Techcrunch
Services Made Flesh: 10 Weird – and Not So Weird – “Avatar” Gadgets
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The dawn of the 21st century brought us a problem: we had lots of data, but no real way to bring that data into the real world. We could feasibly lug laptops and phones around, but did they ever do exactly what we needed them to do? Don’t answer that. Manufacturers, in their wisdom, decided to do something about it and so devices like the Peek - for email - and the CueCat - for nothing - were born. Here's a look at ten "avatar" gadgets, gadgets that brought a web service into the real world, for better or worse. Twitterpeek - We should be nicer to the Twitterpeek. This standalone device, designed specifically for Twittering, mirroring our own obsession with the microblogging service and, if anything, we willed it into existence with our collective desires for always on Twitter. Does it work? Eh. Is it a good idea? Eh. Is it for us? Probably not, but what do I know? 
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The Font Kingdom: Search, Explore, Create, and Download Fonts for Free
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Being a blogger, I often find design elements on the web for my posts or my blog in general. It's becoming a very common experience for bloggers to know a thing or two about web design. I'm guessing it is the web that taught us to be quasi-designers by offering us lots of easy-to-use tools that help us create just about everything we need: photo-editing, widgets, logos, buttons, and yes, fonts as well. Fonts are a big focus of the Web2.0 era—they are now bigger, cleaner and smoother, especially when it comes to logos. Can you imagine Techcrunch's logo looking like this? It's all dependent on font choice. (in case you were wondering BTW, Twitter's font is mostly Pico created by Maniackers Design) Regardless of the fact that the web makes it easy for everyone to be more creative (i.e., logo above), it becomes a paradise for designers themselves who seek new tools & inspiration. So whether you're a professional graphic designer, or an amateur web publisher this list of font tools might come in handy (eventually).
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Skype Founders Assembling Killer Team For New Online Music Startup
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Now that they got what they wanted - a renewed stake and board representation in the Skype that will be spun off eBay soon - the Scandinavian duo Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis can divert more of their attention again to the latest Internet venture they're putting their weight behind: Rdio. The yet-to-launch digital music startup was first talked about publicly a couple of weeks ago in a New York Times article but we haven't heard any further information about the startup. I've been keeping busy this weekend doing some very basic research - I love you, Internet - about Rdio and discovered a couple of interesting details that have emerged on the Web since the stealth startup got its first dose of media attention.
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Snoop Dogg, Entrepreneurship and Rajasthan
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I'm in India this weekend with fellow TechCrunch/BusinessWeek writer Sarah Lacy. After we’re done with the elephant rides in Jaipur, we’re going to be meeting local tech startups. Then we head back to New Delhi to meet more aspiring entrepreneurs. Sarah is writing a book on how startup culture has gone global and I’m researching how R&D has globalized. It never ceases to amaze me how you can find brilliant entrepreneurs everywhere—whether in the middle of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan or Santiago Chile (where local entrepreneurs showed me life-sized holographic images projected through some hardware connected to their laptops, and software which can help monitor the operational efficiencies of department stores in California). The promise of these early ventures is always amazing and their enthusiasm infectious. Which brings me to Global Entrepreneurship Week. And Snoop Dogg. You are probably asking yourself, what the heck does the controversial and highly successful rapper have to do with entrepreneurship?
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YouTube Is Falling Apart Again
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The ads are destroying YouTube. At least this one is. It is a video ad for sustainable energy company from Spain called Acciona. Yeah, I had never heard of them either. The video starts with this Euro-dude in a suit starting to blow up and crack apart like he's made from plaster. Halfway through, the actual video player crack in half, and all of the surrounding parts of the site shake and fall away, while an annoying voiceover is saying something about rebirth. I don't know, maybe it makes more sense in Spanish.
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Crunchnotes
Foo Camp 2009
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Description: Just back from Foo Camp 2009. You don’t see a ton of stuff on the Internet about Foo because it’s mostly off record. Here are my notes From Foo Camp 2008. This year I decided to do something a little different and created an Animoto show with their new video product. Cool stuff. CrunchBase Information Animoto Information provided [...]
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Paul Carr: An open letter to Sam Sethi, on the occasion of him completely losing his mind
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Description: If you’ve been following the whole Sam Sethi/TechCrunch lawsuit debacle (see here and here and here), you’ll want to read this post by Paul Carr as well, where he prints emails from Sethi sent on record. I’m also reprinting below, these things have a tendency to disappear when lawsuits strike: An open letter to Sam Sethi, on [...]
