Kamis, 24 Juni 2010

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Oh No: YouTube Gets a Vuvuzela Button”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Oh No: YouTube Gets a Vuvuzela Button”

Link to Mashable!

Oh No: YouTube Gets a Vuvuzela Button

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 03:30 AM PDT


As if we haven’t been hearing the buzzing sound of vuvuzelas enough in the last couple of days, YouTube decided to grace us with a dedicated vuvuzela button.

The football-shaped button sits in the lower right corner, and does precisely what you feared: it produces the dreadful vuvuzela sound.

If you haven’t been following the football World Cup and you’re not familiar with the term, vuvuzela is a plastic horn that produces a loud monotone which starts getting on your nerves in about 5 seconds.

Oh well. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

For more Web Video coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, World Cup

More About: vuvuzela, youtube

iMovie For iPhone Shows Up in the App Store

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 03:08 AM PDT


All you lucky iPhone 4 owners can now enjoy the full benefits of your device’s HD camera with Apple’s iMovie application, which is available for $4.99 in the App Store.

The app allows you to record and edit videos directly from the iPhone.

You can add music, photos, transitions and even entire themes to your videos, export them in three sizes (medium, large or HD) and share them with your friends or post them on YouTube.

If you have an earlier version of the iPhone, though, don’t bother: the app is (officially) compatible only with iPhone 4.

You can purchase the iMovie app for iPhone here.

[via Gizmodo]

For more Apple coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

More About: apple, imovie, iphone, smartphone, video

Apple Files Another Patent Lawsuit Against HTC

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 01:30 AM PDT


Apple has filed another patent lawsuit against smartphone manufacturer HTC, claiming it has violated four of their patents related to smartphones and other mobile devices.

More precisely, Apple is talking about their specific way of unlocking the smartphone’s touchscreen with a sliding movement, which HTC also uses in some of its models. Apple also claims HTC has violated a power management-related patent, as well as a “system for real-time adaption to changes in display configuration.”

This new lawsuit is just another chapter in Apple and HTC’s game of cat and mouse. Three months ago Apple has filed a suit against HTC, claiming it violated 20 of their patents. HTC responded with a lawsuit of their own, and Apple has also been sued (and issued a countersuit) by Nokia, also on the grounds of patent infringement.

With all these suits and countersuits, it’s getting near impossible to track who stole what from whom, so we’ll just stand on the sidelines and wait until the lawyers fight this one out.

[img credit: Thomas Roche]

For more Apple coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter

More About: apple, htc, lawsuit, patent

Enjoy a Stream of Short-Form Videos with New Site and iPad App

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 11:35 PM PDT

Mashable's Spark of Genius series highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, see details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.


Name: ShortForm.TV [Warning: Videos are set to autoplay]

Quick Pitch: Snack on an endless stream of short-form video.

Genius Idea: With more than 24 hours of video uploaded every minute to YouTube alone, it can be hard to find something to watch when you’re after a quick hit of humor or whimsy. That’s where Shortform.TV comes in.

Shortform.tv is a website and iPad, iPhone and iPod touch app [iTunes link] that launched today. It allows viewers to surf through a variety of channels housing a selection of short videos, which have been sorted and collected by both real-live human curators and aggregation software. Said software aggregates videos from sources such as Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo, and it categorizes videos based on criteria defined by the curators.

The playlist generator then organizes the videos based on trending data and user feedback — you can nix vids by clicking on the “thumbs-down” button next to the player, and you can save videos to “My Channel” by clicking “thumbs-up.”

To formulate your channel, you’ll have to sign in to the site via Facebook Connect. After doing so, you can share videos with your friends by posting them to your Facebook profile, and you can add videos you’ve viewed on Facebook and YouTube to your channel on Shortform.tv. You can also choose to share your channel with other users and friends. As more and more users makes their way to the site, the founder says you will be able to compete to have your channel featured on the main page, which should be an incentive for hardcore viral-video fans to join.

Shortform.tv is a great little time-waster in the tradition of sites like Redux and yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah, but it’s exclusively for video content — which makes it perfect for anyone who enjoys watching or sharing the latest viral flick.

Right now, the site has around six categories — Facebook Hits, HaHa Funny, Super Cute, Totally Weird, Feel Good and So Hollywood — which seems a little sparse. We would love to see them add more specialized channels, i.e. music videos, parodies, commercials and the like. Still, this platform is meant to entertain, and it has achieved that goal.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, marcoscisetti

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Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark

BizSpark is 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.

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, YouTube, iStockphoto

More About: facebook, humor, ipad, iphone, pop culture, spark-of-genius, Vimeo, viral videos, youtube

Obama’s iPad/iPhone App Hits the App Store Tonight

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 10:30 PM PDT


President Obama’s political campaign, Organizing for America, will be heading to the App Store tonight with an all-new iPad and iPhone app. His administration hopes to connect voters with Congressional representatives in time for the fall elections.

This will be the Obama’s first app since the one created for his 2008 presidential campaign. And of course, the app will be free. Organize for America is a program of the Democratic National Committee.

“We’ve had this in the works for a while,” said a member of the President’s staff. “We’re keen to put organizing tools in the hands of supporters wherever they are, especially given the conditions of this year's political environment.”

Here are some of the features you’ll find in the app:

  • Alerts about local events and opportunities to get involved — you can watch related videos or RSVP directly from the app, too
  • National and local election news you can share on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter
  • Photos and videos, including special video messages from President Obama and clips from local gatherings
  • “Call Congress” feature that gives you the phone number for your representatives in Congress and helps you take action on issues you care about
  • Donation features

“This is just the beginning of what we’ll be doing with mobile this year,” said another Obama staffer. “We have ambitious plans that we're excited to show as this year rolls on.”

From a politically neutral perspective, we think it’s an interesting and possibly powerful way to reach voters and help them act on the issues they care about most. Still, in the interest of reaching as many people as possible, we would strongly encourage the Obama administration and other political entities to round out their mobile offerings with Android apps, as well — more Americans are buying those devices all the time, and politicians would do well to not ignore them.

What do you think of this use of technology so far? What kinds of features should be included in a mobile app for a political campaign?

For more Apple coverage:

Reviews: Android, Facebook, Twitter

More About: apple, barack obama, ipad, obama, Political, politics

Jimmy Kimmel Shoots Entire TV Episode on His Webcam

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 08:57 PM PDT


When a power outage at late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel’s Los Angeles studio threatened to thwart the recording of Monday’s episode, necessity became the mother of invention: Kimmel whipped out his MacBook and used the webcam to record footage for the entire segment.

With power out in the control room and the backup battery already depleted just before taping time, Kimmel picked up his MacBook on the fly, fired up Photo Booth and walked around the studio interviewing staff members. “I was like, maybe we can do this if we're not able to get on the air,” he told The New York Times in a phone interview. The show’s guests and audience alike were game to hang out for the unconventional webcam shoot, which aired last night; you can check out the special episode embedded below.

Kimmel denied the MacBook-shot episode resulted from any secret promotional agreements with Apple. “In fact, I'm hoping they're not upset with it,” he said. As for the cause of the power outage itself? Jimmy pointed a finger at one of the world’s favorite current scapegoats: “I blame BP for this. I’m sure they're responsible somehow.”

Check out the webcam episode here and let us know what you think. What’s next: a Letterman episode over Qik?

Jimmy Kimmel Live: Power Outage Special

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Reviews: Facebook, Twitter

More About: jimmy kimmel, macbook, television, tv, webcam

iPhone-Controlled Parrot AR.Drone: $299 This September [VIDEO]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 07:53 PM PDT


Parrot’s AR.Drone is a unique combination of fun, iPhone-controlled quadricopter hardware and a promising new platform for augmented reality (AR) gaming applications.

