Selasa, 21 September 2010

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Twitter Mouseover Security Flaw Affecting Thousands of Users [WARNING]”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Twitter Mouseover Security Flaw Affecting Thousands of Users [WARNING]”

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Twitter Mouseover Security Flaw Affecting Thousands of Users [WARNING]

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 05:19 AM PDT

Twitter Error

A new Twitter security flaw has been widely exploited on thousands of Twitter accounts, redirecting users to third-party websites without their consent.

The bug is particularly nasty because it works on mouseover only, meaning pop-ups and third-party websites can open even if you just move your mouse over the offending link.

The flaw uses Javascript function called onMouseOver which creates an event when the mouse is passed over a chunk of text. We’ve seen the flaw being abused to launch simple pop-up windows, redirect users elsewhere (including porn sites), and we’ve also seen it used in combination with blocks of color, covering the true “intention” of the tweet.

For now, the best course of action is using only third-party apps such as TweetDeck to access Twitter, as the bug only seems to affect Twitter’s web interface.

You can see an example of a tweet that launches a pop-up if you move the mouse over it below.

Developing story…

More About: bug, flaw, security, twitter

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Pepsi Refresh Project Racks Up More Votes than Last Presidential Election

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 04:20 AM PDT


Bonin Bough, global director of digital and social media at PepsiCo, announced at Mashable and 92Y’s Social Good Summit that Pepsi’s Refresh Project has been a huge success: In fact, more people have voted for projects pitched to Pepsi Refresh than voted for the last U.S. president.

Last winter, we reported that for the first time in 23 years, Pepsi would not have any ads in the Super Bowl.

Instead, the company would be spending $20 million on a social media campaign called The Pepsi Refresh Project. The Project was launched on January 13, 2010, allowing folks to submit ideas both big and small for ways to refresh their communities over the course of 12 submission periods.

During the Gulf oil spill disaster, the Project even stepped up to lend aid, for one month offering $1.3 million more for ideas on how to refresh the Gulf. (The finalists for this project have already been announced, the winners to be chosen on September 22.)

This whole initiative is what Bough calls being a “corporate citizen” — mingling your business’s goals with a wider goal of social good. “[It's about] delivering sustainable growth in a way that’s investing in a healthier future for people and the planet,” Bough says.

The Pepsi Refresh Project is still going strong. Do you plan on submitting an idea?

Disclosure: Pepsi has been a sponsor at Mashable events.

More About: MARKETING, Pepsi, social good

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Nokia Delays N8 Release Date to October [UPDATED]

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 04:05 AM PDT


Just two weeks ago Nokia set the end of September as the official launch date for its flagship Symbian^3 smartphone, the N8, but has now delayed the launch for October (updated with more info from Nokia below).

“In some markets, we had planned to start delivering the N8s to our pre-order customers by the end of September. To ensure a great user experience, we have decided to hold the shipments for a few weeks to do some final amends (…) we expect consumers to get their Nokia N8s during October,” Nokia said in a statement.

The device was supposed to be available at the Nokia Online Shop "during the last week of September," and on October 1 in UK's physical stores.

This is another hit for Nokia which has been struggling to deliver a great competitor to modern smartphones such as the iPhone and top Android models. The N8 should at least partly amend that; its 680 MHz CPU and 256 MB of SDRAM memory probably won’t wipe the floor with the competition, but its main claim to fame is a 12-megapixel camera with Full HD capability.

Recently, Nokia hired Stephen Elop, the former president of Microsoft's Business division as its CEO, and the EVP of Mobile Solutions Anssi Vanjoki resigned just one day before the company’s Nokia World event. We’re sure it’s a stressful time at Nokia’s headquarters, but delays won’t help the N8 in the eyes of potential buyers.

Update: Nokia claims that this “delay” is actually just a misunderstanding. “We have said we expect to ship the N8 by the end of the third quarter and that hasn’t changed,” Nokia spokesman told AFP.

A blog post from Nokia explains the situation further: “We have received a record number of online pre-orders for the Nokia N8. We had targeted our online pre-order customers to receive their N8s by the end of September. As it can take time from the beginning of shipment to arriving at their doorstep, in full transparency, we have advised our pre-order customers that they should expect their new Nokia N8 in October.

More About: Mobile 2.0, N8, Nokia, release date, smartphone

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Google Fights Censorship with Transparency Report

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 03:00 AM PDT


Google has launched Transparency Report, a set of tools including an interactive map that shows which governments have asked for information about users or requested Google to censor or take down content in a certain time frame.

The map shows, for example, that in the period from January 2010 to June 2010, the United States government asked Google about user info on 4287 occasions, and asked it to remove content on 128 occasions. Other countries that have put in a lot of such requests (over 1000) during this time frame are Brazil, France, India and the United Kingdom.

If you click on a marker of an individual country on the map, you can also see how many removal requsts were fully or partially complied with, as well as which Google services were affected. For example, in the period from July 2009 to December 2009, there were 7 U.S. court orders to remove content from YouTube, and 6 court orders to remove content from Blogger.

On the same site, Google also offers an interactive traffic graph to Google services around the world. Whenever you see an outage, Google explains, you see “disruptions in the free flow of information, whether it’s a government blocking information or a cable being cut.”

It’s a very interesting effort from Google, and one that may even be contested by some governments (Update: China is not included in the Report. Google explains: “Chinese officials consider censorship demands as state secrets, so we cannot disclose that information at this time“). With it, Google is essentially saying that yes, it will take down or censor content if a government requests it, but it will also inform the users every time it happens. The tool will definitely help activists and human rights groups create studies about the obstruction of the flow of information and censorship, and it may even make governments reign in their requests for censorship and user info.

Update: digging through Transparency Report’s FAQ, we revealed several important tidbits of information about the project.

The data is not comprehensive or fully accurate. From the FAQ:

…we have not included statistics for countries where we've received fewer than 30 requests for user data in criminal cases during the 6-month period. Where the numbers of requests are relatively low from a particular country, revealing the statistics could place important investigations at risk and interfere with public safety efforts of the authorities. For content removals requested by government agencies, we haven't released specific numbers for those countries in which we received fewer than 10 requests. Many of those one-off requests may coincide with our own content policies, so when the numbers get small enough, they don't necessarily reflect anything about the level of censorship in that country. Similarly, if a governmental agency used a web form to demand removal of content, we generally have no way of including those reports in our statistics.

Also, Google recognizes that the information provided by these tools is far from complete, but plans to improve things in the future.

We would like to be able to share more information, including how many times we disclosed data in response to these requests, but it's not an easy matter. The requests we receive for user data come from a variety of government agencies with different legal authorities and different forms of requests. They don't follow a standard format or necessarily seek the same kinds of information. … Given all this complexity, it's a difficult task to categorize and quantify these requests in a way that adds meaningful transparency, but we plan to in the future.

More About: censorship, Google, governments, privacy, Transparency Report

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Google Instant Prevails Over Regular Google in Reader Vote

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 02:29 AM PDT


While Google Instant still has a long way to go to win over the web, Mashable’s readers have once again given Instant their seal of approval.

Google made one of the biggest-ever changes to its search engine this month. Instant brings not only search-as-you-type functionality to Google; it also predicts what you’re about to type and delivers results based on those predictions.

Our readership has been on both sides of the fence over the new Google. In this edition of the Web Faceoff, many of said that Google Instant was distracting, while others said it was revolutionary.

In the end though, Google Instant emerged victorious with 50.8% of the vote. Instant received 1,581 votes, while “Regular Google” earned 37.6% of the ballot (1,168 votes). Of our readers who voted, 11.6% of you (361 votes) said the battle was a tie.

Commenter Jesant13 probably summed up people’s opinions of Google Instant best:

“While I don’t go to the Google homepage as much as I used to because Firefox has a search bar in the upper-right corner, I do like Google Instant works and the results it delivers. I’ve found though that it seems to be better for longer searches, because in some cases, I’ve typed something shorter character-wise and finished typing, and then I got the results.

My mother, on the other hand, doesn’t like Google Instant. She has the argument that she knows what she’s searching for. I mentioned that Google Instant could save her time, but it didn’t change her mind any. I’m glad that Google gave users the option to shut off Instant if they want to.”

Will more people come around to Instant searching, or will there always be a divide between those that love it and those that loathe it? We want your opinion in the comments.



Reviews: Firefox, Google

More About: Google, Google Instant, google search, poll, web faceoff

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Internet Brands Acquired for $640 Million

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 01:07 AM PDT


Private equity firm Hellman & Friedman has entered into agreement to acquire online media company Internet Brands for approximately $640 million in cash, at $13.35 a share. The price is a 46.5% premium over the closing price on September 17, 2010.

Internet brands operates a large number of media, community, and e-commerce websites, including DoItYourself, Wikitravel, Loan.com, Autos.com and others.

The company’s largest shareholder Idealab, a startup incubator that founded Internet Brands back in 1998., has entered into a voting agreement with Hellman & Friedman for the merger.

Hellman & Friedman invests through a series of private equity funds, and has previously invested in Nielsen, Nasdaq and Getty Images, among other companies.

The transaction still needs to be approved by shareholders, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2010.


Reviews: Internet

More About: acquisition, Internet Brands

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Harvard Study Finds Teens Online Lack Ethics

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 11:44 PM PDT


Harvard research director Carrie James took the stage at Mashable’s Social Good Summit earlier today to encourage us all to mentor young people on using social media for social good.

