Sunday 19 June 2011

Mashable: Latest 9 News Updates - including “47 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed”

Mashable: Latest 9 News Updates - including “47 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed”


47 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 03:52 PM PDT


This week’s roundup delivers news, advice and trends aplenty. Searching for the next Facebook? Nervous about the security of mobile payment options? Eager to incorporate game-like incentives into your workplace? We’re here to satisfy your curiosity and fill you in on all that you may have missed this week.

Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.


Editors’ Picks



Social Media


Indian Village Changes Its Name to SnapDeal.com Nagar [PICS]

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 02:53 PM PDT


A village in northern India has changed its name from that of a god to SnapDeal.com Nagar. The tiny town had good reason to, because SnapDeal, India’s version of Groupon, provided it with fresh water.

SnapDeal’s founder Kunal Bahl wanted to do something good with his company’s burgeoning profits, so like Bill Gates and his philanthropic efforts, the 28-year-old CEO looked for an opportunity where he could have the most bang for the buck.

His answer? Water. He found out that a mere $5,000 would install 15 hand pumps that would make it so the villagers wouldn’t have to walk nearly two miles just to get clean water. The result was life-changing, Bahl told CNN.

The villagers were so grateful for the SnapDeal.com-branded pumps distributed throughout the city, they decided to change the name of their village, formerly known as Shiv Nagar (named after the Hindu god Shiva), to SnapDeal.com Nagar.

Kunal Bahl hints at more such philanthropy in the works by his bustling New Delhi-based business, the largest daily deal retailer in India, according to the SnapDeal.com blog. When asked if this was a marketing or PR gimmick, he replied,

“All we can say is that time will show our commitment to this project and even the things we do in the future. You need not be a multibillionaire company to make a change in society around you. This project was not about the power of money but the intent and efforts which our team took to give this dream alive. Even if one small company takes inspiration from this, we will feel our efforts have borne fruit.”


SnapDeal.com Nagar, India





SnapDeal.com Nagar, India





SnapDeal.com Nagar, India





SnapDeal.com Nagar, India




Graphics courtesy SnapDeal.com

More About: Kunal Bahl, snapdeals.com, social good

For more Social Good coverage:


Are Samsung’s Mobile Designs Really That Similar to Apple’s? [PICS]

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 01:43 PM PDT


Apple has amended and expanded its intellectual property right complaint against Samsung to include more products and more patents.

In April, Apple filed suit against the Korean giant, alleging that products like the Galaxy S series of smartphones and the original Galaxy Tab copied the look and feel of Apple products, violating the Cupertino company’s patents and intellectual property.

In the amended complaint, Apple has added a number of handsets — including Droid Charge 4G (which Mashable recently reviewed) and the Galaxy S II.

We decided to take a look at some of the Samsung products Apple claims violate its intellectual property to see just how similar the design and UI aesthetic is to the big fruit.


The Original iPhone




Apple released the first iPhone in June 2007. The mobile world was turned on its head and the aesthetics and designs of mobile phones and operating systems was forever changed.


Samsung BlackJack 2




This is the smartphone Samsung was selling in 2007, the BlackJack 2.


Samsung Galaxy S




This is the Samsung Galaxy S, which debuted in 2010.

Look like anything you've seen before?


The iPhone 3G




Released in 2008, the iPhone 3G differed only slightly from its predecessor but had a slightly different back/side-housing.


Samsung Showcase i500




The Samsung Showcase i500 was released in 2011 and shares similarities with the form factor and aesthetic of the iPhone 3G.


The iPhone 3GS




Released in 2009, the iPhone 3GS looks identical to the iPhone 3G, but was significantly faster under the hood.


Verizon Droid Charge




Apple recently amended its lawsuit against Samsung to include the recently released Droid Charge in the list of infringing devices.


Sprint Epic 4G




Sprint's version of the Galaxy S was the only version to include a slide-out keyboard. Nevertheless, Apple still included the Epic 4G in its list of infringing devices.


The Nexus S 4G




Google's Nexus S and Nexus S 4G devices have a curved glass screen but also share a similar shape and icon layout as the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS series.


