Selasa, 07 Desember 2010

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Smartphone Users Prefer Mobile for Breaking News [STATS]”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Smartphone Users Prefer Mobile for Breaking News [STATS]”

Smartphone Users Prefer Mobile for Breaking News [STATS]

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 04:36 AM PST


U.S. smartphone owners are increasingly turning to mobile to access breaking news over other media, including newspapers, TV and desktop web browsers, according to a recent study from mobile app developer Handmark.

In a survey of 300,000 mobile consumers, 88% of whom owned a device running one the five most popular smartphone operating systems, more than 30% said that mobile is the “most important medium” to access breaking news, narrowly followed by desktop web browsers (29%), television (21%) and newspapers (3%).

Just over half (56%) of respondents said they expect to use their mobile device to access news and information more frequently in the next year, while 42% said they plan to use it roughly the same amount.

Handmark CEO Paul Reddick attributes the rise of mobile’s importance for accessing breaking news to widespread habit formation among smartphone users.

“Breaking news happens all throughout the day, and what you have throughout the day is your mobile device,” he explains. “Once you get into the habit of using your mobile … you [can] be in a room with a TV and not turn it on, because you’re reading your news on your mobile device instead,” he says.

“The other element is, of course, that you don’t have to get off the couch. It’s convenient,” he adds.

Forty percent of those surveyed said that news and current events were the most important kinds of information they used their mobile devices to access, followed by weather (27%), sports (9%), business/finance (6%), entertainment (5%) and politics (3%). E-mail and information about their friends on social networks were not included as categories in the survey, although given the relative popularity of e-mail, Facebook and Twitter clients, we expect they would have been significant ones.

The survey also examined mobile purchasing trends, noting that 69% of respondents said they had used their mobile device to make a purchase at least once in the past year, and most expect to increase the amount they spent on mobile purchases in 2011.

Notably, 14% claim they already own a tablet, while 52% said they plan to purchase one in the next 12 months. For the sake of tablet manufacturers, let’s hope that’s not just wishful thinking.

More About: journalism, media, Mobile 2.0, News, smartphones

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WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Arrested in London

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 02:52 AM PST


The British police arrested WikiLeaks founder and owner Julian Assange on an arrest warrant from Sweden, where Assange is accused of sexual crimes.

“Julian Assange (…) was arrested on a European arrest warrant by appointment at a London police station at 9:30 [a.m.] today. He is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010,” the Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement.

Assange was recently placed on the Interpol’s wanted list. The warrant for his arrest stems from accusations of sexual assault by two women Assange had met in Sweden during a business trip to the country. The charges of rape were initially dropped, but the case was reopened and an appeals court has upheld the original accusations.

Assange surrendered to the police himself, stating earlier that he had agreed to meet with the UK police with regards to the outstanding warrant and the rape accusations in Sweden. He is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court later.

Assange’s arrest is just one in a long line of troubles for WikiLeaks and its founder. The site itself has been the victim of DDoS attacks ever since it started releasing secret embassy cables, and several U.S.-based web companies, including Amazon, PayPal, and its DNS service provider, EveryDNS.net, have denied WikiLeaks service. The site is now functioning mostly as series of mirrors, set up by sympathizers around the globe, but it’s still releasing new secret cables on a daily basis.

[via msnbc.com]

More About: arrest, julian assange, trending, wikileaks

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Malicious Goo.gl Links Spreading on Twitter [WARNING]

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 01:44 AM PST


A large number of messages containing only the link “goo.gl/R7f68″ have appeared on Twitter today, redirecting the users to various malware-laden sites.

The messages are mostly coming from disposable accounts, but they also show up on some accounts that appear to be genuine, which indicates that there’s a worm spreading and sending the messages from infected accounts. Furthermore, all of the messages containing the link are sent from the mobile version of Twitter.

The Next Web has traced the origins of the link in the messages, which sends users to a French site (http://artcan-developpement.fr) that has apparently been hacked to forward users to sites containing various malware scripts.

While the majority of the messages currently contain an identical shortened link, keep in mind that the link is very likely to change in the future. As always, do not click on any suspicious links, and always keep your computer protected with antivirus and anti-malware software.

More About: twitter, worm

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Gmail Priority Inbox Now Learns Much Faster

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 01:02 AM PST


Google has upgraded its Priority Inbox, a recently launched Gmail feature that automatically places important mail on top of your inbox, with a couple of improvements based on user feedback.

The Priority Inbox now reacts much faster to users’ manual corrections. Furthermore, if you hover the mouse cursor over the importance marker of individual e-mails, you’ll see a short explanation of why that message is considered important.

As far as what kind of impact the Priority Inbox has had on Gmail users, Google claims that typical Priority Inbox users spend 43% more time reading important mail compared to unimportant, and 15% less time reading e-mail overall, when compared to Gmail users who don't use the Priority Inbox.

More About: e-mail, gmail, Google, Priority Inbox

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“Consumer Reports” Names AT&T the Worst Mobile Carrier

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:35 PM PST


According to a survey of almost 60,000 people — more than half of them iPhone owners — AT&T was rated the worst wireless service provider in the United States.

AT&T was the only wireless carrier to show a significant decrease in satisfaction ratings in the survey, which was conducted by Consumer Reports. Verizon and Sprint are neck-and-neck for many points of satisfaction, but for contract service, U.S. Cellular was the top-rated provider.

Consumer Reports‘ survey, which encompassed all versions of Apple’s popular smartphone series, “found that iPhone owners were much less satisfied with their carrier and rated data service (web and e-mail) lower than owners of smartphones on other carriers.”

The common scapegoat for AT&T-related woes is the heavy data usage of app-happy iPhone users; however, as other smartphone platforms take over other networks, complaints around the same issue aren’t nearly as prevalent for those networks.

Another factor is that other networks are ahead of AT&T in offering 4G capabilities to their customers.

This news could be especially bad for AT&T if the rumored Verizon iPhone hits stores as anticipated in early 2011.

In fact, in a recent Mashable poll about the Verizon iPhone, 17.33% of almost 10,000 respondents who were current AT&T customers said they would switch carriers to get that specific device on that specific network.

How would you rate AT&T, if you are currently using that carrier? Let it all out in the comments.

Image courtesy of Flickr, nickollsphotos.

More About: att, carrier, consumer reports, Mobile 2.0, Wireless

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Amazon to Unveil New Kindle Web App Tomorrow

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:06 PM PST


After launching its own incredibly successful, single-purpose hardware and a slew of free apps for mobile and PC devices, Amazon is getting ready to launch a new web app version of Kindle.

Amazon’s timing is impeccable, particularly if the tech giant is trying to take the wind out of Google’s sails; Google just launched its own e-reading, e-bookstore platform today.

An Amazon rep said in an e-mail to ComputerWorld that the new version of the web app is intended to “enable users to read full books in the browser and any website to become a bookstore offering Kindle books” — exactly what Google E-books aims to do with its own platform. The previous version of Kindle for Web, as the app is properly called, was not nearly as noteworthy, allowing users to read only first-chapter previews of books online.

The Kindle family of hardware and software is growing faster than any of its competitors. Kindle came to the iPhone and iPod touch back in the spring of 2009; the novelty of having one kind of hardware that could have the functionality of another kind of hardware via a piece of software was lost on no one.

This year, Amazon added apps for iPad and Android, as well as a few other mobile platforms; we also saw Kindle desktop apps for PC and Mac. and its most recent iteration of the Kindle hardware is the fastest-selling of any Kindle version.

We’re sure Amazon’s proud of that fact, but we wonder who might win in a war between web-based e-booksellers: Google or Amazon. Let us know what you think in the comments.

More About: amazon, Kindle, kindle web app, web

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Groupon Makes $800 Million in Annual Revenue, Not $2 Billion [EXCLUSIVE]

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:02 PM PST


Groupon, which recently rejected a $5.3 billion offer from Google, does not have a $2 billion annual revenue run rate — a figure that’s been circulating a lot in the tech press lately. Rather, it has an $800 million annual gross revenue run rate.

Last week, AllThingsD reported that the group-buying website’s run rate is $2 billion per year, not the $500 million that was reported by other outlets around the time. The report came out at the same time as the news that the company had rejected Google’s offer.

According to a trusted source with firsthand knowledge of Groupon’s financials, “everyone is wrong” about the startup’s revenue numbers. The company’s actual run rate is $800 million in gross annual revenue, less than half the $2 billion being reported but still more than the $500 million figure that was floated around before the AllThingsD story.

Run rate is a tricky number, though. It’s a projection of what the company would make if you extrapolate from its most recent revenue numbers. Depending on the time frame used, the calculated annual run rate can vary significantly.

Still, when you think about it, $800 million in revenue makes more sense than an astonishing $2 billion. If the $2 billion number were indeed true, that would mean Google only offered to buy the company for 2.65 times greater than Groupon’s revenue, rather low for almost any acquisition, especially one by an established company like Google. An $800 million revenue rate results in a much more reasonable 6.6-times premium for the group-buying leader.

The Chicago-based company is probably no longer concerned with those numbers, though. It’s almost certainly looking to shatter both revenue numbers in 2011. With Google out of the picture, the company is free to swing for the fences and continue its unprecedented growth. Where it will stop is anybody’s guess.

Updated with more information on annual run rate.

More About: Google, groupon, Revenue, Run Rate

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After More Than 24 Hours Offline, Tumblr Is Back

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:55 PM PST


Tumblr has returned to the web after a full day’s, err, vacation.

The popular blogging/reblogging platform went down yesterday afternoon during some planned maintenance; the exact reasons for the outage are unknown, but Tumblr has mentioned database cluster issues.

Rumors aside, the downtime had nothing whatsoever to do with a 4chan-led DDoS attack.

The official company blog states a fact of life for any successful startup: Keeping up with at-scale traffic on a startup’s budget and infrastructure is hard, hard work, “more work than our small team was prepared for,” the blog reads.

In fact, traffic for all Tumblr-powered blogs is in excess of 500 million pageviews per month, according to Tumblr.

Tumblr hopes to focus on infrastructure now; to that end, the New York City-based startup has quadrupled the size of its engineering team in the past month.

We hope these are solid back-end engineers with lots of experience in scalability issues; the last thing Tumblr wants is to reproduce the epic downtime waves of other popular web services that shall remain nameless.

Did Tumblr’s downtime over the past day have any impact on you? Do you think Tumblr will continue to struggle as it grows? We’d love to hear about your experiences and opinions in the comments.

More About: down, downtime, tumblr

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Help Desk Software Startup Zendesk Raises $19 Million

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:04 PM PST


Web-based customer support software company Zendesk is announcing a $19 million round of Series C funding today led by Matrix Partners with participation from Benchmark Capital and Charles River Ventures, putting the three-year-old startup’s total funding to date at about $25.5 million.

Zendesk, which manages customer service responses for companies like Groupon and RackSpace, does away with the phone tree and gives both customers and employees transparency into how customer inquires are being handled.

For instance, both the customer and the company’s customer response team can see which employee is handling the customer’s ticket and when that employee is expected to respond.

The service is within a price range that small businesses with small customer bases can afford, but it also counts a number of companies with puny employee-to-customer ratios like Groupon and Twitter.

The company recently acquired its 5,000th paying customer, and CEO Mikkel Svane says it’s achieved about a 300% revenue increase in 2010.

With the $19 million of new funding, Zendesk is planning to expand the number of channels to which customers can submit inquiries and continue its aggressive innovation (the company has launched four new features for its product in the past three months).

More About: benchmark, charles river, funding, matrix partners, zendesk

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Google Shows Off Motorola Tablet Prototype, and It’s Running Honeycomb

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:11 PM PST


Hot off the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tablet, Google has revealed a prototype for a Motorola Tablet powered by Android and running a new version of the mobile operating system called Honeycomb that's optimized for tablets.

