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App.net introduces free accounts with an invitation system

App.net free account

App.net has decided to remove the cost of entry for some users, as it now allows those with paid accounts to invite up to three people to the service for free. If you're unfamiliar with App.net, it's a Twitter-like service that is free of advertising, instead allowing members to pay a $36 annual fee to be a part of it. Members own the data they put into it and don't need to give up any rights, and that includes the 10 GB cloud storage that tied to the App.net File API. Free users will have some limitation, though. For one, you'll only be able to follow a maximum of 40 other users, and instead of the aforementioned 10 GB of cloud storage, you get 500 MB instead. Lastly, paid accounts are allowed to upload files up to 100 MB in size, while free accounts have a 10 MB size restriction.

If you want to get in on App.net and don't feel like paying, hit up your paid user brethren and beg for an invite.

Read More | App.net

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Apple shutting down Ping social network on September 30

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Software,

Apple shutting down Ping on September 30

Remember when Apple launched Ping? It was supposed to be the quintissential social network for anyone who loved music. Except that Apple crippled Ping right out of the gate, and we learned that it wasn't really a social network at all - it was just another method the company wanted to take advantage of to get people to buy more music. It was annoying and resrictive. You could only talk about music that was available on iTunes...and nothing more. Recently, it was rumored that Apple would kill Ping, and now it has been confirmed. Ping closes its doors on September 30th. Anyone out there upset by the closure? Anyone?


Twitter bird logo gets a new design

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Social Networks,

New Twitter bird logo

If you visit the Twitter Web site, you'll see a refreshed bird logo waiting for you. Today the company unveiled a modified, sleeker (if you can call it that) version of it's iconic Twitter bird. The head feathers have been removed, and the bird now seems to be flying upwards instead of forward. It's also a darker shade of blue. We're guessing that if no one told you that the logo was new, that you probably wouldn't even notice the change. It's definitely different, but definitely subtle.

Click to continue reading Twitter bird logo gets a new design

Read More | Twitter Blog

Apple to debut Facebook integration in iOS 6 at WWDC

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Rumors, Software,

Facebook iOS 6

TechCrunch has learned through a source that iOS 6, set to debut next week at WWDC 2012, will include system-level Facebook integration. This means that you'll be able to log in to Facebook in iOS 6 itself, similar to how you can currently do the same with multiple Twitter accounts in iOS 5.

After much speculation, Facebook integration will indeed be baked into the latest version of iOS, we’ve learned. [...]

To be clear, Twitter will still very much be a part of the new iOS (presumably named “iOS 6″ and codenamed “Sundance“), and that company will be holding sessions at WWDC to chat more about the continued partnership (including the integration into the forthcoming OS X Mountain Lion). But Facebook integration will be very important for iOS — tons of apps use Facebook for sign-ups and authentication (many use Facebook as the only way to do this, to the dismay of some).

Details of how exactly sharing will work remain a mystery, since Facebook has a more customized set of privacy options on a per-post basis, and of course, things can always change at the last minute and Facebook integration could end up being scrapped again (it was a planned feature for iOS 4.) However, Apple CEO, Tim Cook, recently suggested that we will see more out of Apple and Facebook shortly with the phrase "Stay tuned."

Read More | TechCrunch

Will Google+ survive its own hype?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Features, Google, Internet,

Google Plus invite

Google+, the presumptive Facebook killer, shows tremendous potential. As someone who warms up to any social network with the alacrity of a Galápagos tortoise, this, for me, is saying something.

Yes, I'm one of the lucky ones who got a pre-over-capacity invite. I've tried to share a couple, but new Google+ users are only gaining entrance at a halting pace.

The service, which initially stuck me as a blatant Facebook rip-off, actually has many of its own charms, not the least of which is the useful, somewhat addictive Circles. I know this topic divides Google+ users. Some people do not like to spend time organizing their social contacts. I'm not sure I do either, but the method that Circles employs for discovery and organization (dragging and dropping people into actual circle graphics, for instance) is addictive and easily blows away anything Facebook ever developed.

Click to continue reading Will Google+ survive its own hype?