Galaxy S Captivate




The application bar in the TouchWiz interface in the Galaxy S Captivate from AT&T bears more than a passing resemblance to Apple's iOS.


Galaxy S 4G




T-Mobile's Galaxy S 4G shares lots of similarities with earlier iPhone devices

.


Galaxy S Vibrant




T-Mobile's first Galaxy S device, the Vibrant, also shares a similar body style as the iPhone 3GS.


iPhone 4




Apple released the iPhone 4 in June 2010. It's industrial design was unlike anything else on the market.


Galaxy S II




The Galaxy S II is starting to hit stores in Europe and Asia and the well-reviewed smartphone looks very similar to the iPhone 4.


AT&T Infuse 4G




Likewise, AT&T's Infuse 4G looks very similar to the body style and button layout as the iPhone 4.


The iPad




The iPad was first released in March 2010 and managed to reboot the entire tablet PC market.

The design, which many criticized as simply being an oversized iPod touch, was unlike any other tablet computer on the market.


Galaxy Tab 4G




Samsung's Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 4G was originally released in a 7" form factor.

Slower than expected sales convinced Samsung to reconsider their size strategy.


iPad 2




The iPad 2 was released in March 2011 and has managed to sell out in every market.

Thinner than its predecessor, while still retaining the same beautiful screen, the devices is currently dominating the tablet market.


Galaxy Tab 10.1




Samsung went back to the drawing board and re-designed the Galaxy Tab 10.1 after showing it off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, 2011.

The final version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is thin -- Samsung claims it's thinner than the iPad 2 -- and it certainly looks similar to the Apple device.

[via MacRumors]

More About: apple, galaxy s, galaxy tab, ipad, iphone, lawsuits, patent lawsuit theater, samsung

For more Mobile coverage:


How Dad’s Music Indicates What You Listen To Today [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 01:02 PM PDT


Do dads really have an influence on the musical tastes of their offspring? This amusing flowchart, created for Father’s Day in honor of dads who rock, predicts the kind of music you prefer by the tunes your father listened to when you were growing up.

However, as a parent, I realize that many times my influence on my teenager has an opposite effect. So the music Dad listened to probably influenced your musical tastes, but if you’re a rebellious contrarian, that exposure might have convinced you to seek out music that’s exactly opposite. Sounds like fodder for another infographic.

SEE ALSO: 10 Excellent Free eCards for Father's Day

If you’re lucky, your dad exposed you to a variety of music during your formative years, giving you instant familiarity with lots of the music you hear in today’s media-saturated environment. That musical prowess would be yet another blessing to thank your dear old dad for on Father’s Day.

Infographic courtesy Sonos, image courtesy of iStockphoto

More About: Father's Day, infographic, media, music, musical taste, trending

For more Tech & Gadgets coverage:


First-Generation GPS [COMIC]

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 12:02 PM PDT

New iPad 2 Ad Pushes All the Right Buttons [VIDEO]

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 11:03 AM PDT

Why is Apple so successful? Discover a few clues in this new iPad 2 ad the company premiered late Friday. Leave it to Apple to show us in a mere 30 seconds how the world has been turned upside down — not necessarily by the iPad, but you might infer that after you’ve seen this commercial.

On a personal note, I produced and directed television ads for a long time in a previous life, and I can’t help but admire the stagecraft here. Of course, the spot covers all the bases with its soothing piano music lulling you into compliance, showing the product on the screen the entire time with warm and complementary color palettes as backdrops, demonstrating the product in use, and appealing to the emotions — all with extraordinary production values.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best "Get a Mac" Ads

It pushes all the right buttons, and then takes it one step beyond. Peter Coyote‘s pitch-perfect voice-over performance sells it, aided by a script that comes close to taking responsibility for the astonishing ways the world has changed. How’s that? “Now, we can watch a newspaper, listen to a magazine, curl up with a movie, see a phone call.” Yes, you can do those things with other tablets, but Apple has a subtle way of taking credit for such things without even having to say so.

