Anything shared on Facebook, as with the Internet as a whole, is nearly impossible to remove. This is especially true of any unwanted pictures that may have been uploaded to the site.

Until recently, pictures deleted from Facebook were still accessible by entering the image's direct URL. So, while the pictures may have disappeared from your profile, or that of whomever had uploaded them, they were still available within Facebook's server.

SEE ALSO: What Type of Social Media Personality Are You? [INFOGRAPHIC]

The latest change deletes images permanently from Facebook's servers within a couple of days. Check out the video above to learn more a…
Continue reading...

More About: Facebook, trending

Google Street View first came to New Orleans in 2008, just three years after Hurricane Katrina. The original images showed areas that were unaffected by the disaster and others that remained completely devastated.

Fast forward to 2012, and Google has introduced updated images of the iconic city.

With revamped streets and playgrounds, and even a view of an improved Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park—which mayor Mitch Landrieu refers to as the birthplace of jazz—it's clear that conditions continue to improve in the cultural hub that is New Orleans.

Google Maps allows users explore areas around the globe, but it also helps us remember th…
Continue reading...

More About: google street view, hurricane katrina, new orleans

Hey Star Wars enthusiasts—want to harness the power of the Jedi?

Toy company Uncle Milton recently introduced The Force Glove, providing fans with their own personal Jedi credentials by way of magnetic force. The glove uses a magnet embedded in the palm to repel or attract objects based on polarity. In other words, take a cue from Obi-Wan Kenobi and use the force to move things without touching them.

Just $18 gets you your own Force Glove with accompanying magnet, as well as two targets and one learning guide.

Since most important life lessons can be learned from Star Wars, it's only natural that this tech toy should feature some education…
Continue reading...

More About: Star Wars, magnet, trending

1. BookFinder

BookFinder is a comprehensive price comparison engine. Search for books by title, author or ISBN. Filters let you search for new, used and even out-of-print titles. We particularly like that the site displays book prices alongside shipping charges, a very helpful feature when comparing prices.

Click here to view this gallery.

It's that time of year again, when college students scramble for textbooks, in the hopes they'll have money left over for food and fun during the school year.

No longer does the campus bookstore have the monopoly on book sales. Students now have the option to buy their books elsewhere, often choosing to purchase used books online, or even rent textbooks from various sites. Some schools are even incorporating e-textbooks into their coursework.

The key is to find the right edition of a textbook at the right price, and that can take some research.

Fortunately, a few websites can help with that. Amazon has just hopped on the rental bandwagon, launching its own textbook rental service.…
Continue reading...

More About: college, education, features, lifestyle, textbooks, trending, web

Motorola and Verizon announced a press event for Sept. 5, hinting at a possible launch for the rumored Droid Razr HD.

The invitation features a photo of New York City's Gotham Hall where the event is scheduled to take place.

The words "On Display" is featured prominently at the top of the invite, and likely alludes to a higher-resolution screen for the Razr HD, Motorola's follow-up to its Droid Razr.

The new high-definition phone would be the first Motorola device with a 720p HD to be part of Verizon Wireless on their 4G LTE network, reports Android Community.

Numerous leaks have speculated HD's specs, including the possibility of a 4.5-inch 1280 x 720p Colorboost HD display, o…
Continue reading...

More About: Motorola, RAZR, droid, hd, motorola droid, razr hd, verizon

As autumn approaches, game publishers are gearing up for their busiest time of the year. We're already seeing the start of that now, with this week's healthy stream of game releases.

For console and PC gamers, there were two big-name titles to look forward to: Sleeping Dogs and Darksiders II. Sleeping Dogs is an open-world game set in Hong Kong. You play as undercover cop Wei Shin as he tries to break into the most dangerous gangs in Hong Kong. Wei must toe the line of being a hardened street criminal while still remaining a police officer.

Darksiders II has you playing one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Death, and takes place around the…
Continue reading...

More About: Gaming

1. WhatsApp

Phones: iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Symbian

Price: $0.99

Features: Text messaging, group messaging, photo and video sharing, location sharing.

Click here to view this gallery.

In addition to data, we're responsible for voice calling minutes and text messages each month. Thanks to a slew of apps developed over the past few years, smartphone users can now significantly cut down their minutes and text packages.

Most app stores are swimming with Internet-based apps for texting, picture and video sharing, in addition to voice and video calling.

SEE ALSO: Will Texting Become Extinct Thanks to Free Social Messaging Apps?

