The premise of social discovery seems simple: Uncover the people and events around you, in real time, based on user interests and/or locations. But many worry today's social apps define privacy in very different and sometimes concerning terms.

In 2012, Instagram revamped its privacy policy to much protest, and Path settled a case with the FTC over its personal information collection practices. As more of these social discovery applications emerge, two concepts remain key: user discretion and transparency.

On the other hand, some users subsets are growing into the new social media landscape, when it comes to privacy. According to “Teens, Social Media and Privacy,” a report issued last month by Pew Internet, teens are sharing more information about themselves on social media sites than they have in the past, but they're also taking a variety steps to manage the privacy of that information Read more...

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SpaceX has released video footage of its Grasshopper rocket's latest test flight — and as you'll see, the reusable vehicle is reaching new heights, quite literally

In the clip, the rocket soars to 1,066 feet — a record for the platform — hovers for a moment, then descends, balanced on its own exhaust, back to its launch pad for a precision landing.

In December, Grasshopper shot 130 feet into the air, and then landed intact. In April, it reached 820 feet in a similar fashion. This most recent test occurred on June 14 (although the video was released July 5). Its first test, which took place in September, showed what now seems like a meager six-foot flight Read more...

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Several popular iOS games and apps have had their price reduced to zero

The promotion is not formally explained anywhere on Apple's website, but The Verge says it could be related to the App Store's 5th anniversary.

The list of free apps includes Traktor DJ, Day One, Over and Barefoot World Atlas

Free games include Infinity Blade II, Badland, Tiny Wings, Where's My Water? and Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP

For comparison, the standard price for Infinity Blade II is $6.99, while Traktor DJ for iPad goes for $19.99

We're waiting for an official explanation from Apple regarding these discounts, but in the meantime, we recommend you go and treat yourself to some freebies Read more...

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Facebook will launch its upgraded search engine Monday, The New York Times reports.

Originally announced in January 2013 and dubbed Graph Search, the new search engine lets you search your Facebook social graph for people, places, photos and interests.

With the new search engine, users will be able to ask specific questions, such as "which of my friends live in New York?" Graph Search is also integrated with Microsoft's Bing, meaning it will offer web search results if it can't find anything useful in your graph

According to The New York Times, Graph Search is still far from perfect: it can't find info in status updates, it can't leverage data from third-party apps (even Instagram), and it's not available in Facebook mobile apps Read more...

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A new DSLR camera from Canon claims to be a "game-changer" when it comes to photo- and video-focusing.

Called the EOS 70D, the camera captures video with "smooth and precise" autofocus that's similar in quality to that of a camcorder, thanks to Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology, according to its website

What's more, the EOS 70D boasts 20.2 megapixels, and includes a 3-inch LCD monitor with touchscreen capabilities, as well as Wi-Fi and NFC sharing. Watch the video, above, for more details on specs

The DSLR is priced at $1,200 on Canon's website. Do you think it's worth the money? Tell us in the comments, below. Read more...

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Google has unveiled an interactive Doodle to mark the 66th anniversary of the Roswell UFO incident.

The Doodle is a brief point-and-click adventure game in which users must help an alien, whose UFO crash-landed on earth, return home. Upon completion, Google provides users with the search results for "Roswell UFO incident."

In early July 1947, witnesses reported seeing flying saucers and unidentified material on the ground in Roswell, N.M. Conspiracy theories about aliens visiting earth became widespread following a July 8 news report in The Roswell Daily Record. Headlined "RAAF Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch in Roswell Region," the article said the Roswell Army Air Field's intelligence office recovered a "flying saucer" after a local rancher found it on his property. Read more...

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Shazam, the company behind the popular music discovery app of the same name, has raised another $40 million to accelerate growth before ultimately going public.

The round of funding announced Monday comes from America Movil, the phone carrier owned by Carlos Slim, formerly the richest man in the world. In addition to the funding, Shazam will enter into a business partnership with America Movil, presumably bringing its media products to the carrier's subscribers and boosting its user base in the process.

