Saturday 15 September 2012

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Everybody’s Talking About Pop Music [INFOGRAPHIC]”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Everybody’s Talking About Pop Music [INFOGRAPHIC]”


Everybody’s Talking About Pop Music [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 08:49 PM PDT


Hoards of tweens flock to Twitter in adoration of One Direction, but in reality, many artists don't share the same level of online popularity.

Serendip, a social media service, is redefining crowd surfing by allowing a listener to find and hear music, based on crowd curation. The website aims to unite listeners through music and social media by creating a personal social radio through the Twitter search stream.

SEE ALSO: Dance-Inspiring 'Gangnam Style' GIFs From 'Today' Show Concert

Over six months, Serendip aggregated its information to give insight to the music sharers. The numbers are based on almost 114 million music-related tweets from about 2 million unique users. Af…
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More About: Music, Social Media, Twitter, Vimeo, YouTube, soundcloud


iDoneThis Pushes You to Complete The Tasks on Your To-Do List

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 08:01 PM PDT


iDoneThis, a new app and website service, lets users stay up-to-date with their daily tasks by sending reminders and storing accomplishments.

More About: Productivity Apps, Startups, bizspark


iPod Nano’s Evolution: Make Up Your Mind, Apple

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 07:56 PM PDT


1. FIrst Generation




"Ever wonder what this pocket is for?" Then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs asked as he pointed to the watch pocket on his jeans at an Apple media event. The answer, according to him, was the iPod nano. The nano released Sept. 7, 2005, as a replacement to the iPod mini, and Apple sold 1 million products in 17 days. Quick stats

  • Battery Life: 14 hours
  • GB Options: 1, 2, 4
  • Size: 41 mm wide, 89 mm long, 6.9 mm thick
  • Weight: 1.5 oz
  • Screen: 176 x 132 pixels

Click here to view this gallery.


Apple's product launch on Sept. 12 inundated the web with hype over the much-anticipated iPhone 5, but that wasn't the only product to get major updates.

SEE ALSO: The Evolution of the iPhone

The iPod Nano's seventh generation will be available in October, but for now, scroll through the gallery above to see its seven-year shuffle.

More About: apple, features, ipod, ipod nano


Denmark Officially Has the World’s Coolest Commute [VIDEO]

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:50 PM PDT


Riding the bus might not qualify as the most glamourous form of transportation. But do they really deserve a reputation that ranks slightly below cars and slightly above motorized scooters?

After watching a brilliant ad spot out of Denmark from ad agency M2Film, you might just put the brakes on that thought.

Handy tip: Turn on the Closed Captioning by pushing the CC button at the bottom of the video for subtitles.

More About: Advertising, Watercooler, viral videos


What Triggers Universities’ Emergency Social Media Response Systems?

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:42 PM PDT


The University of Texas at Austin and North Dakota State University received separate bomb threats Friday morning, leading the schools to send out messages to evacuate campus buildings via text, email, Facebook and Twitter.

Thankfully, both instances were resolved -- no bombs were found and regular schedules resumed. But it got us wondering: What triggers universities to send these alert messages out?

Gary Susswein, director of media relations at UT Austin, told Mashable it's ultimately a decision for university officials to make, with the social media team standing close by.

"We've got several protocol in place here at UT Austin," he said. "The first is a text message syste…
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More About: US, education, higher education, universities


Why You Don’t Need the iPhone 5, by an iPhone Owner

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:40 PM PDT


Mashable OP-ED: This post reflects the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Mashable as a publication.

Can you feel it yet? The slow, subtle build-up in peer pressure. The smug, self-satisfied looks from that guy in the office who pre-ordered the iPhone 5 at midnight. The questions from friends who assume that, because you like tech, you're probably getting one. The calculations you catch yourself making, wondering if you could actually afford it, just in theory.

(You're not alone: the hashtag #ButYouGotThatiPhone5Tho was the top worldwide trend on Twitter Friday).

Well, stay strong, my tempted friend. The iPhone 5 is a great phone, no doubt; another solid design achievement from Apple. It's thinner, lighter and taller. But it's not that huge a leap forward in hardware.

