integrated 8-16GB SSD drive for fast startups and access, but additional data will be stored on a traditional hard drive.

Plausibility: The larger trackpad rumor sounds quite possible — especially as Apple prepares to get more into gesture support with Mac OS X Lion. As for the separate SSD OS drive — a hybrid solution like this is certain appealing and if completely seamless, we think it could work. Still, we’re not completely convinced. We do think that Apple will be pushing SSD options or making the SSD standard on several MacBook Pro models, but we just don’t know about this hybrid approach.

Other Thoughts: We haven’t heard anything one way or another about the DVD drive in the MacBook Pro. We wonder if Apple will be adding the option to forego the drive as it does on the Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server.

Rumor 4: Liquidmetal MacBook Pro

Sources: MacTrust [Site is down] via Cult of Mac

Rumor: The next MacBook Pro will trade in the unibody aluminum design for a case made from Liquidmetal — a metal that has similar properties and processing abilities as plastic. Apple signed an exclusive agreement to use Liquidmetal in its products last year and MacTrust contends that the MacBook Pro will be where the technology makes its debut.

Plausibility: As cool as Liquidmetal sounds, we’re going to say this has only a 10% chance of actually being true. As Leader Kahney said, “this is Tony Stark stuff” — which makes us think that the first real implementations of the technology is still a few release cycles away.

Other Thoughts: Liquidmetal has amazing potential as a construction element. Purportedly stronger and lighter than aluminum, Liquidmetal could reduce the weight of a laptop while still making it more resilient to the nicks and dings that unibody MacBook Pro owners know all too well.

Rumor 5: Light Peak

Sources: CNET

Rumor: Apple is going to announce its adoption of Intel’s Light Peak technology and introduce its first products using the technology in the first half of 2011.

Plausibility: Again, as cool as this sounds, we’re going to say this has almost no chance of being true. With bi-directional speeds of 10 gigabits a second, Light Peak has the potential to be the next USB (that is, ubiquitous and on every device known to man). Of course, it could also wind up as the next FireWire (superior to the competition in every way but not ubiquitous or widely adopted outside of certain industries and manufacturers). Regardless, we don’t expect to see any shipping Light Peak products — let alone from Apple — for quite a few more months.

Other Thoughts: Intel has been working on Light Peak — which is basically a super connector cable that can be used for basically any type of computer component — monitor, hard drive, printer, etc. — for years. Because the technology was originally demonstrated on a machine running Mac OS X in 2009, it’s assumed Apple is at least tangentially interested in the technology.

CNET’s report — which itself was skeptical that Apple would launch the technology in the next MacBook Pro, indicates that Apple will be calling the technology something other than Light Peak. Additional reports have circulated today indicating that the next iPad could have Light Peak support. To us, the iPad rumors sound even less plausible than the MacBook Pro reports.

Hit Us With Your Rumors

With the understanding that absolutely no one can top the incredible John Moltz when it comes to Crazy Apple Rumors, let your craziest most outlandish predictions for the new MacBook Pro lineup be known in the comments. For our more mature readers, feel free to share what logical, well-reasoned predictions you have as well.

More About: apple, mac, Macbook Pro, rumors, trending

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HOW TO: Deal With Negative Online Sentiment About Your Brand

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 03:03 PM PST

grumpy image

Maria Ogneva is the Head of Community at Yammer, where she is in charge of social media and community programs, and internal education and engagement. You can follow her on Twitter, her blog, and via Yammer’s Twitter account and company blog.

Brands try to inspire excitement among their communities so that their fans and supporters will do the selling for them. That's called advocacy, and it’s much more powerful than self-promotion. There are of course many ways to cultivate that fan base and get your advocates motivated

On the flip side, however, are "badvocates" –- the folks who spread negative comments about you with their networks. For example, Kevin Smith's experience with Southwest Airlines.

It’s important for any business learn how to handle this badvocacy. To do so, you must first understand its causes.

Causes of Badvocacy

In most cases, badvocacy is a result of negative experiences with your brand. These can come from:

  • Inconsistency across channels and touchpoints. With social media, you can touch the customer at any point in the purchase cycle: Pre-purchase, during, and post-purchase. Each of those interactions has to add value and be consistent with the rest of the experience.

    Let's take support as an example. When you provide multi-channel support, you need to be careful about creating a consistent experience across all channels. Twitter support tends to lead other channels in its ability to provide individual solutions to customers. Other channels tend to lag behind. How many times have you called a support line only to have them route you to another 800 number because information you are looking for is in a different database? An inconsistent user experience can breed bad experiences.

  • Inconsistency with expectations. Several times, I've gotten excited about a product based on the advertised promise, only to discover that that expectation was wrong. This type of disconnect certainly breeds negative feelings because time, effort and possibly money were wasted.

  • A negative relationship with people who represent the company. Social media can humanize your brand, if used correctly. It's important, however, that everyone adheres to the highest codes of conduct and is on the same page about company's policies, news, product and feature releases, etc. A negative interaction with any person, whether in social or traditional channels, will mar the user's view of the brand.

Chronic Complainers

In a few cases, though, badvocacy isn’t actually about the experience, but rather about the personality of the complainer. Most people are reasonable, online or offline, and will not trash your brand without just cause. However, there are a few people who just like to pick fights and complain. Some look for attention, some are just chronic complainers, and some enjoy trolling the web under the cloak of anonymity. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn make it harder to troll under a fake identity, but forums and blog comments can more easily bring out this type of behavior.

When dealing with these users, there isn't a lot that you can do. You need to realize that some battles aren't worth fighting, and just move on to someone with a legitimate problem. As they say, “Don't feed the trolls.”

If someone has a legitimate issue, do everything you can to work through it, offer an individualized solution, apologize and give them space to like you again. A reasonable person will work with you, and although they may never be your advocate or use your product again, they will recognize that you tried to help.

Finding Badvocates

Now that you know the causes of badvocacy, it's important to take action. First, however, you need to understand who your badvocates are, what they are saying and where they are saying it. The process is about listening, much like finding anything using social media.

Listen across relevant channels for the following words in conjunction with your brand name: "hate," "sucks," "bad," "not working," etc. You should also be tracking who is linking to your site and reading their blog posts and articles. When you find these distressed people, take the following steps:

  • Figure out the issue. Read the content carefully, whether it's a tweet or a long blog post, and understand the motivation behind the post. Is it a cry for help? Is it a distressed customer? What did they have a problem with? Why was their user experience subpar? How can you help them?
  • Reach out. Reach out and acknowledge their pain. Most problems get resolved quickly because the person just wanted someone to talk to.
  • Respect privacy. Know when to take the conversation private. Upon initial contact, it's appropriate to acknowledge the problem in a public channel. After the initial public tweet, you should reach out in a private channel to really dig in and see if you can make a difference. Under no circumstances should you ever exchange confidential account information in an unsecured or public channel.
  • Offer an individualized solution. In customer service, there's no “one size fits all,” because each case is different. Offer an individualized solution, which may require you to work with the right people within your own company. Don't tell this poor person to call the 800 number — go to bat for him.
  • Don't let it stew. Address sources of conflict quickly. Because most people just want to be heard, cared for and helped, the faster you can reach out, the more likely you will prevent the situation from festering.
  • Never make it personal. If and when conflict escalates, never make it personal. Never attack the person, even if he or she attacks you personally. Keep the conversation focused on the issues.
  • Take action, close the loop. Even though it's self-explanatory, after you take action, you need to close the loop. Communicate back to the customer what has been done, or how soon to expect something to be done.
  • Never lose your cool. Just like you shouldn't make things personal, you should never lose your cool. Remember, even if you feel justified in "going berserk" in a certain situation, whatever you say in social media will stay part of your digital record forever. Choose your words wisely.
  • Watch advocates come to your rescue. If you have done your job cultivating advocacy, in an online conflict, your advocates will come to your rescue.
  • What's influence got to do with it? Make sure you don’t just help badvocates with high influence scores. Every distressed customer is a potential badvocate, so make sure you help them before they become a “last resort” distressed customer.

How Do You Prevent Badvocacy?

You can prevent bad experiences by carefully cultivating advocacy among your audience through:

  • Excellent experience. Just as badvocacy is caused by bad user experience, advocacy is caused by excellent experience. Recall that an excellent experience has to be consistent across all channels, regardless of location in the purchase cycle. The experience also must also be consistent with the promise and solve a big enough pain point to inspire advocacy.
  • Create dialogue. Advocates are created when there is a two-way dialogue around their need, and users have a direct input into the future of the product. Just check out My Starbucks Idea for a great example.
  • Humanize the brand. Kira Wampler, who handled the Intuit Small Business community, told me that engaging and displaying human avatars changed sentiment from 65% negative towards QuickBooks to only 35% negative. "My avatar was always a picture of one of my children and me during that time. I regularly told folks that it was easy to say ‘f**k you’ to Intuit the brand, but really hard to swear at the mommy and the baby. Especially when the mommy was helping," says Kira.

Conclusion

You can't empower your advocates without an empowered internal culture. Since anyone in the organization is a potential touchpoint for a customer (online or offline), each employee must be properly trained and motivated to provide an individualized solution for the client. When hiring, you must look for service orientation and the ability to solve problems. When training your new hires, make sure they have the resources to do the right thing for each and every customer.

How do you manage your “badvocate” relationships? Let us know in the comments below.

More Business Resources from Mashable:

- HOW TO: Use Social Media to Create Better Customer Experiences
- 3 Facebook Commerce Success Stories
- How Brands Can Make the Most of Facebook’s New Pages
- 5 Tips to Strengthen Your Company's Social Media Voice
- Why Permission Marketing Is the Future of Online Advertising

Image courtesy of Flickr, Leonard John Matthews

More About: advocacy, badvocacy, business, MARKETING, social media, trending, twitter

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Anaheim School District Takes a Big Brother Approach to Truancy

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 02:34 PM PST


The Anaheim Union High School District really doesn’t want students to skip class, so it is doing the only logical thing (sarcasm intended): It’s tracking delinquent students with GPS devices.

According to The Orange County Register, the district is the first in California to take part in a six-week pilot program targetting students that frequently ditch school. The hope is that a combination of new-school Big Brother tracking technology and old-school nagging and haranguing will keep kids in the classroom and off the streets where gang susceptibility rises.

In practice, it kind of strikes us as creepy. In the program, seventh and eighth graders with four or more unexcused absences are given a handheld GPS device that looks like an old-school cell phone.

In addition to a “don’t be late to school” automated phone call, students are required to enter in a tracking code five times each day. This is required when the students leave for school, arrive at school, at lunch time, at the end of the school day and again at 8:00 p.m.

Students are also contacted by an adult “coach” three times a week to see how they are doing and talk about getting to class on time.

This isn’t a mandatory program — kids (well, their parents) have to agree to the program first. California’s pilot program follows similar roll-outs in San Antonio and Baltimore.

In an interview with The OC Register, a regional director of the firm helping implement the pilot program said that the reason the devices aren’t being physically attached to students is because “[they] don’t want to criminalize the kids or have them wear any bracelet or something around their ankle that would stigmatize them.” You know, because having to take a giant GPS out of your pocket to punch in a code five times a day will go totally undetected by your peers.

The upside, we suppose, is that the program is voluntary — at least for now. Truant students and their parents can be prosecuted and face fines of up to $2,000, which means that if this program is successful, frequently absent kids and their families might feel the pressure to sign up.

From a civil liberties perspective, this sort of program is by no means as stomach-turning as that school in Pennsylvania that used webcams to spy on students. Still, it raises interesting questions about how involved school personnel can get in the lives of students and their families.

Recognizing that preventing kids from joining gangs and keeping them in school is a noble cause, the cynic in me has to question the actual effectiveness of these kinds of plans. The aspect of the program that will likely have the biggest impact on school attendance — the one-on-one mentoring from an adult counselor — can be achieved without making kids carry around a tracking device. Why not focus on more physical outreach and less technical intrusion?

Photo courtesy of Rose Palmisano, The Orange County Register

More About: anaheim union school district, big brother, gps, privacy

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6 Ways to Design Your Own Jewelry Online

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 01:27 PM PST

jewelry image

Dave Sloan is CEO of Treehouse Logic, which offers a hosted design tool solution that enables customer co-creation. You can reach Dave at dave@treehouselogic.com and follow him on Twitter.

Why buy standard department store jewelry when you can customize your own pieces online for around the same price?

