New Technologies: Mashable!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Mashable!

Microsoft's Multitouch Mice are Weird, Amazing [Video]

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 12:28 AM PDT

microsoft_mouse_multitouch We've seen the multitouch capabilities of the iPhone; we've seen a similar thing on the trackpad of MacBook Pro, and we've seen a camera driven multitouch solution on Microsoft's elusive Surface. Now, all those technologies suddenly seem to have converged in a bunch of conceptual multitouch mice, courtesy of Microsoft.

In the two videos below, you can see several Microsoft's engineers showing off several entirely different devices. While one mouse's surface detects touch and movement, the other does the same thing with a camera, and the weirdest of them all consists of several connected mechanical parts which you can move almost independently on one another.

For the end user, all of this means being able to do cool things like pinch, rotate, zoom, and flick on your desktop computer, just by using your mouse. While some of the gestures displayed in the videos look awkward, others seem quite natural; I'm sure we'll see some of these technologies in the devices we use everyday really soon.

Tags: microsoft, mouse, multitouch

QpixL: Visual iPhone Polls Shared on Twitter and Facebook

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 10:52 PM PDT

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.

QpixL-260 Name: QpixL

Quick Pitch: Snap a photo on your iPhone and send a question out to your Twitter and Facebook friends.

Genius Idea: Want to socialize a quick visual poll out to your social networks from your iPhone? That's what QpixL can handle for you, without a lot of fuss and additional logins.

After installing the app (warning: iTunes link) you can enter your credentials for Facebook and/or Twitter. Then, either use an image already on your iPhone or snap a new pic to accompany your question.

When you upload your question, it will automatically post to your Facebook profile (if you've logged in) and your Twitter account (if you've logged in). Answers to your question will be aggregated back into the QpixL app along with the source (Twitter or Facebook), giving you a single interface to check all your results. You can also enter your email address in the app Settings if you'd like to get email notifications when your question is answered.

QpixL is a simple app that does what it advertises. It integrates nicely with two of the primary social networks most of us already use, and aggregates real-time results back to your iPhone without requiring you or your friends to create new logins. If you like tossing out quick visual questions and polls to your friends, it's worth a try for the low cost of free.

Spark of Genius Series 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: Facebook, PHP, Twitter

Tags: bizspark, facebook, iphone, iphone apps, polls, QpixL, twitter

PhotoSketch: Photoshop + Image Recognition = Awesome

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 09:50 PM PDT

Photosketch image This technology is just mind-boggling. PhotoSketch may be the coolest program we've seen or written about since the invisible speakers.

PhotoSketch is an "Internet Image Montage" project from five Chinese Computer Science and Technology students at Tsinghua University and the National University of Singapore. The basic premise, which they present in the form of a research paper [pdf], works like this:

Step 1. Draw the outlines of the figures you want in your picture – anything from seagulls to a Mercedes, whatever tickles your fancy,

Step 2. Add labels for each of the items, as well as for the background.

Step 3. PhotoSketch will then find real-life images to match your doodles and put them together in a Photoshopped image that will make your jaw drop.

Yes, this thing has such great image recognition technology that it can determine which dog fits best in your canine doodle. Their demo video unveils the true power of PhotoSketch:

We've seen several other sites rave about PhotoSketch, including CNET and Gizmodo. Add us to the list. We're beyond impressed.

If you're dying to try this thing out, you'll have to wait – the high interest has taken their site down. But it'll be back up soon enough. We can't wait to see what people build with this thing.

Tags: Photoshop, Photosketch

VMWare Fusion 3 Makes Running Windows on Mac Almost Fun

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 09:05 PM PDT

vmware3-sm As we pointed out yesterday, more and more Americans are buying Macs, but going to the iSide doesn't always mean you can leave Windows behind. Since 2006, every Mac that Apple sells has also had the ability to run Windows using Boot Camp.

However, for most users, the best way of using Windows on a Mac is using a virtualization program like VMWare Fusion, Parallels, or Virtual Box. These programs let you run Windows alongside Mac OS X all on the same machine.

As a Mac user who often likes to test Windows-only programs (like the Google Chrome browser) or needs to use Windows for a nascent VPN here and there, virtualization is the best way to keep me using the programs I like on both platforms as the same time. Today, VMWare is taking pre-orders for VMWare Fusion 3, scheduled for release on October 27th.

VMWare Fusion 3 was designed to take advantage of both the recently released Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and the upcoming Microsoft Windows 7. I spoke with Fusion's Product Manager Pat Lee last week, and he told me that more than 50 new features and enhancements have been added to VMWare Fusion to make the experience of running Windows on the Mac that much better.

Faster Performance, Improved Integration

vmware-unity

VMWare Fusion was released for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and wasn't really designed for the under-the-hood enhancements of Snow Leopard. VMWare Fusion 3 was designed for Snow Leopard and it natively supports the 64-bit kernel and allows users to run 64-bit guest operating systems, even if their Mac is running the 32-bit kernel.

Lee told me that he thinks VMWare Fusion 3 will offer Snow Leopard users the best way to run Windows, Linux or Leopard Server on their Macs. VMWare has also improved its Unity mode (where Windows applications appear alongside Mac apps in the dock and in the menu bar) and made accessing files, apps and documents from your virtual machine even easier and more seamless.

Aero is Virtualized. Finally

vmware-aero

Over the past few years, the actual performance of virtualization tools has really started catch up with running a system natively — except for one area — graphics. Virtualized setups still lag behind when it comes to 3D graphics and gaming, but that gap is getting smaller and smaller.

What I think is some of the biggest news about VMWare Fusion 3 is that it is the first Mac virtualization system to support Windows Aero (in Windows Vista and Windows 7 and Flip 3D. iMac, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro users should all have the ability to see Aero's glassy goodness inside the VM. If you purchased a MacBook or Mac mini with one of the newer integrated Nvidia graphics chips, you can take advantage of Aero too.

Admittedly, Aero support is more superficial than productive — but this is a huge step in bridging that gap between native and virtualized system performance. VMWare Fusion 3 also supports OpenGL 2.1 and Direct X 9.0c — which means that depending on your graphics card, you can even play games in Windows without having to use Boot Camp.

Move Your Old Windows Machine to Your Mac

A large percentage of individuals buying a new Mac are also new to the Mac platform. Even if you plan on keeping your old computer around, getting all of your files and photos transferred to your Mac can be daunting — especially for the new user.

Similar to what another virtualization company, Parallels, is doing — VMWare Fusion 3 includes a new feature that will let a user connect to their old Windows machine across the network and copy that computer into a new virtual machine that they can access on their Mac. That's actually pretty cool — especially if you have some other ideas for things you might want to do with the older hardware.

VMWare Fusion 3 is available for pre-order starting today at at VMWare's site, the Apple Online Store and Amazon.com for $79.99. Existing VMWare customers can upgrade via VMWare's site on October 27th for $39.99 (if you recently purchased VMWare Fusion 2, you can upgrade to 3.0 for free).

Mac users — do you use Windows on your Mac? If so, how? Let us know!

Reviews: Google Chrome, Windows Vista, linux

Tags: apple, mac os x, Snow Leopard, virtualization, vmware fusion, Windows 7

Should YouTube Simplify Its Interface?

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:59 PM PDT

In some ways, YouTube and Twitter are on opposite ends of the social media spectrum. One is a destination (YouTube), while the other tends to be a traffic driver (Twitter). One focuses on content, while the other is about conversation.

But perhaps the biggest difference lies in the interface design. Twitter has built its reputation on simplicity – it's essentially a text box, 140 characters, and a stream of updates. YouTube on the other hand has ratings, video options, viewer data, comments, video responses, related videos, director data, featured videos, sharing options, and more. They do a good job of organizing it, but it's a ton of information.

Perhaps that's why the recent data published by YouTube on its user research initiatives piqued our interest. Google's social video site explains how different types of users have different ideas of the "ideal" interface.

Take a look at this image. On the left is an example of what the casual YouTube viewer wants to see, as determined from YouTube user research. On the right is what most video uploaders and content creators thought was ideal:

The difference is stark. YouTube explored the differences in user opinion and their potential impact on user experience:

"One of the most important findings has to do with the difference between the large group of users who are on YouTube simply to watch videos and a smaller, but very important, group of more engaged users — often uploaders. The latter group will, unsurprisingly, care about details like how to make communication with their audience easier and more effective, how to grow their audience, and even how to make money on YouTube. The former, on the other hand, want as simple of an interface as possible: "Just let me watch the video, please!"

It's a trade-off: if you simplify, you provide a better user experience, but you may actually lose user engagement without information such as related videos. On the other hand, an over-cluttered interface leaves users overwhelmed.

What do you think: should YouTube simplify its interface? Or are its social features the key to retaining viewers and promoting content creators? Which is better for YouTube as a business? Let us know in the comments.

Reviews: Google, Twitter, YouTube

Tags: youtube

Web Music Faceoff: Pandora vs. last.fm

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 07:44 PM PDT

pandora-v-lastfm It's time to kick off the third installment in our new weekly Faceoff series, where we pit two web services or applications against each other to duke it out in a reader vote.

In past editions we've seen Firefox beat Chrome and Tumblr take a close victory over Posterous, and this week we want to know which streaming music service will emerge victorious from our fantasy cagematch. Read on to cast your vote!

When we asked for your votes for favorite music streaming service in a relatively recent Lunchtime Poll, recommendation engines and music social networks Pandora and last.fm topped the results. Because the votes were so close, we'd love to put these services head to head and find out which is truly the fairest of them all for Mashable readers.

The poll will stay open until this Friday, October 9 at noon PST. Get your vote in now, and feel free to go out canvassing amongst your friends to drum up support for your favorite candidate as well. Happy voting!

Who would win in a fight: Pandora or last.fm?(opinion)

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)

Reviews: Chrome, Firefox, Google Chrome, Last.fm, Mashable, Mozilla Firefox, Pandora, Posterous, Tumblr

Tags: Last.FM, music, music streaming, pandora, web faceoff

Free Music Monday: Rock and Pop Edition

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 06:08 PM PDT

meaghan-260 Hey there, music fans! It's another Free Music Monday for your listening pleasure. If you've been following along so far, you'll know we're celebrating the #musicmonday tradition on Twitter.

We pick 10 tracks from around the web you can download or stream freely and legally, with the blessing of the artist. This week we're trying an experiment by picking a genre theme for all 10 selections. Let us know what genre you'd like us to feature next, or if you prefer the previous genre variety format better.

