Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Facebook’s Founders Talk About the “Facebook Movie””

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• Facebook’s Founders Talk About the “Facebook Movie”
• Venture Capital Makes a Comeback, Takes Web Startups With It
• Facebook Breaks All Bit.ly Links, Marks Them as Abusive [UPDATED]
• Apple, iPhone 4 and the Antenna: What’s Next?
• Behind the Scenes at the “If I Can Dream” House [VIDEO]
• Facebook Redesigns Event Pages
• eBay Helps You Dress Better with New iPhone App
• Thanks to Mashable’s Socially Savvy Supporters
• The Boxee Box is Un-Boxed [VIDEO]
• How Non-Profits Can Maximize a Foursquare Account
• Join Mashable’s First Weekly #WinWeekend Sweepstakes
• Watch Steve Jobs Explain the iPhone 4 Antenna Issue
• How Hollywood Is Finally Cashing in on Web Video
• Our Favorite YouTube Videos This Week: The Love Edition
• Google Acquires Metaweb to Improve Search
• “The Other Social Network”: MySpace Gets Its Own Dramatic Trailer [Parody]
• Apple Sells 3 Million iPhone 4 Units in 3 Weeks
• Apple’s iPhone 4 Strategy: Free Cases for All
• Japanese Author Circumvents Publishers to Release New Novel on the iPad
• LIVE: Apple’s iPhone 4 Press Conference
• Why Complaining Customers Can Be Good For Your Business
• 5 Online Tools for Answering Your Small Business Questions
• 90% of Mashable Readers Think Apple Must Do Something About iPhone 4
• Justin Bieber Nabs Most-Watched YouTube Video of All Time
• Sony Pictures Advertising “The Social Network” Trailer on Twitter
• Whoopi Goldberg “Murdered” Her iPhone 4 [VIDEO]
• Reddit: We Have More Traffic Than You Think
• Queen Rania of Jordan takes to TwitVid to Promote Her Country [VIDEO]
• Droid X’s Popularity Makes This Device Hard to Find, Activate
• SaaS Startup Helps Non-Profits with Online Fundraising

Facebook’s Founders Talk About the “Facebook Movie” Posted: 16 Jul 2010 10:22 PM PDT Facebook’s co-founders Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moscovitz have both expressed some measure of disapproval where the highly anticipated film The Social Network is concerned. Moscovitz published a frank assessment of the upcoming movie tonight on a Q&A site, saying the trailers seemed “a lot more exciting” than the actual goings-on during Facebook’s earlier days. (Interesting side note: The Q&A site linked above is Quora, a startup made by several former Facebook employees. It’s a small world after all — especially in Silicon Valley.) Zuckerberg, currently Facebook’s CEO, had some negative comments about the film when he took the stage at the D conference last month, saying he wished the movie had not been made. Moscovitz wasn’t completely down on the movie; however, his mostly sarcastic comments did belabor the point that the film is anything but historically accurate — at least from his perspective. “It is interesting to see my past rewritten in a way that emphasizes things that didn’t matter,” he wrote — “things that didn’t matter” referring to a breach of contract/IP theft lawsuit brought by fellow Harvard students Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss in 2004. Calling the movie a “dramatization of history,” Moscovitz continued to write, “A lot of exciting things happened in 2004, but mostly we just worked a lot and stressed out about things; the version in the trailer seems a lot more exciting, so I’m just going to choose to remember that we drank ourselves silly and had a lot of sex with coeds.” When it comes to the film’s portrayal of Zuckerberg, Moscovitz is at once cautiously pessimistic and fawning. “The plot of the book/script unabashedly attack him, but I actually felt like a lot of his positive qualities come out truthfully in the trailer (soundtrack aside). At the end of the day, they cannot help but portray him as the driven, forward-thinking genius that he is.” Moscovitz currently heads up Asana, a Silicon Valley startup who counts a few Facebook and Google heavy-hitters among its staff. When not drinking and carousing with coeds, they build project management software. What do you think of the trailers so far? How would you feel if someone made a movie about you and your company? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Reviews: Facebook, Google More About: facebook, facebook movie, the social network, trending For more Social Media coverage: Follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Social Media channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Venture Capital Makes a Comeback, Takes Web Startups With It Posted: 16 Jul 2010 09:23 PM PDT In a continuing trend, venture capital seems to be recovering from the 2008 market dive. Q2 2010 showed a total of $7.7 billion invested across all sectors — the largest amount since the fall of 2008. And although we’ve been seeing a lot of investors paying attention to later-stage companies, this trend doesn’t apply across the board for web startups. A report released tonight from Dow Jones shows the Consumer Information Services sector — a web-heavy vertical that includes many of the social media startups that consistently make headlines on Mashable — is showing signs of recovery, even in seed and early-stage deals. In most venture capital deals, trends favor more mature companies. Looking at all sectors, not just IT and the web, late-stage deals make up 44% of Q4 deals, a 5% YOY increase, while early-stage investments in startups were down to 32% from 35% in Q2 2009. However, taking a look at VC deals for web-based startups, a Dow Jones rep said, “Investors are still very interested in new web companies.” Consumer-facing web startups showed a large number of early-stage deals; around 57% of this sector’s deals went to early-stage companies, a 4% increase YOY. Online communities in particular are showing a heavy concentration of activity. Information technology overall is responsible for the largest number of deals this quarter. The biggest hit in this sector is software. In IT, companies raised a total of $1.9 billion in 231 deals. This is a YOY increase from 208 deals raising $1.6 billion in Q2 2009. This year, software companies accounted for 156 deals and $908 million — 24 deals and about $150 million more than in Q2 2009. These number are consistent with the modest rise we saw in venture capital in Q1 2010, as well, with tech investments trending toward smaller dollar amounts over a larger number of deals. What do you think: Is it time for web startups to start feeling cautiously optimistic about the tech side of the economy and their chances of snagging venture capital deals? Reviews: Mashable More About: Dow Jones, investment, startups, vc, venture capital, web startups For more Business coverage: Follow Mashable Business on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Business channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Facebook Breaks All Bit.ly Links, Marks Them as Abusive [UPDATED] Posted: 16 Jul 2010 08:26 PM PDT Don’t try to use Bit.ly links on Facebook; they have been marked by the world’s largest social network as abusive, leading to dead end pages and frustrated users. Posting Bit.ly links on Facebook is currently impossible. If you attempt to share a link with your network, you are presented with the following message: “This message contains blocked content that has previously been flagged as abusive or spammy. Let us know if you think this is an error.” Existing Bit.ly links are also affected. If you attempt to click on a Bit.ly link, you will be led to a Facebook abuse page (screenshot above) stating that Facebook users have reported the link as abusive. Bit.ly is the world’s most popular URL shortener, so this problem likely affects millions of links all across Facebook. It’s unlikely the world’s largest social network would block these links purposely. Instead, it seems that Facebook’s algorithms have marked all links from the Bit.ly domain as dangerous and abusive. We’ve reported the issue to Facebook and requested more details. We’ll update you as more information becomes available. Update: Bit.ly links are working properly again. We haven’t yet heard from Facebook as to what might have caused these links’ being blocked in the first place. [hat tip to @Mazy] Reviews: Facebook More About: bit.ly, facebook, trending For more Social Media coverage: Follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Social Media channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Apple, iPhone 4 and the Antenna: What’s Next? Posted: 16 Jul 2010 06:35 PM PDT The Social Analyst is a weekly column by Mashable Co-Editor Ben Parr, where he digs into social media trends and how they are affecting companies in the space. Now that the iPhone 4 press conference has wrapped up and we’re all going to get free iPhone cases, it’s time to decompress and look at the big picture for Apple and the iPhone 4. In the nearly 90-minute presentation and Q&A, Steve Jobs provided a compelling and mostly frank defense of his company’s device, which he said is “perhaps the best product we have ever built.” He admitted that there was a problem but put it in the context of other competitive smartphones, which he said have similar issues. He addressed the concerns of unhappy customers with an offer of free cases and an option for users to return their iPhones. Above all, he admitted that Apple “is not perfect.” Was it enough to quiet the critics, though? What’s next for the world’s most valuable technology company and its crown jewel? The Storm Has Passed On Wednesday, I wrote a post entitled What Apple Must Do to Stop the Bleeding. In it, I provided five suggestions for recovering from this most recent PR nightmare: 1. Acknowledge That the Antenna Problem Is Real 2. Go into the Technical Details 3. Roll Out the Software Update 4. Make the Bumpers Free 5. No Matter What, Don't Issue an iPhone 4 Recall Apple implemented all of these things to a reasonable degree. It acknowledged that the antenna problem is real, and the company even created a website detailing the specific issues. It went into specific data on dropped calls, user complaints and attenuation. It rolled out iOS 4.0.1. It made the bumpers free. And finally, it avoided a costly recall. Yes, Jobs dodged an apology to unhappy customers. Yes, Apple kept on pointing to the antenna issue as an industry-wide one. However, Apple’s actions are likely more than enough for the vast majority of its customers. The rest will either get a free case or return their mobile devices. By addressing the media, Apple has effectively weathered this storm. The worst is behind them. But the Damage Is Done Apple didn’t come out of this unscathed, though. They had to take a beating from the media first. It doesn’t matter whether “antennagate” was overblown or not anymore: The damage has been done. 1. There will be financial damage (but not much). The free cases, free bumpers and iPhone returns will cost the company some revenue. However, we predict that the damage will be minimal in the face of overall profits. Expect record quarters — just not as high as they could have potentially been. 2. Apple is no longer perfect. That’s not to say that they ever were, but most people blamed AT&T for many of the iPhone’s problems rather than blaming the Apple team. Now, the door is open to criticism of Apple and its future products after Jobs’ admission of imperfection. 