Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Turn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/empire-avenue-game-turns-friends-into-stock/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/empire-avenue-game-turns-friends-into-stock/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/empire-avenue-game-turns-friends-into-stock/#comments empire avenue Social networking is a numbers game. Not only do you try to get the "right" amount of friends on Facebook and a good follower/followed ratio on Twitter, but it's all about wielding some social currency: who knows whom, where you get invited, if you'll get the scoop on the latest celeb death. Nowadays, social networking is quantifying the power of your friendships.

But talking analytics will make the average Facebooker's eyes glaze over. Transitioning it into a buy/sell/trade stock market game, however, suddenly turns your socialite friend into a hot commodity. Empire Avenue, a "social influence stock market" has now launched its Facebook app, which allows players to "buy and sell" the people they know, leveraging profit. The idea is that active, socially "fluent" people are worth more -- the more you tweet, post and share, the higher your value is. Then, you can take the game's currency, called "eaves," and purchase in-game items, which can also increase your value. The more people you invite, the greater access you'll have.

Continue reading Turn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game

SwitchedTurn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsempire avenueEmpireAvenuefacebookgamingsocial networksocial networkingSocialNetworkSocialNetworkingstock marketStockMarkettoptwitterThu, 07 Apr 2011 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. Might Use Facebook, Twitter to Broadcast Terrorism Alerts]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/u-s-might-use-facebook-twitter-to-broadcast-terrorism-alerts/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/u-s-might-use-facebook-twitter-to-broadcast-terrorism-alerts/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/u-s-might-use-facebook-twitter-to-broadcast-terrorism-alerts/#commentsfacebook loginThe U.S. government is considering using Facebook and Twitter to issue terrorism warnings, as part of its revamped terror alert system.

According to a draft of a Homeland Security plan obtained by the AP, the government would broadcast the warnings via Facebook and Twitter "when appropriate," and only after federal, state and local officials have already been alerted. But these warnings won't be quite as complex as before. The new system features only two alert levels -- 'elevated' and 'imminent' -- rather than the five colors that comprised the previous scale.

Continue reading U.S. Might Use Facebook, Twitter to Broadcast Terrorism Alerts

SwitchedU.S. Might Use Facebook, Twitter to Broadcast Terrorism Alerts originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alertfacebookHomeland SecurityHomelandSecuritypoliticsSocialNetworkingterrorismtoptwitterwarningWebThu, 07 Apr 2011 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Urdu Translation Software Understands Nuance]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/rohini-srihari-urdu-translation-app-understands-nuance/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/rohini-srihari-urdu-translation-app-understands-nuance/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/rohini-srihari-urdu-translation-app-understands-nuance/#comments urdu translator A computer scientist at the University of Buffalo has developed a new program capable of taking automated translation beyond the literal.

Rohini Srihari began working on her software in the hopes of improving computerized translations of Urdu -- a linguistic blend of Hindi and Persian that is widely spoken in Pakistan, and by many Muslims in India. Urdu is a particularly difficult language for computers to translate because its grammar is so different from most Western languages, and its Arabic script can connote important subtleties in meaning. As a result, most digital translations of Urdu remain comparatively basic and literal -- something that Srihari wanted to change.

Continue reading Urdu Translation Software Understands Nuance

SwitchedUrdu Translation Software Understands Nuance originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arabichistorylanguageMiddleEastpakistanpoliticsRohiniSrihariscienceSocialNetworkingtoptranslationtwitterurduWebTue, 05 Apr 2011 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter's New Homepage Signals a Maturing Service]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/twitters-new-homepage-signals-a-maturing-service/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/twitters-new-homepage-signals-a-maturing-service/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/twitters-new-homepage-signals-a-maturing-service/#comments New Twitter Homepage Twitter is rolling out a new homepage, which suggests a subtle shift in focus for the service. The new landing page asks you to "follow your interests," with a strip of suggested accounts that lean heavily toward news services and "industry experts." Overall, the design is cleaner and more mature, making it clear that Twitter wants to see itself as a serious destination for information.