It’s an art. Apple’s good at it. It hasn’t always been so. Here’s a gallery of more Apple spots to show you the evolution of this finely tuned propaganda machine:

BONUS: Vintage Mac Ads That Time Forgot


1. Alligators


What's a good euphemism for the cutthroat world of business? Oh yeah... alligators. Thank goodness someone boats in with a Mac, although we're not convinced with the whole water + electronics sends the right message safety-wise. Unless they were suggesting a new way to really eliminate the competition.


2. Homemaker


Here talk show host Dick Cavett becomes the first celeb to advertise for Apple, although with his blatant sexism we're not sure he's quite a poster boy for the brand. And since career-minded women were featured regularly in early Apple ads, it suggests the female market was a target audience. However, we're not convinced that calling a computer "the appliance of the 80s" would have made that many rush out and buy one.


3. 20th Anniversary Mac


With its unusual design the limited edition T.A.M. was a love it or hate it machine. Although it's now a collector's item, at the time its high price tag made it a commercial flop, and after seeing this overblown ad, we're not surprised.


4. Kevin Costner


This shows how much times have changed since the early 80s for Apple. In this case, there's a lot less Kevin Costner and pit bulls. Made in the days before it was branded a "Mac," it's interesting to hear the slogan about the two kinds of people in the world, "those who use computers and those who use Apples." This soon changed for good when the Macintosh line came along. And really how many times have you heard someone say they "use an Apple?" Exactly.


5. The Personal Computer


Just try and follow the complex train of thought here. And while we're on the topic, what's with the lame sound effects?


6. Newton - Restaurant


So the message here is to get a Newton in case the person you're having lunch with turns out to be some kind of psychopath? Huh? And FYI -- if you've interviewed a hundred people for one position then there might be something wrong with your recruitment process.


7. Nightmare


Ever have one of those "forgot to do your homework" nightmares? No, neither have we.


8. The Power to Succeed


Unlike today, many of Apple's early ads focused on the business market in an "anything you can do I can do better" battle with Windows PC. This cringe-worthy ad aired in the UK and offers an awful, caricatured glimpse into the world of business.


9. Middle Seat


Not really "vintage," but this ad from 2001 for the iBook, featuring Heros star Milo Ventimiglia as the guy you hope you never have to sit next to on a plane, may well be the reason some PC users have a low opinion of Mac owners.


10. We Are Apple (Leading The Way)


Not an advert, technically, more a corporate message. This is still unspeakably bad. It's hard to see how Apple made it from this to the ultra cool consumer brand it is today. It makes Apple's success all the more remarkable.

via MacRumors

More About: advertising, apple, iPad 2, MARKETING, new ad

For more Business & Marketing coverage:


5 Gadgets We’re Playing With This Week

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 10:00 AM PDT


This month, Mashable has ran its Gadget of the Day Series, supported by the Energizer Inductive Charger. Each week, we reviewed five gadgets that caught our interest. In case you missed them, here are the gadgets from our fifth and final week — read on for our reviews of the JBL OnBeat, Samsung Droid Charge, HTC Sensation 4G, Jawbone Era Bluetooth Headset and Sleeptracker Pro Elite.

Looking for even more gadget reviews? You can check out all of our gadget coverage on the Tech & Gadgets channel.


1. JBL OnBeat


The JBL OnBeat is a great proposition for owners of multiple iDevices, offering built-in speaker docking for the whole family. It will play nice with the iPod touch, the iPhone and the iPad. The dock rotates, so you can position your iPhone and iPod in portrait or landscape positions.


JBL OnBeat With iPhone




The JBL OnBeat docks your iPod, iPhone and with an extra support bracket, an iPad. The iPhone sits neatly in the dock and can be controlled via the screen or the remote.


JBL OnBeat with iPad




This product shot shows the iPad in the dock.


Side View




There are also volume buttons on the side.


In Landscape




The dock swivels for a landscape aspect.


Rear View




The ports on the back include USB, audio in and video out.


Remote Control




The bundled remote lets you control the dock from afar.