The AR.Drone will be launching in the U.S. this September at a price point of $299.

We first caught a glimpse of the AR.Drone turning heads back at CES earlier this year, and we caught up with Parrot again at this year’s E3, where its makers unveiled the release date and pricing information and showed off the AR.Free Flight [warning: iTunes link] iPhone app used to control the drone. The copter will also launch with two other AR titles to start: AR.Drone Gate, a solo game in which you fight enemies to defend your home base, and AR.Flying Ace, an app that enables large aerial battles with other drone owners.

We expect to see many more games forthcoming for the AR.Drone as well, thanks to an open SDK and robust developer community of over 450 so far. Check out a video of the drone in action along with the Free Flight iPhone control interface (as well as some device and screenshots below) and let us know what you think. Are you interested in some aerial iPhone-controlled AR gaming?

Parrot AR.Drone In Action at E3

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Reviews: Facebook, Twitter

More About: AR, ar.drone, Augmented Reality, e3, E3 2010, games, gaming, iphone, parrot, video games

The Muppets Face Off with OK Go in Epic Staring Contest [VIDEO]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 07:00 PM PDT

What happens when two viral video stars collide? A super viral video is born!

The band OK Go had a run-in with Animal from the Muppets at the Webby Awards last week, and the results are pretty cute.

We have to give Dan (the drummer) credit — we don’t think we could withstand a staring contest with a screaming Muppet for even half as long as he did! How about you?

For more Web Video coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter

More About: humor, Muppet, muppets, OK Go, viral video, webby awards


Critical iPhone 4 Issues and Complaints Are Mounting

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 06:04 PM PDT


Several early iPhone 4 customers have discovered critical issues with the phone’s display and reception that could pose major problems for Apple’s newest mobile device.

Multiple Apple- and gadget-focused websites are receiving reports that the iPhone’s much-discussed “Retina Display” is susceptible to a yellow discoloration, either as a thin line of yellow or as a circular tint.

That’s not the only problem: there are now countless videos online that show how holding the new iPhone by its sides can decrease reception quality.

We’ve received a growing number of tips about these complaints, as well.

Message board threads on Macrumors are buzzing with negative reviews of the discolored iPhone 4 screens. Here’s an excerpt from a community member:

“Just synced up my iPhone 4 and noticed that, on screens with a white background (i.e., Settings.), there is a decidedly yellow spot on the lower left corner of my screen. It appears circular (about the size of a pencil eraser) but when you rotate the phone sideways, it’s more visible as running across the bottom edge of the screen a ways.”

Gizmodo is also getting a flood of complaints and currently counts more than 27 cases of Retina displays demonstrating the yellow tint problem. Apple has dealt with this problem before with its 27-inch iMacs. It’s unclear what is the cause of the issue at the moment, nor is it known how widespread the problem is.

The second problem affects reception. As Gizmodo reports, dozens of iPhone 4 owners are finding that their reception drops dramatically if they hold the phone by its metal sides in two places. The metal bands of the iPhone 4 also act as antennas for the device.

There are now dozens of videos and tests demonstrating that the iPhone 4 loses bars, call quality and download speed when held by its sides. In some cases, the iPhone 4 completely loses reception. Again, it’s unclear just how widespread this issue is. Our guess is that it’s a hardware problem, which means a lot of iPhones could be affected.

Issues are to be expected when new devices go to mass market, but Apple’s devices don’t usually have problems as critical as these. These flaws likely will frustrate a lot of users and could even force Apple to replace or recall phones, depending on the root cause of these problems.

For now, we’re in wait-and-see mode as the phone permeates the market. We’ll keep you updated on any other critical issues that we discover.

[img credit: Gizmodo]

For more Apple coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter

More About: apple, iphone, iphone 4, retina display, trending

Flickr Photos Are Getting a Massive Overhaul

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 05:22 PM PDT


As of today, users can start seeing bigger, bolder Flickr photo pages with prettier controls and more apparent options for learning more about each image.

For one thing, photos will automatically be a lot bigger — 640 pixels wide on the photo’s main page. Flickr has also placed the “who, where, when, how” of related information just to the right of the photo. These so-called story elements will be easier to see and edit and will make research and discovery easier for Flickr users.

Navigation controls have gotten a bit prettier and easier to use, as well. The familiar filmstrip interface has been completely redone. And when you really want to appreciate a particular snap in all its splendor, just hover over the image and click to try out the new lightbox view.

“We've been keen to build a better showcase for your photos for some time,” wrote Flickr staffer Josh Nguyen on the Flickr blog. “With the new photo experience, you can discover, share and organize your visual stories in a new and improved way.”

You can go to your Flickr account to test out the new interface right now.

What do you think of these changes? Are they simpler to use and/or more aesthetically pleasing to you?

UPDATE: As one of our commenters has noted, the updated Flickr photo pages, slideshows and lightboxes seem to be Flash-free — good news for all you iPad and iPhone owners.

For more Tech coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, Flickr, Twitter

More About: flickr, photo

Testing the Droid X Camera [PICS & VIDS]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 04:36 PM PDT


The lovely folks at Verizon gave us a Droid X for 30 glorious days of review. One of the device’s main features — one which we couldn’t wait to play with and test out for you — is its 8 megapixel camera, which shoots 720p HD video and astoundingly clear stills.

The camera is a major selling point that Verizon et al. have emphasized a lot in their marketing of this device so far, so we thought we’d put it to the test.

How do the pics and videos from this device measure up? You be the judge. Here are a few snaps and clips we took today in San Francisco and Burlingame.

A few points to note:

  • The videos look amazing when played back on the device’s 4.3-inch screen, but if you want to upload them to YouTube, you’re going to have to wait for a WiFi connection. Translated: If you want to upload clips from sporting events or concerts, you’re going to have to wait until you get home.
  • Even over a WiFi connection, your video uploads are going to take a while.
  • The upside to having to wait to upload your videos is that Verizon’s network remains unscathed by power video bloggers’ bandwidth-hogging ways.
  • The device — we really can’t call it a phone at this point — is equipped with three microphones. Depending on what you’re using the camera or phone functions for, some mics will be picking up sound and others will be used for noise cancellation.
  • This mobile also has an HDMI port for viewing or reviewing media on a larger screen, if you so choose. You can playback video you’ve recorded this way; we’re told you can also stream films from the Blockbuster app or clips from YouTube, for example.
  • The Droid X also allows for quick and convenient wireless sharing of media between your mobile and your computer or network, including your videos, pictures and music. This is accomplished through DLNA technology.
  • The camera does well for up-close macro shots, and it has a bright flash for low-light shooting. But focusing in low light is a bit more difficult, and without the flash, pics end up grainy and blurry.

Those points being made, what do you think of the camera’s results? (Click to see full-size versions.)

The iPhone 4 features a 5MP camera, so we’ll be doing a head-to-head comparison post on these devices and their various capabilities and features tomorrow.

All things considered, do you think the camera quality makes for a good Droid X selling point, especially where the iPhone 4 is concerned?

For more Mobile coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

More About: android, camera, droid, droid x, Google, pics, pictures, vid, video, videos

Steve Jobs: Wi-Fi iPhone Syncing Coming “Someday”

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 03:22 PM PDT


Are you dying to eliminate the need to connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer every time you want to sync data? Well, according to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, wireless sync is coming “someday.”

This response came via e-mail, a method Jobs has increasingly embraced to answer customer questions.

The question, posed by my good friend Rick Proctor was as follows, “Do you think you will ever allow syncing iPhone to Mac over wifi?” The response was a concise, “Yep, someday.”