Google VP of Engineering Andy Rubin demonstrated the device on stage at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference in San Francisco.

The device itself features a 3D processor from NVIDIA, processing power that allows, for example, a vector version of Google Maps that lets you manipulate maps in new ways. Given the processing power of the device, Rubin added that you could load "a whole state" of Maps data for offline usage. The device is also buttonless (or one less button than the iPad, as interviewers Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg of All Things Digital quipped).

Perhaps more interesting, though, is that Rubin confirmed what we long suspected –- that Google was building a version of Android optimized for tablets. Called Honeycomb, the OS brings "new APIs that… allow an application to split its functionality to multiple views. Apps will know when they're on a tablet," Rubin continued.

As an example, Rubin demonstrated a Gmail app with a two-pane view, which is similar to the Gmail app display on an iPad. On an Android phone, however, users would continue to get the simpler inbox where messages open in the same pane.

An early criticism of the Galaxy tablet has been that Android and its applications aren't optimized for tablets, creating an inferior user experience to iPad. Honeycomb clearly is Google's attempt to change that.

Rubin said the Motorola device will be available early next year. It will be far from the only new Google tablet to hit the market, however. Much like its strategy with smartphones, Rubin said that, "We're not in the business to build one tablet."

More About: android, Google, Google Android, honeycomb, Motorola, tablets

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Google Mobile Exec: Android Is Profitable

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:17 PM PST


Andy Rubin, the VP of engineering at Google responsible for mobile, has revealed that the company’s rapidly expanding Android operating system would be profitable if it was broken out as its own business.

Asked by The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference in San Francisco if the division is making money for the search giant, Rubin responded affirmatively with a “yes.”

Mossberg pressed on the issue, noting that Google’s mobile revenue still primarily comes via ads from Google mobile search — searches that occur both on Android devices and iPhone and other platforms (i.e., Google would be making that money with or without Android).

Rubin conceded that “there's no way [Android] would've ever been profitable as a startup company,” (Rubin sold Android to Google in 2005) but says that the resources provided by Google’s enormous advertising revenue streams and the ability to offer Android open source have allowed Android to pursue a business model that’s become profitable.

Although Rubin wouldn’t break out exactly how Android makes money, he did reveal that there are now 172 phones on the market running Android, the latest of which, the Nexus S, was revealed earlier today. That’s a lot more smartphones that drive a lot more mobile searches, and presumably, that’s how Rubin’s math adds up.

Rubin credited Android’s success to its open source model, making it easy for any manufacturer or carrier to offer devices, saying “It’s … frictionless for OEMs no matter where they're doing the manufacturing … without a contractual relationship or having money change hands.”

He did concede, however, that the Nexus One business model — offering unlocked phones direct to consumers via the web — was not a good business one for Google to pursue and that the provisioning and activation of mobile phones is best left to the carriers. “We thought it would be better to spend our resources on things like Gingerbread,” (the latest Android OS) he said.

More About: Google, Google Android

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Twitter’s Putting Its Fledgling Wine Up for a Holiday Auction

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:23 PM PST


Twitter is getting ready to auction off signed bottles of its own Fledgling wine — along with some face time with co-founder Biz Stone — just in time for some holiday charitable giving.

Proceeds will benefit the Room to Read literacy program, specifically volunteers in Uttarakhand, India.

Twitter launched its wine label last fall. From the start, it was a charitable endeavor. The company worked with Napa winery Crushpad to create a chardonnay and a pinot noir.

The startup also partnered with Room to Read, a San Francisco-based non-profit that helps improve literacy rates in poor countries.

For every bottle and case of Fledgling wine sold, part of the proceeds were sent to Uttarakhand, where Room to Read volunteers have been working to establish a Reading Room Program, “a child friendly learning environment that encourages a love of reading where illiteracy rates remain high and few educational resources exist,” according to the Room to Read site.

The auctions will take place on eBay from now through December 16. Fixed-price items to be auctioned include $40 signed bottles of pinot noir and chardonnay (a total of 350 bottles are available) and $140 signed magnums (140 are available).

As for traditional auctions, in which the highest bidder wins, Twitter has two packages to auction. The first is a methuselah of wine and lunch for two with Biz Stone; the current high bid is $202. The second item is lunch for one with Stone and one Twitter internship-for-a-day. The highest bid on this item is currently $50.

Given the overlap between wine lovers and social media types, we think this auction should go over very well. Will you be buying a bottle or two?

More About: auction, ebay, fledgling, room to read, twitter, wine

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Google Wave Is Now an Apache Project

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:44 PM PST


It’s official: Google Wave is now Apache Wave.

A couple weeks ago, Google made a proposal to the Apache Software Foundation to take the reins on Wave. Wave, which only launched to the public in 2009, saw lackluster adoption; Google officially halted development in August and open-sourced the code in September.

In Google’s proposal to Apache, the former company stated its goals were to migrate Wave's codebase from Google to ASF's infrastructure, to get Wave back to a state of active development and to bring new committers into the project. The proposal also noted that Wave still had some big-name users, including the U.S. Navy.

Apache has now accepted that proposal, and Google is preparing for a few changes.

Googler Alex North wrote on the company blog, “We’re spinning up the project infrastructure so that the community can continue to grow in the Apache way.”

North also mentioned that several new, non-Google committers are coming to the Wave project; other contributors are welcome to the project, as well.

We look forward to seeing how Wave evolves as an Apache project; becoming an open-source, community-driven project is probably the best thing that could have happened to Wave as a large-scale, ambitious web app — much better than the deadpool.

More About: apache, apache wave, Google, Google Wave, open source, trending

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WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange to Meet with UK Police

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:44 PM PST


Adding an interesting twist to the ongoing (and recently escalating) WikiLeaks saga, the site’s founder, Julian Assange, has agreed to meet with UK police regarding allegations of sexual assault in Sweden and a pursuant extradition warrant.

Assange was added to Interpol’s wanted list last week; Sweden had issued an arrest warrant based on accusations of sexual assault made by two Swedish women. Assange has been calling these accusions a smear campaign.

The WikiLeaks founder is calling for supporters to contribute to his bail fund; he will need between £100,000 and £200,000. The exact amount is to be negotiated in court today.

Various governments and corporations have been putting some pressure on WikiLeaks and Assange in the past several weeks. The site’s DNS service, web servers and even bank accounts have all been shuffled around as high-profile entities such as Amazon, MasterCard and Paypal refused to work with WikiLeaks.

The site’s whistleblower mission has also been under particular scrutiny since its recent release of more than 250,000 cables to and from U.S. embassies and diplomats, some of which expose the names of active operatives in secret and critical situations.

Assange has said he believes the United States is behind the arrest warrant and extradition attempt; indeed, many U.S. politicians have not had kind words for Assange in recent days. Several conservatives, including Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, have even said he should be assassinated or executed.

We’ll continue to follow WikiLeaks news as it unfolds, but at this point, even we’re wondering if the level of vitriol coming from U.S. politicians is enough to make Assange feel safer in the custody of police than on the street.

More About: arrest, assange, julian assange, wikileaks

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“CityVille” Is Zynga’s Biggest Game Launch to Date

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:52 PM PST


Social game maker Zynga unleashed last week its latest Facebook game on the world, Cityville. The game, the first Zynga title to get a global rollout, is also the biggest game launch in the company’s history.

In the first 24 hours of release, more than 290,000 people gave CityVille a shot. FrontierVille, which had previously held Zynga’s “biggest game launch” title, saw 116,000 players its first day.

As we noted last week, CityVille is kind of a mashup between FarmVille and Sim City. One of the big new features of the game is that friends can set up “franchise” businesses on another friend’s game board.

In the first 24 hours, Zynga tells us that 25% of players have decided to create franchises in their friend’s cities. Additionally, 2.7 million houses and more than 500,000 bakeries have been built.

FrontierVille was Zynga’s last high-profile game launch and it managed to gain 5 million daily players in just under two weeks. Six months later, more than 6.5 million people play the game every day.

Casual social games have been one of the most enduring trends of 2010. It seems only natural that Zynga would wrap up the year with a hit right out of the gate.

Have you played CityVille? What do you think of the enduring nature of social games? Let us know.

More About: cityville, facebook, farmville, frontierville, social games, Zynga

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Hands-On With Google E-Books [SCREENSHOTS]

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:38 PM PST


Google launched its long-awaited e-bookstore, Google E-books, on Monday, bringing more than 3 million books — many of them free — to any device with a web browser in the U.S.

We’ve now had a chance to play with the platform on our laptops, as well as on our iPhones, Android phones and iPads. So far, we like the experience.

Those of you who already read e-books on the various mobile and (in some cases) desktop apps offered by Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), Apple (iBooks) and Kobo will notice little difference between those apps and Google’s. The apps for iPhone, Android and iPad most closely resemble the Kindle app, with list and grid library displays, the ability to adjust font sizes and types, read in “night” mode (i.e. with a black background — to conserve battery life) and swipe pages (3D page swiping a la iBooks is also available for iPhone and iPad via settings).

There are two big differences between Google’s apps and all of the others. One is that it offers a web version of its application, making it accessible to anyone with a desktop browser and on a relatively wide range of mobile devices (user experiences may vary). The second is that it lists page numbers and allows readers to quickly switch to see the actual scanned (rather than flowing text) page so that they can cite the printed edition rather than the electronic edition, if they so prefer.

In other words, it’s the first e-reading platform that is truly useful for students and, I expect, will gain major traction at U.S. universities. Universities have resisted adopting the Kindle and other e-reading platforms in large part because they simply weren’t accessible to students without the proper hardware. That is no longer an issue.

Try the apps for yourself and let us know what you think. I’m especially eager to hear from teachers and students about how they think the platform will fare at their respective schools.

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Image courtesy of Flickr, AZ Adam

More About: amazon, Android App, e-reading, google ebooks, ipad app, iphone app, Kindle, kobo, nook

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100+ Upcoming Social Media and Tech Events

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:03 PM PST

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Every week, Mashable puts together a calendar of upcoming social media and web events, parties and conferences. Would you like to have your conference or event listed here? If so, please contact us at least one month before your event to establish a media partnership. For more upcoming listings, check out Mashable’s Events section.

In the meantime, here are some tips on how to network, share your information and/or promote your event(s) using social media:

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

Upcoming Mashable Events:

The Mashable Awards, January 6, 2011, Las Vegas, NV: In partnership with Cirque du Soleil, The Mashable Awards Gala event will bring together the winners and nominees, the Mashable community, partners, media, the marketing community, consumer electronics and technology brands and attendees from the 2011 International CES Convention to Las Vegas on Thursday, January 6, 2011. Together, we will celebrate the winners and the community of the Mashable Awards at the Cirque du Soleil Zumanity stage in the beautiful New York New York Hotel. The event will include acts and performances from our partner, Cirque du Soleil Zumanity, as well as special guest presenters and appearances.

December 6-9, 2010, Las Vegas, NV. Attend the Advanced Learning Institute's 22nd Updated Forum on Social Media for Government: How To Engage Your Employees And Citizens By Using The Latest Web 2.0 Technologies To Drive Communication Results, to learn how to incorporate social media into your communications and marketing plans, and leverage the latest interactive Web 2.0 tools and techniques to advance your organizational goals. Hear practical advice from: Department of State; City of Las Vegas; Army Public Affairs; Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; Deloitte and more. Mention Mashable when registering to save $200!

December 6-9, 2010, San Francisco, CA: Join us at Dreamforce 2010, the cloud computing event of the year. This December, more than 20,000 fans will gather in San Francisco for our 8th annual user and developer conference. In four action-packed days, we'll give you all the education, inspiration and innovation you need to succeed. There's no better way to get up to speed on the latest advances in Salesforce apps, the Force.com platform and cloud computing. And this year we'll connect you with your peers and heroes in ways you've never thought possible. It's time to dream again.