Jewelry is one of the hottest categories in the growing design-it-yourself market because it is extremely personal and highly configurable. Jewelry is the perfect fit for an online design tool that lets you mix and match colorful jewels and precious metals.

Each piece that you design is built to order and is likely a one-of-a-kind. Custom jewelry is a great way to express your individuality and style. Thanks to online shops that offer online design tools, you can start getting creative right away. Here are six sites worth checking out.

1. Gemkitty

gemkitty image

Gemkitty’s mission is to enable anyone to discover or design a unique piece of semi-precious gemstone jewelry. Using the online design tool, anyone can digitally design their own natural gemstone jewelry. Gemkitty offers custom earrings and necklaces, and just launched a cool "Blingomatic" quiz that helps guys pick out the perfect piece for their lady.

2. Blue Nile

bluenile image

Started in 1999, Blue Nile helps shoppers navigate the complexity of diamond selection. Using a set of filters for attributes like price, cut, carat, color, and clarity, Blue Nile helps you find the perfect match for your tastes and price range. The diamond itself is shown with helpful dimension diagrams and sample photos.

3. Gemvara

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Gemvara aims to create a jewelry shopping experience that is superior to going to a brick-and-mortal jewelry store. Users choose from among a wide variety of template products (rings, necklaces, earrings) and customize stones and precious metals before checking out. Orders take three weeks to ship.

4. Brilliant Earth

brilliant earth image

Brilliant Earth focuses on the socially conscious consumer by sourcing conflict free diamonds from Canada. Similar to Blue Nile, consumer can create their own ring by filtering through thousands of gemstone and setting options. Brilliant Earth donates 5% of their profits to local communities that have been harmed by the diamond industry.

5. Charmed by Ingrid Anne

charmed image

Charmed by Ingrid Anne allows you to customize a necklace on a Facebook page without having to install a Facebook application. Being on Facebook itself makes it easy to post and share your creation. Select a necklace style and add three charms or gemstones to complete your necklace.

6. Delusha

delusha image

Delusha aims to appeal to the fashion diva in you. They set out to give you the creative tools to express yourself, your style, and your look. Select beads and jewels and drag and drop them onto a metal wire. The experience is like sitting at a craft table with bowls of beads. All Delusha pieces are handmade in Valencia, Spain.

Get Started

If designing from scratch sounds like a daunting task, all these sites offer a gallery of preset designs to help get you started. Many shoppers like to select design templates and then edit, rather than starting with a blank canvas. Additionally, visitors like to see what other shoppers have built in a customer gallery and what the jewelry vendor recommends in each product category.

Custom jewelry can be a great gift idea as well. Rather than struggling to pick out something at the mall, these online jewelry shops let you easily put together a thoughtful gift. Enjoy designing!

More Fashion Resources from Mashable:

- 3 Ways to Design Your Own Clothes Online
- Why Fashion’s Top Brands Are Flocking to Tumblr
- 7 Stellar Examples of Branded Content from the Fashion Industry
- Why the Fashion Industry Is Betting Big on Branded Online Content
- How the Fashion Industry Is Using Digital Tools to Increase ROI

More About: customization, design, fashion, gift guide, jewelry, List, Lists, online shopping, social media

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Readability’s App Store Rejection Portends a Cloudy Future For Developers

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 12:47 PM PST


A new App Store rejection sheds some light on the real implications behind Apple’s new in-app subscription policies, and the results aren’t pretty.

The iOS app for Arc90′s recently re-launched Readability service was rejected on Friday for “utilizing a system other than the In App Purchase (IAP) API to purchase content, functionality, or services.” This is significant because unlike companies like Rhapsody (who are already on the record as being firmly against the new policies), Readability is not a a traditional content provider.

As Readability creator and Arc90 founding partner Richard Ziade says in his “Open Letter to Apple” blog post, “Readability’s model is unique in that 70% of our service fees go directly to writers and publishers.” He continues, “if we implemented In App purchasing, your 30% cut drastically undermines a key premise of how Readability works.”

We spoke with Ziade after he posted his letter and he offered us this additional insight:

A big problem with this isn’t just the model (which is a big problem on its own). It’s the additional hoops we’d have to jump through just to make all this work. Imagine two payment distribution systems — one for iOS subscribers and another for web — that would have to exist. It’s just a big obstacle on our roadmap if we decided to do it. We’d rather put our energy towards making Readability better.

About Readability

Readability started as a bookmarklet that provided users with a better-formatted reading experience. Ideally suited for long-form content, Readability cuts out the clutter of modern web writing and presents text in a clean, focused way. The original proof of concept was so popular that Apple even based its Safari Reader feature on Readability.

Last month, Readability evolved into a total reading platform. While the basic bookmarklet remains free, users can subscribe to the Readability service (starting at $5 a month) and add articles, Instapaper-style, to a reading queue accessible from any web browser. What sets Readability apart is that publishers of the content that users choose to read get a percentage of the profits. In fact, 70% of a user’s subscription goes directly to the content writers.

The iOS app, which was developed by Instapaper’s Marco Arment, was supposed to be a special bonus for paid subscribers. It’s based on Instapaper and offers and optimized, offline reading and queuing experience.

Apple’s decision to reject the app doesn’t change the fact that the Readability is still usable within iOS. As a Readability subscriber, I’ve added “Read Now” and “Read Later” bookmarks to Mobile Safari on both my iPhone and iPad and am fully satisfied with the experience.

Instead, the decision very clearly sets the tone for what the rules for subscription-based service apps are going forward.

iOS Adverse Implications

The iOS platform is no stranger to criticism. Even before the official iPhone SDK made its debut in March 2008, developers were complaining about Apple’s policies in keeping the platform locked down, closed off and under a stringent set of guidelines. Through the years, some restrictions have lifted, rules have been better explained and more service offerings have opened up. Still, this is Apple’s show, and anyone who develops for the platform knows it.

For most developers, it’s worth the trouble. Despite Android’s tremendous gains in adoption, developers make more money on iOS and are more likely to cultivate repeat customers. New features tend to appear in the iPhone version of an app first; the iPhone and iPad get more exclusive titles; and the overall app experience tends to be more cohesive and complete.

Major brands and larger development houses target iOS and Android, but there are far more independent developers and smaller software shops that make their living entirely off of the iOS ecosystem than from Android. If Apple isn’t careful, it could start to push some of those indie developers away.

First launched with The Daily, Apple’s new subscription purchasing policy seems largely targeted at print publishers of magazines and newspapers. In that context, we have a hard time finding fault with Apple’s decision to take a 30% cut of all subscriptions obtained through the application download. Newspaper and magazine publishers might not be happy with the arrangement (though they can still offer subscribers the ability to subscribe outside the app), but in the grand scheme of things, 30% is likely on the low side of subscriber acquisition costs.

Even for streaming content services like Rdio, MOG or Rhapsody, we can understand Apple asking for a cut of a subscription rate — if only because those companies typically charge much higher rates for subscriptions that include mobile device support.

Plus, for consumers, the benefits of an in-app subscription system for magazines or music services is to their advangate. Not only is canceling a subscription faster (no having to wait on hold with an operator), but user privacy is better protected, too. Furthermore, at least in the case of published content, most content is going to be consumed on the device. If I subscribe to an iPad magazine, I am going to be consuming that content on the iPad.

This isn’t the case with web apps and cloud-based web services like Readability. Readability is an app built for the web browser. Having an iOS app is great — but fundamentally, the app and the service are designed to be platform agnostic and the desktop browser is definitely a major target.

How Far Does This Go?

The frustrating aspect of the Readability rejection is that this makes the road for apps that tie into cloud-based services in the future much less clear.

As Dan Benjamin and I discuss on a near-weekly basis, the line between web apps and native mobile apps is starting to become less and less distinguishable. A recent Appcelerator study showed that cloud connectivity is one of the top requirements for developers when building a mobile application.

Cloud connectivity can often mean plugging into subscription ecosystems. What worries us is what this means for native clients for web services.

Does 37signals now have to offer an in-app Campfire subscription in its Campfire for iPhone app? What about Evernote? Moreover, what about third-party apps that plug into the API for systems like Evernote or Campfire or Basecamp — are they also subject to this new subscription pricing policy? If so, how can that be enforced if the API doesn’t designate a payment or subscription option?

At the end of the day, we think Ziade summs it up best in his letter:

To be clear, we believe [Apple has] every right to push forward such a policy… But to impose this course on any web service or web application that delivers any value outside of iOS will only discourage smaller ventures like ours to invest in iOS apps for our services.

More About: app store, apple, In-app subscriptions, Instapaper, iOS, readability

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BMW Launches New, Green Sub-Brand & Tech Venture Fund

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 12:35 PM PST


BMW is establishing a new, sustainability-focused sub-brand, and along with it, a venture capital fund for finding and helping the best and brightest tech startups in the fields of mobility and travel.

The sub-brand, called BMW i, is designed to integrate the not-so-disparate concepts of luxury and sustainability and has launched with the tagline “Born electric.” The brand will include concepts the company has worked on since 2007, including alternative drive trains that feature electric and hybrid power.

And of course, the brand will continue to focus on driving performance, a core tenet of its history and provenance. For example, the company says of its electric engines, which can easy spin up to 12,000 RPMs “without strain… the entire torque of the electric motor is available from a standing start, and you can accelerate right up to maximum speed without any interruption. This makes vehicles with electric engines extremely agile and a joy to drive.”

Additionally, the information-driven side of BMW cars, such as ConnectedDrive, is expected to see significant improvements in the i brand. Look out for parking spot finders, local information and premium car-sharing tools.

The first two i cars, the electric, city-driving i3 and the sporty, hybrid i8, should enter production in 2013. Here’s a deliberately vague look at the concepts for both cars, courtesy of BWM i:

Meanwhile, BMW i Ventures, a VC fund with $100 million to spread around among early- and mid-stage mobility and travel tech startups, has already launched in New York City. The fund will help supplement the BMW Group’s current mobility offerings with new tech from new companies.

The fund’s first investment target was MyCityWay, a suite of location-aware apps for urban navigation. The terms of the deal are unknown.

BMW i Ventures is currently seeking other startups with great ideas about mobile, location, and travel technologies; the fund is accepting applications now.

More About: BMW, electric cars, hybrid, startups, venture capital

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Morocco & Libya Unrest As Seen Via YouTube

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 11:28 AM PST


Today, our attention turns to North Africa, where protests staged yesterday in Morocco turned violent and fatal for some and unrest continues in beleaguered Libya.

As pro-democracy protests spread like a virus through many parts of the Middle East and North Africa, social media is still providing both a tool for organizers and a valuable window for the outside world into the volatile and intricate political situations in many countries.

Unrest in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrain and elsewhere has taken center stage in world news for the past several weeks. In many of these countries, the government has completely or partially cut off Internet access during protests, especially since protesters have been using sites such as Twitter and Facebook to organize and gather support.

But the situation in Morocco, a constitutional monarchy with a notably pro-democracy king, is quite different from what we’ve seen in countries where decades-long dictatorships have predictably brewed strong and angry dissent.

The Kingdom of Morocco’s current ruler, King Mohammed VI, has reigned since July 1999. The dual-house parliament is led by Prime Minister Abbas el-Fassi, who came into office in September 2007.

Protesters are asking the king to relinquish some of his powers and dismiss the current government, in addition to other constitutional reform demands. Before the weekend, a government spokesperson noted that the administration was not too worried about the protests, saying the country “for a long time has been engaged in an irreversible process towards democracy and widening public liberties.”

The protests were not expected to escalate into lootings and arson, but that’s exactly what happened yesterday. While most protesters were peaceful at the outset, some youth and “troublemakers” began committing acts of vandalism and theft, accorrding to Interior Minister Taib Cherkaoui, who spoke in a press conference today.

Currently, approximately 128 people, mostly security officers, are reported injured, 120 people have been arrested, and five are reported dead, the latter specifically due to a bank that was set on fire. It is estimated that more than 37,000 Moroccans showed up to protest in dozens of cities around the country.

Historically, Morocco has been known to censor websites that might allow for certain freedoms of expression or that facilitate or encourage negative portrayals of the government. The usual roster of social networks have been used to coordinate protests in thr country over the weekend; in particular, several Facebook groups have been formed, and Twitter users are employing the hashtag #feb20. However, we are not aware that any censorship is currently occurring in Morocco.