While “someday” is pretty vague, we’re glad that the feature is at least on Apple’s agenda. As many new iPad owners have espoused, the fact that the device requires iTunes setup before it can be used feels odd and unnatural. Likewise, the inconvenience of always keeping a cable handy if you want to sync your iPhone apps or contacts while on the move got old a long time ago. In fact, one of the biggest advantages of using cloud-based services like MobileMe or Google’s mail services is that your calendars and contacts can be kept updated over the air.

Wireless syncing to a cloud-based system is one thing — it just requires some sort of data connection. However, if you want to do wireless transfers from a device to a computer, you need to either use Bluetooth or have both devices on the same wireless network. Some applications, like the excellent 1Password — an app that manages your passwords — already have this feature built in.

Ideally, users would be able to “pair” a computer with a phone and then automatically (or manually, if the user preferred) sync the two devices whenever they were logged on to the same network. The advantage of Wi-Fi over Bluetooth would be the speed of data transfer (which matters when you’re talking about backing up apps or media) and also the range for the device. I know I’d love to be able to sync my iPhone or iPad with my iMac when I’m in my bedroom or living room, rather than having to make the long, exhausting trip 50 feet to my office.

Would you like to be able to wirelessly sync your iPhone with your computer?

Thanks Rick!

For more Apple coverage:

Reviews: 1Password, Bluetooth, Facebook, Google, MobileMe, Twitter

More About: iphone, itunes, steve jobs, steve jobs e-mail, wireless syncing

eBay Acquires Barcode-Scanning iPhone App Redlaser

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 02:54 PM PDT


eBay has acquired RedLaser, a barcode-scanning app that helps users locate the best price for a product and uncover further information, from technology startup Occipital. Occipital will remain a freestanding company.

The paid app [iTunes link], which was featured in Apple’s “Shopper” commercial for the iPhone (see below), is now available for free. eBay will begin to add its more than 200 million listings from eBay into the app, along with products from the 7,000 merchants partnered with Shopping.com (which, according to eBay, includes 95 of the top 100 retailers).

eBay also intends to integrate RedLaser’s barcode-scanning technology into its own iPhone applications, including eBay Marketplace, eBay Selling, StubHub and Shopping.com, which have already been downloaded by more than 10 million users collectively. Many other applications already use RedLaser’s technology, from grocery shopping lists to gift registries.

"Mobile enables consumers to make impulse buys and convenient purchases wherever they are, and eBay is constantly innovating to make mobile shopping easy and reduce the friction in commerce," said Mark Carges, chief technology officer and senior vice president, global products, eBay Marketplaces in a statement. "With RedLaser's innovative technology, eBay is continuing to help shoppers quickly find the best deals online, and eBay sellers will be able to list their items faster."

Although the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, it’s a logical step for eBay, who claims that a purchase is made every two seconds via its mobile applications for iPhone, Blackberry and Android. As a RedLaser user, I’m a open to the inclusion of eBay listings in the application, so long as eBay does not prioritize the listings of its own properties over other retailers’.

RedLaser and eBay users: What do you think of the acquisition? Do you welcome eBay’s listings on the iPhone app?

iPhone “Shopper” Commercial

For more Business coverage:

Reviews: Android, Facebook, Shopper, Twitter

More About: e-commerce, ebay, iphone app, Mobile 2.0, mobile shopping, occipital, redlaser

HOW TO: Get Up-to-Date on WordPress 3.0

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 02:50 PM PDT


This series is supported by Rackspace, the better way to do hosting. Learn more about Rackspace’s hosting solutions here.

WordPress 3.0, the latest and greatest version of the popular open source content management system, has just been released. The latest version brings a refined backend interface, a brand new default theme, a new custom menu structure, plus improved support for custom post types and custom taxonomies.

While we’ve written about some of the most exciting and important new features in WordPress 3.0 already, we thought now would be a good time to round-up some resources of how these newest features work and what WordPress designers and developers will need to consider when upgrading or creating new plugins or themes for WordPress 3.0.

Although WordPress 3.0 was only released last week, it has been in the works for quite some time, so a fair amount of documentation is already online. We’ve done our best to ensure that the resources we’re linking to are still current with the final codebase, but if you see something that seems off or think that we missed a must-have resource, let us know in the comments.

All About Menus

One of the most exciting new features, at least for theme designers and end users, in WordPress 3.0 is the introduction of custom menu support. The new menu system means that as long as your theme supports the feature, creating customized menus and sub-menus is a snap. You can adjust the menu labels and where they point. This should make creating and updating the navigation for a website much less of a hassle for everyone.

Here are some must-read posts about menus and how to best implement and customize them in your themes:

  • Templatic has a thorough guide to all things menus, including how to add support for custom menus to your themes.
  • Ivor Padilla has a great tutorial for how to create menus that have customize labels and images.
  • Justin Tadlock covers how to implement custom menus into your themes and gives some styling tips and suggestions.
  • New2WP offers some tips for adding menu support to your theme, while also remaining backwards compatible with older versions of WordPress.

Multisite Madness

On the code side of WordPress 3.0, one of the most significant changes is that the codebases for WordPress Multi User (WordPress MU) and WordPress have merged. This means that they are no longer maintained as separate projects, and that the same base is used whether you are running one site or hundreds off of an installation.

Most users, even advanced users, won’t use the multisite features built into WordPress 3.0, but for those that are looking at rolling out a large number of blogs, the fact that the project is now unified is great, great news.

A lot of the changes on the WordPress Multisite side have been with terminology. A lot of the terminology has changed, which can genuinely make things confusing.

Fortunately, plenty of smart WordPress community members have written some great guides about getting started and getting the most out of WordPress Multisite.

  • Deluxe Blog Tips has a guide for setting up and enabling Multisite in WordPress 3.0 that takes you through the entire process.
  • WordPress contributor Otto has written a great guide about domain mapping in Multisite mode in WordPress 3.0.
  • The excellent WPMU Tutorials has a fantastic guide on how to upgrade from WordPress MU to WordPress 3.0 Multisite.

Custom Post Types Galore

One of the features that many developers (and designers) are most excited about in WordPress 3.0 is enhanced and improved custom post types. To me, this feature (along with custom taxonomies) is what is finally making WordPress viable as a content management system in the more traditional sense.

Custom post types basically mean that you can create rules based on the type of content you are adding or creating and that these rules will define how they are displayed. For instance, with custom post types, creating robust event calendars inside WordPress or creating a portfolio showcase can be much, much simpler and easier to manage.

Here are some resources for learning more about custom post types and how to best use them in your WordPress sites:

  • Once again, Justin Tadlock gives a nice overview of how custom post types work and some of the cool things they can do. He also explains how to implement them within WordPress.
  • Likewise, Otto has an equally good overview of what should and should not be a custom post type and how to use them in your design and development process.
  • Voosh Themes has an excellent real-world tutorial for using custom post types to create a professional portfolio. This is the sort of tutorial I love, because it is applicable to many real-world use cases.
  • Soma Design has created a Smarter Post Types plugin that makes the out-of-the-box custom post types even better. This lets you easily create custom landing pages for post types and custom single page templates.
  • Kovshenin has another real-world tutorial for extending custom post types, including creating metaboxes and making it easy to be able to query based on post type.
  • Nettuts+ has a great overview of custom post types and gives some suggestions for how it can be used.
  • Mike Van Winkle has an article about theming custom post types.
  • WP Storm has an article about the different editor styles that you can customize for your custom post types.

Custom Taxonomies Trickery

Another new — and much wanted — feature of WordPress 3.0 is the ability to add custom taxonomies. Basically a taxonomy is a way to group or sort content — it can be hierarchical (that is, ordered) or non-hierarchical in structure.

