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Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Mobile Barcodes Come to The Home Depot”

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Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Mobile Barcodes Come to The Home Depot”

Mobile Barcodes Come to The Home Depot

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 05:05 AM PDT


Do-it-yourselfers will now be able to do more product research by themselves as well now that The Home Depot is bringing mobile barcodes to its shelves.

The DIY retailer has partnered with Scanbuy to include the codes in store, in print ads and signage. The codes, when activated, will let shoppers access how-to videos, product demos, relevant accessories, buying guides, project guides and give them the ability to buy items online. When activated outside the store, the codes will also let consumers make purchases through their mobile device with a "buy button." The codes are being introduced this week as part of a print ad featuring Martha Stewart Living kitchens. (See image below.)

Consumers can read the codes by downloading the ScanLife system here. The codes can also be accessed without an app by texting “HDscan” to 43588.

Julie Ask, vice president of Forrester Research, says that retailers aren't sure that such codes will increase sales. "The hypothesis is that it will drive up the conversion rate," says Ask, who says that getting more information will help a consumer who is on the fence about a purchase make the leap.

How many consumers will actually do that, though? JumpScan claims that 57% of Facebook and Twitter users have also used QR Codes (a similar technology to scannable barcodes) at least once in the past year, but Ask says such users represent a pretty small niche, though one that's "certainly growing."

More About: Home Depot, Mobile Barcodes, QR Codes, scanbuy

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LinkedIn Surpasses 100 Million Users [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 04:09 AM PDT


LinkedIn has announced that it has finally reached a major milestone: 100 million users and counting.

The company, founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003, reached profitability fairly soon, and its growth has been accelerating over the last few years. It took LinkedIn six years to reach 50 million users, but it only took a year and a half for the business social network to double that number. LinkedIn hit 85 million members in October 2010 and revealed that it had more than 90 million users when it filed to go public earlier this year. LinkedIn is now adding one new member per second.

To celebrate its new achievement, the LinkedIn team has released an infographic breaking down its growth and its overall membership. It comes with several interesting tidbits of information on who uses LinkedIn and even when they use it.

Here are some of the most intriguing stats from LinkedIn’s infographic:

  • 56% of LinkedIn’s users are outside of the United States. LinkedIn is experiencing its fastest growth internationally.
  • LinkedIn’s fastest-growing country is Brazil, with 428% growth year-over-year. Brazil is followed by Mexico, India and France.
  • The height of LinkedIn activity happens during the workday, peaking at around noon. Mobile usage, on the other hand, typically peaks around 8:00 p.m.
  • There are almost 1 million teachers on LinkedIn. 20% of the site’s users work in the service sector, while 9% work in finance and another 9% are in the high tech industry.

For most of its 7+ years of existence, LinkedIn has dominated its niche of social business users. The result is a valuation nearing $3 billion and 5.5 billion monthly pageviews. While it’s no Facebook, we bet most people would love to be in LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman’s shoes right now.

We’ve included LinkedIn’s infographic for your viewing pleasure. Click on the image for a full-sized version.

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BlackBerry PlayBook Available for Pre-Order Today for $499

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 03:33 AM PDT


BlackBerry PlayBook, RIM’s foray into tablet territory, is now available for pre-order in three different versions, starting from $499.99.

PlayBook has a 7″ 1024×600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen, a 1 GHz dual-core CPU, 1 GB of RAM memory, a 1080p HDMI output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 5-megapixel camera on the back, as well as a 3-megapixel one on the front for video chats. The aforementioned $499.99 will get you the 16 GB variant, and you’ll have to dish out $599.99 or $699.99 for the 32 GB and the 64 GB model, respectively.

In the U.S. the PlayBook will be available at AT&T, Best Buy, Sprint, Verizon, Office Depot, Cbeyond, Cellular South, Cincinnati Bell, RadioShack, ShopBlackBerry.com, Staples and BlackBerry from Wireless Giant. In Canada, the list is even longer, and includes Bell, Best Buy and Costco, among others.

[via Engadget]

More About: blackberry, playbook, RIM, Tablet

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Why The AT&T & T-Mobile Deal Won’t Change the Industry

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 11:54 PM PDT


In the wake of AT&T’s announcement that it plans to purchase T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for a whopping $39 billion, U.S. wireless customers want to know how the deal will affect them and what impact it will have on the industry as a whole. Assuming regulators approve the deal, the changes may not be as major as some seem to think.

According to our poll, a majority of Mashable readers seem to think that the AT&T/T-Mobile deal will be bad for customers — and odd man out Sprint has issued a scathing response. But looking at the big picture, what really has changed?

For all intents and purposes, the U.S. wireless market is a two-carrier system. Those two carriers are AT&T and Verizon. Looking at market share trends, user churn, spectrum allowance and infrastructure, it’s easy to understand why Deutsche Telekom is ready to offload its U.S. carrier. Deutsche Telekom has been shopping T-Mobile around for at least a year, and the question has been less of a “will it sell” and more a question of “to whom” and “for what price.”

T-Mobile’s Sale Was Inevitable

Though T-Mobile customers may be upset to see the carrier on the auction block, it was simply inevitable. It was the smallest of the four major national wireless carriers. It was the only national carrier that doesn’t have any investment in true 4G infrastructure. Yes, T-Mobile was rolling out a “4G” network — HSPA+, which is really more like 3.75G — but it’s widely understood that the next big play for wireless is LTE, or Long Term Evolution. Spectrum ownership — in North America, the 700 MHz spectrum is a big deal — is a key part of 4G rollout strategies for major wireless providers.

Not having any of this next generation spectrum, T-Mobile would have a hard time competing, let alone expanding outside its existing coverage zones. For a company long derided for lack of coverage outside major metropolitan areas, this doesn’t help. With its German parents unwilling to shell out for some of this expensive spectrum, the future was already unclear.

T-Mobile was going to sell to someone — the question was, would it be AT&T or Sprint? AT&T makes a lot more sense because its network uses much of the same basic technology as T-Mobile’s. AT&T has said it plans to use T-Mobile’s AWS spectrum to help augment its LTE experience. AT&T is already planning on a two-part 4G strategy, starting with HSPA+ and then moving to an LTE roll-out. Having more available spectrum to service HSPA+ customers means that better speeds can be delivered while the company works to deliver LTE.

Low Prices Don’t Always Create Competition

T-Mobile, like Sprint, is often characterized as being a lower-cost wireless carrier — at least in comparison to AT&T and Verizon. While not as price-conscious as pre-paid offerings from MetroPCS and Cricket, T-Mobile’s pricing is often considered its differentiating feature.

There is a fear that without T-Mobile, wireless prices will rise. But it’s time for a reality check: U.S. wireless prices are already on the rise.

Over the past eighteen months, early termination fees for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have all increased. Moreover, data caps and different data plan pricing first instituted by AT&T are making their way to other carriers as well.

Yes, depending on phone and data plan, T-Mobile could offer users a better value than the competition. That value, however, has not had any impact on the larger competition. In actuality, while AT&T and Verizon are gaining customer despite the higher data plans and ETF fees, T-Mobile is losing customers. Big time.

Reports indicate that T-Mobile USA’s churn rate — the number of customers who leave the system for another provider — is around 25%. That’s double the industry average. We’ve seen numbers that indicate that T-Mobile’s churn is even higher than that. Customers are consistently choosing more expensive carriers over T-Mobile.

The Wireless Industry Sucks, But it Doesn’t Suck Any More than Yesterday

As consumers, it is easy to get frustrated that two major carriers control the bulk of our cellular communications. We can be frustrated that more real options aren’t available. That’s reasonable and understandable. At the same time, however, it is important to understand that the AT&T and T-Mobile deal has very little impact on the state of the wireless industry as a whole.

This isn’t a case of a competitor buying out its only competition so it can raise prices. This is an example of a large company buying out a smaller company for their office space or real estate. To be sure there might be a portion or subset of T-Mobile users that looks to switch carriers — to Sprint, Verizon or one of the lesser-known regionals — in the aftermath of the merger — but customers have already been switching away from T-Mobile in favor of other carriers.

In the pre-smartphone era, T-Mobile offered a solid lineup of devices — including exclusives like the SideKick. It had good individual and family pricing plans, and reasonable access in large metropolitan areas.

Since 2007, however, the company has failed to truly innovate. Just look at Android. The T-Mobile G1 was released in October of 2008. It took Verizon and its brilliant Droid Does campaign to really light the fire under Android in the U.S., which in turn turned up the heat overseas. The Nexus One was a failure for a myriad of reasons, but the fact that it’s launch carrier was T-Mobile certainly didn’t help.

We’re not losing a major player or innovator in the wireless space. To quote the Talking Heads: Same as it ever was. We just hope the magenta of T-Mobile can be integrated into AT&T’s dull blue logo.

Image courtesy of Flickr, reticulating.

More About: att, Mobile 2.0, T-Mobile

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Prepare for Earth Hour 2011 With iPhone App

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 10:59 PM PDT


The World Wildlife Fund’s annual Earth Hour awareness campaign now has an app of its own.

This iPhone offering will help ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things with simple tasks that take the Earth Hour idea beyond a once-a-year activity.

Created by the WWF with help from the Leo Burnett Group, the app “is all about taking Earth Hour a step further by encouraging people to do things to help the planet every day, not just for that one hour,” said a Burnett rep.

To that point, the app is called 60+ [iTunes link] and is available for download now.

The app works a bit like a location-based service in that it has to-dos and checkins. But for this mobile application, you’ll check in positive actions you’ve done from a list provided by the app; for example, you might use more natural lighting, change your air conditioning settings or install a water-saving showerhead.

As you check in more actions, you’ll earn achievements, which are shareable across larger social networks, as well.

In addition to extending Earth Hour beyond its given 60-minute time period, the app aims to expand the geographic reach of Earth Hour. To that end, the WWF and Burnett will be tracking individual and global checkins and achievements within the app to gauge participation and impact around the world.


Soon, the app should have Game Center support to boost friendly competition among its users.

The Burnett Group rep also told us that the design’s interface has a unique, hand-drawn feel — because all the design elements were actually drawn from hand.

“The entire design of the app is also an act of going beyond the hour, as we created the entire interface out of discarded cardboard boxes and paper,” he noted.

“Everything was drawn by hand — even the badges were hand-sewn.”