Thanks for listening; now let's get rolling with the list!

1. [POP, FOLK] Meaghan Smith: Heartbroken — Canadian singer-songwriter Meaghan Smith blends jazz, folk, pop and even a bit of turntablism into her forthcoming album The Cricket's Orchestra, slated for digital release tomorrow. Grab the MP3 for the first single from the record, Heartbroken, and check out the full-album WMA stream for a special Listening Party opportunity this week.

2. [ROCK] Portugal. The Man: Sugar Cinnamon — Burning up the rock charts on TheSixtyOne is this offering from Alaskan indie quartet Portugal. The Man, embedded below.

3. [ROCK, PUNK] The Gossip: Music for Men (album listening party) — Check out a full stream of punk trio The Gossip's new album on Spinner, featuring the guiding hand of legendary producer Rick Rubin.

4. [POP] Pussycat Dolls: When I Grow Up — High on the Pop charts at Lala this week is this driving and ironic homage to childhood from the Pussycat Dolls; listen below.

When I Grow Up – Pussycat Doll…

5. [ROCK, INDIE] Built to Spill: Hindsight — Jangly guitar riffs and an almost surf-country vibe permeate this track from the indie rockers, recently reviewed by and streaming at Pitchfork. The track is from the new There Is No Enemy album releasing tomorrow.

6. [ROCK, ALT-COUNTRY] Ryan Adams: Live at Overture Hall — This selection is brought to us by the "Concerts on this Day in History" search filter at The Internet Archive's Live Music Archive. Head over there to download the Madison, WI concert from one year ago today, or stream it from the player below.

7. [POP, ALT-POP] Mitchell Hunter: Someone Else's — Check out this driving alt-pop track streaming below, and head over to Bandcamp to download the track.

8. [ROCK, INDIE ROCK] Grizzly Bear: Two Weeks — Not the official video for this song, it may be one of the few instances where a fan-made video gives the original a run for its money. Check out the amazing CG fan vid version by Gabe Askew below.

Two Weeks – Grizzly Bear from Gabe Askew on Vimeo.

9. [ROCK] Modest Mouse: King Rat — Don't miss this beautifully illustrated and animated video for Modest Mouse's King Rat, directed by the late, great Heath Ledger.

10. [ROCK] Ryan Miller: Longway — Enjoy some twangy, blues and folk-inspired rock on this track (click to stream or right-click to download) from the singer-songwriter's second solo album. Snag a free download of the entire As the Crow Flies album as well.

Thanks for tuning in! And if you enjoy Free Music Monday, please help us out by sending a link to your music-loving friends. You can always find the latest edition of this feature by hitting up the Free Music Monday tag page.

Also, don't forget you can submit tracks for consideration as well. Drop us a line at barb AT mashable DOT com. If you've already sent us tracks and we haven't featured them yet, please stay tuned for a future Free Music Monday — we're getting a large volume of submissions but we'll do our best to get as many in here as we can. Thanks everyone!

Reviews: Vimeo

Tags: downloads, free music monday, mp3s, music, streams

Doctor: Internet Addiction Could Become a Chronic Childhood Disease

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 05:30 PM PDT

help Back in August we reported that reSTART, a rehab center for Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), was the first facility of its kind to treat the controversial diagnosis in the US.

The disorder has yet to be officially recognized, but specific symptoms have been outlined, and it's a subject matter that continues to undergo evaluation.

Now, new research from the Kaohslung Medical University Hospital in Taiwan shows a correlation in young teens between internet addiction and other psychological disorders. According to CNN and the research report, "ADHD and hostility were linked to Internet addiction in children," while social phobia and depression were linked to internet addiction in girls.

The researchers studied 2,293 Taiwanese students for two years, 10.8% of whom had developed an internet addiction, and scored the children based on their Internet activity. The researchers developed an addiction scale that factored in the "inability to cut back on usage, a preoccupation with online activities, and symptoms of withdrawal such as anxiety, boredom, or irritability after a few days of not going online."

The study also deemed that boys are at higher risk for developing an unhealthy addiction, with the same conclusions holding true for those who participate in online gaming or spend more than 20 hours/week online.

While the results may seem obvious and easy to laugh off, researchers are starting to take internet addiction very seriously. The CNN article states:

"But if at-risk children–such as those identified in the Taiwanese study–are given sufficient time and exposure without careful monitoring, Internet addiction could easily become one of the most chronic childhood diseases in America, says Dr. Dimitri A. Christakis of the Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, in Seattle.

Our culture practically mandates time online, he says, with Wi-Fi connections in coffee shops and BlackBerries and iPhones that allow Internet access almost anywhere. "It would be as if we mandated that everyone drink two beers every day or everyone gamble for an hour every day," says Christakis."

If the research is to be believed, it's easy to see how new cultural norms around online behaviors could be contributing to the problem, since those who are already predisposed to internet addiction are constantly exposed to the web in educational and professional environments. While the study is localized to Taiwan, its findings are likely to trigger even more research and continue to fuel the debate around the legitimacy of internet addiction.

Help image from bartmaguire on Flickr

Reviews: Flickr

Tags: ADHD, Internet addiction

Monitor Your Electricity Usage in Real-Time With Google PowerMeter

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 04:52 PM PDT

Until now, if you wanted to use Google PowerMeter to track your energy usage, you had to hope your electric utility had or was willing to install a smart meter for you. Today, Google announced the availability of a device that puts your energy usage data into your own hands.

The TED 5000 from Energy Inc. is a real-time electricity usage monitor that you can purchase and install yourself, with packages starting around $200. It can run the free Google PowerMeter tool, allowing you to check on your personal home energy data from any device that can access the web.

The TED 5000 is Google's first official device partner for PowerMeter, but the company indicates they plan to work with more providers who make energy monitors to get PowerMeter support built-in. And if you already own a TED 5000, you can perform a firmware upgrade that will allow you to run Google PowerMeter on your existing device as well.

Do you use Google PowerMeter or other tools to better monitor the energy usage in your home? Have you made any interesting discoveries about unexpected sources of electricity usage? Are there other software tools your fellow energy-conscious individuals might want to check out?

Reviews: Google

Tags: electricity, energy, gadgets, Google, google powermeter, web

iPhone Exclusivity Ends in Canada Next Month

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 03:47 PM PDT

iphone_3gs Next month will see Rogers Wireless lose its iPhone exclusivity in Canada, according to the Globe and Mail.

Although neither company has yet made an official announcement, sources say both Bell Canada and Telus Corp will confirm Apple partnerships this week and start offering Apple's phone in November. The news will break the monopoly Rogers has held on the popular smartphone for over a year.

The rollout is expected to occur in time for another major milestone for the two companies in November. Bell and Telus have been working together to build out a major infrastructure addition to their networks: the addition of an HSPA (high-speed packet access) overlay, a 3G technology that's based on the GSM standard. Not expected to be completed until 2010, Bell announced today the upgraded network will be ready to roll out next month ahead of schedule.

Previously the carriers have used the competing CDMA standard, so this new infrastructure will allow them both the support the iPhone 3GS which supports HSPA data connections. It also gives Bell and Telus a leg up in the competition with Rogers, who previously also had a stranglehold on the GSM and HSPA cell technologies in Canada.

Both companies are hoping the costly infrastructure upgrade and the availability of the iPhone on their networks will help shift the balance of power in Canada's mobile market. It should be good news for consumers too, who will have more options for carriers in the marketplace.

If you're a Canadian reader, will you consider picking up the iPhone when it comes to other carriers? If you're not in Canada but otherwise holding out for carrier exclusivities to end, what network do you want the iPhone to come to?

Reviews: iPhone

Tags: apple, apple iphone, Bell Canada, Canada, CDMA, GSM, Mobile 2.0, Telus

Wikipedia Co-Founder: Openness Is Not the Enemy of Quality

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 03:25 PM PDT

Jimmy Wales The Wikipedia model – one of open collaboration by the entire world – has been under fire since it was recently revealed that the site would be adding a new layer of editorial oversight for articles about living individuals. Some even questioned the future of the collaboration model that Wikipedia pioneered. We were curious as well.

We've just heard from someone who was able to address those concerns: Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia. He took the stage today at the Social Ad Summit in New York City to discuss the Wikipedia model and the rules of building community. Here are some of the highlights of his talk:

Wikipedia is NOT about crowdsourcing: Jimmy compared crowdsouring to tricking people into free labor. Instead, he compared Wikipedia to bowling. Yes, bowling. "It's about providing a nice bowling alley for people," he stated as he explained that when people enjoy contributing rather than being tricked in free labor, it's not crowdsouring.

The world is information dense: Culture has become smarter. He compared the plots and jokes of I Love Lucy to Seinfeld and just how much more complicated storylines have become. TV has become a more engaging experience because there are so many more characters and storylines. He then pointed out Lostpedia, a wiki for the TV show Lost which has over 5,700 articles. Yes, that's how complex TV shows have become.

Openness is not the enemy of quality: He directly addressed the issue of having editors check on edits of articles on living people, saying it is still very much an open system while striving for even greater quality. He defended Wikipedia's content, though he admitted that Wikipedia hasn't reached the same quality level of the standard encyclopedia (though Wikipedia kicks their butts in breadth of topics covered).

The future of the world is in the non-English world: Wikipedia is in 175 languages (with over 1000 articles) and can support up to 200 languages currently.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Reviews: Wikipedia

Tags: Jimmy Wales, wikipedia

Harry Potter Fans Unite on Facebook to Save Star's New Movie

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 03:00 PM PDT

You may not be familiar with the name Rupert Grint, but Harry Potter fans the world round know and love him as Harry's best friend and cohort, Ron Weasley, in the popular films.

Those very same fans have turned to Facebook to help the film star's fledgling new movie, Cherrybomb, secure distribution in Britain. On it's own merit, the film wasn't making any cinematic waves, but Grint fans raced to the rescue, creating a petition and spreading the word via Facebook.

According to the Telegraph, the film, which is much more adult than typical Potter fare, "premiered at the Berlin Film Festival but did not get picked up by a distributor."

Cherrybomb's cause was then championed by thousands of Cherrybomb Distribution Campaign petition signers in six different countries and over 3,000 Facebook users, who even went so far as to call the movie's sales agent and ask about the film's release date.

Cherrybomb Distribution Campaign

Producers were sold, so while the specifics have yet to be disclosed, they have publicly confirmed cinematic distribution for Britain, and are in negotiations for an American distributor.