WordPress treats post types, tags and categories all as taxonomies, but getting them to behave and work in a certain way hasn’t always been easy. That’s why custom taxonomy support has so much promise.

OK, here are some resources for wrapping your mind around custom taxonomies:

  • The brilliant Joost de Valk wrote about custom taxonomies last year. While some of what he writes is no longer true for the latest version of WordPress, this is a really, really good overview of what taxonomies are and how custom taxonomies work.
  • WordPress zen master, Justin Tadlock, once again lays out a very easy to understand overview and refresher on custom taxonomies and what is new in WordPress 3.0.
  • 1st Web Designer just published a really fantastic guide to custom taxonomies in WordPress 3.0. Again, we like this because it gives some great real-world use cases.
  • Likewise, Nettuts+ has a great guide to using and understanding custom taxonomies in WordPress 3.0.

What Are Your Tips?

We’ve just scratched the surface on the wealth of tutorials and resources related to WordPress 3.0. Have a site or post that you think others should see? Let us know in the comments!

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Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, WordPress

More About: custom post types, custom taxonomies, Wordpress, WordPress 3.0, wordpress menus

HUGE: Twitter Lets You Automatically Follow Your Facebook Friends [UPDATED]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 02:49 PM PDT


Update: The Facebook Twitter app isn’t working. According to Twitter, “The Facebook app cannot currently access your Facebook friend list. We believe this is an issue on Facebook’s end.”

We’ve emailed Facebook to find out what’s going on.

Update 2: Facebook’s official statement to us: "We are working with Twitter resolve the issue."

—

Twitter has announced that it is launching major upgrades to its Facebook and LinkedIn applications, bringing added functionality and integration between Twitter and two of the world’s largest social networks.

The new Twitter app for Facebook, which is now available here, not only allows you to syndicate your tweets to the world’s largest social network, but now has a feature that allow users to see which of their Facebook friends are also on Twitter and choose which ones they want to follow.

The new feature could be huge: it brings existing Facebook connections into the Twitterverse, which is likely to spur new levels of engagement and growth. We’ve already seen a fail whale or two in our testing of the new Facebook app though, making us worry that the new feature could potentially cause more downtime.

The microblogging startup is also announcing updates to Tweets, LinkedIn’s Twitter application. LinkedIn beefed up its Twitter integration last month. It also includes a feature that lets you see which of your LinkedIn connections you follow and automatically follow the ones that you don’t.

For more Social Media coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

More About: facebook, linkedin, trending, twitter

Top Twitter Reactions to Gen. McChrystal’s Removal From Command [IMAGES]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 02:37 PM PDT

President Barack Obama removed General Stanley McChrystal from his top post as commander of U.S. military forces in Afghanistan today, The New York Times reports. His replacement will be General David Petraeus.

Obama relieved the General after a Rolling Stone article by Michael Hastings revealed controversial and contemptuous quotes from the General and his staff about the Obama administration.

“I don’t make this decision based on any difference in policy with General McChrystal, as we are in full agreement about our strategy. Nor do I make this decision out of any sense of personal insult…But war is bigger than any one man or woman, whether a private, a general or a president,” Obama said in his announcement.

The removal of McChrystal has generated a lot of reaction on Twitter, catapulting “McChrystal” into the top spot for worldwide trending topics. Though of course many of the tweets are spammers hoping to get some attention from using a trending hashtag, we decided to highlight some noteworthy reactions below.


President Barack Obama





President Barack Obama tweets an announcement about the press conference.


Breaking News




The Twitter account BreakingNews tweets news of McChrystal's removal.


Senator John McCain




U.S. Senator John McCain, after a tweet praising President Obama about Petraeus being the replacement, thanks McChrystal for his service.


Neera Tanden




Neera Tanden, a former Obama health care advisor, former Hillary Clinton policy director, says a question.


Rep. Jason Chaffetz




Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz supports the President's decision.


Liz Margolis




Liz Margolis looks at the lighter side of the General's removal.


Andi Winterfield




Andi Winterfield from Minnesota thanks the General.


Oscar Guzman




Oscar Guzman tweets his reaction to McChrystal's removal.


Terryn Williams




Terryn Williams, an MC, author and comedian, adds some humor to the controversy.

Image Credit: Budget Insight blog

For more Social Media coverage:

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter

More About: mcchrystal, social media, twitter

iOS vs Android: Developers Weigh In [REPORT]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 02:15 PM PDT


Appcelerator has just published the results from its most recent mobile developer survey and the results shed some insight into what platforms and device types are most compelling to developers in the short term and for the long haul.

The survey covers some of the same ground as the last Appcelerator survey from March but it’s interesting to see how developer opinions have changed, both in the wake of the iPad’s successful launch and hot new phones on the Android front.

We followed up on the big takeaways from the survey (which you can download as a PDF) with Scott Schwarzhoff, Appcelerator’s VP of Marketing.

High Interest in the iPad and Other Tablets

Back in March, Appcelerator’s developer survey indicated that 53% of developers were interested in developing for the iPad. What a difference a few million sales can make! The most recent survey results show that that number has gone up dramatically, with 84% of responding developers now saying they are “very interested” in developing for the iPad.

The iPhone saw a small bump in interest too, with 90% of respondents reporting interest, up from 87% in March. Android held steady at 81%. However, this is where it gets interesting: When asked about their interest in developing for an Android tablet — a question not asked in the previous survey — the results were a whopping 62%.

The strong interest in the iPad and in tablets in general suggests a few things. First, its indicative of the power of the new form factor of touch-based tablet computers as ushered in by the iPad. Second, it shows the power of operating system platforms as a whole. Just as iOS runs on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, Android can be run on phones, tablets, set-top boxes and even traditional laptops and netbooks. Multiple devices mean multiple-use cases and that means that if you are a developer and already targeting a platform for one type of device, making the jump to another device based on the same platform makes a lot of sense.

Developers Place Long-Term Bets on Google

Appcelerator asked developers to rate the major phone platforms, iOS, Android, BlackBerry and “Other” in a number of categories, including, “best app store,” “biggest market for consumer apps” and “most ‘open’ platform.” Check out the results below. The top choice is in red while the runner-up is in yellow.

While Apple largely dominates the results, take a look at the last category: “This OS has the best long-term outlook.” Android, not Apple, won this round with 54% of the vote. This becomes even more interesting when you look at developer interest in other platforms, like tablets.

Developers clearly think Apple’s iOS has the best near-term outlook, but when planning ahead for the future, Android’s openness and ability to run on many device types makes it a real contender in a bigger picture sense.

App Platforms: Pros and Cons

It’s easy to survey developers on what mobile platform they prefer to develop for, but when you get to the why, the results can often be really interesting. In the case of the two dominant smartphone players, Apple and Google, the biggest strength is also directly tied to the biggest weakness.

Check out the results:

The number one reason cited by developers who favor iOS is that Apple makes the most-wanted devices for consumers. One of the reasons that Apple has such a high-demand product is because it exerts lots of control over the platform and the end-to-end user experience. Not surprisingly, that control comes at a high price, and developer’s cite Apple’s controlling nature as the biggest reason not to develop for the platform.

Conversely, the adaptability and openness of Android is cited as its biggest strength by developers. The fact that so many potential devices can use Android opens up possibilities and usage scenarios that developers have yet to fully implement. Still, the downside of this adaptability is the inevitable fragmentation and testing problems that arise when so many different types of devices — or even form factors of the same device type — exist.

