Monday, June 25, 2012

Mashable: Latest 27 News Updates - including “How Social Media Savvy Celebrities Share Video [INFOGRAPHIC]”

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Mashable: Latest 27 News Updates - including “How Social Media Savvy Celebrities Share Video [INFOGRAPHIC]”


How Social Media Savvy Celebrities Share Video [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:47 AM PDT




Whether you're fascinated by the digital life of Joe Jonas or Joe Biden, we all love to follow some high-profile social media users.

Yet celebrities' online presences come in all different shapes and sizes. The below infographic breaks down the video-sharing habits of 10 famous social media users into distinct patterns.

Basketball star LeBron James, for instance, almost exclusively shares videos from the sports world. In contrast, actress Alyssa Milano shares tech, comedy, science, sports and music videos in addition to the predictable genre, entertainment.

Conan O'Brian shares more than four videos each day on social media, yet only 18% of his picks go viral. Justin Bieber has th…
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More About: celebrities, sharing, Social Media, Video


Larry Page to Staff: ‘There’s Nothing Seriously Wrong With Me’ [REPORT]

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:34 AM PDT




Google CEO Larry Page, who is declining to speak at this week's I/O developer conference, told staffers in an email that "there's nothing seriously wrong with me," according to a report.

Page's comment came on June 21, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited a "person familiar with the matter."

Google reps could not be reached for comment on the report.

Speculation about Page has intensified since Google chairman Eric Schmidt announced last week that Page won't be speaking at I/O and two other company events including a call with analysts next month to review second-quarter results. Schmidt told attendees at a recent meeting that Page had "lost his voice," according to re…
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More About: Google, larry page


RIM Considers Split and Two Other Stories You Need to Know

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:16 AM PDT




Welcome to this morning's edition of "First To Know," a series in which we keep you in the know on what's happening in the digital world. Today, we're looking at three particularly interesting stories.

RIM Considers Cutting Company in Two

As BlackBerry maker RIM's troubles continue to mount, the company is mulling breaking off its handset unit and selling to Facebook, Amazon or anyone who will have it, according to a report in the Sunday Times. RIM reps could not confirm or deny the report. The company hired JP Morgan and RBC Capital to explore strategic options last month.

RIM's last quarterly report -- for its fiscal 2012 fourth quarter -- was a debacle, with a 19% dro…
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More About: blackberry, Facebook, features, first to know, Flipboard, mashable, RIM, the new york times


RIM Mulls Splitting Company in Two [REPORT]

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 03:53 AM PDT




BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is considering splitting itself in two, separating its handset unit and its messaging business, according to a report.

The struggling RIM, which hired JP Morgan and RBC Capital last month to explore its strategic options, is considering breaking off the handset unit as a separate listed company and then possibly selling it, according to The Sunday Times, which did not cite sources. (Link unavailable.) Among the potential buyers cited in the article: Facebook and Amazon. Selling to Apple and Google is another possibility as is selling a stake to a larger firm like Microsoft.

Reps from RIM could not be reached for comment on the report.

The report c…
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More About: blackberry, research in motion


Flipboard Adds ‘New York Times’ Content

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 03:26 AM PDT




Starting Thursday, New York Times subscribers will be able to read that publication's content on Flipboard.

The announcement is part of the Times' "NYT Everywhere" strategy to expand its reach via third-party platforms.

Following authentication by Flipboard, Times subscribers will have full access to articles, videos, photo slideshows and blogs. Users can tap on The New York Times for such access. As with other New York Times news applications, the Top News section of the app is free to all.

For Flipboard, the announcement is the latest in a couple of high-profile moves over the past few weeks including the introduction of an Android app and integration with Google+ and YouTube.…
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More About: Flipboard, new york times


Facebook Launches Mobile Feature ‘Find Friends Nearby’

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 02:53 AM PDT




Facebook has launched a new feature for mobile, Find Friends Nearby, which will help you find people in your vicinity.

This will come in handy if you meet, for example, a John Smith and would like to add him on Facebook without being confused by the hundreds of other Facebook users with that name.