2. Samsung Droid Charge


When it comes to the Droid Charge, the real story is about the network. We tested the device all over New York City and were impressed to find we had access to 4G LTE speeds more often than not. 4G LTE trounces all the others in the bandwidth game, and in our speed tests, we frequently got speeds exceeding not only our office broadband Internet, but even our home connections. The Droid Charge might not be the best-specced phone on the market, but paired with Verizon’s 4G LTE network, it has some of the best data speeds we’ve seen.


Homescreens




The Droid Charge uses Samsung's TouchWiz UI. While we're partial to stock Android, we don't have a problem with the Samsung interface at all. It's clean and easy to navigate.


LTE vs. Wi-Fi




On the left, a speed test using our cable Internet connection. On the right, Verizon's 4G LTE network.

As you can see, LTE absolutely trounces Cablevision's 30Mbps Internet package. This particular speed test was an anomaly; we rarely saw speeds this fast, but it shows the power of the network.


LTE Speed Test History




This screenshot shows a history of various speed tests we took at different points in time. With one exception, the LTE speed tests always exceeded 10Mbps.

In comparison, 3G speeds using the same Verizon network never got above 2Mbps.


Camera Test




The 8 megapixel rear camera on the device is serviceable, if not overly impressive.

The Samsung software allows for extended options like scene modes and white balance settings, but every shot we took had an aquamarine hue.


Droid Charge Front




The Droid Charge at an angle. The 4.3" AMOLED Plus screen is a joy to use indoors and out.


Droid Charge Rear




The back of the device is non-descript. The placement of the camera is dead-center, so watch your fingers when taking photos or video.


3. HTC Sensation 4G


The Samsung Sensation 4G is a great phone for T-Mobile customers. It’s fast, feels good in the hand, has a great 4.3″ qHD screen, strong battery life and lots of gusto. Aesthetically, it looks a lot like the typical HTC smartphone, but it’s ever-so-slightly curved at the edges. Incidentally, the screen is fantastic. Video playback, in particular, looks great. The higher resolution of the device, especially when compared to other 4.3″ displays, means that small details pop and text looks extra sharp.


HTC Sensation 4G




The HTC Sensation 4G is the best phone currently available on T-Mobile.

Not only is the dual-core handset fast, but it also has a great screen, incredible battery life and can record video in 1080p.


HTC Sensation Front




The Sensation 4G has a 4.3" qHD screen with a great resolution of 960x540.


HTC Sensation Rear




The Sensation 4G looks a lot like any other HTC phone-- it feels great in the hand and has a smooth, supple backplate.


Sense UI 3.0




Although we like some aspects of the Sense UI, we could do without some of the superfluous applications and overly animated widgets.

The weather widget, for instance, looks great, but the animations can be bothersome and the addition of sound is disconcerting and grating.


HTC Video Player




The Sensation 4G comes with HTC's Watch video player and a movie rental/purchase service.


HTC Watch Store




iTunes this isn't. We commend HTC for creating a movie store of sorts, but the selection is limited to mostly Paramount films.


Sensation 4G Camera Photo




The 8 megapixel rear camera takes nice photos. The tap to focus feature works the same as it does on the iPhone.


Filtered Sensation Photo




We'd skip the built-in filter options for the HTC camera and instead post-process in Photoshop, Lightroom or a mobile app like PicPlz or Magic Hour.


4G Speed Test




T-Mobile's definition of 4G doesn't really match our definition. Upload speeds are certainly above par, but download consistently fell below what we get on an iPhone 4 running on AT&T.

Don't let the 4G in the name fool you; expect fast 3G data speeds at best.


Sensation Lock Screen Tour




One of the features we really like from the Sense UI is the ability to change lock screens to display custom widgets or quick access to apps.


4. Jawbone Era Bluetooth Headset


Among Bluetooth headsets, Jawbone is king. Its innovative designs and military-grade noise-cancelling technology have won it numerous awards and many loyal customers. The Jawbone Era, the newest headset in the company’s arsenal, lives up to the high standards set by its predecessors. The headset’s noise cancellation technology, its hallmark, doesn’t disappoint: It makes crystal-clear phone calls. Bonus: It’s comfortable to wear.


Jawbone Era From the Front




The Era sports a sleek and elongated design. It doesn't stick out like a sore thumb like other bluetooth headsets.


