Modern Media Mom » social networking

Headlines for May 21st, 2010

[modern media mom] — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:00:08 +0000

The Empire Strikes Back Turns 30, As Do Fans’ Psychic Scars | Vanity Fair – Today is the 30th anniversary of the release of The Empire Strikes Back, a film most Star Wars fans consider the best of the franchise’s six films. Just three years after Star Wars revolutionized the blockbuster, Empire redefined it again, proving that a film that took place in outer space and featured light sabers and blasters could also be smart and, yes, depressing.
US wireless not competitive enough – The FCC has published its annual report on the competitiveness of the US wireless industry, and says there's not enough of it – despite industry howls to the contrary.
Sega’s Back-To-Roots Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Delayed – Sega on Thursday delayed the first installment of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, a side-scrolling downloadable episodic series that takes the mascot back to his roots.
Adobe Faces Tough Fight for Flash Survival | PCWorld Business Center – Once upon a time, Apple and Adobe were friends. They had a mutually beneficial relationship creating a niche market based on Apple's Mac operating system and Adobe's content creation software. Now, Apple and Adobe are bitter rivals and aggressively battling each other over the merits of Flash and the future of interactive content and video on the Web. As pervasive as Flash is today, Apple is a force to be reckoned with and Adobe has a fight on its hands.
Google Faces European Investigations In Data Collection Gaff | IT Channel News by CRN – Fallout continues from Google’s admission that it accidentally collected data from unsecured wireless networks. Thursday officials in several European countries announced plans to investigate the incident. And two Oregon residents have filed a lawsuit against the search engine giant, claiming their privacy was violated by the data collection.
Why Your Business Should Not Abandon Facebook – PCWorld Business Center – Facebook is out of line in launching new services and changing the rules without warning, and it is out of line for not making any change that affects the way personal data is shared or distributed opt-in by default. But, in the end the social networking site will most likely continue to grow its membership despite any boycotts and defections, and it still represents a fertile and valuable arena for engaging customers and building relationships to establish and expand your brand recognition.

Headlines for May 20th, 2010

[modern media mom] — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:01:09 +0000

Standing room only for HTML5 – Anyone wondering about the level of interest in the HTML5 specification need only have tried to get into a standing room-only session on the topic at Google's developer conference on Wednesday afternoon.

An estimated 450 to 500 persons were able to get into the session, entitled "Developing With HTML5," at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco. Outside the room, many others were turned away.
Three Cool Tools for Restoring Your Facebook Privacy | PCWorld – Well, it seems all this complaining about Facebook’s laissez faire attitude toward its users’ privacy has finally gotten their attention. According to published reports, the company called an “all hands meeting” to discuss the controversy last week. And what has come of that meeting? Apparently a lot of soul searching, renting of garments, and gnashing of teeth, per a report in the Wall Street Journal. But otherwise, a whole lot of nothing.
Growing anger over Google Street View privacy breach – Anger is growing over Google's Street View privacy breach, with local government leaders adding to the chorus calling for scrutiny of the search giant. On Wednesday, D.C. Council Member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) joined U.S. lawmakers and European government leaders in calling for an investigation into the online giant's collection of private data from residental WiFi networks.
Twitter Debuts Twitter for iPhone, iPod Touch App – Mobile and Wireless from eWeek – Twitter May 19 released its Twitter for iPhone and iPod touch application, the microblog's third major mobile app since it launched Twitter for Blackberry and Twitter for Android applications.
Pakistan Widens Online Ban to Include YouTube | NYTimes.com – Pakistani authorities broadened a ban on social networking sites on Thursday, blocking YouTube and about 450 individual Web pages over what it described as “growing sacrilegious content.”
Google offers free fonts for the Web | CNET News – "In an attempt to move beyond drab typography on the Web, Google on Wednesday released 18 freely usable fonts and an open-source tool designed to smooth over browser issues in displaying downloaded fonts."
Facebook Debates Privacy Changes, Report Says | PCWorld – Facebook is reportedly undergoing internal struggles as the company debates concerns raised over user privacy, and the social network may revamp its user privacy settings in the coming days.

