Mashable: Latest 8 News Updates - including “Facebook in Real Life: Startup Finds the Art & the Ego in Social Interactions” |
- Facebook in Real Life: Startup Finds the Art & the Ego in Social Interactions
- Here’s Who You Think Should Win The Oscars [INFOGRAPHIC]
- How Cloud Computing & Web Services Are Changing the IT Job Market
- Space Shuttle Discovery’s Last Launch, Viewed From the Air [VIDEO]
- Good, Better, Best: 3 Free iPhone Apps for Finding Cheap Gas
- 10 Fun Headphone Cable Management Solutions [PICS]
- 39 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed
- Best iPhone 5 Clue Yet: Physical Evidence? [PICS]
- Top 10 Twitter Trends This Week [CHART]
| Facebook in Real Life: Startup Finds the Art & the Ego in Social Interactions Posted: 26 Feb 2011 03:19 PM PST      The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.
Quick Pitch: Social Printshop is an early-stage startup working to significantly alter the web’s relationship with the physical realm. Its first product, the Facebook Friend Poster, is the equivalent of a real-life Facebook Wall.Genius Idea: Capitalizing on social interactions Benjamin Lotan is the founder and CEO of Social Printshop, a startup that turns social media connections and photos into physical prints that buyers can put on display in their homes and offices. On the surface, it’s a straightforward printshop serving the social media obsessed. Social Printshop’s products — Facebook fan/friend posters, Twitter prints, social media stickers and mini photo books — all add tangibility to social media relationships. What better way to experience those Facebook or Twitter relationships than to observe the avatars of these “friends” on your wall, in an art-like fashion?  There’s no controversy here, except that Lotan admits to building a business that caters to the ego and capitalizes on social interactions. It’s a regular business objective, but Lotan sees himself as a Robin Hood. “We’re almost stealing money from our customers,” he says, “to reroute money into projects we believe in.” Lotan, a Visual Arts student working toward a Master of Fine Arts at the University of California at San Diego, believes in the artistic sensibility of those around him. Frustrated by seeing friends’ and fellow students’ solid ideas fail for lack of funding, Lotan chose a road that would potentially right those wrongs. “I saw the tech route as the easiest route to get money pretty quickly,” he says. So, Lotan built and launched the Facebook Friend Poster in a week, and used it as a vehicle to mobilize friends and create a business. Lotan speaks of a three- or four-year plan to make Social Printshop into a profitable company, at which time he’ll funnel the money into projects closer his heart. The immediate goal is to feed off early attention, create a brand and work on a more meta goal of adding point-of-sale to social interactions, something Lotan refers to as both “supremely nice and supremely evil.” Though a handful of other products have since been released, the Facebook Friend Poster remains Social Printshop’s most recognized product. Mashable, as a customer, will create the world’s largest real-life Facebook Wall to put on display in our New York headquarters as wallpaper. Our interest has spawned a me-too reaction from huge brands who want a giant life-sized social canvas of their own, according to Lotan. The look-at-how-big-my-following-is motivation has an Old Spice Guy ring to it. Look at your Facebook fans. Now back at mine. Now look at all of the people who love me, and marvel at my greatness.  Lotan, omni-conscious of the ego-appeal in his existing products, may or not may soon release SuperEgo.me, a site that could take self-importance too far into the absurd. The name alone sounds like everything that’s wrong with the web, and that’s almost the point. The app caters to the notion that you are your greatest fan. It will hook into your Facebook profile, strip out your friends, and just show you in all your glory. SuperEgo.me started as a way to poke fun at Facebook photo app Pixable and online start page About.me. Lotan says that the irony behind these products is that people really only want to look at photos of themselves. Though, after continuing to iterate on the app, he’s now conflicted between building a product with real appeal and releasing something that could be perceived as a joke. That battle wages on, but Social Printshop’s 15-person team — an unusual blend of developers, writers, musicians, poets and an investor with a soft-core porn background — is currently using its $70,000 in seed funding to build two photo-centric mobile apps, with associated for-charge print products, of course. Today, Social Printshop processes anywhere from one to ten orders per day and handles custom corporate requests. “To get to be a 100 million dollar company,” Lotan says, “we’re going to need to produce something significant.” He talks of producing a print API and creating an ecosystem of its own to make that happen. Still, Social Printshop traffics in the ego. And, is there any less art in that? A Twitter photo print of all my followers would be a cool way to represent four-plus years of social achievement. Where do I sign-up? Cha-ching. Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark  The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today. More About: art, Facebook wall, print, social media, social printshop, spark-of-genius, startup, twitter For more Startups coverage:
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| Here’s Who You Think Should Win The Oscars [INFOGRAPHIC] Posted: 26 Feb 2011 02:44 PM PST   With the Oscars awards broadcast only hours away, we can’t wait another minute — we’d like to know who’s going to win, and we want to know now. Here’s an exclusive infographic that could give us a hint or two. However, according to Webtrends, this pre-show buzz might not indicate the real winners. When Webtrends experts were looking at the details of the data, “it was clear that this is the ‘people’s choice’ – a popularity contest and not necessarily the view of the Academy.” How did Webtrends get this data? It scoured blogs, Facebook, Twitter feeds and other microblogs, putting a finger on the pulse of the online world, picking up the pre-buzz and figuring out who might have a good chance of winning. So take a look at this data, keeping in mind that these “winners” might not necessarily point toward the Academy’s choices. Who do you think will win? Let us know your picks in the comments. Image courtesy Webtrends More About: academy awards, buzz, infographic, Oscars, trending For more Social Media coverage:
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| How Cloud Computing & Web Services Are Changing the IT Job Market Posted: 26 Feb 2011 01:51 PM PST   As cloud and web services continue to gain speed, the upfront cost of launching a product is decreasing. Businesses can create more for less money –- and with less people. Though in the long run this likely means fewer IT positions, it's currently changing a different aspect of the tech job market: desired skill sets. Unlike traditional software products, cloud and web services revolve around content, monetization and data. Much of the installation, configuration and maintenance work done by traditional data center employees is becoming automated. This means desired skill sets will move away from hands-on technical work to include managerial talents, user-experience knowledge and more. Emerging Skill Sets"The cloud and online services are new and different from traditional software products and, therefore, require a new type of talent," says Eugenia Sawa, a recruiter for Bing. "It can take more than just a traditional engineering background and computer science degree." So what does it take? Here's a breakdown of three emerging skill sets IT professionals should focus on to remain competitive in the job market.
How to Prepare
“Computer science has become so broad that it's hard for a student to walk out with knowledge of each specific skill set to do any job in the industry,” says Justin Cappos, a University of Washington Computer Science & Engineering research associate. “The best bet is to teach detailed information at different levels of the stack, so when students go out, they know enough from top to bottom that they can figure out whatever gets thrown their way.” That said, it’s important to get practical experience with real tools. Most cloud environments have low-cost resources, especially for students. It’s easy to get going independently and do interesting things on your own initiative. You can also seek out learning opportunities through university research projects or internships. Though you may not be keen on all the tasks you’re asked to do, the outside validation of working on an established product speaks volumes, Cappos says. In terms of languages for web applications, the most practical choices are javascript and flash. Cappos recommends a solid knowledge of javascript. “It’s the dominant technology, and it’s not going anywhere,” he says. Still, each job candidate has a unique combination of experience and education — and each company looks for something different. Master One or Strive for All?There is something to be said for both mastering one knowledge area and having an overall understanding of everything. It really depends on where you want to work. The cloud allows companies to get much farther with just a few end-to-end developers. This is particularly important for startups that are moving rapidly to launch smaller, often niche products with just few staff members. “At a small company, you're going to be their one stop IT guy,” Cappos says. “You might not need to be world class in one area, but have an understanding of all.” For larger businesses, knowing how to scale up to more advanced computer science concepts is very important, Cappos says. With significantly more resources than many startups, big tech companies are able to hire for more specialized positions. At the same time, it’s good to have a deep understanding of how the overall system works. Software trends change, which makes hiring people who can adapt easily to new technology a better investment for most companies. ConclusionCareer opportunities in cloud and web services are growing, and likely to continue on that path for at least a few years. A 2010 IBM survey shows 91 percent of 2,000 IT professionals surveyed believe cloud computing will be the primary IT delivery model by 2015. Needless to say, those poised for cloud and web development can expect job security for at least the next four years. Like the concept itself, gaining skills for cloud and web services requires thinking outside the box. If you have a passion for it, move beyond traditional IT career preparation and be proactive about tapping into these emerging skill sets. Whether you choose to master one discipline or strive for general knowledge, you’ll have a competitive advantage in the job market by having the new and necessary skills for web development. Tech Job ListingsEvery 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 tech job opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!