More peaceful protests are slated to continue today in Morocco.

Meanwhile, in Libya, the Internet was shut down for six hours during violent protests against longtime dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi. When the country’s Internet access was returned, users immediately began turning to Twitter and Google maps to spread news and alert the world of known fatalities.

Yesterday, Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam made a video statement, even as violence continued in the troubled country and foreign governments called for the end of the use of lethal force by the Libyan government.

Here are a few YouTube videos that will get you up-to-date on happenings in both countries, including on-the-ground footage of both peaceful protests and rioting as well as important clips on exactly why Moroccans are protesting.


Thousands demand change in Morocco


Thousands staged rallies in Moroccan cities on Sunday demanding political reform and limits on the powers of King Mohammed VI. Duration: 00:57


20 Février autoroute de inzegan à agadir



تظاهرة 20 فبراير في تطوان


Akhbarona Press : http://www.akhbarona.com تظاهرة 20 فبراير في تطوان


Morocco campaign #feb20 #morocco


Morocco campaign #feb20


Tangier Morocco Riots


Some of the violence that happened after peaceful protests


Tangier Morocco Riots Pt.2



Tangier Morocco Riots Pt. 3


Police are attacked


Libya must avoid 'descent into civil war'


Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam calls on his fellow countrymen to work with the regime to "create a new Libya". Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/itn


Hague called Gaddafi's son to demand end to violence in Libya


Arriving at today's meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels, UK Foreign Minister William Hague told journalists he has called Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, in Libya on Sunday to demand an end to the violence against protestors.Hague roundly criticised the regime's current actions, and appealled for international observers to be permitted access to the country.

More About: libya, middle east, morocco, trending, youtube

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Xoom Debuts Sans Flash: What’s Going On, Adobe?

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 10:53 AM PST


More than a year after Apple drew critical fire for its decision to forego Flash on the iPad, the first “real” Android tablet, the Motorola Xoom, will also be making its Flash-free debut.

Motorola promises that Flash support will be coming to the device in spring 2011, presumably with the Honeycomb-only release of Adobe Flash 10.2 for mobile, but that doesn’t change the fact that the first flagship Android tablet is shipping without Flash support.

In the ten months since Steve Jobs penned his famous “Thoughts on Flash” letter, much has been written about the suitability of Flash on mobile devices. Adobe says that in the last six months, Android Market downloads of Flash Player topped 6 million and that 20 million smartphones were “shipped or upgraded with Flash Player 10.1 software.”

The reality, however, is Flash performance on smartphones and tablets is still very much a mixed experience. When content is specifically targeted for mobile devices, performance and battery life can be quite good. The problem thus far has been that most major content producers are not actively targeting mobile platforms with their Flash content.

Where Is the Mobile Flash Content?

Instead, video publishers continue to migrate to HTML5 video solutions. Apple relented on its cross-compiler developer rule, which has made porting existing Flash content to iOS devices less painful and also opened up more cross-platform development opportunities.

Adobe has shown us some impressive mobile Flash demonstrations — especially using the still-unreleased BlackBerry PlayBook — but few, if any, of these demos have actually hit the market.

It’s true that the promise of multi-core tablets and smartphones means that even unoptimized Flash content should work better on the latest wave of devices, but battery issues still remain a problem.

Increasingly the trend is that new content is created using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript; and legacy content is what remains in Flash. Moreover, that legacy content is not getting optimized for the mobile experience.

Demonstrations of Adobe Air applications running on a tablet are great — but where is the content users can use today?

Window of Opportunity is Closing

Last spring’s disingenuous debate over “open” with regard to HTML5 and Flash afforded Adobe an important window of opportunity. With the discussion finally brought to the forefront, the company was given an chance to prove Flash’s worth on the next generation of computing devices.

More than a year after the debate kicked off, that window is closing — and fast. This isn’t to say Flash as a tool can’t be used to create mobile and tablet applications, but consumers and content creators are acclimating to a life without Flash.

For years, Adobe has promised the next release of Flash that would be just perfect for [insert product name here] was just around the corner. We saw this with the lead-up to Flash 10.1, and we’re seeing it again with Flash 10.2. Something needs to ship — and soon. Manufacturers might be willing to play the “full Flash” advertising game now, but if nothing is available in a few months, that’s going to dry up too.

More About: android, android tablets, Flash, motorola xoom, tablets

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Volvo’s New Diesel Hybrid Will Let You Check Car’s Charge Status Via iPhone

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:53 AM PST


Volvo has gone on the record with more details about its upcoming V60 model, which will be powered by the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid engine.

The car, which is slated to hit the market in 2012, will let you choose between three drive modes. Under the “Pure” regimen, the car runs entirely on electricity with a 50 km mileage; if you switch to “Hybrid,” you’ll get a hybrid drive with average carbon dioxide emissions of just 49 g/km. Finally, when you need to step on the gas pedal, you can switch to “Power” mode, which will give you a total of 215 + 70 horsepower, making the V60 speed from 0-100 km/h in a respectable 6.9 seconds.

Now for the bit that makes potential electric car customers cringe: The car takes between 3 and 7.5 hours to charge depending on the outlet — not too shabby compared to, for example, Chevy Volt, which is supposed to take 4 hours to charge on a dedicated 240-volt line.

Volvo understands how painful waiting can be, so to make those long hours pass faster, the company made an iPhone app that lets you monitor the charging status. Check out the video demonstration of the car’s most important features (the iPhone bit is at 2:37) below.

More About: App, diesel, Electric Car, hybrid, iphone, v60, volvo

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9 Dynamic Digital Resumes That Stand Out From the Crowd

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 08:57 AM PST


Everyone is looking for a way to make their resume stand out in today's job market. One way to do that is by giving your resume some visual appeal. Well-designed resumes with color and images can attract attention over those with plain old text.

That's not to say everyone should add pictures to their resume. A graphical layout might not be for everyone, nor appropriate for every profession and industry. And if you don’t have an artist’s eye (or a favor to call in to a graphic designer), attempting something like this might not work out to your advantage.

But if you know what you’re doing, and need a little inspiration, here are 10 digital resumes with some very cool visuals.

1. Give the Reader Your History

A key element of a resume is your professional background — where you started, where you are now, and the places in between. Resumes with maps or infographics provide the same chronology of information, but with a bit more flair.

Michael Anderson’s infographic resume turns his employment and academic history into a colorful visual journey.

Ozgur Alaz thought to plot his job history on Google Earth rather than on a list of text bullets.

2. Aesthetics Matter

In traditional resumes, the formatting and layout are important. Readers gravitate toward resumes with eye-pleasing fonts and structure. They also lean toward resumes with ample white space throughout the document. Resumes that visually feel like they will take a long time to read usually get put aside.

These graphical examples use design compel the reader to explore it now, rather than later.

Pau Morgan turned her CV into a clean, modern chart that is engaging, yet easy on the eyes.

Graphic designer Tudor Deleanu brings color and texture into what would otherwise be a simple list of previous employers.

3. Make It Personal

Traditional resumes can be “humanized” by a well-written cover letter. Graphical resumes can add a whole new dimension by visually introducing the person behind the experience.

Federico Moral went with an anthropological theme, placing his skills into the timeline of human evolution.

Francis Homo turns his own silhouette into a frame for his achievements.

Brandon Kleinman adds a really creative twist by making a short presentation out of his Facebook photos.

4. Use Graphics to Inform

Images can be used to tell an employer something about the resume before the first word is even read. The message could be "I'm a game designer," or "I work in the food industry." An image related to the profession or industry sends a message right away and can encourage the reader to learn more.

Illustrator and animator Sean McNally pours his gaming roots into this clever CV.

Designer Jason Takeuchi built this artful resume template around food — a great way to introduce yourself to those in the restaurant biz.

Conclusion

Deciding between a traditional text or graphically designed resume really depends on your profession and industry. Just throwing an image on the page will do little to set your resume apart from others. There has to be some thought behind the message you want to send. When incorporating design elements, remember to keep on task and consider the reader's first impression.

What other resume design tips are important to keep in mind? Leave us your comments.

Social Media Job Listings

Every week we put out a list of social media and web job opportunities. While we post a huge range of job listings, we’ve selected some of the top social media job opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!

More Job Search Resources from Mashable:

- Top 5 Tips for Creating Impressive Video Resumes
- Are Cover Letters Still Relevant For Social Media and Tech Jobs?
- HOW TO: Land a Job at 9 Hot Startups
- Top 5 Online Communities for Starting Your Career
- HOW TO: Land a Business Development Job

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, makkayak

More About: business, design, employment, graphic design, job search series, jobs, List, resumes, trending

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UberTwitter & Twidroyd Are Back Online

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 08:43 AM PST


After being briefly banned for policy violations, UberMedia apps UberSocial (formerly UberTwitter) and Twidroyd, the popular Android Twitter client, are back online.

The ban began just two days ago. At the time, a Twitter rep told us the applications were suspended from using Twitter’s API for multiple violations and explained, “These violations include, but aren't limited to, a privacy issue with private direct messages longer than 140 characters, trademark infringement, and changing the content of users' tweets in order to make money.”

After retooling the apps over the weekend to come into line with Twitter’s policies, UberMedia CEO Bill Gross tweeted, “Happy to say that UberSocial and Twidroyd are back online.”

The change from “UberTwitter” to “UberSocial” was one of the adjustments the company made to get the products back online expeditiously; the previous name had long been in violation of Twitter’s trademark on its own company name.

UberMedia is widely rumored to have acquired popular Twitter client TweetDeck; however, neither party could confirm the acquisition to us, and some sources say the sale isn’t yet complete. Whether TweetDeck is in violation of trademark is unknown; but Twitter doesn’t yet seem anxious to go after the many third-party products with “tweet” in their name.

More About: twidroyd, twitter, UberMedia, ubersocial, ubertwitter

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100+ Upcoming Social Media & Tech Events

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 06:59 AM PST

social_media_events_guide1

Every week, Mashable puts together a calendar of upcoming social media and web events, parties and conferences.

Would you like to have your conference or event listed here? If so, please request the Mashable Media Partnership Guidelines. If your event meets our requirements, contact us at least 45 days before your event to establish a media partnership with us. For more upcoming listings, check out Mashable’s‘s Events section.

In the meantime, here are some tips on how to network, share your information and/or promote your event(s) using social media:

Mashable’s Weekly Social Media and Marketing Event Guide is proudly supported by Eventbrite, the Web’s Event Marketplace.

February 21-23, 2011, New Delhi, India: The RadioAsia conference is a yearly event designed to address on-going developments in radio broadcasting content and services while highlighting the near future opportunities and challenges. This annual conference is organized by the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) , Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU) and Singapore Exhibition Services Pte Ltd for leading radio media practitioners, communication specialists, policy makers, academicians and students from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond. The theme for this year’s conference is “Radio on Air Everywhere – Adopting Multiplatform Strategies” keeping in tune with the changes in the medium due to globalization, convergence and technological advances. Register for the conference to learn more about the radio industry in Asia.

February 21-22, 2011, Tampa, FL: Facebook Masters Training & the social media conference for marketers, Social Fresh is not about concept, but focused on drilled down learning and case studies from the front lines. Learn what social media can really do for business bottom lines.Two days, 16 industry leading speakers, and Facebook Masters Training. As well as keynote Paula Berg of Linhart PR and Southwest Airlines social media veteran. Register now and use coupon code mashable for 25% off.

February 21, 2011, Tel Aviv, Israel: The upcoming Israel Dealmakers Summit 2011 hosted by Landmark Ventures will bring together a high-profile audience of 350+ Chairmen, CEOs, Investors and Technology Professionals across the Digital Media, Internet, Mobile, Cloud, Enterprise Software and Hardware sectors to discuss the future of Israel's economy, from large enterprises to the thriving start up culture, and ongoing role as an integral part of the global marketplace. The summit will additionally feature a VIP Delegation of 20-25 leading US & European corporations and investment funds who will all be speaking at the conference bringing a unique global perspective.

February 22, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: 3rd Annual Gravity Summit at UCLA – The Power of Real-Time; Social Media Marketing for Executives. Learn how to master the tactics and strategies of real-time social media to build brands, get customers and increase the bottom line. Speakers from Fast Company, DIRECTV, Mashable, WeberShandwick, Orci, Lexus, and more. Legendary music artist and Twitter star MC Hammer receives “Social Media Marketer of the Year” award in person. Join 200+ business leaders on campus at UCLA to learn from top brands and thought leaders in the field as they talk about understanding and harnessing the new real-time social media platforms and tools. Register with the promo code GRAVSUM1 and save $60!