Earth Hour 2011 will take place on March 26. Will you be using this app to participate?

More About: earth hour, iphone, Mobile 2.0, wwf

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Mobile Video Reaches Few Users, Puts Huge Strain on Networks [STATS]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 09:58 PM PDT


Right now, every day, one out of ten mobile users are watching video content on their devices. But the video they consume accounts for a staggering 38% of all data volume on mobile networks.

These stats and more were released Monday in mobile services company Bytemobile‘s Mobile Minute Metrics report. The company also found that by the end of this year, video content will jump to 60% of all network data volume.

And as one might expect, much of this volume comes from a core of power users; the report states that 10% of mobile data users generate 87% of total traffic.

This disparity is also mirrored by the stats for “power videos,” if you will. Around 40% of total video data volume on wireless networks is generated by the top 3% of requested videos.

When it comes to timing, the average length of video content access was around 5 minutes. But mobile subscribers are tuning out and moving on after around 60 seconds, showing what we’ve known for a long time: For web (or mobile) video, content creators need to keep it short and sweet.

While video content accounts for nearly 40% of data on mobile networks, web data makes up around 34%. Data usage in general tends to spike around 10 a.m. and maintain high levels until 11 p.m. for small- and large-screen mobile devices.

And yes, even on “advanced networks,” stalling is still an issue. On average, around 17% of videos served show some stalling, which consumers tend to interpret as a network problem.

In a similar 2010 report from Morgan Stanley, results showed that mobile video viewing was at almost 70% of mobile data usage. While Bytemobile’s numbers on that stat are significantly lower, both studies show that mobile video accounts for a disproportionate amount of mobile data usage and should be compensated and optimized for accordingly.

Another study from the Pew Internet Project showed that 69% of Internet-connected Americans was already watching music videos; as smartphone adoption continues to grow, we can expect those video-viewing habits to translate from the large screen to the smaller ones we keep in our purses and pockets. In other words, while mobile video is huge right now, it’s only going to grow as the months and years pass.

Do you think mobile networks are prepared to keep pace with consumers’ demands? In the comments, let us know what you think and what your experience with mobile video has been like so far.

Image based on Flickr photo from tomsun.

More About: bytemobile, Mobile 2.0, video

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FellowUp Makes Following Up Manageable [INVITES]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 08:33 PM PDT


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

Name: FellowUp

Quick Pitch: FellowUp connects to Google, Facebook and LinkedIn to serve as a web and mobile personal assistant.

Genius Idea: Scaling contact management for social media users.

Tomer Cohen was a bit overwhelmed when he first arrived from overseas to earn his MBA from Stanford. “I was meeting great people and making great connections,” the class of 2010 business school graduate told me over coffee. “I kept building my network here … but at the same time I kept dropping the ball on those connections. I just didn’t have the time or the effort to actually maintain them and follow up.”

Like most of us, Cohen found that the relationships he invested time in were the ones that eventually paid off professionally. With hundreds or thousands of social media and digital connections, however, the time it takes to properly invest in one’s network is no longer sustainable or scaleable, he says.

And so Cohen created FellowUp, a private beta website and iPhone application that plugs in to Facebook, LinkedIn and Google APIs to help users better manage their relationships. FellowUp, in Cohen’s words, is a personal executive assistant that finds insights from the user’s network.

FellowUp users need only connect their third-party accounts and the startup will pull in contacts and calendar items. The website structures data into three tabs: my day, contacts and notes. The user will find the most immediate value in the “my day” tab, where FellowUp highlights updates — anything happening in the user’s network, like a birthday or a job change — calendar events, and tasks as added by the user.

The user can engage with FellowUp updates from the site to post on a contact’s Facebook wall and say “happy birthday,” message a LinkedIn connection to congratulate him or her on the job change, email a personal message or set a reminder to follow up at a later date.

Eventually, according to Cohen, FellowUp will do a better job at alerting the user to all manner of important events, with importance determined by user preference, happening around his contacts.

“FellowUp is going to fetch you information that is valuable,” says Cohen, “so you can just go through your day, and we will seek out meaningful ways for you to engage with people. And’s that it.”

Right now, the idea is greater than the actual implementation in web form, but the user will see that FellowUp has elements of greatness. The startup is best experienced as a systematic, daily approach to personal relationship management, which means some of the appeal can only be seen through repeated usage. This usage will also teach FellowUp’s algorithms which people and updates are of most importance to each user.

“It’s really like hiring a personal assistant,” Cohen says. “Every day that personal assistant learns how you like to behave and becomes super valuable with time.”

The just-released companion iPhone application [iTunes link] drives home the utility of FellowUp and gives users the ability to quickly reference notes, reminders and contacts, or add new ones, on the fly.

Cohen believes that FellowUp can coexist in the crowded social-intelligence-meets-personal-CRM arena — think Gist, Rapportive, Xobni or even LinkedIn — because the startup’s algorithms are capable of filtering out the most important insights around contacts.

Four week-old FellowUp has roughly 1,000 users who are a mix of students, venture capitalists and sales professionals. The latter group, says Cohen, finds FellowUp to be a perfect personal version of Salesforce and uses it to save the really important contact details they want to keep for themselves should they ever leave their current companies.

Mashable readers can get access to the private beta service by signing up here.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, twohumans

Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark

Microsoft BizSpark

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

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Code For America Calls For Hackers With Hearts of Gold for 2012 Fellowships

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 06:57 PM PDT


Code for America seeking devs for its 2012 Fellowship Program, a year of public service that puts coders to work for communities.

The fellowship gives developers, researchers, entrepreneurs and designers a chance to build customized web and mobile apps for communities and governments. Their work is used to solve pervasive public problems and connect citizens to governments. Each app built will be open sourced, as well.

The 2012 fellowship will be the second annual program of its kind. This year, recent graduates are encouraged to file early decision applications, which would allow for better planning of internships, employment or continued education. Those applicants would be notified of CfA’s decision by May 1, 2011.

Early decision applications are due April 15, 2011, and all other applications are due August 1, 2011. Would-be fellows can apply now on Code for America’s website.

Last year, the fellowship program had room for 20 fellows, and more than 350 applications were received. Given the stature of government applicants for the second cycle, competition is expected to be even more fierce this year.

Fellows in the year-long program will receive a living-wage stipend, travel expenses and healthcare. They’ll also get leadership training, networking opportunities and future career support in the form of guaranteed interviews at top web companies.

More About: cfa, code for america, developers, fellowship, hackers, internship

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Firefox 4 RC for Mobile Is Now Available for Download

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 05:40 PM PDT


Mozilla has unveiled the release candidate of Firefox 4 for Android and Nokia Maemo, paving the way for browser’s offical launch for mobile platforms.

Firefox 4 RC for mobile adds several new updates to its previous beta release, including faster scrolling, a more responsive version of Firefox Sync, text reformatting on zoom, a slimmed-down form helper and copy/paste functionality for HTML form fields. There are other UI changes, such as support for restartless add-ons, iframe scrolling and a redesign of the “New Tab Opened” popup.

Mozilla first released an alpha mobile browser last April. Back then it was called Fennec, not Firefox, and it was filled with bugs that would drain phone memory and crash the system on a regular basis. Mozilla has dramatically improved the product since then. The first official beta brought a better, more stable overall experience, and the launch of Beta 3 added faster booting, better page load times and major enhancements to Firefox Sync.

Apparently Mozilla is so happy with the results since then that it is nearly ready for the mobile browser’s official launch. In fact, the Firefox 4 RC is already available on the Android Marketplace and for download for Maemo. If no significant bugs are found by users of the release candidate, Mozilla will release the official version of Firefox for mobile soon.

With the release of Firefox 4 for Android and Maemo imminent, it’s now simply a matter of whether users will choose Firefox over the pre-installed browsers on their devices. Will you switch to Firefox 4 for your mobile device, or stick with your default Android/Maemo web browser? Let us know in the comments.

More About: android, Fennec, Firefox 4, Firefox 4 for Android, Firefox 4 for mobile, Maemo, Mobile 2.0, mozilla

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Post-Jeopardy, Computer Watson Is Taking on Medicine

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 04:17 PM PDT


The computer that defeated humanity’s finest Jeopardy players in February isn’t stopping at game show domination. Its creators have been busy retrofitting the computer to help doctors diagnose and treat patients.

Watson’s potential applications in healthcare have been a subject of discussion since its debut. According to American Medical News, IBM has partnerships with eight major universities to get medical data for Watson’s information base and to help find the best ways for physicians to use Watson.

A professor at Columbia University, one of those partner schools, has articulated more specifically how Watson might one day enhance healthcare.

"It's been impossible for probably 20 or 30 years for a human to process the information required to practice medicine at the highest, evidence-based, guideline-based level," Herbert Chase, a professor of clinical medicine, recently told university newspaper The Record.

Chase has been working with IBM to turn Watson into a doctor’s assistant that can process all of that information. In experiments, Chase and a team of two students give Watson lists of several symptoms that a patient might experience, and Watson gives back a handful of suggestions for what the problem might be. Where these suggestions miss the mark, Chase and his students inspect the cause of the inaccuracy.

The intention is not to one day replace doctors with Watson but to help them analyze data in a way that extends beyond human capabilities. In his interview with The Record, Chase suggests that the machine could be especially helpful in personalized medicine since it could efficiently analyze a patient’s medical history in order to suggest the most appropriate treatment option.

According to American Medical News, a commercial product is expected in 18 to 24 months. At that point, depending on the computer’s bedside matter (IBM will test whether watching the doctor talk to a machine freaks patients out), some of us might be meeting “Dr. Watson.”

More About: healthcare, IBM, watson

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Get Real-Time Transit Schedules When You Check In on Foursquare [APPS]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 03:18 PM PDT


We came across a useful Foursquare add-on recently that delivers real-time public transit schedules via SMS when connected users check in near a transit stop on Foursquare.

The add-on, 4sqtransit, was built by college student and software developer Matt McCormick.

We tested it out at the 6 train stop near Mashable HQ in New York and found that it was accurate to the minute. (It listed incorrect hours, but that didn’t affect the experience much.)

To try it out yourself, simply:

  1. Visit 4sqtransit.com.
  2. Select your transit agency from the list.
  3. Log in with your Foursquare account.
  4. Authorize 4sqtransit to access your Foursquare checkin data.