Grint's been quoted as saying:

"I'm delighted by the huge support the film has already received on the official Facebook page and other sites on the web and am so grateful to my fans in particular, who have travelled the world to support the film at festivals and preview screenings."

It's certainly not the first case of social media being used to keep entertainment entities alive. You may also recall that social media was the primary platform for fans looking to save shows like Chuck and My Name is Earl. With this most recent example, it's becoming even more evident that fans who use the social web to support their favorite stars and series can certainly convince the powers at be to breathe life into projects that are otherwise dead.

Reviews: Facebook

Tags: cherrybomb, facebook, rupert grint

Football Tweets: 20 Must-Follow NFL Players on Twitter

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 02:15 PM PDT

football Gail Sideman is a publicist that specializes in generating exposure for sports and authors. She is @PUBLISIDE on Twitter and can be found on Facebook.

Players in the NFL, if not the league, have embraced Twitter moreso than athletes in any other sport. There are over 150 NFL players on Twitter, and most of those players have remained fairly active. Recommending just twenty, must-follow gridiron stars from that talented and tweet-happy pool of NFL players was certainly no easy task.

Most of these guys eat, breath and sleep football, whether it's about their own club, or the university for which they played before advancing to the professional ranks. A select few have passionate interests outside of football which likely bodes well for them when they decide to hang up the cleats. Players that earned a spot on the my own NFL Twitter roster were not only active (they post most every day, or at least every couple of days), but also engage with fans/followers, provide information and insight into their lives on and off the football field, and for the most part, keep their tweets relatively clean.

So, without further ado, here are the NFL players I consider the best on Twitter and why (in alphabetical order):

Nick Barnett

Position: LB

Team: Green Bay Packers

Who: One of Twitter's most popular NFL players with more than 30,000 followers, Barnett often tweets about his activities in and out of Lambeau Field and talks directly with his followers. He told a follower on September 24, "I think it's so cool to be able to interact with the fans.."

Drew Brees

Position: QB

Team: New Orleans Saints

Who: Though early, Drew Brees is in the midst of great season: his team is off to a perfect start, he's tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with nine, and he is one of only two quarterbacks with a QB Rating over 105. Even so, Brees finds time to regularly update his Twitter stream for his more than 24,000 followers about life both on and off the field, and the charitable causes in which he is involved.

Reggie Bush

Position: RB

Team: New Orleans Saints

Who: Bush is one of the most popular players in the NFL and one of the most popular Twitter users, period, with over 400,000 followers. He is very active, converses with followers, talks about football, and often tweets inspirational or religious messages.

Chase Daniel

Position: QB

Team: New Orleans Saints

Who: He might be backup to the backup, but you can really feel the thrill of being a rookie through his tweets, such as this one on being activated on September 26: "Just found out I'm traveling and activated for tomorrow's game! See you in Buffalo Saints fans!" He also has more than 10,000 followers. Not bad for a NFL newbie.

Darnell Dockett

Position: DE

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Who: In reading his posts, you know he values his fans/followers and thanks them often. He responds to tweets and offers fun fan insight when writing his own thoughts. His anger and frustration has come through, too, at times.

Lee Evans

Position: WR

Team: Buffalo Bills

Who: Evans interacts with his followers, posts links to photos and video on his Facebook and personal web pages, and talks about what it's like to be in the NFL playing against your friends.

Jay Feely

Position: K

Team: New York Jets

Who: Yes, there are a few kickers on Twitter! Feely has a descriptive profile that shows all of his interests; he shares game thoughts, retweets (more sharing), posts about general football news and guides followers to his media interviews in print and electronic outlets.

Larry Fitzgerald

Position: WR

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Who: One of the most active and popular NFL players both on the field and virtually, Fitzgerald is very conversational, with much of his Twitter stream taken up by @replies to his fans and followers.

Ryan Grant

Position: RB

Team: Green Bay Packers

Who: Ryan Grant is a super active and engaging Twitter user who gives his followers and inside look into the day-to-day life of NFL players. Grant has a sense of humor and it shows in his tweets, which are often amusing.

Matt Hasselbeck

Position: QB

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Who: Though he's recently caught grief from fans for his long Twitter name (@MatthewHass008), the popular quarterback uses Twitter to engage fans (even doing things like helping fans track down where to buy team merchandise), and often shares links, pictures, and retweets things he links.

Maurice Jones-Drew

Position: RB

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Who: The popular Jaguars running back has a fun profile that reads: "nothing is given to you in life. You have to take what you want and im not talking about stealing….." Jones-Drew uses Twitter to respond to media criticism, but also uses it to explore the challenges faced by an NFL player.

Shawne Merriman

Position: LB

Team: San Diego

Who: With over 70,000 engaged followers, super popular Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman is an engaging Twitter user who often responds to followers, talks about life on and off the field, and has even participated in some tweeted trash talking with other NFL players (or one in particular — the next player on this list)

Chad Ochocinco

Position: WR

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Who: Perhaps the most entertaining player in the NFL, the talented Chad Ochocinco (formerly Chad Johnson) is also one of the most followed with over 200,000 followers. He responds to his fans, whether they compliment or criticize him, gives away prizes to followers, routinely angers the league with his behavior, lobbies fans for roster spots on their fantasy football teams, and trash talks with other players. Ochocinco loves Twitter more than the average person.

Terrell Owens

Position: WR

Team: Buffalo Bills

Who: One of the most well-known athletes in any sport, T.O. has more than 200,000 followers on Twitter and he really does interact with them. As one might suspect, he's not shy about sharing his opinions, either. Owens shares insights into what being a football player and celebrity is like.

Antonio Pierce

Position: LB

Team: New York Giants

Who: Pierce posts fun information about his life as a professional football player with the Giants, leads followers to his interviews, and kindly answers lots of tweets. He also likes to use Twitter as a way to pump up fans prior to game time.

Sidney Rice

Position: WR

Team: Minnesota Vikings

Who: Rice's tweets are about life on the road and often include Twitpics of the places he travels with the team. He talks with his followers, blogs, gives insight into the life of a pro athlete, and clearly bleeds Vikings purple.

Tutan Reyes

Position: G

Team: New York Giants

Who: The Giants' guard is a super Twitter user and clearly a fun guy. He tweets mostly about his life off the field, talking about the clubs and restaurants he goes to, the music he listens to, funny links, and other things he does for fun, as well as interacting with followers. He's also clearly a big sports fan, and tweets about fellow athletes (such as about tennis during the US Open).

Craig Terrill

Position: DT

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Who: Terrill's tweets are genuine, such as his excitement about his daughter's first steps on September 22. Does a great job promoting his music career, converses often with followers, and gives his fans an inside look into the locker room by commenting on observations about his teammates.

Stephen Tulloch

Position: LB

Team: Tennessee Titans

Who: The Titans' dreadful 0-4 start could be the reason more people don't follow Tulloch (he has just more than 1,700 followers), but he is one of the most thoughtful and thankful NFL Twitter users, and provides insight into the game as well as his experiences playing professional football.

Vince Wilfork

Position: DT

Team: New England Patriots

Who: Wilfork's profile bio describes how he wants to be known: "husband, friend, father… greatest things in life." One of the things he does most often on Twitter is promote the Vince Wilfork Foundation, a very worthwhile organization that funds the search for a cure for diabetes.

BONUS: Preist Holmes

Position: RB

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Who: The former Pro-Bowl running back for the Kansas City Chief, Priest Holmes walked away from football in 2007 following a neck injury in order to pursue his new passion, promoting the Priest Holmes Foundation, an organization that focuses on education and enriching children's lives. Holmes interacts with followers regularly, and still talks football. Though retired, Holmes is definitely a must-follow for football fans.

I'm sure you have your own preferences of which NFL players you like to follow and commiserate with on Twitter. Feel free to add to this list and tell us why you like that player's Twitter presence by leaving your thoughts in the comments.

More Twitter follow lists from Mashable:

- Musicians on Twitter: 100+ Artists That Tweet
- Tasty Tweets: 55+ Foodies to Follow on Twitter
- Green Tweets: 75+ Environmentalists to Follow on Twitter
- 15 Must-Follow Comedic Film Actors on Twitter
- 20 Developers to Follow on Twitter

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, skodonnell

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, iStockphoto

Tags: follow, football, List, Lists, must follow, nfl, twitter, Twitter Lists

Adobe Announces Flash Support for iPhone (But Only for Apps)

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 01:32 PM PDT

Earlier today, Adobe revealed Flash Player 10.1 for smartphones, the company's fastest and most efficient form of flash for mobile phones yet. Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile, webOS, BlackBerry…all of these phones will support Flash Player 10.1 by mid-2010. But the iPhone was nowhere to be found.

The problem: Adobe and Apple have been playing a painful game that has resulted in a lack of Flash support for red-hot smartphone. Apple doesn't seem enthusiastic about adding Flash support, Adobe isn't pushing hard enough. But at the Adobe MAX Conference, the rich Internet application software company announced support for Flash. Sort of.

It's actually a new addition to Adobe Flash Professional CS5. Adobe has added the ability for Flash developers to export their work into iPhone app format, without the need to rebuild the entire app from scratch. You could soon see your favorite Flash games and web apps in the iTunes App Store.

The announcement is a great one for developers who have had to rebuild code to make their apps iPhone-friendly. However, this does nothing to place Flash inside the iPhone Safari browser. Until this happens, we won't be satisfied. Flash is a core component of the web. Hopefully Apple realizes this sometime soon.

Reviews: Safari

Tags: adobe, apple, Flash, iphone

Facebook: Holidays Make People Happy, Death Makes Them Sad

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 01:06 PM PDT

Want to know how the US is feeling on any given day? Facebook is now attempting to tell you, through what it calls the Gross National Happiness Index.

The prototype application analyzes status updates to determine the collective mood of the social network's 300+ million users. Facebook writes in a blog post, "examples of positive or happy words include "happy," "yay" and "awesome," while negative, or unhappy words, include "sad," "doubt" and "tragic."

Not surprisingly, the happiest days are those when people aren't at work (holidays), and the saddest are those when famous people (Heath Ledger and Michael Jackson in Facebook's example) unexpectedly pass away.

Here's the chart stating the obvious:

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the app is quite real-time, so the question "does today suck or is it just me?" might not be answered by the Index. Nonetheless, it's an interesting use of the hordes of data that Facebook has at its fingerprints.

Reviews: Facebook

Tags: facebook

VIDEO: The Simpsons Does a Send-Up of Social Media

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 12:16 PM PDT

twitter homework In Sunday night's episode of The Simpsons, digital technologies, gadgets, and social media played a starring role.