If you…
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More About: apple, iPhone 5


Zynga Fights Back, Says EA Copied Games

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:20 PM PDT


In early August Electronic Arts filed a lawsuit against social gaming giant Zynga for its new Facebook game The Ville.

"The copying was so comprehensive that the two games are, to an uninitiated observer, largely indistinguishable," said Lucy Bradshaw, General Manager of Maxis (the EA subsidiary that produces all Sims games) said at the time.

Zynga finally responded to the claim Friday -- by accusing EA of copying Activision's Little Computer People when it created The Sims to begin with. It also accuses EA of copying Zynga when it comes to social games.

SEE ALSO: Zynga's 'The Ville' Channels 'The Sims

"Zynga's YoVille, released in 2008, three years before The Sims
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More About: EA, Facebook, The Ville, Zynga, the sims


Friendster Founder Launches News Service Based on Social Networks

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 04:46 PM PDT


Friendster founder Jonathan Abrams, credited with creating the first social network in 2002, has released a new social-news service, called Nuzzel, which aggregates news your friends have shared across social networks.

More About: jonathan abrams, nuzzel


Apple’s Lightning Connector: What We Know, What We Don’t

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 04:43 PM PDT


The iPhone 5 has many physical changes from previous iPhones, and one of the biggest -- or rather, smallest -- is the new Lightning connector. While it's a major departure from the venerable dock connector that's been around since 2003, it's a bit of a question mark what the new jack can do.

Since Apple prioritizes a thin and lightweight form factor in the iPhone, the old dock connector had to go. Lightning appears to be an improvement: it's an all-digital connector that takes up a lot less room on the device. Plus, it's reversible, so you'll never mistakenly try to put it in the wrong way. And yes, there is an adapter that lets you plug your Lightning device into old 30-pin docks.…
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More About: Lightning, apple, dock connector


Water Charity Uses Instagram to Show its Field Work

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 03:48 PM PDT


WaterAid's Instagrams




People in Bokola, Malawi digging for water from the dried-up ground.

Click here to view this gallery.


To share its field work in Malawi, UK-based charity WaterAid has taken to Instagram, to highlight The Big Dig campaign.

The international non-profit is hoping its Instagram photo diary (@thebigdig) will show the community what impacts clean water and sanitation could have on the lives of 134,000 people in Malawi. WaterAid is currently digging 34 new boreholes and 43 shallow wells, training more than 2,100 hygiene educators, and bringing 20,500 latrines to schools and homes.

"We're trying to reach out to new supporters," Angharad McKenzie, head of supporter development for WaterAid, told Mashable. "We think we're the first to use Instagram to tell stories direct from the field, to give…
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More About: Social Good, World, africa, instagram, non-profits, water


Motorola’s Droid Razr M Packs a Lot in a Small Package [REVIEW]

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 03:46 PM PDT


Next-Generation Razr




The Razr M is the next generation of the popular Razr line of handsets. It will be joined by the Razr HD and Razr HD Maxx later this year.

Click here to view this gallery.


Motorola's Droid Razr M doesn't look like most of the other Android phones on the block. The pint-sized LTE handset is priced at just $99 with a two-year contract on Verizon, and packs a number of high-end features under the hood including a dual-core 1.5GHz processor and, soon, the latest version of Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean."

Announced alongside the Droid Razr HD that will be released later this year, the phone represents the next generation of Motorola's popular Razr line, adding a few enhancements from last year's model.

So, is the phone worth the cash? Let's take a look.

Design
If you've seen Motorola's previous Droid Razr or Atrix HD then the Razr M is going to look p…
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More About: Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Droid RAZR M 4G LTE, Motorola, RAZR, android


American Gothic Cooked Up ‘Breaking Bad’ Style [PIC]

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 02:48 PM PDT


American Gothic has undergone the parody treatment about a gazillion times, but Breaking Bad fans might forget about every other version after seeing Brian DeYong's Walter and Skyler White version.

The classic 1930 painting breaks bad in DeYoung's remix, titled The Heisenbergs.

SEE ALSO: 'Breaking Bad' Stars Before Meth and Albuquerque [VIDEOS]

Scope out the little details DeYoung added that take the artwork from Skinny Pete level to Gus Fring level, yo.