Having spoken with Android and would-be Android developers at length, I know that device testing is one of the areas that developers run into the most issues with Android. While an iOS developer can buy an iPad or an iPod touch or iPhone off the shelf and do lots of hands-on device testing before releasing their app, Android developers are often limited to whatever device they happen to have from a wireless carrier and the Android SDK emulator. That means that making sure that apps look and act a certain way on both the HTC EVO 4G and the Motorola Droid X is difficult unless the developer happens to own both devices. And that’s before you even get into the quagmire of what version of Android to target.

Developers’ Most-Wanted iPhone 4 Features

Appcelerator pinged developers to see what iPhone 4 feature was most exciting. Unsurprisingly, Multitasking was the big winner. Interestingly, FaceTime ranked relatively low in the survey.

Video calling has yet to take off. However, it will be interesting to see how developers react to FaceTime after users have iPhone 4 devices in their hands and show how much (or how little) they use the feature.

Your Thoughts

What do you think about the survey results? Are you a mobile app developer? How do you feel about the long-term and short-term potential of the various smartphone platforms?

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Viacom Loses $1 Billion Lawsuit Against YouTube

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 01:32 PM PDT


The billion-dollar YouTube-Viacom case has finally been resolved, and the winner is … YouTube. In a statement published to its company blog this afternoon, YouTube writes, “The court granted our motion for summary judgment in Viacom's lawsuit with YouTube. This means that the court has decided that YouTube is protected by the safe harbor of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) against claims of copyright infringement.”

Viacom — in its lawsuit originally filed in 2007 — had claimed that YouTube deliberately infringed on its copyrights and knowingly allowed offending content to remain on its site.

The past few months have seen some intriguing back and forth between the two companies as documents were unsealed. For starters, Viacom detailed communication between Google and YouTube executives that at times appeared to show little regard for copyright content. Meanwhile, YouTube accused Viacom of underwriting secret programs that actually placed its content on YouTube but made it impossible for the video giant to enforce copyright.

YouTube goes on to say in its statement, “This is an important victory not just for us, but also for the billions of people around the world who use the web to communicate and share experiences with each other.” Of course, Viacom could quickly appeal the ruling, and this case could be dragged out for several more years. Stay tuned.

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“FarmVille” for iPhone Now Rolling Out

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 01:00 PM PDT


Zynga’s casual game wunderkind FarmVille has finally made it to the iPhone. Announced back at WWDC, the iPhone version of the popular Facebook farm sim is now starting to roll out — it’s already available to New Zealanders [iTunes link].

Presumably that means the rest of the world should expect to get access to FarmVille for iPhone very soon — most likely tomorrow. If ever there was a platform with the potential to expand the game’s already ridiculous number of users, the iPhone would be it. At a more than 85 million and counting install base, getting onto the iPhone could be a significant growth opportunity for FarmVille.

The timing for the iPhone release appears to come at a critical juncture as well, as the once rapidly growing title looks to have fallen off a bit over the past month in terms of monthly active users, according to AppData:

If you haven’t yet been enticed to try out the game on Facebook, will your curiosity be piqued by an iPhone version? Could a launch on the iPhone be the next jolt FarmVille needs to resume its spectacular growth rate?

[via Games.com]

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10 Best Multimedia and Entertainment Android Apps

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 12:39 PM PDT

Android Entertainment Image

Brian Sawyer is an editor for O’Reilly Media’s Head First division and the co-author of Best Android Apps: The Guide for Discriminating Downloaders. The following is based in part on content from the book.

Wherever you are, if you find yourself alone and in need of entertainment, you'll likely reach for your Android phone. Of course your phone is already a great MP3 player, but it can be so much more. This roundup will help you turn your mobile into a portable entertainment center.

You'll find apps for syncing your media library, playing your own music and video, streaming radio and online video, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, watching TV, reading books and magazines — even controlling your desktop media remotely from your phone. In all, these 10 apps (and a few significant honorable mentions) should provide you with a much richer media entertainment experience than you might have thought possible with Android.

1. Best Media Syncing App: doubleTwist

doubletwist image

One of the best software applications for Android isn't even technically an Android app. That is, it's designed for use with your Android phone, but you won't find it in the Market, because it's actually a desktop application for your Mac or PC. DoubleTwist helps you buy and sync music from Amazon's MP3 store, iTunes, and any other music, video, or photo files that live on your desktop. It will even convert videos to the right format to watch on your device. Just drag and drop to take all your media with you.

As a complement to the desktop software (which it requires for syncing), doubleTwist also recently released its own media player on the mobile side. It's pretty slick, but it's missing a few features that keep it from being the best media player (though I still recommend the desktop syncing app, which will work with your phone regardless of which media player you're running on the device).

2. Best Music/Video Player: TuneWiki

TuneWiki Image

In addition to the media player that comes preloaded on your phone, the Android Market has many apps to enhance your listening or viewing experience. TuneWiki is the best of them, offering an intuitive interface for your music library, access to Internet radio through SHOUTcast or Last.fm, lyrics search, music maps, Top 50, playlists, and more. To make your experience more social, you can share your tastes and status via Blip, Twitter, or Facebook.

3. Best Remote Control: Gmote

Gmote Image

Gmote turns your Android phone into a remote control for the media library on your computer. Once you've installed the Gmote server on your computer (a small download with an easy setup), just launch the app from your phone, enter your password, and immediately gain wireless access to iTunes, your photo library, and any other folders you define. Then, use Gmote's on-screen navigation to play tracks on your computer. As of the 2.0 release, you can even stream songs through your phone's speaker.

4. Best Personalized Radio: Pandora

Pandora Image

Pandora is your own personalized radio, playing just the kind of songs you're interested in and helping you find new artists with similar styles. Create a unique station for each of your distinct musical tastes and tune in to whatever you're in the mood for. The more you listen, the better Pandora learns what you really like, providing even more targeted suggestions. If you're already a Pandora user, just log in to get immediate access to your existing personal stations.

Honorable mention: Last.fm

Last.fm is a very close second to Pandora, and it connects with a variety of other media players and apps through plug-ins. In fact, you'll find plenty of users who swear by Last.fm over Pandora, making the decision of which app to use largely a result of personal preference or which online service you might already use.

5. Best Streaming Radio: Rhapsody

Rhapsody Image

Pandora and Last.fm are great (and free) if you know generally what you're in the mood for. But if you know exactly what you want and you want it now, go with the on-demand streaming music service offered by Rhapsody. For a monthly subscription, you'll get immediate access to millions of songs to match your whim. Rather than buying tracks or albums to remain in your collection permanently, Rhapsody gives you all the tunes you want, right now.

6. Best Podcast Player: Listen

Listen Image

If you have a standing engagement with audio programs online, there's no need to hunt around for new episodes or launch them from a link in an RSS reader. Let Google's Listen podcast manager find, organize, and stream all of your favorites in one place. Search for new programs, subscribe to channels, and download fresh shows as they're available. When you get behind on episodes, create a queue to remind you of the stuff you want to catch up on when you have some downtime.

7. Best Audiobook Player: Audible

Audible Image

Most music players aren't really designed to work well with audiobooks, which you want to bookmark, listen to in chapters, pick up where you left off, etc. Not only that, but even attempts at developing audiobooks have been extremely limited by their inability to play proprietary files from the most popular provider of audiobooks. Finally, Audible has released its Android app as an open and free beta (Audible account required, obviously), which gets the audiobook experience right.

8. Best App for Watching TV: SPB TV

SPB-TV

If watching TV in your doctor's waiting room doesn't cut it, give this app a try. SPB TV allows you to take your own TV programs wherever you go. The free "lite" version is shown here, but you’ll probably want to splurge for the pay version ($9.95) to get more channels. There's even a picture-in-picture feature, which is handy if you're not sure which program to watch. Obviously, this isn't a full cable-like TV in your pocket — it has limitations, including battery life and bandwidth constraints. But it still beats watching airport TV.