3. Future products will undergo more scrutiny. The media is just going to be more critical of Apple, at least for a while. Consumers will likely remember “antennagate” when they purchase their next iPhone or iPad, and this episode might make them more cautious when they consider buying their next Apple product. What’s Next? Apple is moving on from this fiasco. It’s tough to tell now whether the antenna issues and resulting PR problems will be a quickly healing scratch or a long-lasting scar on Apple’s public face, but at least for now the company will turn its attention toward new products. The media will be on the lookout for the next opening though — and there will be one. When this happens again, many people — media moguls and end users alike — will be less likely to look past Apple’s imperfections. However, consumers are almost certain to stay loyal to Apple. The explanation will be satisfactory to the vast majority of iPhone owners. Plus, who wants to give up their Retina Display and iPhone apps? I love Android (I own a Droid and an iPhone 4), but it doesn’t provide the iPhone experience. Anyone who’s become hooked on Apple products isn’t going to ditch them over “antennagate.” The only thing Apple can is do is keep building products that enthrall millions of customers worldwide as users, media and Apple’s competitors watch ever more closely from the sidelines. Oh, and Android will continue to gain ground, providing more pressure on Apple to get as close to perfection as possible with its next few product launches. Reviews: Android More About: antenna, Antennagate, apple, Column, iOS, iphone, iphone 4, iphone 4 antenna issues, The Social Analyst For more Apple coverage: Follow Mashable Apple on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Apple channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Behind the Scenes at the “If I Can Dream” House [VIDEO] Posted: 16 Jul 2010 05:19 PM PDT We had a chance to visit the Dream House in Los Angeles that the cast of Simon Fuller’s Hulu reality show If I Can Dream calls home. We got a sneak peak at the significant technology powering the show as well as a tour of the house from the talent themselves. We’ve been following the If I Can Dream project since its inception as the first direct-to-Hulu original series. The show, helmed by the creator of American Idol, follows the lives of a group of young Hollywood hopefuls as they navigate the trials and tribulations of the entertainment industry. Earlier, we got a chance to see firsthand how the series is put together at the show’s DREAM Studio command center; we also got to meet the cast and find out a bit about what it’s like to live a life online and on camera 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Check out the video below for a window into the technology integrated into both the Dream House (including the Twitter TV!) as well as the Ford Fiesta used by the cast to whisk them off to rehearsals, acting classes, gigs, photo shoots and even the occasional date. Reviews: Hulu More About: 19 entertainment, american idol, Hollywood, hulu, If I Can Dream, IICD, Simon Fuller, technology, television, tv, twitter For more Entertainment coverage: Follow Mashable Entertainment on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Entertainment channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Facebook Redesigns Event Pages Posted: 16 Jul 2010 04:24 PM PDT Facebook has rolled out a redesign of its Events Pages. The company has yet to publicly announce the new design, but the alterations are drastic enough that any user who visits an Event Page would immediately notice the changes. The new Facebook Event Pages now show attendee information on the left-hand side of the page, position the event RSVP options as buttons in the upper right-hand corner, include the standard Facebook Publisher and make the Event Page feed appear more prominent (as seen above). Essentially, the Event Pages are styled to more closely mirror the design of profiles and other Pages. The makeover doesn’t appear to include any additional functionality, but the redesign was a much needed facelift to the aged look of the previous Event Pages. We imagine that the motivation for the new design was simply to standardize the Facebook look across the site. Reviews: Facebook, pages More About: facebook, facebook event pages For more Social Media coverage: Follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Social Media channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

eBay Helps You Dress Better with New iPhone App Posted: 16 Jul 2010 02:58 PM PDT eBay is on a mission to make itself an online destination for fashion-conscious shoppers, first with the launch of fashion.ebay.com in April, and furthered today by the launch of its eBay Fashion iPhone app. As one would expect, the app [iTunes link] gives users access to eBay’s listings in the fashion category, as well as the “Fashion Vault,” eBay’s version of Gilt Groupe, a site that offers a mix of designer luxury goods for up to 70% off retail prices beginning at noon ET every weekday (incidentally, one of Gilt Groupe’s founders was a former eBay employee). My favorite feature is the Closet. Users can store their favorite items here, and then drag, drop and resize them to create outfit montages on a white background or a photo. The feature is similar to the one Yoox created for its tenth anniversary campaign. You can share your finished outfits via e-mail but not, surprisingly, with your social networks. In sum, it’s a very sensible app. It has features that offer real value to eBay’s fashion shoppers, without treading on the gimmicky — I would have disliked, for instance, an augmented reality feature that lets you “try on” items (they never line up properly), or a series of redundant videos about fall trends. I wouldn’t mind, however, a video or two with tips about how to score amazing designer deals on eBay — there are a lot of tricks to the search process, and fashion bloggers are fond of giving advice about the topic. Do you shop for clothing or accessories on eBay? What other features would you like to see in the mobile app? Video Preview More About: ebay, ebay fashion, fashion, iphone app, shopping For more Mobile coverage: Follow Mashable Mobile on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Mobile channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Thanks to Mashable’s Socially Savvy Supporters Posted: 16 Jul 2010 02:55 PM PDT Thanks to this week's advertisers and partners for enabling us to bring you the latest social media news and resources. Mashable’s sponsors are as social media savvy as our readers! Advertise with us and get noticed. Mashable is seeking out site sponsors for our large, diverse audience — social media users, venture capitalists, early adopters, developers, bloggers and many more. You’ll receive hundreds of thousands of views a day in addition to weekly recognition as part of our “thank you” to our premium sponsors. Are you interested? Contact us for more information and to receive our media kit and rate card. This week, our valued sponsors are Trada, bmi, IGLOO, Webtrends Mobile Analytics, IDG, Yield Software, Clickatell, Microsoft BizSpark, MailChimp, MaxCDN and Eventbrite. Trada is the first and only crowdsourced paid search marketplace, allowing businesses and advertising agencies to run search marketing campaigns on Google, Yahoo and Bing by leveraging the skills of hundreds of the world's best PPC experts. Built for businesses spending between $5,000 and $50,000 per month in paid search, Trada eliminates the hassle and cost of managing a paid-search campaign in-house for time strapped business owners and marketers. bmi is the second largest airline at London Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest and best-connected international airports. From our Heathrow hub we operate services in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. bmi’s global reach is further extended by being a member of Star Alliance, a grouping of 27 International airlines offering customers a worldwide network and a smooth integrated travel experience. Overall, Star Alliance offers more than 21,050 daily flights to 1,167 destinations in 181 countries. bmi is committed to using technology such as E-ticketing, Online Booking, Self Check-in at the airport and via the internet, helping to smooth and speed up the pre-flight experience. This, combined with streamlined behind-the-scenes processes and procedures, means the airline can boast one of the best punctuality records of any airline operating in the UK. bmi is part of the Lufthansa family of airlines, bringing us closer and even stronger partnerships with some of Europe’s major carriers. Check out their ongoing promotion. IGLOO is a social software company that builds online communities for business. Uniting content management, collaboration and knowledge sharing tools within one secure social networking platform, IGLOO enables organizations to overcome the barriers to communication and collaboration that emerge because of size. Whether the obstacles are organizational or geographic, a more open and connected business improves employee productivity (Workplace Communities) and helps to foster better relationships with customers, partners and suppliers (Marketplace Communities). Learn more about how IGLOO is socializing the workplace and helping organizations build successful online communities through the IGLOO Social Media Playbook. Webtrends Mobile Analytics lets you to monitor the adoption and usage of your mobile apps and mobile sites. It provides near limitless customization in terms of the data gathered and depth of analysis across iPhone, Android and Blackberry. And the data resides side-by-side with your website analytics. To keep up with Webtrends Mobile, add our blog to your RSS reader. IDG’s Strategic Marketing Services group works with tech marketers to deliver services that include integrated multimedia marketing programs, program consulting and IDG Amplify social media advertising. Yield Software's Yield Web Marketing Suite optimizes paid search (PPC) natural search (SEO) and landing pages, all in one easy-to-use Web-based system. A simple, intuitive interface together with sophisticated algorithms work seamlessly to optimize SEM campaigns every minute of every day, enabling growing businesses and their agencies to lower costs, improve performance and increase profitability. Yield also offers a free SEO Analyzer, which delivers a report covering how well a site is optimized and suggestions for improvement. Yield Software—Web Marketing Made Easy. Clickatell offers mobile social networks the opportunity to measure their return on investment. Not only does Clickatell offer an Interactive Campaign Manager tool that allows you to monitor and intervene in your customer campaigns in real time, it also generates and manages database integration and comes with additional marketing tools. Track the delivery status of your text messages and the responses; take the guesswork out of campaigning. Your valuable messages will always be delivered as our products allow for message escalation to alternative delivery gateways. Social networks are also, through the account management package, given control over network channels and connectivity options. All necessary tasks have been automated and our central interface allows you to manage multiple connections and projects at the same time. Which leading social networking companies have chosen Clickatell as a mobile messaging partner? Read our success stories here. BizSpark is a program which offers new software businesses and entrepreneurs access to Microsoft design, development and production tools with no upfront costs for up to three years. Members can also connect with a nationwide community of Network Partners – investors, incubators, service providers and entrepreneurial organizations – who are keen to help. For more information or to connect with a Microsoft BizSpark advisor, please visit MicrosoftStartupZone.com/BizSpark. MailChimp is a powerful, easy-to-use e-mail marketing service. You design, me deliver. MaxCDN – Content Delivery Network. MaxCDN makes it easy and affordable to get maximum global performance from your site and enable your visitors to get the most out of their visit! MaxCDN offers: resistance to the Digg effect, SSL Integration, No Setup Fee, US-based customer service, No Commitments. Get 1 TeraByte for just $39.95 today! Eventbrite is an online events marketplace where tens of thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations of all sizes manage, promote and sell tickets to their events. Make your event a success on Eventbrite. Additionally, thanks