Turntable.fm is the hottest music service that you aren’t using

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Music,

Turntable.fm

Turntable.fm is climbing the charts. According to a story from Betabeat, the Facebook phenom has hit 140,000 active users after just one month. Not a bad showing for a semi-closed beta with a spotty security record.

The popular service effectively combines (free) music-streaming, chat rooms, and voting, all through a Facebook portal. It's similar to Web apps such as Pandora. Turntable.fm allows you to discover new music and create your own custom playlists, only that playlist isn't just for you—you'll share it with other Facebook users in real time.

Add to the exchange a note of gameplay. After you create your DJ avatar, you can create your own room or enter someone else's (if you get overwhelmed there's a randomizer) and interact with other avatars through a chat feature. Each room supports up to five DJs. Take a seat on the stage to share your playlist, created from your own uploads or from the Turntable.fm library.

Click to continue reading Turntable.fm is the hottest music service that you aren’t using


2011 Academy Award Nominations

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,

Oscar statues

Academy Award winner Mo'Nique (Precious) and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' President Tom Sherak had the honor of announcing the nominees for the 2011 Annual Academy Awards early Tuesday morning.

The King's Speech lead all films this morning with 12 nominations total. True Grit came in second with 10 nods. Meanwhile, The Social Network and Inception both tied with 8 nominations.

Here are some of the noteworthy omissions and inclusions from today’s press conference:

  • Best Director: No Christopher Nolan (Inception). Seriously?? (Even James Cameron has to say something about that!)
  • Best Movie: No for Blue Valentine, yes for Winter's Bone and Toy Story 3 (also nominated in Animation category)
  • Best Actor: No Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine)!!! Also, no Mark Wahlberg (Fighter), no Leo DiCaprio (Inception), no Aaron Eckhart (Rabbit Hole), no Paul Giamatti (recent Golden Globe winner for Barney's Version). Javier Bardem, though, gets a yes for Biutiful.
  • Best Actress: No Julianne Moore (The Kids are All Right), no Halle Berry (Frankie & Alice)
  • Best Supp. Actor: No Andrew Garfield or Justin Timberlake (The Social Network), but a big YES for Jeremy Renner (The Town) and John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)

You can find a list of the nominees from the major Oscar categories after the jump.

Click to continue reading 2011 Academy Award Nominations

Read More | Oscars

Trent Reznor to Score Next David Fincher Film

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Artist News, Videos, Soundtracks,


Could there be another Golden Globe in Trent Reznor's future?

It was recently announced that the Nine Inch Nails frontman has reteamed with director David Fincher on the remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Over the weekend, Reznor and musical partner Atticus Ross -- who is also working on the film -- both received awards for their work on the score of another Fincher project: The Social Network.

Dragon Tattoo, starring Rooney Mara, will open on December 21.

Read More | The Hollywood Reporter

2011 Golden Globe Awards—Live Coverage

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, FX, NBC, Features, Gossip,

Golden Globe statues

For the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC recruited funnyman to host the ceremony for the second year in a row. But will Gervais be the only name making a return appearance at the microphone tonight?

Last year, Michael C. Hall, Alec Baldwin, Julianna Margulies and Toni Collette nabbed acting wins in the Television category. Could we see repeat victories for all four nominees?

At the 2010 event, Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) bested Colin Firth (A Single Man) for Best Actor in a Drama. Will this be the year that Colin Firth (The King's Speech) takes the statue from Bridges (True Grit)?

Follow our live coverage after the jump and get all of the answers to the above questions and more!

Click to continue reading 2011 Golden Globe Awards—Live Coverage


Be Your Own Facebook Guru

Many companies feel managing a Facebook fan page is a task that requires a lot of resources and time. This is why you can find hundreds of self-proclaimed Facebook Gurus and experts all around the globe, usually charging a lot of money to help you come up with strategies leading to a successful Facebook fan page. Hey--it really isn't as hard as it looks!

Soap Creative, who has created and managed pages for Unilever, Activision, 20th Century Fox and others, is sharing some of their best practices and strategies they have used. These are strategies  have been field tested and have returned with great results.  Live, learn, and get to Facebooking!


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