Airtime, Sean Parker's social video network, is suffering from a stagnant user base.

Despite $33 million in funding and celebrity endorsements from the likes of Jimmy Fallon and Julia Louis Dreyfus, Airtime has struggled to gain traction since its launch four months ago. So far, it's attracted around 10,000 monthly active users, according to analytics site, AppData.

SEE ALSO: What I Learned on Airtime With Sean Parker

In an interview with The New York Times, however, Parker denied that Airtime was faltering. The startup impresario said there was a dedicated group of people who regularly used the service, and that it's still too early to make conclusions.

"This is a ridiculous…
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Twitter has been credited with -- and blamed for -- a lot of things. Supporters claim it fueled the Green Revolution in Iran and helped the Arab Spring, critics argue it's hurting our ability to write and think. There's no consensus on the former, but a new study now argues that the second claim is wrong. Twitter may actually give students an educational boost.

Christina Greenhow, an assistant professor of education at Michigan State University, discovered that students using the microblogging service as part of their education are more engaged and have higher grades. In fact, she considers it "a new literary practice," as she explains in her study…
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More About: Twitter, education, social media for social good

The live-action trailer for Halo 4 gives us glimpses into super soldier Master Chief's past and how he was kidnapped from his bed and replaced with a clone. The space marine's backstory has never revealed in detailed nor have audiences ever seen him without his armor -- until now.

In the two-minute teaser directed by visual effects artist Tim Miller and produced by David Fincher -- the director of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network and Fight Club -- we see Master Chief as a child and his painful introduction to the military in third- and first-person shots. Watch the video above and tell us what you think.

SEE ALSO: Here's Wh…
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Do your OMGs and LOLs have you sometimes srsly forgetting how to write in proper English? If so, you may not be alone.

Texting is on the rise, and changing the ways people interact with language. For some high schoolers today, abbreviations like those above have likely been a part of their vocabulary since they learned to write a five-paragraph essay. So just how embedded in formal communications could texting slang become?

While that remains to be seen, there's no doubting the impact it's had so far. The Internet education portal OnlineSchools.com recently took a look at the trend and came up with some interesting findings via sources including the British Journal of Psychology, the…
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Red Bull topped this week's chart for soft drink brands with the highest social media engagement -- and you can probably guess why.

More About: Social Media, Starcount, brands, chart

James Bond might want to trade in his Aston Martin for the "Quadski" -- that is, a jet ski and all-terrain quad bike combo.

The two-in-one Gibbs Quadski is equipped for both land and water, retracting its wheels when entering the latter, and deploying them when approaching the former; it can transition between the two modes in just four seconds, according to the vehicle's website.

Powered by BMW's Motorrad K1300 engine, the Quadski can reach speeds of up to 45 mph -- great for 007's high-speed car or boat chases.

To see it in action, check out the video above. Do you think the Quadski is Bond-worthy? Tell us in the comments below.

More About: James Bond, jet ski, quad bike

If you can't stop yourself from buying accessories, clothes, handbags, apartment decor and recipe ingredients after seeing them all in pins, you're not alone.

A recent survey of 7,431 online shoppers, conducted by BizRate Insights, reveals Pinterest motivates more online purchases than Facebook.

SEE ALSO: Zappos Recommends Products That Match Pinterest Boards

More than 70% of Pinterest's 10 million users told BizRate that they turn to the social pinboard for shopping inspiration and to keep up with trends. There's also better user engagement with brands on the photo-sharing website: 66% of users regularly follow and repin retailers. Only…
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More About: Facebook, ecommerce, pinterest, trending

While many Facebook job apps are trying to give LinkedIn a run for its money, none of the job search and recruitment apps available today are true competition for everyone's main professional network, LinkedIn. Apps like Glassdoor, BranchOut, and BeKnown attempt to leverage the social platform as a way to make professional connections -- but since Facebook's social platform was built for personal interactions, most job seekers don't want to leverage it as part of their job hunt.

Although a recent job seeker survey shows that Facebook is the favored platform for job hunting, the apps just aren't up to par with competing websites. The following is why these types of Facebo…
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More About: Facebook, Jobs, features, job search series, mashable, recruit

Did you know that just 14% of releases posted on major wire services have been optimized for search? Or that press releases including an image or a video get shared three times more than text-only releases -– and viewers spend up to 30 seconds more time with this content -– but nearly half of marketers do not routinely add images to their press releases?