The online behaviors of youth and how to improve and correct them are part of how James feels new media can be used to address the world’s challenges. To further this mission, James has activity been working with Harvard colleagues on the GoodPlay Project, a study on the ethical sensibilities of digital youth. The study explores youth identity, privacy, ownership, authority, credibility and participation.

In their research, the team has found that most young people are devoid of ethical thinking or consideration for others when using the web. It’s a sobering reality that James hopes to change. James believes this is an untapped opportunity and suggests a number of actionable steps that we can take to change the way young people approach and use social technologies.

You can watch the presentation and learn more about this research in the video embedded below. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments.

Image courtesy of Flickr, escapedtowisconsin.

More About: 92y, carrie james, Harvard, research, social good, social good summit, social media, trending, youth

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The Hottest Games of the Tokyo Game Show [VIDEOS]

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 10:37 PM PDT


Last week was the 2010 Tokyo Game Show (also called TGS 2010) and the games on display came from some of the brightest minds in the industry. Here you’ll find 12 trailers from the hottest games at the show, including The Last Guardian, Devil May Cry and Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

TGS 2010 was the most attended TGS yet, but that didn’t prevent some Japanese developers and pundits from bemoaning the quality of Japanese games as compared to titles produced by Western studios like BioWare, Bungie and Blizzard.

Capcom’s Keiji Inafune, who had a hand in creating both Mega Man and Dead Rising, said at the show that Japanese developers are “at least five years behind.”

The man might have a point. Looking at some of these trailers, the core developers outside the Nintendo world are definitely not making an effort to break barriers or challenge stereotypes about video games and gamer culture.

Nintendo, however, is in another class. That company’s Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS consoles have outsold the competition from Microsoft and Sony at every turn and expanded the audience for video games far beyond the 20-year-old males who traditionally form the core market. But these games and consoles belong in a different world from the industry that makes graphics-intensive and complex games for the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.


The Games


There are some stand-outs. The art-house development studio that made Ico and Shadow of the Colossus for the PlayStation 2 showed a trailer for PlayStation 3 title The Last Guardian, and it looks absolutely beautiful. It turns out the game will be playable in 3D. The studio is also releasing a bundle for PS3 that includes remastered, high-definition versions of the two PS2 classics.

RPG developer Level 5 teamed up with master animator Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli (best known for films such as Princess Mononoke, Sprited Away and Ponyo) to make a PS3 game titled Ni No Kuni. It looks gorgeous and touching, capturing the look and feel of the animated films, but it hasn’t been confirmed for North American or European release yet.

Also notable was the lineup for the Xbox 360’s Kinect motion controller and camera. The games and developers Microsoft featured at the show sought to demonstrate that traditional gamers will enjoy games with the new interface, not just families looking for play-and-forget party experiences.

Here are the trailers. Most are Japanese games, but a few Western games made appearances at TGS — most notably Deus Ex: Human Revolution.


"Deus Ex: Human Revolution"


This sequel to a classic PC gaming franchise promises an involved cyberpunk storyline.


"Ni No Kuni" (Level 5 and Studio Ghibli Project) for PS3


Ni no Kuni is a collaboration between esteemed Japanese RPG developer Level 5 and famous animation director Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli. The game was previously revealed for Nintendo DS, but here's the gorgeous PS3 version.


"The Last Guardian"


Team Ico is best known for the critically acclaimed art-house PS2 games Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. This is their latest project, and the first on the PlayStation 3. Oh, and this game will be available in 3D.


"Devil May Cry" ("DMC")


This version of the classic, gothic action fighting game Devil May Cry is actually the fifth game in the series, but it's a reboot with new character designs and more.


"Shadows of the Damned"


Everything about this trailer is indicative of the traditions of Japanese hardcore gaming — whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to you. This new game is made by alums from the Resident Evil, Silent Hill and No More Heroes. Consider it a punk rock psychological horror action game.


"Ico" and "Shadow of the Colossus" Collection for PS3


Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are two of the most beloved games of all time — at least for video game critics. The PS2 titles have been remastered in high definition and 3D for the PS3 release.


"Dead Rising 2: Case West"


This Xbox 360-exclusive downloadable expansion for Dead Rising 2 makes a team out of the protagonists of the first two games in the series.


"Tekken Tag Tournament 2"


Arcade fighting games are a dying breed, but Tekken developer Namco will try to revive the market with Tekken Tag Tournament 2. The game will appear in arcades around Japan.


"Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam"


Vietnam is an under-represented war in video games. Maybe it's because gamers prefer the clear moral lines of World War II. The over-the-top Battlefield Bad Company series already blurs the lines, though, so Vietnam seems a suitable setting for this download-only follow up.


"Castlevania: Lords of Shadow"


Another total franchise reboot, this Middle Ages-set action game is part of a series that began way back in 1986.


"Vanquish"


What if the Cold War continued into our near future? This action game published by Sega depicts that scenario.


Steel Battalion: Heavy Armour for Xbox Kinect


This game is one of several hardcore gamer-friendly Kinect titles that Microsoft unveiled at TGS. Kinect is the motion controller due for release on the Xbox 360 this November.


Reviews: RPG

More About: 3D, action, battlefield bad company 2 vietnam, capcom, castlevania, castlevania lords of shadow, dead rising 2, deus ex, deus ex 3, deus ex human revolution, devil may cry, dmc, Final Fantasy, hayao miyazaki, hd, ico, japan, kinect, level 5, microsoft, miyazaki, motion gaming, ninja gaiden, ninja gaiden 3, nintendo ds, playstation 3, project dark, PSP, role-playing games, rpg, scej, shadow of the colossus, shadows of the damned, sony, sony computer entertainment, studio ghibli, team ico, team ninja, tekken, tekken tag tournament 2, tgs, tgs 2010, the last guardian, tokyo game show, tokyo game show 2010, valkyria chronicles 3, video games, Xbox 360, yakuza of the end, zombies

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Auction Site for Travel Offers Cheap Stays at Great Resorts

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 09:26 PM PDT


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

Name: Off & Away

Quick Pitch: Members bid in auctions on stays in hotel suites for up 99% off retail rates.

Genius Idea: How many five-star hotels have you stayed at? Of those, how many of those stays have been in the resort’s most prestigious suite? And how many of those stays have been for two nights or more? If your answer is greater than zero, then this post isn’t for you, money bags. The rest of us of, though, might want to try our hand at the innovative auction site Off & Away.

Off & Away promises unheard of discounts on luxury suites (up to 99% off retail prices) at top resorts in the U.S. and Mexico. These aren’t the economy rooms you can find on other travel sites. There is one giant catch — one that applies to all auction sites, including eBay, the granddaddy of them all: You must be the highest bidder when the auction ends in order to seal the deal.

Off & Away auctions start off cheap to begin with. Each new bid raises the auction price by $0.10, and each auction runs for a limited period of time. Once the time runs out, the highest bidder wins the auction. The process sounds simple enough, but Off & Away throws a few curve balls into the typical online auction format, making the auction experience a quirky ride that will likely get your blood pumping.

First, you’ll need to buy bids if you want to participate in auctions. Each bid costs $1.00, and you can buy as many or as few as you want. You can then use these bids during actions, but you’ll want to keep in mind that each bid is essentially costing you a buck.

Off & Away gets especially interesting when a hotel deal is just seconds away from going to the highest bidder; this is when the hidden bidders come out to play. Once the auction reaches the final two minutes, each new bid resets the countdown clock to 20 seconds and raises the auction price by $0.10.

Let’s say a resort stay is ready to go to the highest bidder for $49.50 with just seconds left on the clock. A lurking user could pop in with one second remaining, submit a bid, reset the clock to 20 seconds and raise the price to $49.60. Bidding continues until the rest of the bidders give up and allow the auction clock to run down to zero.

To say the formula is a catalyst for frenzied competition between stubborn bidders holding out for the best deal till the very end is a huge understatement. In my own experiences, the bidding competition that happens in the last few seconds can extend an auction for hours — it’s an exciting, adrenaline-enthused experience that often results in disappointment. Most of these hotel deals are so remarkable that your desire to win will outweigh the potential risk of defeat.

The good news is that your used bids don’t completely go to waste. Each used bid can be applied towards $1.10 off another room at the resort in question. You’re obviously not getting the suite experience with these standard room offers, but it’s still a decent consolation prize.


But Can You Really Win?


I’ve tried my hand at a few auctions to no avail. Just the possibility of a win is enticing enough to lure me in and compel me to use my prepaid bids, but I’ve yet to reach the finish line. I’ll keep trying though, and that’s in no small part due to the genius formula cooked up by CEO Doug Aley and team.

Aley assures me that eventually I will win — and that you will too. Earlier today he penned a blog post with tips on how to win. He recommends picking auctions that are less competitive and strategizing ahead of time about how and when to bid. Of course, he also recommends stocking up on bids, but that’s a no-brainer strategy that also works to the startup’s advantage.

Off & Away’s continued success will be dependent on helping more users win. After all, who wants to spend money to buy bids that essentially just go wasted?


Risk Versus Reward for Hotels


The quality of hotel stays offered through Off & Away is impressive to say the least — these hotels are the hotels we only dream about staying at. With the price of sale totally dependent on site users, we questioned Aley about the risk-reward potential for hotels who use the service.

