Business

What's In A Name? Real Names vs NickNames On Social Networks

by Ron Callari

Remember when the Internet first emerged in the late 90s and "email" was the new shiny thing? So new and so shiny that while we gravitated toward it's light, likes moths to a flame, we were leery of revealing our true identities. So what did we do? We invented nicknames to protect our anonymity. And while we soon realized that real names were not a threat, many of us followed suit when social networks surfaced a few years later.

Connecting The Synaptops - A Virtual Desktop You Can Take Anywhere

by Jamie Reygle

A new online operating system allows you to use your own workspace wherever you are, with whatever you're using, and collaborate with others too.

Japan's Willer EXPRESS Cocoon Buses Bust Their Butts To Pamper Passengers

by Steve Levenstein

Fed up with noisy, spartan, all too public transit buses? Japan's Willer EXPRESS Cocoon buses feature luxurious individual privacy modules. Even touring rock stars don't have it this good!

China's Social Media Microbloggers Wake Up To Weibo

by China.new

What's in a name? China's nearly half-billion netizens are about to find out. Sina Corp., owner of the country's largest Internet portal, is seeking to put its own stamp on China's social media landscape by rebranding Sina Weibo with the new domain name "weibo.com"

Chicken Littles Decry "Facebook Down" - World Coming To An End!

by Ron Callari

More crucial than the U.S. government shutting down, Twitterville is cyberventilating over Facebook suddenly becoming unavailable this morning. Proclaiming "Facbook Down," Chicken Littles are taking to the tweets sounding alarms that the ominous event could be an apocalyptic ending to the world as we know it.

Journalists On Facebook Scale As News Becomes More Social & Semantic

by Ron Callari

On April 5, Facebook launched "Journalists on Facebook" Page in an attempt to capitalize on the growing trend of news becoming more and more social.In Facebook's words, "The JOF Page is to serve as an ongoing resource for the growing number of reporters using FB to find sources, interact with readers and advance stories."

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Branson Gets Deep - The World's Deepest Diving Submarine

by Jamie Reygle

Richard Branson is making it possible to explore the very depths of the world's oceans.

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Facebook's Event Check-Ins Attracting Spammy Hosts & Guests

Facebook's Event Check-Ins Attracting Spammy Guests!

by Ron Callari

Big news this week was Facebook's push for Places, it's geo-location answer to Foursquare, and its launch of "event check-ins" on mobile phones. Unfortunately. like an updated version of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," it's attracting the wrong crowd of people - namely, spammers! Now, I ask you, is that any way to run a location-based social network?

Foursquare & Twitter Rip "Pages" Out Of Facebook Playbook

Foursquare & Twitter Rips "Pages" Out Of Facebook Playbook!

by Ron Callari

Cross-pollination amongst social networks has been a trend ever since Facebook tried to replicate Twitter's tweets into its status updates and Foursquare's geo-location components into its Facebook Places. This week, it appears the shoe is on the other foot, as both Twitter and Foursquare are dipping their toes into "brand pages" that comes very close to Facebook's fan pages.

Leaping The Great Firewall In China Greater Hurdle Due To Arab Awakening

by Ron Callari

As unrest in the Middle East gains traction with sympathizers globally, China tightens its current Internet controls. It appears the government's infamous "Great Firewall" has ramped up its interference capabilities on Gmail, virtual private networks (VPNs) and social networks, where disruptions in service some say is "a new kind of attack by Chinese censors."

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STEM Sells Research - Selling Science To Kids

by Jamie Reygle

The USA Science & Engineering Festival wants you to help them make science cool.

U.S. Govt Acts As VC Arming Social Activists With "Panic Button" App

by Ron Callari

"To the Middle East, with Love," might be the new ad slogan for an app under development by the U.S. for pro-democracy protesters living in various hot spots of unrest around the world. Yes, in a sense the government is competing with Apple, Google and Facebook to develop its own app for Androids and Nokia phones.

Social Media Platform For Hotels Offers Web Site Visitors Incentives

by Ron Callari

Based on the premise that travelers can become a brand's strongest advocates, Flip.to, the social media service for hotels, airlines and restaurants launched its 'confirmation' component to beta customers this past year. Over 50 hotels on five continents have integrated with Flip.to to allow guests who book online to receive incentives for communicating with their followers on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. This month, the social media platform expands to include incentives for Web site visitors as well.

Social Media Copy Cat Renren Could Beat Facebook To IPO

by Ron Callari

One of the world's least known social networks could go public prior to Facebook, or even LinkedIn or Twitter - and in the most unlikely country of China. Six year-old Renren - often referred to as the Chinese Facebook due its the many similarities is one of the major default social networks in its country of origin - as Facebook has been blocked by the "Great Fire Wall" since 2009.

Finally: Fisker Karma Is Go

by RagingBull

After several years of delays, production on the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid is finally underway. The very first Karmas began rolling off assembly lines in Finland earlier this month.

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Google's Quest For Social Media Holy Grail Redux

by Ron Callari

A lot has been written about Google and its unshakable pursuit of a means to integrate with social media. The blogosphere is especially cyberventilating this week due a FTC penalty ruling - ironically due to privacy infractions from Google's Buzz debacle last year - and its launch of a "+1 button" that operates uncannily like. . . well, a LIKE button a la Facebook.

Solar LED Lanterns and More Aide To Help Japan's Earthquake Victims

by Gloria Campos

Almost 3 weeks after the Earthquake and Tsunami hit Japan survivors are still living without basic necessities: food, water, electricity, etc. Panasonic is doing what it can to help. Among all the aide they have sent so far, there were thousands of Solar powered lanterns sent to Japan just a few days after the earthquake.

Doggies Do The Chew - Dog Food Promotion Goes Viral

by Jamie Reygle

You can now use your smartphone to feed your pet.

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Eco-Friendly Auto Shops Like "Green Garage" Pop Up Nationwide

by Amanda Hinski

Is it possible for an auto shop to tune up your car to make it less harmful for the environment? Well, that's the claim of eco-friendly shops such as "Green Garage" of Colorado. By using non-toxic, low-VOC, and biodegredable products, these auto shops intend to make your car go green--not without making plenty of green themselves of course.

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From Social Media To Semantic Web, LinkedIn Caffeinates NYC & San Fran

by Ron Callari

Extra, Extra. . . read all about it, LinkedIn offers free coffee to residents and commuters in New York City and San Francisco with the launch of its latest product. Holy Cappuccino, Starbucks. . . you deserve a break today...