Many marketers are missing out on opportunities to get their news more widely viewed and shared. So before you issue your next press release, consider these four simple tactics to amplify the reach of your news.

1. Write Your Release With Search in Mind

It's no longer enough to write press release copy that tells a cle…
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More About: Video, features, mashable, open forum, pr, press release, small business tips

Hunching over a desk all day at work may make you yearn for the great outdoors. Artist Robbie Tilton aims to remedy that by creating a computer keyboard made from organic materials.

Laser cut from an Apple wireless keyboard template, the "Natural Keyboard" has a plywood body, with a layer of imitation moss on top.

"Surrounded with tech gadgets made of glass, metals and plastics -- I believe that as a society -- we are constantly removing ourselves from nature," Tilton writes on his blog.

For more on the keyboard, check out the video above. Then, tell us in the comments: Would you prefer the Natural Keyboard over your metal or plastic one?

More About: keyboard, organic products

Leaked photos of the 13-inch MacBook Retina Pro from Chinese blog WeiPhone reveal two much-anticipated additions that Apple is expected to unveil at its Oct. 23 event in San Jose, Calif.

Like its 15-inch counterpart, the images show that the 13-inch Retina will have two Thunderbolt ports and an HDMI port; it's a setup that's capable of supporting up to four external monitors.
SEE ALSO: Apple's 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Pricing Leaked [RUMOR]

The 13-inch Retina will sport a 2,560×1,600 pixel display -- four times the resolution of the current 13-inch non-Retina model. The leaked pics also show that speakers are missing from the keyboard's sides, which indicate that the la…
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Looking for new apps? Check out some of our favorite iOS and Android apps from the week.

More About: App, android, iOS, iphone, trending, weekly app roundup

When a blogger was wasting too much time on Facebook, YouTube and Reddit, he hired someone to slap him every time strayed from his work.

More About: Social Media, craigslist, productivity

You don't want to miss out on this year's Mashable Media Summit. You'll learn about the hottest trends and hear the stories that matter, from mobile's effect on media to data-driven journalism -- all from the biggest leaders in digital media.

Held on Nov. 2 at the TimesCenter in New York City, the Mashable Media Summit is a one-day conference that will explore the latest innovations in the space and the future of journalism. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to network with high-level executives in many industries and mingle with Mashable staff. As in previous years, this event will sell out, so get your tickets now!

You can view the agenda online, and in the gallery below,…
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Spiderman

Spidey sense. via jio9

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With less than two weeks until Halloween, it's the perfect time to start thinking about carving that pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern. Here's some nerdy ideas!

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Office warfare has ascended to new heights.

The weapon of choice: the iStrike Shuttle, a heli-bomber that lets you drop ammo (read: ping-pong balls) on coworkers. Wirelessly controlled by an app that works with an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, the helicopter works up to a range of 30 feet. The controller app also features different G-sensor and joystick modes to direct the flight.

SEE ALSO: Bring Ancient Artillery Into Your Office [VIDEO]

The iStrike Shuttle helicopter balances in the air using contra-rotating coaxial main rotors -- the latest in gyroscope technology and can take five-minute flights from a 60-minute charge.

[via The Green H…
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More About: Gadgets, Hovercraft, bomber, iPhone gaming

1. It'll Have a 7.85-Inch Screen.

At 7.85 inches, the iPad Mini's screen will be about 2 inches smaller than its big brother's, but still a bit bigger than most small-screen tablets, which are typically 7 inches. Image: Martin Hajek

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In the days leading up to Apple's much-anticipated announcement of the 7-inch iPad Mini tablet next week, rumors continue to circulate about what to expect when it's finally revealed.

Will it have a Retina display? A lower-resolution screen? What about Siri and 3G connectivity?

We won't know for sure until Apple takes the stage on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in San Jose, Calif. for the big launch.

All we do know, according to the event invitation, is Apple has "got a little more to show you" -- most likely an allusion to the rumored 7.85-inch screen and all of those alleged leaked iPad Mini photos that hit the web a few weeks ago.

SEE ALSO:

More About: Mobile, apple, ipad, ipad mini, tablets, trending

From a supersonic free fall to the Long Island town hall brawl, this past week was intense. Now that it's over and you have time to decompress, this is a perfect opportunity to add a few digital tools to your digital toolbox.

Like usual, your friends at Mashable have been tinkering with all the latest apps and gadgets, and we've found some you're sure to enjoy. Our digital resource guide includes social media advice, educational tools and apps that will keep you healthy and happy.