“We have special deals worked out with our hotel partners that ensure that they don’t field any of the risk. Beyond that, our hotel partners and customers know that just because an auction goes for an incredibly inexpensive price doesn’t mean there weren’t a lot of people lurking that were interested in the room. Many times, we have a group of people that are just ’saving their bullets’ for what they think is the end of the auction, only to see their chance to bid slip away,” explains Aley.

Off & Away is a Seattle-based startup that’s raised $1.35 million from Madrona Venture Group and additional private investors. The site’s pedigree includes a staff of travel veterans from Amazon and Orbitz. As the startup evolves, look for it reduce total auction length and introduce better ways for members to apply bids used on lost auctions for better deals.


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: bizspark, hotel deals, off & away, online auctions, spark-of-genius

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Google Earth for iPhone: Now With More Oceans

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 08:27 PM PDT


Google has just released version 3.1 of Google Earth for iOS, an update that includes native iPhone 4 support and also the ability to explore the world’s oceans.

The first striking change is the quality of the imagery on the app. That’s because Google has added Retina Display support for the Google Earth iPhone app, which makes exploring the planet an even more enjoyable experience.

What really makes this app worth downloading, though, is the addition of bathymetry and ocean content. Underwater bathymetry gives you the ability to go under the surface of the ocean and explore the world’s ocean beds. The new “Ocean” layer adds information and content on some of the most interesting landmarks of the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic oceans. Much of this information is derived from content curated by the Sylvia Earle Alliance, as well as data from Wikipedia.

Google Earth for iPhone and iPad are now up-to-date with their Android counterpart, which added the “Ocean” layer last month, yet another update that makes Google Earth one of the coolest tools in Google’s arsenal. You can download the new version of the app here.

Image courtesy of Flickr, mappix


Reviews: Android, Flickr, Google, Google Earth, Wikipedia

More About: google earth, iphone, oceans

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Watch the Guggenheim YouTube Art Exhibit Finalists [VIDEOS]

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 07:29 PM PDT


Out of 23,000 artistic video clips submitted to New York’s Guggenheim museum through the YouTube Play program, 125 have been selected as finalists. Twenty of these videos will be part of an exhibit at the Guggenheim and associated museums around the world, and you can watch all the candidates online today.

The Guggenheim solicited submissions this summer; a submission could be anything from a music performance to a short film or a video game demonstration. More abstract forms were accepted, as well.

The shortlist will be reviewed by a panel that includes film director Darren Aronofsky, visual artist Takashi Murakami, recording artist Laurie Anderson, video artist Douglas Gordon and museum curator Nancy Spector. The 20 winners will go on display beginning October 21.

Here’s the official introduction montage video, plus a couple of our favorite shortlist selections. Head over to the YouTube Play video channel to see the complete set. You can also join in the discussion about the videos by perusing YouTube’s Twitter Wall for the competition — we’re not able to provide a direct link, but you should be able to find it in the channel page.


Introducing the Shortlist



Hulachess



OK Go – “This Too Shall Pass”


More About: art, exhibit, guggenheim, museum, shortlist, video, youtube, youtube play

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Pete Cashmore Interviews Ted Turner [VIDEO]

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 06:49 PM PDT


In a scenario that typifies the new-media-meets-traditional-media dialog, Mashable founder Pete Cashmore took the stage at today’s Social Good Summit to interview Ted Turner, the media mogul who founded CNN.

Their conversation covered interesting territory — which media organizations are doing a better job than others at bringing information to the masses in the digital age, why gossip rags are socially insignificant, how media can be leveraged to affect better human conditions and much more.

Of course, a Ted Turner interview wouldn’t be complete without a few of his characteristically strong epigrams. “We really should get rid of the armed forces completely. Costa Rica did it 50 years ago, and no one’s beating on them,” he told the audience. He continued to say, “War is obsolete. You end up bombing your customers.”

Turner and Cashmore also tackled such highly politicized issues as nuclear proliferation (which he called our world’s “single greatest threat”) and population control as well as more business- and media-related topics. Turner talked about CNN’s early days and the difficulty of monetizing digital media, and he expanded on his previous statement that print media was “an obsolete way of distributing information.”

Check out this fascinating interview with a fascinating character in the American media landscape, and let us know what you think in the comments. (Note: The interview begins about six minutes into this clip.)

Disclosure: Mashable has a content syndication partnership with CNN.


Reviews: Mashable

More About: interview, pete cashmore, social good, social good summit, ted turner, trending

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Apple in Talks to Add Subscription Periodicals to the iPad

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 05:49 PM PDT


If Apple gets its way, the next big wave of content to hit iTunes might be magazine and newspaper subscriptions.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is trying to convince publishers to offer newspaper and magazine subscriptions for the iPad through Apple’s own portal.

Even before the iPad was launched, rumors of this sort of arrangement were already underway. Many of the Western world’s biggest publishers, including Time Inc., Hearst and Condé Nast, released iPad-optimized magazines or newspapers to coincide with the product’s release.

However, magazines have been limited to single issue sales. Some apps notify a user when a new issue is available, but at $4 or $5 an issue, most users are unlikely to forego a print or online subscription for iPad content.

The big hold-up with bringing subscriptions to the iPad has reportedly revolved around user data and, of course, money. Publishers often use their subscriber database to better target customers and to entice advertisers. Apple reportedly doesn’t want to give publishers such easy access to customer information.

Additionally, Apple would likely want to take a 30% revenue cut off any subscriptions sold within iTunes, the same as it does for apps, music, books and video files now.

Both of these points are contentious with publishers, who have acquiesced by selling issues individually or are trying to either build apps that are really just portals to subscriber-only websites (à la The Wall Street Journal) or apps like Zinio that are PDF portals of sorts on their own.

Of course, the big promise with the iPad has been that it is an opportunity for publishers to redefine magazine or newspaper content by making it more engaging and interactive rather than just being a facsimile of the print edition.

Publishers who are looking at ways to combat declining print sales may be able to use Apple’s 160-million strong iTunes customer base to help boost sales. That might be worth a trade-off of control and profit.

For Apple, having unique arrangements with publishers to offer compelling subscription content that is auto-delivered to iOS devices could be a big differentiating factor between the iPad and future competing devices.

Apple’s foray into the world of e-books remains small, especially when compared to market giant Amazon.com, but the iPad has the ability and the form factor to provide a much more compelling experience for subscription content.

We’ve reached out to several publishers for comment on this story and have not heard back. We’ll keep following this story for future developments.

In the mean time, let us know what you think of iPad-tailored subscriptions for newspapers and magazines? Do you currently read print publications? Would you be more or less likely to subscribe to a tablet-friendly digital version? Let us know in the comments.


Reviews: Amazon.com

More About: apple, Big Media, digital content, magazines, publishing

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Facebook Co-Founder Is Building a Social Network for Non-Profits [VIDEO]

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 04:44 PM PDT


A few hours after (RED) CEO Susan Smith Ellis kicked off the Mashable & 92Y Social Good Summit by saying that she thought someone needed to create a social network specifically for connecting people to non-profit organizations, Facebook co-founder and former Director of Online Organizing for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign Chris Hughes took the stage to say he was building it. Though Hughes said he still can’t show off what his new project Jumo actually looks like, he did give the assembled crowd a clear overview of what he’s building.

Hughes began by talking about the January 12, 2010 Haiti earthquake, a disaster he classified as one of “unspeakable proportions.” Over 75,000 stories streamed in across news sources in the days and weeks following the earthquake. “The content was horrific, but ultimately galvanizing,” said Hughes, and ultimately led to $1.3 billion raised, more than $31 million of that amount coming via text message donations. According to Hughes, the disaster demonstrated two things. First, that people want to help. When we see people in need, it’s our human nature to want to reach out and lend a hand.

More importantly, however, the Haiti earthquake was a clear demonstration of the unsustainable nature of crisis response. In 1989, an earthquake of a similar magnitude hit San Francisco, said Hughes, a city roughly the same size as Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In the 1989 earthquake, 63 people died. In the 2010 earthquake, 230,000 lives were lost. “These people weren’t killed by an earthquake,” said Hughes, “the earthquake was just the catalyst. They were killed by poverty.”

With that idea in mind, Hughes is launching Jumo later this year. Jumo is an attempt to foster more long-term and sustainable relationships between the people and organizations that are working to make a difference, affecting social change on the ground in places like Haiti.

“We feel that it’s imperative to make it easy for everyday people… to take action,” said Hughes. Currently, though, it’s not easy to connect and follow people on the ground who do this work day in and day out. All over the web, relationship maps are developing, said Hughes. Facebook maps relationships between people, Yelp maps relationship between people and local businesses, Amazon maps relationships between people and products. Jumo, which will launch a beta product later this year, will map the relationships between people and non-profit organizations.

To do that, the platform will be broken up into three main components: Find, Follow and Support. First, Jumo will help you find non-profit organizations by learning the types of things that interest you and making suggestions. Second, the site will help you follow those organizations by receiving a stream of updates about the work they’re doing and how that work is affecting real people. Hughes said he doesn’t expect people to visit Jumo.com every day, but will instead offer the stream to people wherever they are, be that email, Facebook, mobile or elsewhere.