Image courtesy of Brian DeYong

More About: TV, Watercooler, art, breaking bad


Only a Few Hours Until New Amazon Sales Tax Starts in California

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 02:26 PM PDT


Ecommerce giant Amazon will begin collecting sales tax on purchases made in California at 12:01 a.m. PT Saturday. The grace period negotiated between Amazon and the state of California in September 2011 officially ends then, and the government will begin to collect taxes on items shipped to California, despite Amazon not having a physical presence in the state.

Depending on location, California residents currently pay 7.25% to 9.75% in sales taxes on purchases made in the state. Amazon currently collects sales tax in seven states and has deals in place to collect in six more beginning in 2013.

State officials estimate that the new law should bring in more than $300 million in the…
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More About: amazon, california, sales tax


Caine’s Cardboard Arcade Inspiration Movement Continues [VIDEO]

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 02:16 PM PDT


Caine Monroy became a global inspiration after building a fantasy arcade in his father's used car-parts shop. Today, he continues to motivate, while raising funds to support creativity and entrepreneurship for kids.

The 9-year-old from Los Angeles captured millions of hearts after filmmaker Nirvin Mullick came looking for a car part nearly a year ago, but found Caine's story instead. Mullick turned it into a documentary that quickly went viral.

SEE ALSO: Caine's Arcade: Cardboard Creation Inspires $90,000 Scholarship [VIDEO]

Five months later, Mullick followed up with Caine to see what he's up to. Unsurprisingly, Caine is keeping busy with the Imagingation Foundation an…
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More About: Viral, Watercooler, YouTube, viral philanthropy, viral videos


Here’s How Much Your iPhone 4 Is Worth

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 01:56 PM PDT


Want an iPhone 5 but still locked into your iPhone 4 contract? Consider trading in your phone!

Apple released the iPhone 4 in June of 2010 on AT&T and in other parts of the world, but the phone didn't make its way to Verizon until February 2011. As a result, there are lots of eager iPhone owners in the U.S. who are still stuck in a two-year contract.

While some Verizon iPhone 4 owners might already be eligible for full upgrades, others will have to wait -- maybe as much as six months. The same is true for any AT&T buyers who got the phone in 2011.

Fortunately, as we noted yesterday buyback services are still paying good money for old phones. We focused our previous arti…
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More About: buyback, ebay instant sale, features, gazelle, iphone 4, nextworth


U.S. Chief Technology Officer to Speak at Social Good Summit

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 01:42 PM PDT


United States Chief Technology Officer Todd Park will speak at the 2012 Social Good Summit, where he will discuss innovation in open government, spanning the Reagan era to today.

In March 2012, Park was appointed as the United States' second chief technology officer by President Barack Obama.

Before becoming CTO of the U.S., Park co-founded several innovative health websites, including Athenahealth and Castlight. In 2009, Park joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as CTO, where he served as a change agent and "entrepreneur-in-residence."

Park will join world leaders, digital innovators and influential individuals at the Social Good Summit, taking place Sept.…
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More About: Politics, Social Good, event, social good summit


Dance-Inspiring ‘Gangnam Style’ GIFs From ‘Today’ Show Concert

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 01:30 PM PDT


Mashable rolled out bed early Friday morning to kick it at the Today show with "Gangnam Style" mastermind Psy and a few thousand of his biggest fans.

The performance and behind-the-scenes action provided a number of GIF-able moments sure to make you want to put a saddle on your imaginary horse and trot around like David Gregory.

1. Psy has moves that would make any equestrian jealous.

2. Al Roker caught a touch of "Gangnam Style" fever before Psy hit the stage.

3. The Today show hosts saddled up their imaginary horses.

4. Serious news guy and Meet the Press host David Gregory decided to bust a leg shake. Your move, Brian Williams.

5. Rockefeller Plaza bo
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More About: GIFs, Watercooler, gangnam style, humor


Wirelessly Charge Your iPhone With This Smart Purse

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:59 PM PDT


There's nothing worse than watching your mobile device's battery slowly slip away, and who wants to lug around a phone charger? Those built-in battery cases are typically clunky and heavy too.