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Enterprise Hacks Opining On The Law, And Other Blogging Tragedies
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Description: Ok, the reasoned low key approach didn’t work. Now it’s time for some more truth. The ridiculous Sam Sethi dispute has gone on for far too long, and far too many have continued to be sucked into his web of confidence only to be spit back out the other end angry, bitter or worse. The complete [...]
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Update On Sam Sethi Litigation: We Decline To Participate
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Description: Update to our June post on the…absurd…Sam Sethi litigation. Our lawyers sent a letter letting them know that we have no intention of submitting the the jurisdiction of the UK courts, although we’d be happy to litigate his claims here in California. Sethi obtained a default judgment on July 30 and is now messaging people [...]
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Sam Sethi: The Lawsuit
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Description: Many of you know all about Sam Sethi, the former TechCrunch writer who left after a disagreement and then went on to create BlogNation. Two days ago Sethi filed a lawsuit against us for libel and other issues. As we always do, we’re posting the litigation threats and will continue to fight the litigation [...]
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Mashable
The Top 10 Facebook Apps [Poll Results]
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Each week we do a Lunchtime Poll to get a sense of what tools Mashable readers use and which of today’s services and apps are your favorites. Last week we asked you about your favorite Facebook apps, and we have the results below.
As it turns out, like much of Team Mashable, many of you aren’t actually using too many Facebook applications these days. That’s probably what Facebook is hoping to turn around with some upcoming changes to Applications.
Still, from those of you who responded both here and on Facebook, there were some clear winners in the Facebook Apps department. Perhaps expectedly, social games figured prominently on the list. Take a look below to see the Top 10 as voted by you. Is your favorite Facebook App not represented here? Let us know in the comments.
Top 10 Mashable Reader Facebook Apps
10. Pet Society
6. Scrabble
4. Twitter
3. Static FBML
2. Mafia Wars
1. FarmVille
See also: Top 10 Mashable Reader iPhone Apps
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, ericsphotography
Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, iStockphoto, pet society
Tags: facebook, facebook apps, facebook platform, poll, social gaming
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Google Music Search: 3 Major Implications for the Music Business
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Last week we reported on Google’s new music discovery features. The Google music search endeavor is partnership between Google, MySpace, Lala, and several others to make music search and discovery a primary feature of the Google experience.
In fact, Google music search does more than just return a few track listings; it offers up audio streaming, one-click purchase options from iLike and Lala, and now even exclusive content from artists.
Google music search has broad implications for the music space, and in this post we’ll explore three of the most significant implications around a music search service powered by Google, and dissect how some of the industry’s current heavy hitters could be in for a wake up call.
1. iTunes: Market Share Will Decline
It’s been a process years in the making, but Apple’s iTunes store, with the help of the ubiquitous iPod and the hot iPhone, has become the destination for not only buying music but also for measuring the success of songs, albums, and artists.
Don’t believe me? Let’s look at some of the staggering statistics. Earlier this summer, the NPD Group found that songs purchased from the iTunes marketplace now account for 25% of the total US music market, which includes both hard and soft copies. CNET also reported that “for the first half of 2009, iTunes itself snagged a 69 percent share of the overall digital music arena, trailed far behind by Amazon.com with 8 percent.”
With a 69% hold over the digital music market, iTunes is sitting pretty, but Apple’s music business is far from secure in being the undisputed victor in future years. The new music search features in Google aren’t some separate product that searchers have to track down, but instead offer instantaneous music discovery that works without extra thought or calculation. The reality is that music discovery is built into the search experience for each and every search, and those results are featured prominently at the top of the page, instead of buried at the bottom like Social Search.
Googlers already search for songs, artists, and lyrics en masse, but the immediate click-to-listen and buy options that Google now provides could very well make them less likely to take the extra step back over to iTunes. Here’s why: music search results include streaming audio tracks, powered by MySpace, who don’t forget, owns iLike, and by Lala. You’ll also notice that that Lala and iLike’s download stores, and not iTunes, are the two click-to-buy options. Essentially what’s happening is that Google, the primary online starting point for the masses, is now directing you to purchase your music from iLike or Lala (and taking a cut of the purchase price).
The iLike and Lala download stores both just got some major Google juice, and that’s a problem for Apple’s iTunes, who simply can’t compete with Google on search as it pertains to music discovery. iTunes won’t falter immediately, but Google, MySpace, and Lala have the opportunity to put a dent into iTunes’ once impenetrable stronghold over digital music downloads.