Finally, Jumo will help people support the organizations with which they’ve built a relationship. Hughes thinks that the call for support should come only after people and organizations have built that connection with one another. All too often, said Hughes, the donate button on websites is big, flashy, and colorful and email calls to action are in all caps and start with the word “Urgent!” Hughes hopes that Jumo will move organizations toward a new era where relationships are forged and cultivated before calls to action.

Check out Hughes’ presentation from the Social Good Summit below and let us know what you think of the concept of Jumo in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Flickr, ari


Reviews: Amazon.com, Facebook, Flickr, Yelp

More About: chris hughes, facebook founder, jumo, social good, social good summit

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Mail.com Sold for Up to $100 Million

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 04:12 PM PDT


Mail.com Media Corporation (MMC), the owner of OnCars, Deadline.com, Movieline.com and Boy Genius Report, has sold its Mail.com e-mail service and domain to United Internet AG, a multi-billion dollar German Internet service provider and telecom giant. Our sources say the web property was sold for between $50 and $100 million.

In its announcement, Los Angeles-based MMC said that it has entered a “strategic partnership” with United Internet AG. As part of the agreement, MMC will remain the “primary global content provider for the Mail.com portal” despite its sale. Mail.com e-mail users will eventually be transferred over to GMX Mail, a subsidiary of United Internet AG. While they’ll get to keep their e-mail addresses, the GMX interface and platform will replace the current Mail.com platform.

The two companies have also agreed to work together to launch properties in international markets, starting with Germany and India.

You may be wondering what will happen to MMC? After all, you can’t really keep Mail.com in your company’s name if you don’t even own it. MMC realizes this too and promises to share a “new corporate identity” in the coming weeks. In other words, the company is going to change its branding to reflect its focus on publishing digital content from its subsidiaries.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Pablo631


Reviews: iStockphoto

More About: BGR, Boy Genius Report, GMX, Mail.com, MMC, United Internet AG, United Internet Group

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“Halo: Reach” by the Numbers

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 03:20 PM PDT


Like it or not, few games have been so profoundly influential as Halo. Its various sequels and spin-offs have generated billions of dollars, consumed eons of man hours and completely altered gaming in general. Each successive release has set precedents and Halo: Reach was certainly no exception.

As Reach approaches its one-week anniversary, Bungie dropped a bunch of stats on the game's performance:

  • 31,000,000 games have been played since launch.
  • 98,000,000 player games have been recorded.
  • 8,214,338 Daily Challenges have been completed.
  • 255,996 Weekly Challenges have been completed.
  • 78,499,560,895 total credits have been earned.
  • 953 years have been spent in match-made games.
  • 1,365 years have been spent in campaign.
  • 854,107 files have been uploaded.
  • 577,804 recommendations have been sent to friends.
  • 4,619,455 files have been downloaded.

The numbers are almost as disheartening as they are impressive. More than 2,000 years have been spent in game — in less than a week. And if you've somehow fought the urge to get into the game thus far, maybe the trailer will change your mind:

More About: halo, halo reach, microsoft, stats, Xbox 360

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How Non-Profits Can Rally Support for Online Contests

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 02:36 PM PDT


Bassie Shemtov is the co-founder and director of The Friendship Circle, based in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The Friendship Circle is the founding branch of a now international non-profit serving the special needs population at 80 locations.

Cause marketing is quickly becoming a popular option for corporations looking to give back to the community and spark awareness around social issues. From the Chase Community Giving challenge to the Pepsi Refresh Project to the Giving Made Simple contest by Sam's Club, non-profits are sitting on a mound of opportunity.

When it comes to online cause contests, what does it take for your non-profit to win? The answer, in brief, is passionate supporters and an organization that understands social media and recognizes its power to guide supporters to the polls.

But how do you gather all your supporters on the social web and concentrate their efforts toward a single goal? There is no silver bullet that will work for every non-profit, but here are some suggested steps to follow if you’re ready to organize the troops and clinch that contest win.


Get Everyone Involved, but Focus Your Effort



A successful campaign for online contests won’t happen overnight. It requires a dedicated effort on behalf of your entire organization. Remember, your internal brand advocates are on the front lines with your current and potential supporters. Identify a staff member or build a team of staff who enjoy social media and have passion and time for the cause. Make sure they are kept informed of contest developments, strategy, external messaging goals, and then let them take the lead on sharing the campaign message online.

On the back end, hire a web designer (if you don’t have one in-house) who can create stimulating and vibrant graphics and widgets for web marketing purposes.

Take Kiva for example. The micro-lending website for small businesses made its Vimeo video its primary campaigning tool in their bid to win the entrepreneur category of Sam's Club’s Giving Made Simple contest, landing the organization $1 million.


Target Your Current Supporters First


It’s best to first focus on the supporters you already have. They can quickly become your social brand activists and expand your reach far greater than your organization could on its own.

Start with individual outreach before reaching out to the masses. If you use an e-mail marketing system like Mail Chimp, you can identify those who already have an account on popular social networks and their relative social influence via a feature called Social Pro.

From here, send messages catered to users of specific social networks, or reach out individually to supporters with personalized e-mails, Facebook or LinkedIn messages. Don't forget that direct mail can also be used to update your supporters about your online initiatives. No matter which vehicle you choose to deliver the message, clearly spell out how supporters can help you win the contest.


Maximize Sharing Potential


Make sure to give precise directions when trying to roll out an organized online campaign:

  • Develop pre-packaged content that supporters can easily click and share over the social networks where they work and play.
  • Create a custom landing page tailored to the campaign and contest, easily identified by a unique URL and easily accessed by all browsers and mobile phones.
  • Create pre-packaged Facebook status updates, tweets, blog badges and banners, and encourage your supporters to share them with their online communities.
  • Always give your audience the capability to repost, re-tweet, share and e-mail your information.
  • Always post interesting content that is attractive to share and effective in vote conversion.

Above is the custom page my non-profit, Friendship Circle, created specifically for the Chase Community Giving challenge. It explains specifically how to cast a vote and comes equipped with messaging for different social networks and tools.


Create Incentives to Increase Participation


Does your organization have something to give away to reward participation? Free t-shirts, magnets, tote bags, water bottles — anything that can offer recognition to those who participated is encouraged. While we’d like to think that people participate simply for the satisfaction of helping out a cause, it never hurts to add a little extra something if it may encourage more votes.

To encourage voter participation, Lucas Christian Academy in Lucas, Texas is raffling a free iPad in exchange for five votes in the Kohl's Cares contest.


Keep The Momentum Going


The contest maybe over, but regardless of the outcome, you can’t let your passionate online supporters fade. First, show your gratitude and appreciation. If someone changed their Facebook status to include a link to the voting site, or if a blogger embedded your contest widget, make sure you thank them. Showing appreciation can go a long way, and can easily be a good support generation tool.

Take a look at the thank you video Sea Shepherd put together for its supporters who landed the organization $15K in the eBay Giving Works contest.

Before your next event or campaign, take a proactive approach to engaging your biggest fans online. Blog, tweet, and post Facebook updates, but don't be confined. Experiment with other variations of content distribution. Post photos on Flickr, tweet a photo using TwitPic, take event photos and create sets on Flickr, share presentations you give on SlideShare, and create a video for a story that might typically be told in text. If you give your followers a reason to continue their relationship with you online, they will be instrumental in your success as an organization. Enthusiasm is contagious; if you suddenly disappear online, your supporters will follow suit.

There is no magic method to secure an online contest win for a non-profit, so don't go into a campaign with the expectation that every piece of content you share and create online will miraculously go viral. And don't change who you are as an organization simply because you think the campaign will fair better. Continue to be who you are and do what you love any time you ask supporters to help you win a contest and make a difference in the communities you serve, online or off.


More Social Good Resources from Mashable:


- How CrisisCommons Is Helping the Tech Community Help Others
- 5 Social Fundraising Alternatives to Facebook Causes
- 5 Non-Profit iPhone Apps You Should Know About
- 8 Tips for a Successful Social Media Cause Campaign
- How Non-Profits are Using Social Media for Real Results

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Franck-Boston


Reviews: Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, Twitpic, Vimeo, blog, iStockphoto

More About: Chase Community Giving, eBay Giving Works, facebook, fans, flickr, Friendship Circle, Giving Made Simple, kiva, Kohl's Cares, Lucas Christian Academy, mail chimp, non-profit, online contests, pepsi refresh, Sea Shepherd, social good, social media, social pro, supporters, twitter

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Play Your Pirated TV Shows on the iPad [APP]

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 02:17 PM PDT


If you thought Apple’s more relaxed App Store policies were limited to Google Voice apps, think again.

The popular open source media player VLC now has its own free iPad app [iTunes link] available in the App Store. VLC Media Player lets iPad owners play back all kinds of video content natively on their tablet devices.

As a media player, the iPad is almost — but not entirely — perfect out of the box. Although Apple supports QuickTime (.MOV), MPEG-4 H.264 (.MP4 and .MPV) and certain video formats from digital cameras, playing back .MKV files, or .AVI files encoded with Xvid or Divx, hasn’t been a real possibility in the native media player.

Not only could those files not be synced via iTunes, playing them back from the Internet (via Dropbox or other options) just hasn’t been feasible. Media server solutions like Air Video [iTunes link] aside, playing content you already have downloaded on your Mac or PC on your iPad has usually required converting file formats first.