December 6-8, 2010, New York, NY. Attend the Advanced Learning Institute's 2nd Updated Forum on Social Media for Pharma: How To Develop, Execute, And Evaluate Web 2.0 Strategies To Engage Your Audiences And Drive Business Results, to learn how to incorporate social media into your communications and marketing plans, and leverage the latest interactive Web 2.0 tools and techniques to advance your organizational goals. Hear practical advice, firsthand, from leading organizations such as: Novo Nordisk; FDA; Johnson & Johnson; Kaiser Permanente; Astellas Pharma; UCB; Vertex Pharmaceuticals; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals; Sanofi-Aventis; Millennium Pharmaceuticals; and more. Mention Mashable when registering to save $200!

December 6, 2010, San Francisco, CA: The SF MusicTech Summit brings together 700+ visionaries in the music and technology space, along with the brightest developers, entrepreneurs, investors, musicians, service providers, and journalists who work with them at the convergence of culture and commerce. We meet to discuss the evolving music/business/technology ecosystem in a proactive environment. Register and use the promo code Mashable to receive a 10% discount off the ticket price. For more information, please visit www.sfmusictech.com.

December 6, 2010, Los Angeles, CA: The Mobile Excellence Awards offers invaluable exposure, PR, branding and networking with the who’s who in mobile entertainment, media, & technology. The event has become one of the most influential and prestigious in the industry, honoring the best in mobile entertainment, technology, marketing & media. Attendees represent the entire mobile ecosystem, including execs from all major studios, entertainment companies, brands, content providers, industry influencers & press. Deadline for submissions is September 20th!

December 7-9, 2010, Santa Clara, CA: Taking place in the heart of Silicon Valley, BIA/Kelsey's Interactive Local Media 2010 (ILM:10) is a unique, three-day mega-conference featuring the true innovators of local media, local directories, local search, local mobile, local social and local direct marketing. One highlight is a special Mobile Local SuperForum offering the deepest and most strategic dive ever presented in the mobile local space. Head's up: Local is hot, and this year's conference should be BIA/Kelsey's largest ever. Register with promo code ILMMASH and save $200!

December 7-8, 2010, Universal City, CA: The LA Mobile Entertainment Summit is brought to you by the producers of the widely acclaimed 3D Entertainment Summit, this high level strategy and networking event will explore all facets of the mobile entertainment industry. This event will be presented in association with Variety and in partnership with the Mobile Excellence Awards, the industry's most prestigious awards program for the mobile industry. Located in the heart of the entertainment industry, the summit will attract the brightest minds in the mobile ecosystem. Delivering two days of packed in-depth discussions, the summit will deliver strategies to capitalize on this rapidly changing landscape, attracting senior level decision makers, leading press and market analysts.

December 7-8, 2010, New York, NY: In the spirit of "ideas worth spreading," we are excited to announce TEDxTribecaWomen: a live webcast and series of events built around the TEDWomen conference in DC. Our event is one of over 70 local, self-organized events that will take place across the globe to spark discussion and connection in a small group around TedWomen. We’ll be streaming all 5 sessions of the conference – 25+ live speakers, performers, tech demos and more, over the span of 2 days.

December 7, 2010, New York, NY: The New York State Department of Health's AIDS Institute, in partnership with AIDS.gov, is hosting a free, one-day forum on the use of social media for HIV and STI prevention and care at New York University's Kimmel Center. Social Media: Going Viral Against HIV and STIs is principally targeting the executive leadership, administrators and communications specialists in community-based organizations, health care facilities and public health organizations in New York State. Only registrants may attend the forum. For more information, please click here.

December 8-10, Reno, NV: Join professionals from marketing, tourism, gaming, service industries and nonprofits in Reno-Tahoe's amazing ski country for Social Media at Reno Tahoe (SM@RT), one of the best values of any similar national conference in 2010. Speakers, along with specialized breakout session presenters, include top authors, practitioners and strategist from media giant, Gannett, winter travel destinations, Vail Resorts, and many other experts in building business for professional service firms. Anchored by the University of Nevada, and its business and journalism schools, attendees get specialized instruction to return home with ways to immediately improve their social media marketing. Register now and save and an additional $100 online for the main conference with the discount code MASH.

December 9-10, 2010, Sydney, Australia: Crime and Legal Issues in Social Media II will advise and assist professionals on the utilisation of social networking without fear of the risks. Some organisations are still hesitant to maximise their use of online networking. Risks such as breach of privacy, fear of legal action, developing a negative reputation and lack of control have given way to avoidance of this important medium. The event will explore the legal implications of using social media and the policies that manage the risks. Register and use the promo code CrimeSocialMash to save 15%!

December 9-10, 2010, Chicago, IL: Rocked the Recession: Startup the Nation is coming to Chicago to bring together entrepreneurs, professionals, and organizations that are not only thriving; they're Rocking! Join us in a two-day conference with some of Chicago's best entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Panels and workshops include: Fighting Recession with Social Media, Video & Your Business: Going Viral, Always Be Social, etc. We have planned two days of discussions to explore innovative companies that balk at the idea of bailouts. We are ready to Rock 2011! Register with the promo code MASHABLE for a $10 discount off your ticket price.

December 9, 2010, Springfield MO: Social Marketing Boot Camp with Sarah Evans: Limited tickets will be available for this unique boot camp style event with nationally renowned expert Sarah Evans. You’ll spend a full six hours of session time with Sarah, taking an in-depth look at the role of social media in marketing your business or organization. You wont just learn effective social media marketing techniques, but will look at how social media works in conjunction with traditional marketing and public relations and why that’s important, practical ways of engaging customers and prospects, case studies, help with creating a social media based marketing plan, hints and tips, ways to make your brand stand out online, effective engagement, latest trends, tools and resources, and plenty of opportunities for discussion and Q & A. This will be a very hands-on event designed to give you lots of practical experience and learning, and for you to leave with new ideas and tools you can implement in a very real way. Register and use the discount code MASHABLE to save $25 on each standard registration.

December 10-12, 2010, Cambridge, MA: Startup Weekend Cambridge is the place to come for anyone with a new idea that they want to see brought to life. Over the weekend, teams will work together to take the ideas and create new ventures. Register and use the promo code Mashable to save 15%.

December 11, 2010, Amman, Jordan: For the past few years, the field of social media has evolved to become one of the most exciting areas of technology and business marketing. How is it different for MENA? The first Arab Social Media Forum will be the first event in the region to discuss exclusively social media topics customized to MENA. ASMF2010 will bring both clients and agencies together to share their experience in dealing with social media platforms, different social engagement approaches and case studies. Register with the promo code ASMF10MASH and save 20%.

December 13, 2010, Portland, OR: Portland State University’s Digital Marketing Conference 2010 showcases success stories in digital marketing, addressing the needs of individuals and companies as they use new technologies to engage their audiences, clients, and customers. With three tracks, a digital marketing bootcamp, speakers addressing hyperlocal to international business, two keynotes, Ignite DMC, and a post conference wrap event, attendees receive high-quality, hands on, and interactive experiences to enhance their digital marketing knowledge. Please click here to both learn more and register today using code DMCMASH10 to get the early bird price (ends November 7).

December 15-16, 2010, Austin, TX: Are you a CEO, Owner, or Marketing Executive wondering how you should be using social media to promote your business? Come to our Free 90-minute Social Media Boot Camp for CEOs where you will learn proven techniques and valuable tips to drive customers to your website and generate new leads. Our expert speaker, Paul Slack, will offer abundant detailed strategies you can immediately put into action. We are in a different city each week, so please check our listings to see when we will be in your area!

December 16-18, 2010, Santiago, Chile: Conecta 2010 is a technology fair featuring over 40 leading brands from technology and communications sector and a series of top-notch conferences on issues such as social networks, entrepreneurship & innovation, sustainability, new media and education. Featured guests and speakers include Peter Molyneux, Guy Kawasaki, Arianna Huffington, and Sir Ken Robinson. All proceeds will be used to to buy carbon bonds to ensure that the event has zero emissions. Visit conecta2010.cl for more information.

Conecta 2010
www.conecta2010.cl

December 17, 2010, New Delhi, India: The India Social Summit 2010 aims to bring together names in consumer and b2b marketing, social networking, and mobile on a vibrant platform for a day of insights and stimulating discussions. The conference features 5 Keynote addresses, and panel discussions featuring industry leaders. Delegates, consisting senior industry professionals, includes CXOs, media owners, media buyers, marketers, HR and communication professionals and social media practitioners. If you would like to register for the event, please click here.

December 15, 2010, New York, NY: Vator is bringing its popular Splash event to New York City. The Splash event, hosted by Vator, is a celebration of entrepreneurship. The evening gathering brings together high-profile, successful tech entrepreneurs sharing their lessons and advice alongside promising startups showcasing their innovative ideas. Register and use the promo code Mashable for a 20% discount off both ticket and table packages.

January 6-9, 2011, Las Vegas, NV: Join us at the 2011 International CES, the global platform for inspired ideas and innovation. With 2,500 exhibitors, CES continues to be the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow and always reflects the dynamic consumer electronics industry. The International CES is not open to the general public and all attendees must be in the CE industry to be eligible to attend the show. Register FREE for the 2011 CES with the priority code MSHB, an exclusive promotion for Mashable readers.

January 6-9, 2011, Lake Tahoe, NV: The worlds of digital storytelling, snowsports and technology will converge on Heavenly Mountain Resort January 6 – 9, 2011 for the Tahoe Snowcial, a winter festival celebrating the global community of enthusiasts who live their passion in the snow and tell their stories online. Snowcial ties these worlds together in a participative, collaborative intermingling of industry leaders that sparks new ideas for the future, linking networks, passions and turns. Speakers include CEOs of Gowalla, Path and Vail Resorts with performances by OK Go and MC Hammer. Register with the promo code founderfriend and get 10% off!

January 12-14, 2011, Washington, DC: Social Media Legal Risk & Strategy – Social media has proven to be a critical medium for companies who are looking to have their services and brands penetrate the public sphere. The use of social media, however, has not come with an absence of legal risk. Join 16 lead counsels from Coca-Cola North America, IBM Corporation, Wal-Mart, Chevron, T-Mobile, Capital One, Dell, Aon Corporation, CSC, Nationwide and other fortune 500 companies as they discuss strategies to address and overcome the legal risks posed by engaging in social media. Mashable subscribers will enjoy a 10% discount when they mention MASHABLE in their follow-up email to ddrey@marcusevansch.com.

January 12, 2011, Las Vegas, NV: Influence People is hosting a one-day social media marketing conference in Las Vegas and it will bring together leading brands and marketing experts to explore the viral power of social networks. During this one-day event, a team of renowned marketing experts will provide guidance on how to effectively engage with customers via social media, give tips on how to maximize the impact of your campaigns and offer insights into new services to try and trends to watch out for. This is the ultimate event for anyone involved in social media or digital marketing. Register with the promo code mashable and receive a 10% discount.

January 12, 2011, Stanford, CA: The NextGen Conference brings together young, aspiring entrepreneurs and young, rock star entrepreneurs with more experienced entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Join us for a full day at Stanford University and learn from the very best! Speakers include: Peter Thiel (Founder of PayPal, Clarium Capital, and the Founders Fund), Keith Rabois (COO of Square), Mark Suster (2x entrepreneur turned VC), Travis Kalanick (serial entrepreneur and angel investor), and more! Register and use the promo code NGCMASH!