In order to find a user through Find Friends Nearby, you and the person you're looking for must both have the feature turned on.

Does this new feature seem useful or creepy?

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, ymgerman

More About: Facebook, mashable video, Mobile


New York City’s Getting a Tech Upgrade

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 07:42 PM PDT




New York City is looking to double down on its status as a technology-first metropolis as city officials announced this week five new initiatives with the goal of expanding New York's booming tech sector.

The initiatives, introduced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and developed in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, include a variety of plans to further develop broadband access and incorporate technology into the City's public policy:

1. ConnectNYC: Small and medium-sized companies in buildings with poor broadband wiring will compete with one another…
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More About: broadband, government, internet access, new york city, open data, open government, technology, US


Country Star Kenny Chesney Focuses on Online Viewers During Live Concert

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 07:22 PM PDT





Seemingly dodging the thunderous rumble from the present crowd, country music star Kenny Chesney checks the volume of tweets from livestream viewers of his concert to decide whether they and the audience in front of him deserve an encore. A crew member gives him a thumbs-up.

"There is so much activity on the Internet that we decided to play one more song," the 44-year-old crooner says to some 25,000 people in attendance at Wildwood, N.J., from a stage built atop beach sand near a shoreline.

Chesney's nod to fans listening to his music from afar shows just how much musicians care about pleasing people who can't travel to concerts or prefer to watch them on YouTube or Vevo -- whether…
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More About: celebrities, concert, country, Entertainment, Kenny Chesney, livestream, Music, Social Media, vevo, YouTube


Google Celebrates Gay Pride With Easter Egg

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 06:47 PM PDT




Google is celebrating Gay Pride with a charming Easter egg. A rainbow ribbon appears below the search bar when you Google Gay Pride, LGBT, gay, lesbian, NYC Gay Pride and SF Gay Pride.

The Mountain View, Calif. based company has a history of creating whimsical Easter eggs, often hidden in its search function. You can find 10 examples of its hidden gems in the below gallery.

Google is also known for its pro-gay rights stance. In a rare expression of political opinion, Google publicly expressed its opposition to California's Prop. 8, a constitutional amendment that took away the right of same-sex couples to marry, in a 2008 blog post written by co-founder Sergey Brin.

"While t…
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More About: easter egg, gay pride, Google


Bears Wrestle in the Backyard [VIDEO]

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 06:21 PM PDT




Two bears were spotted wrestling on a neighbor's yard in Longwood, Fl. by YouTube user bokenthecool, in a video that looks like it was made for the Discovery Channel.

The two large black bears engage with one another while standing on their hind legs for about two minutes, until they calmly walk off side by side.

What would you do if you spotted two bears fighting in your neighborhood? Call for help, upload to YouTube, or both?

BONUS: 10 Heart-Warming Animal Friendships Captured on YouTube

More About: animals, YouTube


YouTube Cover Song Face-Off: One Direction’s ‘What Makes You Beautiful’

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 05:59 PM PDT




British boy band One Direction catapulted to worldwide fame -- less than a year after they finished third on The X Factor UK's seventh season in 2010 -- with teen pop song "What Makes You Beautiful."

The single quickly charted at number one in several countries, and it became the highest U.S. Billboard Hot 100 debut since 1998 for a UK artist or band. It currently ranks number six.

We've rounded up 15 standout covers for you in the gallery below. Vote for your favorite version in our poll.

NEXT WEEK'S SONG: Katy Perry's "Wide Awake." Tweet any submissions to @BAHjournalist.

The winner of this poll will be chosen June 29 at 12 p.m. ET. Please vote just once per day.

W
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More About: celebrities, Entertainment, Music, music videos, One Direction, trending, viral videos, YouTube, YouTube Cover Song Face-Off


Young Entrepreneur Council Building Network of Youth Startup Founders

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 05:24 PM PDT




Scott Gerber, founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council, was hard at work founding his second company when he realized something was missing that could help him achieve his dream.