Headlines for May 7th, 2010 through May 10th, 2010

[modern media mom] — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:00:54 +0000

Accountant used Twitter to threaten to blow up airport – Telegraph – "A trainee accountant who posted a message on Twitter threatening to blow an airport ''sky high'' has been found guilty of sending a menacing electronic communication."
Facebook’s Challenge: Clean up Image – PCWorld – "Between site glitches and user gripes, data leaks and privacy complaints, Facebook needs to get its act together."
Does Facebook-McDonalds Deal Signal Competition For Foursquare? – IT Channel News by CRN – "A reported deal with fast-food giant McDonald’s could mean that Facebook is setting itself up to compete with Foursquare and other location-based social networking Web sites."
Microsoft Office 2010 Adds Features For Browsers, Smartphones — Microsoft Office 2010 – "The latest version promises different features based on how people use it on the PC, in a browser, and on a smartphone."
New Intel chips coming to make laptops run faster, longer | Crave – CNET – "Sharp-eyed readers and bloggers have noted several leaks and online references to new Intel CPUs, adding to the current Core i3, i5, and i7 lineups. These include new ultralow-voltage (or ULV) chips with the "Core i" name, as well as new versions of the Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs found in mainstream and desktop replacement laptops."
Apple has a secret flash replacement plan – The Inquirer – "Apple's attack on Adobe Flash might not have been a defence of open standards or a shift to HTML5 but because it is planning to release some closed technology of its own to replace Flash. Apple is apparently developing a software technology called Gianduia that it introduced last summer at its World of Webobjects Developer Conference."
Scribd Ditches Flash in Favor of HTML5 – PCWorld – Site that lets anyone upload almost any document and publish it to the Web announces it is converting the millions of documents it hosts to HTML5.

Headlines for May 7th, 2010

[modern media mom] — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:01:31 +0000

Play Tron’s Fake Arcade Game, Space Paranoids | Wired.com – Space Paranoids never appeared in arcades and never really existed, but now you can play the classic Tron videogame online. The fictional company Encom launched a browser-based version of Space Paranoids Thursday that is free to play (no quarters required).

Space Paranoids is the fictional videogame created by master programmer Kevin Flynn in the 1982 movie Tron. The slick new browser game, a promotional piece for the forthcoming movie Tron Legacy, was announced at a fake press conference at WonderCon in San Francisco last month.
Bad week for facebook privacy – The Inquirer – Facebook users just have to face that they aren't likely to get the privacy some might want, and that's not even counting the problems that are coming up with its security controls.
Privacy groups complain to FTC over Facebook privacy tweaks – The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is taking its beef with Facebook's privacy policies to the Federal Trade Commission once again. A new complaint comes in the wake of Facebook's latest updates to its privacy policy. According to EPIC and 14 other consumer groups, Facebook's decision to open up even more personal information as "public" is a violation of user expectations, it diminishes privacy, and it contradicts Facebook's own representations about how the service works.
Social Networking: Facebook Develops a Taste for Fast Food – Facebook reportedly will be launching its location-sharing feature — or geo-targeted advertising feature, depending on your perspective — in partnership with McDonald's. "Location sharing with friends and contacts will be big, and if Facebook does it right, they might simply crush upstarts like Foursquare," Karsten Weide, research vice president for digital media and entertainment at IDC.
Mobile: Google Goggles Makes Translations in a Snap – Users of Google Goggles can now put the technology to work translating text from other languages, Google announced Thursday.
Borders’ Kobo E-Reader Available for Pre-Order | News & Opinion | PCMag.com – Kobo announced that its eReader is now available for pre-order in the U.S. at the Borders Web page, and will ship "in time for Father's Day."

Headlines for May 4th, 2010

[modern media mom] — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:03:37 +0000

10 Reasons Why Apple’s iPad 3G Isn’t Worth the Extra Money – eWeek – News Analysis: Now that Apple's iPad 3G is finally available to U.S. customers, it's time to consider whether or not the more capable version of the company's tablet is really worth the price. Here are 10 reasons why we think the iPad 3G just isn't worth an additional $130.
Technology Review: Redesigning the Web for Touch Screens – A new crop of touch-based devices is changing the way users interact with Web pages.
Sony selling ‘PlayStation Protection Plan’ – SlipperyBrick.com – "Sony’s game consoles are solidly built and super reliable, sure there’s the occasional issue, but they don’t exactly suffer the RRoD. Even so, things can happen. And if you’re willing to pay for peace of mind, Sony has a new service agreement."
Twitter is the New CNN | PCMag.com – A new study paints the popular micro-blogging service Twitter in a whole new light and sets it up to take on traditional news media.
Seven Things You Need To Stop Doing On Facebook – Security – IT Channel News by CRN – Fifty-two percent of adult social network users have posted personal information that increases their risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime, the survey found. The numbers include those who have posted their full birth date (38 percent), photos of children (21 percent), children’s names (13 percent), home street address (8 percent) and even details of when they are not at home (3 percent).