All Four Jawbone Era Models




The Era is offered in Midnight, Smokescreen, Shadowbox and Silver Lining.


Jawbone Era From the Side




The Era comes with a variety of earpieces for a comfortable fit.


A Look at the Jawbone Era's Underside




The light ring indicates whether the devices is paired or in pairing mode.


Another Look at the Era's Underside




There is only one button and one power switch on the Jawbone Era. Everything else can be done via accelerometer.


The Jawbone Era Packaging




The Jawbone comes in two types of packages, depending on whether you buy it from a store or buy it from Jawbone's online store.


5. Sleeptracker Pro Elite


Father’s day is coming up fast — so if your dad is a bear in the mornings, this might help him feel more rested when he rises. Of all sleep devices and systems, Sleeptracker seems the one a Dad would most likely take to bed night after night. Perhaps that is one of the best compliments you can pay a device that is trying to cure a universal problem. It’ll wake you up at the moment that will make you the least groggy and track how well you’re sleeping.


The Clip




To make a USB connection between the watch and your computer, Sleeptracker requires you to use an odd kind of cable that clips on to three indentations in the back of the watch.


The Indentations




A close-up view without the clip.


The Watch




The Sleeptracker, shown in the mode that allows you to set the window of time in which you want to be woken.


Sleeptracker Data




The Sleeptracker desktop app is a very simple affair ...


Lark data




... certainly compared to what you get with the Lark device and iPhone app.

More About: Droid Charge, Gadget of the Day Series, gadgets, HTC Sensation 4G, Jawbone Era, JBL, sleep, watch

For more Tech & Gadgets coverage:


HOW TO: Get the Most Out of the iPhone Camera’s HDR Functionality [PICS]

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 09:06 AM PDT


Amateur and professional iPhotographers have a little-known tool in their mobile belt. The iPhone 4 offers “HDR” functionality that can help you get the most out of the phone’s built-in camera.

Here we take an in-depth look at the feature and offer advice for when it’s best to use it and — just as importantly — when it’s not.

Have a look through these tips and let us know in the comments how you put your photography talents to use.


What is HDR?


“High Dynamic Range” (HDR) Imaging is the practice of using “exposure bracketing” to create an image with a better representation of light and dark areas than the camera could capture on standard settings.

Used correctly it will create an image that’s more akin to what your eye — which more efficiently processes extremes of light — would see, rather than what the camera’s sensor can photograph.

Typically this is done by capturing three images — a standard exposure, a shot that is one exposure stop too light and a shot that’s one exposure stop too dark — and then combining all three.


HDR on the iPhone


In its HDR mode, the iPhone 4 automatically recreates this process by taking three photos at different exposure levels, then layering the shots together to create one image with (theoretically) the best elements of each.

You can turn on the HDR functionality of your iPhone when in the camera by tapping the HDR icon at the top of the screen.

With HDR set to “on,” your iPhone will capture the original image and an HDR version, both of which you’ll find saved in your Camera Roll. You can change your iPhone’s settings to discard the original image but we find it useful for comparisons.

If it’s not obvious to you which is the HDR image, look for the HDR icon at the top of the screen above the photo.


DO Use HDR…


Here are three scenarios for when hitting up that HDR button would be a good idea.


… When There’s Strong Backlight


In the non-HDR image above you can see very little detail in the shadow as the camera has not coped well with the bright light coming from the doorway. The HDR pic has much more even lighting overall and shows significantly more detail. This will also be the case if you’re photographing a light object against a dark background.


…For Landscapes


Here you can see the HDR functionality has handled the contrasts of sunlight and shadow much better than the non-HDR image above. The foreground is severely bleached out in the original image and the areas of shadow much darker. The HDR setting has fixed these issues. You will also find that HDR adds detail to the sky where the standard camera would struggle with the contrast between the sky and the land.


… For Portraits in Strong Sunlight


Strong sunlight is not great for portraits as it can create harsh shadows and unflattering glare. In this self-portrait you can see that the skin tone has been evened out, the glare on the cheeks improved and the shadow cast by the hat made softer.


DON’T Use HDR…


There are some situations in which HDR is actually a hindrance rather than a help. Here are three to be aware of.