The show opens with Edna Krabappel's 4th grade class using their iPhones and texting incessantly. When she confiscates their beloved devices, the children, led by Bart, plot to spike her coffee in an attempt to get them back.

Their scheming ways go a little too far and Ms. Krabappel ends up getting fired and replaced with a young, studly, and digitally savvy teacher — Zachery Vaughn — who promptly returns their devices and assigns 20 minutes of Twittering for homework.

Everything from Skype to Facebook and blogging get a social media mention in the episode courtesy of the fresh new teacher's digital mentality. There may have even been a Foursquare mention at the 8:48 minute mark.

The Simpsons is always on the cutting edge of integrating social memes into their episodic content, but given the popularity of Twitter and Facebook we can expect even more social media mentions to pop up in popular primetime television shows.

Check out the episode embedded below for yourself and let us know what you think.

Tags: television, the simpsons

Last.fm Radio Station Launches in Four Cities

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 11:59 AM PDT

It's official: Last.fm has jumped from your computer to your car radio.

In September, CBS (the parent company of Last.fm) announced that they were going to launch a new radio station on CBS Radio HD, – "Last.fm Discovers" – powered entirely by the Last.fm weekly charts.

Just a few hours ago, Last.fm Discovers launched in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. The social music experiment has gone to another level.

While CBS was initially sparse on details of what programming would comprise the new station, they've now revealed the core programming of Last.fm Discovers. It includes:

- "Last.fm Recommends with Bryan VanGelder:" A program that plays a popular song on Last.fm followed by two related and recommended songs by the social music service.

- "Last.fm Discovers with Sat Bisla:" The flagship program of the new radio station, it focuses on the Last.fm weekly charts.

- "Shouts:" The station will choose comments left on Last.fm about specific songs, read them aloud, and then play the song the comment is about

This is an experiment only available to HD radio owners in four cities, but if CBS' tests yield fruitful, you could quickly find Last.fm powering your local radio station's playlist.

Tags: cbs, Last.FM, Last.fm Discovers, radio

Smarter Healthcare: How Social Media is Revolutionizing Your Doctor Visits

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 10:38 AM PDT

The Smarter Cities series is supported by IBM. Read more about building a smarter planet on the IBM A Smarter Planet Blog.

stethoscope image I haven't been to the doctor in almost 2 years. It's not that I haven't been sick during the past couple of years, but rather that finding a new doctor (I moved about 18 months ago) and finding the time needed for a doctor visit (including filling out insurance forms, answering medical history questions, and making the appointment) is difficult for a busy person. But in the future, social media and the web might help to make doctor visits more pain-free.

Web-based and social media tools are making it easier to get health information, find doctors, make appointments, keep records, and get support. These tools are revolutionizing the healthcare field and the way people approach the practice of medicine. If you know of any other great sites or web services that are making healthcare smarter, please share them in the comments.

Finding Health Information

One of the most obvious ways that the web and social media are making our lives healthier, is in the proliferation of health information. I can remember getting sick when I was a child and watching my mother haul out a huge thousand-plus page medical encyclopedia to try and figure out what I might have and whether I needed to be taken to a doctor (or what sort of questions to ask when we got there). Today, though, health mega-portals like WebMD, Revolution Health, and Yahoo! Health contain more information than that big book my mom used to own ever could — and it's all searchable and available instantly.

Being able to use the web for self diagnosis is truly revolutionizing the way many of us care for ourselves, and how we approach doctor visits. Other sites, such as rVita, which registers qualified medical practitioners to provide health information, and Hakia Health, which maintains a database of vetted medical information sources, help users to make sure the information they are getting online is accurate, reliable, and medically sound. Another web site, OrganizedWisdom, is something like Wikipedia for health, but every article is written and reviewed by qualified professionals

Locating Good Doctors

Choosing a doctor to visit every time you are ill is an important decision. Because medical care is so personal, you want to find someone you can trust and with whom you have a good rapport. Most people tend to rely on referrals from friends or colleagues when searching out a new doctor, so for those who have recently moved to a new city where they don't know anyone, that can mean going without a doctor for a while or visiting a doctor picked out blindly from impersonal yellow page listings.

Web sites like Vitals and HealthGrades, both of which provide independent doctor ratings based on a variety of data, are making it easier to locate a good doctor by using more information than just their name in the phone book. Other sites, such as FindaDoc and RateMDs.com rely more heavily on a consumer rating model, meaning you can pick a doctor based on the feelings of your peers.

The web is even making appointment setting easier. In addition to providing a database of doctors with consumer reviews, ZocDoc also lets you book an appointment with that doctor straight from the Internet. It currently works in New York City.

Receive Care

Though for most serious conditions you shouldn't rely on the web for diagnosis or care, there are a handful of web sites beginning to offer actual medical treatment from real doctors. American Well, for example, creates software to facilitate online doctor consultations via a webcam that is currently being used by military service members and their families for web-based psychological evaluations, while BreakThrough offers a similar online service for civilian consumers who want to talk to qualified therapists from home by phone, chat, video, or email. UK-based MyChoiceMD.com also offers a completely online doctor consultation service, as well.

For those more interested in self-diagnosis, DoubleCheckMD can help you determine if your symptoms are the result of sickness or a medication you're taking, or if medications are safe to take at the same time. The virtual doctor at FreeMD, meanwhile, will help you to figure out what's wrong and if you need to visit a doctor.

If proven to be safe and accurate, online consultation and self-diagnosis, in addition to being an agoraphobe's dream come true, could potentially save a lot of money by reducing overhead costs associated with running a busy office.

Keeping Better Records

One way in which the web promises to severely reduce healthcare costs, is by digitizing records. Record-keeping accounts for a reportedly huge amount of the costs associated with the modern healthcare system, yet these records are kept mostly using archaic technology that is dire need of modernization. Using so-called Personal Health Record (PHR) systems that would allow consumers to access their health records over the web like a credit score and send them anywhere they authorized (to doctors, emergency care centers, pharmacists, etc.) promises to revolutionize the way we give and receive care.

Though there are certainly major privacy issues to address, PHRs such as Microsoft HealthVault, Google Health, WebMD PHR, and Revolution Health PHR mean millions of dollars in cost-savings and potentially safer transfer of records to those who need to see them (so that we can assure, for example, that a patient is never given a medication they have an allergy to).

For Doctors

Social media and web-based applications are also affecting the lives of doctors for the better. Practice Fusion, which recently received an investment from Salesforce.com, is something like Google Apps for doctors. The company offers a suite of free electronic health records keeping tools that doctors can use to more effectively manage and keep track of the health of their patients in a secure environment. Practice Fusion is used by about 18,000 physicians and practice managers in the US.

Another site, called PharmaSURVEYOR, allows both doctors and patients to keep detailed records of the drugs they are taking to avoid any nasty interactions, and can create "what-if" scenarios for determining the most effective and safest combination of medications for treatment. On the more social side, there is Sermo, a fast-growing social network for medical practitioners, on which doctors come together to share research, exchange observations, and support one another.

Getting Support

Creating and enabling support communities online is one area in which social media is perfectly suited. Online support group sites like PatientsLikeMe and DailyStrength offer online discussion groups for people going through a wide variety of medical treatments, ailments, or conditions. CarePages connects patients by encouraging them to share their stories through blogging and building support circles among friends, family, and peers.

Another support group site, MedHelp, offers a wide variety of personal health applications, such as weight, addiction, blood pressure, and cholesterol trackers. These apps plug into the site's social networking and support forums to give patients ways to track their health and progress while they receive support from others going through the same thing.

Smarter Cities series supported by IBM

The Smarter Cities series is supported by IBM. Read more about building a smarter planet on the IBM A Smarter Planet Blog.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Cimmerian

Reviews: Wikipedia, iStockphoto

Tags: doctors, freemd, google health, health, healthcare, healthgrades, healthvault, Lists, medicine, PatientsLikeMe, practice fusion, revolution health, rvita, Sermo, smarter cities, social media, vitals, webmb, zocdoc

10,000+ Hotmail Accounts Exposed [Alert]

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 10:37 AM PDT

It has now been confirmed that the usernames and passwords of more than 10,000 Hotmail users were posted online last week to a website for sharing code snippets.

According to Neowin, who first reported the breach, "the list details over 10,000 accounts starting from A through to B, suggesting there could be additional lists."

The list has since been removed, and Microsoft is now investigating the situation, which impacts users with @hotmail.com, @live.com, and @msn.com email addresses.

All users of Hotmail are obviously advised to change their passwords, as it's not yet known how many accounts may be compromised. Meanwhile, TheNextWeb reports that the site where the passwords were posted – Pastebin – has been frequently used for sharing stolen account credentials.

Once again, the need for strong passwords and a variety of them across services has been brought to light. More on the Hotmail situation as we get it.

Tags: hotmail, security

Mashable's Weekly Guide to Social Media Events

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 10:36 AM PDT

social_media_events_guide1 It's a brand new week, which means it's time for Mashable's guide to upcoming social media and web events, parties, and conferences. For more upcoming event listings, check out Mashable's Events section.

Is your event not on this list? Contact us at least one month before your event and let's establish a media partnership.

Mashable's Weekly Social Media and Marketing Event Guide is proudly supported by Eventbrite, the Web's Event Marketplace.

October 5, 2009, Minneapolis, MN: The MIMA Summit is the top interactive marketing event in the Midwest, attracting professionals from design, media, content development, product development, publishing, marketing, usability, and experience design. If interactive marketing is part of your job, this is the place to be. Featuring keynote presenters Seth Godin and Jackie Huba. The price is $440.

October 5-8, 2009, New York City: Search Marketing Expo – SMX East content is so compelling, you'll want to implement what you've learned before leaving the conference. Over 50 super-charged sessions on PPC, SEO, local search, search-friendly design, and social media marketing will help you flourish today, tomorrow and in the future. Whether you're new to search or have years of experience, employed at a Fortune 500 company or run your own business or agency, you'll be a more effective, innovative and inspired internet marketer after attending SMX East. For more info visit http://smxeast.com

October 5-8, 2009, Washington, DC: Attend the Advanced Learning Institute's Forum on Social Media for Healthcare: How To Use The Latest Web 2.0 Technologies To Engage Your Community, Improve Quality Of Service, And Build Your Reputation, to learn how to use social media, and leverage the latest interactive Web 2.0 tools and techniques to advance your organizational goals. Hear practical solutions you can apply immediately to help integrate social media strategies and new Web 2.0 technologies into your healthcare communications and marketing programs to engage your community, improve quality of service, and build your reputation from: CDC, Humana, Valley Medical Center Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Wyeth, Aurora Health Care, Bon Secours Health System, Brooks Health System, Hospital Social Network List, University of Maryland Medical System, Cooperative Of American Physicians, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, Ohio State University Medical Center, and more. Mention Mashable when registering to save $200.