to the following partners for making Mashable happen: Since 2007 W3 EDGE has assisted with creative, web development and search / social media marketing Mashable.com and its numerous projects and other web properties. Day-to-day maintenance and support is also handled by Frederick Townes and his W3 EDGE team. Rackspace is the better way to do hosting. No more worrying about web hosting uptime. No more spending your time, energy and resources trying to stay on top of things like patching, updating, monitoring, backing up data and the like. Learn why. iStockphoto offers easy, affordable inspiration with millions of safe, royalty-free photos, illustrations, video, audio and Flash® files. Using the most accurate search in the business, customers download a file at least every second from a collection of more than five million files for business, marketing and personal projects. iStockphoto started in 2000, pioneering the micropayment photography business model and has become one of the most successful and profitable user-generated content sites in the world. iStockphoto pays out approximately $1.2 million weekly in artist royalties. iStockphoto is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Getty Images. Mashable readers save 10%. Founded in 1998 as a free service, Dynamic Network Services Incorporated (Dyn Inc.) now operates two extremely reliable, “rock solid,” global DNS platforms; DynDNS.com for home/SMB users and the Dynect Platform for corporations and enterprises. As a leading provider of managed DNS services, Dyn Inc. plays a key role in keeping the Internet’s DNS infrastructure running smoothly, handling trillions of queries per day and servicing nearly four million active users. With a range of innovative solutions, from domain name and e-mail services on DynDNS.com, to failover, load balancing, traffic management and CDN balancing services with the Dynect Platform, Dyn Inc. remains committed to world class customer service and engineering excellence. Uptime is the Bottom Line. For more information about Dyn Inc., visit www.dyn.com, e-mail hello@dyn.com or call +1-603-668-4998. ConcentricSky offers web development and strategic consulting services with a focus on emerging technologies such as Social Media and iPhone Apps. From simple websites to integrated web applications, we deliver innovative solutions that exceed your expectations – not your budget. We can get your name out there. Contact us for more information about supporting Mashable’s growth and development. Alternatively, visit our advertise section for more details about: Competitive direct ad sales Sponsorship Opportunities for Events and other channels Sponsored giveaways and contests Custom ad deals and partnerships CPM-based advertising is available through our partner, Federated Media, but if you contact us directly, you’ll be entitled to exclusive unpublished discounts. Reviews: Android, Apps, Bing, Digg, Google, Mashable, blog, iStockphoto, social media

The Boxee Box is Un-Boxed [VIDEO] Posted: 16 Jul 2010 02:40 PM PDT I love Boxee, the media center with a social twist. While I’m disappointed that I won’t get to have my very own Boxee Box until later this fall, the Boxee crew has just posted a video showing off the final device. The box is small, has a unique shape that will make it easy to either hide away or fit on a component shelf and it promises to be the easiest way to bring the Boxee experience to your TV. Boxee has partnered with D-Link on the Boxee Box and D-Link will be bringing it to stores. With Google TV, a rumored Apple TV refresh, and support for online services like Netflix and Hulu Plus coming to video game consoles and other consumer electronics, the competition for the living room is much tougher than when the Boxee Box was first announced last fall. Still, Boxee has the user interface down and a growing number of content partners. We want one in our living room. What do you think of the Boxee Box? Reviews: Boxee More About: boxee, boxee box, connected tv, internet tv For more Tech coverage: Follow Mashable Tech on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Tech channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

How Non-Profits Can Maximize a Foursquare Account Posted: 16 Jul 2010 02:20 PM PDT Geoff Livingston co-founded Zoetica to focus on cause-related work, and released an award-winning book on new media Now is Gone in 2007. Foursquare isn’t just a good place to find cheap Mocha-Frappuccino’s. The social media tool is quickly allowing for new ways to benefit a range of fields, including non-profit organizations. There have been several articles on how non-profits are using Foursquare, but I wanted to find out how his location-based social network can help non-profits, so I chatted with experts about how non-profits can maximize their Foursquare accounts. “Non-profits are about awareness, they want to get as many people to understand what they are doing,” Foursquare Co-Founder Naveen Selvaduari said. “Foursquare is a great platform for that, and bringing people together, and make it easier together for them to understand.” The Standard Stuff Having a location-based non-profit will obviously help you get the most out of a Foursquare account. Make sure you claim your location and then create specials that appeal to your audience. “Location based non-profits have an easier road, since they can offer specials and other incentives on Foursquare,” said Chris Thompson, author of the About Foursquare blog. “In Cincinnati, the Taft Museum of Art uses Foursquare as a loyalty program, offering increasing rewards as guests return again and again. The fifth check-in gets a free dessert, the 10th earns a free membership and the 15th gets a free poster or museum guidebook. It's a great, easy way for the Taft to increase repeat visits.” Your account can also help you find and mobilize a base of willing volunteers and donors. “There are also other organizations like hospitals and small advocacy groups who can leverage Foursquare,” said Allyson Kapin, founder of Women Who Tech and editor of Care2’s Frogloop blog. “…Big Love Little Hearts, an organization which helps children in developing countries with heart defects, raised $25K in just 24 hours by getting a donor to contribute $1 when someone checked in or tweeted using the hashtag #100by100. The money raised was enough to pay for 12 heart surgeries.” Leverage the API Perhaps one Foursquare’s greatest assets is its unique, open API. Developers can be deployed to create new ways to check-in, allow data mining and unique application creation to visualize foot-traffic at a location. “Using our API, anyone can go in create a unique effort,” said Foursquare’s Selvadurai. “Shelley Bernstein from the Brooklyn Museum pulled data from the API to highlight the people that come to the museum and started keeping track of all the mayors. The museum announces the new mayor when it changes. They host special mayor parties, and have turned it into an event, a token ceremony.” Valeria Maltoni, author of the Conversation Agent blog suggested a few simple steps. After you capture your check-ins, follow up with mailings that can push those users to your Facebook page or website. The most important step is to then give your audience an offer immediately. Foursquare is a great tool for honoring loyalty. “I haven’t seen a ton of non-profits take to Foursquare or similar services yet but I do see opportunities,” said Ken Yarmosh, a mobile product strategist. “For the non-profit itself, what is much more interesting is leveraging the core data of these API’s—knowledge of those who’ve checked in—to mobilize those members around specific campaigns and initiatives.” Do We Need Badges? While you could certainly pay for your own badge, that can get expensive, and quickly. It might be worth your while to wait a couple months: Selvadurai said Foursquare was in the middle of revamping its badging procedures. In the end, creativity is the best asset for a non-profit. Still, badges could be a useful way to incentivize giving. “Some interesting uses for non-profits, a kind of next level up, would be tying their loyalty card program with the ability to participate in a cause when in proximity of the information and story of what that cause supports,” said Maltoni. “For example, say you’re looking at the Body Worlds exhibit at the Franklin Institute and you have the opportunity to use your check in to donate to one of three causes of health issues. Each will get a badge equivalent to part of the proceeds from the ticket sales priced appropriately for the occasion. In other words, it’s time to connect the dots.” More Foursquare resources from Mashable: - 10 Foursquare Apps You Can Use Right Now - 6 Foursquare Apps We'd Love to See - 6 Tips for Getting the Most out of Foursquare - Foursquare vs. Gowalla: Location-Based Throwdown - The Twitter of 2010: Foursquare as Next Year's Breakout Hit Reviews: Facebook, Foursquare More About: badges, donors, foursquare, naveen Selvadurai, nonprofits, taft museum For more Social Media coverage: Follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Social Media channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Join Mashable’s First Weekly #WinWeekend Sweepstakes Posted: 16 Jul 2010 01:59 PM PDT Mashable is excited to announce the #WinWeekend Weekly Sweepstakes in partnership with Live Nation. Every weekend, you can win prizes by sharing your answer to a simple question. This week we’re starting out with a $250 concert cash prize. As we move forward, the more people that participate in the sweepstakes, the bigger and better the prizes will get. How To Enter the Sweepstakes Step 1. Go to #WinWeekend Weekly Sweepstakes page at Mashable.com/win. Step 2. Sign in through Facebook or Twitter. Step 3. Answer this week’s question: “My favorite online music site is…” (One entry per person per 24 hours per weekend). Step 4. Submit and post (This shares it to the network you signed in through). #WinWeekend will begin weekly at 5:00 p.m. ET on Fridays and end Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET. At the end of the promotion period each week, a random drawing will be conducted from among all eligible entries received to select one Grand Prize weekly winner. This week’s $250 prize will be redeemable for tickets and artist merchandise at Livenation.com. At this time, the contest is limited to U.S. residents only. However, we are working on making this contest available to international participants. Thanks to Our Partner LiveNation.com Thank you to our partner, LiveNation.com, which is supporting prizes of the sweepstakes. “Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE-LYV) is the largest live entertainment company in the world, consisting of five businesses: concert promotion and venue operations, sponsorship, ticketing solutions, e-commerce and artist management. Live Nation seeks to innovate and enhance the live entertainment experience for artists and fans: before, during and after the show.” Follow them on Twitter and join them on Facebook. Reviews: Facebook, Twitter More About: contest, mashable, sweepstakes, winweekend

Watch Steve Jobs Explain the iPhone 4 Antenna Issue Posted: 16 Jul 2010 01:12 PM PDT Earlier today, Apple addressed the iPhone 4 antenna disaster at a press event held at its Cupertino campus. Less than two hours later, the company made the press conference video available for download and introduced an Apple.com page dedicated to antenna performance. Those who want to see the footage of Job’s address can now view it here. The video is accompanied by a link to Apple.com/antenna, a page that includes a wealth of information about antenna performance on the iPhone 4 and other devices. The Smartphone Antenna Performance page explains that “All antennas … can experience attenuation,” followed by photos and videos of how and why attenuation happens on the iPhone 4. Apple also has included a number of videos highlighting the attenuation (i.e., reduced signal strength) of other smartphones on the market. Obviously the Smartphone Antenna Performance page is meant to assuage the public following the numerous negative reports that have arisen since the antenna issue came to light. It also serves as an educational resource to convince customers and potential iPhone 4 buyers that yes, attenuation does exist, but it’s not as big of a deal as everyone has made it out to be. When combined with the fact that Apple is giving away bumpers and cases to iPhone 4 owners, the press conference and antenna page demonstrate that Apple is trying to turn the tide of criticism around in an aggressive fashion. More About: apple, iphone 4, iphone 4 antenna issues For more Apple coverage: Follow Mashable Apple on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Apple channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

