Business

The Flip.to social media marketing platform just launched direct integration with the Hotel Concept's RezExchange channel management and distribution system for hotels. The service is a new means for the hospitality industry to convert guests and website visitors into engaged advocates while extending a brand's reach exponentially and finally providing hotels with a means to push past basic social media engagement, to a definable ROI.

With a movie project that has virtually taken years to "wrap," Twittamentary, is a film about communities that is now available for communities around the world. Having received numerous request from folks and organizations across the globe, the film's producer is thrilled to announce an "open call" for community screenings to take place between February 1 and May 1, 2012. That's right, if you have a suitable venue and meet the screening requirements, all you need is 20 of your closest friends or fans to put on a show - for free!

Whenever a new movement consumes the hearts and minds of a large percentage of the populace, its time to take stock in what really moves these folks to act? The zeitgeist that emanated from Facebook and Occupy Wall Street couldn't be any more different from each other, yet there is an undercurrent that threads the two together. Both attract those that have an overwhelming desire to band together within loosely-knit organizations that welcome all.

Gmail has revamped itself with an all New Look with many great new features.  The new look brings the ability for more customization and a myriad of improvements such as better search filters, automatic adaption to screen size, ability to change the size of your text, new themes, easier to follow conversations, the addition of profile pictures and, one of my favorites, drag and drop attachments.

Toward the end of 2011, the American Censorship Org took action against SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), a U.S. bill racing through Congress that threatens "prosperity, online security and freedom of expression." On January 18, thousands of websites like Wikipedia have pledged to go dark online in protest. To show its solidarity, Google has blocked out their iconic logo on their search engine.

Smokers seeking a more luxurious and relaxing smoking experience need look no further than “The Peace”, an all-new, top of the line canned cigarette from Japan Tobacco. Sold by a selected number of Japanese retailers at a premium price and packaged in sleek metal cans, The Peace is the ultimate expression of an iconic brand first introduced in 1946.

The buzz surrounding social media marketing hasn’t gone unnoticed by the hospitality industry and many hotel brands seek to make inroads by engaging more effectively with leading social networks.

Where's the beef? Try looking under the foie gras and truffle butter, Jeeves. Wendy's has returned to Japan after a two-year hiatus but former customers might be hard pressed to recognize the burger chain, let alone pay for its high-priced gourmet offerings.

Remember “Three Wolf Moon”, 2009's meme of the year and, as a result, Amazon.com store retailer The Mountain's biggest selling design EVAR? No? It seems China doesn't either, leaving the field of wolf-wear wide open for one enterprising online seller obliviously ensconced (along with their customers) behind China's Great Firewall.

The buzz surrounding social media marketing hasn’t gone unnoticed by the hotel industry and hoteliers are seeking to make inroads by engaging with the leading social networks in new and innovative ways. Choice Hotels however has indicated that "hotels have been slow or very conservative in the adaptation of social media."

Who says you can't be in two places at once? Introducing Nubot, a smartphone faced robotic avatar doll controlled by Skype and webcam that allows you to interact with others remotely.

Nokia's new 801T smartphone may be Finnish by nature but it's been nurtured to succeed in China's unique telecom environment. Take the retro-looking, telescoping TV antenna, for instance: it'll bring in television signals without putting owners in debt to their service providers.

If you loved McDonald's Japan's quartet of “Big America” burgers last year and the year before, well get out the napkins and the antacid because they're baaaack! This year's fast food final four kicks off with the Grand Canyon Burger, followed by three more hamburger homeland homages filling out the first quarter – not to mention your waistline.

Well if you've been following the partisan rhetoric emanating from the Belt Way, you might not think that the government of "We The People" is going to fare too well going into a contentious election year. However, if you're one of the 99 Percenter contingency, things might be looking a little "rosier" for you . . . and they do mean that literally.

The 25 meter (82 ft) long Youngman JNP6250G developed by Chinese manufacturer Zhejiang Youngman is the “world's largest” public bus and can carry up to 300 passengers. Don't expect to “bus da move” in luxury, however, as specs for the JNP6250G indicate it has just 40 seats... you do the math.

If you're hungry enough to raise the Teutonic, then we kindly ask you to get a grip... on the German Chicken Sausage Burger, an epicurious menu offering from McDonald's Hong Kong. What say ye, Actual German Folks™, das schmeckt or das boo?

What's a little friendly competition amongst neighboring towns in New Jersey? Well this Christmas season, two councilmen and one mayor have decided to lighten up this year's holiday festivities with a house decoration competition in Jersey City, Newark and Roselle.

“American Freedom, Made In China?” Them's fightin' words in some parts; a sad commentary on the state of the nation's economy in others. What's behind this incendiary phrase stamped on the side of an otherwise ordinary cardboard box?

Pining for those classic Japanese monster movies that had you sitting on pins and needles? Well fir not, er, fear not! The giant Godzilla Christmas Tree from the Aqua City Odaiba shopping mall in Tokyo is the original nightmare before Christmas!

Old and busted: phone headsets. New hotness: phone headrests! The “Dare to Demo” star-shaped plush pillow from Willcom allows users to rest their weary heads while conducting hands-free conversations.