SEE ALSO: Shazam Gets New CEO, Gears Up for IPO

As part of the funding announcement, Shazam revealed it now has more than 350 million users, more than twice what it had two years ago, and 70 million monthly active users, up from 22 million two years ago. Part of the goal for the new funding is simply to invest in the infrastructure to support that growth. Read more...

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It's tough being a cat.

Well, so says the Internet's latest feline star: "I used to be a cat — every day the same, bored between nine and ten, then aloof till lunch, then coldly indifferent after."

In the clip above, an everyday cat begins its everyday life by taking a page out of Henri le chat noir's book, but then things change drastically, as kitty suddenly becomes much more canine. The video was released as part of O2's "be more dog" campaign, which is reportedly tapping cats and dogs to galvanize 4G customers overseas

"We're living in one of the most exciting eras as far as technology goes ... but somehow we've got a little jaded by it all," Gary Booker, O2's marketing and consumer director, told The Guardian. "'Be more dog' is all about encouraging Britain to embrace the new, have a go with the unknown and dabble in innovation. We're also gearing up for our 4G launch later this summer, so it's the perfect time to get the nation trying more and being a little bit more dog." Read more...

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OK, travel pro. You've mastered the art of removing your shoes and belt without holding up the line at the airport. You can ask for directions in five different languages. You can pack a week's worth of clothing in your laptop bag, if needed. But are you prepared to charge all your gadgets on the go, at the same time? Maybe you need one of these tiny electronic hubs.

When purchasing your travel-sized toiletries, don't forget to pick up one of these hubs that are perfect for any trip. Each is small enough to slip into a carry-on or your pocket, and you'll be the envy of the airport lounge Read more...

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It's sad to grow up and leave behind your beloved summer camp. You might think "Color War Winner, 2000 - 2007" sounds impressive on your resume, but future employers might prefer something more career-oriented

Enter the summer internship

On the surface, a 9-to-5 office job might pale in comparison to a summer of swimming and s'mores with friends. But your internship actually resembles camp more than you might think

With the right attitude, it's like you never left your childhood behind.

1. You have a dress code.

THEN: You wore your camp t-shirt with pride. Read more...

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Sexting has created quite a few scandals in recent years. Don't believe us? Just ask Anthony Weiner or David Petraeus

And now, it's becoming a buzzed-about trend in insect circles

In this Sunday comic, Maria Scrivan pokes fun at scandalous texting. But no worries, the image is completely safe for work — that is, unless you're a beekeeper

Comic written and illustrated by Maria Scrivan. Published with permission; all rights reserved. Read more...

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Unemployed, underemployed or somewhere in between? The Mashable Job Board is here to help.

Since 2005, Mashable has been dedicated to providing the hottest digital, social and tech news to our readership of 25 million and counting. Top companies know you excel in the digital world, so they come to Mashable to find the best and brightest minds. New jobs — including ones exclusive to us — are added every day to the Mashable Job Board. Take a look.

Below, we've gathered 10 recently posted positions. Keep coming back to the Mashable Job Board for new openings, and don't forget to read our Job Search Series for advice on how to achieve your dream job. Read more...

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Facebook had a busy June that included rolling out Instagram video, introducing the option to add photos in comments, revamping pages' analytics dashboards and dealing with a software bug that exposed some users' contact information

Pushed out of the limelight by those events was another update to Facebook's ever-changing commenting features: the ability to sort comments chronologically or by activity.

Only pages and select individuals currently have the new feature. However, more and more users, as well as their friends and the people they follow, are slowly getting access to the sorting capabilities. (See the options beside the number of likes in the photo, below) Read more...

