New Technology Reviews!.: social-networking

Facebook Credits could become 'web currency'

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Facebook has begun working with web companies to allow them to use Facebook Credits to buy items and play games outside of the social network.</div>
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The scheme, which was announced through the official blog, could eventually see Facebook Credits become a universal web currency that can be used to replace conventional forms of online payment.</div>
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The social networking giant is testing the scheme with with social games company GameHouse.</div>
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Unified app experience</h4>
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GameHouse will use Facebook credits to allow members to play games like Collapse! Blast and Uno on its own network as well as on Facebook.com, to offer a 'unified app experience'.</div>
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The blog post says: "We have begun working with a few developers to test the ability to offer Facebook Credits on websites, with the goal of helping them offer a more unified app experience to users beyond apps on Facebook. One early example is Collapse! Blast on Gamehouse.com.</div>
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"At this time, we are focused on gathering early developer feedback. We will keep you posted as our tests continue. If you are interested in Facebook Credits for websites should we broaden the test, please sign up here."</div>
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Facebook will get 30 per cent of the proceeds according to the AllThingsD blog.</div>
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Facebook Credits could become 'web currency'

Facebook has begun working with web companies to allow them to use Facebook Credits to buy items and play games outside of the social ...

Google+ focus means Buzz will be axed

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<img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-92190 aligncenter" height="234" mce_src="http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/310/googlekillsbuzz.jpg" src="http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/310/googlekillsbuzz.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="google-kills-buzz" width="234" />Google’s foray into the world of social networking started off with Buzz, but that somehow failed to take off, and I would suppose with all the experience they gained in the process of delivering Buzz, they would have learnt a thing or two – hence the rather phenomenal growth of Google+. Since it is always better to remain focused and sharp instead of being spread too thin, Google took the logical decision of dropping the axe on Buzz in a few weeks’ time so that they can focus better on Google+.</div>
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Not only that, the Google Labs site looks set to be pushing daisies as well, where it will be replaced by Boutiques.com and Like.com with Google Product Search. Current Buzz content can still be viewed on a user’s Google Profile if you’re a hopeless romantic and sentimentalist, but it won’t do you much good though despite the fact that it can still be downloaded from Google Takeout.</div>
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Google+ focus means Buzz will be axed

Google’s foray into the world of social networking started off with Buzz, but that somehow failed to take off, and I would suppose with ...

Google+ Mac "app" now available (Updated)

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If you're one of the early adopters of Google+ and have been wishing for a native Mac app that you could use to check out your circles and swim the stream, you're in luck. A rudimentary Google+ app is now available for Mac, which bodes well for the future of standalone apps for the social media tool.</div>
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The app appears to be a pared-down version of Google's Chrome Browser, since the menu bar shows "Chrome" as the name of the running app instead of "Google+." However, the app is much smaller -- about 16.5 MB in size compared to 239 MB for the full-fledged version of Chrome.</div>
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Launching the app takes you directly into the same web version of Google+ that you're used to. Clicking any links will open a new browser window, so your Google+ session remains foremost on your screen and unsullied by tabs.</div>
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It's not really a native app, but according to the developer it's something to tide over Mac users until something faster and more Mac-like can be prepared. For the time being, the Google+ app should work fine for those who want to keep their social networking separate from their other browsing.</div>
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The app is hosted on Cloud App and is a quick download.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Update: </span>We'd like to warn readers that this appears to be an unofficial app that is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Google. If you've already downloaded the app, you may wish to log into Google+ through your normal browser and change your password just in case this is a "social engineering" attack disguised as a harmless way to access your Google+ account.</div>
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Google+ Mac "app" now available (Updated)

If you're one of the early adopters of Google+ and have been wishing for a native Mac app that you could use to check out your cir...