And that’s it. The next time you check in within 100 meters of a transit stop, you’ll receive a text message detailing the scheduled arrivals of the next few trains.

Image courtesy of Flickr, @MSG

[via @dens]

More About: 4sqtransit, foursquare

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4 Reasons Today’s Tech Scene Differs From the ’90s Bubble

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 02:38 PM PDT


Alexander Hotz is a freelance multimedia journalist and public radio junkie based in New York City. Currently he teaches digital media at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Follow Alex on Twitter at @hotzington.

Lately, there's been a lot of talk about a second Internet bubble. Critics point to the high valuations of social media companies such as Groupon, Zynga, Twitter and Facebook as canaries in the gold mine. Should Twitter, a company with a relatively untested revenue model, really be valued at $10 billion? Should Facebook — even with its more than 600 million users — have a larger market valuation than a major automaker like Ford? Some rumors have even hinted at Quora, a startup that was only made available to the public in June 2010, being valued at $1 billion.

Well-respected industry insiders have also voiced their concerns. "When I look at where we are right now, it reminds me so much of 1999, and frankly it scares me," said Union Square Ventures VC Fred Wilson. Former IAC CEO Barry Diller went even further, referring to the recent valuations as “mathematically insane."

But not everyone shares their fears. Three New York entrepreneurs who lived (and built successful companies) during the heady days the first dot-com era think that the comparisons being made to the ’90s bubble are themselves inflated.

According to Jeff Stewart, Steve Krein and Andrew Weinreich, the jury is out on whether there is a bubble. What is clear is that whatever is happening today is fundamentally different from what happened in the 1990s. Here's why.

1. Startup Costs

"[In the 1990s], when you started a company, more money was pumped into office space, servers and equipment," said Mimeo.com Founder Jeff Stewart. "Today, when you build a company, you don't own a server — you might even have mobile office." With so much infrastructure now in the cloud, entrepreneurs can focus more on the product than they could in the past. For their part, investors don't need to invest as much, so at least in comparison to the 1990s, oftentimes the risk is less. Bottom line — it costs less to start a company today.

2. Public vs. Private

In the 1990s, tech companies raced to secure a lucrative IPO. When the bubble burst in March 2000, those who got burned weren't just angel investors and VCs, they were less experienced investors who had jumped on the tech bandwagon.

Today, younger companies aren’t in a rush to go public. Think Facebook's "special purpose vehicle" with Goldman Sachs. What's more, today's public tech companies are market stalwarts. "You can't call Amazon or Google or Apple overvalued," said Organized Wisdom CEO Steve Krein. "[In the 1990s] you could have called DoubleClick, Amazon and Yahoo overvalued."

Krein agrees with Fred Wilson that the startup world has some "frothiness" or excess capital, but comparisons to the 1990s don't take into account where the investors are coming from.

3. Hubris

A less tangible difference between the 1990s and today's startups is the dynamic between the up-and-comers and the established titans. "[In the 1990s] there was a sense of confidence that the new companies would knock off the old companies," said MeetMoi.com CEO Andrew Weinreich. "Imagine Time Warner, the most venerable of media companies, literally giving away half of itself to an Internet startup AOL. If you were in a startup, you really thought that you would knock off existing players." Today, the big players are the survivors of the dot com era.

4. The Bubble Isn’t a Profitable Joke

In 2000, entrepreneur Philip Kaplan created the satirical website FuckedCompany.com (a take on Fast Company), lampooning the absurdities of the startup world. "When you have a profitable business built around making fun of the bubble, that's an indicator," said Stewart. The site made some serious money off the woes of the floundering dot com world. Today, while satirical blogs and social accounts are plentiful, none of them come close to the profitability of lampooning the last bubble.

Interested in more Startups resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Pgiam

More About: 90s, business, dot com bubble, social media, startups, tech bubble

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Hyperlocal News Source EveryBlock Relaunches As Community Site

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 02:09 PM PDT


EveryBlock, a hyperlocal news site acquired by msnbc.com in August 2009, unveiled a new version Monday designed to encourage conversation and collaboration among neighbors.

“We’re shifting from a one-way newsfeed to more of a community-empowered website,” says EveryBlock founder Adrian Holovaty. “Instead of going to the site to passively consume information, we’re going to offer a platform for posting messages to your neighbors, to discover who lives near you.”

In addition to the neighborhood-specific news, business reviews, crime reports and real estate listings the site delivered previously, a slew of new features encourages users to share and discuss local news, meet one another and coordinate neighborhood activities. Users will be able to create profiles, post about events and other topics of interest, as well as find neighbors who “follow” the same places to connect with those with similar tastes. (Soon, Holovaty says, the site hopes to integrate Foursquare’s API, but for now it will show neighbors who follow the same places on EveryBlock.)

"The web doesn't yet offer an easy and effective way for people to post messages to their neighbors," Holovaty explains. "Other social media tools are focused on people you already know — professional colleagues, friends, family. But how many people become Facebook friends with their neighbors?” he asks, noting that EveryBlock is in a great position to do so because it “already ha[s] an audience of people who are using [the] service to follow news in very specific geographic areas.”

The site’s most active and helpful users will be rewarded with Neighborhood Honors for their contributions. EveryBlock’s community manager, Becca Martin, will supervise their selection, whilst connecting with existing neighborhood organizations and encouraging “positive community behaviors,” such as thanking participants for posts, on the site.

“The new EveryBlock isn't just about reading what's happening in your neighborhood. It's about getting to know the residents in your community and turning discussions into real-world actions to make your block a better place," Martin says.

As for revenue, EveryBlock has partnered with Groupon to display nearby deals, of which the MSNBC-owned property will take a cut, and will be running Google ads on its site. “We’re working on building the audience before unveiling our revenue model,” Holovaty says.

EveryBlock is currently available in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

More About: everyblock, hyperlocal, media, msnbc

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LivingSocial Deal Contributes $2 Million to Japan Disaster Relief

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 01:57 PM PDT


LivingSocial has raised $2,301,130 for the American Red Cross's Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund after leveraging its popular group-buying platform to solicit donations.

Instead of offering a discount coupon for a product or activity, the site offered its more than 24 million subscribers an opportunity to make a $10 donation for just $5. LivingSocial picked up the difference.

The offer started Thursday afternoon and ran throughout the weekend in all of the company’s U.S. markets. Exactly 230,113 members responded with $1,150,565 in donations. Although the company originally said it would only match up to $1 million, a spokesperson says it will match the user donations dollar for dollar.

It’s not the first time that a mainstream daily deal site has effectively lent its platform to a charitable cause. Groupon ran a similar deal in May that gave users the option to purchase half-price charity credits for DonorsChoose.org. And LivingSocial ran a Twelve Days of Gifting campaign in December for which it donated 1% of every purchase to charity.

More About: japan, LivingSocial, red cross

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Can One Website Bring Transparency to Online Giving?

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 01:54 PM PDT

bank image

Would you be more willing to give to charity if you knew exactly where that money was going? WePay’s financial platform has embraced the non-profit world by allowing for incredible transparency in its donations. Any user can create a profile to raise money with the option of making public where and how that money is then spent.

The site fixes onto a universal truth: Giving money to your friends sucks. After you give them the $5 they “really needed for school,” it’s anyone’s guess what actually happened. That same issue applies to non-profits. Almost all non-profits retain some percentage of donations to cover basic costs and so that their staff can pay the rent. It’s often unclear, however, just how big that percentage is. WePay has created a platform that allows any user (including companies and non-profits) to show where its donations are being spent. Users can keep accounts private, invite specific people to join or check a box to make their account open to the public.

It’s a strangely self-policing system: You can misuse your money, but people will see it and stop giving money. While it’s also possible for users to withdraw their money and “say” they used it, Rich Aberman, WePay’s co-founder, banks on the Internet’s finely tuned lie detector. People will stop giving money if a user appears shady or untrustworthy. Aberman said other donors have withheld half their donations until they know their money is going where it’s promised. Each WePay account is hooked up to a credit card so there’s little way to game the system. The only gray area is the absence of line items on the report. Users have to self-report items like if $10 spent at a gas station went to cigarettes or necessities.

There’s definitely an element of the honor system to the site, what Aberman calls the “democratization” of fundraising. It has helped lead to a separate giving section to the site where WePay highlights different charity campaigns. Because the site is self-policed and encourages transparency, it has allowed WePay to open up to organizations that may not be registered as 501(c)(3)s. Donors give at their own risk, but that risk is partly alleviated when they can literally see how their donation was spent.

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Is it possible that a platform can help fraternities keep an eye on their treasurer and make a difference in Japan’s relief efforts? So far, it looks like it. Ironically, if WePay flops, it might not be the platform but rather because we can’t trust each other to keep financial promises online. Helping Families in Need, a campaign aimed at getting four families through tough times with a small-scale fundraising effort, is making a good argument that the system does, in fact, work.

What do you make of the digital honor code and online financial transparency? Are you more likely to give if you know where your money is going?

Image courtesy of Flickr, Saucy Salad

More About: charity, helping families in need, non-profit, online giving, social good, social media, transparency, wepay

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SXSW As Documented By Social Media Influencers [VIDEO]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 01:40 PM PDT

With hundreds of panels, product launches and parties, keeping up with SXSW can be tough. But this year, 25 social media influencers — including Mark Briggs, Brian Zisk, Steve Garfield, Michael Celiceo and Beverly W. Jackson — captured the scene with Sony Bloggie cameras.

We edited their footage to give you a glimpse of the Austin conference as they documented it. Watch the video above to see what SXSW was like for these top social media minds.


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And a final big thanks to our sponsors PepsiMax, Sony Electronics, Skifta and .TV!


Come check out the Pepsi MAX Lot at 3rd Street and San Jacinto Boulevard! Follow @PepsiMAX on Twitter for the daily schedule for huge concerts, happy hours, BBQs, games, and giveaways! And, well, lots of free soda..

Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio and video electronics and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Sony is noted for a wide range of consumer audio-visual products, such as the BRAVIA® LCD and 3D high-definition televisions, Cyber-shot® and α (alpha) digital cameras, Handycam® camcorder and Walkman® personal stereo. Sony is also an innovator in the IT arena with its VAIO® personal computers; and in high-definition professional broadcast and production equipment, highlighted by the XDCAM® HD and CineAlta™ lines of cameras and camcorders, and the SXRD™ 4K digital projector. Join the Sony Conversation at Sony.com/Blog.