Honorable Mention: TV.com

If you're looking for shows offered by the CBS-owned TV.com, this app presents plenty of clips and a number of full-length episodes from CBS (including CBS News and CBS Sports), CW, Showtime, CNET, and more. Despite these somewhat limited options, TV.com still has a better selection of quality programming than any other mobile TV app for Android, and everything is presented on a smooth and watchable interface.

9. Best E-book Reader: Aldiko

Aldiko Image

Who needs another expensive device dedicated to just reading books when you already have your Android phone with you? Aldiko gets mobile book reading right, with an eye-pleasing, customizable format (by font, color, margins, etc.). You can curl up with your favorite books or take them on the go. Aldiko will read any ePub file, which you can import yourself or download through Aldiko's online catalog.

10. Best Magazine Reader: Issuu Mobile

Issuu Image

Your e-book reader handles your novels and nonfiction books perfectly, but it's useless with the shorter-form and more ephemeral stuff of magazines and newspapers. For that, Issuu Mobile is a good start, offering a great interface for reading magazines, getting news feeds, organizing a periodical library, and managing subscriptions. Its selection is somewhat limited at the moment, but the technology is developed well enough that it could eventually become your go-to digital newsstand.

For more Mobile coverage:

More Android resources from Mashable:

- 10 Fun Casual Games for Android Phones
- 8 Best Android Apps for Photo Editing
- HOW TO: Turn Your Android Phone Into a Killer MP3 Player
- 5 Amazing Android Apps for Baseball Fans
- 6 Free Android Apps That Will Make You Drop Your iPhone

Reviews: Android, Android Market, BLIP, Facebook, Internet, Last.fm, Pandora, Rhapsody, Twitter, iTunes

More About: android, Android apps, apps, e-books, entertainment, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, Mobile Lists, multimedia, music, video

Landon Donovan Goal Kicks Off Dramatic News Day [VIDEO]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 12:37 PM PDT


As we reported earlier, today saw the second highest traffic spike in Internet history on the heels of the United States beating Algeria in dramatic fashion to advance to the round of 16 in the World Cup.

It’s also been an incredible day elsewhere in sports and current events, featuring another key game at the World Cup between England and Slovenia, the world’s longest tennis match — ever — being played out at Wimbledon, and the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as U.S. commander in Afghanistan.

The moment that seems to be getting the most buzz, however, continues to be Landon Donovan’s goal in the 91st minute of action in the U.S. match, in a video that will no doubt be shared millions of times before all is said and done.

There appears to be a typical copyright and takedown war going on at YouTube, but this clip from ESPN captures the moment for those of you that haven’t seen it yet (or want to relive it, many many times). Enjoy:

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Russian President Visits Twitter Headquarters, Sends First Tweet

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 12:19 PM PDT


Yet another world leader has recognized the power of Twitter. Recently, President Medvedev stopped by Twitter’s headquarters for a quick visit and his first tweet via @KremlinRussia.

The president’s first tweet was simple and to the point: “Hello! I’m on Twitter and it’s my first message.” He then went on to compose two more tweets, commenting on how beautiful San Francisco is and showing us a view from his hotel. You can check them out, in the original Russian, below.

In a blog post on the subject, Co-founder Biz Stone wrote that 60% of Twitter users are from outside the U.S., adding: “Recognizing the power of new technology and learning to leverage it to advance humanity in positive and meaningful ways is a powerful display of leadership.”

Lately, more and more political leaders have been getting in on the Twitter trend — most notably President Hugo Chavez, who once decried Twitter as a “tool of terror.” U.S. President Barack Obama also got his share of press when he composed his first real tweet for the American Red Cross to help disaster recovery efforts in Haiti — previously, he had said he was too clumsy for the microblogging tool.

Still, many a political leader has a cadre of staffers to head up their accounts — as we mentioned before, President Obama isn’t a frequent tweeter (remember when he was on the lookout for a Twitterer?) and President Chavez has a team of 200 tweeting for him. We wonder how often President Medvedev will take the time to tweet.

[img credit: Twitter]

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Want a White iPhone 4? Hold on Until July

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 11:47 AM PDT


The iPhone 4 launch is upon us and some lucky customers already have the new devices in their hands. But one question has been lingering: Where is the white iPhone 4?

Apple has just released a statement that will surely disappoint anyone who was hoping to get a snow-colored unit this weekend: You’ll have to wait until mid-July.

Apple claims that that the white models have proven “more challenging to manufacture than expected” and, as a result, will not ship until the second half of July. In Apple-speak, the second half could easily mean July 16 or July 31 — the point is that the devices aren’t going to be available until next month.

Here’s Apple’s complete statement:

“White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected.”

If you must have a white smartphone and just can’t wait for the iPhone 4, remember that the HTC EVO 4G will be available in white around the same time as the white iPhone 4 models are expected to appear.

One other note: If you think you can just get a black iPhone 4 and then exchange it for a white model when those are released, be sure to check the return policy for your state. Apple/AT&T’s return policy is 14 days, unless you live in a state like California, where cellphone return policies are set at 30 days. If you do want to go that route, consider grabbing a black iPhone sometime in the first week of July rather than launch day.

Of course, if you’re like us, there’s no way you’re going to wait another three weeks or more for a white iPhone 4. After all, there’s always ColorWare.

Will you wait for the white models to ship before buying an iPhone 4?

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HOW TO: Help New Users Stay Engaged on Twitter

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 11:45 AM PDT

Bing Logo

This Twitter Trends Series is supported by Bing.™ Check out the Bing Local Twitter Trends Map on Mashable.

Twitter Fade ImageOne of Twitter’s most disappointing trends is its lack of solid user retention.

If you’re a Twitter evangelist, the scenario is probably familiar. You explain to friends and family how much value and fun can be had in 140 characters. They sign up, test the waters for a few days, derive no use value, and promptly abandon their accounts.

To remedy this, we’ve outlined the common missteps of new users and some ways you can help prevent them from becoming part of the Twitter quitter trend.

They Only Follow People They Know

Twitter List Image

This is probably the most common reason why new users lose interest, and it stems from a division in social web culture.

At this moment, the standard bearer for social networking is Facebook, and it’s generally a culture of in-person acquaintances: Classmates, personal friends, family, co-workers, and the like. We friend on Facebook with a level of trust, and usually reject requests from strangers as “spam” or “stalking.”

Socializers jumping into Twitter for the first time may be wary of following or engaging with people they don’t know. Consequently, they end up with a feed of 10-15 in-person friends who are likely facing the same issue, and tweet infrequently, if at all. A “dead” feed like this won’t bring new users back.

New User Advice: Start by following people you know, and build your feed by following people that they converse with regularly. Ask your more established friends on Twitter to “introduce” you to new people. There’s no better way to become part of a Twitter community. Following people at random, for the most part, useless and unreciprocated.

They Only Follow Brands and Celebrities

William Shatner Tweet

Yes, Oprah and Starbucks are on Twitter. But that doesn’t mean their feeds will be interesting to you. Most accounts with thousands (and even millions) of followers cannot carry on real conversations with every fan. So while a feed full of celebs and retailers may provide some entertainment and the occasional discount code, it doesn’t tap the real value of Twitter. Without conversation, Twitter is boring, and thus highly quittable.

New User Advice: Follow a few high profile accounts that provide real value to you in the form of news and entertainment. If you’d still like to keep tabs on a laundry list of celebrities and brands, try organizing them in Twitter Lists. Reserve the rest of your follows for “real people.”

They’re Not Having Conversations

Reccommendation Tweet Image

Interacting with people on Twitter are not the same as interactions on other social networks, like Facebook. If you post a photo on Facebook, the people who already know you will likely comment, tag, and share it.