"I made every possible mistake one could make as a rookie entrepreneur," said Gerber of his first company. "After it failed, my mom said it was time to go get a real job, but to me that wasn't possible. I wanted to take the lessons I learned from my first company and put them into a new business. Soon, I figured out what would help move me forward -- a group of like-minded peers."

That's when the idea for the Young Entrepreneur Council, an invite-only non-profit that brings together some of the sharpest y…
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More About: Business, entrepreneurs, Small Business, Social Good, Startups, US, young entrepreneur council


Top 10 Most-Shared Disney Pixar Videos

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 04:56 PM PDT


1. Brave Trailer


Pixar fans are particularly excited about Brave as it is the first of their films to feature a female lead. Brave is now in theaters.

Click here to view this gallery.




Let's just tell it like it is: we're total Pixar fanboys, and we're pretty sure you are too.

Looking for something to whet the palate before hitting up the opening weekend of Brave? Or did you already catch Pixar's latest flick and are just jonesing for more animated goodness? Either way, we think you're going to enjoy these top 10 most-shared Disney Pixar videos.

Our friends at Unruly Media rounded up the Disney Pixar trailers, teasers and remixes that have generated major buzz on the web. The trailer for Brave, Pixar's first female-centered pic, takes the number one spot.

And despite only having been on the web for two days, two of the four Monsters University teasers made it on…
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More About: Brave, disney, Entertainment, Film, finding nemo, gallery, monsters university, Movies, pixar, toy story 3, unruly, Video


Gorgeous Look at the Aurora Borealis Took Three Years to Create [VIDEO]

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 03:25 PM PDT




This stunning time-lapse video of the Aurora Borealis was created over the course of three years. It was shot with a DSLR camera and used thousands of hours of footage to create the final breathtaking effect.

SEE ALSO: Boy Ages From Birth to 9 in 127 Seconds [VIDEO]

It's readily evident that a tremendous amount of time and careful skill went into creating this project. Chad Blakley, the creator of the video, called the labor-of-love "one of the most amazing experiences of my life."

The video was shot in Abisko National Park, Sweden and created by photography tour group Lights Over Lapland.

More About: aurora borealis, time-lapse, Vimeo


BET Awards App Wields Fun Social Gaming Mechanics [VIDEO]

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 02:55 PM PDT




The 12th Annual BET Awards ceremony airs July 1, and fans and celebrities are already preparing for the broadcast with the show's first-ever mobile app. The app for Android and iPhone was released this month and features gaming elements tied to voting for the show's nominees and predicting the order of performers.

One game lets users vote with the slide of a finger, by shooting disks into a moving goal. The more disks a user makes in 15 seconds, the more votes he or she will tally for a specific nominee. The high scorers for each nominee will have their Twitter avatars and handles featured in the game's top-left corner for all users to see.

"Our audience really loves the prosp…
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More About: apps, bet, bet awards, Entertainment, Facebook, Gaming, mobile apps, Music, Twitter, viacom


Top 10 Tech This Week [PICS]

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 02:29 PM PDT




Just when we were thinking last week was going to be hard to top, this week brought even more techno-goodness for us to exalt here on Top 10 Tech This Week.

For instance, Microsoft gave us a double-barreled look at two of its hot upcoming products, including the surprise rollout of Surface tablet, as well as a revealing peek at its Windows Phone 8 operating system. Both promise to shake things up in the tech world.

SEE ALSO: Previous editions of Top 10 Tech This Week

That was by no means all. We got to listen to some kick-ass headphones, fantasize about a helicopter bike, test the world's first super-fast Wi-Fi router and gazed upon the biggest LED TV on the planet. All that…
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More About: Microsoft Surface, Tesla Model S, Top 10 Tech, trending, Windows Phone 8


Behind the Scenes of 4 Hot Social Media Campaigns

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 01:56 PM PDT




There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for developing content that's poised to go viral. In many ways, a great piece of viral content, whether it be video, pictures or social media, becomes popular due to its alchemy. There's something about the right mix of thoughtful, engaging and emotionally driving content that just pops on the Internet. In our Behind the Social Media Campaign Series, we delve deep into why and how certain branded campaigns capture that super-sharable magic.