Headlines for April 28th, 2010

[modern media mom] — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:01:13 +0000

HP To Buy Palm For $1.2 Billion — InformationWeek – Throwing a lifeline to beleaguered smartphone maker Palm, HP on Wednesday said that it has signed an agreement to acquire the company for $1.2 billion in cash.
iPad Users Beware of emails Offering iTunes Update – Considering the blazing popularity of Apple iPad tablet, nefarious hackers now target the early iPad adopters with spam emails that lure to update latest iTunes. Security solutions provider BitDefender, has asked users to avoid any email invitation which asks users to download an iTunes update "for best performance, newer features and security". However, this attack is mostly targeted to Windows PC users and Mac owners need not worry about it.
Police Know Who Found the Prototype iPhone | PCMag.com – Police have identified the individual who obtained the prototype iPhone, according to reports. But that may or may not be the person who sold it to the Gizmodo gadget blog.

The San Jose Business Journal reported Tuesday that the investigators "identified and interviewed the person who took the phone from the Gourmet Haus Staudt on March 18."
5 Ways Facebook Should Improve User Privacy – PCWorld – Whenever Facebook introduces new services, especially those that expand into other parts of the Web, it doesn't take long before privacy advocates and users start complaining about the changes. This time, however, Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) have joined the fray.
Apple Announces Dates for WWDC 2010 – PCWorld Business Center – Start your credit cards, ladies and gentlemen. On Wednesday, Apple announced dates for its 2010 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Headlines for April 27th, 2010

[modern media mom] — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:01:16 +0000

Can Zong Go From Facebook Wannabe to PayPal Competitor? – "Former PayPal executive leads the charge against his former company. Dana Stalder joined PayPal in 2003, just after the 2002 eBay acquisition. Working as SVP of product sales, marketing, and technology he helped guide PayPal in a campaign of market domination. EBay won big as PayPal became its most profitable unit, by far. And Stalder was handsomely compensated with millions in rewards."
Blippy Apologizes, Says It Will Fix Privacy Glitches | News & Opinion | PCMag.com – Social networking site Blippy on Monday issued a mea culpa for a recent privacy snafu, explained how it accidentally exposed members' personal information, and promised that all offending data has been wiped from the Web. The company also pledged to hire a chief security officer and invest in more security.
Google Acquires App Publisher Labpixies | News & Opinion | PCMag.com – Google on Tuesday added to its acquisition roster with the purchase of Labpixies, which publishes Web and mobile applications.
Senators Seek FTC Rules For Social Networking — InformationWeek – Four Senate Democrats have asked the Federal Trade Commission to develop guidelines governing the way social networking sites can use information submitted by users.
Supreme Court Will Take on Violent Video Games, Finally – PCWorld – "It's about time the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in on the matter of violent video games. The justices agreed on Monday to rule on whether the government should ban the sale of violent games to minors and fine stores $1,000 each time they fail to comply. At issue is a California law, passed in 2005 but struck down by lower courts, that defines violent games as works that depict "killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being," in a way that's offensive, appeals to morbid interests, and otherwise lacks artistic merit."
Sen. Chuck Schumer’s letter to Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook privacy | VentureBeat – "Facebook is feeling some political heat for its moves last week, after launching a program that “instantly personalizes” websites for visitors by automatically sharing user data with the site owner. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wrote a letter to chief executive Mark Zuckerberg asking him and the company to revisit their decision on the program and move to an “opt in” default rather than an “opt out” one."
Gizmodo Staff May Face Felony Over Lost iPhone, EFF Says Raid Was Illegal – "The battle over the lost iPhone prototype is heating up. After Gizmodo broke Apple's veil of secrecy, spilling the beans on their upcoming summer fourth-generation iPhone in a super-scoop, Apple demanded the iPhone be returned. Gizmodo complied, but the case isn't over."

Headlines for April 26th, 2010

[modern media mom] — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:00:28 +0000

High Court to Hear Videogame Case – WSJ.com – The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide the constitutionality of a California law that seeks to ban the sale of violent videogames to minors. Two lower courts struck down the law as an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech. California appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that lawmakers should be able to restrict sales of violent videogames to those under 18 just as they can restrict the sale of sexual material to minors. The high court said in a one-line order that it will hear the state's appeal.
South Korean Official’s iPad Causes a Stir – Digits – WSJ – "South Korea’s culture minister, Yu In-chon, strode into a government briefing room Monday for what seemed to be a routine photo-op as his ministry announced a $50 million program to help develop the country’s budding electronic-books industry. But trouble came when Mr. Yu pulled out an Apple iPad, held it up and remarked about how nicely it displays electronic books. The problem is, South Korea’s communications regulators haven’t approved the device for wireless networking in the country."
Sony Announces the Death of the Floppy Disk | Wired.com – "Fully 12 years after the original G3 iMac dropped support for the 3.5-inch floppy disk, Sony has finally decided to stop making them. The reason is a lack of demand. The surprise is that it took so long."
Shopper network blippy fails at credit card security – The Inquirer – "IT'S BEEN a bad few days at the offices of the social shopping network Blippy, with ignorance of how its own security worked resulting in credit card numbers of some members being freely available on Google for three months. The incident is particularly serious as the whole model behind Blippy, created by web entrepreneur Philip Kaplan, is for people to share their credit card purchases with a network of friends and strangers. It might sound strange, but people use this service to locate each other and ‘like’ what each other are buying, Facebook style."
Gizmodo faces visit from cops over ‘found’ iPhone • The Register – "A tech blog that paid five grand to the finder of a prototype iPhone is under police investigation, as it seems buying found property is against the law."
How to Restore Your Privacy on Facebook – Gawker – "Since posting about Facebook's latest privacy rollback, we've received emails asking how users can protect themselves, and for clarification about what happened. Here, then, is a quick guide to locking down the new Facebook."