It’s a different story with Twitter, because when you start out on Twitter, nobody knows you. Expecting that people will follow, reply, and retweet your updates simply because you exist will set you on the path straight to Quitsville. Twitter is not just a broadcast channel. Real relationships must be earned.

New User Advice: Think of Twitter as a cocktail party where you know a few attendees, but most are strangers. You wouldn’t stand in the corner and shout, “I’m very interesting!” You’d start with your existing friends, and gradually work the room through conversation. On the plus side, small talk is minimal at 140 characters.

They Think They Have Nothing Interesting to Say

Some of the most interesting people on Twitter are those who aren’t shilling a blog or product, or aren’t striving to be “web famous.” They simply converse with real people about everyday topics.

New User Advice: Be yourself. If you have nothing interesting to say in real life, then you have more to worry about than deciding what to tweet.

They’re Not Mobile

Twitter for iPhone Image

If you’re not using Twitter on your mobile device (via app, mobile web, text message, or any combination), it may be difficult to really make it part of your lifestyle.

With rare exceptions, nothing really interesting happens at your desk. It’s when you’re out with friends, exploring, commuting, shopping, and dining that tweet-worthy experiences happen.

New User Advice: If you use an iPhone, Android device, or BlackBerry, there are plenty of Twitter apps to choose from. If you’re not on a smartphone, you can still tweet via text message.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Twitter is not for everyone. Many have no interest in connecting and sharing with new people, and that’s perfectly fine. Communities based on existing connections (like LinkedIn and Facebook) are extremely valuable and continue to thrive.

Twitter must be experienced to be understood. And a bad experience can easily lead to misunderstanding. If you know someone who would really enjoy Twitter, help them overcome that initial hurdle of adoption. 200 followers later, they’ll thank you for it.

This Twitter Trends Series is supported by Bing.™ Check out the Bing Local Twitter Trends Map on Mashable.

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Want to Be First to Get the iPhone 4? Rent This Guy’s Tent [PICS]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 11:23 AM PDT


We have to hand it to this guy — he’s got a clever plan for making some extra income off of the iPhone 4’s launch.

Earlier today, I decided to drop in on the iPhone 4 line outside Apple’s flagship store in San Francisco. There are already a few people lined up, anxiously waiting to be one of the first to get their hands on the iPhone 4 (even though so many people have received their phones early that it kind of kills the anticipation). You can expect the line to quickly grow as we approach Thursday morning.

That’s where Chris Bank comes in. He secured the first spot in the iPhone 4 line, but he already has eight iPhones. So he decided to rent out his tent on Airbnb. For “just” $300, you can be the first person to get your hands on an iPhone from the San Francisco store.

While nobody has rented the tent yet, you’ve got to believe that some busy businessperson would be willing to pay a few hundred bucks to cut to the front of the line. At the very least, it’s getting Chris some attention.

Be sure to tune into Mashable’s Apple channel early tomorrow morning for complete coverage of the iPhone 4’s launch.

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Are You a Comments Troll?

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 10:30 AM PDT


For the most part, Mashable’s commenters are tech-savvy and full of wit, but we’re well aware of the lure some Internet lurkers feel when to comes to entering the realm of trolldom. When a story’s subject/author/factual errors/typeface sends one into a fit of rage, it can be hard to hold back one’s ire.

Last week, The Boston Globe’s Neil Swidey wrote a rather intriguing story on the subject, even tracking down and profiling a few real-life trolls (it’s lengthy, but worth a read). And, inspired in part by said story — as well as the comments sections of many a favorite website — my Stuff Hipsters Hate co-writer Andrea Bartz and I chose to delve into this subject in our most recent Netiquette column for CNN.

Check out the top of the piece here, and then head over to CNN to see the rest!

So you’re surfing along on your favorite website when you see something that gets your plasma boiling — so much so that that pulsating vein above your eye is about to burst.

The cause of this Web-induced stress could be an opinion that just doesn’t jibe with yours. It could be that author’s pompous head shot. Either way, your twitching fingers scroll to the bottom of the page — past whatever useless garbage you have just consumed. You’re going to the comments section — that oh-so democratic zone of the internet.

But be careful, impassioned Interneteur — at this very moment you have the potential to transform from a perfectly pleasant person into that most loathed and feared Web dweller: the troll.
While you should feel entitled to join the discussion, and while we’ve all “trolled out” at one point or another (the anonymity of the ‘net certainly lends itself to oozing venom, like a snake doing battle with a mongoose), it’s best to pause before pressing “post.”

Ask yourself: Are you contributing to the online dialogue or just grunting unintelligibly?


Check out the column at CNN.com >>

image courtesy of iStockphoto, morozena

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USA vs Algeria World Cup Match Could Set New Internet Traffic Record

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 09:30 AM PDT


For continuous World Cup coverage, check out Mashable’s 2010 World Cup Hub, which will be updated throughout the games.

The dramatic ending to the World Cup match between the USA and Algeria could set a new record for Internet traffic.

We've been watching Akamai's Net Usage Index, which tracks visitors per minute on more than 100 of the major news sites in Akamai’s network. In the minutes following Landon Donovan's game winning goal in the 91st minute of action (which sent the U.S. to the round of 16), traffic spiked to 11.2 million visitors per minute, which moves the event past the 2008 presidential election as the second highest traffic spike of all-time.

Today's number was also likely pushed significantly higher because England and Slovenia were also playing a suspenseful World Cup match at the same time. The plethora of World Cup breaking news briefly knocked Yahoo Sports offline and also caused issues at Twitter –- though the latter has been somewhat of a regular occurrence during the World Cup (on a related note, tweets containing “USA” spiked to 6% of total tweet volume).

The overall traffic record was set earlier this month during the first day of World Cup action, where traffic exceeded 12 million visitors per minute. We'll wait and see what the final numbers are from Akamai, but for the moment, it looks like Donovan's goal will go down in Internet history at least as a solid number two.

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Google and Motorola Unveil the New Droid [LIVE]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 09:27 AM PDT


The iPhone 4 arrives in stores tomorrow, but today belongs to the Droid.

In just a few minutes, Verizon, Google and Motorola execs will gather in San Francisco to unveil the latest, greatest version of the Droid: the Droid X.

The original Droid has been something of a flagship for the Android-powered fleet of smartphones on the market. It singlehandedly proved that non-Apple devices could be commercially successful, and Android devices in general have sold well in its wake. In fact, several Android phones are so popular that manufacturers can’t keep up with the demand.

Opening remarks will begin soon at this press event. Stay tuned, and we will update this post as we get details and pictures of the new Droid.

10:54 a.m.: The device will be only available for U.S. Verizon customers. Sorry, Canada!

Tethering will be available in addition to WiFi support.

10:49 a.m.: Q&A has started. Motoblur on the Droid X is altered and “hidden from the consumer.” The device will ship with Android 2.1 with Froyo coming soon. The device will be available from retail outlets such as Best Buy as well as Verizon stores.

10:46 a.m.: The Droid X ships July 15 and will be available for $199.99. Users will pay $29.99 for smartphone service and $20 additional for mobile hotspot. Upgrades will be available immediately on launch.

10:45 a.m.: “Flash is the web’s most pervasive software,” says Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen. Flash 10.1 is a big part of the device’s software and applications. Froyo and better Flash support will arrive later this summer, both for the Droid X and the original Droid.

10:40 a.m.: According to Andy Rubin, at Google I/O in May, there were 100,000 Android phones sold every day. As of today, that number has increased to 160,000. Also, Froyo (Android 2.2) is being open-sourced today.

10:38 a.m.: Let’s talk greening: The device’s components are PVC-free, bromine-free, mercury-free and arsenic-free, and its packaging is 65% recycled materials.