These four brands below have certainly dominated their social media avenue of choice. Whether it's on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Pinterest, these brands have reached massive engagement with their creative and…
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More About: Behind the Social Media Campaign Series, Facebook, features, mashable, pinterest, roundup, Twitter, YouTube


5 Free iPhone Gardening Apps for Your Green Thumb

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 01:18 PM PDT


1. Garden Lite




Garden Lite is an awesome free app that's great for quick reference. There are about 750 plant species in the app's database, and you can view photos and read up on the plants you're interested in. The app covers all the bases you'd need to know: common name, botanical name, description, care info, soil, climate, planting time, bloom time, pests and diseases. There's also a separate section on pests with about 20 common garden threats, such as weevils and aphids, and advice on both symptons and treatments.

Click here to view this gallery.




Here at Mashable, our garden grows with some digital assistance. We have previously rounded up 10 great options to help you get more greenery, and now we're topping up that selection for summer 2012 with five fabulous freebies.

SEE ALSO: 7 Desktop Weather Stations to Follow the Forecast

Take a look through our selection of free iPhone apps in the slideshow above. Let us know in the comments below about any other apps that have helped you out in the gardening department.

Thumbnail image courtesy of Faith Goble

More About: apple, apps, features, home, iphone, iphone apps, lifestyle, Mobile


Internet’s Favorite Bus Monitor to Get Her $600K+ Tax-Free

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 12:52 PM PDT




Karen Klein, the 68-year-old bus monitor who was verbally abused by a group of 12-to-15-year-old students, has received more than $600,000 for a well-earned vacation from Internet users as of Saturday afternoon.

But will she -- or her nearly 30,000 funders on IndieGoGo -- be held liable for any taxes on that windfall of online love? Thankfully for both parties, not at all.

Some Mashable readers (and writers) have been debating whether or not that money would be classified as income, and therefore taxable. We turned to tax lawyer Joanne Clark, Esq., for an expert's analysis.

"As a general rule, there are no income tax implications to the recipient/donee of a cash gift," wrote Cla…
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More About: crowdfunding, indiegogo, internet, karen klein, reddit, Social Good, Social Media, trending, viral


Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ Is Beautifully Recreated From 7,000 Dominoes [VIDEO]

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 12:44 PM PDT




What would celebrated painter Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night look like if it were constructed out of thousands of dominoes?

YouTube video maker FlippyCat found out, successfully recreating the masterpiece on his second try. During the first attempt, a screw from the camera he had affixed overhead fell and sent the dominoes spiraling to the ground. Though he didn't time his first attempt, his second and final go at creating the domino version of "Starry Night" took 11 hours.

SEE ALSO: 30,000 Dominoes Capture the History of Nintendo in 3 Minutes [VIDEO]

FlippyCat has previously made Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa from dominoes, capturing his creation in a YouTube video since view…
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More About: art, Video, viral


28 Joyful Gay Pride Instagram Photos

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 12:34 PM PDT




All across America, people took to the streets to celebrate gay pride -- and they snapped a multitude of colorful Instagram photos along the way.

These photos were taken in different locations, but they are all united by a common Instagram hashtag "#pride" and the common purpose of furthering LGBT rights in America.

Gay pride is recognized from June 22-24 in cities across America including New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and many more. The purpose of pride is to take a stand against the discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. In many cities it is recognized with a parade and other colorful festivities.

In New York City, notable figures such as…
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More About: Gay and lesbian pride month, George Takei, instagram, LGBT, trending


How Gen Y Scores Jobs With Social Search

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 12:22 PM PDT




In an era when 50% of recent college graduates are unemployed or underemployed, according to government data analyzed by the Associated Press, the U.S. tech industry shines brightly in a dreary hiring climate. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, technology has shown a relatively steady increase in jobs created since June 2009.   

As a generation, millennials have an advantage when it comes searching online for job opportunities.