SwitchedTwitter's New Homepage Signals a Maturing Service originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>social networkingSocialNetworkingtoptwittertwitter homepageTwitterHomepagewebTue, 05 Apr 2011 16:22:00 EST<![CDATA[TweetForger: Your Lawsuit-Attracting Impersonation Site of the Day]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/tweetforger-your-lawsuit-attracting-impersonation-site-of-the-d/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/tweetforger-your-lawsuit-attracting-impersonation-site-of-the-d/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/tweetforger-your-lawsuit-attracting-impersonation-site-of-the-d/#comments fake sarah palin tweet TweetForger does exactly what it sounds like. Enter your mark's handle and some lulz-worthy copy, and blammo: You're all set up with a fake tweet. Not that anyone with a basic grasp of Photoshop couldn't already do this, but it's a good time-waster to kick off the week. (Apologies to both Sarah Palin and polar bears.)

SwitchedTweetForger: Your Lawsuit-Attracting Impersonation Site of the Day originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fakelolzsarah+palinsarahpalintoptweetforgertwitterwebMon, 04 Apr 2011 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[James Franco Mercifully Abandons Twitter]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/james-franco-quits-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/james-franco-quits-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/james-franco-quits-twitter/#comments James Franco We pray to whatever higher power there might be that this is not some April Fool's prank: James Franco has deleted his Twitter account. No more feuding with Bruce Vilanch or bravely taking on a college newspaper via TwitPic. Franco will now have to go back to his 13 day jobs, four degree programs and motorized bong.

SwitchedJames Franco Mercifully Abandons Twitter originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesjames francoJamesFrancotoptwitterFri, 01 Apr 2011 15:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Confirms Your Long UberSocial DM's Might Be Public]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/twitter-confirms-your-long-ubersocial-dms-might-be-public/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/twitter-confirms-your-long-ubersocial-dms-might-be-public/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/twitter-confirms-your-long-ubersocial-dms-might-be-public/#comments saftey tweet Twitter has issued a warning to all UberSocial and Twitroyd users after discovering that some direct messages sent via the apps have become publicly visible. Twitter's Trust and Safety Team confirmed the vulnerability yesterday, explaining that it could affect any direct messages exceeding 140 characters in length, sent via "d username." Twitter says it has notified the apps' developer and is working to bring both UberSocial and Twitroyd "into compliance w/our privacy policies."

SwitchedTwitter Confirms Your Long UberSocial DM's Might Be Public originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsprivacysafetysecuritySocialNetworkingtoptwitroydtwitterubersocialWebFri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bronx Zoo Cobra Allegedly Caught, But We're Not Buying It]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/bronx-zoo-cobra-allegedly-caught-but-were-not-buying-it/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/bronx-zoo-cobra-allegedly-caught-but-were-not-buying-it/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/bronx-zoo-cobra-allegedly-caught-but-were-not-buying-it/#commentsThe "real" Bronx Zoo cobra has apparently been found. Zoo officials claim that he "never left the House of Reptiles," but his Twitter account begs to differ. Seeing that he's been turned into a 200,000-follower-strong online celeb -- having lately been tweeted by Mayor Bloomberg, Ellen Degeneres and Jon Favreau -- we figure that the actual cobra is slurping mouse blood Mai Tais under a heat lamp at the Gramercy Park Hotel, already optioning his famous tweets.

SwitchedBronx Zoo Cobra Allegedly Caught, But We're Not Buying It originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bronx zoo cobraBronxZooCobracelebritiestoptwitterThu, 31 Mar 2011 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA['Creepy' App Uses Photo Data to Pinpoint Your Location]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/creepy-app-uses-photo-data-to-pinpoint-your-location/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/creepy-app-uses-photo-data-to-pinpoint-your-location/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/creepy-app-uses-photo-data-to-pinpoint-your-location/#comments cree.py Ever wonder how easy it would be for someone to track your every move? You can now find out with a new app called 'Creepy.'