October 5-8, 2009, Ottawa, Canada: For 16 years, GTEC is recognized as Canada's most significant forum on the use of technology to improve government services and operations. The event features an annual Distinction Awards program and gala, a comprehensive Professional Development Forum, and the GTEC Exhibition. The conference program and trade show are attended annually by an estimated 7,000 professionals. $100 off for Mashable readers can be had using discount code MASHUP09.

October 6, 2009, Los Angeles, CA: The Workshop is a hands-on event that will allow entrepreneurs to drill down on the key issues we face when laying the foundation to build and fund their company. The Workshop is your chance to get your hands on actual cap charts and term sheets and sit side-by-side with serial entrepreneurs, VCs and startup lawyers to better understand how to avoid funding pitfalls and gain valuable insight to set your startup up for funding success. Mentors include: Dave McClure (Founders Fund), Dan Gould (Fox Interactive), Frank Addante (Rubicon Project), John Suh (Legal Zoom), William Quigley (Clearstone Ventures) and more. Mention MASHABLE as how you heard about The Workshop and receive $20 off your ticket.

October 6, 2009, Mountain View, CA: The Juice Pitcher is shaping up to be the hottest new networking event in the Valley. The exclusive evening gathering is being hosted by Vator.tv and TheFunded and will showcase 10 startups, chosen by their peers through votes on the Vator competition platform. Get your favorite companies to join the Juice Pitcher Competition, and don't forget to vote! You can make a difference, unlike other events whereby a small group of judges determine which companies get on stage. In addition, Aaron Patzer, CEO of Mint.com, will speak about how he built a $170 MM company in just three years, and Munjal Shah, CEO of Like.com, will talk about the best practices and steps to earning revenue. Click here to buy your tickets and see the agenda.

October 7-8, 2009, Boston, MA: The Inbound Marketing Summit is where the online marketing community gathers to solve today's marketing and business communications challenges. This fast-paced and information-packed event is your check-up on your existing business communications strategies, and your prescription for the coming months. The Inbound Marketing Summit is organized by thought-leaders Chris Brogan and Justin Levy of New Marketing Labs. This event brings together experts in the field of new media marketing to share the latest strategies, tools, and best practices to utilize new marketing methods to grow your business. Speakers include: Gary Vaynerchuk, Chris Brogan, Jason Falls, Brian Solis, Tim Street and many more. Use the code MASH200 to get $200 off!

October 8-9, 2009, Orlando, FL: Attend the first Latinos In Social Media 'Heritage Tour' featuring Chris Brogan. This two-day event will provide a networking opportunity and conference presentation, bringing together the leading minds and innovators in social media. All are welcome to learn, understand and support Latinos in the current dynamic social media environment. With 21 million Latino internet users by 2010, Latinos are adopting social media as their primary source of communication, news and entertainment faster than any other group. Their buying power is projected to reach $1.3 Trillion by 2013. Use code: latism09 to save 15%.

October 9, Fort Myers, FL: At PR University (PRU)– High Tech, High Touch national experts and local professionals will examine the fusion of traditional and new media, public relations strategies and ethics in the changing communications industry. Speakers Include: public relations and social media guru, Brian Solis, of Futureworks, Silicon Valley, Calif., Michael Goldberg, of Zimmerman Advertising –one of the country's leading advertising agencies, and many more local industry experts. Don't miss this great opportunity hosted by Southwest Florida FPRA! Registration deadline: Oct. 2. Mashable Reader Special: Register for $80 with promotional code PRUVIP09. Code must be used with registration.

October 9-11, 2009, Atlanta, GA: In its inaugural year, BLOGALICIOUS 2009 will provide women bloggers of color an amazing opportunity to come together to celebrate their diversity and their love for blogging. If you're interested in meeting, learning about, and interacting with women bloggers of color, this conference is for you. In addition to igniting a sense of unity within our community, BLOGALICIOUS 2009 will educate marketers on the importance of our demographic in today's marketplace, all while allowing bloggers to network and achieve the ultimate success for their blogs. It's an event not to be missed!

October 10, 2009, Detroit, MI: Brand Camp University – Personal Branding 2.0 Conference is an interactive event that brings together the best and brightest minds in communications, marketing, brand development and business management to explore how social media has revolutionized the way individuals and companies position their brands online. Hosted at Lawrence Technological University, the conference is designed for marketers, business professionals, students, job seekers and the general public. Speakers include: Mitch Joel, Rohit Bhargava, Scott Monty, Valeria Maltoni, Hajj Flemings, April Holmes, Ken Brown and Robert (Bob) Fish. Use the discount code Mash to receive 15% discount on general admission.

October 10-11, 2009, Pittsburgh, PA: PodCamp Pittsburgh 4 is a FREE community UnConference, run by and for people who create, enjoy, or are interested in learning more about social media. Notable speakers this year include Tom Guarriello, Walt Ribeiro, Amani Channel and Mashable contributor Natasha Wescoat. Sponsors include Blip.tv and many local Pittsburgh organizations. The schedule of events will include panels and sessions dedicated to an open dialogue of what is going on in social media and where it is headed. PodCamp Pittsburgh 4 offers VIP attendance and sponsor packages, check out the website for more info!

October 13-14, 2009, London, UK: a4uexpo London is Europe's largest Affiliate Marketing Conference and Exhibition. The two-day event will feature top industry experts from across the UK & international Online Marketing sector, as well as a range of specific Workshop sessions, which together provide delegates with a professional environment in which to hear about & debate the key issues currently facing the £3bn channel. The accompanying Exhibition will feature a specially-selected group of UK & European exhibitors, whilst there will also be Networking Parties after each day's formal program. Mashable users can save 10% by using code Mash09.

October 13-14, 2009, Johannesburg, South Africa: Mobile Web Africa is an event designed to significantly contribute to the next stage of development of the Africa mobile ecosystem. Topics include operator strategies, monetizing mobile web and apps, creating the next generation of entrepreneurs as well as the mobile web and applications for development. Contact All Amber (comms@allamber.co.uk) for information on the SUBSIDISED TICKETS available for Developers and Start-Ups or to receive your ZAR1000 DISCOUNT (please mention MASHABLE in the title of your email!).

October 15, 2009, Everywhere: Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Tens of thousands of bloggers will participate by posting on this year's topic: climate change. Given the urgency of the issue of climate change and the upcoming international climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December, the blogosphere has the unique opportunity to mobilize millions of people around expressing support for finding a sustainable solution to the climate crisis.

October 15-16, 2009, Houston, TX: The Schipul Web Marketing Conference is a two day interactive conference hosted at the Houston Zoo designed to change the way you think about web marketing. SchipulCon Topics include everything from Public Relations & Social Media best practices, understanding your SEM & Site Analytics Using Google, and ways to boost your business in a recession. We even have a track built just for Non-Profits! Contact Maggie (maggie at schipul dot com) for information on how to get your ticket at a special Mashable price.

October 15-16, 2009, New York City: The Social Media Seminars will explore innovative strategies of Fortune 500 companies and other early adopters and provide practical guidance on tools and technologies to help you develop, implement, refine and measure outcomes of social media strategies. Day one will be in a roundtable format where you'll hear from market leaders including: American Express OPEN Forum, IBM Corporation and Symantec. Clara Shih, author of The Facebook Era (Prentice Hall 2009) will share insights from her book which is used as a text at The Harvard Business School. Day two will provide a hands on working session, where experiential learning will help you figure out the best social media strategies and tactics for your own business. Use Code CL1 for $300 off.

October 15-17, 2009, Las Vegas, NV: Blog World Expo is the first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of new media including: Blogging, Podcasting, Social Media, Online Video, Music, TV, Radio, Gaming, Entertainment and Communities. In addition to the only industry-wide new media industry exhibition, BlogWorld & New Media Expo features the largest new media conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business. Get 20% off by using code MASH20.

October 20-21, 2009, New York City: Following the success of mediabistro's UGCX in San Jose last February, the fall 2009 conference will uncover the best places to target and maximize content, optimize customer data, and generate revenue as the big shift in media continues to take shape. Learn the best ways to incorporate the customer into your business plan to positively affect bottom line revenue. Discover how to aggregate, analyze, and organize data to provide a better brand experience to customers and partners. And learn how businesses and individuals can harness and take advantage of the powerful voice of the customer. Register with promo code UGCMASH and save 20%!

October 20-22, 2009, London, England: For the fourth year running, Mobile Web and Apps, incorporating an exclusive focus day on Mobile Social Networking, will provide you with all that you need to understand, improve and profit from this seismic shift in our industry. Featuring senior representatives with a combined user base of over half a billion and a combined turnover running into $billions, our speakers really are those that profit from and drive forward the mobile web industry. For your exclusive 10% discount off the registration fee, please quote VIP code I087N/MASH.

October 21, 2009, Madrid: Social Media in Healthcare & Wellness will address how online conversations are changing the way those in the healthcare markets communicate. Brands positioned in this sector need to be open and willing to listen to stakeholders (healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers), and join in the discussion. Those stakeholders are no longer passive; they want to share and express their opinions about brands and have been empowered by social media tools, such as blogs, social networks, video & audio sharing, and microblogging. Attendees will also discuss how to tap into the "wisdom of crowds" to solve problems. The conference is exclusively targeted to senior marketing professionals in the healthcare sector: pharmaceutical , nutraceutical, health appliances, etc., and registration is free.

October 21, 2009, Trenton, NJ: Have you been playing around with social media tools to promote your business without much success? Are you responsible for building a comprehensive, customized social media action plan for your business, but can't hire your own PR firm to tackle the task? You need a PLAN! Attend this fast-paced, hands-on training seminar targeted to the specific needs of small businesses to kick start your social media strategy. Our seminars are designed and taught by talented professionals with over 12 years experience in all aspects of new media and strategy management. Use event code mashable to save on early and standard registration pricing.

October 21, 2009, Rutherford, NJ: The Social Media/Networking for Business workshop is designed to give you more than a basic understanding of what you need to do to make your business grow on the internet thus producing more clients and business. The workshop is interactive, hands-on and engaging. I cater to the newbie and welcome unaware, nervous business owners and marketers. You'll be able to download a copy of the notes and slides after the workshop. Use code mashable to save $25!!!