A new Kickstarter project aims to take frustration out of the equation for female iPhone users thanks to a series of stylish wristlet and clutch purses with built-in wireless power. Called the Everpurse, its internal 2500 milliamp battery will keep you going all day and throughout the night, whether you have an iPhone 4, 4S or the latest 5 model. (Note: The company plans to develop an Android-compatible Everpurse, as well).

The device starts charging w…
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More About: Mobile, Newsy, Video, fashion, iPhone Covers, iphone, smartphone, trending


Photo Challenge: What’s Your Outfit of the Day?

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:38 PM PDT


 

To couture lovers, New York Fashion Week is a prime opportunity to show off their designer duds. The stakes are even higher in the age of Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr -- what used to be the exclusive stomping ground of celebrities and high-profile socialites is now open to a handful of influential fashion bloggers, some of them in their teens.

SEE ALSO: 6 Bloggers Who Tumbled Their Way Into New York Fashion Week

Do you track your favorite style bloggers and post your own Outfit of the Day (OOTD) photos on your blog? Is the first part of your day spent carefully selecting outfits and sharing snapshots of your clothes on social media?

We'd love to see what Mashable readers…
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More About: fashion, fashion week, instagram, lifestyle, photo challenge, photography, pinterest, tumblr


Childproof Your iPad With This Kickstarter Project

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:26 PM PDT


If you've ever had a small child near your iPad, you know the feeling of unease that comes with it. But a mother and design firm aim to change that with the My:KidPad, a protective case for the iPad 2 and new iPad.

"This is the information age, and that's an information age kid," the Kickstarter page says. "Let's bring the two together with a lightweight, durable, protective case that transforms the iPad 2 and 3 into an object of kidsafe fun and adult [peace] of mind."

SEE ALSO: 5 Apps Your Kids Will Love

A soft injection mold base made out of flexible pu foam acts as a base for the tablet. Once seated within the foam, a plastic frame snap…
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More About: apple, ipad, kickstarter


20 Cases for Your New iPhone 5

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:04 PM PDT


iLuv Festival Hardshell Case




Price: $29.99

Click here to view this gallery.


If you were counting down the days until you could finally see the design of the new iPhone 5, you weren't alone. So too were all the case manufacturers. Last year when the iPhone 4 was upgraded to the 4S, the footprint remained the same, so the existing cases fit the new phone.

But the iPhone 5 is taller and slimmer, and that means your wallet is about to get a little slimmer, too. According to ABI Research, 75% of those who buy an iPhone will also buy a protective case for it.

We rounded up some decorative (and protective) cases for your new iPhone 5. But rest assured, there are plenty more to come.

Gallery created by Mashable's Kenneth Rosen.

More About: Apple iPhone 5, iphone, iphone cases, trending


To Share or Not to Share? That Is the Social Media Question

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 11:49 AM PDT


The economy is in a slump, and getting a job isn't easy, but you probably already knew that. If you're currently among the ranks of the unemployed, beware. The pictures and updates you're posting to social media could be holding you back from landing a job.

A Microsoft-commissioned study published in 2010 found that nearly 80% of employers research potential hires on the Internet. That number has increased significantly since the study was published.

"Now, recruiters can easily and anonymously collect information that they would not be permitted to ask in an interview, and the survey found that recruiters are doing just that," the study reads.

SEE ALSO: Job Seekers: Beware These
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More About: Business, Social Media, infographics, job search


MashTags: Tweet Us Your Funniest #DinosaurFacts

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT


Long before humans roamed the earth, dinosaurs ruled with their smartphones in hand. Scientists say the T-Rex was least fond of touchscreens because they were so difficult to hold and operate with short arms.