January 13-14, 2011, Washington, DC: marcus evans invites you to attend the Social Media for Pharma Conference. Hear from your peers firsthand on how the new FDA guidance will mandate your social media strategies. By attending this conference you will learn how to boost product exposure, generate market research, build relationships and increase sales and overall business in the long term. For an exclusive discount as a Mashable member, please mention “Mashable” to Michele Westergaard at michelew@marcusevansch.com.

January 17-18 and 20-21, 2011, Singapore & Hong Kong: Join us at this interactive conference on Social Media Marketing to acquire effective techniques for boosting your brand performance and ROI. Find out how Intel, Nokia, Watsons, McDonald's, Volkswagen, HP, Canon, Johnson & Johnson, Wall Street Journal, SMRT and more incorporated social media activities to get ahead of conversations. Through in-depth case studies and workable solutions, learn how to develop coherent platform integration strategies, handle a social media backlash and identify KPIs for the effectiveness of social media campaigns. Register today and save 10% when you enter Mashable under Additional Info.

January 19, 2011, New York, NY: Mobile Healthcare Communications: Case Studies and Roundtables – Representatives from GlaxoSmithKline, Within3, Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Roche Diabetes Care, and others will demonstrate the best case studies of how major healthcare brands are connecting with consumers and professionals through mobile communications. Register

and use the promo code MASH for a discounted rate of $155.

January 20-22, 2011, Mumbai, India: Click Asia Summit 2011 is designed to be Asia's largest digital & mobile marketing conference and expo where industry thought leaders congregate to discuss online marketing, challenges faced by agencies, and the changing face of social media. Click Asia Summit 2011 is going to change the way you look at Digital and Mobile marketing. Please register by clicking here.

January 20-21, 2011, San Francisco, CA: The First Annual Gamification Summit brings together top thought leaders in game mechanics and engagement science for the first time. Hear what works and what doesn’t in this dynamic and fast-moving field through case studies, workshops, keynotes and panels delivered by experts such as Gabe Zichermann (author, Game-Based Marketing), Amy Jo Kim (gamification guru) and Jane McGonigal (TED fellow, debuting her new book) and network with other leaders in the space. Attend the Gamification Summit 2011 and learn how game mechanics and the new science of engagement are rewriting the rules of brand marketing, product design and customer acquisition. Know the score: Register now with the Mashable promo code GSMASH11 and save 10%.

January 20, 2011, Washington, DC: L2 is a think tank for digital innovation. L2 will host the Social Graph Clinic, an all-day intensive clinic addressing the opportunities, challenges, and underpinnings of social media. Held at the George Washington School of Business, the event will feature speakers from academia, public sector, and private industry to lead discussions on social media strategies, rules of engagement, and metrics for marketing and digital professionals. Register here for the Social Graph Clinic. The first 10 Mashable readers to register will receive a 25% discount on tickets (Please use the following discount code when registering: “MASHABLE“)

January 24-27, 2011, San Francisco, CA: The Emerging Media Conference is one of the largest and unique of its kind, welcoming the New Year with an opportunity to view and experience the latest in technology advances and upcoming product roll outs. For three full days there will be demonstrations, presentations, and discussions led by some of the most connected and recognized experts in the industry including Keynote Jesse Schell from Carnegie Mellon University. Whether you are immersed in the world of emerging media or just have a casual interest, this conference allows you to preview the future of the tech world like a seasoned insider. Register and use the promo code EmMeConMash to save 10%.

January 24-26, 2011, London, UK: The Digital Content Monetisation (DCM) Europe 2011 is a forum for media and entertainment specialists to find out how to deliver sustainable strategies to monetise their digital content. You will meet over 200 of your peers across TV, Film, gaming, music, publishing and sports. Mashable readers receive a 10% discount when they register and use the promo code MASH.

January 25, 2011, London, UK: If you don't have a plan to offer your mobile services, you could be left behind as consumers increasingly consume entertainment, social media, games and gambling via mobile access devices.
Mobile Gaming will present a detailed and exciting roadmap for how gaming companies can take advantage of this new channel that has finally ‘come of age’ and multiply their revenues in the near future. Register and use the promo code MASHMOBILE.

January 26, 2011, London, UK: Monetising Social Games will show you how to integrate the phenomenal success of monetised social games into your product mix so you can catch the next wave of explosive customer acquisition and revenue growth via a channel that is legal in the USA, China and other markets inaccessible to traditional online gambling companies. Register and use the promo code MASHMSG.

February 1-3, 2011, San Diego, CA: The Green Data Center Conference will analyze new technology that will not only benefit our environment, but also save organizations money and increase efficiency. Industry experts and executives will gather to discuss the growing importance of green technology and the associated benefits. Corporate case studies will be presented to demonstrate how existing data centers have been retrofitted and new facilities built from the ground up. This conference will share valuable information that can be taken back and used immediately to gain measurable ROI. Register and use the promo code GDCSD10 to save 10%!

February 1-3, 2011, Santa Clara, CA: O'Reilly Strata Conference: Making Data Work – Turn data into decisions at Strata, the new conference from O’Reilly Media, focusing on the business and practice of data.Unprecedented computing power and connectivity are bringing new layers of experience to our lives in how we manage and present data sets of all sizes. Throughout three days of training, breakout sessions, and plenary discussions, O’Reilly Strata connects the decision-makers, practitioners, and leading vendors from enterprise and the web who are at the leading edge of this space. Topics include data science, acquisition, organization, machine learning, visualization, and more. Mashable readers can save 15% on registration with the promo code str11msh.

February 7-10, 2011, Orlando, FL: ARC's 2011 World Industry Forum: Driving Innovation, Sustainability and Performance will take place at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld! This forum will focus on challenges that will help you develop winning strategies. It provides an ideal environment for industry executives to collaborate, share ideas, and find new ways to attack their most pressing problems. The event includes sessions on the major issues facing our industry, with multiple tracks that enable executives to explore these topics from different perspectives. Owner/operators, solution providers, & technical experts will all benefit while contributing to the community's body of knowledge.

February 7-9, 2011, New York, NY: Now in its 10th year, the ePharma Summit is going to be bigger than ever. We are looking ahead to new trends and opportunities in digital marketing with unparalleled insight from leading industry innovators. Join us for more novel mobile strategies, more regulatory insights, more customer perspectives, and more examples of what is really working now from the organizations you admire most. Join us February 7-9 in New York City at the most respected digital marketing event for the life sciences industry as we explore innovative e-strategies and proven techniques to drive business. Register with promo code XP1606MASH and save 10%.

February 8-10, 2011, San Francisco, CA: Social Media Strategies Summit – We have researched the social media buzz to develop and present to you a top of the line marketing conference that you can't afford to miss. With in-depth case studies from the nuts and bolts to micro-blogging and sustaining online communities, you leave with a refreshed vision to take your marketing plan to the next level for 2010 and beyond. Register and use the promo code MASH to receive a discount.

February 14, 2011, Barcelona, Spain: The Mobile Premier Awards are among the most influential events in the mobile industry and the point of reference in early-stage innovation during the Mobile World Congress. An international jury of the most recognized mobile industry experts will select the 20 finalists from all the local AppCircuses held during 2010 to showcase their app in a 3-minute pitch at the event in Barcelona in front of investors, operators, media companies, peer entrepreneurs, and press and influential bloggers. Register and use the promo code #BCNMASHABLE to receive a 10% discount.

February 23, 2011, Portland, OR: Join hundreds of your online marketing peers for the Fifth Annual SearchFest Internet Marketing Conference in Portland on February 23, 2011. Thought leaders and industry experts from around the country–including major brands like Intel, REI, and the New York Times–will deliver in-depth presentations on topics including Advanced Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Universal Search, Analytics, Paid Search Marketing and many more. Register with the promo code MASHABLEPDX to save 10% on your General Admission ticket!

February 25-27, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: The 9th Annual Southern California Linux Expo, the premier community run Linux / Open Source conference, will feature tutorial sessions designed to show users of all skill levels what Open Source can do and how to do it. Whatever your interest is in Open Source, SCALE 9X will have something for you. Register and use the discount code MASH9 for 35% off.

February 28-March 1, 2011, Sydney, Australia: Social media marketing has rapidly evolved to the extent that it is no longer enough to just get on board the “social media marketing train.” Marketers are bombarded with tools and technologies without a real understanding of integrating social media effectively. Social Media Marketing – The Way Forward enables marketers develop and manage a sound strategy for your ongoing and future social media marketing projects, with practical and valuable insights shared by some of the most successful brands and campaign creators in both B2C & B2B social media marketing. Register with the promo code MPMASH and save 10%!

March 1-5, 2011, Hannover, Germany: CeBIT is the world’s largest trade fair showcasing digital IT and telecommunications solutions for home and work environments. The key target groups are users from industry, the wholesale/retail sector, skilled trades, banks, the services sector, government agencies, science and all users passionate about technology. CeBIT offers an international platform for comparing notes on current industry trends, networking, and product presentations. For more information, please visit: http://www.cebit.de and to receive your complimentary visitor registration to this elite event, please email lguiang@hfusa.com.

March 1-2, 2011, London, UK: TFM&A is the UK’s largest and longest running multi-channel marketing, media and advertising event. TFM&A will be delivering the latest industry insights, trends and developments as well as leading suppliers of digital, direct, data and CRM solutions. With free seminars and keynotes from big names like Microsoft Advertising and Experian, over 200 exciting exhibitors, a dedicated networking bar and cafe and many more show features, take advantage of your FREE entry to create a campaign that becomes a classic. Register at t-f-m.co.uk/mashable.

March 2-3, 2010, San Francisco, CA: EyeforTravel's Social Media Strategies for Travel Conference is North America's number one social media event for travel professionals. Now in its fourth successful year, the event brings together top travel brands to share key insights on how to maximize the impact of your social media initiatives. The two days are packed with case studies, presentations and networking opportunities. Please use the promo code MASHABLE for a $100 discount on the admission price.

March 2, 2011, Berlin, Germany: FEI is Europe's first and only event to solve your industry challenge in real-time. Explore best in class presentations by top multi-nationals, collaborate with world renowned experts, Listen to real-world visionaries choreographing "next" best practices, and participate in a real-time case study where you will tackle industry challenges and work to propel the industry forward. FEI is no ordinary conference — this is truly a catalyst for change. Register and use the promo code FEI2011MASH to save 20% off the standard rate.

March 4-5, 2011, Louisville, KY: Code PaLOUsa is a two-day, eight-track software development conference in Louisville, KY that’s designed to cover all aspects of software development regardless of technology stack. We will have sessions revolving around Microsoft, Java, Ruby, PHP, and Clojure; along with sessions on higher, platform-agnostic levels. There will be 60 technical presentations and panel discussions from well-known professionals in the software development community and a keynote talk from Douglas Crockford of Yahoo! and JavaScript/JSON fame. For more information and to register, please visit codepalousa.com.

March 8-9, 2011, Brussels, Belgium: Are you looking to unleash the power of social media for CRM? As new channels and strategies emerge it is increasingly important to meet face-to-face to share knowledge, challenges and experiences. Enterprise Social 2.0: CRM will bring social media marketers and CRM experts together to share knowledge through real-world case studies, best practices, lessons learned and offering networking opportunities with some of the biggest brands and businesses today. Past speakers include: Google, Kodak, L'Oreal, Philips, Nokia, Lego, Siemens, Vodafone, SWIFT, SAP, Roger Smith Hotel, Dominos Pizza, Airbus and more. To receive a special discount, register now!

March 9, 2011, Dubai, India: The Cloud Computing World Forum Middle East and Africa will feature all of the key players within the Cloud Computing and SaaS market providing an introduction, discussion and look into the future for the ICT industry. Register today and get inspiration on how to address your latest issues with advice from real-life end-user case studies and practical examples. Register with the promo code MEAmash20 and save 20%!