Skifta is an app-based media shifting service that turns your Android phone into a global remote control. Easily access your digital media from virtually any source and stream to connected electronics in the home. With the DLNA Certified® Skifta app on your phone, you can easily access music, photos and videos from your phone, the cloud, or remotely from your home and stream that media to connected DLNA and UPnP consumer electronics including TVs, IP-stereos like Sonos systems, PlayStation® 3 consoles, Windows 7 PCs, and thousands more. No wires, downloading or side loading. Check it out at skifta.com.

If your website has a play button, it belongs on .TV. Stand out from the crowd with a .TV domain name; tell people you create and share great video content on your site even before they visit. Come visit us in the Mashable House at Buffalo Billiards on March 13-14 for a chance to register a FREE .TV domain name. And, mark your calendars: the .TV AUCTION starts March 9. Bid on desirable, sought-after domain names including air.tv, stocks.tv, who.tv, and more at moniker.com/tv or register the .TV of your choice for while you're there.

More About: sony bloggie, sxsw, sxsw 2011, sxswi

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100+ Upcoming Social Media & Tech Events

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 01:31 PM PDT

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

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.

Upcoming Mashable Events

Mashable Connect — May 12-14, 2011, Orlando, FL:
Mashable Connect 2011 will be an intimate experience that brings together leaders from the digital world for a weekend away to share and connect offline. Set away from the distractions of traditional conferences, Mashable Connect will recreate the Mashable web experience on the grounds of Disney World, creating an environment where attendees can truly engage and build lasting connections. The invite-only conference will cover new territory, break news and feature special events, with a touch of Disney magic.

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 28-31, 2011, San Francisco, CA: The Web 2.0 Expo brings together thousands of designers, developers, entrepreneurs, marketers, and business strategists each year to learn and discuss the latest web technology trends and challenges. At the next Web 2.0 Expo, we’ll reveal the key pieces of the digital economy and the ways you can leverage important ideas for your own success. We'll apply the economic filter to data collection, social connections, social media platforms, browser successes, old media in new channels, and global commerce. Register for this multi-track conference and expo with code websf11bart4 to save 20% on all conference passes, or register and use the promo code websf11bae4 for a FREE Expo Hall Only pass.

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 30-April 1, 2011, Boston, MA: NSDI ’11 brings together leading researchers to explore the design principles of large-scale networked and distributed systems. This year’s technical program includes 27 technical papers with topics including data-intensive computing, energy and storage, debugging and correctness, and more. NSDI ’11 will also feature a poster session showcasing early research in progress. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet with premier researchers in the computer networking, distributed systems, and operating systems communities. Register and use the promo code NSDI11MASH for a $100 discount.

March 30, 2011, Culver City, CA: IdeaMensch LA showcases some of Los Angeles' most passionate people who have successfully brought their ideas to life. With a focus on being inspirational, informative and super awesome, the event will include six 10-minute presentations from successful business folks, tech entrepreneurs, authors and filmmakers. Speakers include Pro Founder CEO Jessica Jackley and Dan Gould, the co-founder of Namesake. Register and use the promo code Mashable to save $5.

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%!

March 31, 2011, Toronto, Canada: Influence People is hosting a one-day Social Media Monitoring event. It will bring together some of the finest minds in social media to highlight the best tools and techniques for listening and measurement. Topics covered include sentiment detection, influencer analysis, how to measure social media ROI, data access and quality, small business monitoring and reputation management for brands. Speakers include Murray Newlands, Trey Pennington and Joseph Thornley. Register with the promo code mashable to save 10%.

April 1-3, 2011, Washington, DC: Please join us for the first annual Social Learning Summit, brought to you by the American University Social Media Club. This weekend conference will bring together students, educators, and professionals to learn from each other and with each other about a broad swath of topics at the intersection of social media, technology, and education. Speakers include professors, researchers, students, and professionals from all fields of study, and all are invited to attend. Registration is only $10, so register today!

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 4-7, 2011, Cannes, France: The mobile media, technology and entertainment industries converge for Connected Creativity, the first-ever global forum on connected entertainment, April 4-7th, in Cannes, France. As a part of MIPTV, Connected Creativity participants get the full benefits of joining 10,000 industry players at the world's greatest gathering in TV and media. This multi-billion dollar content market gives the world its first taste of the newest content that will shape the year to come for TV, Internet, mobile and all video-rich platforms. For more information and to register, please visit connected-creativity.com.

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 6, 2011, New York, NY: What do LivingSocial, BuyWithMe, Travelzoo, Gilt City, Group Commerce, Thrillist, eBay, SailThru, Yipit, Urban Candy, and Google all have in common? They are but a handful of companies that will be at Daily Deal Summit, the first ever conference focusing on the multi-billion dollar daily deal space. You read about them in Mashable. They are some of the fastest growing companies of all time, and almost all of them didn’t exist just two years ago. Now, is your chance to meet the leaders and hear what they think in person. What should traditional publishers do? Is there room for any more startups? What will the landscape look like a year from now? These questions and more will be discussed and debated at Daily Deal Summit. Tickets are limited, so register today! Mashable readers can save 20% by clicking here.

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 9-10, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: RetailCamp, an interactive two-day Unconference, hits Los Angeles April 9th &10th, 2011. RetailCamp brings together apparel and retail industry professionals, bloggers and agencies in an educational setting to discuss social media, mobile development, online marketing and connecting with customers through technology. Register and use the promo code MASHABLE for a 25% discount.

April 10-13, 2011, Denver, CO: 360|Flex, the world’s first and still best Flex Developer conference, will be held in Denver, CO and bring together the best and brightest of the Flex development community! Speakers include many leading community members and Adobe engineers. With over 50 sessions, including hands-on training the Sunday before the conference, 360|Flex offers more content than any other Flex/AIR developer event in the world. Register and use the promo code flexmash to save 20% off the ticket price.

April 11-14, 2011, Santa Clara, CA: The O’Reilly MySQL Conference & Expo is an interactive learning community, spreading the latest and best knowledge on MySQL and related technologies to the global open source community. Harness the power of MySQL and celebrate the huge MySQL ecosystem over 4 days of in-depth training, sessions, plenary discussions, case studies, networking with hundreds of your peers, and more. Register and use the discount code mys11msh to save 15%.

April 11-13, 2011, London, UK: The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. With 1600 exhibiting companies from over 50 countries, the fair brings together all corners of the international publishing industry to meet and do business. Celebrating its 40th year, The London Book Fair has grown into an industry hub bringing you three days of education, networking and business opportunities. For more information and to register, please visit www.londonbookfair.co.uk/mashable.

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 14, 2011, Boston, MA: Interested in meeting early-stage Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists in Boston? If so, then register for the FundingPost event on April 14th! FundingPost has hosted 175+ sold-out venture events in 20 cities over the past 9 years. At our next Boston event, the panel of investors will focus on Early-Stage Venture Investing: How to meet investors, pitch them, and what it really takes to get them to write you a check! For more information and to register, please click here.

April 16, 2011, Everywhere: What started in 2010 as a grass-roots efforts to motivate people to get out and check in is back and now with the support of over 100 local foursquare committees around the world. On April 16th (4 and 4 squared) foursquare users are self-organizing meetups, lectures, swarms, scavenger hunts, and much more. Foursquare users can visit 4sqday.com to find out about about nearby events. Find out how cities such as Cincinnati are getting Foursquare Day officially proclaimed by reading the blog. The official slogan of Foursquare Day 2011, selected by fans in an online vote, is “Foursquare Day: When the World is Your Venue.” Events are not profit-driven and no event is too big or too small.

April 17-21, 2011, Las Vegas, NV: The Mobile Connections Conference is a first of its kind technology event that provides technical cross-platform knowledge for mobile developers. Attendees will gain understanding on how to leverage cloud based services, how to market and sell apps, app security solutions and the latest market predictions. Developers will be able to network with peers, IT professionals, carriers and a wide range of mobile infrastructure, product and service vendors. Register with promo code 100MASH and save $100!

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 19-21, 2011, Santa Clara, CA: Now in it's 7th year, Where 2.0 is the premier conference for all things location-aware. Join us where the grassroots and leading-edge developers building location-aware technology intersect with the business leaders, marketers, and entrepreneurs seeking out location apps, platforms, and hardware to gain a competitive edge. Register now and save 25% with the discount code whr11mash.

April 25-30, 2011, Philadelphia, PA: Philly Tech Week is a week-long celebration of technology and innovation in Philadelphia. Rock to 8-bit chiptunes, discover the ins and outs of augmented reality, or see the next great Philly startups as Technically Philly hosts over 25 technology-focused events in the city of Brotherly Love. Most events are free.

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!

April 26, 2011, Kansas City, MO: The Social: IRL Social Business Summit with Jeremiah Owyang takes place April 26 in Kansas City, MO. The event location is just minutes from Kansas City International Airport for easy nationwide attendance. This event offers a unique opportunity for anyone serious about social business and social strategy to spend a full day learning from industry leader Jeremiah Owyang in a unique interactive format. With a focus on business objectives first, Jeremiah will lead attendees through sessions that present a framework, include hands-on workshops, group collaboration, and interactive Q&A. The goal of the Social Business Summit is for attendees to bring an actionable plan to their day job. Register and use discount code MASHABLE to receive a $25 discount on registration(s).

April 28, 2011, New York, NY: Don't miss the Guardian newspaper’s gathering for leaders working across all sectors who are proving that, through the use of technology and the internet, we can make the world a better place. Confirmed speakers include Nicholas Negroponte, Craig Newmark, Arianna Huffington, Nathan Eagle, Jeff Jarvis, Emily Bell, Iqbal Quadir, Bruce Schneier and Benjamin Bratton among others. For more information, please visit www.guardian.co.uk/activate/new-york.

April 28, 2011, Las Vegas, NV: Interested in meeting early-stage Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists in Las Vegas? If so, then register for the FundingPost event on April 28th! FundingPost has hosted 175+ sold-out venture events in 20 cities over the past 9 years. At our next event, the panel of investors will focus on Early-Stage Venture Investing: How to meet investors, pitch them, and what it really takes to get them to write you a check! For more information and to register, please click here.

