Investors aren't the only ones reeling from the precipitous drop in Facebook's stock: CEO Mark Zuckerberg also acknowledged to company employees earlier this month that the stock's performance is "painful" to watch, according to a report.

The meeting, which was described by "an effort to buck up morale," was a so-far rare acknowledgment of the company's stock price, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report, based on "people familiar with the meeting," details that Zuckerberg began by talking about how he generally doesn't want to start every meeting by discussing the stock price, since volatility is par for the course, but he empathized with employees who were banking on a higher…
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If there are any doubts that McKayla Maroney --the Olympic gymnast whose scowl spawned an Internet meme -- is a good sport, she laid them to rest Thursday night with a visit to The Colbert Report.

Maroney was presented as one of five new interns for Colbert -- the other four being the rest of the gold-winning gymnastics team, Jordyn Wieber, Gabrielle Douglas, Alexandra Raisman and Kyla Ross. The five, who just returned from "some study abroad thing in London," used their considerable athletic talents to deliver a pen to Colbert. Best of all, when the camera panned to Maroney, she acquiesced to fan's desires by delivering her signature scowl.

How do you rate this appearance? Gold?…
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Household appliance company Black and Decker has launched a new product -- their Gyro screwdriver. The Gyro is named for the gyroscopic technology it uses to operate. This technology is already used most visibly for video game controllers. Unlike other electronic screwdrivers, there isn't a switch to determine which direction the tip turns. The Gyro recognizes when the operator turns their wrist to the right for forward motion, and to the left for reverse.

The speed is also controlled by wrist movement. After the quarter turn of the wrist to determine direction, additional turns determine speed.

The Gyro also boasts a rechargeable lithium batte…
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Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area not far from Silicon Valley, it makes sense that the Pacific-12 Conference would strive to be on the cutting edge of innovation in college sports.

The league took a big step in that direction Wednesday by relaunching its official website as a streamlined, more digitally savvy operation meant to lead it into a new era of content creation and consumption. It also kicked off a new TV Everywhere initiative to let fans watch video anyplace at any time.

Out is a dated website, called Pac-12.org, offering fans little in the way of articles, video and other goodies. In is Pac-12.com, which includes social updates from different schools, a dedic…
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Popular strategy board games like Settlers of Catan and Dominion are coming to your browser, social networks like Facebook and Google+, and mobile devices.

Goko, a startup working in stealth the last 15 months, has purchased more than 150 licenses for existing analog games, in addition to working with developers to create products reminiscent of those games. Their plan is to bring these games into as many social spaces online as possible, thanks to the flexibility of HTML5.

"One of these games have been played in living rooms and homes for generations, and we wanted to capture that experience online," says Brian Howell, Goko's vice president of marketing.

Dominion is a deck-buil…
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Skyler King is product leader for ZoneAlarm, a Check Point Software Technologies consumer business, and maker of ZoneAlarm antivirus and firewall. Follow the company @checkpointsw.

If you are part of Generation Y then your daily life is all about being connected. Tweeting, friending, and googling is routine, but protecting yourself from the various cyber-related issues that will likely pop up should be, too.

According to our research, only 31% of Gen Y ranked security as the most important consideration when making decisions about their computer. In fact, Gen Y was more likely to prioritize entertainment and community than security. This is in spite of the fact that at least half ind…
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Netflix users no longer need to slog through those pesky end credits. The site's new feature "post-play" creates an endless stream of viewing for simple all-day video watching marathons.

Post-play works by detecting when the end credits roll after a TV episode. After 15 seconds of credit playing, post-play will automatically jump to the next episode in the queue.

SEE ALSO: Netflix Is Expanding Into Scandanavia

The player will still let users browse through other episodes or other movies if they desire, but if you're too comfy to move, Netflix will just keep rolling through.

The new feature will most likely keep viewers engaged within Net…
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In a scientific first, Harvard University researches successfully transformed a 53,426-word book into DNA, the same substance that provides the genetic template for all living things. The achievement could eventually lead to the mass adoption of DNA as a long-term storage medium.

Published Thursday in the journal Science, the experiment aimed to demonstrate the viability of storing large amounts of data on DNA molecules. Since the data is recorded on individual nucleobase pairs in the DNA strand (those adenine-guanine/cytosine-thymine pairs you may be straining to remember from high school biology), DNA can actually store more information per cubic millimeter than flash memory or even som…
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Twitter unveiled some of the upcoming changes to version 1.1 of its API that could have a drastic impact on the service's third-party ecosystem.

