Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Facebook "friends" Gowalla to bolster location features
It's no secret that Facebook, despite its social media prowess, has struggled in the location-based social networking. It's Facebook Places feature has been underwhelming to say the least, and is far from a Foursquare-killer.
In what appears to be an effort to possibly grow that location-based service, Facebook announced today that it bought out Gowalla. Facebook has already said that the Gowalla management team will be integrated into Facebook's staff, and the service will be shut down in January.
Seeing as how Gowallais was the third biggest player in the location-based game, it's safe to say that it is now a two-horse race between Facebook and Foursquare.
However, Gowalla made it clear that Facebook didn't buy any user data, and that existing users will be able to export their information before the shutdown.
It will be interesting to see what direction both companies go now that they are dominating the market, given that the social media buzz hasn't been surrounding location-based marketing for some time now.
In what appears to be an effort to possibly grow that location-based service, Facebook announced today that it bought out Gowalla. Facebook has already said that the Gowalla management team will be integrated into Facebook's staff, and the service will be shut down in January.
Seeing as how Gowalla
However, Gowalla made it clear that Facebook didn't buy any user data, and that existing users will be able to export their information before the shutdown.
It will be interesting to see what direction both companies go now that they are dominating the market, given that the social media buzz hasn't been surrounding location-based marketing for some time now.
Friday, December 2, 2011
YouTube Gets a Makeover
by Ashley Haugen
Things may look a little different next time you log into YouTube. The video website has gone through a major re-design to highlight subscriptions and channels. When you login, you will be greeted with a new homepage that shows recent activity from all of your subscriptions. What I like most though about the new YouTube is their Facebook and Google+ integration.
The re-design sets up YouTube to become a bigger competitor to cable TV. With millions of Youtube channels, the new homepage allows you to better organize and watch the things that interest you the most. "[YouTube] is a container for all the world's video, and it needs to be the best home for that," says Margaret Stewart, director of User Experience at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, Calif.
Besides the appealingly simplistic design, it encourages the user to find new content through the the trending, popular, music and entertainment links on your home page. In the left navigation bar, there are also links to Facebook and Google+. Clicking these displays videos that your friends on either network have shared. Having these all in one easy, clean space is very attractive.
Check it out for yourself, or watch this video showcasing the new design.
Things may look a little different next time you log into YouTube. The video website has gone through a major re-design to highlight subscriptions and channels. When you login, you will be greeted with a new homepage that shows recent activity from all of your subscriptions. What I like most though about the new YouTube is their Facebook and Google+ integration.
The re-design sets up YouTube to become a bigger competitor to cable TV. With millions of Youtube channels, the new homepage allows you to better organize and watch the things that interest you the most. "[YouTube] is a container for all the world's video, and it needs to be the best home for that," says Margaret Stewart, director of User Experience at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, Calif.
Besides the appealingly simplistic design, it encourages the user to find new content through the the trending, popular, music and entertainment links on your home page. In the left navigation bar, there are also links to Facebook and Google+. Clicking these displays videos that your friends on either network have shared. Having these all in one easy, clean space is very attractive.
Check it out for yourself, or watch this video showcasing the new design.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The newest Facebook change appeals to the novelist in all of us
If Twitter's approach to communication in the digital age is short and sweet, it's safe to say that Facebook is trying to establish itself on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Facebook just announced they are once again increasing the maximum character limit for status updates to over 60,000 characters.
To put the new 63,206 character limit in perspective, it's the equivalent to just over 451 tweets! In fact, I'd be able to post this Daily Axioms blog (title and all) more than 44 times in a single status update!
As I alluded to earlier, this is hardly the first time Facebook has increased how much users can post per status update. Here's a quick timeline of the changes:
- Facebook's launch through March 2009: A Twitter-esque 160 characters.
- March 2009-July 2011: More than doubles to 420 characters.
- July 2011-September 2011: Facebook adds an extra half-tweet's worth to make it an even 500 characters.
- September 2011-November 2011: A huge 1000% increase, allowing for 5,000 character updates.
- Today: This latest spike brings the total to 63,206 characters per update.
Granted, just because people can post over 60,000 characters doesn't mean they will. More importantly, will there be a user backlash from news feeds clogged with posts that are long enough to be printed and bound in a library?
How do you feel about Facebook's latest update?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Is Buffett on to Something: Warren Buffett to Purchase The Omaha World-Herald
by Andrea Bredow
Warren Buffett is buying a Newspaper? Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway is set to purchase The Omaha World-Herald in late December. Is he on to something, trying to protect a piece of Omaha history (his home town) or is he a bit crazy?
We all know the world of Newspapers is crumbling. Newspapers have folded left and right, layoffs are common place, and there is even newspaperdeathwatch.com. All of which I'm sure Buffett is well aware of. It begs the question, why would one of the world's smartest investors buy a Newspaper?
I recently watched Page One: Inside the New York Times. A documentary following the Times during 2010, a year when veteran reporters were forced out, staff was producing more with less and the Times had to face the fact that ad dollars just weren't coming in. This film is a unique inside look at the world of papers and unfortunately paints a gloomy picture for their future.
Is this the turning point for Newspapers? Will Buffett's faith in what many think is a dying medium bring new life to the business...or is he just a sentimental man at heart?
Warren Buffett is buying a Newspaper? Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway is set to purchase The Omaha World-Herald in late December. Is he on to something, trying to protect a piece of Omaha history (his home town) or is he a bit crazy?
We all know the world of Newspapers is crumbling. Newspapers have folded left and right, layoffs are common place, and there is even newspaperdeathwatch.com. All of which I'm sure Buffett is well aware of. It begs the question, why would one of the world's smartest investors buy a Newspaper?
I recently watched Page One: Inside the New York Times. A documentary following the Times during 2010, a year when veteran reporters were forced out, staff was producing more with less and the Times had to face the fact that ad dollars just weren't coming in. This film is a unique inside look at the world of papers and unfortunately paints a gloomy picture for their future.
Is this the turning point for Newspapers? Will Buffett's faith in what many think is a dying medium bring new life to the business...or is he just a sentimental man at heart?
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