Created by 26-year-old Yiannis Kakavas, 'Creepy' is a software package that allows users to pinpoint anyone's location, using geographic data embedded within shared photos. All you have to do is type in a person's Twitter or Flickr username, and hit the 'Geolocate Target' button. The app will then gather all the geographic information available online, via photos that the 'target' has shared online.

Continue reading 'Creepy' App Uses Photo Data to Pinpoint Your Location

Switched'Creepy' App Uses Photo Data to Pinpoint Your Location originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appscree.pycreepycreepy appcreepy+appcreepyappflickrgeolocationLocationmapsphotosprivacysecuritySocialNetworkingsoftwaretoptwitpictwitterWebyfrogThu, 31 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sneaky, Supercilious Snake Taunts on Twitter, Laffs Ensue]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/bronxzoos-cobra-takes-to-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/bronxzoos-cobra-takes-to-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/bronxzoos-cobra-takes-to-twitter/#comments @bronxzooscobra tweet Forget Time's list of Twitter's best. Our newest local celebrity, a king cobra snake who's lately gone missing from the Bronx Zoo, has just won Twitter. (Fine, it's likely a spoof ghostwriter, but don't crush the dream.) The "super venomous, but not poisonous" Egyptian cobra disappeared on Saturday from the Reptile House exhibit; according to his Twitter account, he's since gone on to gawk at Tina Fey and mock Charlie Sheen. "[Know] what's better than tiger's blood? Cobra venom. #winning #snakeonthetown Also I'm 20 inches long. Just sayin'."

Other herpetological hijinks after the break:

Continue reading Sneaky, Supercilious Snake Taunts on Twitter, Laffs Ensue

SwitchedSneaky, Supercilious Snake Taunts on Twitter, Laffs Ensue originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bronx zooBronxZoobronxzooscobraking cobraKingCobralolzsnakesnakesSocialNetworkingtoptwitterTue, 29 Mar 2011 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: Twitter's 'Elite' Minority Still Producing Half of All Tweets]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/study-twitters-elite-minority-still-producing-half-of-all-tw/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/study-twitters-elite-minority-still-producing-half-of-all-tw/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/study-twitters-elite-minority-still-producing-half-of-all-tw/#comments Twitter may be growing in population and volume, but, according to a new study from Cornell University and Yahoo Research, the site still relies upon a small fraction of its users to churn out the majority of its tweets.

The site currently boasts around 200 million users and sees about 140 million tweets per day. Half of those, however, are generated by less than 0.05-percent of all Twitter users -- a group of 20,000 that constitutes what researchers have called an "elite" class. A 2009 study from Harvard found similar results, concluding that 10-percent of users were responsible for 90-percent of the network's tweets.

Continue reading Study: Twitter's 'Elite' Minority Still Producing Half of All Tweets

SwitchedStudy: Twitter's 'Elite' Minority Still Producing Half of All Tweets originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlogcelebritiesmediapopulationreportSocialNetworkingstudytoptweettwitterusersWebTue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Professors May Gain Some Props for Tweeting]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/professors-may-gain-some-props-for-tweeting/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/professors-may-gain-some-props-for-tweeting/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/professors-may-gain-some-props-for-tweeting/#commentsLOL captain! My captain! A sociable and "human" Twitter account may be a fast way to inculcate young minds, according to a new study in Learning, Media, and Technology. Hoping to give some advice to the many befuddled professors attempting to craft public social media personae, the study set out to test what impact different types of tweets had on a professor's perceived credibility. Students typically ranked an imaginary maestro with a "sociable" Twitter stream higher than one with a strictly business-style account.

But what does this actually say about what type of Twitter user a teacher (or any professional, for that matter) should be? Not much. For one, the perceived credibility of a person with whom you have no interaction seems to have very little bearing on real life. If the prof is a somber, quiet fellow in class and a bad-mouthing Fantasy Football dude on Twitter, that would negatively affect his credibility.