October 21-22, 2009, Chicago, IL: Fire up your digital marketing strategy at MarketingProfs' Digital Marketing Mixer! This unique event brings it all together—a year's worth of training, updates, networking and jamming—to supercharge your digital marketing strategy in just two short days. Get 1-on-1 access to the best and brightest digital stars! Plus, our loyal attendees say our events are insanely fun and we have the best Freebies in the biz! Register with code MASH to save $200!

October 22, 2009, Washington DC: Attend the only event entirely focused on Twitter for business. Meet leading social media experts, marketers, customer service and technology executives using micro-blogging to build communities, provide customer service, change brand perceptions and increase revenue. Discover best practices and lessons learned during case studies, panel discussions and keynotes from the companies, government agencies and non-profits using Twitter as a business tool. For speaker and registration details, go to twtrcon.com. Follow @TWTRCON for the latest updates.

October 22, 2009, London, UK: The Cloud Computing World Forum is the perfect event for professionals to learn and discuss the future development and integration of cloud services. This one day conference will provide a focused platform for the global cloud computing industry. Hear from leading case studies on how they have integrated cloud computing into their working practices, learn from the key players offering services in the cloud and network with likeminded individuals with an interest in cloud computing. 25% discount available to all Mashable subscribers – please call +44 (0) 845 519 1230 for more information or email mark@pointzeromedia.com for more information.

October 23, 2009, Durham, NC: The Social Media Business Forum will feature national and local speakers from marketing companies, technology companies, and social networks discussing ways in which business communications have changed due to social media. Early bird registration is available for $125 until September 18, 2009. After that date registration costs $250. Use code Mashable to get 15% off.

October 26-27, Philadelphia, PA: Join hundreds of fellow healthcare marketing and communication professionals at e-Patient Connections 2009. It's the one conference you need to attend to make sense of the radical changes taking place in health marketing, including social media marketing, web conversations, and mobile health. For the first time in history, more people are searching the Internet for health information than asking doctors. Discover new ways to connect, educate, and engage these digital health consumers. Use the code MASH10 to receive 10% off conference registration.

October 27, 2009, San Francisco, CA: SNAP Summit introduces their 4th installment, the first event to focus on failure: FailCon! Why would you want to hear this? They're bringing together the biggest players in the Web 2.0 industry to talk about the failures they've had, what went wrong, how they got over it, and what they learned. These are mistakes we all will make as entrepreneurs, missteps we'll all see. And this is the best way to be prepared. This conference is also the cheapest of the October season, and looks to be informative and fun. Pick up 15% off tickets at http://snapsummit4.eventbrite.com/?discount=Mashable15

October 27-28, 2009, Los Angeles, CA: At the 140 Characters Conference, we explore "The State of NOW." The State of NOW looks at the effects of the real-time Internet on business. The core focus started by looking at the effects of twitter as a platform and what that meant to: Celebrity, The Media, Advertising and Politics. Over time the scope expanded to look at the effects of twitter on topics including: Sports, Music, Education, Public Safety. Public diplomacy and more. Given the location of #140conf:LA, this event will have a special focus on the use of twitter in the Entertainment Industry.

October 27-28, 2009, Chicago, IL: Forrester's Consumer Forum 2009 connects you with analysts, peers, and industry leaders who will help you create profitable relationships by meeting the needs of three-dimensional consumers — consumers who weave in and out of channels, bringing their interests, needs and past experiences along with them. Keynote speakers include CMOs and marketing VPs from Best Buy, Pizza Hut, Microsoft, InterContinental Hotels Group, and more. Call 888-343-6786 and save $405 with VIP code CF9MSH! Discount applies to new registrations only and cannot be combined with other offers.

October 28-29, Kyiv, Ukraine: Investor Day Central & Eastern Europe 2009 aims to bring together innovative start-ups from all over CEE, and worldwide investors, and lay the solid ground for their further collaboration. The 2 day event consists of Expo day and of a conference day. Participation for investors is free. Terms and conditions for startups participation in Expo day includes basic registration fee (EUR 50,-) paid by every participating startup (that allows startup to be included into conference's catalogue) and general participation fee (EUR 500,-) for selected startups that will participate in expo and in a contest. A half of the collected registration fees together with goodwill donations will form a Prize Fund for the winners of a contest. Participation in expo allows 2 companies' representatives to participate both expo and conference days. Use code MSH-45K2D46TE9 to get 10% discount on registration as a startup.

October 28-30, 2009, Amsterdam: The Emerging Communications (eComm) Conference & Awards was created to promote and accelerate communications innovation across Telecom, Mobile & Internet Communications. Telecom is in the process of being re-written. You either stand on the side to be written into the past or instead join with the growing community to write the future. Opportunities to profit from the radical restructuring and in accelerating the development of how humanity connects, communicates and collaborates have never been so great. Use the code Mashable when registering to save 20% (can only be applied for new registrations).

October 29, 2009, New Orleans, LA: TribeCon is a one day conference focused on harnessing the passion of your communities to achieve meaningful offline goals. We have a diverse lineup of panelists spanning industry and endeavor with a keynote by Tara Hunt, author of "The Whuffie Factor." Meet successful start-ups who have built businesses by leveraging authentic community support. Connect with the people behind cutting edge technologies like enhanced reality. Learn to create a community of brand advocates and create an authentic message that inspires people to care about your mission. Use the discount code MASHABLE for a 25% discount.

November 3, 2009, New York City: The Winning with Social Media: Industry Leader Forum is an interactive event to help advertisers, agencies, media and research companies determine how to use social media and digital behavior for their listening strategies. Learn from Chris Brogan, one of social media's most influential forces, Google, IBM, ESPN, Crispin Porter + Bogusky and more. Network with Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, Novartis, Colgate-Palmolive, Fidelity Investments, Procter & Gamble and other industry leaders. Mashable readers can use promo code ILFMASH to save $100.

November 3-4,2009, San Francisco, CA: Come to PayPal X Innovate 2009, PayPal's first dedicated developer conference. Here you'll have the absolute inside track on how to capitalize on all of PayPal's products. Learn from hands on tutorials about PayPal APIs and listen to keynote from industry luminaries including Tim O'Reilly and see showcase of cool developers. Get 50% off if you register with code MASH or join us at $50 if you are a student.

November 4-5, 2009, Raleigh, NC: Internet Summit 09 will feature over 75 speakers including major internet brands such as Twitter, Pandora, Google, Salesforce.com, Digg, Technorati, CBS Interactive, Huffington Post, Blogger, Meebo and more. Join over 1200 entrepreneurs, senior marketers and executives in the conversation about the future of the industry and how to capitalize on the shifting dynamics of the internet and tap into its unlimited business potential. Use registration code MASH for 20% off.

November 5, 2009, Chicago, IL: Join us for a Gary Vaynerchuk Crush It Bash! We'll enjoy amazing food and wine and hear Gary talk about his latest book, Crush It. Every attendee will take home a brand new copy of Gary's book, and we'll have fantastic prize giveaways. Mashable readers, use the code MASHABLE to get your ticket for only $30, a savings of $9 off the public pricing. Get your tickets now, as this event is anticipated to sell out quickly.

November 5-6, 2009, Berlin, Germany: The European Venture Market is a platform for investors, service providers and entrepreneurs to meet, network and further develop business ideas and projects, in a relaxed yet professional atmosphere. During the event the participating entrepreneurs will be able to pitch their business projects for around 5 minutes to a crowd of interested investors and service providers. The two conference days will also feature keynote speeches, specific industry presentations, coffee and lunch breaks, a large dinner reception on the Thursday night and, finally, a themed club party on the Friday night. Get 10% off by using code evm_mashable

November 5-6, 2009, Los Angeles, CA: The Independent Game Conference West is a 2 day, 5 track conference for game developers in the tradition of the devcons of old where speakers are accessible and connections are key. Now in its 4th year, the IGC series is coming to the West coast with tracks on Programming, Design, iPhone/Mobile, Social Gaming, and Business/Production, with a variety of sessions that will benefit game companies of all sizes. With a day one keynote by Sanrio Digital VP Robert Ferrari, and sessions by leading developers and industry experts from around the industry, attendees will get practical tips and tactics that they can use immediately in their development and company. In addition, any attendee can sign up to bring their game or technology to IGC's GAME DEMO NIGHT, which has lead 25% of participants in 2007-2008 to financial deals directly related to their participation. Use code MASHABLE to get 20% off 1 or 2 day advance regular admission.

November 6-8, 2009, Savannah, GA: Geekend 2009 is an interactive conference that brings together geeks from all walks of life for three days of cutting edge speakers, expert panels, afterparties, networking and mash-up opportunities. Speaker highlights include Major Nelson of Xbox Live, renowned designer David Carson, Eric Snowden of Atlantic Records, and Matias Corea of Behance, among many others. Get your geek on and enter Mashable for $30 off the full price weekend badge.

November 7, 2009, Douala, Cameroon: BarCamp Cameroon brings together technologists and experts for the Cameroon first Barcamp. The theme for this edition is digital dreams, with some big names on the guest list and an open agenda that any attendee can contribute to, the organizers aim for tough talking and innovative thinking . Attendance is free; all you need to bring is a willingness to share your ideas and opinions.

November 9-10, 2009, Santa Clara, CA: At Social Media World Forum California, learn from social networks, brands, advertisers and analysts. Hear from leading social networks on their strategy, revenue models and how they are approaching the future. Worldwide case studies from global brands and corporations on their use of social media. Examine the current market conditions, future forecasts and predictions from leading analysts. Mention you are a Mashable reader to receive 15% discount.

November 10-13, 2009, Las Vegas, NV: PubCon is a multi-track educational conference hosted by SearchEngineWorld & WebmasterWorld. PubCon events are for thought leaders and professionals in search engine and Internet marketing and advertising to gather and to share best practices in the design, development, promotion and marketing of their Internet businesses and brands. Mashable readers can take off a 15% discount with code ma-77815.

November 12, 2009, Phoenix, AZ: If you think there isn't a vibrant entrepreneurial community in Phoenix, guess again. We bring Silicon Valley to Phoenix to share best practices. The theme for this year's conference is "Bright Spots in the Recession: four entrepreneurial growth segments you need to know about" and showcases Digital Media Entrepreneurship, Health 2.0, Cloud Computing, and Sustainability.