March 15, 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Want to know successful stories on how big brands build their brand and reputation online? Everyone can go online, but can you STAY online? Our conference, Digitalize Your Marketing Strategy, is going to be most anticipated event of the year! WE are bringing you the Malaysian's most valuable brands, review their successful stories and provide you hands on tips to manage your online marketing strategy. Our privileged speakers from Digi, Dell, Unilever, Intel and Microsoft will share case studies using social media, digital and search engine. Register with the promo code DYMSMASH and save 20%!

March 23-24, 2010, Las Vegas, NV: Hear groundbreaking social media ROI case studies at Social Pulse 2011: The Corporate Social Media Marketing Event! This conference provides corporate marketing leaders from across industries the newest insights and case studies on how to drive measurable results and marketing ROI through smart social media strategy. Moving beyond theory and assumptions, it is the only conference that focuses on social media initiatives that have generated measurable results for America’s leading corporations. Register online or call 1-800-647-7600, and use the promo code MJK233 to save $200!

March 28-29, 2011, Paris, France: The Marketing 2.0 Conference features leading social media experts who will discuss and learn about the social media initiatives from brands, advertisers, researchers and analysts. Hear from leading people in social media about their strategies, revenue models and how they are approaching upcoming trends in the field. The event will also examine the current market conditions, future forecasts and predictions from leading researchers. Use the promo code mash2011 to receive a discount off the registration price.

April 6-8, 2011, Los Angeles, CA: Hispanicize 2011, the 2nd Annual Hispanic PR & Social Media Conference, is the first and largest conference devoted to Latino social media, bloggers and public relations professionals. The three-day conference will feature top industry keynote speakers and more than 24 professional development sessions. It’s also the first event to gather all the Latino and multicultural bloggers together for first time. For more information, please click here.

April 13-15, 2011, Singapore: The Internet Show Asia 2011 is a series of seminars and a large end-to-end showcase of the latest internet technologies and solutions. More than 10,000 attendees will be at the exhibition and conference to find new ways of doing internet business and enhancing product offerings through the internet – through case study presentations and speaking directly with solution partners. The show will aim to increase your ROI, it's all about business, not a technology show. For more details and registrations, please visit www.theinternetshows.com/2010/Singapore.

April 18-20, 2011, Dubai, UAE: Planet of the Apps Arabia 2011 is a three day conference dedicated to the opportunities and challenges of mobile applications in the Arab world. The event is for app developers, content providers, device manufacturers, network operators and brands to meet and discuss the current challenges and opportunities presented in this growing market. Key issues addressed will include; the sustainability of the current business models, consumer engagement, developer recruitment, app discoverability, platform choice and the importance of social media networks. Register with promo code Mashable and save 20%!

April 18-19, 2011, London, UK: The Mobile Research Conference is the must-attend annual event for brands, agencies and academics interested in engaging consumers and capturing real-time feedback through mobile phones. Mobile, along with social media and online networks, represents the latest frontier for market research. Attend MRC 2011 and discover how to engage respondents, extract insights for product innovation and optimize marketing activities. This 2-day event is designed for consumer insights professionals; corporate, agency and academic survey researchers; mobile operators and tech companies. Register and use the promo code FF-MASHABLE to receive 20% off the main registration price!

April 28, 2011, London, UK: The Augmented Reality Summit is designed to explore this new dynamic reality and provide delegates with the perfect opportunity to uncover Augmented Reality in full and explore the opportunity's AR brings any brand or company. The AR Summit is positioned at the forefront of this exciting continually developing new industry. Whether you are a Brand, Advertiser or Agency, Technology provider or Developer looking to meet key industry figures, keep up with the latest developments, technology's & tools or simply to network with other from the world of AR – Register and use the promo code ARMASH to save 25%!

May 4-8, 2011, London, UK: Digital Shoreditch is the voice of everything happening in Shoreditch. The festival explores and celebrates digital technologies; unites the digital community; and provides a platform for sharing knowledge. The activity culminates in a series of exhibitions, parties, presentations, open studios and games.

May 17-19, 2011, London, UK: The World E-Reading Congress brings together digital and print publishers with e-reading platforms and device manufacturers to discuss the business models and opportunities provided by the growth of the e-reading industry. Publishers must be prepared for this dramatic industry upheaval. They must learn how to embrace this disruptive technology and the World E-Reading Congress will enable them to discover how they can profit from the E-Reading revolution. Visit our website for more information and register before January to save 10%!

September 26-29, 2011, Kaua’i, HI: The Search and Social Woot! is an elite conference unlike any other that will provide you with the strategies and complete know how to thrive in this ever changing environment. Each day begins with morning sessions around the hottest topics. With Keynote Bruce Clay of Bruce Clay, Inc. and speakers from corporations such as Real Networks, Network Solutions, AT&T, Microsoft Bing and Logitech. Afternoons are spent in a relaxed environment including planned activities in which individual attendees can get to know speakers and each other on a more personal level continuing the discussion and building long lasting relationships. Register and use the promo code SSWootMash to save 10%.

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Reviews: Australia, Google, Gowalla, Linux, Mashable, PHP, Path, social media, video

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Tumblr To Come Back Shortly, After Almost 24 Hours

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:33 PM PST


According to the most recent tweet from Tumblr, the service should be back very soon. Thank the viral gods.

The tweet, which reads, “The recovering database cluster is online and healthy. We’re incrementally opening up access to blogs while monitoring performance,” comes after several hours of silence from the micro-blogging site.

I’ve checked on the status of my own Tumblr blog, and it appears to be intact, which is a relief considering I have nearly two years’ worth of posts on the site.

Earlier today, Business Insider wondered if users would lose everything in the outage that started yesterday evening, and President John Maloney responded, “That’s ridiculous.” We’re happy this seems to be the case.

And for everyone who was wondering today whether or not 4chan was to blame for the outage, we have it from founder Christopher Poole, a.k.a. moot, himself: It wasn’t.

According to Poole, whom we e-mailed earlier for comment, “4chan has nothing to do with this. They’ve stated it’s a database/migration issue.”

The idea that 4chan would take down Tumblr is not completely unfounded — last month 4chan users declared war on the blogging service, claiming that Tumblr users poach their memes. Tumblr responded in kind. That war didn’t result in anything as bad as this most recent outage, but does point to an animosity between the two sites.

Still, this outage — which is now thankfully over — seems to be solely the fault of Tumblr’s database clusters.

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How Social Media Can Help With Your Long Distance Job Search

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 01:23 PM PST

job image

Dan Klamm is the outreach and marketing coordinator at Syracuse University Career Services. Connect with him on Twitter @DanKlamm.

Finding a job in today’s economy is tough if you’re looking locally, but it can be particularly challenging if you’re seeking work in a far-away, unfamiliar city.

If you’re a long-distance job seeker, you face several disadvantages. First, some companies anticipate that bringing you in for an interview will be a hassle and that you will expect them to pay for travel expenses. Second, they don’t know whether you’re serious about relocating to their city. Third, you’re an unknown entity. When going head-to-head with more familiar candidates, it’s often easier and less risky for employers to select the locals and toss your application aside.

Even if you’re able to secure interviews and gain some traction in your search, the process of landing a position in a new city can involve a significant investment of time, money and resources on your part.

The good news is that social media can help with the process of long-distance job seeking. Whether you’re looking for a job 300 or 3,000 miles from home, here are some tips for using social media in your search.

Stay On Top of Local News

When interviewing for positions in a new locale, you don’t want to seem like an outsider. It’s important to get acquainted with local culture and to stay on top of important happenings in the news. Though you probably won’t be grilled on local politics, sports teams or economic development during the interview process, being aware of these things can help with small talk. It also shows that you’re serious about relocating and invested in the process.

You can get started by following local news outlets on Twitter and Facebook, as well as identifying local personalities and thought leaders to keep up with. A job seeker focusing his efforts on Richmond, VA, for instance, might consider following @RVAnews, @RichmondMag and @WireRichmond. The Huffington Post even aggregated lists of regional news outlets on Twitter, making it easy for you to find Twitter accounts in specific locations.

Grow Your Professional Network

Most jobs today are found through networking, so you should leverage any and all local connections you may have. Facebook is a great platform for warming up relationships with old friends, family or former colleagues who live in the location where you’d like to be. Beyond that, LinkedIn can help you identify new contacts — such as people working at your target companies — and get introduced through mutual connections. Here are some tips on the etiquette of reaching out via social media.

Tap into local professional associations on LinkedIn, too. If you’re relocating to Boston to work in marketing, for instance, you have plenty of opportunities to network: The Boston Chapter of the American Marketing Association, the Boston Marketing Group, and the Boston Interactive Media Association, just to name a few. Being part of these groups will keep you in-the-know with local industry happenings and increase the likelihood that you’re invited to networking events.

Don’t overlook alumni connections in your target city. Many schools have satellite locations or active regional clubs with robust offerings in the way of career connections. At Syracuse University, alumni can follow @LubinHouseSU and @BigAppleOrange on Twitter, or join the Big Apple Orange group on LinkedIn to network with SU’s alumni base in the New York City area.

Find Job Postings

twitjobsearch

Increasingly, companies are using LinkedIn and Twitter to publicize job openings. LinkedIn is more useful than a typical job board because it allows you to see who posted each job and to pinpoint how you are connected to individuals at the company.

Edelman, one of the world’s largest independent PR firms, uses LinkedIn to post job opportunities in its 52 worldwide offices. The firm also uses Twitter to engage potential employees. Recently, Edelman even hosted a San Francisco Tweet-up for job seekers savvy enough to be following its @Edelman_Careers account on Twitter.

In addition to specific companies posting jobs, be aware of niche job feeds on Twitter. Looking for jobs in New York City’s fashion industry? Follow @nyfashionjobs. Marketing jobs in Los Angeles? Try @LA_Marketing. Visit twitjobsearch.com to locate Twitter accounts posting jobs relevant to your particular search.

Save Money on Travel

In most cases, you’ll need to make at least a couple trips to your desired new location before making a permanent move. If you’re lucky, your prospective employer will offer to cover the costs of travel or give you the opportunity to conduct preliminary interviews via phone or Skype. Even with these accommodations, the costs of hunting for a job in a far-away location can add up quickly — especially if you’re looking in pricey markets like New York City or San Francisco.

To learn about opportunities to save, connect with travel providers and hospitality companies through social media. Often, these organizations will provide promotional codes or discounts to their followers. United Airlines has been known to advertise special fares (or “twares”) via their Twitter account. Virgin America has also offered discounted rates via Twitter promotions, such as “Fly Forward, Give Back.” Amtrak, Greyhound and Megabus all use Twitter to share news or special offers, as well.

When you will need to find lodging in your desired new location, it never hurts to be acquainted with local hotels. This past summer, the Bryant Park Hotel gave away a free two-night stay to a lucky Twitter follower. Many hotels are using social media to communicate with prospective guests, announce special rates and articulate their brand values. For a comprehensive view of hotels on Twitter, take a look at this list organized by Resideo.

Show That You Mean Business!

When a prospective employer receives your job application from across the country, he/she has no way of knowing how serious you are about moving. Are you applying to the company on a whim? Are you applying to positions all over the country? Would you really be prepared to make a quick move if offered the job? Use social media to show that you’re committed to relocating.

You can start by customizing your LinkedIn profile. In your LinkedIn headline or summary, state your plan to look for jobs in “X field” in “X location” by “X date.” This clarifies your intentions and shows that you mean business. Not all job seekers can be this forthright (especially those who have to keep relocation plans a secret from their current employers), but this is an excellent way to reinforce your seriousness about moving.