How Hollywood Is Finally Cashing in on Web Video Posted: 16 Jul 2010 12:57 PM PDT Let’s be honest, you probably can’t call yourself a couch potato anymore. In order to get your entertainment fixes, you probably spend just as much time at your desk, or lying on your bed, or even the commuter train. The fact that you are reading this means you’re probably spending less time with your TV and more time online. Well you’re not alone. This past May, American Internet users watched nearly 34 billion videos, and the average YouTube user watched a record average of 100 videos, according to comScore’s Video Metrix service. If there was ever any doubt that an online audience existed, these numbers speak for themselves. With a hungry audience, it’s no wonder that Hollywood is getting interested and more celebrities are going head-to-head with the amateurs who so far have dominated the web video game. By teaming up with advertisers, content producers are able to side-step the all-powerful networks and the red tape of time slots, ratings, regulations and family values. Audiences are used to seeing their favorite stars on TV, billboards and in movies or magazines shilling the latest soft drink or perfume. The move to the web, however, is blurring the line between entertainment and advertisement. Branded and sponsored content is a way to monetize web video, but as its popularity as a platform grows, there are questions about how authentic or valuable content can be when it’s so closely tied to advertising. Brand or Sponsor? “Branded” and “Sponsored” are buzz words for content that has been paid for by an advertiser. The results, however, can be very different. This past June, at the Digital Content NewFront conference in New York, celebrities, producers, writers and web video creators gathered together to convince brand advertisers that paid-for content is the future of entertainment. There is money to be made. The Case for Sponsored Content Sponsored content is often seen as more authentic because even though it’s funded by a brand, the content generally has nothing to do with the product nor is the product usually endorsed. Lisa Kudrow’s web series Web Therapy is now in its third season on LStudio, an online programming site sponsored by Lexus. The largely improvised series, which features Kudrow as an abrasive therapist who counsels her patients via three minute iChat sessions, is a successful example of sponsored content, and it was picked up by Showtime to air in half-hour segments later this year. While Web Therapy is sponsored by Lexus, products rarely creep into the show, and the characters never suddenly start talking about how much they love their cars. For that reason, though it’s a distant goal for most web series, sponsored videos might find their way on to network TV in a way that branded videos probably cannot. Felicia Day’s web series, The Guild, a show about a group of online gamers, is another example of sponsored content. Best known for her role on TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Day writes, produces, and also stars as Codex, a gamer trying to live a normal life after an online friend shows up at her door. Initially financed via fan PayPal donations, the show is now going on its fourth season and is sponsored by a brand advertiser. The Guild’s fan-driven success eventually triggered advertiser interest, and since the second season, has been sponsored by Sprint, and distributed by Xbox Live and Microsoft. Despite the obvious video game connection, this isn’t a venue for Microsoft to plug its games. The show entertains a community that is likely already using its products. The goal with sponsored content isn’t to directly pitch, but for advertisers to build their brand image among a target consumer group. Problems with Branded Content On the other end of the advertiser-supported spectrum is branded content, which is contentious for many people because it blurs the line between entertainment and advertising. Branded videos are literally based on or around the brand with (usually) rampant product placement. Still, it’s a concept that, if done well, could bring audiences interesting programming. Branded videos that fail, however, come across as thinly veiled commercials. Actors and former Arrested Development co-stars, Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, have been looking for brands to partner with their sponsor-driven production company, DumbDumb. Their goal is to create and produce digital content that will match a brand’s personality and marketing objectives, while keeping to their own comedic stylings. So what does that mean exactly? If their debut episode for a web series called Dirty Shorts, that aired on College Humor and YouTube is any indication, it means producing a bland, five-minute commercial for Orbit Gum. Maybe you think it’s actually funny, and that’s a matter of personal taste, but it’s undeniably an advertisement. There is certainly money to be made from branded content. The question is whether viewers will care that they’re being marketed to so long as the content they are watching is entertaining enough. Branded content runs the risk of seeming like the bad product placement that network TV shows are often all too guilty of. A recent episode of ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars wasn’t at all coy with their product placement, as the camera panned down to a character’s phone, and she announced that she had to check her messages on her new, and (and now quite discontinued) Microsoft Kin. The placement clearly wasn’t enough to get teens to buy the device. Similarly, the Internet was buzzing a few months earlier about the numerous products featured in Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” music video, including Virgin Mobile, Miracle Whip and Polaroid. Viewers don’t like to feel like they are being tricked into watching a commercial. Transparency is key and content has to be useful to viewers. Kraft’s online campaign for Philadelphia Cream Cheese that launched in March, is an example of how brands can benefit by building online, interactive communities and fans through social media and web video. The campaign featured celebrity cookbook author and Food Network personality, Paula Deen, who encouraged “real women” to create and upload videos of themselves making their favorite recipes. The campaign was considered a huge success with more than 5,000 video submissions. Kraft’s campaign did so well because it engaged its audience through websites, Twitter, and Facebook and encouraged an authentic community to grow, rather than simply promoting their products through branded content. The Future Seamlessly integrated advertising and good programing are key if Seth Green’s new venture into reality programing is to be a success. The actor who voices the character of Chris Griffin on Family Guy, and is the creator/producer of Robot Chicken, was in early June searching for backers to fund his web series called URule. Together with Digital Broadcasting Group, an online branded entertainment production and video distribution company, Green wants to expand the scope of reality programming. Imagine a version of The Truman Show, where a live Internet audience can watch and dictate the every move of a yet-to-be cast average 20-something guy, with no job and no love life. “Adam” (as he’s called in the promo pitch) is on camera 24/7, with his fate left in the hands of a “benevolent” online audience. Green’s “social experiment” will likely hit the web later this year. Just weeks after pitching to an audience of advertisers, Green’s signed on with Ford as a sponsor. The idea of working with a sponsor is that part of the challenges the character will face on the show, and part of the things he uses, will be based on advertisers’ support, Green said backstage at the Digital Content NewFront conference after his initial pitch. With Ford on board, the willing, Truman-like participant will be featured driving around in a 2011 Ford Fiesta. “Our goal is to have really organic and integrated advertising, so that the consumer doesn’t feel like they are being sold to,” Green said. URule is a series that necessarily will exist online since it relies on a live audience, whose online voting will change the show in real-time. Green will need to work to find a way to make his sponsors seem organic. There is already one big question: If human-puppet “Adam” is an average unemployed 20-something, what is he doing driving around in a brand new Ford? While Reality TV is usually anything but a reflection of reality, it seems like URule will have to work to maintain any sort of integrity. However content producers decide to integrate their sponsors into their work, it’s clear that web series are becoming a serious money maker, and viewers should expect to see more developments from big names online. More social media resources from Mashable: - Why Social Media Is the New Source of Hollywood Talent - Why MySpace Can Still Win as a Music Destination - How Dana White Built a UFC Empire with Social Media - How Political Campaigns Are Using Social Media for Real Results - 4 Tips for Producing Quality Web Videos - Top 10 YouTube News Bloopers Image courtesy of iStockphoto, LPETTET Reviews: Facebook, Internet, Twitter, YouTube, iStockphoto More About: advertising, branded content, celebrities, college humor, Dumbdumb, entertainment, Jason Bateman, lisa kudrow, Seth Green, sponsored content, The Guild, URule, web series, web video, Will Arnett For more Web Video coverage: Follow Mashable Web Video on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Web Video channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Our Favorite YouTube Videos This Week: The Love Edition Posted: 16 Jul 2010 12:37 PM PDT Among all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune this week — folks fuming about iPhones, Biebs and Gaga clawin’ to the death, Mel Gibson… doing stuff — we thought it prudent to inject a little sunshine, hence the theme of this week’s roundup: looooooove. The Old Spice Dude started the goodwill train, and we’re here to help it pull into the happiness station… or something. I mean, not truly, ’cause a lot of the following videos are satirical and not all that uplifting, but it’s better than seeing how many crumpled pieces of paper you can get in the office trash can while lamenting your dateless Saturday night, amirite? Love ya all! Happy weekend. Scala & Kolacny Brothers - "Friday I'm In Love" (The Cure) Christina Warren: The Cure's classic "Friday I'm in Love" as covered by insanely talented Belgium teenage girls, also known as the Belgian Girls Choir Scala, who were recently featured in the trailer for The Social Network. I have super nerdy taste in music and love covers, acappella and traditional choir arrangements of modern pop songs. These girls make the Glee kids look like utter, utter amateurs. Valentine's Singing Telegram at Work Erica Swallow: Last year on Valentine's day, I sent a singing telegram to my boyfriend's office. She was dressed as a heart and had a big Broadway voice -- big hit with the co-workers, and he glowed for days. Christian Bale & Mel Gibson Phone Fight Adam Ostrow: Christian Bale and Mel Gibson phone fight, because someone else's career implosion might as well bring the Internet joy. (Warning: NSFW language) The Animal Odd Couple Amy-Mae Elliott: I'm bringing a well-known, old classic to the mix this week with this great story about the unlikely friendship between an elephant and a dog. Well worth a revisit for anyone who has seen it before, I challenge all of you to sit through all two minutes 44 seconds without welling up just a little bit. Kathy Griffin/Levi Johnston Break-Up Jenn Van Grove: Because love usually ends in heartbreak. Bear Dancing at Summer Wedding Barb Dybwad: We know YosemiteBear can thoroughly appreciate double rainbows, cage fight and even drum. But amazingly, he can also dance maniacally at weddings! Cuddly Rabbits Zachary Sniderman: This is what love looks like. I think. Oh whatever, everyone loves rabbits. ♥ Buffy & Spike - LoveGame (Lady Gaga)♥ Stephanie Marcus: Twilight is terrible on its own, but more so when you revisit the best human/vampire relationship ever: Buff and Spike. Yep, that's love.... I miss the early '00s Hipster Dating Brenna Ehrlich: This is a documentary I made about my neighborhood in Brooklyn. Enjoy. ‬ image courtesy of iStockphoto, PeskyMonkey Reviews: iStockphoto, love More About: hipsters, humor, love, music, pop culture, television, viral video, youtube For more Web Video coverage: Follow Mashable Web Video on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Web Video channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Google Acquires Metaweb to Improve Search Posted: 16 Jul 2010 12:16 PM PDT Google has acquired semantic web and real world database company Metaweb, a move the company says will help them “improve search and make the web richer and more meaningful for everyone.” We wrote about Metaweb back in 2008 when they received a significant chunk of funding to the tune of $42 million, on top of their first round of $15 million back in 2006. Since then the company has built its Freebase open database into a collection of over 12 million items from entertainment (movies, books, TV shows) to locations, celebrities, companies and other “real world” objects. Google says the plan is to preserve and further develop the database and hope to enlist other companies to make use of and contribute to the data. In addition to fleshing out Freebase, Google also hopes to leverage Metaweb to enhance its efforts with features like rich snippets and search answers, both of which aim to give back “smarter” and more immediate results to specific queries. Right now, simpler requests like “Barack Obama birthday” and “events in San Jose” can spawn relevant answers right at the top of the search results page, but Google hopes to take this initiative further by feeding in more facts about the real world from Metaweb’s data repository. For an overview of what Metaweb has been working on, check out the video below. Let us know what you think: will this acquisition help Google deliver better search results? Reviews: Freebase, Google More About: acquisitions, business, database, Google, metaweb, Search, semantic web For more Business coverage: Follow Mashable Business on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Business channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

“The Other Social Network”: MySpace Gets Its Own Dramatic Trailer [Parody] Posted: 16 Jul 2010 12:11 PM PDT Everything we know about the forthcoming film The Social Network we’ve gathered from a series of posters, teasers and trailers that hyperbolize the origins of Facebook as some sexed-up melodrama. Now VH1 has released a trailer for The Other Social Network, its own dramatic picture that promises an inside look at the life of MySpace’s Tom. Of course, The Other Social Network is merely a parody trailer, but it’s a pretty hilarious imagining of what a movie about Tom and MySpace could bring to light. Who doesn’t want to watch a flick that details the dramatic details behind MySpace’s Photobucket acquisition? Juicy stuff. Sure Tom Anderson is nothing more than a figurehead these days, but that doesn’t mean his story is any less worth telling. As the trailer fades out, Anderson exclaims, “You can’t leave me. I was your first friend! I was everybody’s first friend.” Reviews: Facebook, MySpace More About: myspace, parody, the social network, tom anderson, video For more Web Video coverage: Follow Mashable Web Video on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Web Video channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Apple Sells 3 Million iPhone 4 Units in 3 Weeks Posted: 16 Jul 2010 11:55 AM PDT At Apple’s press conference to address iPhone 4 reception issues, the company announced that it has sold 3 million iPhone 4 units to date. Although 1.7 million devices were sold in the first three days following the release, breaking the three million mark in just over three weeks is nothing short of stunning. To put all of this in perspective, remember that it took 74 days to sell the first million units of the original iPhone. The iPhone 4 is shaping up to be the fastest-selling smartphone in the company’s history. This is without a massive international push, as well; the iPhone 4 won’t hit many of its major international markets until July 30, when it will become available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The full international rollout is slated for the end of September. Check out the history of the iPhone and its sales records in this infographic. [img credit: Jorge Quinteros] Reviews: Australia More About: apple, iphone 4, iphone 4 sales For more Apple coverage: Follow Mashable Apple on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Apple channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Apple’s iPhone 4 Strategy: Free Cases for All Posted: 16 Jul 2010 11:35 AM PDT At its press conference to address the iPhone 4 reception issues, Apple laid out its response plan. The first part of the strategy was the press conference itself. Apple has acknowledged that there is a problem and that it is committed to making its customers happy. Although the data shows that the rate of dropped calls on the iPhone 4 are higher than on the iPhone 3GS, the increase in dropped calls is less than 1 per 100 calls. Apple made it clear that it is committed to making its customers happy and providing the best products it can offer. With regards to the iPhone 4, this is what the company said it was going to do: Release a Software Update to Better Report Cellular Signal — This was actually included in yesterday’s iOS update 4.0.1. The software fix does not actually improve call reception, however. Instead, it adjusts the algorithm to better report the actual signal. That should make the drop in bars when gripping a caseless iPhone appear less significant (even though the end result is exactly the same). All iPhone 4 Owners Get a Free Bumper or a Refund for Their Existing Bumper — Apple believes that part of the reason that the dropped call ratio has increased (however slightly) is because fewer users have cases for their new iPhone 4. With the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone form factor didn’t change, which meant that not only did more existing users already have a case, but more cases were available at launch. That didn’t happen with the iPhone 4, and so Apple is going to give all iPhone 4 users who purchase the phone from launch date through September 30 a a free bumper or a refund on their existing bumper. Additionally, because Apple can’t make enough bumpers to satisfy demand, customers can choose another third-party case as well. The company says it will have a form on its website late next week that customers can fill out to request their new bumper or to get a refund on their existing bumper. Unsatisfied Customers Get a Full Refund — If the new case or bumper still doesn’t solve the problem, Apple will provide a complete refund to the iPhone 4 owner. Presumably you can also just exchange your iPhone 4 for another unit. Apple will not be providing refunds for users who bought a case from a third-party manufacturer, in part because only a few of those cases are currently on the market. We’ll keep you posted as to how you can claim your free case or refund as soon as that information becomes available. In any event, Apple has made it clear that it would like to take care of its customers and to amend the situation. On a personal level, I’ve noticed that my iPhone 4 has worse reception (and this is even after the 4.0.1 software update on both devices) than my iPhone 3GS. It isn’t to the point that I’m dropping calls or having data lag, but yes, the reception is not as good. Consequently, I may take Mr. Jobs up on his offer for an exchange so that I can see if a new phone might work better for me (after all, I could just have a bad unit). Still, we think it is time to take a step back from this incident and objectively analyze the situation. Yes, there is a problem. Yes, Apple is acknowledging it. Yes, the company is taking care of its customers. The world is not coming to an end. What do you think of Apple’s response? iPhone 4 owners, are you satisfied with the offer of a free case or a full refund? More About: apple, iphone 4, trending For more Apple coverage: Follow Mashable Apple on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Apple channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Japanese Author Circumvents Publishers to Release New Novel on the iPad Posted: 16 Jul 2010 09:55 AM PDT Well-known Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami is releasing his next novel, A Singing Whale, directly to iPad owners via Apple Japan’s App Store, circumventing his traditional publisher in the process. According to The Wall Street Journal, Murakami is working with a software company to release the novel alongside video content and music by Academy Award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Pending App Store approval, A Singing Whale will be available for 1,500 yen (about $17). Apple will receive 30% of the revenue, with the remainder to be divided among Murakami, Sakamoto and the software company. Although the author advises publishers to “read it and weep,” this doesn’t mark the beginning of the end for the publishing industry — at least not yet. What Murakami is releasing is not an e-book in the traditional sense, but a full multimedia experience that can’t be replicated in print. In some respects, it’s similar to Alice for the iPad, an app that brings Lewis Caroll’s beloved Alice in Wonderland to life with full-color animations and interactive features. Furthermore, the author is also still in talks with its publisher, Kodansha, about releasing a hard copy of the novel. In other words, Murakami’s project should be hailed less as a blow against the monopoly of big publishing houses over authors and the circulation of their work, and more as a celebration of the kinds of opportunities that devices like the iPad can provide for creativity and cost-effecient distribution. Other authors are, however, dispatching more direct challenges to the traditional publishing industry model by signing deals directly with e-book retailers, rather than through their publishers. This spring, bestselling suspense novelist Stephen King released his latest work, Blockade Billy as an e-book one month before releasing the hardcover version in the U.S. and Canada, and published a short story, “UR,” exclusively for the Kindle in February 2009. Other prominent American writers have also sold the e-book rights to past and current work exclusively to Amazon. What do you think of Murakami’s initiative? Should widely read authors leverage their popularity to work around traditional publishers, and/or look into developing more creative projects that push beyond the print medium? [img credit: joi] Reviews: Alice More About: apple, e-books, iBooks, iBookstore, ipad, media, publishing For more Business coverage: Follow Mashable Business on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Business channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