November 12, 2009, New York City: This conference will showcase the best case studies that demonstrate how leading brands use social communications to achieve tangible business goals. Case Studies will be presented by McDonald's, JetBlue, Intuit, Allstate Insurance, Roger Smith Hotel & more. 2 interactive roundtable sessions will follow the case studies. Register at bdionline.com/socialconsumer.html using promo code MASH for a discounted rate of $155.

November 12-13, 2009, San Francisco, CA: The CMO Club is bringing together the preeminent CMOs in business today for the CMO Thought Leadership Summit, a two day event that will be a platform for the world's best CMO conversations. A coterie of the country's leading Chief Marketing Officers have been assembled to lead workshops at the event, including Michael Mendenhall of HP, Porter Gale of Virgin America, Guy Kawasaki of Garage Technology Ventures, Scott Lutz of SAP, Susan Linton Smith of Red Robin Restaurants, Evan Greene of The Recording Academy (Grammys), Joe Rooney of Cox Communications, Randall Beard of UBS, Terri Graham of Jack in the Box, and more. 75-100 CMOs expected to address industry issues, share ideas, and help each other be better CMOs. Heads of marketing interested in attending the Summit visit thecmoclubsummit.com. Get a $100 discount by using code mashablecmo.

November 14-15, Tempe, AZ: Explore the world of new and relevant media at PodCamp AZ, the southwest's premier destination for bloggers, podcasters, social media butterflies, photographers, video pros and more! It's a chance to enhance your skills while learning from those in the trenches every day. This is the third year of the event and promises to bring in over 1,000 people hungry to learn — and to share! It's an unconference, so everyone is encouraged to lead a session. The event is always free, and you can't beat the weather in Phoenix in November. So get registered, and we'll see you then!

November 15-17, 2009, Las Vegas, NV: At the Social Media Summit: Social Media & Billionaire Boardroom Experience. Join Peter Shankman (@skydiver) and Nick Nanton (@nicknanton), along with Tony Hsieh (@zappos), David Bullock (@davidbullock) and Andrew Lock (@andrewlock) for this unique event that will take you inside the minds of entrepreneurs who have built million dollar businesses on the back of social media. As a bonus, go inside Zappos corporate headquarters to learn why Zappos has become such a phenomenon (recently sold for nearly a BILLION dollars to Amazon.com) and pick the brain of CEO, Tony Hsieh to learn how he has used social media to create a culture that led to a $900 million sale. Register today at www.TheSummitOfTheYear.com and save $250 using code mashable.

November 16-19, 2009, New York City: Web 2.0 Expo New York brings together the designers, developers, entrepreneurs, VCs, marketing professionals, product managers, and business strategists – from start-ups to enterprises – that are building the next-generation web. Along with a dynamic Expo Hall and plenty of networking opportunities, ten main topic areas discussing a spectrum of Web 2.0 topics from business strategy to web design, user experience, developer hacks, community building, security, mobile, web ops, user-generated content, and more. Register today and save 25% (code: webny09bd5) or get a free Expo Pass (code: webny09bde) at web2expo.com/ny.

November 18, 2009, London, UK: The 4th Annual GREEN AWARDS™ for Excellence In Communicating Sustainability Calls for Entries. Now in its 4th Year the GREEN AWARDS™ are firmly fixed on the global eco calendar as the leading industry awards for sustainability in marketing and communications. The GREEN AWARDS™ recognises excellence in 16 categories in 2009 from Best Green International Campaign open to global entrants to Best Green Campaigner for individuals and small groups championing sustainability. The winner will be announced at a reception in London on 18th November with guest speaker Jonathon Porritt CBE. The deadline for GREEN AWARDSTM 2009 entries is 18th September. For further details on categories and submission guidelines visit greenawards.co.uk.

November 19, 2009, Mountain View, CA: Featuring 30 of the most cutting edge mobile startups from around the globe, Under the Radar will get you dialed in to what the 2010 mobile innovation marketplace will look like. It's a must-attend event for dealmakers from global carriers, brands, media companies, and handset manufacturers responsible for helping their companies leverage new mobile technology and innovation in the fast-evolving digital landscape. Book by October 2, 2009, and register at the Early Bird Rate.

November 20, 2009, New York City: Join a select number of PR, marketing and communications professionals at PR Camp™ New York for a full day of highly interactive discussions on social media — complete with marshmallows and a virtual campfire. It will explore how to market, measure and manage the opportunities and challenges that social media presents. Our "unconference" format avoids panels or PowerPoint demonstrations. Top agency and brand executives serve as moderators to help participants find solutions to their social media questions. Mashable readers get a ten percent discount with promo code MASHPRCAMPNYC.

November 23-25, 2009, Berlin, Germany: IIR's Mobile 2.0 – Content & Services Conference provides a dynamic networking and information-sharing business environment, bringing together key stakeholders within the mobile web 2.0 value chain to discuss current trends and revenue generation possibilities, successful business strategies and the future opportunities that exist within this space. Receive a 10% discount by quoting I08LFMASH when registering. Significant price cuts also available to Operators, online communities, and content providers

December 1-3, 2009, Boston, MA: The 6th Annual Gilbane Boston Conference will offer sessions tied to competitive business and productivity issues surrounding a company's content, collaboration & customers. You will learn about content solutions that are ready to be implemented today! The conference tracks have been organized around the four major areas of how enterprises use web and content technologies and where they are most likely to invest, including: Web Business & Engagement, Managing Collaboration & Social Media: Internal & External, Enterprise Content: Searching, Integrating & Publishing, and Content Infrastructure. Session topics focus on managing enterprise social & mobile content; SharePoint & Office 2010; E-government & transparency. Save an additional $200 by using the discount code Mashable.

December 4, 2009, London: At Social PR Forum, learn from global PR companies who have successfully embraced social media. Understand what products and services you should be using, and how to use them well. Learn how to seamlessly introduce social media into your way of thinking and into your employees. Mention you are a Mashable reader to receive 15% discount.

December 6-9, 2009, Dubai, UAE: Are you harnessing the power of social media marketing? Do you know what it is and how to use it effectively to market your product and increase ROI? Join international social gurus and hear from regional corporations, who are already using social media marketing successfully in December at this two day event. Through practical examples and case studies detailing successful campaigns and their results you'll leave with the tools you need to use social media marketing to grow your business. Mashable users can save 10% by using code Mash09.

December 7, 2009, San Francisco, CA: The SF MusicTech Summit brings together more than 600 of the best and brightest developers in the Music/Technology space, along with the musicians, entrepreneurial business people, press, investors, service providers, and organizations who work with them at this exciting convergence of culture and commerce. We'll discuss the evolving music/business/technology ecosystem in a proactive environment, conducive to deal making, and connect with friends and business partners old and new. Get your Mashable 15% Discount tickets at http://sfmts5.eventbrite.com/?discount=15Mashable

December 9, 2009, San Francisco, CA: Tech professionals by day, rockers by night, they'll pick up their instruments and venture onto the big stage to let their alter egos shine… for a good cause and the love of music. Silicon Valley Rocks 2009 will bring together the Valley's tech community – from VCs and entrepreneurs to bloggers and software developers – to raise money for Music in Schools Today (MuST), a Bay Area non-profit that seeks to rescue music programs from budget cuts. The second annual showcase will once again feature Silicon Valley bands and original rockers who will entertain and amuse your entire social graph. Mashable readers can get a special discounted ticket rate by clicking here.

January 20-22, 2010, Washington DC: Social Media for Defense and Government is a unique forum on the embracement, implementation and utilization of new media platforms that meet the Governments goals of transparency that allow for more efficient internal and external communication. As the public develops their use of online tools for their personal, career and business development goals, DoD & Gov't have made it their mission to reach the public via these new forms of media. The forum will provide insight into technologies including Twitter and Facebook as well as advanced elements such as the Governments general information page, blogs, and closed social media suite. Mashable readers get an exclusive 20% discount off the standard pricing with special code IUS_MASH_SMTM_#1 when registering!

January 23, 2010, Virginia Beach, VA: Social Media @ The Beach is a place for anyone looking to "get their feet wet" and explore social media. It's an interactive conference with the laid-back atmosphere of a meet-up. The January event will focus on two main goals: boosting personal social networking skills and developing professional social media marketing strategies. The event is open to everyone, drawing community members of all ages, backgrounds and levels of social media experience. Enter mashable for the discount code to receive 15% off ticket price.

January 27-28, 2010, Amsterdam, Netherlands: Enterprise Social 2.0: RIP or ROI? This senior executive event will bring together decision makers from the top Fortune companies to discuss innovative strategies on how to maximize business performance through social media engagement. The event will include keynote speeches, best-practice presentations as well as interactive discussion sessions. Use promo-code MASH14 for a €100 (Euros) discount for the 2 day conference registration fee (maybe also be applied on top of the Early Bird offer valid until October 1st).

March 4-5, 2010, Chicago, IL: At SOHO's 2-Day, "The Co-Alignment of the Corporate and Personal Brand," a Strategy Framework, develop your exclusive copy of "The Draft," SOHO's 16-page social communications policy workbook for businesses and corporations. The focus in 2010 is co-aligning the corporate brand with internal and external communications. SOHO brings to you presentations, case studies and Town Hall meetings with Chris Brogan and Dave Armano, and other experienced practitioners. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.Sohobiztube.com. Use discount code MashableChi for a 20% discount on a 2-day "The Draft" ticket.

March 30-April 1, 2010, San Jose, CA: We're looking for people pushing the boundaries of location-enabled technology. If you are working on cutting-edge mobile projects, rich data, analysis tools, or augmented reality we want to hear from you. Geo programmers, researchers, early stage startups, garage hackers, social media mavens, CTOs, entrepreneurs, and product developers are invited to submit proposals to speak at Where 2.0. Proposals are due by October 13, 2009; registration opens December 2009. Be part of the Where 2.0 2010 program, submit your proposal now: http://en.oreilly.com/where2010/public/cfp/78

May 4-5, 2010, New York City: The Internet Show is a series of seminars and a showcase. It is the only event that brings together Big, Medium and Small business, all eager to find new ways of doing internet business. It is a business, not a technology, show. The Internet Show is a place where innovation is showcased, solutions are found and learning is done. Identify and evaluate new technologies, Understand new business methods, Learn to deliver ROI. Create new business and revenue streams. Learn how to generate cost savings. Learn how to risk and project manage. Purchase the latest solutions. There will be 72 seminars running over the two days of the show, themed around the following: Digital advertising and marketing; Web 2.0 and social networking; e-commerce and payments; Content management and streaming; Hosting and infrastructure. Find out more and register to attend for FREE at theinternetshows.com/2010/ny.