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 brings together 24 speakers over the course of three days. The format is “open discussion”. The topics focus on 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, Jason Falls, Oliver Blanchard, Spike Jones, and Anita Campbell. Register with the promo code unGeekedChicago and save 5% off regular ticket price. Tickets includes the latest book from Olivier Blanchard and entry into the Chris Brogan Roast.

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 16-17, 2011, Atlanta, GA: Digital Summit 2011 will feature over 100 speakers and an audience of over 1,000 internet execs, entrepreneurs and senior marketers. Join dozens of industry leaders and innovators in the conversation on topics such as Social Media, Mobile, Cloud Computing, Online Advertising, Analytics, Search, Video, Ecommerce and more. Top brands and thought leaders converge on one of America’s Most Wired Cities. Register and use the promo code MASH for 20% off.

May 17-19, 2011, Boston, MA: In the ever changing world of social media and mobile marketing organizations are finding it difficult to navigate the complicated legal waters. At the 2011 Social Media Legal Risks and Strategies Summit, attendee's will have the opportunity to learn practical strategies for staying compliant with regulations and safeguarding against legal risks. During this 3 day summit attendee's will learn, first hand, from top legal minds from such brands as, The Walt Disney Company, General Mills, General Electric and The Better Business Bureau. Register and use the promo code MikeSM to receive a discount. http://socialmedialegalrisks.com

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 19-20, 2011, Miami, FL: Following the success of the 2010 edition, LBS LATAM returns in 2011 to continue the discussions and thought provoking market topics of interest. Responding to industry demands, the conference will be held for two days in Miami, Florida. For more information, 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 23, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Hosted by Our Social Times, Social Media Marketing & Monitoring 2011 will bring together leading marketing and PR experts, brands, agencies and journalists for an intensive one-day conference. Following this sell-out event last year, join us for an update on the latest strategies, tools and techniques in social media marketing. Topics include: community management; blogger outreach; influencer analysis and engagement; Twitter marketing; geo-location marketing; social gaming; social media monitoring and Social CRM. Register and use the promo code Mash1 to save 10%.

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 25-27, 2011, Portland, OR: WebVisions explores the future of web design, technology, user experience and business strategy in a punchy, new format! The all-star lineup of speakers includes author Douglas Rushkoff, design strategist David Armano, mobile researcher Rachel Hinman, usability expert Jared Spool, design ethnographer Kelly Goto and many more. Take advantage of package deals for workshops and conference passes, discounts on hotels, and networking events and after hour parties. Register here and save up to 30% off the Standard Admission rates! rates.

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 3-4, 2011, Victoria, BC, Canada: Last year’s event was the largest social media event in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. This year’s Social Media Camp will feature more time, more sessions, more speakers, more exhibitors and more sunshine! This year’s keynote speakers are the critically acclaimed authors of “The Now Revolution”, Jay Baer and Amber Naslund. Whether you are an avid Facebook user, interested in learning about Twitter, or you're trying to grow your business by leveraging social media tools – there is something for everyone at this event! Register and use the promo code MASHABLE to save $50!

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, Boston, MA: 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 7-8, 2011, Seattle, WA: Search Marketing Expo – SMX Advanced Seattle is the only search marketing conference designed exclusively for experienced internet marketers. In-depth sessions offered on SEO, paid search, social media and more. Join the most accomplished search marketers in the world – attend SMX Advanced Seattle. Register by April 2nd to get super early bird pricing and use discount code smx100mashable and you'll pay only $1295. SMX Advanced attendance is limited and has sold out 4 years running – register today and secure your spot!

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 15-18, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya: The spotlight in AfriTech Kenya 2011 will be on "Brand building using a digital platform". It’s projected to be the largest gathering of digital media gurus and industry shapers in the African continent. The conference will be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on June 15-18, 2011. Outstanding business luminaries, philanthropists, government decision-makers and investors will be participating during this four day historic summit. For more information and to register, please visit afri-tech.com.

June 15-16, 2011, New York, NY: “Exploring the State of NOW” – The 140 Characters Conference: New York City (#140conf) will be taking place June 15-16, 2011 at the 92nd Street Y, where we will continue to explore the effects of the real-time web on both business and on people. This event is expected to be the largest worldwide gathering of people interested in the effects of the real-time Internet on both business and "we" the people. #140conf exposes you to the power the Internet has to disrupt businesses, change lives and create serendipity. You will leave with a fresh outlook on how the real time web can be used in your business or personal life to actually do something meaningful. Register TODAY and take advantage of the "Early Bird" prices.

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 20-21, New York, NY: At the new ALL FOR ONE Marketing Show presented by DM Days, you'll learn how Domino's, FreshDirect, Grey New York and other top companies maximize ROI by leveraging customer insight and data to successfully integrate marketing channels. You'll walk away with concrete examples of successful campaigns from marketing experts and thought leaders. Register with the promo code DM730 and save $200!

June 21-22, 2011, New York, NY: The Second Annual Corporate Social Media Summit is 'the' event for big business using social media. This year we have speakers from Dell, Best Buy, Kodak, Coca-Cola, Southwest Airlines and many more. They will share best practice to help your company leverage the power of social media for better marketing, customer engagement and enhance profitability. The conference is designed for corporates like you – and our agenda is based on three months of research with your peers. Download a brochure here for all the info you need. Register and use the promo code MASH11 to save 10%.

June 21-22, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: Digital Content Monitization West 2011 is a unique opportunity to find out how to drive revenue and profitability from different content and formats across a wide variety of channels. 60+ senior level speakers from will help you sort out the best short and medium term strategies for delivering revenue through digital content. With its focus on west coast industries, you’ll dig deep into how the film, music and games sectors are driving new sources of revenue. Plus the publishing, sports, TV and news sectors will provide detailed information about how to monetize rich media content. Register online at dcm-west.com and use the promo code DCM MASH for early booking discounts.

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.

July 14-16, 2011, Dallas, TX: The Big Design Conference is an intense day of learning within the scope of Strategy, Social Media, User Experience, Gaming, Mobile, Usability, Design, and Code Development. Experts from across the country will gather to present theories, research, experiences, and best practices to students, professionals, and executives looking to stay on the bleeding edge. Experts include Beverly Robertson (President, National Civil Rights Museum), Russ Unger (Director of UX, Happy Cog), Jeremy Johnson (Director of UX, Game Stop), Brian Sullivan (Usability Principal, Sabre), Joshua Clark (author of Tapworthy), Jared Spool (Founder, User Interface Engineering), and many more. Mashable readers receive 20% off conference registration by using the code MASHABLE during the checkout process.

July 27-29, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Join us at the premiere of ePharma Summit West, the sister event to The ePharma Summit, the largest, longest running and most respected digital marketing event for the life sciences industry. Network and join the conversation with hundreds of fellow thought leaders from top pharma, biotech, device and health science companies. Register as a Mashable reader with the promo code XP1656MASH and save 10%.

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 11-14, 2011, Denver, CO: Come join the best and brightest of the iOS development community at 360|iDev, the first iOS developer event to be held by the developer community! Speakers include many leading community members, and app store success stories. With over 40 sessions, including hands-on training the sunday before the conference, 360|iDev offers more content than any other iOS developer event in the world. Register and use the promo code iosmash to save 20% of the ticket price.

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.

October 1-6, Boston, MA: At DMA2011, you – and 10,000 marketing peers from around the world – will find everything you need to develop and execute the real-time integrated marketing campaigns that drive measurable, bottom-line results for your brand. Listen to 300+ marketing experts and gurus talk about social, mobile, mail, search, data, attribution, and more. Plus, you'll find hundreds of technologies in the Exhibit Hall, the only one of its kind in the world! Register now with the promo code AN504 and SAVE $250!

October 9-11, 2011, Scottsdale, AZ: Join 200 of your advertising and PR agency friends at BOLO 2011. This event champions the marketing stalwarts, showing you how to leverage today’s digital marketing trends and technologies for economic advantage. Hear from industry thought leaders such as Scott Stratton, president of UnMarketing, and Jay Baer, author of The Now Revolution. From analytics and targeting to social media and agency management, the topics are cutting-edge and chosen to help your agency stay ahead of the curve in digital. Register now with the promo code MASHABLE for 10% off.

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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Microsoft Sues Barnes & Noble Over Android Patent Issues

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 01:17 PM PDT


Microsoft has announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Barnes & Noble for patent infringement related to functionality present in its Android-based Nook e-reader. Microsoft is also taking legal action against Foxconn and Inventec for their roles in manufacturing the Nook.

At the heart of the issue are patents that Microsoft claims it owns for certain aspects of the Android user experience. The technology titan specifically mentioned “natural ways of interacting with devices by tabbing through various screens to find the information they need, surfing the Web more quickly, and interacting with documents and e-books” as three examples of functionality that Microsoft has patented.

Instead of suing every Android device maker though, Microsoft typically lets them sign a patent licensing agreement. Microsoft and HTC entered a licensing deal last year that covers Android devices. In return for the patent license, HTC agreed to pay Microsoft royalty fees on a yearly basis.

The Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader utilizes a custom version of Android for its operating system and partners with Foxconn and Inventec to build the device. Barnes & Noble, Foxconn and Inventec haven’t signed patent licensing deals with Microsoft though, and apparently negotiations have hit a brick wall.

“We have tried for over a year to reach licensing agreements with Barnes & Noble, Foxconn and Inventec,” Microsoft Corporate Vice President Horacio Gutierrez said. “Their refusals to take licenses leave us no choice but to bring legal action to defend our innovations and fulfill our responsibility to our customers, partners, and shareholders to safeguard the billions of dollars we invest each year to bring great software products and services to market.”

This is not the first time Microsoft has sued a device manufacturer over Android. Last October, Microsoft sued Motorola over some of the enhancements it has made to the Android platform.

More About: android, barnes & noble, Foxconn, Inventec, lawsuit, microsoft, nook

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Meet Doug, the 2012 Ford Focus’s New Spokespuppet [VIDEO]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 01:11 PM PDT

Move over, Mike Rowe. Ford has a new spokesman, or more accurately, spokespuppet.

In the past couple of weeks, Ford has quietly introduced Doug, an orange puppet, to publicize the company's 2012 Focus. Doug is a social media animal — appearing only on YouTube, Twitter and (soon) Facebook.