Grab a slice of pumpkin pie and dig into this week's features roundup.

Editor's Picks

Actress Marlee Matlin Teaches You Sign Language With New App
Award-winning deaf actress Marlee Matlin has…
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More About: Business, Features Week In Review, Lifestyles, Social Media, Tech

The full-sized Apple iPad may be getting a makeover. Apple is rumored to announce new changes to the new iPad, in addition to unveiling the iPad Mini, at its invite-only event on October 23.

More About: apple, ipad, ipad mini

Borderlands 2, Captain Scarlett and her Pirate's Booty

If you are still playing Borderlands 2, or if you've put it down in favor of a new game during this busy season, there's a reason to play more. Gearbox released the first of four downloadable chapters for Borderlands 2 this week, and it is more than just a simple add-on. Captain Scarlett and her Pirate's Booty is an adventure that will take quite a few hours of time with single-player or coop mode. It's a completely different setting than the rest of the main world of Borderlands 2, and has all the humor we've seen in the game's sidequests. This chapter is available for $10 by itself, or as part of the Borderlands 2 season pass, which gives the player all four upcoming DLC chapters for $30. It, like Borderlands 2, is available for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

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Looking for something fun and entertaining to play this weekend? We rounded up five fun video games for the week on Mashable.

More About: Gaming, borderlands 2, dance central, features, trending, video games

This week in tech was filled with news of astounding gizmos sprinkled with an amazing sports car. Oh, and then there was that guy jumping from the edge of space to become the fastest man ever.

The world of gadgets brought us even more exciting news than last week, with Microsoft's developers answering a barrage of questions on Reddit, HTC announcing a new phone with a giant, shiny, FullHD, 5-inch screen and JVC's groundbreaking 55-inch 3D HDTV.

SEE ALSO: Previous editions of Top 10 Tech This Week

Obviously the biggest story of all was Felix fearlessly jumping from the stratosphere to break the sound barrier, becoming the first human to achieve that incredible feat without t…
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More About: Top 10 Tech, trending

Pre-orders for the Microsoft Surface Tablet have sold out in the U.S. The Windows tablet is backordered up to three weeks.

More About: Mobile, microsoft, surface tablet

Facebook Experiments With Profile Completion Meters

Facebook's evolution in the face of financial demands continues to fascinate us. This week, the social networking site experimented with "profile completion meters." It turns out the amount of information you fill out can determine how many people see your site. Would this cause you to fill out your "About" section more thoroughly?

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When Sunday kicks off with a man leaping from space and gathering enough speed to break the sound barrier, the rest of the week is bound to feel like a bit of a letdown. But as inspired as we were by daredevil

More About: Facebook, Felix Baumgartner, top comments

The Space Shuttle Xing sign made for a great photo-op as Endeavour paraded through the streets of Los Angeles on its way to the California Science Center last week. And now, dear space geek, you can purchase a replica sign of your very own.

Traffic Management Inc., the company that created the original sign for Endeavour's urban trek, is selling a replica design for $25. However, be aware that the shipping costs may add up to more than the sign itself. According to WindowsObserver.com, one buyer paid $27.95 for shipping, making the total cost more than $50.

SEE ALSO: Watch Stunning Time-Lapse of Shuttle Endeavour's L.A. Journey

Tweeters, Instagramers and even NASA snapped onc…
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A new iPhone app in Japan gives users the opportunity to send smells via text messages.

The product called Chat Perf is an iPhone attachment, made of an atomizer and smell tank that fit into the iPhone's dock port.

The only set-back? According to RocketNews24, you don't actually get to choose the smells. From the report released, it appears you need to download an app and press "send," but the device will only release whichever scent is in the Chat Perf on your friend's phone. To send different smells, you'd need different Chat Perf attachments -- and at a cool $62.25 a piece, few people are likely to spring for multiple.

SEE ALSO: 8 Apps You…
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More About: Newsy, iphone apps, videos

1. Sofia the Lion Tamer at Wellington Zoo, New Zealand

This lion ain't playing patty-cake.

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If you thought big cats were magnificent, noble creatures, think again. We have discovered video evidence on YouTube that shows them for what they really are -- total jerks.

SEE ALSO: These 10 Cats Hate Toasters, Popcorn and Treadmills

Take a look through our video gallery above for 10 big cats behaving very badly indeed. Share your disgust at these outrageous antics in the comments section below.

More About: Video, Watercooler, animals, cats, features, gallery, humor, trending, viral videos