We've rounded up nine of our favorite apps -- many of which are free -- to help you save on voice call minutes and text messages.

Are you using any of these apps already? Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments.

�…
Continue reading...

More About: Tech, android, apps, features, iOS, smartphone, texting, trending

Acquiring a stolen iPad was not one of this clown's talents or tricks.

The 64GB iPad stolen from Steve Jobs's house on July 17 was found in the hands of professional clown, Kenneth Kahn, also known as "Kenny the Clown." On Friday, The San Jose Mercury News reported that the stolen iPad was confiscated from Kahn, who did not steal it. Kariem McFarlin, a friend of Kahn, gave him the iPad he stole from Jobs' house.

In the short time Kahn unknowingly had the Apple co-founder's device, he only downloaded iTunes to listen to the Pink Panther theme song and selections by Michael Jackson.

"It would be like getting a football from Joe Montana that was stolen out of his house," the 47-year…
Continue reading...

More About: ipad, steve jobs

1. Easy Macro Cell Lens Band

This budget option gives any cellphone a macro lens for quick and easy close-ups. Cost: $15

Click here to view this gallery.

Are you ready to take your iPhotography to the next level? Investing in an add-on lens could be just the creative boost you need.

From fish-eye lenses to colored filters to macro options, we have found 10 solutions that will give your iPhone's camera exciting new super powers.

SEE ALSO: 20+ Beautiful Camera-Themed iPhone Cases

Have a look through the options we've highlighted in the gallery above. Let us know in the comments below about any of your experiences with add-on cameraphone lenses.

More About: Gadgets, Mobile, Tech, accessories, iphone, photography

You can tell a lot about a person by the front door to their home. And just like a door, the home screens on our smartphones are the gateway to understanding how we interact with the digital world.

From the aesthetics to practicality, there's a range of reasons why we set up our home screens the way we do. Some screens are serene with a nice solid color background and just a few most-used applications. Yet others display their own brand of ordered chaos—crammed tight with folders full of apps on top of a background image of LOL cats.

There's no right way, just your way— which is why we want to see what you have hanging out on your home screen. To get the party started, we…
Continue reading...

More About: Mobile, display, home screens, iphone, smartphone

You may be surprised to hear this but at Mashable, we download and report on a ton of apps. We love testing and sharing our favorites with readers, so as we close in on yet another summer of swiping, pinching and tapping, here our must-download apps of 2012 so far.

First there's Highlight, the app that tells you what's happening with those around you. It's a connection maker, which is great when you can see what your friends are up to but a bit creepy otherwise.

Next comes Stamped, another social media app, which is more about about discovery than making new friends. The app lets you follow people you trust, then see what things they give their…
Continue reading...

More About: android, apps, best of, iOS

1. How to Do Laundry

This YouTube tutorial will make you a wash-and-fold pro. Plus, the guys will enjoy learning from an attractive woman who hang-dries her thongs.

Click here to view this gallery.

Back to school season is nearly upon us. For college students, that means shipping out from Mom and Dad's basement, into a world of dorms, meal plans and dirty laundry.

Although the hint of independence is tantalizing, adulthood can be tough IRL. That's why we've compiled a college survival guide of YouTube videos to help you learn valuable lessons about sex, dorms and keg stands.

SEE ALSO: These 10 Videos Turn Tough Topics Into Child's Play

Parents, share these vids with your kids. They represent all the things we wish we knew going into college. What about you? What did you have to learn the hard way?

Thumbnail image courtesy of Flickr, thaiqn

More About: Video, YouTube, back to school, education, features, lifestyle

Update: OnLive's director of corporate communications Brian Jaquet responded to Mashable with this: "no comment on the news other than to say the OnLive service is not shutting down."

OnLive -- a cloud gaming startup focused on bringing a console experience to devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Android phones -- laid off its entire staff Friday.

According to a source close to the situation, the company called an all hands meeting at 10am PT, at which the entire staff was fired. Some staffers may be rehired as the company transitions to its next unknown iteration.

OnLive most recently announced a partnership with Ouya, the Android-based hacker friendly game console that broke…
Continue reading...

More About: cloud computing, cloud gaming, onlive, trending

We've rounded up the most unique, popular and must-have gadgets on Amazon from the past week for you to drool over.