February 23, 2011, Portland, OR: Join hundreds of your online marketing peers for the Fifth Annual SearchFest Internet Marketing Conference in Portland on February 23, 2011. Thought leaders and industry experts from around the country–including major brands like Intel, REI, and the New York Times–will deliver in-depth presentations on topics including Advanced Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Universal Search, Analytics, Paid Search Marketing and many more. Register with the promo code MASHABLEPDX to save 10% on your General Admission ticket!

February 23, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: DIGIDAY:ON MEDIA: Where THE digital media moguls caucus on the business of buying and planning and advertising across digital platforms. There is an enormous media market that media agencies have to master: Online Media, Social, Video, Mobile, Search, Apps, Ad Networks, Email, Targeting, Measurement, Emerging Platforms, and much more and media execs are constantly seeking the highest performance and most innovative platforms to help them run, create, engage and deliver their digital advertising creative and messages to their target audiences. ON MEDIA will be an event that brings together the leading media executives, buyers and planners for the ONLY a high level one-day summit to help them discuss and debate the current state of buying digital and how they can thrive in today’s fragmented media economy. Join us for this one of a kind meeting of the digital media moguls in Los Angeles. Register and use the promo code ONMASH to save $100 (Mashable reader discount).

February 24, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: DIGIDAY: MOBILE APPS: The event will bring together the leading executives from top mobile agencies, blue-chip brands, mobile app developers, mobile advertising networks, and content owners to discuss the explosive Mobile “app-vertising” market. The “app-vertising” business is igniting the imaginations of brand marketers worldwide and serving up a land grab for an increasingly valuable piece of real estate on the omnipresent mobile device in our pockets. The industry pioneers, visionaries, and leaders will converge to take a deep dive into the emerging mix of branded mobile applications and in-application advertising that is finally poised to deliver on the promise of mobile marketing. Attendees will learn and gain key insights on the innovative brands, the killer mobile apps, dynamic integrated content and offers, video, storytelling, and the rich functionality of apps. And a whole lot more! So what does the future hold for app-vertising? Find out at DIGIDAY: MOBILE APPS! Register and use the promo code APPMASH to save $100 (Mashable reader discount!).

February 24, 2011, New York, NY: TV Apps, Social TV, Content & Viewer Experience – Talk NYC kicks-off 2011 with an in-depth look at the emerging world of TV Apps and Social TV. Attendees will learn about and discuss the current state of these new spaces, in which directions they are heading, and how to take advantage of the opportunities these new spaces present. Please join us for an evening filled with engaging discussions and cross-industry networking. Featured leaders include Alex Iskold, CEO of GetGlue, Michael Wolff, Editorial Director of Adweek Group of Companies, and Ricky Van Veen, Founder of Collegehumor.com.

February 24, 2011, New York City: The 11th Annual Digital Music Forum! We are the only event in the United States that brings together the top music, technology and policy leaders for high-level discussions and debate, intimate meetings and unrivaled networking about the future of digital music. Digital Music Forum is known worldwide for the news that is made in our auditorium, the deals that get done in our hallways, and the friendships and partnerships that are forged year after year. Why wait by the sidelines, when you can join the event that is helping to drive the industry’s future! Pre-registration Rate of $399 (a $300 saving) available till January 28, plus receive 15% off with the promo code MASH15! Don’t miss the opportunity – Book NOW to reserve your seat!

February 25-27, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: The 9th Annual Southern California Linux Expo, the premier community run Linux / Open Source conference, will feature tutorial sessions designed to show users of all skill levels what Open Source can do and how to do it. Whatever your interest is in Open Source, SCALE 9X will have something for you. Register and use the discount code MASH9 for 35% off.

February 25-26, 2011, Miami Beach, FL: We’re launching 9 companies. Judged by 3 investors, 1 entrepreneur & 1 journalist. With $25k in cash & prizes. Now that was just day one! On day 2 we’ve got everyone from Ashvin Kumar to Zed Shaw speaking at this event. Covering Web Development, Marketing, Community Building, User Experience & straight money making – there is no business subject that will go untouched! SuperConf is going to be epic. Register with promo code MASHABLE for $35 off a 2 Day ticket.

February 25-26, 2011, Atlanta, GA: The Business Bootcamp for Wonder Women Conference is a 2 day conference in Atlanta on Feb 25 + 26. Whether you're B2B, B2C or a professional blogger, you want to know what can help your business NOW, without spending a fortune. With over 30 unique sessions, panels and workshops teaching results-oriented and creative social media, marketing, business and technology strategies, such as podcasting, video, mindmapping, Skype, getting publicity with no budget, building media relations, Facebook Fanpages, co-working, lead generation, and more, the BBWW is THE professional women's conference of the year. More importantly, there'll be NO HARD SELLING. All sessions will teach you HOW-to, not just WHY. Lasso and tiara optional. Register with the promo code MASH and save 20%.

February 25, 2011, New York, NY: Fostering a Culture of Innovation is a full-day event is designed to give managers and senior marketers tools, best practices, and tactics to unlock and signal digital innovation within their organizations and drive a culture that rewards risk-taking, rapid prototyping, and continuous learning. Register with the discount code Mashable_friends to get 25% off.

February 27-March 1, 2011, Palm Desert, CA: Be part of the exclusive unveiling of the most promising new products and prototypes of 2011. DEMO Spring 2011 provides a window into technology’s future and introduces you to the people and companies who are paving the way. Attend DEMO Spring 2011 and you'll have access to this exceptional group of global innovators, be the first to see 70 new product demonstrations and 30 AlphaPitch presenters, test drive products, and network with leading venture capitalists and angel investors, CEOs, dealmakers, entrepreneurs and demonstrators. Register with promo code MSH1 and save 25%!

February 27, 2011, Dubai, UAE: The new market dynamics facing our region require new thinking to stay ahead. This year's expert speakers at the Corporate Communications 2011 have decades of experience, real world case studies and practical communications strategies to share. Take the benefit of their experience today and apply it in your workplace tomorrow! F or more details about the Corporate Communications 2011 program, speaker-line-up and other information, visit our website www.iirme.com/corpcomm. To register, simply click here or email Janet.

Feb 28-March 1 & March 3-4, 2011, Singapore & Hong Kong: Join us at this interactive two-day conference on Social Media & PR to acquire effective PR techniques for boosting your brand image and reputation. Find out how companies like Boeing, BASF, BT Asia Pacific, SAP, Microsoft, HP, Kia, Dow Jones and more have successfully grasped the intricacies of social media to make it work for them. By the end of the conference, you’ll be able to successfully integrate both new and traditional media into your PR strategies! Register today and save 10% when you enter Mashable under Additional Info.

February 28–March 2, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Now in its third year, ENGAGE 2011, Webtrends' social/mobile marketing and analytics conference, features fresh ideas and candid forecasts from experts spanning Fortune 500 companies to break-through start-ups including Facebook, Google, eBay, Redbox, Dow Chemical and IBM plus industry innovators, marketers and analysts including Forrester, Brian Solis, and David Kirkpatrick. The event will host about 600 of the brightest leaders in digital, measurement and optimization from more than 300 major brands. For the latest agenda, please click here. Register and use the promo code ONEDAY for a discount on one-day passes.

February 28-March 1, 2011, Sydney, Australia: Social media marketing has rapidly evolved to the extent that it is no longer enough to just get on board the “social media marketing train.” Marketers are bombarded with tools and technologies without a real understanding of integrating social media effectively. Social Media Marketing – The Way Forward enables marketers develop and manage a sound strategy for your ongoing and future social media marketing projects, with practical and valuable insights shared by some of the most successful brands and campaign creators in both B2C & B2B social media marketing. Register with the promo code MPMASH and save 10%!

February 28, 2011, San Francisco, CA: The Future of Money & Technology Summit will bring together over 500 of the best and brightest thinkers around money, including entrepreneurs, developers, visionaries, press, investors, authors, solution providers, and organizations who work with them at the convergence of cash and commerce. We meet to discuss the evolving converging industries of finance & technology, and to do business in a proactive, conducive-to-dealmaking environment. Come learn & share how innovations in technology are changing the way we do business on a global and local scale. For more information, please visit www.futureofmoney.com. Register and save 10% by clicking here!

February 28, 2011, Israel: The Future of Nonprofit Summit: Israel (#FONSI) brings together some of the best professionals, innovators, lay leaders, organizations, brands, and other passionate people to explore tools and ideas to move the vital third sector forward. Join us for a day of innovation, collaboration and excellence where you will learn best practices, innovative ideas and valued case studies. Visit http://www.fonsi.co for complete details.

March 1-5, 2011, Hannover, Germany: CeBIT is the world’s largest trade fair showcasing digital IT and telecommunications solutions for home and work environments. The key target groups are users from industry, the wholesale/retail sector, skilled trades, banks, the services sector, government agencies, science and all users passionate about technology. CeBIT offers an international platform for comparing notes on current industry trends, networking, and product presentations. For more information, please visit: http://www.cebit.de and to receive your complimentary visitor registration to this elite event, please email lguiang@hfusa.com.

March 1-2, 2011, London, UK: TFM&A is the UK’s largest and longest running multi-channel marketing, media and advertising event. TFM&A will be delivering the latest industry insights, trends and developments as well as leading suppliers of digital, direct, data and CRM solutions. With free seminars and keynotes from big names like Microsoft Advertising and Experian, over 200 exciting exhibitors, a dedicated networking bar and cafe and many more show features, take advantage of your FREE entry to create a campaign that becomes a classic. Register at t-f-m.co.uk/mashable.

March 2-4, 2011, New York, NY: Borrell Associates' Local Online Advertising Conference is designed for executives responsible for developing, managing, marketing, and selling local online advertising. Clay Christensen is part of an all-star lineup of more than 50 speakers who will explore the transformation of local media brought on by the Internet and mobile media. Borrell will explore who’s making money in local online, mobile and social advertising, and offer attendees the tactical intelligence to help them “hit the ground running” when they return home. Register to attend at the Grand Hyatt in NYC or Attend@ Your Desk with a streaming pass. Save $100 with code BA100.

March 2-3, 2010, San Francisco, CA: EyeforTravel's Social Media Strategies for Travel Conference is North America's number one social media event for travel professionals. Now in its fourth successful year, the event brings together top travel brands to share key insights on how to maximize the impact of your social media initiatives. The two days are packed with case studies, presentations and networking opportunities. Please use the promo code MASHABLE for a $100 discount on the admission price.

March 2-3, 2011, Barcelona, Spain: Innovative e-Marketin is our exciting cross-industry event in which we offer you the opportunity to uncover the secrets to success from the most experienced e-Marketers in the world and learn how to put ideas into practice in the form of social networking activities, brainstorming sessions, talking circles, keynote case studies and insightful presentations. Why not treat yourself to one of our exclusive VIP passes? Let us pick you up from the airport and drive you directly to the venue. Register with the promo code EMK11/004 to save 10%.

March 2, 2011, Orange County, CA: Invisible or Remarkable? Seth Godin is back for one night only live and in person in SoCal. Join us for an unprecedented night of networking and evening with best-selling author, A-List lecture circuit speaker and marketing expert Seth Godin. This event is expected to sell out early. Reserve your spot now by clicking here.

March 2, 2011, Berlin, Germany: FEI is Europe's first and only event to solve your industry challenge in real-time. Explore best in class presentations by top multi-nationals, collaborate with world renowned experts, Listen to real-world visionaries choreographing "next" best practices, and participate in a real-time case study where you will tackle industry challenges and work to propel the industry forward. FEI is no ordinary conference — this is truly a catalyst for change. Register and use the promo code FEI2011MASH to save 20% off the standard rate.

March 3-5, 2011, Orlando, FL: unGeeked Elite Retreats brings together 24 speakers over the course of three days. The format is styled as an “open discussion” with topics centered around enhancing, positioning and leveraging both the internal and external brand. PPTs and Prezi’s are strongly discouraged and instead, on-going and intimate discussions among keynotes, regional speakers and attendees are encouraged. Speakers include: Amanda Hite, Dan Schawbel, Jeff Power, Amber Osborne and more. Register with the promo code unGeekedFlorida and save 5% off regular ticket price.