Google+, kindly meet privacy issues

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-79260 aligncenter" height="50" src="http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2580/gplus.jpg" title="gplus" width="234" />There’s a snafu with the recently released Google+, where potential problems have already been spotted concerning the issue of privacy. Google’s latest attempt at social networking allows you to categorize people you know into different circles, letting you share with friends what you do not want your family to know – however, there is a feature which allows you to reshare what someone else has posted. Logically speaking, the resharing ability allows the original post to go beyond the “circle of trust”, as Gaylord Focker would put it.</p><br/>The loophole was first spotted by the eagle eyed folks over at the Financial Times, but it is nice to know that such a loophole was discovered so early into the game, considering Google+ is still in limited trial, with users finding some rough edges in the process.<br/><br/>Google stated that “we’re actively listening to feedback from our testers. Prior to launching the product, we may make adjustments to the system in response to this feedback.”<br/><div><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=fGR0bJvk4Ro:_m-NaY1kd4M:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7178/15694658.gif" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=fGR0bJvk4Ro:_m-NaY1kd4M:qj6IDK7rITs"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8466/14821600.gif" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=fGR0bJvk4Ro:_m-NaY1kd4M:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5941/28852514.gif" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=fGR0bJvk4Ro:_m-NaY1kd4M:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/3420/47455817.gif" /></a></div>

Google+, kindly meet privacy issues

There’s a snafu with the recently released Google+, where potential problems have already been spotted concerning the issue of privacy. Goog...

Get Your Google+ Invite from AndroidCommunity!

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="149" src="http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3874/screenshot20110630at122.png" title="Screen shot 2011-06-30 at 12.27.46 PM" width="324" />Google just launched their new social networking plan and they are calling it Google+. With the million of Android owners and Gmail users and the rest of the population using some sort of product of Google, they seem to be in a good spot right about now. Google has already developed a great mobile application for Android and an iOS version is on the way, then the rest is done all via the web. Get your Google+ invite and start sharing thoughts or pictures with all your friends and family just like on any other platform. For now Invitations are closed and the program is in Beta, but once they start allowing invites again we’ll take care of you.</p><br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-39944 aligncenter" height="219" src="http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/5426/googleyou540x365.png" width="324" /></p><br/><span> </span><br/><br/>In case you guys missed it yesterday the program was still considered in closed beta until someone realized there was a Invite button on the lower right side of the screen while viewing your stream from the web. We all thought they opened the flood gates and everyone started inviting all their friends and family and it quickly became over capacity, but there was no birds holding up a whale over here at Google+. Instead it was quickly shut down and Vic Gundotra posted a little comment crushing everyone’s dreams of joining Google+ last night.<br/><br/>While the buzz is still strong we’re assuming Google will be opening the doors again any time now, and we will be ready for them. So for all of our faithful readers that would like to join we will be ready to invite you or at least get you on the growing list of invites for Google to approve. If you would like to leave your Gmail email below in the comments we will be sure to try our hardest to get you invited once the light hits green again.<br/><br/><strong>UPDATE:</strong> all comments will now be “held for moderation” which means we’ll be the only ones who get to see them. If you commented before this change, your email was collected by us JUST for this Google+ invite post, and for nothing more, and will not be displayed below — this was done due to concern over SPAM, which we do indeed hate!<br/><br/>Check out the other stories we have up regarding Google+ while you’re waiting.

Get Your Google+ Invite from AndroidCommunity!

Google just launched their new social networking plan and they are calling it Google+. With the million of Android owners and Gmail users an...

Google+ Widget Included with Google+ App, Pretty Sweet

Google+ Widget Included with Google+ App, Pretty Sweet

It’s becoming quite clear that the folks who designed the user interface for Google+ are quite brilliant. One of those people was Andy Hertz...

MySpace to be sold for just £18 million?