2. Google: This Generation’s Billboard
Billboard’s top 100 music charts are still important indicators of what’s hot in the music space, but having an album or song on iTunes’ top charts is becoming even more important for artists who want to remain relevant and popular in the eyes of younger audiences.
Google’s new play in the music space puts them in a prime position to not only sell music, but to also dissect music trends, which could make them this generation’s Billboard.
Think of all the data that Google already has around music search, combine that with their growing knowledge of what searchers are streaming on Google, and what they then go on to buy, and you have a data set that could be leveraged for insightful music industry analysis.
We could easily see Google launching a music trends product that would match the style of Google Trends, and indicate the highest frequency music searches, highlight related searches, and attempt to identify news and blog posts influencing the trends. They could also potentially tie in music sales and online streams, for a full perspective of what’s happening in the music milieu.
3. Myspace: Relevant Once Again
Myspace is on a fast track to becoming the web’s biggest joke. Once at the height of social media glory, they’re now Facebook’s ugly sister and everyone knows it, especially now that their US traffic has fallen off a cliff.
As tempting as it may be to push MySpace off into the waters of obscurity, we think this cruise ship-sized social network may have avoided becoming the online Titanic with their recent moves in the music space.
Let’s start by granting Facebook the social network gold medal. They’ve won that competition. But, MySpace is slowly repositioning themselves as the music destination, and the strategy just might pay off with their significant role in Google’s music service. Already a great resource for bands, MySpace now has a very excellent music video product, and their own music download store, courtesy of the iLike buy, with Google as their sales force.
MySpace, with Google’s blessing, is well on their way to becoming the site that mainstream web audiences associate with online music. Given that Facebook is nowhere to be found in Google’s music picture, MySpace could be headed towards victory in a new genre.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, njmcc.
Reviews: Facebook, Google, MySpace, iStockphoto
Tags: google music search, ilike, itunes, Lala, myspace
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POLL: TweetDeck Trounces Seesmic Desktop in Reader Vote
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We’ve had a number of close calls here during our Web Faceoff series, but this wasn’t one of them. This week we pitted TweetDeck and Seesmic Desktop against each other in a bar room brawl for favorite Twitter client. Now, the results are in.
Whereas last week’s Windows 7 versus OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard battle was a close one, with Windows 7 going the distance to outlast the current Mac OS, this week’s showdown had a big winner.
…and TweetDeck was it, with a full 71% of the vote (3294 votes) as compared to Seesmic Desktop’s 23% (1055 votes). Six percent or 260 of you just couldn’t decide and went for the Tie option.
What did you think of the results? Did the best Twitter client win? Let us know in the comments! And of course, don’t forget to tune in again on Monday for the next round of our Web Faceoff series (and check out all the past winners below).
Web Faceoff: Overall Results
Week 1:
- Mozilla Firefox vs. Google Chrome
- WINNER: Firefox, 4600 votes (Chrome: 3310 votes, Tie: 911 votes)
Week 2:
- Tumblr vs. Posterous
- WINNER: Tumblr, 1809 votes (Posterous: 1496 votes, Tie: 256 votes)
Week 3:
- Pandora vs. Last.fm
- WINNER: Last.fm, 1187 votes (Pandora: 1156 votes, Tie: 122 votes)
Week 4:
- Twitter vs. Facebook
- WINNER: Facebook, 2484 votes (Twitter: 2061 votes, Tie: 588 votes)
Week 5:
- WordPress vs. Typepad
- WINNER: WordPress, 2714 votes (Typepad: 267 votes, Tie: 357 votes)
Week 6:
- Windows 7 vs. Snow Leopard
- WINNER: Windows 7, 3632 votes (Snow Leopard: 3278 votes, Tie: 121 votes)
Week 7:
- TweetDeck vs. Seesmic Desktop
- WINNER: TweetDeck, 3294 votes (Seesmic Desktop, 1055 votes, Tie: 260 votes)
Reviews: Chrome, Facebook, Firefox, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Pandora, Posterous, Seesmic Desktop, Tumblr, TweetDeck, Twitter, TypePad, WordPress
Tags: poll, seesmic desktop, tweetdeck, twitter, twitter clients, web faceoff
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iPhone Coming to Verizon in 2010 [RUMOR]
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Many signs point to the Apple and AT&T agreement that makes the latter the exclusive carrier of the iPhone within the US coming to an end within the next year.
For starters, non-exclusivity has been profitable for Apple in other parts of the world. Moreover, even AT&T’s CEO acknowledges the deal won’t last forever.
And while Verizon might be all about showing off what Droid does right now, a new report suggests it could become the first carrier other than AT&T to offer iPhone on American soil, starting in the second half of 2010.