March 4-5, 2011, Louisville, KY: Code PaLOUsa is a two-day, eight-track software development conference in Louisville, KY that’s designed to cover all aspects of software development regardless of technology stack. We will have sessions revolving around Microsoft, Java, Ruby, PHP, and Clojure; along with sessions on higher, platform-agnostic levels. There will be 60 technical presentations and panel discussions from well-known professionals in the software development community and a keynote talk from Douglas Crockford of Yahoo! and JavaScript/JSON fame. For more information and to register, please visit codepalousa.com.

March 5, 2011: Telecommuting, the holy grail for many developers. Not work from home but work from where you are. Because after all, "Work is what you do, not where you go" Day Camp 4 Developer #2:Telecommuting will help developers understand the benefits and risks involved in telecommuting along with offering practical advice on what tools you and your team need to master in order to successfully distribute your team geographically. In one day we cover five important topics that every developer needs to understand before starting to telecommute. Register with the promo code MASHABLEROCKS and save $5.

March 7-9, 2011, San Mateo, CA: The Android Developers Conference, March 7-9 in San Mateo, CA, is the world’s premier independent event dedicated to building, marketing and managing apps for the Android platform. The format includes dozens of top technical classes, workshops and breakout classes. Mashable readers can receive a $100 discount off the Full Event Passport and/or gain free admission to the exhibits (first time registrants only – cannot be combined with other offers) by inserting the code MEDIASPONSOR on the registration page.

March 7, 2011, Toronto, Ontario: Today’s global market is consistently changing. How do you know what’s happening now and how do you innovate and create marketing strategies to stay ahead of the curve? The Art of Marketing brings thought leaders from around the globe and gives you direct access to cutting edge thinking and real world experience. On March 7th, 2011, join 5 internationally renowned bestselling authors including Guy Kawasaki, Gary Vaynerchuk, Avinash Kaushik, Dr. Sheena Iyengar & Jeffrey Hayzlett at Canada’s #1 marketing conference. Register with promo code MASH23 and save $50.

March 8-10, 2011, Washington, D.C.: Join hundreds of CARE supporters to advocate for women and girls around the globe at the CARE Conference & International Women's Day Celebration. Events kick off on March 8 with a celebration in honor of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The conference begins March 9 and will feature keynote speakers Melinda Gates and Laura W. Bush, as well as panel discussions led by issue experts from around the world. On March 10, CARE advocates will hear from keynote speaker Judy Woodruff before heading to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress and ask for their support on key policies that work to combat global poverty. For more information and to register, visit careconference.org.

March 8-10, 2011, San Jose, CA: At Search Marketing Expo – SMX West, you'll learn to maximize ROI from paid search advertising, optimize your website content for superior organic search results, expand your skills with local and mobile advertising expertise, master social media marketing on Twitter, Facebook and other SMM networks, boost conversions, and increase sales. Use the promo code smx100mashable and save $100 off your registration. For more information, please visit http://smxwest.com.

March 8-9, 2011, Brussels, Belgium: Are you looking to unleash the power of social media for CRM? As new channels and strategies emerge it is increasingly important to meet face-to-face to share knowledge, challenges and experiences. Enterprise Social 2.0: CRM will bring social media marketers and CRM experts together to share knowledge through real-world case studies, best practices, lessons learned and offering networking opportunities with some of the biggest brands and businesses today. Past speakers include: Google, Kodak, L'Oreal, Philips, Nokia, Lego, Siemens, Vodafone, SWIFT, SAP, Roger Smith Hotel, Dominos Pizza, Airbus and more. To receive a special discount, register now!

March 8-9, 2011, Amsterdam, NL: We’ve brought back some of your favorite speakers, as well as a number of new ones, and we’ve also added a few surprises to keep everyone on their toes. With some of the most interesting and engaging presenters from around the globe, FITC Amsterdam 2011 will be 2 days and 2 nights that will leave you inspired, energized and awed. Join us for an event that you will never forget! Register with the promo code Mashable10 and save 10%!

March 9, 2011, Dubai, India: The Cloud Computing World Forum Middle East and Africa will feature all of the key players within the Cloud Computing and SaaS market providing an introduction, discussion and look into the future for the ICT industry. Register today and get inspiration on how to address your latest issues with advice from real-life end-user case studies and practical examples. Register with the promo code MEAmash20 and save 20%!

March 11, 2011, San Jose, CA: The International Search Summit is partnering with SMX to run its global search and social media program at SMX West. Focusing specifically on international and multilingual topics, the summit will run on 11th March and give delegates the opportunity to attend both events. Topics at the Summit will include international link building, managing global content, international SEO case studies and multilingual video optimisation. The agenda can be found here, and will be regularly updated with confirmed speakers. Combo or Summit only tickets are available. Early Bird rates apply and Mashable readers can get $100 off the booking price with the discount code ISS@SMXmashable. For more information and to register, please click here.

March 13-18, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Come to the eMetrics Marketing Optimization Summit and learn how to turn customer touchpoint data into insight… whether it’s search terms, ad response, web behavior, customer satisfaction, mobile activities, social media attitude or transactions. Attendees will: Investigate Social Media, Online Media, Mobile Marketing and as always, Marketing Analytics; Soak up intelligence from keynotes, breakouts, Clinics, Labs, Round-table Discussions and your peers.; Take advantage of unparalleled networking.; Enjoy parties, receptions, and the WAA Awards Banquet. For more information and to register, please click here.

March 14-17, 2011, Chicago, IL: Attend the Advanced Learning Institute's 3rd Forum on Strategic Internal Communications: How To Use Social Media & Traditional Communication Tools To Engage Employees, Drive Performance & Add Value, to learn how to how to transform the role of internal communications to one that adds value to your business. Hear practical advice, firsthand, from leading organizations such as: Southwest Airlines; American Red Cross; Dean Foods Company; Sprint; Mars Chocolate North America; Northwestern Mutual; Kaiser Permanente; City of Milwaukee, WI; Edelman Change and Employee Engagement; and more. Register and mention Mashable to save $200.

March 14-15, 2011, Jacksonville, FL: Paging all health care communicators! Social media won't be flat lining anytime soon. Join us at our Health Care Marketing and PR Social Media Summit, hosted by Ragan Communications and Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media. Explore the hottest social media case studies and learn how to transform your communications strategy with mobile health applications. Empower yourself to convince executive non-believers that social media doesn't waste employees' time, but it actually increases productivity! Register with the promo code MASH11 to get a $100 discount on this previously sold-out conference. Can't attend? We're webcasting the entire experience!

March 15, 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Want to know successful stories on how big brands build their brand and reputation online? Everyone can go online, but can you STAY online? Our conference, Digitalize Your Marketing Strategy, is going to be most anticipated event of the year! WE are bringing you the Malaysian's most valuable brands, review their successful stories and provide you hands on tips to manage your online marketing strategy. Our privileged speakers from Digi, Dell, Unilever, Intel and Microsoft will share case studies using social media, digital and search engine. Register with the promo code DYMSMASH and save 20%!

March 16, 2011, Washington, DC: The Innovative Giving Foundation presents the 2011 Innogive Conference – "Mobile Giving Applied". This will be a one day event focuses on applying the best practices in mobile giving and communications for social good, and will address integrating SMS appeals, mobile apps and other emerging innovative giving technologies. The Innogive format combines a great mix of respected keynotes, riveting innovation speakers and super informative panels and hands on classes. Organizations of all sizes should attend! Register and use the promo code IGF for $50 off.

March 17-19, 2011, Washington, DC: The annual Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) is the Nonprofit Technology Network’s signature event, a three-day gathering bringing together nearly 2,000 nonprofit professionals from around the world to collaborate, innovate, and maximize effectiveness. Our members share the common goal of helping nonprofits use all aspects of technology more effectively; the NTC brings them face-to-face to connect, learn — and return to their organizations brimming with the energy, strategies, and networks they need to change the world. For more information and to register, please click here.

March 18, 2011, New York, NY: Facebook, In-Depth is an intensive full-day event that educates marketers and senior management on the world's largest social network. L2 is inviting an unprecedented group of scholars, thinkers, entrepreneurs, technologists and exemplar brands for a full day immersion on Facebook. Topics covered will range from best practices on branded Facebook pages to growing your fans and followers to Facebook commerce and advertising. Register with the discount code Mashable_friends to get 25% off.

March 19, 2011, Cape Cod, MA: Geek Girl Tech Boot Camp (Cape Cod 2011): Geek Girl Boot Camps are full-day technology “unconferences” for women, taught by women, of all ages and knowledge levels where you can find workshops on everything to do with computers and the Internet! Workshops include PC and Mac, Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), Location (foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp) Photoshop, QuickBooks, Blogging, Podcasting, WordPress, Google Tools, Dreamweaver, Video, Inbound Marketing, digital photography, and more. The workshops are designed for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. There are Discussion Groups and an all day Help Desk. The Mission of Geek Girl Camp is to educate and empower every girl and woman at every age level, on every skill level, at every income level on computer technology with fun and provide a legacy by giving back and paying it forward. Mashable readers get an exclusive $30 discount off the standard pricing of $139 with special code mashable2011 when registering!

March 21-25, 2011, New York, NY: Learn how to power up your online campaign through search, social and display at SES New York Conference & Expo. Search, social media, behavioral targeting, mobile, and video are just a few of the areas marketers have struggled to keep pace with within the last year. Advancements like Google Instant, Yahoo’s merger with Bing, and Twitter’s launch of Promoted Tweets, are just a few of the technological advancements which marketers have had to absorb. Helping marketers keep pace with a quickly developing digital landscape, the SES Conference & Expo series brings in experts from throughout the industry, providing insight, case studies, and tangible tactics for businesses to employ. SES New York, one of our most comprehensive shows of the year, attracts up to 6,000 attendees annually from leading brands across the business landscape. Attendees join to connect with the digital community at large, looking to build in-house skills in an array of digital marketing fields. Register with the promo code 20MASH and SAVE 20%.

March 21-23, 2011, Boston, MA: BIA/Kelsey's Interactive Local Media is the definitive conference on local digital advertising and marketing. Join the interactive local media community in Boston for ILM East where the focus will be on new local marketplaces, keying in on the latest developments in search, mobile, geolocation, reviews, group buying and deals. Register with the promo code ILMEMASH and save $200!

March 21-22, 24-25, 2011, Hong Kong & Singapore: Branding in a Digital Age – Join us at this 2-day conference to learn the best methodologies and tactics to boost your brand. Obtain a clear understanding of consumer behaviour and trends, and leverage on this knowledge to amplify your brand through digital platforms. Find out how brands such as Virgin Mobile, adidas, Dell, Sunkist, Flawless, Allianz and the Hong Kong Tourism Bureau have successfully incorporated digital as a means of delivering real-time, holistic and interactive brand experiences. Learn practical and actionable solutions from real-life case studies, and how to implement these new-formed insights for your brand! Register today!

March 21, 2011, Orlando, FL: The Mobile Web and Apps World Forum is the official Mobile Web and App event of International CTIA. Now in our 4th great year, we will once again bring together top minds from around the world to discuss how to develop, market, deploy and monetize mobile web and applications. This year's theme is "rise of mobile application commerce" and includes Facebook commerce, location based and viral marketing issues.

March 22-24, 2011, Washington, DC: The Publishing Xchange is a two-plus day interactive conference with discussions revolving around the latest market dynamics as they relate to real-world publishing and marketing processes. You'll learn about the latest technologies and how to achieve the greatest return on your efforts and investments while utilizing the new media channels. Choose from 6 tracks produced by Outsell, The Seybold Report, InfoTrends, Thad McIlroy The Future of Publishing, What They Think and IDEAlliance. Discover the future of publishing, how to implement a cross-media campaign, how a printer can make the leap into this new world & so much more!

March 22-24, 2011, Washington, DC: Ready or not, the way workers create, manage, share and consume information is changing in profound and unprecedented ways. Join us as thousands of technologists and business users from the world’s top companies gather to explore the technologies that are changing the way the world works. Choose from 19 conference tracks and programs, including the SharePoint Summit @ info360, EMC's Information Intelligence Summit @ info360 and Oracle @ info360. Visit www.info360show.com for details.