Continue reading Professors May Gain Some Props for Tweeting

SwitchedProfessors May Gain Some Props for Tweeting originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collegeeducationLearningMediaAndTechnologystudytoptwitterwebMon, 28 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Time's Ever-Relevant 140 Best Twitter Feeds]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/time-140-best-twitter-feeds/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/time-140-best-twitter-feeds/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/time-140-best-twitter-feeds/#comments tweet from margaret atwood Time Magazine, master of the almighty listicle, has put together a list (two years too late) of the 140 best Twitter feeds. No-brainers like Lady Gaga and Ashton Kutcher obviously make the cut; suspiciously missing is the newly anointed warlock Charlie Sheen, or the acerbic insight of The Awl co-founder Choire Sicha. In their place lies the banal: the giggly ramblings of Taylor Swift, the ever-relevant Alyssa Milano (who tweets in quantity, not quality) and Margaret Atwood, who we love but just isn't fun to follow. RSS feeds and self-promotion does not a good Twitterer make, Time.

SwitchedTime's Ever-Relevant 140 Best Twitter Feeds originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alyssa milanoAlyssaMilanobest twitter feedBestTwitterFeedcelebritiescharlie sheenCharlieSheenchoire sichaChoireSichamargaret atwoodMargaretAtwoodsocialnetworkingtaylor swiftTaylorSwifttoptwitterMon, 28 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Odd Future's Tyler Sets Internet to Find His Own Missed Connection]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/tyler-the-creator-tweets-missed-connection/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/tyler-the-creator-tweets-missed-connection/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/tyler-the-creator-tweets-missed-connection/#comments tyler creatorOdd Future, the group of relatively unknown teens from So-Cal who suddenly got the entire music world buzzing, are now known for many things. Eating and regurgitating roaches, hating on cops and storming out of shows are a few new trademarks, but member Tyler the Creator can now add romantic human flesh searches to his weird resume. This weekend, he tweeted, "Back In October I Met The Girl i Want To Marry. Still Havent Found Her" along with this oddly sweet picture. Tyler's public persona is all piss and vinegar, but clearly he's looking for love. May we suggest Reddit?

Continue reading Odd Future's Tyler Sets Internet to Find His Own Missed Connection

SwitchedOdd Future's Tyler Sets Internet to Find His Own Missed Connection originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HumanFleshSearchMissedConnectionsmusicOddFutureredditSocialNetworkingtoptwitterTylerTheCreatorMon, 28 Mar 2011 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Ad Firm Turns to Twitter for Latest Batch of Interns]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/ad-firm-turns-to-twitter-for-latest-batch-of-interns/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/ad-firm-turns-to-twitter-for-latest-batch-of-interns/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/ad-firm-turns-to-twitter-for-latest-batch-of-interns/#comments Lucky 13 Twitter is better known for its ability to cost people jobs, but it can also land you a position with an employer (and not just by having your lame Twitter feed turned into an even lamer TV show). Advertising firm Campbell Mithun selected its incoming crop of summer interns through a Twitter contest dubbed 'Lucky 13.' Applicants were asked to pitch their qualifications in 140-character fragments over the course of 13 days (one tweet per day). The contest saw over 300 applicants, out of which six were chosen by Campbell Mithun. You can check out the 13 winning tweets from the interns at the Campbell Mithun blog. (When compiled into a single "cover letter"-style package, they approach an absurdist comic brilliance.)

The company turned to Twitter because, as Debbie Fischer (an HR manager at Campbell Mithun) told the New York Times, "We thought it would be appropriate to add a digital component... [given] the increasing digital nature of our day-to-day work." The experiment was also a hit with the applicants, who found tweeting much more natural than sending a resume. The applicants also engaged with each other using social media. One of the winning applicants, Mark Manalaysay told the Times, "It was very public, which kept it very interesting. We've actually been very social with each other." Another winning intern, Genette Sekse, said that "it was fun checking out the competition."