More Job Search Resources from Mashable:
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, jamesbenet More About: analytics, careers, cloud computing, computer science, data mining, information technology, job search series, jobs, skills, Web analytics, Web Development, web services For more Tech & Gadgets coverage:
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| Space Shuttle Discovery’s Last Launch, Viewed From the Air [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Feb 2011 01:05 PM PST Imagine the delight of airline passengers when suddenly the Space Shuttle Discovery appeared, beginning its final voyage into space late Thursday afternoon. Software developer Neil Monday shot this video aboard his flight from Orlando, which was late, but that’s a good thing — he and his fellow passengers were soon presented with this sublime moment of serendipity. Best of all, did we hear that right? Drinks were on the house? This was Neil’s lucky day. [via Boing Boing] More About: NASA, Space Flight, Space Shuttle Discovery, trending, video For more Tech & Gadgets coverage:
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| Good, Better, Best: 3 Free iPhone Apps for Finding Cheap Gas Posted: 26 Feb 2011 12:09 PM PST   Gas prices have risen drastically this week, thanks to that ongoing revolution in Libya. This could get expensive, but we can ease the pain. All you need is an iPhone and one of the three free apps we found to help you locate the cheapest gas near you. You know when crude oil prices peak at $103 a barrel as they did this week, there’s going to be a trickle-down effect, clipping all of us at the pump. According to AAA, gasoline prices rose $.10 over the past week. Could five-dollar-a-gallon gasoline be far behind? Darin Newsom, senior analyst at energy tracker DTN told USA Today he thinks “$5 gas isn’t out of the question.” If you’re at home, go to Gas Buddy to check prices near you. If you’re on the road, you’ll need an app. Here are three handy iPhone apps that use GPS to figure out where you’re located, and then direct you to the cheapest gas station nearby. Because we’re trying to save money, we decided to find those gas-pricing apps that are absolutely free, and here’s our trio, ranked Good, Better and Best. Good: Local Gas Prices Local Gas Prices is a straightforward app that shows a list of the gas stations nearby, and allows you to sort the list according to price or location. Tap on onew of the gas stations, and it opens Maps, showing you that station and your current location. At these prices, don't expect turn-by-turn directions. One concern was a paragraph at the top of the app's front page, admitting that "We realize our prices are wrong…" Well, at least they're honest. But comparing this app's data to the others we tested, the prices were correct. Other than that disclaimer, this is a useful app. Good. Better: Cheap Gas! Launch "Cheap Gas," and you're presented with a list of stations, sorted in order of the lowest price. Tap on one of those listings, and it opens Maps. It doesn't give you directions to the station, but shows your current location and that of the station you'd like to visit. Better. Cheap Gas: Augmented Reality Cheap Gas has an excellent augmented reality mode called "Cyborg," launching the iPhone's camera and superimposing station logos and their associated gas prices, all facing in the proper direction of their respective stations. Best: GasBuddy GasBuddy gives you a choice of a list or a map of gas stations. You can configure it to list the stations in order of how close they are to you, or by price, and you can sort the stations by fuel grade, including diesel. Tap on one of those listings, and it takes you to a dedicated page for that station. For some reason, all of the gas prices for the closest station to me had a comment of "irreverent" next to each one, but the listings were fairly recent -- 23 hours old. A quick tap on a "map" button shows the station's location. This app, also available Android and Windows 7 smartphones, felt like it was the most finished and well-maintained, probably because it's created by the same group that owns the GasBuddy website. Best. GasBuddy: Map with Icons GasBuddy shows you a map with each station represented by an icon and price. Nice. More About: cheap gas, gas prices, GasBuddy, iphone apps, mobile apps, trending For more Mobile coverage:
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| 10 Fun Headphone Cable Management Solutions [PICS] Posted: 26 Feb 2011 10:46 AM PST It’s one of life’s little unwritten laws — like toast always falling butter-side down — that when you get your headphone cables out, no matter how neatly you put them away, you’ll inevitably be faced with a pile of wire spaghetti. Don’t let those cable gremlins get the best of you. Employ a headphone cable management solution that is both effective and adorable. We’ve found 10 fun options for you that won’t break the bank, and will help you store your headphones neatly, keep them tidy on the go, or both. Let us know your faves, or any others you particularly like, in the comments below. 