March 22, 2011, Orlando, FL: After the overwhelming response to our first tablets event in San Francisco (formerly iPad and Tablets: Entertainment and Publishing Apps) we are proud to once again present the next Future of Tablets event at International CTIA in Orlando. We will be covering issues that are important to the publishing, media and entertainment industries. Topics include market research and trends, deployment on multiple platforms, digital newsstands, ad-funded, sponsored and premium apps, business and revenue models, incorporating multimedia communities and much more

March 23-24, 2010, Las Vegas, NV: Hear groundbreaking social media ROI case studies at Social Pulse 2011: The Corporate Social Media Marketing Event! This conference provides corporate marketing leaders from across industries the newest insights and case studies on how to drive measurable results and marketing ROI through smart social media strategy. Moving beyond theory and assumptions, it is the only conference that focuses on social media initiatives that have generated measurable results for America’s leading corporations. Register online or call 1-800-647-7600, and use the promo code MJK233 to save $200!

March 23, 2011, New York, NY: The Social Consumer: Case Studies and Roundtables — Representatives from PepsiCo, Sony, Unilever, Kotex, and others will demonstrate the best case studies of how leading brands engage, influence and service consumers through innovative social programs. Register and use the promo code MASH for a discounted rate of $155.

March 23, 2011, New York, NY: GigaOM presents "Structure Big Data" That “fire hose” of information pouring through your company’s databases and systems? That data, whether real-time or historic, presents an enormous opportunity to gain business insights to maximize profits and improve products. Structure Big Data, GigaOM’s newest conference, is focused on helping technology executives develop a big data strategy. Turn your company’s information into your next big revenue opportunity. Register with the promo code BDMASH and save $100!

March 24, 2011, Tulsa, OK: It's time for the very first Social Media Tulsa Conference. Social media thought leaders, internet marketers, PR specialists, mobile pioneers, and tech enthusiasts all in one place for a day of sharing knowledge, sparking ideas, and networking with the best from all walks of life. It all began with Social Media Day Tulsa at Fat Guys Burger Bar in the historic Greenwood district. Social Media Tulsa is a community that invites its members to gather and talk about the impact of Social Media on business, news, entertainment, sports, non profit, and other topics. Registration includes lunch, sessions, and beverage coupons. Register and use the promo code SMTulsaMash for a 15% discount.

March 28-29, 2011, Paris, France: The Marketing 2.0 Conference features leading social media experts who will discuss and learn about the social media initiatives from brands, advertisers, researchers and analysts. Hear from leading people in social media about their strategies, revenue models and how they are approaching upcoming trends in the field. The event will also examine the current market conditions, future forecasts and predictions from leading researchers. Use the promo code mash2011 to receive a discount off the registration price.

March 29-30, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Following the success of our inaugural summit, the SSN 2nd Alternative Payment Systems Innovations Summit will enable industry senior executives and decision-makers to share implementation challenges and success stories for capitalizing on the explosive growth of the rapidly evolving mobile payments arena. Merchants, payment processors, telecom carriers, developers and solutions providers will gather for provoking discussions on topics such as upcoming plans for accepting mobile payments in stores, facilitating collaboration amongst all players in the mobile payments space and direct-to-mobile billing. Register with the promo code APSIMA1 and save $300 off registration rate!

March 29-30, 2011 London, UK: Social Media World Forum Europe is now in its 3rd year, the event this year will be providing a format for networking, engagement, and lots of social media debate around the latest tools, technologies, platforms, and emerging trends within social media marketing. With over 4000 attendees last year, the show has grown significantly to become one of the leading shows in its field, hosting a variety of free to attend workshops & conferences for marketers, pr professionals, developers, and the like. Mashable readers receive a 20% discount when they register and use the promo code MASH2011.

March 29, 2011, New York, NY: GE, H&R Block, Scholastic, Walmart, Scripps Networks, HP, and more will share case studies in corporate social media at BlogWell New York: How Big Brands Use Social Media. You’ll learn how to get started, get past roadblocks, and make your social media program phenomenal — in one afternoon, for just $250. Get practical, how-to advice on creating great content, getting management buy-in, educating employees, keeping lawyers and regulators happy, simple and ethical disclosure, and engaging fans. Presented by GasPedal and SocialMedia.org. Register with promo code THANKSMASHABLE and save 10%!

March 31 – April 1, 2011, New York, NY: Produced by Mediabistro, AllFacebook and SocialTimes, Socialize: Monetizing Social Media unites business leaders in gaming, virtual goods, social mobile, marketing, and media for two days of learning, connecting, and sharing about all things social. Attendees come to Socialize for the real-world insight that our unique blend of industry heavyweights, business visionaries and results-oriented practitioners bring to the table. Expert speakers include Mitch Joel (President, Twist Image), Ian Schafer (Founder and CEO, Deep Focus), Geoff Cook (CEO, myYearbook), and more. For full details and registration, visit the site. Register with the promo code SOCMASH and save 15%!

April 4-7, 2011, Vancouver, BC: Attend the Advanced Learning Institute's 25th Updated Forum on Social Media for Government: How To Engage Your Employees And Citizens By Using The Latest Web 2.0 Technologies To Drive Communication Results, to learn how to incorporate social media into your communications and marketing plans, and leverage the latest interactive Web 2.0 tools and techniques to advance your organizational goals. Hear practical advice from: BC Ministry of Environment; Department of National Defence; City of Seattle, WA; BC Public Affairs Bureau, City of Oshawa, ON; Genome Alberta; Alberta Environment; Deloitte and more. Register and mention Mashable when registering to save $200!

April 4-6, 2011, Boston, MA: SOCIAL MEDIA & COMMUNITY 2.0 STRATEGIES is a unique event that focuses on the business value of social media for established brands, as well as entrepreneurial companies. It brings together community experts with lines of business leaders who are using social media strategically to drive their business. From setting the strategy, to operationalizing it, to measuring the results – this event is a high-level think tank for and by those particularly focused on understanding and improving efforts and investments in the Social Media & Community space. Join the evolution and register today (Save 20% with the promo code SOCIAL11MASH).

April 4, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Data 2.0 Conference – Learn from Google, Microsoft, SimpleGeo, Factual, and 50 other innovators about what's next in the world of data. The first conference to examine the growing importance of information accessibility in business, technology and society, the midVentures Data 2.0 Conference focuses on how the web is becoming the new database, and how businesses can better analyze and monetize this information. Discussions will span the next decade of data, from the data ecosystem and commoditization of information, to personal data control and open data initiatives. How will you use data to better target your new customers? Register and use the code data2mash for a 15% discount.

April 4, 2011, Munich, Germany: The International Search Summit is partnering with SMX to run its global search and social media program at SMX München. Focusing specifically on international and multilingual topics, the summit will run on 4th of April and give delegates the opportunity to attend both events. Topics at the Summit will include international link building, the impact of display on global search, international SEO case studies and multilingual video optimisation. All sessions will be in English. The agenda can be found here, and will be regularly updated with confirmed speakers. Combo or Summit only tickets are available. Early Bird rates apply and Mashable readers can get 15% off the booking price with the discount code MASHABLE011. For more information and to register, please click here.

April 5-6, 2011, San Francisco, CA: iStrategy is an inspirational, 2-day, digital media conference for senior executives who believe that the success of their business requires a sound digital strategy. iStrategy has recruited keynote speakers, panelists, workshop facilitators and attendees with expertise in the online channels that drive successful outcomes and tools that provide ongoing measurement including: Social Media, Mobile Marketing and Applications, Display Advertising, SEO/SEM, Email Marketing, Database Marketing, Web Analytics, E-commerce and Content Strategy. Register with the promo code MASHSJ10 to receive a 10% discount off the ticket price.

April 6-8, 2011, Phoenix, AZ: K-12 educators from across the country are invited to the Mobile Learning Experience 2011. Over the course of three days dozens of breakout sessions are offered. Leaders and visionaries like Travis Allen, Graham Brown-Martin, Scott Meech, Tony Vincent, and Susan Wells give inspirational, informative, and practical presentations. In addition to breakouts, there are keynote presentations, panel discussions, app sharing opportunities, and scavenger hunts. Topics include classroom management, assistive technology, higher-order thinking, movie-making, research, and personalized learning. Register at http://mobile2011.org.

April 6-8, 2011, New York City, NY: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ? Now you don't have to – you can be there as an added bonus for attending our conference The 2011 Content Summit for Corporate Communicators & PR, presented by Ragan Communications and hosted by NASDAQ OMX. You'll discover new ways to tell a story that are echo-worthy in both social media and traditional media. Register with the promo code MASH11 to save $200 off the regular registration price.

April 6-8, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: Hispanicize 2011, the 2nd Annual Hispanic PR & Social Media Conference, is the first and largest conference devoted to Latino social media, bloggers and public relations professionals. The three-day conference will feature top industry keynote speakers and more than 24 professional development sessions. It’s also the first event to gather all the Latino and multicultural bloggers together for first time. For more information, please click here.

April 6, 2011, New York, NY: The annual We Media Conference features the people and ideas shaping media, technology and society. This year's conference is a lightening-strike for fast-movers: a one-day event filled with must-have intelligence, inspired ideas and brilliant people looking ahead to what’s next and what to do about it. Dozens of new projects, hundreds of new relationships and scores of solutions, partnerships and investments have emerged from the activities and key connections forged at We Media conferences around the world. The conference also features the finals of the $50k We Media PitchIt Challenge, a contest to help turn two startup ideas into something real. Register with the promo code WEMASH and save 10%!

April 7, 2011, London, UK: The third Social Media in Recruitment Conference will again help recruiters get the most from using Social Media through Case Studies, Latest Trends and Best Practice. Discover how the British Army introduced Social Media in recruiting, how Nokia uses LinkedIn on a global basis to build a talent pipeline, and how the European Personnel Selection Office in Brussels (who have careers web sites in twenty three different languages) use multilingual Social Media sites to attract new hires. Register and save 10% with the discount code MASHABLE.

April 7, 2011, London, UK: MI EXPO, a one day conference and exhibition taking place at The Delfina London is a platform showcasing innovation within the marketing sector. The event promises to inspire and educate, whilst bring together the companies and individuals driving the industry forward creating networking and new business opportunities. The Marketing Innovation Awards, nominated for by the UTalkMarketing Community will take place at the end of the day during a drinks reception. Register and use the promo code MASH15 to receive a 15% discount.

April 7, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: Social Media Advanced Skills Huddle – SMASH is an interactive conference designed to help you make better decisions about deploying social media for marketing, public relations and corporate communications. Presenters and attendees will huddle to air issues, seek advice, and tap into each other’s wisdom while arriving at practical solutions. This event is part of a series of unique how-to huddles on the campuses of the world’s best universities, taught by some of America’s top social media practitioners and experts. SMASH pushes the traditional conference into something much more interactive and practical. Register and use the promo code smashmash11.

April 11-13, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Mix and mingle with more than 10,000 digital marketers at ad:tech. Discover the latest innovations in social media, mobile, search, e-mail, location-based marketing and much more. Find hundreds of the hottest digital marketing and advertising companies to network with and learn from. For more information and to register, please click here.

April 12-14, 2001, New York, NY: Market Research and Insights In Action is a connecting platform where global leaders meet to discuss strategic and key topics, exchange most recent experiences, and brainstorm on future developments. The event will include keynote presentations, case studies, interactive sessions, workshops, talking circles, panel discussions, business meetings and formal and informal networking activities designed to link and connect senior executives within the field of Market Research and Consumer / Customer Insights. Why not treat yourself to one of our exclusive VIP passes? Let us pick you up from the airport and drive you directly to the venue. Register with a promo code MRIUS11/003 to save 10%.

April 12, 2011 New York, NY: The Sentiment Analysis Symposium bridges technology and business in one of the most exciting applications to emerge in recent years: software that discovers business value in opinions and attitudes in social media, news, and enterprise feedback. The Sentiment Analysis Symposium provides an unmatched opportunity to learn about sentiment technologies, how they are applied, return on investment, and how to choose from among the many available solution options. Meet and learn from fellow experts, business executives, and practitioners. Keynotes, presentation tracks covering important business applications, a start-up showcase and peer-networking opportunities are planned.

April 13-15, 2011, Singapore: The Internet Show Asia 2011 is a series of seminars and a large end-to-end showcase of the latest internet technologies and solutions. More than 10,000 attendees will be at the exhibition and conference to find new ways of doing internet business and enhancing product offerings through the internet – through case study presentations and speaking directly with solution partners. The show will aim to increase your ROI, it's all about business, not a technology show. For more details and registrations, please visit www.theinternetshows.com/2010/Singapore.