VLC Media Player solves this problem. Although VLC isn’t the first third-party app to take on media codec support (CineXPlayer [iTunes link] was released earlier in the summer), it is free and it carries the well-respected VLC name.

We uploaded some of our media to the app (using the iTunes file transfer process) and then tried it out.

First, the good news: An .AVI of the most recent episode of Mad Men played back brilliantly. It looked just like watching the AVI on a laptop or a television set. Sound was solid, scrubbing through the file was quick and artifacting wasn’t any more pronounced than the original.

Now the bad news: An old .MKV of The Office utterly failed. To its credit, VLC warned me that my iPad may be too slow to play back the file. And I can believe that. Depending on the bitrate and compression settings, .MKV files can be problematic even on more powerful equipment. Still, anyone hoping to watch their higher-quality .MKV files on the iPad are going to be disappointed. We haven’t had the chance to run any test footage through Handbrake to see if we can produce playable .MKV files, but at this point, H.264 or Xvid AVI is where we would suggest focusing your video efforts.

Check out our hands-on gallery to see VLC for iPad in action. Have you used it yet? Please share your experiences in the comments.


VLC Splash Screen




This is the "About" screen.


VLC in Portrait Mode




This is how files are displayed in portrait mode.


VLC in Landscape Mode




This is how files are displayed in landscape. Note the "HD" distinction on the .MKV file.


VLC AVI Playback 1





VLC AVI Playback 2





VLC AVI Playback 3





VLC MKV Error




VLC warns that the iPad may be too slow for this file.


VLC MKV Blank




It's right! Aside from distorted sound, the video screen is blank!


VLC MKV Choppy




Scrubbing forward does bring up video but it's choppy, unplayable and paired with distorted or no audio. Playback fail.


Reviews: App Store, Dropbox, Internet, VLC media player, iTunes

More About: AVI, ipad, ipad apps, media players, MKV, video codecs, video players, vlc

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Foursquare 2.0 for the iPhone Has Arrived

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 02:01 PM PDT


When Facebook Places launched, Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley was quick to label Facebook’s location offering as generic. In his rebuttal statements on the competing service, Crowley also promised a completely new version of the iPhone app with functionality that would be like “Instapaper for the real world.” The wait for the new iPhone app is over — version 2.0 has arrived.

In version 2.0 [iTunes link], Foursquare emphasizes Tips and To-Dos, which are now split up and given prominent placement in the application’s bottom navigation bar. The emphasis is not application specific, as Foursquare will now also connect the dots between web discovery and mobile activity.

The goal is to encourage app users to look at Foursquare as a way to easily save the places they want to visit and store activities that might be of future interest. Foursquare drives this point home with a brand new “Add to My Foursquare” button — an embeddable button for the web that’s already been tested by the likes of The Wall Street Journal.

Soon you’ll start to see “Add to My Foursquare” buttons on popular media and lifestyle websites including Time Out New York, Time Out Chicago, Eater, New York Magazine, The National Post, Zagat and The New York Times. Anyone can add the buttons to encourage web visitors to clip a venue or Tip as a To-Do for future discovery.

As a Foursquare user, the value is immediately apparent: Read about something you want to do on the web, clip it with the button and then have access to that activity or venue inside the mobile app. Plus, when you’re using the new application, Foursquare will visually alert you to nearby saved To-Do’s; just look for the blue dog ear denoting the To-Do in question. You’ll also get a reminder about a saved To-Do when you check in at the corresponding venue.

Foursquare is also upgrading the Tips experience. Tips will now be featured more prominently on venue pages, and Foursquare will be ranking Tips by popularity, as well as drawing users’ attention to Tips left by friends.

Ultimately, Foursquare’s revamped iPhone app experience will help the startup remain innovative in the crowded mobile location space. Plus, the “Add to My Foursquare” buttons will seamlessly connect venue websites and suggested city Tips with mobile action in a way that is both business and consumer-friendly.

The enhanced Tips and To-Dos version of Foursquare is making its way to iPhone first, but Crowley assures us that new applications for BlackBerry and Android will be rolling out in a few weeks time.


Screenshots



Reviews: Android, Foursquare

More About: add to my foursquare, foursquare, foursquare buttons, iphone, trending

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Howard Buffet Calls Upon Us to Redefine Innovation [VIDEO]

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 01:23 PM PDT

Howard Buffet, director of agricultural development at the U.S. Department of Defense and grandson of businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett, gave a rousing speech at the Mashable & 92Y Social Good Summit about how we have to reintroduce humanity into the technological realm when it comes to social good.

In the video above, Buffet points out that while burgeoning technology has made it easier for us to do good, it has also created barriers to personal engagement. According to Buffet, we’re no longer in need of new tools — we’re in need of the will to act.

Check out Buffet’s speech and let us know your thoughts in the comments: What you think of his point of view?


Reviews: Mashable

More About: howard-buffet, social good, social media, video

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OnLive Debuts Wi-Fi Beta: Play 3D Games on Any Computer

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 01:08 PM PDT


OnLive streams graphics-intensive, triple-A video games as if they were YouTube videos, allowing gamers without hardcore gaming rigs to play games on their Macs or PCs.

Previously, the service only worked over a wired network connection, but OnLive has just launched a public Wi-Fi beta that lets you play games wirelessly. Well, some of the time, anyway.

Wireless networks are not nearly as stable or speedy as wired networks, so a lot more can go wrong. OnLive has tried to take this into account by tweaking and optimizing its technology with those limitations in mind, and when we tried the beta we were very impressed with what the team has accomplished.

That said, it’s not perfect. There’s more control lag over Wi-Fi — most gamers won’t notice but first-person-shooter freaks will definitely cringe. We also had to stay very close to our wireless router to keep playing. Even moving into an adjacent room caused us to receive a message that said, “Your Internet connection has dropped to minimum quality” and force-pause our game.

OnLive is aware of these challenges, and that’s why the team that designed and tested the Wi-Fi tech have implemented a feature that pauses your game for up to five minutes when you’ve lost connection. In most cases, five minutes will be long enough for you to relocate or otherwise address the problem.

As we said previously, we’re impressed with the tech, and we expect it to improve with time. It is just a beta test, after all. The beta is available as an opt-in to all OnLive users who have connections 3 Mbps or faster, so give it a shot if you have a Mac or a PC.

Not familiar with OnLive? Check out our video demonstrating the service at E3 2010 below.


OnLive E3 Video



Reviews: Onlive

More About: beta, cloud computing, gaming, mac, onlive, pc, streaming, video games, wi-fi, Wireless

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How Social Media Helped 174 Million People Get the Message About Malaria

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 12:42 PM PDT


Before Ray Chambers was tapped as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Malaria, figuring out ways to stop the spread of the deadly mosquito-borne illness was already a topic on his mind. In 2006 the private equity investor founded Malaria No More with then-News Corporation President and COO Peter Chernin, with the goal of ending malaria deaths. However, it wasn’t until Ashton Kutcher got involved in 2009 that Chambers really began to see the potential power of social media to raise awareness and create positive social change.

According to the World Health Organization, there are about 3.3 billion people at risk of contracting malaria around the world, and the result of so many people at risk is an estimated 250 million malaria cases and 1 million deaths per year. The majority of those deaths are among young people, especially in Africa, Chambers said. Yet a relatively cheap and effective means of controlling the spread of malaria exists in the $10, insecticide-treated bed nets that Chambers raised money to purchase through his Malaria No More charity.

In April 2009, just over a year after he was appointed the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Malaria, Chambers got in touch with Sarah Ross, the head of digital at Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst Media. Along with Kutcher, Ross and Chambers devised a way to inject malaria awareness into the much-publicized race to 1 million followers between Kutcher and CNN. The end result was a $100,000 donation each by Kutcher and CNN to purchase bed nets. A massive amount of awareness about the issue was also raised via thousands of tweets.

Perhaps more importantly, this was an introduction of sorts to social media for Chambers. “We saw the amount of visibility that was created when Ashton would tweet” about the power of a $10 bed net to save lives, said Chambers. He was amazed by how many people social media could reach so quickly.

Fast forward to 2010 and Chambers, Kutcher and Ross again convened to utilize social media to spread malaria awareness and raise money. The three put together a team of social media envoys consisting of 50 of the most followed people and organizations on Twitter (including Mashable). These social media envoys promised to tweet (or otherwise push out via social media) information about malaria once per month. The results, shared Chambers, have been astounding.

The first round of social media mentions on World Malaria Day, April 25, 2010, reached over 28 million people, spreading awareness and calls to action farther than any traditional media campaign could — at least not without a tremendous upfront cost. As of this week, the social media envoy program has reached over 174 million people, Chambers revealed.

Chambers showed the video embedded below, which recaps the progress of the social media envoy program, at the Mashable Social Good Summit.

Chambers predicted that by 2015, malaria will no longer cause any deaths. An important part of achieving that goal will be the continued use of social media to raise the awareness and money necessary to protect people from infection.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, MShep2


Reviews: Twitter, iStockphoto

More About: ashton kutcher, malaria, Ray Chambers, social good, World Health Organization

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HOW TO: Build Your International Business Network Online

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 12:14 PM PDT

This series is brought to you by UPS. Discover the new logistics. It levels playing fields and lets you act locally or globally. It’s for the individual entrepreneur, the small business, or the large company. Put the new logistics to work for you.

networking

International business requires an international network. But, unless you own a private jet, there are obvious obstacles to networking in person with people who live in other countries.