LIVE: Apple’s iPhone 4 Press Conference Posted: 16 Jul 2010 09:40 AM PDT For the last week, Apple has been under fire over an antenna issue that negatively impacts reception if the phone is held a certain way. While Apple tried to address the firestorm by deploying a software fix to increase the accuracy of the bars that represent signal strength, it clearly wasn’t going to be enough. Apple has consequently called for a press conference to deal with the issue head-on starting at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET today. We’re here live at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California for the event. Is Apple about to drop a bombshell on us? How will the company address the antenna issue? What surprises does Apple have up its sleeve? Here are my live notes on today’s press conference: Live Notes: Apple’s iPhone 4 Press Conference All times are in Pacific Standard Time 1 Infinite Loop Security is guarding 4 Infinite Loop, where the press conference will take place. The media is here in full force Registration Inside Apple Town Hall 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Q&A Q&A Q&A Audience Q&A Near the end 9:43 AM: We (the media) are patiently waiting outside 4 Infinite Loop to be ushered into the press conference. 9:47 AM: Hey, Kevin McKean of Consumer Reports is here! They’re gonna be popular here… 9:58 AM: We’re seated and waiting for the event to begin. 9:59 AM: Apple media tells me if I live stream the press conference, gorillas will come out of the ceiling and deal with me. I almost want to try it out and see if it happens. ALMOST. 10:05: HILARIOUS — they are playing a video called the “iPhone Antenna Song.” I can’t wait for this to be on YouTube! 10:06: Here’s the video they played: 10:06: Steve Jobs: “We’re not perfect. Phones aren’t perfect.” 10:08: Steve Jobs: “The iPhone 4 is the perhaps the best product we have ever made at Apple.” 3 million sold in just three weeks. Judged the #1 smartphone by many publications, including Consumer Reports. 10:08: Jobs: This has since been dubbed “Antennagate.” Apple is an engineer-driven company. Some of the best in the world. How we work: we want to find real solutions. We now want to share what we’ve learned. 10:09: Steve is discussing different phones and how different grips affect reception. The first phone is the BlackBerry Bold 9700. A drop from 5 bars to 1. 10:11: Second phone: HTC Droid Eris. It goes from 4 bars to 0 bars. 10:12: The third phone is a Windows Mobile phone, the Samsung Omnia II, which dropped from 4 bars to 1. 10:14: “Phones aren’t perfect.” 10:15: The bars were incorrect. It showed you going from 5 bars to 1 bar, when it reality it was a 2 or 3 bar to 1 bar drop. 10:16: We’ve invested over 100 million in our Antenna testing facilities in the last 5 years. 17 anochoic chambers, 18 PhD scientists and engineers. 10:17: Smartphones have weak spots. It’s true of all smartphones. 10:18: Data from AppleCare: What percent of iPhone 4 users have called about the antenna or reception: 0.55% 10:19: Jobs: “This is not a large number.” 10:20: AT&T has a buyer’s remorse policy. What’s the AT&T return rate? They’re going to compare it to the iPhone 3GS. 10:21: iPhone 3GS return rates: 6%. 10:21: iPhone 4 return rate: 1.7%. Less than 1/3 of the 3GS, Jobs says. 10:22: AT&T has provided the call drop rate data to Apple. Now they’re presenting the data, compared to the 3GS. 10:23: WHOA. Jobs: Even though the iPhone 4’s antenna to that of the 3GS, I must report that the iPhone 4 drops per 100 calls compared to the iPhone 3GS. 10:24: The iPhone 4 drops less than 1 call per 100 compared to the iPhone 3GS. 10:25: Steve’s theory: We did not change the 3GS design, and thus people could us their 3G cases with the 3GS. iPhone 4 has radically different design. We can’t make enough of our bumper cases, and far less are walking out with a case. 10:27: Jobs: “We care about every user, and we’re not going to stop until every one of them is happy.” 10:28: Jobs: This has been blown way out of proportion. First: they released iOS 4.0.1. It fixed bars and an Exchange bug. 10:29: Second: The bumper solves the signal strength problem. Why don’t you just give everybody a case. “Every iPhone gets a free case.” 10:31: Details are coming, but essentially everyone gets a free case if you buy an iPhone 4 up to September 30th. You get a choice as well — the bumper or other cases, since Apple can’t make enough bumpers to match iPhone 4s. Full refund if you’ve bought a bumper already. 10:32: White iPhones ship at the end of the month. 10:32: July 30th: 17 more countries. South Korea will take more time. 10:33: We love our users. We try very hard to surprise & delight them. We work our asses off for them. 10:33: We make interesting products: Macs, iPods, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, Final Cut, App Store, iWorks…. 10:34: We’ve built 300 Apple retail stores for them. Genius Bar costs nothing. We have 1-to-1 seminars to tech users how to use our products. 60 million people through our stores last quarter. 10:35: When we succeed in delighting our users, they reward us by staying our users. When people criticize us, we take it very personally. Maybe we shouldn’t, but we do. 10:36: Core of the problem: Smartphones have weak spots. Some people took advantage of that. We screwed up on the bars, and make it more theatrical than it had to be. For the small amount of users with problems, we’re going to give them cases, and if they’re still unhappy they get a full refund. 10:37: Steve Jobs: There is no Antennagate. Press Conference 10:37: Tim Cook, COO, and Bob Mansfield, Senior hardware engineer, are on stage now. 10:38: First question: How’s your health? Steve: I’m just great, thank you. 10:39: Q: Will you change the design of the antenna in future iPhone models? A: We’ve been preoccupied with this. The iPhone 4 is the best antenna in almost any way. If anything, we put the red flag in front of the bull with the “touch me here” antenna. I don’t know what the next antenna design will be. 10:40: If we could do this all over again, we probably would have come up with some type of mitigation. We have strong cell coverage here. 10:41: Q: Can you account for how exactly the antenna problem occurs? A: Mansfield: Your body is a pretty effective signal absorber. The fact that you bridge the gap between the antennas is a way to entenuate the signal. 10:43: Q: Did you have engineers tell you about the iPhone 4 antenna issue and ignore them? A: “You’re referring to the Bloomberg article, right? It’s a total crock.” “It’s total bullshit.” Oh, Steve Jobs. 10:45: Q: Is Apple that makes users pick between form and function? A: Steve: No, we do both. We strive to make our products a really great size. iPod Touch is wonderfully thin — it costs us extra, but we work not to make it too much extra? 10:47: He dodged the apology question (someone asked Steve if he would issue an apology to users for the issues). I can’t blame him… 10:49: I don’t know if there’s anything else we could have said better. We could have shipped with a better formula for calculating bars. 10:51: Maybe people thought we were perfect and when they saw we weren’t they tried to nail usWe can tell you that we’re not perfect. 10:53: Refunds apply to bumpers — not refunding 3rd party cases. We don’t share our specs on new products with manufacturers because people stop buying our current products. So in general we don’t tell people about new products until they’re ready to go. 10:56: Q: Do you all carry your phones with the bumper? A: Jobs and co showed off their phones — none of them have a bumper. 10:59: It’s only been 22 days. We wouldn’t have had half the data we have now if we had addressed this last week. One of the things I have learned though is that it’s just human nature that when some person or organization gets really successful, people just want to tear it down. He sees the same thing with Google 11:00: Jobs: “Google is a great company.” 11:01: I look at this antennagate thing and say “Wow, haven’t we earned the credibility and trust to give us a little benefit of the doubt to say we will address this problem and take care of our users?” This thing was blown so out of proportion. We’re not saying we didn’t make mistakes: we didn’t educate enough. 11:04: Q: Is a hardware change possible for this iPhone? A: Nobody has solved this issue (the antenna reception/grip issue). Our situation right now is that most customers aren’t experiencing this problem. People are holding it in a way that’s exploiting its weakness. 11:06: Q: Did you consider a recall? A: Nothing is off the table when you love your customers as much as we do. Steve dispatched teams to Denver, Miami, Seattle, etc. to visit people who complained at their homes if they emailed him to figure out what’s wrong, full test equipment in tow. 11:09: Q: Report in the times about possible software fix to change the way it’s looking for signals. Is there a possible software fix? A: We just showed you for the last hour that the issue is inherent to all smartphones. Data doesn’t support your perception. 11:10: Engadget’s Topolsky and Jobs are sparring over the antenna issue — Steve says that it’s an issue inherent in all smartphones, and to find a software fix for it would be a leap ahead of all other manufacturers. 11:14: I just asked about the bottom line and what impact this will have. Tim Cook replied that they will provide that information next Tuesday when they report Q2 financials and provide Q3 guidance. 11:17: Jobs is now talking about reception and cell towers. The problem with SF is that it takes time to get approval for cell towers. Nobody wants to have cell towers behind their homes, and that’s one of the problems with the congestion. 11:23: Jobs does reply to some customers, some post the emails up, and he says honestly that’s kind of rude. And some are fake, so don’t believe every email exchange posted on the web. Reviews: App Store, Google, YouTube More About: apple, iphone, iphone 4, liveblog, press conference, trending For more Apple coverage: Follow Mashable Apple on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Apple channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Why Complaining Customers Can Be Good For Your Business Posted: 16 Jul 2010 08:03 AM PDT Susan Payton is the President of Egg Marketing & Public Relations, an Internet marketing firm. She blogs at The Marketing Eggspert Blog. Follow her on Twitter @eggmarketing. Download her newest e-book, “Content is Queen: How Article & Blog Writing Will Increase Your Sales.