April 13, 2011, Knoxville, TN: Some of the brightest minds in social media in the country are coming to Knoxville for this can't-miss marketing and PR event of the year: Social Slam 2011! Join for us for four expert panels and nationally acclaimed keynote speakers, including: Jay Baer, Christina "CK" Kerley, Trey Pennington and Brian Winter. For more information, please visit socslam.com.

April 14-16, 2011, New Orleans, LA: Whether you're a mom entrepreneur, blogger, a brand trying to connect with moms, or are just passionate about the online world, Mom 2.0 Summit is the conference for you. Talk shop with social media influencers, industry leaders and leading brands as they share best practices. Discuss ways to create smarter web-based marketing, and discover social media tools that engage your audience and build relationships. Register and use the promo code mashable2011 to save $35 off the ticket price.

April 14-15, 2011, Toronto, Canada: Gain cutting edge strategies to manage the risks and uncertainties involved in your organization's use of social media – all in just 2 days! Attend The Canadian Institute's Advanced Forum on Managing Legal and Business Risks in Social Media, and walk away with the tools you need to prepare a thorough plan for your organization to successfully navigate this ever-changing online world. Register and use the Mashable discount code 248CX01 to save 15% off the conference.

April 18-20, 2011, Dubai, UAE: Planet of the Apps Arabia 2011 is a three day conference dedicated to the opportunities and challenges of mobile applications in the Arab world. The event is for app developers, content providers, device manufacturers, network operators and brands to meet and discuss the current challenges and opportunities presented in this growing market. Key issues addressed will include; the sustainability of the current business models, consumer engagement, developer recruitment, app discoverability, platform choice and the importance of social media networks. Register with promo code Mashable and save 20%!

April 18-19, 2011, London, UK: The Mobile Research Conference is the must-attend annual event for brands, agencies and academics interested in engaging consumers and capturing real-time feedback through mobile phones. Mobile, along with social media and online networks, represents the latest frontier for market research. Attend MRC 2011 and discover how to engage respondents, extract insights for product innovation and optimize marketing activities. This 2-day event is designed for consumer insights professionals; corporate, agency and academic survey researchers; mobile operators and tech companies. Register and use the promo code FF-MASHABLE to receive 20% off the main registration price!

April 26-28, 2011, San Francisco, CA: GSMI presents Mobile Marketing Strategies Summit. GSMI has diligently worked to find the best, brightest and most distinct speakers in the Mobile Marketing industry. Our 2011 Mobile Marketing Summit will provide valuable information, through case studies, presentations and hands on workshops. Attendees will leave the conference with the tools and knowledge needed to keep their brands competitive in the Mobile Marketing industry. Register and use the promo code MikeSM.

April 26, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: LA Games Conference – Over 300 of the most influential decision-makers in the games industry gather for the LA Games Conference to network, do deals, and share ideas about the future of console, PC, online and mobile games. LA Games Conference – now in its 4th year – features a lively and fun debate on timely cutting-edge business topics, demos as well unrivaled access to some of the most progressive companies in Hollywood, Silicon Valley and beyond. We invite you to join us at the event and take part in the discussion with executives, creators, investors, analysts, press and gamers who will be instrumental in shaping the future of this booming business. For a limited time we are offering a special Early Bird Rate of $299 – a $400 saving, plus plus receive 15% off with the promo code MASH15! Don’t miss the opportunity – Book NOW to reserve your seat!

May 2-4, 2011, Toronto, Canada: Now in its 10th year, FITC Toronto is one of the largest and longest running events of its kind in the world. With some of the most unique and engaging presenters from around the globe, FITC Toronto is a blitz of presentations, demonstrations, and panel discussions, sandwiched between the legendary FITC parties and abundant networking opportunities. Register with the promo code Mashable10 and save 10%!

May 2-3, 2011, Chicago, IL: At Technology Driven Market Research, the focus is on presenting ground-breaking tools and technologies that are being used NOW and those on the horizon. These technologies are enabling “in the moment” research to more clearly understand consumer behavior. Through real-world experienced based presentations, this event will look at brand-mind placement, eye tracking research in a virtual retail environment, social gaming as a research device, and social and mobile analysis plus much more. Register with the promo code TDMR11MASH and save 20% off the standard rate.

May 3-7, 2011, London, UK: Digital Shoreditch is the voice of everything happening in Shoreditch. The festival explores and celebrates digital technologies; unites the digital community; and provides a platform for sharing knowledge. The activity culminates in a series of exhibitions, parties, presentations, open studios and games.

May 4, 2011, Washington, D.C.: ConAgra Foods, United Health Group, the IRS, the U.S. Navy, and more will share case studies in corporate social media at BlogWell Washington, D.C.: How Big Brands Use Social Media. You’ll learn how to get started, get past roadblocks, and make your social media program phenomenal — in one afternoon, for just $250. Get practical, how-to advice on creating great content, getting management buy-in, educating employees, keeping lawyers and regulators happy, simple and ethical disclosure, and engaging fans. Presented by GasPedal and SocialMedia.org. Register with promo code THANKSMASHABLE and save 10%!

May 9-11, 2001, Chicago, IL: School of WOM is the Word of Mouth Marketing Association’s annual spring conference. School of WOM will provide marketers with in-depth practical knowledge on the arts and sciences of Word of Mouth and Social Media marketing. School of WOM attendees learn the techniques, methods, and processes that are being implemented into your business practices today that they can bring back and implement tomorrow. At School of WOM, you’ll learn to stay ahead of the competition and ensure your company remains talkable for all the right reasons. Go to www.womma.org for more information. Register and use code the promo code WOMMASOWMASH when registering for the event.

May 9-11, 2011, Minneapolis, MN: Content strategy is the next big thing. Is it your thing, too? Whether you’re a content strategy veteran or curious about where to start, Confab: The Content Strategy Conference is for you. Real-world case studies from major companies like Disney, eBay, Facebook and Merck. Hands-on workshops. All the experts. Mix and mingle with other content strategists. Share your insights. Hear the insights of others. Plus, there will be some fantastic parties. Get ahead of the curve in your business and career … come to Confab: The Content Strategy Conference. Register with the promo code MASHABLE and save $150.

May 10-11, 2011, Hollywood, FL: Following an incredible inaugural year in 2010, the annual Social Media Customer Response Summit is back with more excitement and even better sessions addressing the industry's key issues. This year’s theme will focus on ideas surrounding how corporate America is responding to emerging ‘Customer Response’ channels through social media, web 2.0, video streaming and mobile applications. During this two-day seminar, attendees will be able to listen, learn and collaborate with prominent industry leaders such as Bob Simmonds of Disney, David Thornton of Bank of America, Robert Lamb of AT&T, and Jim Moloney of General Motors on the challenges/benefits with using an ‘interactive social media customer response strategy,’ and what technological developments will continue to affect the industry, plus much more. C-Level executives interested in attending can find more information about the Summit’s Agenda & Registration at customerresponsesummit.com.

May 11-12, 2011, Amsterdam: iStrategy is an inspirational, 2-day, digital media conference for senior executives who believe that the success of their business requires a sound digital strategy. iStrategy has recruited keynote speakers, panelists, workshop facilitators and attendees with expertise in the online channels that drive successful outcomes and tools that provide ongoing measurement including: Social Media, Mobile Marketing and Applications, Display Advertising, SEO/SEM, Email Marketing, Database Marketing, Web Analytics, E-commerce and Content Strategy. Register with the promo code MASHEU10 to receive a 10% discount.

May 12-14, 2011, Chicago, IL: unGeeked Elite Retreats will be held at the SYNCUBATOR and brings together 24 speakers over the course of three days. The format is styled as an “open discussion” with topics centered around enhancing, positioning and leveraging boththe internal and external brand. PPTs and Prezi’s are strongly discouraged and instead, on-going and intimate discussions among keynotes, regional speakers and attendees are encouraged. Speakers include Julian Smith, Jason Falls, Spike Jones, Amanda Hite and more. Register with promo code unGeekedChi and save 5% off regular ticket price.

May 16-19, 2011, Prague, Czech Republic: The TERENA Networking Conference (TNC) is the largest and most prestigious European research networking conference – over 500 participants, including decision makers, networking specialists and managers from all major European networking and research organisations, universities, worldwide sister institutions and industry representatives attend. Through keynote speeches by renowned specialists and many parallel sessions, TNC presents an overview of the latest developments in research networking, both in the technical field and in the areas of application and management. For more information, click here.

May 16-18, 2011, London, UK: The Future of Web Design (FOWD) hits London again this May! Following on from the success of last year, we’re bringing you 3 full days of essential web learning: a day of in-depth workshops, followed up by a two day conference, covering all of the hottest topics across two stages. Big names, rising stars, great networking opportunities and some fabulous catering thrown in for good measure. Hope you can join us!

May 17-19, 2011, London, UK: The World E-Reading Congress brings together digital and print publishers with e-reading platforms and device manufacturers to discuss the business models and opportunities provided by the growth of the e-reading industry. Publishers must be prepared for this dramatic industry upheaval. They must learn how to embrace this disruptive technology and the World E-Reading Congress will enable them to discover how they can profit from the E-Reading revolution. Visit our website for more information and register before January to save 10%!

May 17-18, 2011, Sydney, Australia: With an estimated 200,000 loyalty programs currently operating in Australia, it is vital for businesses to understand how to make their brand stand out from the crowd. More than ever, your success hinges on your ability to gain a greater understanding of your customers’ wants and needs.Traditional modes of marketing have evolved and it is necessary to embrace more personalised communications across numerous channels. The Customer Loyalty 2011 Conference is a case-study driven program that will explore different strategies to add the value that your customers want from your loyalty initiative. It will discuss evolving definitions of best practice in loyalty marketing and help you make your mark in this evolving multichannel landscape. Register with the promo code CC*MASHABLE and save 10%!

May 18-19, 2011, Boston, MA: Text analytics has grown from an interesting but little known software application into an invaluable commercial tool being used by businesses worldwide. Forward thinking executives across a myriad of industries are using text analytics solutions to increase efficiency and unlock essential information that they never had access to before. Whether you are a software developer, an experienced analytics user, or new to the text analytics industry, the Text Analytics Summit is the only place to get the information that you need to stay ahead of the competition and profit from text mining. Register and use the promo code mashable to save 10%.

May 18, 2011, London, UK: The International Search Summit is partnering with SMX to run its global search and social media program at SMX Advanced in London. Focusing specifically on international and multilingual topics, the summit will run on 18th May and give delegates the opportunity to attend both events in just one trip and on one pass. Topics at the Summit will include international link building, managing global content, international SEO case studies and emerging markers. The agenda will be regularly updated with confirmed speakers. Combo or Summit only tickets are available. Early Bird rates apply and Mashable readers can get a 15% discount on the booking price with the discount code MASHABLE011. For more information and to register, please click here.

May 20-22, 2011, Ft. Lauderdale, FL: SheCon’s 2011 New Media Expo is the industry’s first free, three-day social media event that is bringing together some of the industry’s most renowned experts to condense a four-year journalism school experience into three days of new media sessions, with sessions and panels ranging from general to specific, niche market discussions. Combined with the educational sessions, the expo will bring together a diverse group of exhibitors that will be focusing on a brand integration, rather than forced brand interaction, concept for engaging and building relationships with attendees.

May 23-24, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Produced by Mediabistro and SocialTimes, Socialize Media Optimization Conference (SMOC) is a two-day event dedicated to social media optimization and social advertising. Boost search engine visibility, increase linkability, and fuel your readers' desire to share your content. Industry leaders will also show you how to get results whenadvertising on the social web in terms of strategy, targeting, privacy, and metrics. Our experts include Brian Solis (author, Engage), Rohit Bhargava (SVP, Digital, Strategy & Planning Group), Gary Ware (Covario), and many more. Register and use the promo code MASH to save 15%.

May 24-26, 2011, San Francisco, CA: All About the Cloud — Save $100 with the promo code PRMMASH to attend the software industry's leading ISV conference on Cloud Computing. (Note: discount valid off the individual non-member rate only and does apply to current attendees.) You'll join an anticipated audience of more than 500 senior executives from ISVs, resellers, and platform / technology providers, as well as the industry's leading analysts, bankers, venture capitalists and the media. Key networking events include: a Golf Tournament, a Speed Networking Event, a Mardi Gras-themed Welcome Reception and an offsite Networking Reception featuring the Microsoft Rock Band Challenge. For details, including registration information, please visit AllAbouttheCloud.net.