Thankfully, the web is truly worldwide, and these obstacles can be easily overcome with a little online networking and social interaction. We asked people who have successfully accumulated large online international networks about their recommendations for getting started. This is what they had to say.

Add your own tips for building an international professional network via the web in the comments below.


1. Join International Groups and Networks


Participating in online discussions that include international voices is a primary way to make connections and expand your international network. E-mail lists, online groups, and networking sites are easy ways for getting involved in these discussions.

Shel Horowitz, a publishing consultant who started an international business ethics pledge that includes signers from more than 30 countries, says he's met most of his international contacts through online discussions.

"Over a period of time, people exchange information, answer questions, pontificate on whatever is going on in the publishing world," he says. "And not only did I develop an international network of friends and colleagues through this, but also a considerably greater expertise in the publishing consulting I do."

What kind of discussions you join will depend upon what your networking goals are. "You have to find a niche and decide who you want to meet," says Vinil Ramdev, an India-based consultant for entrepreneurs. "Because if you're an actor and you're only meeting entrepreneurs, that's not going to help.”

Social networking sites like LinkedIn or community platforms like Groupsite.com host discussions that you can search by interest, meaning you can find relevant international topics with the right search terms. E-mail lists from your alma mater, professional societies, and any organizations you belong to most likely have international members, as well. If you're looking specifically to meet international contacts, however, you might also consider:

  • Viadeo: Like LinkedIn, but oriented for European business
  • Ushi.cn: An invite-only business networking platform for China
  • A Small World: Another invite-only networking site that links members with other members, discussions, and events related to their interests
  • Internations: Connect with expats living around the world. Membership is invitation-based, but you can request an invitation, so you don't actually need to know a member.
  • Xing: Like LinkedIn, but has a stronger presence in Europe
  • Sandbox Network : Designed for the most influential people under age 30, this by-application-only social network has "ambassadors” in more than 20 cities.
  • MeetingWave: This site allows you to search for networking events and meetings by interest and location. Look for international networking events near you.
  • GeeksOnaPlane: Promotes cultural exchange through technology and entrepreneurship. You can request an invite to join the group on their international travels.
  • Orkut: This is Google’s social networking site, which is quite popular in Brazil and India. You can target your posts by groups of friends, such as “Work Buddies” or “International Contacts.” All you have to do is create and name a category of contacts and add people. This feature allows you to keep your work and personal lives separate.

You may have noticed that some of these networks are invite only. But you should be encouraged, not intimidated, by the exclusivity, says Severin Jan Ruegger, the co-founder of the Sandbox Network.

"With LinkedIn or Facebook anybody can join. And I don't dispute that they're helpful in certain situations," he says. "But sometimes there is a lack of trust. And in any relationship there has to be some trust." In Ruegger’s experience, people are more approachable, helpful and willing to talk to him in invite-only networks.

If you're looking for an invite, Rawn Shah, the author of Social Networking for Business and a member of the Social Software Enablement Team at IBM, suggests that you check your existing connections to see if they are members of the group you want to join. Some sites, like Sandbox, have application-like invitation processes, in which case you can just apply.

Another option is to create your own e-mail list or group, which is what Horowitz did when the e-mail list he was on stopped meeting his needs.

"I just announced to that list that I was starting another list and that this was what was going to be different, and a critical mass signed up very quickly," he says.


2. Don't Forget About the Classics


While targeting international networks and groups is effective, networks that you may already belong to, like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, can also be extremely helpful if leveraged properly. In fact, Horowitz says his first international speaking gig came from LinkedIn.

Ramdev uses these networks to stay in touch with people after he has met them online, at a conference, in a webinar, or by commenting on a blog. "E-mail is very hard to send because it's one on one," he says. "If I update my Facebook status, though, I have 30 or 40 people commenting on it."

It's important not to go overboard while inviting people to your network on these platforms, however. "More connections doesn’t necessarily mean better, stronger relationships that help you in business," he says. "Work first on interacting on a regular pace with your peers in the group through the discussion."

Shah also recommends limiting the number of groups you're involved in on sites like LinkedIn as well: "You want a productive relationship, which means that you should interact with others in the group for some time (at least a few weeks), and decide for yourself if it is worth staying in," he says. "This means that it will take time to form your relationships in each group. The effort is not wasted, however, if you decide not to stay. It gives you perspective into different views and mindsets. Also if you look across groups, you might find the same names appearing repeatedly as they post. They may be worth getting to know."

It's also worth understanding that different networking sites are popular in different countries. The above map uses data from Alexa and Google to show which sites are the most popular in each country.


3. Attend International Conferences and Webinars Online


Luckily, there are a lot of webinars and live-streamed conferences out there. Seek out these opportunities to connect with industry professionals, and when you attend, make sure you stick around for conversation. After you physically attend a conference or seminar, you generally make small talk with your fellow attendees and the host after it ends, right? There's no reason you can't do that online as well.

"It's a little more difficult obviously, however, the approach is very similar to offline," says Ruegger. "You might also do that by chatting or sending a quick e-mail to follow up. It can also be personal. It doesn't have to be very stiff and business-like. Something that makes you approachable, that makes you nice."

Shah suggests taking advantage of the bio and contact information that is usually posted for each speaker by making contact after the seminar. It's also helpful to chat with the group in the group space during the webinar or contact individuals about a comment they made or a question they asked during the webinar.

Another great way to stay in touch with your online international contacts is to invite them to your own webinar, which you can create using tools like Supercool School.


4. Find a Way to Interact With Your Contacts


Collecting contacts internationally isn't merely a matter of adding connections to your social sites. If you want a valuable international network, you'll need to stay in touch.

Ruegger's approach is to be as helpful as possible. "Send opportunities, links — anything that you know these people would value. Send it over, give a contact, introduce people, and bring people together," he says. "[It's] just like offline. Introduce people to each other. All these interactions over time will build you a network that needs to be nurtured."

Ramdev stays in touch with his network, which is mostly composed of entrepreneurs, by linking to information that will be relevant to them on his Twitter feed (as pictured above).


5. Make Your Web Presence Internationally Friendly


When Horowitz started his first web page in 1996, he took very seriously the phrase "world wide web." His page included an introduction that was translated in a number of languages and apologized for an inability to translate the rest of the page.

Today, he is able to use a WordPress plug-in called Global Translator that automatically translates his site into 48 different languages.

Horowitz also started the International Association of Earth-Conscious Marketers and recommends using the word "international" in any discussion groups or e-mail threads you start. "Having the word 'international' in print says, 'you are welcome, we want your input,’" he says.


6. Understand How Networking Differs in Other Cultures


"There are significant differences in culture that alter the way you network," says Ruegger, who has spent time living in China and several European countries. "American people have a tendency to understand networking and its purpose as possibly useful, but it's much harder on an Asian continent."

Ruegger says the best way to learn about networking in other cultures is to live there. For instance, while living in China he learned that it's not culturally appropriate to criticize people or make suggestions in a public setting like a forum.

Obviously, moving to another country isn't an option for everybody. But you can still take cultural differences into account. "Even though it may be virtual, people instinctively transfer the work behaviors, norms and expectations from the physical world into the online world," Shah says. "There are many books on working with international cultures which would be a good start. Search Google or Amazon for “Doing business in [country].”

You can also use a site like Forrester Research to learn about how people use social media in whatever country you wish to target.

Shah says one thing to keep in mind is that in some cultures, personal and business networking is strictly separate. Therefore, it might be advisable to exclude your beach photos from profiles that you plan to use for international business networking.


7. Meet Online Contacts in Person Whenever Possible


It's great to have online contacts, but offline relationships are often easier to maintain. If you happen to be in the area of an online contact, ask to meet them in person.

“You actually try to physically meet the people who you met online … which then makes them much stronger connections in your general network …” Reugger says.


Series supported by UPS


This series is brought to you by UPS. Discover the new logistics. It levels playing fields and lets you act locally or globally. It’s for the individual entrepreneur, the small business, or the large company. Put the new logistics to work for you.


More Networking Resources from Mashable:


- HOW TO: Use Facebook for Professional Networking
- 7 Lessons for Better Networking with Social Media
- Zen and the Art of Twitter: 4 Tips for Productive Tweeting
- 4 Steps for Effective Online Networking
- HOW TO: Use Social Media to Retain Customers

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Reviews: A Small World, Facebook, Google, Groupsite.com, LinkedIn, Orkut, Twitter, WordPress, XING, iStockphoto

More About: business, business networking, International Business Series, international networking, linkedin, networking, online networks, orkut, Rawn Shah, Severin Jan Ruegger, Shel Horowitz, small business, Vinil Ramdev

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HP Photosmart eStation Printer Is a Giant Dock for a Little Android Tablet

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 11:27 AM PDT


HP is taking one half-step into tablet computing. Following news that it had axed plans for an Android-based tablet in favor of its newly acquired WebOS, HP announced today the Photosmart eStation, a printer with a very distinct touchscreen.

So distinct, in fact, that little attention will be paid to the fairly robust printer that it sits on. The reason is that this 7-inch touchscreen detaches to become a functional tablet mobile-computing-device-thing. What's more, is that it runs on the back of Android.