“ Companies love positive feedback. They share it on Twitter, post it on their website and use it as marketing fodder. But what about when feedback is, well, less than pleasant? What can you do with a handful (or more) of irate customers? Do you ignore them? Bury them out back? Not in today’s social atmosphere. Rather than try to sweep these unhappy customers under the rug, look at them as a challenge and an opportunity to improve your brand and leverage them for some publicity. Why You Want Angry Customers Well, maybe you don’t want angry customers, but let’s be honest — you’ll never have 100 percent customer satisfaction. No one does. So use those unhappy customers to better understand what you’re doing wrong, and learn from the experience. And while you’re at it, turn the angry customers into brand evangelists. There are several ways to connect with unhappy customers in a meaningful way: Hold a panel or forum in person; give them a tour of your facility and hold a venting session Work virtually; host an online panel to get feedback from them Work one-on-one to understand their concerns and address them individually In-Person Events Dell recently held its first Customer Advisory Panel event at their headquarters in Round Rock, TX. They invited two groups of 15 bloggers and social media gurus. One group was full of people who had negative experiences with the company and who were vocal about their displeasure. The second group was made up of people that Dell considered brand evangelists; people who loved Dell and told others. The attendees started the morning with their gripes; customer service issues came up again and again. The heads of customer service and marketing were present and actively engaged. As they listened, they took notes, then asked questions and they promised they would make changes. That type of customer empowerment is important. Now, whether they’ll go through with the promised changes is another story, but it was clear that Dell understood it was time to start paying attention to the public’s perception of its brand, and make some changes to keep their customers. Nestlé is another company that has been successful at holding an event to let people engage with its brand directly. After a resurgence in interest in the Nestle Boycott a few years ago, Nestlé decided to invite a group of bloggers to what it called its “Happy, Healthy Gathering” in 2009. Mommy bloggers, who’d been tweeting up a storm about the company’s stance on breastfeeding in third world countries, were invited to tour the facilities and give their input on the company. Whether the event truly changed perceptions remains to be seen, but it did a great deal to show that Nestlé was putting in the effort to reach its audience. Disclosure: I was one of the bloggers invited to participate Dell’s Customer Advisory Panel. Virtual Panels Virtual panels are decidedly less effective than in-person ones. But they can be good replacements for focus groups. Pssst is General Mills’ online testing ground for new products. The company sends participants coupons and free products to try, and in return they are asked to fill out surveys. The program is so successful that bloggers who write about saving money are gladly turning others onto joining Pssst. Similarly, the Starbucks Passion Panel was designed to get customer feedback — for better or worse. The community of Starbucks drinkers gives their input via surveys and forums. Passion Panel member Jennifer Boyd said, “Being on the Passion Panel means that I have access to direct input and discussion with other members. It enables me to give my opinion on Starbucks’ current and future products through surveys. The panel is a great way to engage with their loyal customers and solidifies a relationship with a consumer to a brand.” Wal-Mart’s Elevenmoms platform is another example of how a mix of online community, shopper experience and in-person visits can work together to help the company gather new insights. John Andrews, former Senior Manager of Emerging Media for Wal-Mart and founder of the Elevenmoms, said the community succeeded in getting Wal-Mart’s attention in a few areas where it was lacking. When the iPhone was launched in Wal-Mart stores, the Elevenmoms were invited to go through the purchase process. Some had no problems, but others did. It took one blogger two hours to buy a phone. Each blogger published her experience, and Wal-Mart took the feedback to its operations staff, who took notes and improved the purchase process. "The Elevenmoms used direct social media interaction to improve the shopping process," said Andrews. Other feedback caused Wal-Mart to reconsider its layaway strategy. Having canceled the layaway plan due to costs, Wal-Mart got some flack from the Elevenmoms, who felt it made it easier to make big purchases. As a result, Wal-Mart developed its Site to Store platform, which provided the benefit of layaway online, so that local stores didn’t incur extra costs. Disclosure: John Andrews now works with Collective Bias, a company with which I have collaborated on projects. One-on-One Solving a customer’s problems and changing their perception individually is the least cost-effective method, but a little work goes a long way. And it starts with customer service personnel being properly trained to solve problems, and not to simply stick to “the script” at all costs. Look at Zappos or Disney for great examples of how service reps are empowered to solve problems. Disney empowers each of its “cast members” (staff) to solve a guest’s problem. From the street sweeper to the reservation specialist, everyone has the ability to turn a negative situation into a good one. That might mean replacing a fallen ice cream cone, upgrading a guest’s hotel room, or simply answering politely the most commonly asked question on Disney property: what time is the three o’clock parade? Disney is so good at customer service, they’ve opened the Disney Institute, a customer service training program helps other corporations use the same techniques that has made Disney such a success. Likewise, Zappos is also famous for its customer service tactics. The reps don’t use scripts, and seem to genuinely care about solving problems. Many customers are pleasantly surprised when their shipping gets upgraded and they get their shoes even faster – at no additional charge. By providing instant happiness to the customer, these brands can prevent a lot of the bad karma that comes down the road when an unhappy customer becomes an enraged customer who tells everyone he knows about how bad the company is (no one wants their own version of DellHell). Conclusion No matter how you interact with unhappy customers, the point is not to brush them off, and make sure you learn from it. Don’t just pretend to listen and then go on doing business as usual. Take the feedback as constructive criticism that can help you determine your company’s future. How you handle your failures could make you or break you. More Business Resources from Mashable - HOW TO: Evaluate Your Social Media Plan - Why Your Next Business Card May Be Virtual - HOW TO: Improve B2B Sales Productivity with Social Media - HOW TO: Use Social Media for Lead Generation - HOW TO: Use QR Codes for Small Business Marketing Stock: Image courtesy of iStockphoto, biffspandex Reviews: Twitter, iStockphoto More About: branding, business, customer service, small business, social media, twitter For more Business coverage: Follow Mashable Business on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Business channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

5 Online Tools for Answering Your Small Business Questions Posted: 16 Jul 2010 07:42 AM PDT This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business. Running a small business is filled with unknowns and crash course lessons. You’re always going to have questions about hiring, acquiring customers, raising money, and building viable products. When I started my first business, it was crucial that I learn about accounting and income statements. As the nature of building startups goes, teaching myself the basics lead to more and more questions. My experience in finding the right places to ask particular types of questions has influenced the way I learn and seek information. Nobody expects you to know everything that’s going in. In fact, that’s why you should always find the right advisors for your startup, so that you can benefit from their experience. But they won’t know everything, either. Luckily, there are several powerful and convenient tools that can help small business owners get their questions answered. While you may not find the silver bullet that shoots your company to the stratosphere, there are thousands of people with the knowledge and experience to help you solve your small business problems. Here are a few online tools for connecting with experts who may have answers to your small business questions: 1. Quora: This crowdsourcing and collaboration Q&A tool allows users to ask the Quora community questions, most of them technology or startup-related. Not only can you ask questions of its knowledgeable community (it includes some prominent VCs and CEOs), but you can follow topics such as “leadership,” “venture capital,” or “Google” to stay up-to-date on conversation occurring in those areas. 2. OnStartups Answers: This site, powered by the same platform that runs StackOverflow, is focused on answering the burning questions of startup founders. Everything from product pricing to sleep schedules is addressed by this community. 3. Hacker News: This programming and startup-centric community is very open to answering questions from entrepreneurs. Just go to the submit page and start with “Ask HN:” in your title. 4. Twitter: If you’ve been active with other small business owners on Twitter and built up those relationships, there may not be a better place to get your questions answered faster than on this micro-blogging phenomenon. 5. Open Forum: Yes, I know what you’re thinking, but guess what: OPEN Forum has active discussion forums where members can ask their small business questions and get them answered. It can’t hurt to ask. This list is a jump start for getting on the track to having all of your small business questions (or at least some of them) answered. Are there any online tools that you continuously reference for solving problems and getting advice as a small business owner? Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Yuri_Arcurs Reviews: Google, Hacker News, Twitter, iStockphoto More About: answers, hacker news, onstartups answers, open forum, quora, small business, small business tips, twitter For more Business coverage: Follow Mashable Business on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Business channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

90% of Mashable Readers Think Apple Must Do Something About iPhone 4 Posted: 16 Jul 2010 07:21 AM PDT Apple is holding a press conference today, at which the company is expected to address the reception issues associated with the iPhone 4. Mashable’s Ben Parr will be there live and we will be bringing you up-to-the-minute coverage of the event as it happens. Yesterday, we asked readers to weigh in on how Apple should respond to the growing concerns raised by Consumer Reports and others in the media and in the financial markets. Mashable readers overwhelmingly responded that Apple should do something — whether it be a full recall, free bumpers or a voluntary trade-in. In fact, only 10% of our readers said that Apple should stand its ground, claiming that the issue is overblown. Here are the full results: Interestingly, the dominant opinions — that Apple should issue free bumpers to iPhone 4 customers and that it should voluntarily replace iPhone 4 units for customers who are having problems — also match Mashable HQ’s predictions regarding how Apple should and will handle this situation. Giving all owners a free iPhone 4 bumper or $30 iTunes Gift Card if they have already purchased a bumper would be a great way to at least clear up issues for the majority of users (while also adding a bit of protection to the device). Additionally, offering to replace any early iPhone 4 devices with a new model (which we presume will have some changes made to ensure that the reception issue is less pronounced) would go a long way towards winning back goodwill from customers. Only 16% of our readers voted that Apple should issue a full recall. We’ve already gone on record stating that we think Apple should do everything it can to avoid a full recall, if only because the problem is not universally consistent and some users are affected more than others. We’ll have to see how Apple’s response lines up with readers’ thoughts later in the day. Reviews: Mashable More About: apple, iphone 4, iphone 4 reception, mashable polls For more Apple coverage: Follow Mashable Apple on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Apple channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Justin Bieber Nabs Most-Watched YouTube Video of All Time Posted: 16 Jul 2010 06:46 AM PDT YouTube phenom Justin Bieber has succeeded in slaying Lady Gaga’s little monster, the music video for “Bad Romance,” as he has nabbed the honor of having the most-viewed YouTube video of all time. Last night, YouTube tweeted that Bieber had beat out Gaga, only to be proven