"I definitely think that my generation is more technologically dexterous, so we have the advantage in using social media," explains Francesca Krihely, an online community manager from San Francisco. "I also think that we are…
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More About: features, job search, job search series, mashable, social media jobs


Google: Redesigned Ads Will Increase Click-Through Rates 100% [VIDEO]

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 11:01 AM PDT




As Google works to improve its mobile product, the company says its redesigned ads in Google Maps will increase click-through rates by 100%. The changes will being rolling out for all users Friday.

The new search results feature larger and more clickable buttons to place calls or find directions. Websites will load within maps, rather than launching a separate browser page.

Google is also launching a blue hyperlocal marker, showing your distance from nearby businesses.

Maps is an important opportunity for advertisers, because 94% of smartphone users search for local business information. Of those searchers, 90% make decisions based on the res…
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More About: Advertising, Google, Google Maps, trending


Obnoxious Coworkers? Here’s Help [SUNDAY COMICS]

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 10:49 AM PDT




Personal space in the office is shrinking as corporations squeeze out every drop of profit at the expense of worker comfort. Given that fact, there are bound to be awkward moments and conflicts.

Case in point: this creepy clown figurine.

However, Nitrozac and Snaggy at The Joy of Tech found one clever coder who cooked up a seemingly helpful solution to counter the questionable taste of coworkers. Obnoxious desk decorations? There's a URL for that:

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

More About: comic, comics, Sunday Comics, The Joy of Tech, trending


L8 Smartlight: Silent Assistant Notifies You About Practically Anything [VIDEO]

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 10:19 AM PDT




This unusual and useful box can silently notify you of just about anything that happens on the Internet. With 64 LEDs on one side and a super-bright LED on the other, the L8 Smartlight wirelessly connects to your computer or smartphone, giving you visual cues at a glance for re-tweets, likes, e-mail notifications, weather, incoming calls and a whole lot more.

If you listen to a lot of loud music, or if you want to be notified about what's going on online while you're talking on the phone -- or just can't stand a lot of distracting bleeps and dinging noises while you go about your day -- this could be the perfect device for you. You can even put it o…
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More About: accessories, kickstarter, Video


Top 10 Pinterest Pins This Week

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 09:58 AM PDT




Pinterest is home to some of the most beautiful images on the Internet. These 10 pins were our favorites from the past week.

This week's top pins represent what members love about the network -- gorgeous and inspiring images. From elegant weddings to refreshing recipes, we scoured the entire Pinterest site to give you a sampling of what its users were repinning this week.

Photos of beautiful locales, such as the waterfalls in Croatia, are also Pinterest favorites. There are countless boards dedicated to travel that can transport you from your computer desk to an exotic and whimsical location.

FOLLOW: Mashable on Pinterest

We collected some of our pins from Pinterest's m
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More About: pinterest, top 10 pinterest pins, trending, weddings


Mohamed Morsi Is Elected President of Egypt

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 08:21 AM PDT




Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi has been elected president of Egypt in the country's first free election, the election commission declared. The news took Twitter to its knees Sunday.

Morsi beat Ahmed Shafiq, former prime minister under ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, by a narrow margin. According the the comission, Morsi won 51.7% of the vote while Shafiq received 48.3%.

Revolutionaries, observers, protesters and journalists shared the election action as it unfolded online, as should be expected following social media's historic role in the Egyptian uprisings since January 2011. The most popular hashtags included #EgyPresElex, #Egypt, #Morsi, and #SCAF, of which several w…
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More About: Arab Spring, Egypt, egypt revolution, elections, trending, Twitter, World


45% of Executives Think Social Media Has a Positive Impact on the Workplace

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 07:30 AM PDT




More executives than employees think social media has a positive impact on workplace culture.

While 45% of executives believe social media is good for their companies' culture, only 27% of employees agree, finds a recent survey by Deloitte.

Executives think social media has a positive impact because it allows managers to be more transparent (38%), helps build and maintain relationships among colleagues (46%), helps build company culture (41%), and fosters a feeling of connection to the company and its leadership (37%).

What factors do executives think are more important to culture building than social media? Some 65% say financial performance and 62% say compensation.

How…
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More About: careers, jobs, Social Media


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