May 14-15, 2010, Milwaukee, WI: At SOHO's 2-Day, "The Co-Alignment of the Corporate and Personal Brand," a Strategy Framework, develop your exclusive copy of "The Draft," SOHO's 16-page social communications policy workbook for businesses and corporations. The focus in 2010 is co-aligning the corporate brand with internal and external communications. SOHO brings to you presentations, case studies and Town Hall meetings with Chris Brogan and Dave Armano, and other experienced practitioners. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.Sohobiztube.com. Use discount code MashableMke for a 20% discount on a 2-day "The Draft" ticket.

The Mashable Weekly Social Media and Marketing Event Guide is proudly supported by Eventbrite, the Web's Event Marketplace.

Eventbrite is an online events marketplace where tens of thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations of all sizes manage, promote and sell tickets to their events. Make your event a success on Eventbrite.

Reviews: BLIP, Digg, Facebook, Google, Mashable, Meebo, Mint, Pandora, Twitter, blogger

Tags: conferences, Events, mashable

Google Chrome Gets Themes from Famous Artists and Designers

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 10:36 AM PDT

chrome-artists Just over a year old, the Google Chrome web browser is quickly evolving and turning into a lean, mean potentially IE-killing machine.

Last month, Google released Chrome V3 and with it, the official debut of Chrome Themes. Chrome Themes offer an alternative look to your Chrome browser, very similar to the themes available in iGoogle, Gmail, and Google Sites.

Today, the Official Google Blog has pointed out more than 100 new stylish additions by way of Google Chrome Artist Themes.

Well known artists and designers like Jonathan Adler, Kate Spade, Dolce & Gabbana, Kid Robot, Vivienne Westwood and Oscar de la Renta have all lent their style to Google Chrome.

You can see the designs in this sound-free video flipbook:

As a browser, Google Chrome already stands out from the pack with its different tabs-on-top interface, but the themes make it even more unique.

Which theme do you like the best? Do you like it when artists and software collide? Let us know!

Reviews: Chrome, Gmail, Google, Google Chrome

Tags: artist themes, chrome, Google, google chrome

STUDY: Mac Users Have Multiple Machines (and Lots of Money)

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 10:16 AM PDT

mac-pc All signs seem to indicate that an update to Apple's iMac, MacBook and Mac mini lineups is just around the corner. The new models will have an even larger potential audience, according to a study put out by the market research firm NPD.

According to the group's 2008 Household Penetration Study, 12 percent of US computer-owning households now own a Mac, up from 9 percent in 2008. Once again, it looks like Apple bucked that whole recession thing.

NPD's study also shows 85% of all Mac owners also have a Windows PC. This is important to keep in mind, because it looks like as Mac marketshare grows, the need for non-Apple products doesn't necessarily decrease.

Some other interesting stats about Mac owners vs. PC owners:

66% of Apple computer households have three or more computers. For Windows households, only 29% have three or more computers.

Apple owners are more likely to have a notebook — 72% of Mac households have a notebook, while only 50% of PC households go portable.

The average Apple household has 48 consumer electronics devices, while the average computer household has about 24.

36% of total computer households have an iPod, but 63% of Apple households have one.

Directly from the report:

"While Apple owners tend to own more computers and more electronics devices, there is also a high correlation among Apple owners and more affluent consumer households," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis. "Thirty-six percent of Apple computer owners reported household incomes greater than $100,000, compared to 21 percent of all consumers. "With a higher household income, though, it's not a surprise that those consumers are making more electronics purchases," Baker said

So what does this mean? Well, according to NPD, the buying decisions that Apple owners make tend to be indicators for hot products and adoption trends. I know this data backs up my own household (which is admittedly very heavy on the electronics), but what about yours? Mac users, how many computers and devices do you have? Non-Mac users, what about you?

If you're recently transitioned to a Mac, do you find yourself buying more gadgets and gizmos than before? Let us know!

Tags: apple, mac, macintosh, npd study, pc

Pay With Amazon Coming to Mobile Devices

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:59 AM PDT

mps-sm As the mobile landscape continues to expand, consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable making purchases over the web using their mobile phones. One of the reason's Apple App Store has been so successful is because of the easy, secure 1-click payment system tied into iTunes.

Today, Amazon Payments is hoping to bring that kind of experience to other developers, merchants and potential app stores with the Amazon Mobile Payments Service (MPS).

Amazon MPS lets users use their Amazon.com account and 1-click payment information while inside a mobile application or on a mobile website. Amazon MPS lets users make one-time payments, 1-click purchases, and get refunds or cancel transactions.

Developers have an easy method of processing payments, without having to deal with gathering specific credit card or payment information and users can login to a trusted system with an existing account. For developers interested in integrating Amazon MPS into your apps or sites, you can create an Amazon FPS developer account and check out the resource center.

mps-1

Both Google Checkout and PayPal have offered mobile payment support for quite some time. What sets Amazon's implementation apart is that it can be built into a mobile application — not just a mobile website. For mobile app developers that want to offer either an enhanced buying experience or the ability to do in-app purchases a la the iPhone, this could be a great way to achieve that goal.

What do you think about mobile payment options? Do you buy products or services from your phone? Let us know!

Tags: amazon mobile payments service, amazon mps, amazon payments, mobile payments

FTC to Fine Bloggers up to $11,000 for Not Disclosing Payments

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:46 AM PDT

Bloggers now have up to 11,000 reasons to disclose when they are being paid to review products.

The FTC has updated its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising for the first time since 1980, and among the changes, a requirement that "bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service." Fines for violating the new rule will run up to $11,000 per post.

Some more details from the FTC's announcement:

"The revised Guides also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that "material connections" (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers – connections that consumers would not expect – must be disclosed. These examples address what constitutes an endorsement when the message is conveyed by bloggers or other "word-of-mouth" marketers. The revised Guides specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement."

Beyond straight up pay-per-post systems like Izea, it the new rules would seemingly apply to any situation where something of value changes hands between advertiser and blogger. For example, General Mills and Ford Fiesta bloggers would have to disclose the relationship they have with the advertiser.

Certainly, it seems like this is an update that's time has come. While most well-run social media programs already include appropriate disclosure, there's still no shortage of unscrupulous marketers using deceptive practices to sell products. Now, with the threat of serious fines, those who look to push the boundaries of ethical blogging will be doing so at their own risk.

Image courtesy of Thomas Roche

Tags: blogging, FTC, social media

Facebook Voice Chat App Now Live in Beta

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:29 AM PDT

A few weeks ago, we learned that Facebook was going to get voice chat.

The new feature wasn't going to be powered by Facebook itself though, but rather through Vivox, a well-known voice chat provider for video games and the Second Life virtual world.

Today, Vivox Voice Facebook app has launched in beta. And because we love to play around with things here at Mashable, Adam Ostrow and I took it for a test drive.

The app doesn't work seamlessly, but it isn't terribly difficult to set up either. After installing the Vivox Voice Facebook app, you must install a browser plug-in to integrate voice chat. Once you've done that, voice chat is activated. You can then invite friends that have the app to you voice chat. Inviting is done via a bit.ly link that Vivox sends via FbChat.

The bottom line is this: Vivox's solution works, but it isn't the heralded Facebook video chat that would be integrated directly in Facebook Chat. Until Facebook launches their own solution though, it's a good alternative

Reviews: Facebook, Mashable

Tags: facebook, Facebook Voice, Vivox

Twitter Helps Dilbert Goof Off at Work [Cartoon]

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 07:51 AM PDT

twitter While it might not always be a good idea to connect with your boss on social networks, one advantage of following them on Twitter: it could clue you in to when they're out of the office.

Thus, it's not too surprising that Scott Adams' perennial slacker Dilbert conspires with a co-worker to get their boss on Twitter in Sunday's comic strip.

In yet the latest example of Twitter's mainstreamification, here's Adams' interpretation of the microblogging phenomenon:

Reviews: Twitter

Tags: cartoon, dilbert, twitter

Google Ads Get an iPhone Makeover

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 07:08 AM PDT

Google build its Internet empire not just on the shoulders of its search engine, but also on the cash cow that is its AdSense advertising program. By targeting text ads based on relevancy on millions of websites, Google has become the de-facto leader on online advertising.

Mobile web technology has grown significantly in recent years though, a lot of it due to the iPhone and its sophisticated Safari mobile browser. Mobile ad networks (e.g. AdMob) have seized upon the mobile advertising opportunity.

But now Google is entering the smartphone advertising market with a new AdSense feature, AdSense for Mobile Content.

The program, which Google announced today, allows website owners to create ads specifically optimized for "high-end smartphones" (read: iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre). It involves adding a new JavaScript snippet for adding these new mobile Google ads. The result are lower-latency ads with smaller text and images, perfect for the mobile web browser.

Google realizes that more and more of the web is going mobile, and it isn't about to let any part of the online ad market slip away. The launched a separate mobile ad program last year, but this development makes it even easier to deliver Google ads on smartphones. With targeted and optimized mobile ads, Google's in great position to be a leading mobile ad provider. This could be bad news for AdMob and other mobile advertising startups.

Reviews: Google, Safari, iPhone

Tags: adsense, Google, iphone

Windows Marketplace Goes Live for Windows Mobile 6.5 Phones

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 06:42 AM PDT

windows_marketplace If you have a Windows Mobile 6.5 phone – and the only one you can currently find in stores is AT&T Pure, so you probably have that one – you can already download applications in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

According to Engadget, the Marketplace opened one day ahead of schedule; it allows users to download one of 20,000 Windows Mobile applications directly from their phones. It's nice to see Microsoft hurrying things up a little, especially when you know that over 30 smartphones running on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 should be launched before the end of the year.

In typical Microsoft fashion, the place where you find out more about Windows Marketplace is this link – developer.windowsphone.com/Marketplace.aspx – while www.windowsmarketplace.com refers to the discontinued software delivery platform Windows Marketplace (as opposed to Windows Marketplace for Mobile), and is currently just a reference site linking to Microsoft Store.

[Image credit: Engadget]

Tags: microsoft, Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Windows Mobile 6.5

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Mashable!

Spark of Genius Series Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark

Faster Performance, Improved Integration

Aero is Virtualized. Finally

Move Your Old Windows Machine to Your Mac

Web Faceoff: Overall Results

BONUS: Preist Holmes

More Twitter follow lists from Mashable:

Finding Health Information

Locating Good Doctors

Receive Care

Keeping Better Records

For Doctors

Getting Support

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