wrong, as Ms. Telephone clawed her way back to number one. As I was shuffling off the news desk last night, VEVO informed us via e-mail: “Wanted to alert you that Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga have been battling all afternoon. The prize? Whose video is the web's most-watched!” YouTube has yet to update its Twitter feed — or rearrange its most-watched list, for that matter — but according to the video-sharing site, the Boy King of Twitter has risen to new ranks, capturing 245,746,720 views for his vid “Baby ft. Ludacris.” Lady Gaga currently has 245,570,952 views on “Bad Romance.” How long will this mighty battle rage on? Only time will tell. Personally, I’m hoping an adorable baby or kitten comes along to usurp one of these pop parasites — I actually watched Bieber’s vid for the first time yesterday, and was at a loss at understanding its appeal. I mean, if saccharine jams accompanied by early 2000s-esque camera work is your thing, then, by all means, geek out — but I think the viral gods can do better. NB: The numbers that YouTube quotes on its music video pages come from VEVO, which is a number that it compiles based on views across its network where VEVO powers music video (YouTube, AOL, CBS Interactive). Reviews: Twitter, YouTube, justin bieber More About: celebrities, music, web video, youtube For more Web Video coverage: Follow Mashable Web Video on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Web Video channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Sony Pictures Advertising “The Social Network” Trailer on Twitter Posted: 16 Jul 2010 06:23 AM PDT Sony Pictures has become the latest big brand to buy a spot on Twitter's trending topic list, using the microblogging site's new ad platform to promote the trailer for The Social Network, which hit the Web on Thursday. As a result, Twitter users this morning are seeing the trending topic "#SocialNetwork," which when clicked, shows a promoted tweet on top for the upcoming movie about Facebook's controversial beginnings. The company is using the promoted tweet to drive people to 500MillionFriends.com, a site that houses the film's trailer, music and the movie poster featuring the tagline, "You Don't Get to 500 Million Friends Without Making a Few Enemies." You might think The Social Network would be better off spending its ad dollars on Facebook itself, and, you'd probably be right. However, ads that reference Facebook aren't allowed on Facebook, and not surprisingly, the social network isn't bending the rules to accommodate. With buzz for the movie now building, do you predict a box office hit or flop? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Reviews: Facebook, Twitter More About: MARKETING, Movies, Promoted Tweets, the social network For more Business coverage: Follow Mashable Business on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Business channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Whoopi Goldberg “Murdered” Her iPhone 4 [VIDEO] Posted: 16 Jul 2010 05:48 AM PDT Talk about bad timing. Today, Apple is holding a press conference that will likely detail its view on the iPhone 4’s antenna issues, but Whoopi Goldberg couldn’t wait that long. Due to numerous problems with the device, which she described on the latest episode of ABC’s The View, she “murdered” the phone by smashing it against the ground. “The people couldn’t get a hold of me…my phone would ring and ring and ring to them, but wouldn’t do anything to me,” she explains, adding that she also had trouble with e-mail. “My phone was bad; it wasn’t just that the antenna was bad, it was bad,” she said. From her explanation, one can gather that the bulk of the problems she had weren’t caused by the antenna; Whoopi simply had bad luck and received a faulty device. It can happen with any phone, from any manufacturer, but it certainly doesn’t help Apple in the middle of a PR mess that some have already dubbed the “Antennagate.” Whoopi does give some praise to other Apple products throughout the clip; she said she “loves the iPad,” and adds that she never had any problems with an older version of the iPhone — which, we guess, also doesn’t sound too good to Apple at this particular point in time. [The View via Gawker] More About: apple, iphone 4, Whoopi Goldberg For more Apple coverage: Follow Mashable Apple on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Apple channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Reddit: We Have More Traffic Than You Think Posted: 16 Jul 2010 04:15 AM PDT The admins of social media site Reddit have been active in the last couple of days. After pleading for financial help from the site’s users, which turned out to be a success and brought forth a new, freemium business model for Reddit, they’re now pointing out that Reddit has a lot more traffic than most analysts give them credit for. If you look at services that measure traffic, such as Compete. Quantcast or Nielsen, Reddit has, on average, less than 1 million monthly unique visits. The truth, Reddit’s admins claim, is very different, and they’ve supported it with a screenshot (below) from the site’s Google Analytics report from June 14 to July 14, 2010. According to Reddit’s own Google Analytics data – which is arguably far more accurate than any third-party measurements – Reddit has over 8 million monthly unique visitors, 36 million visits and over 400 million monthly page views. Why the discrepancy? Is it a technical issue? Reddit admins themselves don’t know. In a blog post, they’re asking for help: “Can you grep the server logs to see how many visitors we send your way, and how it compares to other major referers? That kind of information would be invaluable.” From our experience, web traffic analysis services are much better for determining trends than comparing absolute numbers. Many of them, such as Compete, are U.S.-biased; some may be biased with regards to what operating system or browser the visitors are using. Sometimes, their numbers fluctuate wildly: recently, several sites wrote about Digg losing a third of its traffic in just one month, according to Compete. Looking at the same graph now, Digg’s traffic numbers look vastly different. Perhaps Reddit’s public outing will make analysts take a second look at their estimates of the site’s traffic. Still, more importantly, Reddit claims its traffic is constantly growing, and its vibrant community seems to be as active as ever. When times got tough, the service managed to leverage users’ loyalty and create a new business opportunity. Hopefully, Reddit will continue to innovate and prove that this type of social media site, where users themselves create and curate most of the content, has a future. Reviews: Digg, Google Analytics More About: reddit, social media, traffic For more Social Media coverage: Follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Social Media channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Queen Rania of Jordan takes to TwitVid to Promote Her Country [VIDEO] Posted: 16 Jul 2010 12:50 AM PDT Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan has posted a video on TwitVid promoting a tourist swap contest between Jordan and other countries. The rules of the contest, named Twisit Jordan, are simple: If you’ve never been to Jordan, upload a video to TwitVid saying why you’d like to visit the country, and post it with @queenrania #TwisitJordan. If you live in Jordan, tell Queen Rania why you love your country, again with @queenrania #TwisitJordan. Once the contest is over, the best four videos will be chosen, and two people from Jordan will swap places (temporarily) with two people living abroad, full expenses paid. The contest runs from July 15 to August 4, 2010. There are some additional important rules to the contest; for example, you must be over 16 to participate. To see see the complete list, go here. Check out the introductory video below. More About: Jordan, Queen Rania, twitter, twitvid For more Social Media coverage: Follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Social Media channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Droid X’s Popularity Makes This Device Hard to Find, Activate Posted: 16 Jul 2010 12:04 AM PDT When good news is bad news: Motorola and Verizon’s hot new Droid X is apparently selling fast enough to threaten availability at a number of stores. The new Android powerhouse is also overwhelming Verizon’s phone activation infrastructure, leading to delays of an hour or more before customers can actually use their phones after purchase. The Droid X was released today and is already selling out at “most stores,” according to Boy Genius. A tweet from the official Verizon Wireless account confirms that activation delays are currently plaguing not just Droid X buyers; those buying other phones on the network are similarly stymied, as well. In fact, so far this year, several of the new Android “superphones” are selling faster than they can be built. It will certainly be an annoyance to new Droid X buyers to play the waiting game, whether they’re waiting for an hour or more at the activation stage or they have to wait much longer longer in cases where inventory is scarce. Nevertheless, it’s great news for both Verizon and Motorola, who are both likely celebrating another successful launch in the Droid lineup. It’s good news for Google as well, as another white-hot smartphone running the Android operating system lights up sales figures and tech media alike. If you managed to pick up a Droid X today, what are your first impressions of the device? Reviews: Android, Google More About: android, droid, droid x, Google, Motorola, verizon For more Mobile coverage: Follow Mashable Mobile on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Mobile channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

SaaS Startup Helps Non-Profits with Online Fundraising Posted: 15 Jul 2010 11:01 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: StayClassy Quick Pitch: StayClassy provides innovative social fundraising SaaS that helps the 1.5 million US non-profits compete in the $308 billion giving industry. Genius Idea: Non-profits need to raise funds in order to finance their operations. StayClassy is designed to help them do just that with a full-featured online platform for fundraising that also includes social media tie-ins to help organizations get the word out. Non-profits can set up shop on StayClassy to manage all aspects of event or campaign fundraisers, including donor relationships. They also give non-profits an easy way to accept online donations and track their results. The platform is used by the likes of the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. For now, the software is still in a limited beta period, which means only select organizations have full access. That will change in August, when the platform opens to everyone. The service is also free to use, though StayClassy does apply a small fee per transaction. Individuals with charitable leanings can also visit StayClassy to find organizations to support. Site members can create their own fundraising pages to raise money for a charity or event, drumming up support through their own online and offline networks. The San Diego-based group behind the site is genuinely passionate about their philanthropic mission. For years, they’ve continually hit the streets with the StayClassy brand to raise funds for good causes via charitable events. Their belief in creating a philanthropic platform for non-profits on shoestring budges is evinced in pretty much everything they do. For more information on StayClassy’s SaaS platform for non-profits, watch the demo below: [img credit: C1ssou] 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. More About: fundraising, non-profit, social good, spark-of-genius, stayclassy For more Tech coverage: Follow Mashable Tech on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Tech channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

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