The printer serves as a base station for the tablet, and as far as all-in-one printers go, it's well spec'd. The eStation will crank out about 30 pages per minute in black or color, while its flatbed scanner is capable of 1200 x 2400 dpi scans. Of course, the eStation is a wireless animal, with built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and it will soon support AirPrint from iOS 4.2 devices.

For the tablet, HP elected to use a special build of Android geared toward printing. It also partnered with Barnes & Noble to quickly amp up its e-reader capabilities. The device doesn't carry much raw computing power, but it is capable of effectively browsing the web and other basic tasks.

On the surface, the HP Photosmart eStation is simply an all-in-one with an added bonus, but at its core the eStation marks for HP a leery move into tablet computing. HP maintains one of the largest tech footprints, but its lack of a tablet offering is not insignificant. While this device isn't running WebOS (which HP recently took ownership of when it acquired Palm), the company is cognisant that this holiday season will be crucial to gaining tablet marketshare.

A combo device like the Photosmart eStation is representative of an opportunistic land grab. While it does include a formidable printer and passable tablet, the real purpose for HP is to snatch a share of the tablet market in front of the launch of its WebOS Slate device — which is scheduled for release next year.

Each unit sold will serve to accelerate the adoption of tablet-like devices and, more importantly, amplify HP brand cache in the tablet space — an important factor to consider when its WebOS Slate hits shelves. At its $399 price point, the cost of entry is just low enough that the eStation could very well find itself popular among those who are just curious enough about the whole tablet/e-reader thing, but not sold on Apple’s iPad.


Reviews: Android

More About: android, apple, e-reader, eStation, HP, ipad, Photosmart, printer, Tablet

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(RED) Pledges to Use Social Media to Help Fight the Spread of AIDS

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 11:19 AM PDT


Today at Mashable’s Social Good Summit, Susan Smith Ellis, CEO of (RED), took to the stage to announce the organization’s next goal: To use social media to help ensure that no children is born with HIV/AIDS by 2015.

(RED) has already successfully employed social media to get its message across. As Ellis points out, the organization doesn’t exactly have a high marketing budget, so it “requires a high level of engagement” to raise awareness. To do so, they strive to humanize the cause by telling stories. “Social media will be the engine of our success,” she says.

The most recent effort was The Lazarus Effect, an HBO documentary about the effect ARVs can have on people with HIV/AIDS. The film was directed by Lance Bangs and executive produced by Ellis and Spike Jonze. You can now watch the documentary on YouTube.

According to Ellis, the film has been viewed by more than one million people since it debuted in May. The film was also featured on (RED)’s iPad app [iTunes link]. In case you haven’t seen it, we’re embedding the documentary below. Check it out and keep an eye on (RED) to see what efforts are on the horizon when it comes to meeting its next goal.

(RED), in partnership with Mashable, also announced the first annual Social Good Day, which takes place on September 23.


Reviews: Mashable, YouTube

More About: charity, Red, social good, social media

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Meebo Celebrates Its 5th Birthday with New Design and BlackBerry App

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 10:17 AM PDT


Instant messaging service Meebo is celebrating its fifth birthday with a slew of new updates to the Meebo Bar, a redesigned homepage and the launch of an app for BlackBerry.

The company is releasing two new features for the Meebo Bar, which adds chat and drag-and-drop functionality to any website with a bar that rests at the bottom of the page. The first is highlight-to-share text functionality, while Meebo’s new embeddable buttons allow for drag-and-drop sharing of images or articles right on the page.

Meebo has also announced the release of its BlackBerry App. Like its iPhone and Android counterparts, the BlackBerry app gives users access to their different IM accounts. One of its key features is seamless transition between the desktop and the mobile client. It also provides full access to a user’s chat history.

Finally, Meebo has launched a redesign of its homepage, which the company says is just the first step towards a complete redesign. It’s cleaner and adds a new focus on its mobile apps.

Hitting the five-year mark is definitely a milestone for Meebo. We’ve been covering the company for years. Now it is one of the web’s most popular websites and instant messaging clients; the company claims its products reach 30% of U.S. Internet users. We look forward to seeing what Meebo is able to conjure up in the next five years.


Reviews: Android, Internet, Tvider Blackberry App

More About: blackberry, blackberry app, meebo, redesign

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LIVE: Watch the Mashable & 92Y Social Good Summit

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 09:58 AM PDT

Mashable and 92Y present a Summit of the most inspirational, promising and effective ways in which new media can help address the world’s challenges. As the world’s attention turns to New York for UN Week, this Summit showcases and celebrates the power and potential of digital media.

The Social Good Summit, one of the few public events being held during UN Week, is all about solutions. Every speaker will explain how digital media and innovative ideas can combine to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the UN's framework for creating a safer and healthier world for us all. With a 900-strong live audience, global livestream and national media partners, we'll share these solutions with the goal of encouraging even more.

For more coverage around the Social Good Summit/UN Week Digital Media Lounge, check out UNWeekMedia.com


AGENDA


12:00 p.m. – Registration
1:00 – 1:10 p.m. – Opening Remarks from Mashable, 92Y and the UN Foundation
1:10 – 1:35 p.m. – Opening Keynote from Susan Smith Ellis, CEO of (RED)
1:35 – 1:50p.m. – Ray Chambers, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Malaria
1:50 – 2:05 p.m. – Geena Davis, Academy Award-winning actor and founder, See Jane in conversation with Soledad O'Brien, anchor and special correspondent, CNN/US.
2:05 – 2:15 p.m. – Adam Conner, Associate Manager, Public Policy, Facebook
2:15 – 2:20 p.m. – A conversation with Sherri Rollins Westin, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Sesame Workshop, and Kami from Takalani Sesame
2:20 – 2:40 p.m. – Judy McGrath, CEO of MTV Networks, overseeing MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and VH1 among other media brands, interviewed by Elizabeth Gore, Executive Director Global Partnerships, United Nations Foundation
2:40 – 2:55 p.m. – Howard W. Buffett, Policy Advisor for the White House Domestic Policy Council
2:55 – 3:05 p.m. – Carrie James, Research Director, Project Zero, Harvard University
3:05 – 3:40 p.m. – Networking Break
3:40 – 3:55 p.m. – Oren Jacob, Executive Producer, "Ready, Set, Bag!" – Ensemble Pictures
3:55 – 4:05 p.m. – Jessica Jackley, Founder/CEO of ProFounder and Founder/Former CMO Kiva
4:05 – 4:20 p.m. – Dr. Lisa Masterson, co-host of "The Doctors" and founder of Maternal Fetal Care International, interviewed by Rachel Sklar, Editor-at-Large, Mediaite.com
4:20pm – 4:30 p.m. – CNN Hero Doc Hendley, founder and president of Wine to Water
4:30pm – 4:40 p.m. – A conversation with Jack Leslie, Chairman of United States African Development Foundation, and Bonin Bough, Global Director of Social Media, PepsiCo
4:40 – 5:00 p.m. – Chris Hughes, Founder, Jumo
5:00 – 5:10 p.m. – Tom Kaplan, President of the Board of Directors, 92Y
5:10 – 5:15 p.m. — Edward Norton, Award-winning actor and Founder of Crowdrise
5:15 – 5:50 p.m. – Keynote interview with Ted Turner, Chairman of Turner Enterprises, Inc. and Pete Cashmore, Founder/CEO, Mashable


In Partnership with



Livestream is the most powerful live broadcast platform on the Internet. Producers can use the Livestream browser-based Studio application to create LIVE, scheduled and on-demand internet television to broadcast anywhere on the web through a single player widget. Our service comes in two flavors Free (ad-supported) and Premium (white-label, no-ads, pay for usage). Unique features include the ability to mix multiple live cameras, imported videos clips, and overlay graphics. With Livestream, producers can broadcast live from a mobile phone; use a customizable flash player with integrated chat; and develop a branded channel page on www.Livestream.com that incorporates interactive chat.


Supporting Sponsors


Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. Since 1981, Blackbaud's sole focus and expertise has been partnering with nonprofits and providing them the solutions they need to make a difference in their local communities and worldwide. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to helping achieve the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in the areas of maternal and child health by applying innovative mobile technologies. The rapid proliferation of cell phones has made it possible to provide timely health information in even the most remote locations. In February 2010, Johnson & Johnson launched Text4Baby in the U.S. through its partnership with the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB). In September 2010, we announced a five year initiative with our affiliate, BabyCenter, focusing on mobile health outreach to mothers in six countries starting with China, India and South Africa.


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Reviews: Facebook, Internet, Mashable, social media

More About: 92y, livestream, mashable, social good summit, trending, un foundation

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Apple Acquires Face Recognition Company [RUMOR]

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 09:45 AM PDT


Reports are popping up that Apple has purchased the Swedish company Polar Rose, which specializes in face recognition technology and software. It’s too soon to say what Apple will use Polar Rose’s tech for, but mobile face recognition applications are a strong possibility.

Polar Rose recently shut down its consumer face-tagging service, and now it appears that the decision was made because of the acquisition by Apple.

The video we’ve embedded below demonstrates an augmented reality (AR) app called Recognizr with the tech Augmented ID, which Polar Rose co-developed. It allows you to point your handset’s camera at a friend and quickly see links to his or her social networking profiles and updates. The tech recognizes his or her face and surrounds it with icons linking to relevant information.