Looking for work in a new location can be a daunting task, but with the help of social media, it doesn’t have to be quite so difficult. When you make use of all the resources at your fingertips, you may be surprised how easy it is to make connections, identify opportunities, and ultimately land your dream job in a new location!

More Business Resources from Mashable:

- How the Fortune 500 Use Social Media to Grow Sales and Revenue
- 5 Ways to Sell Your Expertise Online
- Why Your Business Should Consider Reverse Mentorship
- 35 Essential Social Media & Tech Resources for Small Businesses
- 6 Ways to Score a Job Through Twitter

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, thesuperph

Reviews: Facebook, LinkedIn, Skype, Twitter, iStockphoto

More About: business, facebook, job, job search, linkedin, social media, twitter

For more Business coverage:

Michael Jackson’s Posthumous Album Leaks Online

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 01:01 PM PST


Another high-profile leak has hit the web — Michael Jackson’s posthumous album, Michael, which is due out next week.

According to TMZ, all 10 of the disc’s tracks have made their way onto file-sharing sites, a fact we’ve confirmed by surfing around a few sources. Twitter is also abuzz about the leaked album.

Three songs from the disc have already been available for a while now — "Much Too Soon" premiered exclusively on Ping last week, "Hold My Hand” debuted on November 23 on Jackson's official website, and "Breaking News” (which many suspected was not actually sung by Jackson) hit the web on November 8.

We imagine that Sony and Epic Records are not pleased with this turn of events, but they declined to comment.

Album leaks — as well as movie leaks — are not even remotely a new occurence. Most recently, Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy leaked weeks before it dropped, as did the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Still, it isn’t as if the government is taking matters lying down — Torrent-Finder.com was recently seized by government agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security seized scores more websites soon after (a series of events that raised a lot of eyebrows, seeing how site owners were apparently not warned before their domains were shut down). And then there’s the COICA Internet Censorship and Copyright Bill, which was recently approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and would crack down on copyright infringement if enacted (this bill is also raising eyebrows and has been called a “censorship bill”).

It hasn’t been long since these efforts, however, and there’s been another high-profile leak. What effect, if any, do you think the crackdown will have on the future of file-sharing?

Reviews: Ping, Twitter

More About: coica, file sharing, music, torrent

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Win a Holiday MashPack With 12 Tech and Social Media Prizes [CONTEST]

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:30 AM PST


We kicked off the holiday season by telling you about some of the hottest holiday gadgets in the Mashable 10 gift guide and asked what’s on your wish lists this year.

Now we’re celebrating by giving away a daily MashPack! Each weekday for the next two weeks, we’ll give away a collection of at least 12 favorite tech and social media wish list items. A different grand prize will be added each day, getting bigger and better as we get further into the holiday season.

Check out the list of prizes below to see what’s in today’s MashPack, and see details on how to win!

Happy holidays from Mashable!

How To Win Today’s MashPack

Tweeting for today’s MashPack will end Tuesday, December 7 at 12 p.m. ET. Please use your real identity in the submission so that we may contact you via e-mail, Twitter or Facebook to let you know that you’ve won. We’ll announce the winner after the contest closes. At this time, the contest is limited to those 18 and older in the U.S.

Sony MHS-TS10 Bloggie Touch HD Camera

Sony’s Bloggie Touch camera captures Full HD video and 12.8-megapixel still shots with the simple touch of its single record button. The large touch screen showcases your photos and videos, which are stored on built-in memory. Its size makes it readily available from your pocket or purse, and you can easily upload your photos and videos to your favorite social networking sites while you’re on the go.

Griffin Technology PowerDockDual

Your iPad and your iPhone (or your iPod) get seats of honor in PowerDock Dual’s built-in charging dock, while the valet dish is a resting place for your change, keys and whatever else might live in your pockets. It has an AC power supply with four international plug adapters, 10 watt (2 amp) charging for your iPad and 5 watt (1 amp) charging for your iPhone or iPod. The screens and speakers are unobstructed while the batteries get charged, so you can listen while you watch. It’s perfect side table entertainment!

Griffin Technology AirCurve Play

The AirCurve Play acoustically amplifies the speaker of your iPhone without batteries, cables or electricity. It collects the sound from the built-in speaker of your iPhone, amplifies it in a built-in coiled waveguide, and projects it out into the room. AirCurve’s transparent polycarbonate body lets you appreciate the waveguide’s graceful curves, inside, that do all the work. Its internal engineered waveguide requires no power, making it a perfectly portable audio/video conference phone, and self-contained music player and video viewer.

Caseable Custom-Designed Mashable Laptop Case

Caseable, a startup based right in Mashable HQ’s backyard — Brooklyn, New York, creates handmade, customized cases for just about any size laptop or tablet. You can get any look you’d like by handpicking your colors for each detail — even the zipper! Caseable made specialized 15-inch Mashable cases exclusively for our holiday MashPack winners. They’re quite snazzy, if we might say so ourselves.

Picaboo Madison Photobook

Picaboo photo books can be fully customized by dragging-and-dropping photos and captions anywhere on your pages. You have complete creative control with powerful-yet-simple editing options. The Madison’s heavyweight, archival quality lay-flat pages are ideal for highlighting panoramic, two-page spreads, and the paper's pearlescent sheen coating adds a luminous glow to your photos. The elegant custom cover features a photo of your choice under a protective laminate and a full-grain glove leather wrap around the spine and back cover is available in five colors.

Skullcandy Headphones

Skullcandy headphones are known for their funky fashion and durable design. Their style is in line with an impressive list of celebrities who endorse the brand, including rap czar Snoop Dogg; snowboarding legends Terje Haakonsen, Mark Frank Montoya and Devun Walsh; skate pros Lizard King, Theotis Beasley and Greg Lutzka; surf rulers Mick Fanning, Owen Wright, Kolohe Andino, the Gudauskas brothers, and Clay Marzo; as well as free-ski greats Tanner Hall, Kaya Turski, and Tom Wallisch.

Merkury Innovations Universal Square Stereo Speakers

The Universal Square Stereo Speakers are just one example of Merkury Innovations’ fun and stylish electronic accessories. These battery-free speakers will work with audio devices featuring a 3.5mm audio jack. The slim design and exciting metallic colors can complement any decor. Their compact size make them convenient for toting from room to room in the house or packing up for a friend’s party.

Ben Folds’ Lonely Avenue Deluxe Album

Lonely Avenue contains 11 new songs featuring music by Ben Folds with words by Nick Hornby for what The Huffington Post calls “one of the most interesting collaborations of the year.” This special deluxe edition includes the album on CD and vinyl, four short stories by Nick Hornby, and 15 images by acclaimed photographer Joel Meyerowitz, all in a hardbound, 152-page book.

Hard Candy Mobile Phone Cases

Hard Candy Cases merges fashion and function to distinguish and protect mobile phones from the wear and tear of daily use. It’s one of the fastest growing brands in the Apple accessories industry with distribution in the United States, Singapore, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, France, Puerto Rico, Thailand, Indonesia, Ireland, UK and Malaysia, among others.

Power Support USA iPad Leather Sleeve

Constructed with premium quality leather, the Power Support USA iPad sleeve protects while complimenting the aesthetics of the device. The sleeve’s soft inner lining prevents scratching while using this sleek carrying case. Its clean design and superb manufacturing techniques make for high-quality iPad protection.

Power Support USA iPhone4 Anti-Glare Films

Power Support USA films protect your iPhone 4 screen from scratches, dirt and dust while reducing glare, fingerprints and smudges. It’s specially formulated to be compatible with retina display and resist glare and fingerprints while protecting your screen. The static cling adhesive film leaves no residue if film is removed.

Power Support USA iPhone4 Designer Collection Cases

Power Support has teamed up with cutting-edge designers Tibi, Rachel Pally and Rory Beca to create a set of super stylish air jackets. Measuring under 1 mm, the jacket snugly hugs the back of your iPhone 4. You can keep your phone protected from dings and scrathes while looking fashionably fresh with the Power Support Designer Collection. It’s a win-win for any iPhone 4 owner!

Twournal Twitter Journal

Twournal allows you to create, buy and sell Twitter books printed from your tweets. All Twournals have color covers, can include replies and Twitpic/Tweetphoto/Yfrog pictures in color or black and white. You can choose a custom picture for your front cover. Select which tweets you want to start and end at. And you can add a dedication message to appear after your title.

Reviews: Facebook, Mashable, TweetPhoto, Twitpic, Twitter

More About: ben folds, caseable, contest, gadgets, Gifts, giveaway, griffin technology, hard candy, Holiday, lonely avenue, mashable 10, mashpack, merkury innovations, picaboo photobook, power support usa, promojam, skullcandy, sony bloggie, twournal

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More Problems for WikiLeaks: Switzerland Cuts Off Founder’s Bank Account

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:09 AM PST


Switzerland has taken new action against WikiLeaks by shutting down founder Julian Assange’s bank account.

PostFinance — which is owned by the Swiss Post, itself a public company owned by the Swiss Confederation — said in a statement earlier today that it has closed Julian Assange’s account for failing to provide proof of Swiss citizenship.

Here is PostFinance’s statement on its decision:

“Finance has ended its business relationship with WikiLeaks founder Julian Paul Assange. The Australian citizen provided false information regarding his place of residence during the account opening process. Assange entered Geneva as his domicile. Upon inspection, this information was found to be incorrect. Assange cannot provide proof of residence in Switzerland and thus does not meet the criteria for a customer relationship with PostFinance. For this reason, PostFinance is entitled to close his account. If there is any indication that the information provided by an account holder may not comply with the detailed valid provisions, PostFinance investigates the circumstances in detail and draws the appropriate conclusions.”

WikiLeaks and its founder have been under constant fire since it released 250,000+ sensitive U.S. diplomatic cables. Assange is wanted by Interpol for sex crimes he allegedly committed during a trip to Sweden earlier this year. The U.S. State Department has taken action against the organization, and several companies including Amazon, PayPal and EveryDNS have banned the site from using their services.

Multiple governments are now targeting the organization. While each action may have been taken for different reasons, the result is an enormous amount of pressure designed to take WikiLeaks down. Despite hundreds of mirrors replicating the site, the organization is definitely in trouble. Whether it will survive or grow stronger than ever after recent events remains to be seen.

Reviews: Wikileaks

More About: julian assange, PostFinance, sweden, Swiss Federation, Swiss Post, switzerland, wikileaks

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Commenting Guidelines for the Mashable Community

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:56 AM PST


Here at Mashable, we truly value comments. Commenting is a way for everyone to participate and contribute, breaking down the wall between the author and reader.

To improve the dialogue, we’ve put together some simple commenting guidelines for the Mashable community. When making moderation decisions, we will take these, as well as the context in which comments are made, into account. We wanted to post these publicly and be transparent about our moderation process and why certain comments are removed.

We also recognize that this is your community as much as it is ours. We want you to help us uphold a high standard of quality for conversation in the comments. As always, we’d love to get your thoughts in the comments about things you think should be added to this list.

1. Personal Attacks: Please don't engage in personal attacks (on authors, other users or any individual), persistent trolling or mindless abuse. The Mashable community should focus on intelligently discussing topics by furthering the conversation and informing the participants with resourceful and constructive ideas.

2. Hate speech: Racism, sexism and homophobia will not be tolerated.

3. Language and Threats: Please watch your language and respect other people’s views, beliefs and emotions. We reserve the right to remove any content that might be found extremely offensive or threatening.

4. No Spam: Spam and advertising content will be removed.

5. Smear Tactics: Although we acknowledge criticism of our articles and our writers, we will not allow misrepresentation. We will distinguish between constructive arguments and smear tactics.

6. Relevancy: Please keep conversations relevant. Off-topic comments are subject to removal in order to keep the thread on track.