Topping the list are cameras for expert photographers or the novice picture-taking enthusiasts. The Sony point-and-shoot DSC-RX100 has a 20.2 megapixel sensor and a 3.6 times optical zoom lens making it easy to take pictures in low light. And at $650, it's a pretty good steal for someone looking to upgrade their equipment.

For the more advanced shutterbug, the Canon Rebel T4i can't be beat with its 18 megapixel CMOS sensor. For $1,200, you can get the body and a standard zoom kit lens.

For the self-proclaimed couch potatoes --…
Continue reading...

More About: DSLR, Gadgets, amazon, photography

I have been writing about Apple's fabled "iTV" for over two years now. Initially, it was just a major upgrade to Apple TV. Eventually, it morphed into a full-blown TV set.

Now we've settled on the middle ground of a cable-box-replacing set-top box. Let me promise you. This will not happen, and here's why:

Unscramble It

Cable companies hold a trump card and it's called decoding. You cable box is programmed to decode or unscramble the channels you subscribe to. In order for any other third-company box like, say, a TiVo DVR, to do the same, it needs what's called a cable card. Cable companies and consumers have shown little interest in these cards (ask your cab…
Continue reading...

More About: Apple TV, content streaming, itv, opinon, trending, tv everywhere

Pussy Riot, the Russian feminist anti-Putin punk rock band, issued a new single on Friday as three of its members were sentenced to two years in jail for "hooliganism."

The song, entitled Putin Lights the Fires, was released by The Guardian. You can listen to the new song, along with a video montage of the band, below.

SEE ALSO: Russian Judge Hands Pussy Riot Members Two Year Sentence

More About: Pussy Riot, World, russia

1. The SLR Sloop

Made from the same material used for crafting boat sails, the water repellent Sloop boasts five adjustable, padded compartments. Cost: $149

Click here to view this gallery.

If you've spent money on a decent camera, you'll need a classy case to keep it safe. Unfortunately, so many camera bags are bulky, ugly and pretty darn dull.

We scoured the web to find some snazzy options for shutterbugs with a sense of style. From handmade leather bags to colorful neoprene cases, at least one of these cases will catch your eye.

SEE ALSO: 20+ Beautiful Camera-Themed iPhone Cases

Take a look through our hand-picked selection in the slideshow above. Link us in the comments below to any other options you can recommend.

More About: Gadgets, Tech, accessories, cases, features, photography

Do you use more than one app to record and view your health and fitness stats? A new app wants to be the one-stop-shop of apps for storing all of your health and fitness data. You may not actually use fewer apps, but with the Withings Health Companion, you can view all that health data in one place.

The Withings Health Companion app [iTunes link] for iOS, launched on Aug. 13. It allows users to monitor their weight, physical activity, heart and sleep quality and sync it to the app -- even if you use other apps to track that information.

The health and fitness monitoring app space is a crowded one. But Withings has a long history in this particular niche-- at least compared to oth…
Continue reading...

More About: apps, fitness, health

 

Farewells can have a bittersweet way of making you feel happy and sad at the same time.

Around the U.S., thousands of freshmen are in the process of packing up for college, excited by the prospect of starting a new life away from their childhood homes. At Mashable HQ, we'll be saying our fair share of goodbyes soon as some of our summer interns head back home, ready to start a new job or resume classes.

Storytellers have long known and used the poignant power of departures. Admit it: You won't ever forget the three-hanky scene of Andy giving away Woody and the gang to his neighbor in Toy Story 3, or Carl and Ellie's tearjerking love story in Up. "Here's looking at you,…
Continue reading...

More About: Mashable Photo Challenge, community, photography, pixar

It's back to school time, and though most of us have mastered the use of social media to enhance our personal lives, what about mastering Internet and tech that can make us more productive instead of easily distracted? We rounded up the best apps, tools and websites for you to streamline your school life and be more successful.

Google has given you a leg up though this year on that looming avalanche of paper assignments with its Google Docs research feature. It easily allows you to search online while writing and -- the best part -- footnote the paper with the click of a button. But be prepared to spend more time actually writing your paper since y…
Continue reading...

More About: Google, apps, back to school, education

1. Anicase Tiger

Anicase offers a whole range of animal-themed iPhone covers that raise awareness of endangered species around the world. 10% of net profits go toward supporting the various animals, so you get a cute case and do some good at the same time. Cost: $24.99

Click here to view this gallery.

If you're an animal lover and an iPhone owner, you might want to reach for your wallet and prepare to "squueeeee." We've found 15 adorable animal-themed iPhone cases and covers to cute up your day.