1. Bobino Cable Buddy   With its flat profile and soft material, the bobino "cable buddy" offers a simple and slim way to manage your headphone wire. Available in small (the best size for headphones), medium and large for bigger cables, the cable buddy comes in black, lime, pink, red, turquoise and white. Cost: $2.95 for small 2. Belkin Cable Capsule Cable Management System Belkin's solution offers a neat way store your headphone cable with a flexible rubber dome that opens to reveal a hard plastic core for wrapping the excess inches. Cost: $6.95 3. Proporta Headphone and Cable Tidy Bundle Proporta's solution includes earbud-style headphones that come with a silicone cable tidy. Both are available in a range of colors. Cost: $15.95 4. Bluelounge Cableyoyo Stylish and ultra thin, the Cableyoyo is basically an empty spool that you can wrap your wires around until they are the desired length for use or storage. Cost: From $4.95 5. Cable Turtles Available in three sizes, the 45mm diameter version of the Cable Turtle tidies up to 0.7 meters of unruly wire inside its cute little shell. Cost: From approx $7 6. CordFits With CordFits, you can weave your cord through, pop the cap on, and then customize the cord to exactly the length you want, or wrap it around entirely for tangle-free storage. Cost: $7.99 7. Tunewear Tetran This is a tons-of-fun cable winder. You wrap your cable around Tetran's body and then use the mouth as a holder for your earbuds! Tetrans also boast a removable ball-bearing style chain for easy attachment. Cost: $9.99 8. Bone Collection 3Roll Storage Case The 14-gram "3Roll" is a super-lightweight, compact, soft, silicone storage case designed to keep your headphones tangle-free when not in use. It's available in black, green or pink, so you can choose a color that suits. Cost: $27.00 9. Magneat Magneat's "Pacman'ish" and "Cow" cable tidies offer a fun way sort your wire spaghetti. In addition to storing cable, they boast a no-clips magnetic fixation system which means you can attach them to clothing or the like. Cost: $14.90 each 10. «REW from Fred Studio Described as a "cool homage to the old Walkman era," the "«REW" helps keep your cords in order in a decidedly old skool fashion. Cost: Approx $6.50 More Accessory Resources from Mashable:
More About: accessories, cable management, gadgets, gallery, List, Lists, tech, trending For more Tech & Gadgets coverage:
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| 39 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed Posted: 26 Feb 2011 09:43 AM PST   This week was all about Apple buzz (new iPad? new OS? New Macbook!?) and the launch of a brand new section on Mashable. Explore is a streamlined way to get to all those great tools and resources we’ve published. After you have a look through this week’s tools and resources, head on over to get your learn on. Below you’ll find some first looks at Apple’s new OS, Lion, a guide to taking your business freemium, and tips for creating a successful eBay storefront. Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time. Editors’ Picks
Social Media
For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. Tech & Mobile
For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. Business
For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. Image courtesy of DeviantArt, rafiki270 More About: business, facebook, Features Week In Review, gadgets, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, social media, tech, technology, twitter For more Social Media coverage:
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| Best iPhone 5 Clue Yet: Physical Evidence? [PICS] Posted: 26 Feb 2011 08:38 AM PST   Here’s a piece of visual evidence that the iPhone 5 could have a larger screen and a thinner bezel. Thanks to a Chinese reseller of Apple parts, this unconfirmed photo has surfaced, reportedly of the digitizer panel for the iPhone 5. According to 9 to 5 Mac, the screen has similar construction to the same part on the iPhone 4, but as you can see, the panel reaches almost all the way out to the edges of the device. There’s more screen area on the top and bottom, also bolstering iPhone 5 rumors we’ve been hearing about a much larger screen. From this picture, it’s hard to tell if that’s the rumored 4-inch screen or a 4.3-inch screen, matching many of the Android smartphones released recently. Taking this rumor one step further, Piotrek has put together mockup of what the new iPhone 5 would look like if it were wearing this larger digitizer panel: How about it, readers? Will Apple join the 4-inches-and-larger smartphone market when it rolls out the next iteration of the iPhone this summer? Images courtesy iDeals China and Piotrek More About: Clues, iPhone 5, rumors, screen, speculation, trending For more Tech & Gadgets coverage:
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| Top 10 Twitter Trends This Week [CHART] Posted: 26 Feb 2011 07:26 AM PST   American pop music has loosened its grip on the top Twitter trends and yielded to the news of populist uprisings in Libya, which have been fueled in part by social media themselves. The Libyan protests hit the number one spot on our chart this week as tweeters fervently discuss the future of democracy in the Arab world. Meanwhile, as Britney, Gaga and Bieber tussled for Twitter clout these past few weeks, the one-year anniversary of the music video “Baby” propelled the pop prince to the fore. Bieber grabbed the number two spot, with Gaga trailing closely behind at number three. The NBA All-Star Game and the ongoing political upheaval around public worker unions in Wisconsin round out the week’s top Twitter chatter. For the full list of top trends, check out the chart below, compiled by our friends at What the Trend. Because this is a topical list, hashtag memes and games have been omitted from the chart. You can check past Twitter trends in our Top Twitter Topics section, and read more about this past week's trends on What The Trend. Top Twitter Trends This Week: 2/18 – 2/24 Image courtesy of iStockphoto, 123render More About: justin bieber, Lady Gaga, libya, social media, Top Twitter Topics, trends, twitter, twitter trends For more Social Media coverage:
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These emerging skills are complements to a traditional computer science or electrical engineering degree, Sawa says. Nowadays, most university programs are shaping the curriculum to give students sufficient depth in core knowledge.
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