7. Quality: We encourage you to take responsibility for the quality of the conversations in which you're participating. Maintain intelligent discussions in the Mashable community by being respectful and considerate.

8. Help us: Maintain an inviting interaction space by self-policing threads and flagging spam. Although we have a hands-on approach to community engagement, we do sometimes miss problem commenters or trolls. We appreciate your efforts to keep the Mashable community environment inviting, insightful and constructive. Let the conversations be quality ones.

*A big thanks to The Guardian, which inspired these guidelines*

Images courtesy of iStockphoto, mattjeacock

Reviews: Mashable, iStockphoto

More About: comments, guidelines, mashable, social media

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HOW TO: Get the Most Out of a Coworking Space

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:44 AM PST


The Coworking Resources Series is supported by join.me. Get your people together without actually getting them together. Just instantly share your screen so everybody’s on the same page. No need for a plane, a projector or a sandwich platter. Just gather at join.me.

handsIf you’ve decided that it’s time to leave your bathrobe at home, let your favorite coffee shop have its corner table back, and join a coworking space, you’re only halfway there. Though coworking can have a lot of perks, how you take advantage of them and shape your experience is up to you.

“We've had people who within the first week they've kind of immersed themselves [in]to events and socializing with other people here, or they’re just here, they do their work, and then they take off,” says Jeff Park, who manages the Ravenswood Coworking Group in Chicago. “We know that they come in, but I think for them that's enough for them. They just want to be around other people in a productive environment.”

Whether you’re aiming to be as productive as possible without a lot of socializing or trying to build a strong professional community that you can turn to for resources and support, these five tips can help you get the most out of your coworking experience.

1. Scope Out Your Options


Green Spaces in New York is a coworking space for environmentally driven businesses. Coworking spaces vary greatly by niche, formality, and noise level.

Green Spaces, a coworking space in Tribeca, specializes in environmentally focused businesses. Mountain View-based Cubes & Crayons combines childcare and coworking. WorkBar in Boston is hosted in a 2,500-square-foot space and has separate areas for cafe-like and quieter working styles. Coworking Brooklyn uses a small room that functions as an art gallery by night.

The coworking experience varies drastically depending on which space you’re using. Different spaces have different levels of interaction with other workers, formality and general vibe. While some spaces, like Green Spaces and Cubes & Crayons, state their niche upfront, you’ll only be able to gauge what the environment is like by dropping in. Most spaces have daily drop-in rates. Try a couple of different spaces to see what works best for you before you commit. You can find a list of space around the world on the Coworking Wiki.

“See if the people in the space are people who you could go and see every day…if it's not, then go to the next space,” says Jay Catalan, the co-founder of a coworking space in Vancouver called The Network Hub.

1. Introduce Yourself

NWC
Coworkers introduce themselves at Manhattan coworking space New Work City’s startup weekend.

It’s less awkward to introduce yourself on the first day than to work alongside someone for months before asking their name. Even if you’re not usually outgoing, try to make a special effort for the first week or two when you start in a new coworking space.

“Just make introductions and it goes a long way…We've had some people they wish they had met sooner because it turns out they did similar lines of work and just talking about it or actually sharing work, it's not something you want to find out when you only have a couple more months left on your project or something,” Park says.

If you’re shy about meeting people, try getting creative (like, for instance, bringing food). Bill Jacobson and Dave Ulrich, who co-founded WorkBar, said that one new coworker at WorkBar Boston showed up with a big box of doughnuts. “He got to know everybody pretty quick,” Jacobson says.

2. Get to Know Your Coworkers


Coworkers at Philadelphia coworking space Independence Hall get to know each other during a bowling excursion.

Don’t stop interacting with your coworkers after you introduce yourself. One of the biggest benefits of coworking is the built-in community of professionals working across different industries.

“It may not seem directly ‘productive’ to chat with your coworker for 10 minutes mid-day, but indirectly, it yields greater results than almost anything else you could spend time on,” says Parker Whitney, office manager for Philadelphia coworking space Independents Hall, though he says, “Invest in your community by taking (not faking) interest in what its members do, and it will take you with it…The people you’ve always wanted to know are sitting all around you. Ask questions. Learn. Most importantly, help them when you can.”

If you are too busy during the workday for water cooler conversation, most coworking spaces host happy hours, seminars or other events that are prime opportunities for learning more about your coworkers.

3. Don’t Hesitate to Collaborate

WorkBar
Coworkers brainstorm together at WorkBar in Boston.

“Even when you work for yourself, it's important to realize your limitations,” says Dave Martorana, a freelance Python & iPhone developer who works at Independents Hall. “If you're a software developer, you're not necessarily a designer, product manager, or marketer as well. When you work at a coworking space, people with those skills probably work right next to you and are just as interested in building something awesome as you are.”

5. Apply the “Cone of Silence”

Headphones

While coworking one day, I ended up testing someone’s website, getting caught in the crossfire of a music choice showdown, and participating in a raised-hand vote about which suit jacket a fellow coworker should wear to a meeting. Needless to say, the social aspects of coworking — despite their advantages — can be extremely distracting.

Which is why out of the 37 productivity tips that I collected for a previous article, this one from Paul Preibisch of B3D Multitech remains my favorite:

“Rather than standing up from behind your wall of monitors and shouting, ‘Can you all shut up?!’ you may want to consider, what I call ‘The Cone of Silence.’ It really works! All you need are a nice pair of headphones, (not earbuds), a wave file that plays ‘white noise,’ and Windows Media Player set to auto-repeat."

Series Supported by join.me

The Coworking Resources Series is supported by join.me. Get your people together without actually getting them together. Just instantly share your screen so everybody’s on the same page. No need for a plane, a projector or a sandwich platter. Just gather at join.me.

So what exactly is join.me? It’s an impromptu meeting space that happens wherever, whenever. It’s getting a second or third pair of eyes on your presentation from across the hall or across the continent. It’s sharing your screen instantly with anyone or everyone to get stuff done, quickly. It’s join.me, the last two words in an invitation to collaborate, meet, train, demo or show-off.

More Startup Resources from Mashable:

- 5 Signs That Coworking Might Be for You
- 37 Productivity Tips for Working From Anywhere
- Why Co-Working Makes Sense for Small Businesses
- HOW TO: Choose the Best Workspace for Your Business
- 10 Essential Tips for Building Your Small Biz Team

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Nikada Flickr, Peter A. Blacksberg, boboroshi, steveyb

Reviews: Flickr, Python, iStockphoto

More About: business, coworking, Coworking Resources Series, Coworking Space, Independents Hall, Ravenswood Coworking, small business, The Network Hub, WorkBar

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New Version of Loopt Highlights Places of Social Relevance

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:33 AM PST


Loopt is releasing version 4.0 of its location-based iPhone app today. The update comes with a refreshed design and feature set that aims to better help users find friends and places.

Most notably, the new Loopt is said to use a social filter for places. The application marries information on you with data on where your Loopt and Facebook friends have been to show places of social relevance.

Also included is an “inner circle” option you can use to select friends to automatically share your location with. This feature is like the Loopt of yore, meaning it provides you with implicit location-sharing options so you can always share your whereabouts with a set group of friends without needing to check in to locations.

Other updates include the ability to send location-based text messages via the Loopt Ping feature and checkin rewards as sourced from Loopt Star, which has been merged into the new Loopt app.

“We continue to work at surfacing interesting information that makes Loopt like x-ray vision,” says co-founder and CEO Sam Altman, “where you can see through city walls and find something compelling, whether it's being alerted that an old friend is nearby, or that there's a café around the corner frequented by friends."

The current update is for iPhone only (and doesn’t appear to be live just yet), but the company is said to be releasing a similar version for Android in the next few weeks. We’ve yet to try it out, but the inner circle, places filtered by social relevance and new Ping features all sound quite promising and help to further differentiate the service from the likes of Foursquare and Facebook Places.

Reviews: Android, Foursquare, Ping

More About: iphone app, location sharing, loopt

For more Mobile coverage:

Skype Creates Bespoke Software to Help Refugee Workers

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:55 AM PST

skype world image

Skype has launched a new partnership with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide a bespoke, low-bandwith version of the popular video-chat software, to locations serviced by UNHCR aid workers.

Refugee aid workers, on top of dealing with on-the-ground problems, are typically separated from their families for months at a time, sometimes with little notice and few opportunities for communication. This technology is designed to provide a link for aid workers back to their own support groups — their friends and families back home.

Lest the focus rest solely on the UNHCR, Skype will also be hosting a fundraising button where ordinary Skype users can donate money to support computer technology and education for those 43 million refugees who have lost their homes.

The new software has been tested successfully in Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan and is now available to more than 1,000 staffers stationed in remote locations including Afghanistan, Algeria, Congo, Kyrgyzstan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Uganda. By the end of 2011, the aim is for Skype to be in at least 80% of UNHCR hardship locations and available to more than 3,000 staff members.

The bespoke edition is a nice move by Skype, which has been criticized for not being reliable. The partnership could help improve its image, while also supporting a great cause through both tailored technology and a dedication to continued fundraising.

How important do you think bespoke technology will be? What do you make of the partnership between Skype and UNHCR and their expansion plans? What could they do better? Let us know in the comments below.

Reviews: Skype

More About: bespoke, chat, Skype, social good, social media, unhcr, video, video chat

For more Social Good coverage:

Shazam Helps 100 Million Users Identify Tunes

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:46 AM PST

Shazam on Windows Phone 7

Just six months after identifying its one billionth song, mobile music discovery service Shazam has reached another milestone: It now has 100 million users.

Shazam’s user base has grown by 25 million in the last six months, thanks in part to its decision to expand from music identification into areas like television and advertising.

The service launched 10 years ago, but it really wasn’t until its iPhone app was released in 2008 that it really started to take off. Users hold the app up to a piece of audio and Shazam’s audio recognition engine identifies the track, lets users add their own tags, share and purchase tracks.

Shazam now has apps for the iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Nokia and Windows Phone 7. It has also expanded from only being a music service to also working with television and advertising content. Going forward, this seems to be a big part of its long-term strategy. In essence, what Shazam wants to do is build a network of audio QR codes.

Companies like HBO, NBC Universal and Levi’s Dockers have all partnered with the service to add supplementary content to television programming or advertising. So instead of just finding out the identity of a song, users can unlock more information about a brand or TV show.

Expanding into other verticals certainly makes sense, especially as more and more competition, including apps like SoundHound [iTunes link], now exist in the audio recognition space.

What apps do you use to identify songs on the radio or TV?

Reviews: Android, Shazam, Windows Phone 7

More About: Android apps, iphone apps, music, music discovery, shazam

For more Mobile coverage:

5 iPhone Apps For Avoiding International Business Faux Pas

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:30 AM PST

The International Business Series is brought to you by UPS. Discover the new logistics. It levels playing fields and lets you act locally or globally. It’s for the individual entrepreneur, the small business, or the large company. Put the new logistics to work for you.

international

No matter where you’re doing business, it’s important to make a good impression. But making a good impression can involve drastically different behaviors in different cultures. That’s why it’s important to do your research before you get on a plane.

“Knowing the cultural habits and preferences of the people you’ll be dealing with is essential,” says Margarita Gokun Silver, who has been coaching expatriates on land and online since 2005. “If the country you are going to is relationship-oriented — that is, relationships are important in that culture — you’d want to make sure you know how to build a relationship with your contacts from an authentic place. If it’s the country where hierarchy is strong, you’d want to know how to be around that in order to achieve the most optimum results and not offend anyone.”

Silver suggests that in order to prepare for an international business trip, consider an in-person or online training course, learn the country’s proverbs (“They tell a lot about the culture, about what’s important to people, and about what you should pay attention to.”), and talk to someone who has been to that destination.