Headlines for April 21st, 2010

[modern media mom] — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:11 +0000

C-notes get makeover aimed at outsmarting tech-savvy counterfeiters as dollars flow outside US – 4/21/2010 5:16:31 PM | Newser – The folks who print America's money have designed a high-tech makeover of the $100 bill. It's part of an effort to stay ahead of counterfeiters as technology becomes more sophisticated and more dollars flow overseas, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says.
Trial underway for man suspected in hacking Palin’s e-mail in ’08 – Prosecutors from the Justice Department trooped into federal court Wednesday to prosecute a man charged with hacking Palin's e-mail account in 2008, when she was the Republican nominee for vice president.
Brain training games don’t improve thinking – Study – News at GameSpot – Scientists track more than 11,000 people over six weeks, find regular training produces no improvement on benchmark intelligence tests.
Microsoft’s Docs for Facebook: A Hands-On Tour – PCWorld – Watch out, Google: There's a new Doc in town.

Docs.com, also known as Docs for Facebook, officially launched at Facebook's F8 conference on Wednesday. Created by Microsoft's FUSE Labs, the online app allows you to create, edit, and share Microsoft Office documents with your Facebook friends.
McAfee Antivirus Update Flaw Forces Windows XP Reboot – Security – IT Channel News by CRN – McAfee, to say the least, had its fair share of problems Wednesday when a buggy antivirus software update caused computers running Windows XP to shut down and experience serial reboots.

An initial McAfee investigation indicated that the reboot glitch is linked to an antivirus update that detects a false positive, causing XP computers, specifically those running Service Pack 3, to somehow mistake a legitimate operating system for malware.
Fast-growing Facebook aims for more social Web | Reuters – Facebook's user base is growing at its fastest rate ever, the online social network company said on Wednesday as it rolled out features that link the company's platform more tightly with outside Web sites.
A Day Later, Wall Street Loves Apple | News & Opinion | PCMag.com – At least 13 brokerages raised their price targets on Apple Inc, a day after its blowout quarterly results, indicating that some on Wall Street expect the stock to gain another 30 percent from already record-high levels.

Headlines for April 19th, 2010

[modern media mom] — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:00:20 +0000

Ubisoft’s eco initiative ditches paper manuals – News at GameSpot – Today, the publisher announced a new environmental initiative to do away with the time-honored game manual insert. Instead, Ubisoft will replace the paper manuals with an in-game equivalent for all of its upcoming PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 games, beginning with Shaun White Skateboarding this holiday. France-based Ubisoft also said that the initiative will allow it to incorporate “a more robust manual.”
Pa. Webcam Spying Case Takes Alarming Twist – Security – IT Channel News by CRN – Investigators in the Pennsylvania high school Webcam spying case now claim the school’s remotely controlled laptop tracking software was activated around 80 times and took nearly 56,000 photos of students and locations inside their homes over the past two years.
Justices Get Personal Over Privacy of Messages – NYTimes.com – The question in a case argued Monday in the Supreme Court sounded both irresistible and important: Did a California police department violate the Constitution by reading sexually explicit text messages sent by an officer on a department-issued pager?
Facebook’s ‘Like’ Button May Soon Be Everywhere – PCWorld – If you like saying “like,” you are, like, totally going to like what’s going on at Facebook right now.
Damn — it’s tough to talk about Facebook’s evolution without sounding like a Valley girl.
Meet the guy who supposedly lost 4G iPhone | Crave – CNET – “General public, meet Gray Powell. Gray Powell, meet the world. See, according to Gizmodo, Gray is the unfortunate Apple employee who lost a prototype next-gen iPhone in a San Francisco Bay Area bar. The supposed carelessness has sparked a flurry of cloak- and dagger-style discussion in the blogosphere, among tech pundits, and, of course, on Twitter.”