The Facebook Phone
TechCrunch reported this week that Facebook is building a phone. Facebook immediately shot back that the story was “not accurate” and that “Facebook is not building a phone.” The situation buzzed for days and Zuckerberg eventually interviewed with TC to clear the air. The Facebook CEO was very adamant that they are not attempting to build their own device and compete in the market, but are looking into deeper integration into existing handsets and mobile operating systems.
Anyone with an Android phone may find this a little odd. Facebook is integrated pretty deep into the Android experience, syncing contacts and the whole nine. Facebook may simply want a better experience as the Facebook app is still lacking. Looking into OS internals may be part of finding a solution.
Google Voice Mobile in the App Store
While many Android users were enjoying the Google Voice service, iPhone users were left in the cold as Apple decided GV wasn’t a good fit for the App store. That all changed this week with two Google Voice applications being added. The first is GV Connect and the most recent is GV Mobile +. Besides iOS users getting cool new functionality, the bigger story is that Apple seems to be softening up a bit on its App Store regulations. via BoyGeniusReport
Facebook Gaming Gets Less Annoying
Facebook has updated their gaming platform to be much more useful to those who don’t play games. Those of us who couldn’t care less about your Farm or your Cafe can finally breathe a sigh of relief as we will no longer see those updates in our feeds. Facebook has decided to show non-gamers occasional gaming updates, just to give a heads up about what your friends are playing instead of a daily deluge of mundane and esoteric stories.
For you game players, here are some other improvements:
- Full stories in News Feed so they won’t miss when a friend shares an action or needs help in a game. The more active a person is in a game, the more prominent the stories will be.
- Smarter bookmarks on the home page that will automatically appear and reorder based on the games they’re playing. They will no longer need to individually bookmark apps, and it will be easier to get to favorite apps.
- A clearer, highlighted number for pending requests or tasks alongside bookmarks.
- Requests in the Games Dashboard, where they can manage all their game activity and discover new games.
4Chan DDoS’s RIAA and MPAA
Following reports that the Motion Picture Association of America used cyber hitmen to take down pirates, anonymous 4Chan users mobilized to take down the MPAA. After crippling the MPAA website and the anti-BitTorrent AiPlex Software, they set their targets on the RIAA. Droves of anonymous Internet users loaded up their Low Orbit Ion Cannons (LOIC) to help in the attack. DDoS attacks are almost impossible to defend against because they originate from multiple sources simultaneously and can bring any network to its knees. Not only that, but there is no one to blame for these attacks. No one to prosecute in a court of law. Tools like LOIC allow the average person to take part in such an online protest with minimal technical knowledge. Will this serve as the blueprint for future online protests? via TorrentFreak
Netflix CEO Apologizes for Self-Absorbed Comment and Hints at Streaming Only Plan
Netflix officially launched in Canada this week and celebrated by closing down a Toronto street, attracting dozens of people. The problem is that many of these people were actors instructed to act excited about Netflix and many of these actors were mistakenly interviewed by the media. Netflix later apologized, saying that the extras were required to get a film permit for the launch and that they were not instructed to represent themselves as anything other than “promotional people.”
When Netflix CEO Reed Hastings was questioned about the price difference between the US and Canada, he replied “How much has it been your experience that Americans follow what happens in the world? It’s something we’ll monitor, but Americans are somewhat self-absorbed.” This was a statement he later apologized for, saying “My Big American Foot is in my mouth.” One interesting tidbit that came from his apology was the reason for the price discrepancy:
The pricing Netflix is offering in Canada, $7.99 per month, does not include any DVD-by-mail option, and that is why it is cheaper than our $8.99 USA plan which has both DVD-by-mail and streaming in one plan. We are looking at adding a streaming-only option for the USA over the coming months.
via 570News, GigaOM, Official Netflix Blog
Mixtape Comedy Show Looking for Your Design
The Mixtape Comedy Show with Anthony Anderson and Royale Watkins is a stand up comedy and music show that streams live on Facebook and Ustream. Every 3rd Sunday of the month, the Gotham Comedy Club in New York is routinely sold out for the show. They feature some of the biggest names in music and comedy as well as upcoming stars from both sides, creating a unique experience. To further their goal of interacting with the audience, they need a design for their home on the web. Enter your design or comment on what’s already been submitted on the 99designs contest page.