Apple already uses face recognition to tag photos in iPhoto, but this acquisition could mean it plans to use face recognition for new things. Because of Polar Rose’s successes with mobile technology, native iPhone apps and features are as good a guess as any, but there are other possibilities. Polar Rose also works on server-side technology, so it could be a feature for MobileMe.

It’s a guessing game right now. The acquisition hasn’t even been formally announced; it has just been scooped by Norwegian and Swedish news outlets. We have reached out to Apple and Polar Rose for comment and will update this post with further information.


Video: Recognizr with Augmented ID


[via MacRumors]


Reviews: MobileMe, iPhone, iPhoto

More About: acquisition, apple, AR, augmented id, Augmented Reality, business, face detection, face recognition, facial recognition, iphone, Mobile 2.0, polar rose, sweden, tat

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10 Inspiring Non-Traditional Workspaces [PICS]

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 09:34 AM PDT


This series is supported by RingCentral, the leading business phone system designed for today's small businesses, entrepreneurs, and mobile professionals. Visit RingCentral.com to learn more.

Spirit-breaking, gray cubicles and dismal staff lounges with bad asymmetrical wall art are thankfully starting to become a thing of the past as more companies are realizing that a little style can go a long way, both for productivity and company morale.

Whether it’s colorful decor, a unique venue, fun additions, or even an outdoor workspace, the companies included in our gallery understand that by creating an inspiring workplace, they are more likely to end up with an inspired staff.

Have a look through the images below and let us know which unusual workspace you wouldn’t mind commuting to.

1. Bahnhof's Underground Data Center




Swedish Internet service provider Bahnhof was looking for a secure facility, and boy did they find one. An old nuclear bomb shelter bunker, built 30 meters underground in the side of a mountain, did the trick.

The Pionen facility in Stockholm, accessed through foot-thick steel doors, looks like you've stepped on to the set of a James Bond flick, but is said to have been inspired by old sci-fi films.


2. Bahnhof's "Moon Room"




The building's stand-out feature is what Bahnhof calls the "moon room" - a glass-walled, circular room, suspended over the rock floor, which is said to be the "perfect conference room." You can see more of the Pionen complex on YouTube.


3. Threadless's Airstream Trailer Studio




You might have expected community-centered t-shirt company Threadless to have an interesting workspace, and you would be right. Above is the company's Airstream trailer studio where Kristen Studard and Bob Nanna broadcast a live show on Ustream every Thursday from its Chicago headquarters.

The cat head, you ask? Well that's "Mister Mittens," and he was part of the Threadless float created for the 2010 Chicago Pride Parade.


4. Threadless' "Crafty Lodge" Customer Service Area




What? Your office doesn't have a mounted, stuffed unicorn head on the wall? With a setup like this, it really shouldn't be too hard to keep a smile on your face, which is perfect for dealing with incoming customer service queries.

The design you see here is the result of an inter-office competition where each Threadless office area was given a budget and deadline to beautify their work environment.

The customer service department went with the theme of "Crafty Lodge" and won. To see more from Threadless, you can check out their pic-a-day 365 photostream.


5. The Candy Factory's Coworking Space




As more people enjoy greater flexibility in their worklife, coworking, or communal office space is becoming more popular.

Located in Lancaster, PA, The Candy Factory is a membership community of small business owners, freelancers, students and other professionals looking for a cool downtown location to work in the company of like-minded folks.

With the philosophy of "Come together, do good work, care about our community, love our earth, think local and grow as professionals," it's a spirited communal office space where no day is the same.


6. The Candy Factory's Fun Side




While the working space is light and open with high ceilings, wooden floors, great art and contemporary furniture, there's also space to take a break at The Candy Factory, with a foosball table offering a cathartic way to thrash a co-worker -- very therapeutic indeed.


7. Junk My Car's Mannequin Receptionist




His name is Sven, and he was rescued from a crash test facility, says Robert Bari, Junk My Car's director of marketing. "He is quite reserved and often keeps to himself, which may be due to a language barrier, but we're not sure," he says.

Seriously though, Bari says when the company moved into its new office in Shelton, CT over a year ago they thought a mannequin sitting at the reception desk would be an amusing way to deal with solicitors.

"Nothing is more hilarious than seeing the startled face of a sales person after they walk over and begin talking only to realize it's a dummy," he says.

And since the company doesn't have a formal receptionist, Sven has found a home, as the first face visitors see when arriving.


8. Professor Daddy-O's Digital Sound Cockpit




Music producer Professor Daddy-O, of Stetsasonic fame, spends his working days perched in front of this rather impressive setup. With a separate power source and 96 wheels, the "digital sound cockpit," as Daddy-O calls it, can be found at Studioplex Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.


9. Raw Material at The Village Underground




Brand-building public relations company Raw Material set up shop in one of the old Tube carriages parked atop East London's Village Underground venue, an old Victorian warehouse that hosts art exhibitions, gigs, club nights and raves.


10. Raw Material's Tube Office




The train offices were the brainchild of designer Auro Foxcroft, who wanted to create low-cost studios for creatives. The setup is comprised of four old Tube carriages on top of two old sea containers, also converted into workspaces.


11. The brpr Group's Chalkboard Welcome Door




The office entrance of Miami-based brand management agency brpr Group is covered in chalkboard paint. The message changes periodically, courtesy of the company's resident artist, who creates signature welcome greetings for all client meetings and guests, along with a QR code.


12. Outdoor Conference Room at the brpr Group's Office in Miami




brpr also boasts an outdoor conference room wired for phone and Internet access, which is also complete with amenities like sunblock and Perrier to beat the Miami heat. The idea for the room comes from the agency's creators, who are not natives of Miami and therefore excited by the prospect of meetings in the sun. Apparently, the space is a big hit with brpr Group's NYC clients -- and come December, we can understand why.


13. Grip Limited's Big Orange Slide




The big orange slide is the focal point of Grip Limited's "open-concept work space," and is said to "embody the sense of play that's at the heart of Grip's creative process." It's certainly a fun way to get from one floor to another, but arguably not the Toronto-based company's most entertaining, as there is also a fireman's pole that provides another gravity-driven shortcut.


14. Grip Limited's Hot Tub




Grip Limited's playfulness does not stop with unusual methods of mobility. There's also a hot tub on the premises for what must make for some really outstanding staff meetings.

"The hot tub-inspired meeting space puts the face-to-face in face time," says copywriter Ian Mackenzie. "It's a great place for quick regroups or brainstorms. And while there's not always beer, there's always someone in a towel."


15. Hemingway's Outdoor Office




In the summer months, British design gurus Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway, of Red or Dead fame, work from an outdoor office in Middlesex, UK. The teepee is made from reclaimed wood (including old British Telecom telegraph poles) and features a communal desk on the ground floor with seating set into the decking.


16. Paul Coudamy's Cardboard Office




Parisian architect Paul Coudamy was challenged to convert a vast, empty industrial space for agency Elegangz on a minimal budget.

As the agency encompassed an advertising company, a web agency, an event team and a music label, they wanted to cheaply create different areas within the open space for the different activities. Coudamy's clever and somewhat unconventional solution was to use 4-centimeter thick water resistant honeycomb cardboard to separate the spaces.

(Photo by Benjamin Boccas)


17. Paul Coudamy's Cardboard Furniture




In Coudamy's office, shelves are made of stacked pieces of cardboard -- the cardboard partitions can be moved, and the "meeting cabin" is held together with glue and tape.

The lighting for the space is provided by old white lighting umbrellas, hung upside down to diffuse the light. It's an unusual and very affordable way to divide up the open space, and it provides a cool, industrial setting for a contemporary agency.

(Photo by Benjamin Boccas)


Series supported by RingCentral


This series is supported by RingCentral. Power your business with a phone system designed to meet the needs of today's small businesses, entrepreneurs, and mobile professionals. With RingCentral, you can take control of your phone system anywhere — using your existing phones, smartphones, or PCs. Sign up today for a special 60-day free trial.


More Office Resources from Mashable


- HOW TO: Choose the Best Workspace for Your Business
- Top 10 Geekiest Decorations for Your Home or Office [PICS]
- 5 Energy Efficient Office Gadgets
- 5 Simple Tools for a Paperless Office
- 10 Cool Cable Management Solutions [PICS]


Reviews: RingCentral

More About: business, coworking, galleries, gallery, interior design, Non-Traditional Workspaces Series, offices, Photos, small business, workplace, workplaces, workspaces

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IBM Acquires Yet Another Analytics Firm, This Time for $1.7 Billion

Posted: 20 Sep 2010 08:44 AM PDT


IBM has announced its plans to acquire the analytics company Netezza for approximately $1.7 billion in cash.

According to a statement released Monday morning, the companies have entered into an agreement and IBM will pay $27 per share for the firm. Netezza sells a data warehousing appliance that is designed to track high-performance analytics. Some of Netezza’s clients include Neiman Marcus, Time Warner, Estee Lauder and eHarmony.

IBM’s Steve Mills said, “IBM is bringing analytics to the masses. Netezza strongly complements our business analytics capabilities and client base.”

IBM appears to be particularly bullish on analytics and business data lately. In July 2009, Big Blue acquired analytics and information forecaster SPSS for $1.2 billion. In June of this year, IBM acquired the privately held web analytics firm Coremetrics. And just last month, IBM paid $480 million for Unica Corporation, another company in the analytical and predictive space.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, loooby


Reviews: iStockphoto

More About: analytics, IBM, netezza, Web analytics

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