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="90" src="http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8580/myspacenewlogo200200.jpg" width="120" /></p><br/>MySpace looks set to be sold this week, with the social networking site to be bought for a fraction of the $580 million News Corp paid for it back in 2005.<br/><br/>News Corp had been hoping to get around $100 million for the site, but All Things Digital is reporting that this is way off the number that is likely to be agreed, which will be between $20 to $30 million (£12 to £18 million).<br/><br/>There are two companies vying for MySpace. Specific Media and Golden Gate Capital – the former being an advertising network and the latter a private equity firm.<br/><br/><strong>Deal soon</strong><br/><br/>News Corp is hoping that the sale will be completed by Thursday and it is thought that MySpace Music will be what the eventual buyers will focus their sights on.<br/><br/>According to All Things Digital, there is also an outside chance that the co-founders of MySpace may be interested in giving the site a much-needed kiss of life.<br/><br/>Both Tom Anderson (remember him? He wanted to be your friend so badly) and Chris DeWolfe could well come in with a last-minute bid.<br/><br/>Whatever the outcome, it is likely that MySpace will shed more jobs (rumours are that 150 will go) and become a much more streamlined affair.<br/><br/>Looks like the My [___] logo introduced earlier this year was a sign of the cost-cutting to come.

MySpace to be sold for just £18 million?

MySpace looks set to be sold this week, with the social networking site to be bought for a fraction of the $580 million News Corp paid for i...

Wiklevoss twins finally settle with Facebook for £48 million

The Winklevoss twins, who have been engrained into the history of Facebook thanks to the movie <em>The Social Network</em>, have finally accepted a $65 million (£48 million) payout from Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook.<br/><br/>This comes after the twins decided to re-ignite their feud with Facebook and Zuckerberg – who they initially claimed took the idea of the social network from them – by trying to undo the settlement they agreed on in 2008.<br/><br/>In April, however, this was turned down by the Supreme Court and while they were going to appeal in May the twins have now made the decision not to.<br/><br/>"After careful consideration [the] appellants no longer oppose issuance of the mandate, and have no objection to vacatur of the stay of issuance of mandate," said the filing.<br/><br/><strong>Taking stock</strong><br/><br/>The Winklevoss case is one of the more interesting in the tech world, given that it stems from Zuckerberg's time at Harvard with the twins.<br/><br/>Originally they accused Zuckerberg of breaking an 'oral contract' with the twins, where he said he would complete work with them on their university social network idea, the Harvard Connection. Instead of completing this website, Zuckerberg went on to make TheFacebook – a social networking site that was originally restricted to Harvard graduates.<br/><br/>One of the reasons not to appeal may be to do with the amount of stock on offer. The money bundle has been split as £12.5 million in cash, £28 million in stock.<br/><br/>With estimates that Facebook could well be worth £100 billion in 2012, that stock option is now looking a lot more favourable than it did back in 2008.<br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/106215574334/u/49/f/9809/c/669/s/161c61a1/kg/221/a2.htm"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3277/66038347.gif" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1962/11895464.gif" width="1" />

Wiklevoss twins finally settle with Facebook for £48 million

The Winklevoss twins, who have been engrained into the history of Facebook thanks to the movie The Social Network , have finally accepted a ...

Social sharing on The Daily dropping fast

<br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter" height="167" src="http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/2084/thedailytweetsdeclining.jpg" style="border: 0px initial initial;" width="318" /></p><br/>The Nieman Journalism Lab reports that social sharing from iPad news app The Daily is falling precipitously, according to data from a firm called PostRank. Social sharing is when users share content on networks like Twitter or Facebook; the average number of pieces shared from The Daily on Twitter has fallen from over 200 to under 50 in just the past few months since its launch.<br/><br/>There's two sides to this. First, these are obviously not actual readership numbers, and just because readers aren't sharing many articles doesn't mean they're not being read. It's also important to remember that The Daily subscriptions run weekly or yearly, so a certain amount of its readers have already paid for a year of content.<br/><br/>However, given that this is one metric of engagement with the fledgling virtual publication, it's probably not a good sign. As Nieman's Joshua Benton says, this follows anecdotal evidence we've heard that the app has been declining despite an early spike in interest. If subscriptions and downloads correlate with these social sharing numbers, The Daily may be in trouble already.

Social sharing on The Daily dropping fast

The Nieman Journalism Lab reports that social sharing from iPad news app The Daily is falling precipitously, according to data from a firm c...