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The National Security Agency's surveillance program PRISM is storing everyone's cellphone data. But along with phone and text conversations, PRISM is also getting an overload on those self-indulgent selfie pictures everyone loves to take

In this Sunday comic, our friends Nitrozac and Snaggy at The Joy of Tech wonder how much room the NSA had to carve out for the massive influx in selfie data they received

Comic illustration provided by The Joy of Tech. Published with permission; all rights reserved. Read more...

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It’s the crux of modern-day job seekers: They're often told that to stand out from other candidates, they need to contact members of an organization directly. But what if employee contact information is hidden? Sometimes it’s like a black hole — you could end up searching for what seems like forever to no avail

At times like these, you have to think of yourself as a detective of sorts. You have to be creative. You have to think outside the box. You have to be stealthy. Finding the contact information of a hiring manager or employer is like a game, and you need to use the right methods to come out on top. Read more...

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On the heels of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's removal from power on Wednesday, one YouTube video has been getting a lot of traction.

Filmed in Cairo on Oct. 19, 2012, the clip features 12-year-old Ali Ahmed participating in a video interview with Egyptian news outlet El Wady. The boy, who is in the first grade of preparatory school in Egypt (equivalent roughly to the sixth or seventh grade in the U.S.), excoriates the Muslim Brotherhood and details his thoughts on issues ranging from gender inequality to the political process and Parliament to the economy

Read more...

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Full House co-stars and self-described "best friends" John Stamos and Bob Saget recently spent some time together on a red carpet in New York CityMashable was there to capture the reunion at a star-studded Friar's Club event honoring comedian Don Rickles.

"John and I were gay together once," Saget said jokingly at the event. "Wait, that's not true. He was gay and I just laid there. ... Thank you, John, for giving me your heiny last night."

Scroll through the pictures — photographed 26 years apart — while listening to the Full House theme song to add some nostalgia to your viewing experience. Read more...

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The first video of Saturday's tragic crash landing of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in which two people died has surfaced. It was shot by an amateur plane watcher named Fred Hayes

The video first aired on CNN on Sunday.

Although the vantage point is far away, you can see the plane coming in too low, and then its nose rises up before impact. Narrated by Hayes' exclamations, it becomes evident the plane is crash-landing.

It's hard to see details in the video, but it seems like the plane did more than just skid to a stop. At one point you can see one of the plane's wings high above the ground, before it came to a halt amid a cloud of brown smoke and dust. Read more...

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There's no shortage of people who think that animals are people, too, but let's not forget that people are animals — and some are just dogs.

Leave it to our friends Nitrozac and Snaggy of The Joy of Tech to illustrate this point to us in their characteristically graphic manner

Really, what if people exhibited classic dog behavior, taken to the extreme?

We can certainly think of lots of things we'd hope they wouldn't do, but here's a comic that shows you how a lot of that behavior would be downright goofy, or just plain fun.

Comic illustration provided by The Joy of Tech. Published with permission; all rights reserved. Read more...

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Sometimes Netflix is like your friend who's seen everything and knows just what movie you should check out next. And other times, it's the drunk girl at the party who insists if you like Star Trek, you'll love Wish Upon a Star

Whether it's pairing up films based on name alone or putting a TV show in the completely wrong category, Netflix's algorithm can get a bit out of whack

But like a movie that's so bad it's good, sometimes the most entertaining Netflix screens are the ones that couldn't possibly help you decide what to watch next. Read more...

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An online petition on the White House's "We the People" petitions website is urging President Barack Obama to change the U.S. national anthem from "The Star-Spangled Banner" to "Party In The U.S.A." by popstar Miley Cyrus

"Party In The U.S.A." is the 23rd most-watched video on YouTube with nearly 342 million views. It details a girl's move to Los Angeles and gives nods to Jay-Z and Britney Spears.

The petition, however fun and patriotically timely it may be, highlights some of the bizarre requests on We the People (remember when one urged Obama to build the Death Star?) Read more...

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The 77-year wait is officially over, as No. 2-ranked tennis player Andy Murray on Sunday topped No. 1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win Wimbledon and become the first British man to lift the singles trophy in almost eight decades.