As promised, Twitter is squeezing the knot around the neck of third-party Twitter apps that mimic Twitter.com with a more stringent set of API rules.

The changes in Twitter API V 1.1 are all designed to foster "a consistent Twitter experience" and include universal endpoint authentication, per-endpoint rate-limiting and a number of crucial changes to the "Developer Rules of the Road." It may be the latter changes that prove most troubling to the remaining collection of third-party, consumer-focused Twitter clients.

The new rules start by t…
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A new app from UStream lets you broadcast live video directly from your iPhone to your Facebook feed. Called Broadcast for Friends -- or BFF -- the app can be used to share a live video to just your group of friends or publicly.

Ustream recently integrated its popular video service with Facebook's Open Graph, allowing Ustream users to post what they're watching on the site on Facebook for their friends to see. The popularity of the functionality made the Ustream want to take its mobile strategy to the next level, and allow customers to broadcast directly to the social network.

"We have our underlying technology, the platform of Ustream, and we built it in such a way that we…
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When my son came home from college a few months ago, he picked up the TV remote, scrolled through the contents of our home DVR and informed me there wasn't enough room for my shows and his. Now, my shows tend to languish until I finally get around to watching them, but that's still no reason to get rid of them to make room.

This familiar scenario has just gotten easier thanks to a new tuner by TiVo. The TiVo Premiere 4 has, as you would expect, four tuners, which means you can record four shows at once, while watching a fifth program that's been recorded. That's multiple high-def channels being recorded at once.

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YouTube will be the centerpiece of the Republican National Convention's digital and social strategy, dubbed the "Convention Without Walls."

The purpose of Convention Without Walls? To make the RNC the most open and accessible convention in America's history through the use of social media. The event's organizers want to use social media to let citizens anywhere in the country engage with the event, being held in Tampa Bay, Fla. at the end of August.

While the event's digital team will be using a wide array of social media platforms, including Facebook, Google+ and Twitter, to engage a nationwide audience, YouTube will be the "central point of activity," according to James Davis, Co…
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More About: 2012 presidential campaign, Google, Mitt Romney, Politics, US, YouTube

How often have you, or someone you know, eschewed a bicycle helmet to look cool at the expense of safety?

Well, gamble with a traumatic brain injury no more. Two Swedish inventors created an invisible helmet called Hövding, and it doesn't involving using any Harry Potter invisibility cloak magic, or even plastic. The helmet is actually a thick collar -- like one you might see on a heavy winter jacket -- with an airbag hood underneath that deploys should you get in an accident.

It uses rechargeable battery-powered accelerometers and gyroscopes to detect movement that resembles being in a bike crash and launches airbags around the wearer's h…
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Every four years the Olympics bring the world together, albeit briefly. And no matter a person's global location, we all connect through athletes like Oscar Pistorius, Jessica Ennis, or Usain Bolt. That's because the water cooler has been replaced by social media and real-time global discussion. Still, language barriers prevent us from completely connecting. But what if the language barrier didn't exist? What if we could completely overcome it in the next ten years?

SEE ALSO: 5 Translation Apps to Bridge Those Language Barriers

Jonathan Lichtman, senior vice president of SAIC, believes it's possible. His firm recently launched the first translator that integrates both machine trans…
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Hipstamatic has let go five of its eleven employees in a restructuring, a spokesperson has confirmed to Mashable.

Sources told The Next Web, which first reported the story, that the app is not making enough money amid stiff competition from other mobile photography apps, like Instagram and Camera+. Hipstamatic, which is ranked in the top 100 paid iPhone apps on iTunes, generates most of its revenue from in-app purchases of lens, films and virtual camera cases.

Molli Sullivan, director of communications at Hipstamatic, insists that the lay-offs were part of a restructure. "We're not going anywhere, Hipstamatic is here to stay," she wrote in an email to Mashable.

"We're super excited…
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Tap tap has replaced clickity clack as the primary typing sound of gadgets. Even if you miss the din of the typewriter and the feel of each individual key under your fingertips, you can't exactly browse the Internet on an old Remington.

At the intersection of old and new technology sits the iTypewriter, an iPad-typewriter hybrid created by industrial designer Austin Yang. The device allows iPad users to type text documents without laying a finger on the touchscreen.

SEE ALSO: Turn Your Mac Into a Noisy Old-School Typewriter

Ernest Hemingway never worried about fingerprint glass smudges on his work, so why should you?

Image courtesy of Austin Yang (H/T Reddit)

More About: Watercooler, YouTube, design, ipad

At first blush, Klondike, the Unilever ice cream brand, and the classic 1972 film The Godfather appear to have little in common.