Ford's got some major Hollywood comedy talent behind Doug's adventures, including Paul Feig, a director for The Office and Freaks and Geeks; and Rob Cohen, a writer for The Simpsons. John Ross Bowie, an actor and comedian who has appeared on Reno 911 and Curb Your Enthusiasm, among other places, and actor/comedian Paul F. Tompkins, of Anchorman: The Legend of Run Burgundy, also play John, the Ford Guy, and Doug, the Puppet, respectively.

Scott Monty, Ford's global digital and multimedia communications manager, tweeted about a video of Doug thwarting a robbery to get the campaign going early this month. Since then, the video has gotten close to 350,000 views on YouTube, making it one of Ford's most-viewed videos. Ford has loaded a half-dozen videos on focusdoug's channel, including a press conference introducing Doug. (See the video above.)

Jon Beebe, digital marketing manager for Ford, says there will be a few videos added every week during the next few months that follow a story arc, but Beebe says these aren't webisodes per se, but rather just an online advertising effort. The goal, says Beebe, is to reach consumers who don't really know Ford Focus or know it only as an econo-box.

"The 2012 Focus is so wildly different, we wanted to grab their attention and have them pay attention," says Beebe. That was also the intention, of course, of Fiesta Movement, an ambitious 2009 social media campaign from Ford to re-launch that model in the U.S. Beebe, however, says that Doug is not meant to be anything on the scale of that campaign.

What the effort lacks in scope, though, it makes up for in content. The Doug campaign’s humor is edgy in a way that a traditional TV campaign couldn't be. Ford is the latest marketer to take advantage of the web's new freedom to offer humor that wouldn't fly in a 30-second TV spot aimed at Middle America. Other recent efforts along those lines include K-Swiss's profanity-laden campaign for its Tubes sneakers featuring Danny McBride in character as Kenny Powers of HBO's Eastbound and Down and Hewlett-Packard's HP ePrint Live, a live YouTube comedy show featuring actors from the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Disclosure: Ford is a Mashable sponsor.

More About: advertising, facebook, ford focus, MARKETING, twitter, youtube

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Google Chrome Gets a New Icon [PIC]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 12:19 PM PDT


Google’s quickly growing web browser is getting a new icon that better "embodies the Chrome spirit," or so says the company in a blog post announcing the change.

"Since Chrome is all about making your web experience as easy and clutter-free as possible, we refreshed the Chrome icon to better represent these sentiments," said Google designer Steve Rura.

The change is rather subtle, with the basic design and color scheme of the logo remaining the same, but the 3D, chrome-finished logo being replaced by a 2D version with a lot less shine.

A minor change, no doubt, but with more than 120 million users of Chrome now out there, one that lots of people will be seeing soon.

How do you like the new look? Let us know in the comments.

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Are Cross-Platform Mobile App Frameworks Right for Your Business?

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

phone image

Brent Newman is a senior engineer in the Mobile Group at WhitePages where he works on the company’s top 10 iPhone, iPad and Android apps. He has been working in the mobile industry since the stone age and has created apps for Palm, Symbian, J2ME, RIM, iOS and Android.

It seems like every company today either has a mobile app on the market, is developing one or has plans to do so in the near future. This is no surprise, as the growth of mobile platforms and applications has been staggering in recent years, and everyone wants to get in on the action.

But developing mobile applications can be challenging, as it requires quite an investment. There are multiple platforms to choose from and you need developers, testers and product marketing to be successful. All of this makes the promise of a technology that can generate apps for multiple platforms very appealing. Even if you are targeting just iOS and Android, you have the potential of saving a good deal of money, time and effort by doing so. But are these tools right for you?

The Premise

There are a bunch of mobile app generation tools available today. Some of the most popular include PhoneGap, Appcelerator/Titanium, Rhomobile and AnscaMobile/Corona.

The premise of these tools is very simple: Use a custom language to create a mobile application. Maybe the language will be JavaScript, HTML, C# or even some custom scripting language that you’ve never heard of. Once you have it working the way you want, click a button and it will magically generate versions for iOS and Android. Maybe it’ll create apps for Windows Phone 7, RIM/BlackBerry and Palm as well. If it works, you can create up to five separate apps for the price of one. Submit to the various app stores and you’re in business!

Could it really be this easy? Of course not — there are a few things to consider before you take the plunge.

1. Plan Your Attack

First, do you really need a mobile app? The answer depends on a few factors.

If you’re still reading, let’s assume that you decided you want to invest the time and money to create a mobile application, and that you have a plan to monetize it. Whether it’s a free ad-supported app, supported by in-app purchase or a $.99 download that will rise to the top of the app store ranks, you have your concept and are ready to start implementing it.

2. Platforms and Features

Many of today’s devices are starting to look a little similar, at least when you consider their available features. Most devices have network connectivity (Wi-Fi and 3G/4G), front- and back-facing cameras, GPS for location-based services and high-resolution touchscreens. Many have accelerometers and gyroscopes for motion detection. Some have keyboards, some have hardware buttons for app interaction and some do not. Some screens support advanced multi-touch gestures, some just simple touches and swipes, and others have no touch screen at all. That’s just the hardware — software is another story.

The OS software will grant you access to the network, get your GPS location, allow you access to the camera and provide multimedia playback. They will have advanced graphics packages, allow you to create databases for storing rich data, and grant access to the local file system. Some even allow access to incoming phone call data, SMS, call history and email.

There’s a lot to consider. What does your app need? Can you find an app generator that can provide all of those features?

3. User Interface

wire imageEver picked up an Android phone or an iPhone as a dedicated user of the other? The interfaces are quite different. One simple example: Android has a menu button that can be used to bring up extra options for the application, access help screens, and change the settings. This doesn’t exist on the iPhone, where options need to be provided on-screen somewhere in the app (or in the Settings application which many users can miss). Android also provides a “back” button that can be used to return to the previous screen in your app. Android users know how to use it and expect it in their apps. There is no equivalent to the back button on the iPhone.

Each platform also has its own unique user interface features that can be taken advantage of. The iPhone, for example, has some great customizable table/list views which can be optimized for performance. The platform also offers built-in animations that can be effective when used properly. Don’t rely on them too much though. If you are planning the app for cross-platform development, those same features aren’t available on Android.

4. Performance

Getting your app to perform well is one of the most difficult things to do in mobile app development. It takes very careful planning and implementation to get things to respond quickly and efficiently at all times, especially when the system is stressed. If you are storing and accessing large amounts of data and need to access and display it quickly, you may need to tweak the database or the methods in which it is accessed to get it just right. Be careful — if an application is slow to respond to user input, people will often stop using it. Games that have graphics that lag at the wrong time can become unplayable. And any app that takes more than few seconds to get past the initial loading screen will become frustrating to users, leading to decreased use over time, if not immediately.

Often, the only way to fully control performance is to tweak the code directly for a platform or sometimes even for a specific device. What works fine on one platform may struggle on another. App generators may not handle these subtleties very well.

5. Bugs

What do you do when a feature you are using in one of these tools just doesn’t work, or worse yet, it doesn’t work on one platform or one specific device?

I’ve spent plenty of time tracking down bugs that only happen on a single Android device but not any others. Sometimes a feature will work properly on the latest iOS platform but not on earlier versions. It can be frustrating, but it comes with the territory.

Random bugs make things even more difficult when using an app generation tool. App generation can easily introduce bugs due to generic or poor implementation of a feature. Also, it may not be possible to fix a bug in the code that the tool is generating. Some app generation tools are open source, which means that you can theoretically go in and modify the code that is being generated in order to fix a bug, but this requires specific device knowledge that the app generator is supposed to alleviate the need for in the first place.

6. Go for Quality, Not Quantity

I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest proponent of these cross-platform app generation tools, and there’s a reason. I have been asked on more than one occasion to investigate their viability for certain projects, and in each case, the final decision was to pass — usually because it was missing support for required features and the performance would have been poor.

But there’s another reason to use this technology sparingly. It’s often the difference between making an app that simply works and one that really shines on the platform. To get an application to shine, you need to carefully plan the features and make sure that you are implementing them to take full advantage of the device or operating system you are targeting. Once you have your app, it often takes some considerable tweaking and adjustments before you're ready to ship. It's a painstaking process, but necessary in order to make it truly great.

At my company, we have a Caller ID app that runs on Android. It’s currently only possible to offer this app for Android devices because you need to tap into the ability to be notified when a call is coming in on the phone. This feature alone prevents us from delivering this app on iOS and most likely precludes us from using any app generation utilities to deliver it.

Making the absolute best app experience possible is a labor of love. Whether the app replies on unique features of the OS or not, the best experience will come by utilizing the features and paradigms of the device platform and paying close attention to the little details that make the user experience top notch.

7. Sometimes It Just Makes Sense

Despite my own preferences, there are plenty of people who would take the ease of development and cost savings over the significant time and resource investment required to develop and maintain a product on multiple platforms. This is understandable, and there are certainly types of applications that this technology is perfect for like games and web-based content portals.

Most of the app generation tools support standard OpenGL graphics capabilities, simple user input and multimedia for background music and game sounds. This makes for easy creation of simple games. Look over the portfolios on the websites of these tools; they are full of apps that fit this bill.

The other category is web-based apps. These are applications that get all of their data from a web service and present it to the user in lists of text, links and images. Login can be supported easily, and there usually aren’t requirements for saving large amounts of data on the device. It’s a great way to go from website to mobile app without needing specialists in Android/Java, Objective C or C# development. You can even repurpose web developers to work with these app-generators since they often use JavaScript as their base language.

If your app fits into one of these categories and won’t tax the system with its graphical and data requirements, you may have the perfect solution on your hands.

Conclusion

Don’t approach mobile development lightly. The space is crowded and it’s more than just about platform coverage these days. You need a well designed, showcase app that really stands out above the competition. App generation tools may get you on to multiple platforms, but will it do the job well enough? That’s for you to figure out.

Interested in more Mobile resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Zupi Design, Rob Enslin, Mazzarello Media and Arts

More About: android, App, business, iOS, iphone, MARKETING, Mobile 2.0, mobile app

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Facebook’s iPhone App To Let You Check In to Events

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 12:04 PM PDT


Facebook will soon be expanding checkins beyond Places and will add them to Event Pages in the next release of its iPhone application. The coming-soon feature will allow Facebook iPhone app users to check in to Event Pages and tag their friends in the process.