That may or may not be true, but we're questioning science with this week's MashTag: #DinosaurFacts.

the food was very bland in the land before thyme #DinosaurFacts— lauren drell (@drelly) September 14, 2012

LEGOsaurus was such a square. #DinosaurFacts— Stephanie Buck (@StephMBuck) September 14, 2012

When a pterodactyl goes to the bathroom, his pee is silent. #DinosaurFacts— Amanda Wills (@AmandaWills) September 14, 2012

Use the hashtag…
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More About: Dinosaurs, MashTags, Twitter, Watercooler, humor


Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus Joins Social Good Summit

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT


Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus will join the 2012 Social Good Summit to share his expertise on on the life-changing impact of mobile. Yunus created the micro-credit movement that provides loans to poor entrepreneurs and founded the Grameen Bank. He is currently on the board of the United Nations Foundation.

Professor Yunus has dedicated his career to solving complex economic problems that help improve poverty and social conditions. As a professor of economics, he developed the concepts of micro-finance and micro-credit that helped struggling entrepreneurs receive bank loans, and especially focused on providing loans for poor women in rural regions.

He has received the No…
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More About: Social Good, event, social good summit


White House Asks YouTube to Review ‘Innocence of Muslims’

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 11:05 AM PDT


Officials at the White House have asked YouTube to review "Innocence of Muslims," the anti-Muslim video that's fueling protests around the world, according to multiple reports.

The Obama administration has "reached out to YouTube to call the video to their attention and ask them to review whether it violates their terms of use," Tommy Vietor, spokesman for the National Security Council, told the Washington Post on Friday.

YouTube's Community Guidelines "encourage free speech" and "defend everyone's right to express unpopular points of view," but they disallow "hate speech" -- defined as "speech which attacks or demeans a group based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, g…
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More About: White House, YouTube


Twitter Surrenders Occupy Wall Street Protester’s Tweets

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:52 AM PDT


Twitter relinquished Occupy Wall Street protester Malcolm Harris's tweets to Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Matthew Sciarrino on Friday, after months of fighting a subpoena for three months of data.

The tweets will remain under seal until a decision is reached at an Article 78 appeal hearing on Sept. 21.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office says Twitter, as a company, owns all user-generated content. With the subpoena order, Twitter had to surrender Harris's tweets by Friday's deadline to avoid facing contempt charges and substantial fines.

Harris was one of the 700 Occupy Wall Street protestors arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge on Oct. 1, 2011, when bout 2,000 protestors att…
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More About: Occupy Wall Street, Twitter


5 Tech Toys for Your Geeky Dog

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:36 AM PDT


1. Pet Qwerks Babble Balls




Available in three sizes to suit the stature of your dog, Babble Balls entertain canines with 20 different "wisecracks" or sound effects. The motion-sensitive balls will start shouting special sounds when your dog comes near. Cost: From $6

Click here to view this gallery.


Your dog is a geek, right? Here at Mashable, ours are too. While analog stick-throwing amuses them on occasion, in reality, they crave high-tech doggie toys.

We've found five gadget-y canine amusements, from growling balls to bacon-flavored bubbles to frickin' lasers.

SEE ALSO: 10 Infectious YouTube Clips of Babies Laughing at Dogs

Take a look through the slideshow above for our selection, then, in the video gallery below, check out each toy in action.

More About: Gadgets, Tech, animals, features, home, lifestyle, pets


New York Fashion Week: More Popular Than Ever on Twitter

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:21 AM PDT


Twitter volume about New York Fashion Week, which ended Thursday, was up a third from Fashion Week in February and double compared to the number of tweets sent during Fashion Week in September of last year, according to New York-based social media agency Whispr Group.

Total tweets numbered above 670,000. It was largely an American affair: 72% of tweets originated in the U.S., followed by the U.K. with 5%.

Victoria Beckham, who showed in New York for the first time this season, captured the most attention with 17,173 tweets, followed by Marc Jacobs, whose livestream was hosted by popular fashion blogger Leandra Medine. Diane von Furstenberg, who surprised audiences by trotting Google Gl
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More About: Victoria Beckham, dvf, fashion, marc jacobs, nyfw


What’s One Life Moment Made Better by Sharing on Facebook?

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:15 AM PDT


We want to know, have you shared a life moment on Facebook and gotten an extraordinary response?

More About: community


The Windows 8 RTM Upgrade Experiment

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:06 AM PDT


What's it like when you upgrade a Windows 7 machine to Windows 8? We find out.

More About: Asus, Windows 8, microsoft, trending



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