Well, maybe on second blush as well, but Unilever has apparently made Paramount Digital Entertainment an offer it couldn't refuse and has let Klondike use clips from that film as well as Forrest Gump, Tommy Boy and Wayne's World for social media marketing purposes. Starting Thursday Facebook Page Moments of Glory, as the app is known, is letting fans send the short clips, with customized messages and music, to friends.

In the case of The Godfather, you can send the 30-second clip in which Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) becomes the new don to a friend who j…
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More About: Facebook, Klondike, Unilever, reelcards, the godfather

It's a great time to be an entertainment lover. From connected TVs to streaming music and video services to video games that look better than real life, entertainment and digital are intersecting like never before. With so many products on the market, the hardest part is choosing which service or gadget you want to use to consume content or play games.

We've highlighted five of our favorite premium services and gadgets in the entertainment space. From music and video subscriptions to streaming media players, wireless speakers and universal remotes, we tried to run the gamut of entertainment devices that are worth paying for.

What entertainment gadgets and services were worth it to…
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Nokia is feeling pretty good about the next generation of its Lumia phone -- so good, in fact, that Chris Weber, its executive vice president of sales and marketing, took to Twitter late Wednesday night with a little trash talk. Simply indicating the next generation Lumia was on its way, Weber told Samsung to "Take Note."

On Wednesday, Nokia sent out invitations for an event on Sept. 5 where it's expected to reveal a Lumia handset running Windows Phone 8. Samsung also launched its newest tablet, the Galaxy Note 10.1, on Wednesday. Weber's tweet may have potentially been a jab that Samsung's Note line, which also includes a smartphone. Here's his message:

Samsung take note, next g…
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Women-owned businesses -- 8.3 million of them, in total -- are a crucial part of the U.S. economy. Growth by women-owned businesses is surging at a pace faster than that of any other group -- over the past 15 years, 1.5 times greater than other groups. There's much to celebrate, and yet there's still work to be done and lessons to be learned.

Over the past three weeks, we've shed light on women-owned businesses, spurred by American Express OPEN's recent report, The State of Women-Owned Businesses [PDF]. We've spoken with prominent female founders about their influences, their ambitions and challenges, in hopes of helping other aspiring female founders to embark on the journey, or to keep…
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A dramatic full-length trailer for Dexter season 7 has arrived on the heels of Showtime unleashing the first two minutes of the season during Comic-Con last month.

The revealing 120-second promo begins where season 6 left off -- with Debra Morgan catching brother Dexter Morgan standing beside a corpse with a knife in its chest. The montage hurdles viewers through scenes alluding to Dexter killing Deb and revelations that more people may soon know about Dexter's killing spree.

"If you don't get off my ass something bad is going to happen," Dexter warns Deb.

Splashed throughout the trailer are these words: "Few have survived once you've seen him. There's no escape. There's no e…
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Are the lawyers Apple hired for its patent litigation against Samsung smoking crack? That's what judge Lucy Koh asked Thursday in court. But an Apple attorney categorically denied the charge, saying, "Your Honor, I'm not smoking crack."

This all comes via New York Times tech reporter Nick Wingfield, who tweeted this summary of the bizarre exchange from the courtroom:

Judge Koh just accused Apple's attorneys of "smoking crack." "You're Honor, I'm not smoking crack," an Apple attny responded in earnest.— Nick Wingfield (@nickwingfield) August 16, 2012

Wingfield then provided a grammatical correction of the fascinating morsel:

Your honor, I mean— Nick Wingfield (@nic…
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Apple has its sights set on developing an "illuminated touchpad," which could be used in devices from the MacBook to its Magic Trackpad, according to a patent filing approved on Thursday.

The patent -- which was filed in April 2012 -- states that the the technology isn't just for backlighting and making it easier to see in a dark room. Rather, it aims to improve "feedback mechanisms for touch pads," so when you move your finger across the touch pad's sensitive surface, an illumination point follows and glows depending on how it's touched.

Apple said the technology includes "changing intensity or color based on motion characteristics and/or pressure, providing an illumination point…
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1. PdaNet

When cellular networks started blocking tethering apps, PdaNet was one of the first targeted, but the popular tool from June Fabrics Tech is now back on the Google Play store. PdaNet connects your computer to your cellular network, without having to root your cellphone, so it's easy to install for less tech-savvy Android users. The app supports tethering over both USB and Bluetooth with zero latency, so if you're lucky enough to sport a 4G cellphone, your computer will be able to surf the net at the same speed.