10:36 a.m.: The virtual keyboard will feature Swype and it will be multitouch, too. “I’m pretty excited about what Swype can do for us,” said Jha, who is particularly enthisiastic about this software. Three mics ensure ambient noise cancellation — both for calls and for shooting video.

10:32 a.m.: Motorola’s CEO Sanjay Jha introduced a video showing some of Droid X’s capabilities. Eight megapixel camera, 16:9 display, HDMI playback, Flash 10, WiFI hotspot for up to five devices, up to 40GB memory (8 GB on the phone and 16 GB on a card, to start), 1Ghz processor.

10:26 a.m.: The Droid X does, indeed, feature a 4.3-inch screen, HD video capturing and playback. “It screams ‘video,’” says one exec. A Blockbuster app will come preloaded, users can rent or buy and view feature films and other content, both on their mobiles and elsewhere. NFL’s mobile app will be used to live stream video from games, as well — both full games and snippets when your team is in the “red zone” and about to score a touchdown.

10:24 a.m.: “It’s not one product, one network, one application… it’s the sum of it all. What’s happening is that people are thinking mobile first. The most powerful services are now being delivered on mobile devices.” –Google CEO Eric Schmidt

10:21 a.m.: Google CEO Eric Schmidt has joined the panel, which also features Google’s Andy Rubin, Motorola’s CEO Sanjay Jha and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, among others.

10:07 a.m.: The Verizon team is a bit delayed, so let’s review what we already know about the Droid X. It’s a 4.3-inch handset that will capture 720p video. It runs Android 2.1 with a (perhaps new or updated) version of Motoblur and packs a 1GHz ARMv7 processor. It won’t have a physical keyboard, but it comes preloaded with Swype for quicker text entry. And it looks like this:

9:55 a.m.: Special guests from Motorola, Google, Verizon and Adobe will be present today. We won’t just be listening to speakers, though — we’ll also get some hands-on demos and a Droid to take home and review for 30 days.

9:40 a.m.: Press are trickling in. This event is intimate bordering on tiny, but most of the major tech blogs and publications are represented. All the branding in the room suggests that we will be previewing the Droid X today, not the Droid 2.

For more Mobile coverage:

Reviews: Android, Facebook, Google, Twitter

More About: android, droid, droid 2, droid x, Google, Motorola

Why Food Bloggers Are Here to Stay

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 09:16 AM PDT

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Jenny An is a Chicago-based writer with a focus on popular culture, food and travel. Her work has appeared in Time Out Chicago and VenusZine.

Food blogs and bloggers have become a new staple of online food writing. They are everywhere, but bloggers themselves are still struggling to gain legitimacy. From photo-blogs like Tastespotting.com, with more than 10,000 contributors, to mass-aggregating food-review sites like Yelp, today's food bloggers cover everything from a home-cooked lentil soup to three-star Michelin restaurants.

Despite the recent interest in food writing, and food shows like Top Chef, food bloggers have had a hard time earning the same respect as their print-publication counter-parts. If you think Julie and Julia is all there is to food blogging, keep reading for a brief breakdown of food blogging's challenges, obstacles and successes.

Rising Influence

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Blogs have gained more credibility and visibility but the meteoric rise of food blogs can be credited to their sense of community. A major reason Tastespotting leads to increased blog publicity is due to the Twitter and Facebook buzz featured images receive from other bloggers, said Sarah J. Gim, co-founder and moderator of the site.
With Twitter, message boards and other points of entry, more people are documenting the food they eat, Gim added.

But as interest increases, so does competition. Words alone are no longer good enough to be involved in the conversation. "It always helps to see an image of a dish that you're describing," said Davina Baum, managing editor of Chow.com. "The descriptions are so subjective. You could read a description and imagine the flavor in your mind totally different than how the writer experienced it. With an image, you can see it and the ingredients and how they're prepared and how they're interplaying." Posts with pictures on Chow.com usually get many more hits and responses. Even renowned Chicago chef Rick Bayless, of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, sometimes Twitpics his meals.

A few high profile bloggers have parlayed their visibility into book deals, such as Former Chez Panisse Pastry Chef David Lebovitz, Pim's Pim Techamuanvivit and recently, Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen. A few more have been able to go into blogging full-time such as Gim. Still others have turned food blogging into a full-time writing career , such as Carly Fisher of Chicago Brunch Blog who now blogs for NBC Chicago.

However, these bloggers are the exception. Phil Lees, of The Last Appetite and a Wall Street Journal contributor, wrote on his site: "I briefly made a living from my blogs alone but this was because I was living in one of the world's poorest nations…”

Food Bloggers vs. Traditional Media

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While traditional media-outlets comp meals and attempt to keep the identities of their reviewers secret, that's not usually the case with food bloggers. The Wall Street Journal reported that some restaurants provided complimentary meals and hosted special events for food bloggers in order to get positive press. Publicists have long offered these freebies to the traditional media as well, but it was generally considered taboo to accept.

While not all bloggers can get discounts and comps, the few who demand these rewards can put food bloggers in a questionable light. To set an ethical standard, Brooke Burton and Leah Greenstein of SpicySaltySweet.com and FoodWoolf.com, respectively, created a Food Blog Code of Ethics to combat the image of bloggers being "unfair, highly critical, untrained and power hungry individuals empowered by anonymity."

The blog, Eater.com, has a section called Adventures in Schilling which calls out companies for questionable freebies such as when Calphalon and Williams-Sonoma offered bloggers a “food stipend" along with other gifts in exchange for coverage. The Federal Trade Commission has also made it illegal to give money or gifts (but not products) to bloggers without being transparent about it.

Conclusion

Questions continue to pop up about how "professional" a food blogger really can be. After all, some say, they don't have the ethical auspice of an established brand to hold them to standards. The truth is, established sites like Yelp, Chow and Eater are taking big steps to establish the "lowly" food blogger as an invaluable part of the food industry hierarchy. Even independent bloggers are becoming more and more important as a resource for the food hungry and curious. Bloggers might be vying for respect with established media outlets, but they are certainly here to stay.

For more Social Media coverage:

More food-related resources from Mashable:

- Smarter Food: How Social Media is Making Our Cities Tastier
- Tasty Tweets: 55+ Foodies to Follow on Twitter
- Top 15 Social Media Resources for Foodies
- 15 More Fantastic Social Media Resources for Foodies

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, gbrundin

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, iStockphoto

More About: bayless, BLOGS, chow.com, Food, food blogging, Pim, tastespotting, twitpic

Verizon Posts Droid X Teaser [PIC]

Posted: 23 Jun 2010 09:01 AM PDT


Verizon will soon be offering the Droid X and the company has updated its Droid X website with new details.

Engadget previewed the Motorola Droid X last week and the phone looks pretty fantastic. As Verizon’s website states, it has a 4.3″ screen, captures video at 720p, and even has an HDMI port so that you can view all your HD videos on your TV after filming.

We’ve been talking a lot about the iPhone 4 this week and we’re psyched about its launch, but Android fans have plenty to be excited about too, between the Droid X, the upcoming Droid 2, the recently-released HTC EVO 4G, the Samsung Captivate (also known as the Galaxy S), the HTC Aria and literally dozens of others in the pipe.

The original Motorola Droid has been the most successful Android device to date, which is one reason we’re so excited about seeing its proper successors. Big screens, high-quality video capture and lots of outputs certainly make it exciting.

We’ll be posting more throughout the day as we learn more about the new device and its release date. Let us know what you think of the Droid X in the comments.

For more Mobile coverage:

Reviews: Android, Facebook, Twitter

More About: android, droid, droid x, verizon droid
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