Whether you're partial to pandas, crazy about cats or batty about bunnies, we think you'll find a case in our gallery of fur, feathers and scales that you'll want to give a good home to.

SEE ALSO: 10 Adorable Charms for Your Headphone Jack

Link us in the comments below to any other iPhone cases that would fit into our mobile menagerie.

More About: Gadgets, Mobile, Tech, accessories, features, gallery, home, iphone, iphone accessories, iphone cases, lifestyle

Women's purses are just like people -- they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. But one thing is for sure, that purse better be able to fit the never-ending list of things girls love to tote from place to place. From makeup to gym shoes, umbrellas to snacks, a good bag is a necessity as a fashion statement and a career accessory.

And most importantly, a handbag needs to be able to do the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping your tech safe and sound.

Today, everyone from Marc Jacobs to Kate Spade makes bags and cases for iPads, laptops and cameras. We scoured designers from across the globe to find not only the best looking bags, but also th…
Continue reading...

More About: fashion, laptops, trending

If recent media reports pan out, the release of Apple's new iPhone is right around the corner. But could a new, smaller iPad be right on its heels?

Steve Jobs famously blasted the idea of a 7-inch tablet, claiming small tablets would be "dead on arrival" but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning with speculation that Apple will release a mini version of its popular tablet device. How would a 7-inch iPad differ from its big brother? Rumors so far paint the picture of a device that while smaller, could pack the same A5 processor while being .3mm thinner. Others are guessing that the mythical device could also arrive with a smaller…
Continue reading...

More About: apple, ipad, ipad mini, ipad rumors, trending

Facebook's Lists functionality started as a way to help manage privacy, but since the launch of "Subscribe," Lists have become a way to better organize groups of friends and see content in your stream based on your interests.

If you're a little confused about how to make the most of these useful features, consider the walk-throughs below.

SEE ALSO: 10 Facebook Tips for Power Users

Whether you want to find interesting public lists to subscribe to, set up a private list of friends, or better manage Facebook's default "Smart Lists," these tutorials should help you out.

Facebook's "Smart Lists"

Facebook automatically generates "Smart Lists" for you. Here's more on…
Continue reading...

More About: Facebook, Social Media, features, gallery, how tos, tips and tricks

Internet memes have become so abundant and short-lived, it's hard to believe we were all gaga for Ridiculously Photogenic Guy just four months ago -- especially when McKayla Maroney recently charmed us with her bemusement.

Here are this year's favorite memes so far, before the next Overly Attached Girlfriend forces you to love her and share with all of your friends.

BONUS: McKayla Maroney the Meme

More About: 2012, YouTube, memes, tumblr

Russian Punk Rock Band Pussy Riot was found guilty of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" by a Russian Court, according to a report from The Guardian UK. The judge sentenced three members of the 10 women band to two years in prison.

Three members of the 10 women band were arrested last February after performing a "Punk Prayer" inside the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

The activist band was formed in 2011 following then-Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir's Putin's announcement that he would seek a third term as president. They chose the church because of its support for Putin.

On July 30 the three young women, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, and Yekate…
Continue reading...

More About: Pussy Riot, russia

When Matt Levine was opening Sons of Essex, a restaurant on New York City's Lower East Side last fall, he decided to use YouTube to promote the establishment and its menu offerings.

"We live in a society where information travels fast, and the entertainment value and visual stimulation of videos seemed like a great way to get a creative and innovative message to our guests," he says.

The success of Sons of Essex's videos can be a lesson to other small businesses. While restaurants have an advantage in that the things they purvey -- food and drinks -- are pretty universally appealing, many industries can benefit from creating videos.

"I believe every business has a message to c…
Continue reading...

More About: Marketing, features, mashable, open forum

The creators of Songify have done it again! This time they feature Daym Drops' Five Guys review.

Daym Drops' review gives the Gregory Brothers plenty to work with. In the original video he praises the restaurant for "reading his mind" by adding bacon to his double cheese burger. He goes on to sing the chorus to "Skidamarink" in excitement for what he calls an "official" burger.

SEE ALSO: Viral Video Recap: Funniest Memes of the Week

Daym Drops proves to be as quotable as other Songify favorite Antoine Dodson.

Anyone who has had Five Guys can attest to the food's greatness.

More About: Viral, five guys, gregory-brothers, songify