Doing this kind of research beforehand will help you enter the culture gracefully. iPhone applications can supplement research by providing important cultural information when you need it.

Or, if you neglected to take the responsible research method, these five apps can at least prevent you from making embarrassing or offensive mistakes while abroad.

1. Business Practices by the Brannen Group

Brannen

Developed by a cross-cultural training and consulting group, these free apps give you the bullet point guides for conducting business in different countries. Each bullet point opens into a more in-depth explanation. “Be Punctual,” for instance, might seem like obvious advice for conducting business anywhere, but the in-depth explanation in the Japan app also explains that if you are late, you need only apologize — not provide details — and that due to long commutes, it’s best not to schedule meetings before 9 a.m.

The app is currently available for China, Japan, and the United States.

2. CultureGPS

CultureGPS

When Dutch social psychologist Dr. Geert Hofstede analyzed data collected from IBM employees across more than 70 countries, he determined that there were four dimensions that differentiate cultures: how society handles inequalities among people (power distance); to what extent people look after only themselves and their families (individualism); how focused on achievement the culture is (masculinity); and the extent to which people feel threatened by uncertainty and try to avoid it (uncertainty avoidance).

After conducting an additional study, he added a fifth dimension called “long term orientation,” which refers to the extent to which a society shows a future-oriented perspective rather than a historical or short-term point of view. Countries can be scored in each of these categories in order to create a profile of the culture.

Free app CultureGPS Lite puts these scores on your phone so that you can get an idea of what a culture is like before you travel there. The $25 professional version also lets you compare two countries on one graph, create a personal profile using the five dimensions, and gives recommendations related to cultural differences when working internationally as a manager, employee, virtual team member or with customers.

3. Business Traveler’s Passport Series

Passport

These guidebooks are a reference for business and travel needs. Whether you have questions about how to tip your taxi driver, need to look up an emergency number for a lost credit card, or need to know more about women’s role as travelers, in business, or in culture, it’s here.

The business section is particularly robust, which differs from some general guidebooks and can help you avoid faux pas when greeting someone in a business setting, closing an agreement, or conducting a meeting.

The app is, however, structured like a book and requires some time to read. It’s a good resource to have on your person while traveling, but if you already have a pocket guidebook and prefer to carry paper, you might want to spend your $10 elsewhere.

4. World Customs & Cultures

Customs&Culture

This free app is an at-a-glance reference for 165 countries. Surprisingly, it still does a good job of covering the discreet and not so discreet cultural differences a business traveler may encounter abroad: greetings, communication style, personal space, eye contact, views of time, gender issues, gestures, and important laws. Especially helpful is the taboo section, which compiles all of the most important faux pas to avoid for easy consumption. Read it before you, let’s say, go to Iran and give someone a well-meaning “thumbs up.”

5. International Business Etiquette

International Business Etiquette is quite obviously a mobile website masquerading as an app. The countries on the app’s home menu link to the online etiquette guides on the website of translation company Kwintessential. Having easy access to the guides is useful if you won’t have a computer with you during your travels, but otherwise there is no advantage to downloading the mobile version of the guides.

The guides themselves do contain useful information about meeting etiquette, gift-giving etiquette, and table manners as well as providing a more extensive focus on business etiquette in each country.

Series supported by UPS

The International Business Series is brought to you by UPS. Discover the new logistics. It levels playing fields and lets you act locally or globally. It’s for the individual entrepreneur, the small business, or the large company. Put the new logistics to work for you.

More Business Resources from Mashable:

- 5 Tips for Marketing Online to an International Audience
- HOW TO: Build Your International Business Network Online
- 5 Tips for Developing a Global-Friendly Website
- HOW TO: Optimize Your Mobile Site Across Multiple Platforms
- 15 Mobile Translation Apps for the International Businessperson

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Antonio

Reviews: iPhone, iStockphoto

More About: Brannen Group, Business Traveler's Passport, CultureGPS, Customs & Culture, Geert Hofsteade, international business, International Business Series, iphone, mobile app

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Twitter: We Are Not Keeping WikiLeaks Out of Trending Topics [UPDATED]

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:11 AM PST


Speculation surfaced this weekend that Twitter has been censoring the discussion of WikiLeaks by keeping it out of trending topics.

According to Twitter, the list of trending topics is determined by the words, phrases or hashtags appearing in the greatest number of tweets at any given time. Given the flurry of news about WikiLeaks since it released thousands of secret U.S. embassy cables last weekend, it’s a little surprising that #WikiLeaks has been entirely left out of Twitter’s Trending Topics list.

It’s especially surprising when you look at the data compiled by a blogger known as Bubbloy, who pulled data from trendistic.com that shows that as of last night, #WikiLeaks was outperforming the top five Trending Topics on Twitter, yet it did not make the list (see graph, below).

In fact, according to his data, #WikiLeaks hasn’t been a trending topic since August 21, although #cablegate was trending last weekend.

Over at the blog Student Activism, which has also noted #WikiLeaks’s conspicuous absence from the Trending Topics, a commenter who claims to be Twitter Product Manager Josh Elman (Update (1:37 p.m. ET): Confirmed: It’s him) offered this explanation for #WikiLeaks’s absence:

“Twitter hasn't modified trends in any way to help or prevent wikileaks from trending. #cablegate was trending last weekend and various terms around this issue have trended in different regions over the past week. Trends isn't just about volume of a term but also the diversity of people and tweets about a term and looking for organic volume increases above the norm. I hope this helps.”

It is therefore possible that #WikiLeaks is failing to trend because the tweets simply aren’t diverse enough in content, although looking at the current list of tweets with the hashtag #WikiLeaks, this seems a little hard to believe.

Twitter Director of Communications Matt Graves likewise denied the allegations that #WikiLeaks is being censored: “Twitter is absolutely not keeping Wikileaks out of Trending Topics,” he wrote to Mashable.

This is not the first time Twitter has been accused of keeping certain hashtags out of Trending Topics. Last week, student protestors at University College London (UCL) complained that the microblogging service was keeping the hashtag #demo2010 off the list, and that Twitter even went so far as to make their accounts unavailable. Twitter likewise denied the allegations.

As a side note, Twitter’s communications team has repeatedly dodged questions about whether it will continue to allow the @WikiLeaks account to run on the service after EveryDNS.net, Amazon and PayPal terminated their service contracts with the organization, citing illegal activity.

Update (1:20 p.m. ET): Twitter has just released the following statement:

“Twitter is not censoring #wikileaks, #cablegate or other related terms from the Trends list of trending topics.

Our Trends list is designed to help people discover the 'most breaking' breaking news from across the world, in real-time. The list is generated by an algorithm that identifies topics that are being talked about more right now than they were previously.

There's a number of factors that may come into play when seemingly popular terms don't make the Trends list. Sometimes topics that are popular don't break into the Trends list because the current velocity of conversation (volume of Tweets at a given moment) isn't greater than in previous hours and days. Sometimes topics that are genuinely popular simply aren't widespread enough to make the list of top Trends. And, on occasion, topics just aren’t as popular as people believe.”

Reviews: Amazon.com, Mashable, Twitter, Wikileaks

More About: censorship, trending topics, twitter, wikileaks

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5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Developing a Successful Mobile App

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:55 AM PST


Paul Myers is the CEO of Bappz, a specialist developer of applications for iPhone, iPad, Facebook and other mobile devices.

The way that people choose, buy, access and use mobile apps is, in many ways, fundamentally different from the way they behave on the traditional web, and so the rules have to change. The issue is that there isn't yet the same level of widespread understanding about apps that there is about web design. Many people, even self-proclaimed apps specialists, are basing their teaching on a relatively short period of experience in the market.

The key to understanding the specialist nature of app development is to think about the way that people use them. Unlike PC users, mobile users are on the move, in a hurry and easily distracted. They're not interested in sitting back, reading the instructions and waiting for a product to install to make things happen. They want the service they're looking for here and now.

Though the marketplace for mobile apps is still relatively young when compared to web, there are a handful of best practices to abide and pitfalls to avoid when in development.

1. Don't Over-Promise and Then Under-Deliver

App users are fickle, possibly even more so than web users. Moreover, in the app downloading and installation process, they are investing more of their time to access your content than they would just by visiting a webpage. If they put this time in and you don't deliver on your promises, they are going to react badly.

Now you might think that as long as your download figures are good that this doesn't matter, but that's not the point. Quite apart from the fact that you want an ongoing engagement with your app, a disappointing experience is more likely than not going to put a user off downloading any of your future apps and could quite possibly cause broader damage with regard to a branded application.

The key is to set user expectations appropriately from the very beginning. Be realistic in your descriptions and your artwork. While you might be worried that a more realistic description might limit your appeal in the App Store, the benefits gained from a happier user base will far outweigh the damage you could cause by misleading potential users.

2. Don't Let Your App Lapse

Releasing your app isn't the end of the process, it's just a start. To maintain downloads and keep usage levels up, you need to update often, adding new functionality, UI tweaks or data. If you just let your app sit statically on the App Store or on users handsets, it will quickly get overtaken by the competition.

An app is a dynamic thing and should constantly develop and change based on user feedback and new developments in your marketplace. Apps can quickly be forgotten, so you need to make sure that you're constantly giving your users a reason to revisit and re-use your service.

For example, if you're releasing a shopping app, you need to make sure that you're adding the latest functionality as soon as it’s available and stable. If all of your competitors enable bar-code scanning, you’d do well to add this functionality or be left in the dust.

3. Don't Try to Be Something You’re Not

When you develop an app, you should start with an idea of what you want it to do and stick to that. Don't try and add endless extra functionality. Focus on doing the best job on the core service that you intend to deliver.

For example, if you're building an app that helps people work out their subway route, stick to subway routes. People don't want to find the walking route to their nearest subway station or point of interest near their destination, they just want to find out what line they should be on and where they should change.

A lot of app usage is highly results-focused. Users want to get the information they need as quickly and easily as they can. They don't want to search through endless menu options or setup screens. The more functionality you add into your app, the more you'll confuse your users. Confusion makes them more likely to switch to the competition.

4. Only Release It When It’s Ready

Today’s development mantra is “release early, release often,” as indicated by the endless Beta services we see from web companies large and small. In the app world, things are different. While on the web, audiences might be willing to act as guinea pigs for your test program, nothing is more likely to scare off potential mobile users than early reviews showing that an app is unreliable.

The reviews on the iTunes Store are all-powerful when it comes to end users’ app choices, and an early release of a buggy app is certain to secure you a handful of negative reviews. Most importantly, those reviews won't go away as long as your app is on the store and will affect your downloads over the long term. If you launch something half-baked with the intention of getting it right later, the reviews will be a constant reminder. 

5. Don’t Over-Think the Development

Simplicity is the key to a successful app, and if it all seems to be getting too complicated, chances are you're doing it wrong.

Getting overly complex in your app development is not only costly in development resource, it's also asking for problems in the end product. Complexity increases the likelihood of bugs sneaking through and often negatively impacts the performance on the end user’s handset.

The Takeaway

Apps are without question a game changer when it comes to users interacting with digital services. However, a game change in end usage also implies a change in the way that we develop these services. If you try and take your web development principles and stick them in an app platform, it just won’t work. The key to building a successful app is to identify the unique features of the app opportunity and apply these to your development thinking at every level.

More Mobile Development Resources from Mashable:

- HOW TO: Develop a Branded iPhone App on a Budget
- 5 Musts for Mobile App Marketing
- HOW TO: Build an App for Your Small Business
- Top iPhone Developer Discusses the Future of Media Apps [VIDEO]
- HOW TO: Develop iPhone Apps With Staying Power

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Sirgunhik

Reviews: App Store, Apps, iStockphoto

More About: android, app development, apps, business, development, ipad, iphone, Mobile 2.0, mobile apps, tips

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