“We’re currently testing the ability for people to check in to Events,” a Facebook representative told Mashable. “The feature will be available with the next iPhone version release.”

According to a report from All Facebook, the “Check In” button currently appears on Event Pages on the day of events for select iPhone users.

The new checkin button will likely come as a welcome addition for most event organizers. Attendees who check in to events will presumably share the checkin with their Facebook friends, an activity that would help promote the event in question.

More About: checkins, facebook, Facebook Places, iphone app

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100,000 People Pressure Apple To Shut Down “Gay Cure” App

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 11:19 AM PDT


More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Apple to remove an app from the iTunes store that was created by an anti-gay Christian organization.

Exodus International, which according to its website has ministries that “provide support for individuals who want to recover from homosexuality,” released the app on February 15.

The app has a 4+ approval rating from the Apple app store, and the organization is quick to point out that this rating is reserved for those apps that “contain no objectionable material.”

Gay rights activists obviously disagree.

“No objectionable content? We beg to differ,” reads the Change.org petition that was started by non-profit LBGT advocacy organization Truth Wins Out. “Exodus’ message is hateful and bigoted. They claim to offer ‘freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ’ and use scare tactics, misinformation, stereotypes and distortions of LGBT life to recruit clients.”

The app is like a portable version of Exodus International’s website. It has a calendar of events, news, links to Exodus’s social media sites and videos. Those items, like corresponding features of its website, reflect its anti-gay message — in particular its belief that someone can be counseled away from homosexuality.

In a blog post, the organization writes that it intends to broaden its reach with the app.

Despite the petition calling for the app’s removal, which suggests Exodus International is dangerously broadening its reach toward youth, and a storm of negative complaints posted on the app’s download page, Apple has not taken the Exodus International App [iTunes link] down.

Apple responded differently to a similar situation last year. According to Pink News, the company shut down an anti-gay app created by a Christian group after a mere 7,000 people signed a change.org petition calling for its removal.

At the time, Apple said in a statement that they had removed the app because it violated its developer guidelines by “being offensive to large groups of people.”

More About: Anti-Gay App, apple app store, Exodus International

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Radiation Dosage & Its Sources Explained [CHART]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 11:11 AM PDT


Fear and uncertainty continue to grow around the condition of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. There has been a fervent struggle to keep the plant’s reactors from achieving a partial or complete meltdown after the devastating earthquake in Japan and Pacific tsunami damaged the plant and knocked out the backup power needed to cool its radioactive fuel rods.

Naturally, the events in Japan have people curious, frightened and confused about the potential impact of not only the Fukushima plant’s radiation, but on the impact of nuclear power plants and radiation in general on the body. Even friends have asked me if they should evacuate the U.S. West Coast just in case radiation from Japan travels across the Pacific Ocean.

Until now, I haven’t had a good way to explain why they shouldn’t worry about radiation from Japan, especially given the many other sources of radiation we encounter on a daily basis. However, Randall Munroe of XKCD has solved that problem by putting together a very informative chart explaining and visualizing radiation doses and their sources. Although we don’t suggest living by this chart, it’s a good general education tool for understanding the effect of radiation absorption.

We encounter sources of radiation every day, from natural background radiation to bananas. (Yes, bananas emit gamma rays, but you’d have to eat 5 million bananas in one sitting to get any kind of radiation sickness.) The absorption of this radiation is measured in units called the sievert (Sv). As the chart explains, we absorb approximately 0.1 microsieverts (μSv) of radiation per day from eating a banana, 10 μSv from background radiation and 20 μSv from a chest x-ray. That’s more than the radiation you’ll absorb from living within 50 miles of a power plant (0.09 μSv). Even a coal power plant generates more radiation (0.3 μSv) because coal has trace amounts of uranium.

It takes a lot more radiation to actually cause harm to a person, although, the maximum yearly dose permitted for a U.S. radiation worker is 50 millisieverts (mSv), more than 200 times the exposure received from a typical X-ray. It takes double that amount though (100 mSv) for an increased risk of cancer and a full 2,000 mSv for severe radiation poisoning to occur.

For a more detailed explanation of radiation dosage, check out the XKCD chart below. Click on the image to see a full-sized version:

Image courtesy of Flickr, zfmg!

More About: japan, japan earthquake, Japan Tsunami, Nuclear, Radiation, xkcd

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How Tribeca Is Changing the Way We Think About Online Film Festivals

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 10:18 AM PDT


Founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, the Tribeca Film Festival is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. For 2011, the festival is ramping up its digital efforts and introducing the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival.

The Tribeca (Online) Film Festival aims to bring features and short films to audiences around the world and hopes to help redefine how we think about online film festivals. We had a chance to preview the new Tribeca (Online) website and speak with people at Tribeca about the digital and social media initiatives that will coincide with festival’s film screenings.

Festival of the Future

Technology has fundamentally changed the ways that films are made — not just with the advent of special effects but also by lowering the cost of equipment. Digital cameras and digital distribution has lowered the barriers to entry, not just for making films but also for getting those films to the public.

Film festivals continue to be an important outlet for filmmakers who want to showcase their works and seek audiences and investors. No longer just limited to physical film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca or SXSW, filmmakers can also target online audiences.

Many of the major film festivals understand that an online component is going to become an important part of future festivals — and future films in general. For 2011, Tribeca is hoping to take its digital strategy to the next level by connecting audiences and filmmakers.

The Films

Last year, Tribeca tested the digital waters by offering access to some of its films via digital platforms including the web and video on demand. For a set fee, users could get an all-access pass to various Tribeca features and shorts. Tribeca’s chief creative officer, Geoffrey Gilmore, tells us that the initiative didn’t go far enough. To really help rethink and redefine what an online film festival is required a different approach.

Rather than offering an “online pass,” users will be able to reserve free tickets for any of the six feature films that will be offered online via the new Tribeca (Online) Streaming Room. Films will have three to five screening windows and the number of “seats” per window will be limited — just like at the regular festival. Users can reserve a seat virtually at TribecaOnline.com. American Express card members can start reserving seats on April 12 and the general public will get access on April 18.

Each window lasts 24 hours, meaning the user has the freedom to tune in to the film at the time that best suits their needs. Films can be viewed in a web browser or on the iPhone or iPad. Tribeca is using HTTP adaptive streaming, which means that the better quality the connection, the better the stream will look on an iPhone or iPad.

The feature films that will be screened via the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival include:

  • Donor Unknown, directed by Jerry Rothwell (North American premiere)
  • Flowers of Evil, directed by David Dusa
  • My Last Round, directed by Julio Jorquera
  • Neon Flesh, directed by Paco Cabezas
  • New York Says Thank You, directed by Scott Rettberg (world premiere)
  • Rabies, directed by Aharon Keshales

A larger collection of short films from 2011 and the past will also be available online. Viewers will be able to rate the films they watch online and the film that garners the highest rating will win a special $25,000 online feature film award and a $5,000 online short award.

Filmmaker Feed, Tribeca Q&A and other Social Initiatives

The online screenings are only one part of the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival. Festival goers online and off can take advantage of the revamped Tribeca website to engage in conversations with directors and Tribeca staff.

The Filmmaker Feed is Tribeca’s way of letting festival goers connect with the filmmakers. Each filmmaker page includes the official trailer for their film, embedded Twitter and Facebook streams, and access to other links. Some filmmakers who have YouTube channels will be recording and publishing videos during the festival — these videos will show up directly on their filmmaker feed page.

The aggregation of social channels for a particular film or filmmaker is a nice touch by Tribeca, and the site presents the feed in a manner that is easy to follow and quick to load.

Tribeca Q&A

Tribeca Q&A, which launches today (March 21), is a way for online audience members to ask questions of filmmakers or Tribeca programmers while also engaging with the overall online community.

Users can submit their questions to the filmmakers or film experts and then vote on what questions they want to see answered. The top-rated questions will be submitted and answered by the panelists.

The panelists include Zach Braff, Brian Williams, Tribeca’s Jane Rosenthal and Geoffrey Gilmore, Whoopi Goldberg and more. It’s a great opportunity for online audiences to ask real questions of those in the industry.

Live From …

Tribeca will be live streaming certain events from the festival — including the opening press conference, the award show and the red carpet. The red carpet will be live streamed 24/7, which means users can tune in day or night to see how things look in New York City.

Tribeca is going to stream multiple panels from the festival as well, which really ads value to the overall online experience. Even regular festival attendees can’t always attend panels, and having select panels available online is a treat.

Good First Steps

We really like the plans and initiatives that Tribeca has in place for the 2011 film festival. Aggregating existing social channels and making films viewable on devices like the iPad help the experience fit more seamlessly into existing digital and social lifestyles.

Moreover, by allowing the opportunities for film goers and filmmakers to connect and engage in conversations, there is a value add that extends to those attending the festival in person.

Going forward, we’d like to see more filmmakers embrace online screenings. It’s scary to put a film online, sure, but it’s also a great way to get buzz and word of mouth publicity. For filmmakers that are seeking distribution, going online and screening in person at a festival like Tribeca opens up a ton of opportunities that might not otherwise be available.

We would love to see more film panels and Q&A sessions live streamed to the site. Likewise, it would be great if the Q&A could take place as a more real-time event in the future. Going through a selection process makes sense, but the best conversations tend to happen in the moment.

What do you think of the way Tribeca is approaching the digital space? Would you like to participate in an online film festival as a viewer or filmmaker? Let us know.

Image courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival

More About: Film, film festivals, Movies, tribeca film festival, tribeca online film festival

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4 Free Apps For Discovering Great Content On the Go

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 09:59 AM PDT


The Content Exploration Series is presented by Mashable Explore, a new way to discover resources and information on your favorite Mashable topics. Mashable Explore is brought to you by the all-new, 100% reinvented 2011 Ford Explorer. Drive One.

Need new ways to find stuff to read and watch in those stolen minutes you get with your smartphone? Want more articles, webpages and video, and your Facebook friends aren’t coming up with enough interesting stuff? Before you start entering random Google searches for fun, download these free apps that help you discover the best of what the online world has to offer, and serve it up on the small screen.