May 24-26 2011, Gateshead, UK: Thinking Digital is an annual conference where the world’s greatest thinkers and innovators discuss the latest ideas, innovations and technologies. The conference provides an experience like no other, stimulating new thinking and new ideas. It's about what you'll learn, and who you'll meet. Our eclectic schedule means you'll listen to world-class authorities, meet amazing people, be entertained and outrageously inspired! When you leave Thinking Digital you'll know about things that you previously didn't even realise existed and have become part of our unique community. Register with the promo code TDCMASH and save 10%.

May 25, 2011, London, UK: The Guardian Sustainable Business Awards aim to showcase genuine innovation in corporate sustainability and reward those who take sustainability to the very heart of their business. Enter the awards today at guardian.co.uk/gsb-awards to get the recognition you deserve. Winners will be invited to a ceremony held in London in May and will feature in a supplement published on guardian.co.uk. All entries meeting the criteria will be added to the new Guardian Sustainable Business best practice exchange – an online database allowing sustainability professionals to share their learning. Enter before February 7th at guardian.co.uk/gsb-awards.

May 29-30, 2011, Dubai, UAE: Social Media Marketing – The Way Forward – It is undeniable that social media has fundamentally transformed and evolved the architecture of business, communications, and the dissemination of information and influence. In July 2010, Facebook announced it had over 500 million users worldwide,of which at least 15 million were in Middle East.Survey findings also indicated that one out of five Facebook users is from Asia or Middle East. Participants at this two-day conference will be exposed to the intricacies of corporate social media strategies tailored for your industry. Participants would gain insights to maximizing the usage of social and establishing and maintaining a good relationship with consumers, thus effectively introducing their brands online and engaging long-term relationship with the audience. For more information, please click here.

June 5-9, 2011, San Francisco, CA: The 2011 Semantic Technology Conference (SemTech) is the world's largest educational conference for the community of executives, technologists, researchers, investors and customers who are involved with semantic technologies. The SemTech conference draws together more than 1,000 forward-thinking technology and business leaders from around the world, representing the entire marketplace of vendors, developers, researchers, start-ups, investors and customers. SemTech 2011 features five days of presentations, panels, tutorials, announcements, new company/product launches, and conversations. It’s a place for new learning, professional networking, and business development. For details and registration, visit the site. Register and use the promo code MASH to save 15%.!

June 6-8, 2011, Chicago, IL: The Art & Science of Integrating Traditional & Social Media Marketing – Measure Up, is the world's most comprehensive cross-dimensional view of marketing measurement best practices. With a focus on return on investment (ROI) as it relates to the integration of traditional, online and mobile activities; specifically, social media, this event explores analytics across the entire marketing mix and incorporates those results into marketing strategies and tactics to drive higher revenue, profit and brand share. Register and use the promo code XU2308MASH and save 10%!

June 7-8, 2011, Munich, Germany: a4uexpo Europe is the largest pan European Affiliate and Performance Marketing Conference. With over 1000 delegates, a diverse conference programme, a focus on quality, knowledge transfer and unparalleled networking opportunities with delegates and key industry figures from around the world, a4uexpo Europe is a must attend educational and networking event. Whether a new or established affiliate, agency, entrepreneur, search specialist, merchant or network – a4uexpo is the conference for those serious about making an impact in Affiliate and Performance Marketing. Register with the promo code MASHABLE25 and save €25 on a full conference pass for a4uexpo Europe.

June 8, 2011, Singapore: With the phenomenal growth of apps worldwide, Asia is the next big market to watch out for. Planet of the Apps Asia is the leading event dedicated to mobile applications in Asia. The two day conference plus a dedicated masterclass day brings together the mobile application ecosystem in one location. The event will shine on a light on the latest innovations and showcase the latest solutions in the world of mobile applications. Be part of this definitive event and network with professionals from all around the globe.

June 16, 2011, London, UK: The Augmented Reality Summit is designed to explore this new dynamic reality and provide delegates with the perfect opportunity to uncover Augmented Reality in full and explore the opportunity's AR brings any brand or company. The AR Summit is positioned at the forefront of this exciting continually developing new industry. Whether you are a Brand, Advertiser or Agency, Technology provider or Developer looking to meet key industry figures, keep up with the latest developments, technology's & tools or simply to network with other from the world of AR – Register and use the promo code ARMASH to save 25%!

June 27-29, 2011, Las Vegas, NV: The Future of Web Apps (FOWA) is coming to Vegas. After successfully running shows in Miami and London, the conference hits Vegas for the first time in June. A conference for web developers and entrepreneurs, there are 3 days of jam packed web fun including a day of workshops and 2 conference days of two tracks. As well as App Clinics and Expo Area, you can learn and network with people who have passion for the web! Register with the code FOWA_MASHABLE and receive 10% off our 2 day conference passes.

September 6-8, 2011, Cleveland, OH: At Content Marketing World, you'll learn how to transform your marketing department into a storytelling factory, engaging your prospects and customers in all the right channels with the right messages– including social, mobile, email, online and even print and in-person strategies. Through 24+ breakout sessions and amazing keynotes led by worldwide experts, you'll get the tools you need to be a successful content marketer. Plus, you'll experience the best of what Cleveland has to offer, starting with our opening night reception at the infamous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Register and use the promo code mash to receive $100 off the current price of a ticket.

September 12-13, 2011, Renaissance Glendale, Phoenix, AZ: The third Social Media Optimization Summit event, presented by Multifamilypro, brings together small to mid-sized business owners with an interest in putting social media to work successfully within their organizations in ways that are proven to generate results. The event offers two full days of intensive, hands-on workshops from the intermediate to advanced level, led by top social media experts. The unique "See it. Hear it. Do it." approach allows attendees to learn by doing, and begin immediately applying newly-acquired skills and knowledge while the event is underway. See what others are saying about the event and register now at optimizationsummits.com and use discount code Mashable to save $100!

Sept 21-22, 2011, London, UK: ad:tech London is the UK’s essential free to attend event for professionals seeking to stay ahead of the latest interactive media, advertising and marketing trends. The event unites advertisers, media owners and agencies to harness the power of digital and deliver real marketing ROI. Alongside the exhibition, there is also a conference featuring 100+ international speakers for serious digital innovators and marketers. Mashable readers can take 20% off their conference ticket price. Register online now with the promo code MASH11 at www.ad-techlondon.co.uk.

September 26-29, 2011, Kaua’i, HI: The Search and Social Woot! is an elite conference unlike any other that will provide you with the strategies and complete know how to thrive in this ever changing environment. Each day begins with morning sessions around the hottest topics. With Keynote Bruce Clay of Bruce Clay, Inc. and speakers from corporations such as Real Networks, Network Solutions, AT&T, Microsoft Bing and Logitech. Afternoons are spent in a relaxed environment including planned activities in which individual attendees can get to know speakers and each other on a more personal level continuing the discussion and building long lasting relationships. Register and use the promo code SSWootMash to save 10%.

September 29-October 1, 2011, Atlanta, GA: As pet owners, bloggers, consumer brands and those connected to the industry – including veterinarians – continue to build upon social media & marketing, pet social media education & networking is an extremely important aspect to mobilizing efforts and to address the challenges faced by pet owners. Whether you use YouTube, Twitter, Dog/Catbook or online forums to gather & share information about pets, it's increasingly important for this community to have a face-to-face forum. Established in 2009, the BarkWorld Conference & Expo is the only pet social media conference covering ALL facets of social media & pet education. Our 2011 annual conference will focus on many topics, including: how to take great photos your pet & use it online, how to build/design a blog & monetize, mobile applications, metrics/SEO, pet food demonstrations, promoting your pet/business via social media and using online forums. Join us for this 2 ½ day conference. You'll be amazed with the information you'll walk away with and the new connections you'll make; your well-trained, leashed, pet is welcome. Register with the promo code MASH2011 to receive a 25% discount.

November 16-18, 2011, Las Vegas, NV: The WOMMA Summit is the only word of mouth marketing conference where research and measurement integrate with online social media and offline conversations. The Summit is a year-end review of BEST and NEXT practices in word or mouth and social media marketing in addition to future trends. WOMMA Summit showcases through leadership from some of the innovative and forward thinking. Go to www.womma.org to learn more about the event and use code WOMMASummitMASH when registering for the event.

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3 Facebook Commerce Success Stories

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 06:20 AM PST


The Facebook Marketing Series is supported by Buddy Media, Power Tools for Facebook. Have something new to tell 500 million people? Learn the best way to launch a new product or service on Facebook with this webinar.

To be honest, there aren’t a whole lot of Facebook commerce success stories — at least not yet. Facebook storefronts are still relatively new, and most people don’t view the social network as a transaction platform, especially since most third-party Facebook storefront software doesn’t actually allow transactions within Facebook. But there are still good reasons to set up shop on your Facebook Page.

Doing so can allow Facebook fans to browse your products before they’ve navigated to your website, help fans spread the word about specific products and direct traffic from Facebook to product pages on your website.

It’s easy to get started with applications like Storefront Social or Payvment, and there’s a chance that your existing e-commerce software offers a Facebook storefront at no extra charge. Here are three small businesses that have successfully integrated stores into their Facebook Pages.

1. BabyAndMeGifts.com

BabyAndMeGifts.com sells gifts for mothers and babies. Owner Jacquelyn Myers uses her Facebook storefront to highlight some of the most popular items for sale on the site, which works well next to the deals and incentives that the company offers on its Facebook Page.

Myers’s Facebook store is powered by BigCommerce, the same software that runs her e-commerce store. She is able to display her inventory on her Facebook Page at no extra cost, and users are directed to her main site to complete their purchases. This differs from some other storefronts that allow users to checkout within Facebook.

“It is an easy way for my customers to begin to shop at BabyAndMeGifts.com,” Myers says. “It gives them a quick overview of what is available to purchase at BabyAndMeGifts.com. They are able to click on a product to learn more about it.”

Myers attributes about 50% of her online sales to her Facebook Page.

“It is a great way to stay in front of customers. I believe it has been as effective as e-mail marketing for BabyAndMeGifts.com,” she says.

2. Livescribe

When Livescribe released a new version of its audio-recording smart pen in July, the company decided to rebrand its Facebook Page. Part of this effort included adding commerce functionality through the app Storefront Social. As with BabyAndMeGifts.com’s storefront, customers can browse inventory on the page, but they are directed to Livescribe.com’s website in order to make a purchase.

“Our goal was to keep Facebook fans on our Page as long as possible and interacting with the product,” explains Livescribe Senior Marketing Manager Brett Kaufman. “Allowing fans to ‘Like,’ share or tweet their interest in a certain product has helped us distribute our message to even more consumers. Allowing our fans to interact with our products within Facebook before purchasing has made a big impact.”

Kaufman says the company has seen an increase in revenue and customer awareness after the small investment of setting up a Facebook storefront. He suggests that other companies that want to do the same should consider a third-party provider like Storefront Social, integrate an XML feed so their storefronts updated automatically, and seize the opportunity to do in-Facebook transactions if their providers allow it.

3. Ettitude

Australia-based Ettitude sells environmentally friendly products made from bamboo and organic cotton. The company’s Facebook storefront is powered by BigCommerce, which it also uses for its e-commerce store. Managing Director Phoebe Yu said that while the company has logged sales coming from the Facebook Page, she’s not sure whether to attribute those to the Facebook Page in general, or to the Page’s storefront, as distinguishing between referrals from the two is difficult.

Either way, she says it’s been a good marketing strategy to display Ettitude’s inventory on its social space.

“You can update [the storefront] frequently, and if your content is interesting, people will ‘Like’ it or share it… you can’t send out newsletters that frequently — that will annoy people,” Yu Says.

Series Supported by Buddy Media

The Facebook Marketing Series is supported by Buddy Media, Power Tools for Facebook. Have something new to tell 500 million people? Learn the best way to launch a new product or service on Facebook with this webinar.

More Business Resources from Mashable:

- HOW TO: Design & Program a Facebook Landing Page for Your Business
- How Brands Can Make the Most of Facebook’s New Pages
- 5 Tips to Strengthen Your Company's Social Media Voice
- Why Permission Marketing Is the Future of Online Advertising
- Why Influencer Marketing Needs to Go Beyond Follower Counts

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