…If There’s a Risk Your Subject Will Move


Because the iPhone snaps three pics consecutively, if anything in the frame moves (or if you’re not holding the iPhone steady enough) you’re likely to end up with a blur or ghosting in your image. In our example images you can see that even though the three HDR images are taken milliseconds apart, just a slight breeze moving the buttercups was enough to spoil the shot.


…If You Want Strong Contrast


HDR takes extremes of light and creates a middle ground. This can be great in many scenarios but not if you want to capture striking contrasts. Here we wanted to capture the vibrant green leaves against the lighter foliage in the background and the brightness of the sky. The non-HDR image (above) has achieved this much better than the HDR snap below, in which the light has been toned down and the background detail filled in for an overall muddier final shot.


…If You Want Vivid or Accurate Colors


The iPhone’s camera generally deals well with color, giving nicely saturated results. Add in HDR however, and the colors you see in the final image aren’t likely to be true-to-life, or particularly vivid. In these images you can see the non-HDR photo above has bolder colors while the HDR shot below has darkened some tones and dulled the effect.


In Summary


The iPhone 4′s HDR functionality is a handy tool to have on board. It can be useful in certain situations but the key is to know when — and why — to activate it. We hope this article has helped, but with almost all photography the best way to get familar with the tech is to shoot as much as you can — so grab your iPhone, get out there and get snapping!


More About: apple, hdr, how to, iphone, iphone 4, iphonography, iphotography, Mobile 2.0, photography, Photos, trending

For more Mobile coverage:


This Week in Politics & Digital: The Confrontation Issue

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 08:17 AM PDT

us flag tech image

It was a big week for big names in politics, as high-profile figures and organizations faced off against one another.

U.S. Rep. Anthony Wiener, D-NY, announced his resignation Thursday after some embarrassing sexting and Twitter slips-ups. GOP presidential hopefuls gathered for a debate fueled by social media. Facebook’s ads must disclose who is paying for them, thanks to a recent Federal Election Committee ruling. And the CIA was (briefly) hacked by LulzSec, a sometimes funny, sometimes dangerous group of online renegades.

What a week.


Weinergate Ends With Resignation

Weiner announced his resignation from office Thursday after facing a wall of political pressure that included President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

The whole Weinergate scandal started when the congressman tweeted an image of his groin to a female journalism student. Weiner first claimed his account was hacked but finally confessed to the tweet when more photos — and more relationships — turned up. His exit speech turned a little rowdy with hecklers and the media circus surrounding the scandal.

If it’s any consolation, Weiner isn’t the first person to lose his job over social media mistakes.

The GOP Debate Goes Social

Republicans had their own media circus with the massive presidential debate that took place last week in New Hampshire. The debate included former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Atlanta businessman Herman Cain and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Hosted and broadcast by CNN, the debate featured social media integration such as live streaming the broadcast and fielding questions from Facebook and Twitter.

There was already tension between Pawlenty and Mitt Romney. Before the debate, Pawlenty had taken a jab at Romney’s plan for health care, which he derided as being too similar to Obama’s health care plan (the resulting portmanteau was “Obamneycare”). However, Pawlenty shrunk away from his attack when asked about it during the debate, saying that the jab was directed at Obama and not Romney, who was standing just feet away.

But Pawlenty was back and firing from the safety of Twitter a few days later with the above tweet.

Facebook Must Disclose Political Ads

The Federal Elections Committee ruled that Facebook ads are subject to disclosure rules for political advertising. Facebook was hoping the 160-character ads would earn an exemption since a disclosure would take up the better part of the ad-space, reported the National Journal.

However, Republican and Democratic FEC commissioners couldn’t come to a compromise for the minuscule ads, so a previous ruling — in a case brought by Google — would apply to all character-limited Internet ads. That ruling states that short-text ads need a hyperlink to a web page that identifies the ad’s sponsor.

LulzSec Takes Down the Senate and the CIA

LulzSec, a rogue group of hackers, has set its sights on taking down Sony’s PlayStation Network (PSN) and other big name targets. They’ve gone big-game hunting, taking down both the website for the U.S. Senate and the CIA’s website with a distributed denial of service attack.