1. StumbleUpon

The granddaddy of discovering random cool stuff online, StumbleUpon will celebrate its 10th anniversary later this year — but its mobile app is less than a year old. On the web, its 8 million users have spent the past decade recommending (or disliking) millions of webpages with a thumbs-up/thumbs-down system on a specially installed browser bar. The StumbleUpon engine then passes on recommendations from users whose interests seem similar to yours. Hit the Stumble button and you’ll get a random page that the engine thinks you’ll like. The more you like or dislike its recommendations, the more these random pages will surprise and delight.

Device: iPhone, iPad, Android

2. iReddit

Reddit is a self-described social news website where users vote for their favorite stories, pictures or posts from other users, then argue vehemently over their meaning in the comments section. In recent years, it has gained readers as its competitor Digg has lost them. Noisy, brash and never dull, Reddit doesn’t have the machine-learning aspect of StumbleUpon, but it’s well worth browsing regardless. iReddit is a simple way to explore it on your iOS device; Android owners should try the unimaginatively named “Reddit Is Fun” app.

Device: iPhone, iPad, Android

3. Pulse

Launched less than a year ago on the iPad and instantly praised on stage at a developers’ conference by Steve Jobs, Pulse is more of a traditional news reader than StumbleUpon or Reddit — it uses RSS, or Really Simple Syndication. But its gorgeous, photo-filled scrolling interface makes it a joy to behold and a cinch to discover new articles of interest. (Try an RSS interface such as Google Reader, and you’ll likely run screaming from the pages and pages of dull-looking headlines.) Better yet, with a couple of taps you can save the article to Instapaper, an offline reader, when you have no Internet access. The app is available for free in the iTunes Store and the Android Market.

Device: iPhone, iPad, Android

4. Twitter

We’ve saved the most obvious app for last. There are still few better ways of discovering interesting, timely links to articles, pictures and video than following some good solid Twitter leads. New to the service and wondering which ones to follow? Here’s a great list of 100 worthwhile people to follow on Twitter, compiled last week by PC Magazine. Naturally, @Mashable makes the cut.

Device: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android

Series Supported by Mashable Explore

The Content Exploration Series is presented by Mashable Explore, a new way to discover resources and information on your favorite Mashable topics. Mashable Explore is brought to you by the all-new, 100% reinvented 2011 Ford Explorer. Drive One.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, webphotographeer

More About: android, apps, Content Exploration Series, ipad, iphone, mobile apps, pulse, reddit, smartphone, stumbleupon, twitter

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One-Third of Small Businesses “Couldn’t Survive” Without Mobile Apps [REPORT]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 09:48 AM PDT


Roughly one-third of small businesses say they couldn't survive or that they would find it a major challenge to survive without mobile apps, according to a new survey.

The AT&T Small Business Technology Poll, based on a December online survey of 2,246 small business owners and/or employees responsible for IT, found that 38% of such businesses couldn't go without mobile apps. Nearly three-fourths (72%) indicate they use mobile apps in their businesses.

GPS/navigation and mapping mobile apps are by far the most popular; 49% of respondents say they use them for their small businesses. The main reasons the companies say they use such apps is to save time, increase productivity and cut costs. For the purposes of the survey, a small business is defined as having between two and 50 part-time and full-time employees.

Other findings:

  • 41% of respondents say they have a Facebook Page, which is a 52% jump over last year.
  • 40% say all their employees use wireless devices or wireless technologies to work away from the office. That's a 66% increase over the past two years.
  • 33% of small businesses say they use cloud based or software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, but another one-third admitted they didn't know what those services were.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Randy Kashka

More About: att, mobile apps, small business

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Twitter Launches New Website & Video To Celebrate Its 5th Birthday [VIDEO]

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 08:41 AM PDT


In celebration of its fifth birthday, Twitter has launched a new website and a new video featuring some of its most prominent users.

Twitter employees have started tweeting links to discover.twitter.com, a website that features 16 different users from a variety of backgrounds, including entertainment, political, business and even astronautics. The list includes tennis star Serena Williams, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, rapper Snoop Dogg, U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner and astronaut Paolo Nespoli, among other recognizable celebrities and institutions.

Along with the launch of the new Discover Twitter website, the social media company has also unveiled a new YouTube video in which the 16 featured tweeters discuss who they follow and what value Twitter brings their lives. With interviews featuring everyone from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to UFC President Dana White, the video is certain to go viral.

Five years ago, co-founder Jack Dorsey sent the very first tweet over Twitter’s servers (back then, it was called “twttr”). Today, the social media website has hundreds of millions of users and a valuation nearing $10 billion. Not bad for a half decade’s worth of work.

Here’s Twitter’s new Discover Twitter video for your viewing pleasure:

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France Fines Google $142,000 for Privacy Violations

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 08:27 AM PDT


France’s data privacy regulator has fined Google €100,000 ($141,670 USD) for gathering data from private Wi-Fi networks while collecting imagery for Google Street View.

Google Street View has been controversial from the start; Many people and privacy groups didn’t like Google collecting imagery of buildings, license plates and faces for the panoramic-view service, complementary to Google Maps.

Google answered those complaints by blurring sensitive parts of the images, but the service raised far more privacy concerns in May 2010, when Google admitted that its Street View cars (mistakenly, according to Google) collected and stored data from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. The incident instigated privacy probes against Google in countries all over the world, including in Australia, Canada, Germany, South Korea and the U.S.

In August 2010, French police stopped a Google Street View car under orders of National Commission for Computing and Civil Liberties (CNIL) to inspect whether Google was still collecting Wi-Fi data.

Now, CNIL said that Google has pledged to erase the data it had collected, but it found “that Google has not refrained from using the data identifying Wi-Fi access points of individuals without their knowledge,” which prompted the fine.

“It is a record fine since we obtained the power in 2004 to impose financial sanctions in 2004,” the head of the CNIL Yann Padova told Le Parisien.

In July 2010, Google said that its "cars will no longer collect any Wi-Fi information at all," but the fallout from the incident is still a reminder of how unpleasant the consequences of not respecting users’ privacy can be — especially for a giant company like Google.

[via AFP]

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Why Sales Is Still Missing From Social CRM

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 08:08 AM PDT

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Umberto Milletti is the CEO of InsideView, the social CRM application which brings comprehensive sales intelligence gained from social media and traditional sources directly into any CRM platform for increased sales productivity and revenue.

We've all heard the stories about the big deals closed on the golf course or at the steakhouse, but these tales are starting to belong more in episodes of Mad Men than in today's business environment. Today's sales professionals operate less from the fairway and more online and by phone. Indeed, CRM, email, and web conferencing have become the ubiquitous productivity portals for all customer-facing professionals. However, with the efficiencies and cost effectiveness of such virtual work platforms has also come a dramatic reduction in the actual relationship time needed to conduct the inherently interpersonal business of selling.

In the past few years, while sales has mostly ignored the social media revolution, the marketing and customer service functions have led the way in adopting and demonstrating the power of social media in engaging customers, especially as part of the social CRM movement.

What has taken sales so long to catch up, and what now needs to be done?

Learning From Marketing and Customer Service

Leading social CRM expert Paul Greenberg describes the socialization of business activities as “the company’s response to the customer’s ownership of the conversation.” Indeed, social media builds a two-way street with customers.

Visionary B2C companies like Procter & Gamble (Old Spice), Zappos and Diapers.com have executed effective strategies based on the idea of "delight" through social media, and with great success. B2B companies have learned from these B2C examples and are combining superb customer service with newly created social customer communities, resulting in significant cost savings and revenue increases.

Dr. Natalie Petouhoff — one of the top analysts in the ROI of social media in B2B customer strategies — cites everything from reduced call/email volume and SEO costs to increased customer lifetime value and lead conversion rates. And according to a recent study by Gartner, one-third of leading companies will extend their online community activities over the next two years "as customer awareness and use of social CRM for marketing as a back door to customer service increases."

Customer service organizations are certainly leading the charge in recognizing the power of social media to give insight and measurement to their work, as well as bring their customer communities together. If social media is such an indomitable force in customer engagement, where is social media in sales?

Hey Guys, Wait Up!

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While marketing and customer service have jumped on the social CRM bandwagon, the sales profession has mostly been watching from the sidelines, wondering what to do and how to do it. There are four main reasons for this lag:

  • Salespeople are not techno-geeks. They view technology, at best, as an enabler — a tool for getting their job done — rather than something you experiment with on the weekends for the fun of it. Clearly, social media is more approachable and engaging than traditional enterprise applications, but a level of technical skepticism remains.
  • Salespeople need to understand what's in it for them. Good salespeople are highly efficient in their use of time. It’s a benefit of years of being compensated for results. If they don't understand how something is going to make them more productive and successful, they won't do it, and no one has done a good job explaining why social media matters for sales. Considering the indication of some reports that sales teams generate upwards of 70% of their own opportunities without the help of the marketing department, the importance of engagement for salespeople cannot be overstated.
  • Social media tools have not been integrated into the sales workflow. CRM vendors have so far focused on integrating social media into their service and support offerings, and sales functionality has been mostly left to specialized third-party providers (see options on Salesforce.com's AppExchange and Microsoft's Dynamics CRM Marketplace).
  • Salespeople rely on their employer for training on new sales processes and tools to support them. If they are not being trained or given a managerial "green light" on social media, they are less apt to explore and implement it on their own. According to a recent study by OgilvyOne, while more than half of sales professionals thought that social media was important to their success, only 9% had been trained on it by their employer. As companies are starting to think about how to best leverage social media, sales training will undoubtedly be near the top of the list.

Selling Has Always Been Social

Despite these reasons for the lag, salespeople are in the business of understanding, relating to and engaging decision makers. Short of an expensive in-person meeting, what could be better than having real-time insight and intelligence into a prospect's Twitter feed, Facebook profile, or even their music interests on Pandora?

Fortunately, the wave of social customer interaction education is starting to form, with initiatives like the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management's Social CRM Program and Social Selling University leading the way. Just as early and effective adoption of the web gave competitive advantages to forward-thinking businesses (Amazon, eBay, Cisco) in the 1990s, in this decade, companies that effectively leverage the social media wave to improve their customer-facing business will thrive while those who don't will stall.

Have you implemented social strategies into your sales force? If so, please let us know in the comments. If not, we'd also love to hear your thoughts, challenges and/or successes as well.

Interested in more Business resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Rak’s passion boy (楽の情熱ボーイ), smemon87

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