According to a report obtained by Apple Insider, “Apple has contracted to produce a UMTS/CDMA hybrid iPhone due in the third quarter of next year that will enable the company to sell a single global handset to all carriers, and specifically to Verizon Wireless in the US” – the significance of CDMA being that it’s the standard that Verizon’s network uses, versus AT&T’s GSM.
As you might suspect, there’s currently no comment from Apple or Verizon, but it’s not the first time the two companies have been linked. Just last month, a report surfaced suggesting that Verizon and Apple were already testing a 4G version of the iPhone. While we await more details, we can’t help but be amused by how we might end up looking back at the current attack ad battle taking place between Verizon, AT&T, and Apple if a Verizon iPhone comes to fruition.
Tags: apple, att, iphone, verizon
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DocVerse Puts Google Docs-Like Collaboration Inside Microsoft Office
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This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.
Name: DocVerse
Quick Pitch: DocVerse brings the collaboration functionality of products like Google Docs to the 600 million users of Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
Genius Idea: Collaboration is a key to success in any business, especially when you have a scattered team that needs to work on documents constantly. There are already a lot of options, including Google Docs, Adobe Acrobat, and even Microsoft Office 2010 to some extent. But having full, Google Docs-like collaboration in Microsoft Office would be nice.
This is the gap that DocVerse is trying to fill. It’s a plug-in for Microsoft Office that adds this type of functionality to a new sidebar within Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, and Word.
This sidebar is where all of DocVerse’s magic happens. You can invite friends and colleagues to collaborate on any documents. As you and others make edits, those changes are synced to the cloud. In addition to a hard copy, the plug-in automatically saves a web-based version of the doc that others can see to make collaboration easy.
It’s not just the instant collaboration though – there are also some great discussion and tracking features via the DocVerse sidebar. One allows you to IM anybody collaborating on the document in question. Another lets you track the most recent changes and by whom they were made. Finally, the version history tab lets you see a larger overview of the history of the document.
All in all, DocVerse is slick, easy to understand, and perfect for small and large businesses where the employees are used to using Microsoft Office to get things done. DocVerse’s collaboration suite isn’t free, though. It’s $49/month for 10 users and 500 documents and $99 per month for 25 users and 1500 documents. If you just can’t get your team on board with Google Docs though, DocVerse may be the answer you’re looking for.
Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark
BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the Azure Services platform for their website hosting and storage needs. Microsoft recently announced the “new CloudApp()” contest – use the Azure Services Platform for hosting your .NET or PHP app, and you could be the lucky winner of a USD 5000* (please see website for official rules and guidelines).”
Reviews: Adobe Acrobat.com, Google Docs, PHP
Tags: bizspark
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eHub di Emily Chang
StreetMavens
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Description: Talk about street smarts this social mapping service lets you see what’s happening around town, browse and interact with local businesses, and share pictures with family and friends in real-time. URL: StreetMavens.
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Green Home Improvement
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Description: An information and community website, for informing green homeowners, showcasing green contractors and architects, and connecting the two. URL: Green Home Improvement.
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Yellowise
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Description: A local business directory that allows users to read and write reviews and share their experiences with that business. URL: Yellowise
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SendFlow
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Description: A web-based platform that lets you create, broadcast and manage interactive SMS text and Voice messages. With SendFlow you can broadcast two-way messages that respond to caller inputs in real-time using land lines, mobile phones and internet transports like G-Talk. URL: SendFlow
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Google Music Search
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Description: Search for artists, albums, songs or lyrics. Google provides links to partner sites where you can preview and purchase songs. URL: Google Music Search
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Del.icio.us
Check out Class Blogs
Date Published: 2009-11-07T20:49:30Z
Description: List of different types of class blogs to get ideas for your own class blog. You could also use this list to make connections with classes in other countries.
Tags: stao science blogging web2.0
Online Audio Editor - Aviary.com's Myna
Date Published: 2009-11-07T20:48:49Z
Description: similar to garage band
Tags: web2.0
Best Online Collaboration Tools 2009 - Robin Good's Collaborative Map - MindMeister Mind Map
Date Published: 2009-11-07T20:47:53Z
Description:
Tags: web2.0 mindmap mindmapping
http://edublogs.org/
Date Published: 2009-11-07T20:47:51Z
Description:
Tags: education teaching web2.0 blogs
Simple private real-time sharing and collaboration by drop.io
Date Published: 2009-11-07T20:47:42Z
Description:
Tags: tools free web2.0 online download filesharing storage files