Thumbnail image courtesy of iStockphoto, Pgiam, image courtesy of Flickr, Gage Skidmore

More About: Anthony Weiner, gop, gop debate, lulzsec, Mitt Romney, politics, Tim Pawlenty, weinergate

For more Social Media coverage:


Top 10 Twitter Trends This Week [CHART]

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 07:35 AM PDT

Twitter Chart Image

O Twitter, thou art a fickle friend. While there are always top trends you can rely on (breaking news, holidays, The Biebs), everyone’s favorite information network occasionally surfaces a surprise.

It’s interesting to see Father’s Day at the top of this week’s chart before the passing of the actual holiday. This trend was fueled in part by some fun hashtags, including one started by Jimmy Fallon for his weekly “Late Night Hashtags” segment. It will be interesting to see if the intensity of this topic carries over into next week’s chart.

Another surprise: MySpace! Yes, that relic and pioneer of the early Web 2.0 days reared its head in the Twitterverse as users recalled the innocence of a bygone social era. It was a beautiful time for online friendship, great music, seizure-inducing animated backgrounds, and unbridled Internet stalking. Shut up, I’m not crying. There’s just something in my eye.

And rounding out the top three trends is the buzz around a leaked version of the Lil Wayne song "Dear Anne," the spiritual sequel to the 2000 Eminem hit “Stan.” According to most authorities in the Rap-O-Sphere, the song will not be included on Lil Wayne’s forthcoming album.

To see the full list, check out the chart below. Because this is a topical list, hashtag memes and games have been omitted from the chart. The aggregate is based on Twitter’s own trending algorithm, and does not necessarily reflect raw tweet volume.

You can check past Twitter trends in our Top Twitter Topics section.


Top Twitter Trends This Week: 6/10 – 6/16


Rank
Topic
Intensity
Description
#1
Father’s Day
2
Father’s Day trended well ahead of Sunday due to hashtags like #BestDad, #ThatsMyDad and #DaddySays.
#2
MySpace
1
This week, many Twitter users remembered the time, long, long ago, when they had a MySpace account.
#3
Lil Wayne
1
“Dear Anne (Stan Part 2)” is a leaked Lil Wayne song, the sequel to Eminem’s “Stan.” It won’t be on Lil Wayne’s 9th studio album, Tha Carter IV, due out in August.
#4
NHL Stanley Cup/Vancouver Riots
1
The Boston Bruins won the NHL Stanley Cup in Game 7 on June 15. But hockey climbed into our weekly Top 10 because some unhappy Vancouver Canucks fans rioted and looted in the downtown area. In response, Twitter users gave Canuck fans some advice (“Dear Vancouver”) after their loss.
#5
NBA Finals
1
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat to win the 2011 NBA Finals in Game 6 on June 12. Dallas player Dirk Nowitzki was named MVP. Tweeters responded with a mix of admiration for Maverick players and even more digs on the Miami Heat.
#6
Tupac Shakur
1
June 16, 2011 marked the 40th anniversary of rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur’s birth. 2Pac was killed on September 13, 1996 but his albums have sold over 75 million copies.
#7
Soccer/Football
1
Football players, managers and owners trending this week include Michael Ballack, Kevin Nolan, Roberto Martinez, Mike Ashley, Kyle Walker, Lionel Marlos and Alex McLeish.
#8
Justin Bieber
1
Justin Bieber trended this week just because his fans wanted to thank him for, well, just being him (#ThanksJustin).
#9
Venezuelan Politics
1
Although “Maldito Chavez” (Damn Chavez) has trended several times over the past year, this week it (and mentions of officials Alí Rodríguez Araque, Cilia Flores, Iris Valera and Elias Jaua) was high enough to push Venezuelans’ discussion of national politics in into our Top 10.
#10
Selena Gomez
1
Fans are sending good wishes to Selena Gomez who had a small health scare late last week.


Data aggregate courtesy of What the Trend.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, 123render

More About: social media, Top Twitter Topics, trends, twitter, twitter trends

For more Social Media coverage:



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