Click here to view this gallery.

Last year, carriers began blocking free tethering apps on the Android platform, leaving users in the lurch.

But a recent court ruling stipulated that Verizon must provide users the ability to use third-party tethering apps at no additional costs. Therefore, using your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot is going to get easier for many of us.

SEE ALSO: 4 Ways to Avoid Paying for Hotel Wi-Fi

Mobile hotspot devices like the Verizon MiFi allow users to connect to a cellular network. But having to carry an extra device can be a pain, and is less convenient than connecting with your always-present smartphone.

We've rounded up five free tethering apps for your Android device. Each lets you conn…
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More About: Mobile, Tethering, android, apps, features, verizon

Looking to fill your calendar with exciting events in the social media sector? We've got your back. Below you'll find four exciting events handpicked from Mashable's Events Board, all of which will propel your business forward in the digital space. Check out this assortment of business conferences and exhibitions, where you'll have a chance to learn about fresh innovations in social media. These events will help you reach your target audience on the front end, the back end and on their social feeds.

If you're looking for events in business, marketing and advertising, visit the Events Board to learn about networking opportunities, meetings and expos that will give you a chance to learn…
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Dunkin' Donuts has one-upped rival Starbucks with a new mobile app that lets you buy a coffee for a friend.

The Dunkin' app allows you send $2 to $100 to friends to buy Dunkin' goods via text, email or Facebook. Though Starbucks doesn't yet offer that feature, both Coca-Cola and Pepsi have experimented with a gifting feature. In those cases, the gifting was to strangers via vending machines.

Meanwhile, the app -- available for iOS and Android -- also allows you pay for your coffee and treats with your smartphone, a capability Starbucks has offered for some time.

Starbucks began accepting mobile payments nationally in January 2011 with in-store 2-D scanners. Starbucks CEO Howard Sch…
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More About: Marketing, Mobile, apps, dunkin donuts

Your Instagram pics live in the digital realm, but what if you could look at them on your coffee table, too? A company called Coastermatic will turn four of your best Instagram shots into coasters for $25.

The round, sandstone coasters display your best shots in color. To order the coasters, login through your Instagram account and select your favorite images. Coastermatic offers some tips on choosing coaster-ready pictures: Images without borders work best. If one of the images you select has a border, Coastermatic will crop it. Shipping the stone coasters costs $6 in the U.S. and $17 everywhere else.

SEE ALSO: 19 Resources to Improve Your Phot…
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More About: decor, home, instagram, trending

Mobile payments firm Square is offering small businesses an alternative to the standard cut-per-transaction model. Now, such businesses can pay a flat $275 fee per month for unlimited use.

Square, which normally charges a 2.75% fee per swipe, announced the option on Thursday.

"For 62 years, merchants have suffered complicated, expensive processing fees. Square is the first company to rethink electronic payment pricing with the merchant in mind. We are giving merchants affordable, predictable pricing, " said Square CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey said in a press release. "With one monthly price, merchants know that the sales they've processed in a day is the same amount deposite…
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Sports Illustrated readers will get a new perspective on NFL training camps this week from an unexpected source: Instagram. The magazine is including more than 20 photos filtered through the popular app to accompany a report by star NFL writer Peter King from around the league's preseason prep sessions.

The Instagram shots are featured in Sports Illustrated's Aug. 20 issue, which hits news stands Thursday and teases the 2012 college football preview on the cover. The pictures illuminate life in NFL camps, including media sessions with star players and coaches, on-field action, eager autograph-seeking kids and more.

According to a spokesperson for the magazine, the Instagram feature…
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1. MLB.com At Bat

Beloved by many sports fans, MLB.com At Bat is Major League Baseball's official app. It lets you stream games, track stats, access highlights, listen to radio broadcasts and follow your favorite teams and players. It's available in the App Store and Google Play, and on other platforms, for $9.99.

Click here to view this gallery.

Sports are a worldwide obsession. Some people love to watch. Some people love to play. Many love to do both.

Whether it's distance running, pickup hoops, adult-league softball or anything in between, athletics keep us in (relatively) good shape and provide healthy outlets for stress. Then there's Champions League soccer, Major League Baseball, the NBA and NFL -- plus hundreds of amateur and professional sporting associations around the world that build community and keep us entertained.

So how can athletically-minded tech geeks marry mobile apps and sports? We've gathered 10 picks to get you started. Some help you follow the action in real time; others help track your own athletic pr…
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More About: Entertainment, Mobile, Sports, apps, features, trending