Scotland's Murray, who has now won two of the last three grand slams he's played in (i.e., the 2012 U.S. Open, 2013 Wimbledon) — as well as last year's Olympic gold — thwarted Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in a barnburner of a final match on Center Court.

Six-time major winner Djokovic battled hard, with chances in the second and third sets, but Murray proved relentless. Here's a Vine of championship point: Read more...

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True story: A few of my friends once kicked someone out of a party because he lit a fire inside, after repeatedly being told not to. (The building was built in the 1800s. Everything was very wooden. And very flammable.)

While nobody got hurt, and nothing was seriously damaged, that move was enough to prevent him from getting invited over again. Ever

There are a few simple precautions you can take to save yourself from such a fate. Avoid the following things, and you'll be golden. But if you do commit any of these faux pas ... it's a pretty good sign you won't be invited back to the party Read more...

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Putting a robot in your eye could be the next innovation in medical technology.

Researchers in Zurich are building nearly microscopic bots to help with delicate surgeries. The bot has a retractable needle for probing and a body that is only a quarter-millimeter in diameter — which is the equivalent of about 4 human hairs. This means it's as thin as a surgical scalpel and its needle is just as sharp.

Given the size of the robot, any surgery could be non-invasive and minimal. Unlike a conventional robot, however, it is too small to carry any kind of battery or drive. To get around this, researchers developed a system called "The OctoMag," which uses a series of electromagnets around the patient's head to power the robot. Then, by slightly increasing or decreasing the force of the electromagnets, the robot is pushed or pulled through the body. Read more...

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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's newborn daughter, North West, is not alone. Records dating back to 1790 show thousands of parents have named their kids after a cardinal direction — one boy even got South East as a first name and West as a last name.

Sixty-two people have been named North West with the first known occurrences happening in the 1830s, according to U.S. records Mashable obtained from FindMyPast.com.

Click to enlarge text

The family history website also identified a surprising number of occurrences for each direction:

• North: 3,479 as of July 2013

• West: 25,993

• East: 639

• South: 833 Read more...

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Samsung is making smartphone rivalry a battle of the good, the bad — and the random.

In a new advert, Samsung Iceland simultaneously promotes the Galaxy S4 — which now supports the native language of Iceland — and throws Apple under the bus. In the YouTube clip (above), an iPhone user is shown attempting to swipe a touchscreen and make a call — using an actual apple

The text in the ad, per Google Translate, coaxes Icelandic viewers to use "the phone that understands you." Enter the Galaxy S4. The ad's main character, now an iPhone-user-converted-Samsung-user, casually celebrates with four break-dancing ninjas ... and a goat Read more...

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When NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn embarked on his mission to the International Space Station last December, he could only take a few personal items. He stashed photos, stuffed animals from his kids and a book of puzzles he'd never use

Marshburn would also miss Christmas that year, so his family packed a stocking filled with small gifts, including John Grisham's Skipping Christmas, an ironic nod from his sister.

Astronauts are each allowed to bring 3.3 pounds worth of belongings to the ISS, most of which usually comes back with them to Earth. However, space agencies always leave some room for quirky, cultural items. Patches, flags and state pins often take up the majority of that space, but sometimes unexpected items pop up on the Official Flight Kit manifesto. Read more...

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Pasta, pizza, bread and french fries are downright delicious on their own. But what happens when you add more carbs on top of them? We have some carb porn to show you

From garlic bread stuffed with macaroni and cheese to pizza topped with penne pasta, these carb-on-carb combinations are guaranteed to put you in a food coma. Carb addicts, take note (and salivate)

But if you're dabbling in the Paleo or the Atkins diet, you should probably look away now. Things are about to get real.

1. Ravioli Pizza

Image courtesy of Imgur, BohemianRhapsodyIsAboutMe. Read more...

2. Spaghetti Sandwich

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