SwitchedAd Firm Turns to Twitter for Latest Batch of Interns originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CampbellMithuninternshipSocialNetworkingtoptwitterwebMon, 28 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fake Rahm Emanuel Tweets To Be Published IRL]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/fake-rahm-emanuel-tweets-to-be-published-irl/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/fake-rahm-emanuel-tweets-to-be-published-irl/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/fake-rahm-emanuel-tweets-to-be-published-irl/#comments @mayoremanuel tweet Ordinarily, we're not crazy about Twitter accounts (or Tumblrs, or blogs) getting book deals. It's a little too IRL for us; plus, maybe, we're kinda jealous. But we're nothing but thrilled for @MayorEmanuel, which landed a deal with Scribner to release a book this summer.

In case you don't remember (philistine!), @MayorEmanuel was the surprisingly beautiful, if profanity-laden account of the man who would be mayor. Brainchild of Chicago journalism professor Dan Sinker, the account skyrocketed in popularity and scored Sinker a stint on 'The Colbert Report' as well as a meeting with (the real) Rahm Emanuel. The book, meanwhile, will feature an intro from Biz Stone. All in all, not too shabby a lark.

SwitchedFake Rahm Emanuel Tweets To Be Published IRL originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biz stoneBizStonebooksfake twitter accountsFakeTwitterAccountsliteraturemayoremanuelmediaRahm EmanuelRahmEmanuelscribnertoptwitterFri, 25 Mar 2011 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Web 'Comedian' Peter Coffin Caught Being His Own Girlfriend]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/peter-coffin-caught-being-own-girlfriend-xiaxue/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/peter-coffin-caught-being-own-girlfriend-xiaxue/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/peter-coffin-caught-being-own-girlfriend-xiaxue/#commentsChances are you've never heard of Peter Coffin (the "comedian" not the artist) or Xiaxue, and even after reading this story you probably won't care about them. But the pissing match between the two is far too bizarre to ignore. It all started, it seems, when Coffin took to Twitter to attack Xiaxue, a blogger and model from Singapore who recently had plastic surgery: "Congrats to @Xiaxue on being one step closer to an unattainable goal as well as being a shit role model. The wrong people succeed sometimes."

The two briefly argued about plastic surgery, but Xiaxue decided to block Coffin and end the Twitter fight there... or so she thought. Shortly thereafter, she became the target of one Kimi Kobayashi, Coffin's Japanese girlfriend. Xiaxue blocked her as well, but something didn't seem right. She started to do some digging. Turns out that Kobayashi is not only not Japanese (as her photos were stolen from a Korean woman named Lee Na Young), but she's not even real. Coffin has admitted that Kobayashi is fake, but now claims he's been duped and led on by this Internet imposter. That, however, seems pretty hard to swallow.

Continue reading Web 'Comedian' Peter Coffin Caught Being His Own Girlfriend

SwitchedWeb 'Comedian' Peter Coffin Caught Being His Own Girlfriend originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lolzPeterCoffintoptwitterwebxiaxueFri, 25 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Gets Some Gaga Love, Too]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/lady-gaga-visits-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/lady-gaga-visits-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/lady-gaga-visits-twitter/#commentsLady Gaga at TwitterWe wonder if Lady Gaga's got Internet domination in the pipeline. On Tuesday, the always-delightful singer dropped by Google HQ; yesterday, she paid her respects to Twitter. She charmed the engineers, was interviewed by Evan Williams, and by all accounts highly ingratiated herself. Just this morning, Gaga announced she'll be dropping a song tomorrow via Twitter. So maybe it wasn't all fun and games up in the Bay Area.

SwitchedTwitter Gets Some Gaga Love, Too originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesEvanWilliamsGooglegoogleplexLadyGagamusicmusiciansSanFranciscotoptwitterThu, 24 Mar 2011 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Biz Stone on Conan: Twitter Was Once the 'Seinfeld of the Internet']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/biz-stone-on-conan-seinfeld-of-the-internet/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/biz-stone-on-conan-seinfeld-of-the-internet/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/biz-stone-on-conan-seinfeld-of-the-internet/#comments
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone made an appearance on Conan the other night, in honor of his company's 5th birthday. The occasion gave Stone a chance to take a brief look back on the early days of Twitter when, as O'Brien duly pointed out, many people thought the microblogging platform served no real purpose.

"Everybody said 'Twitter's useless,'" Stone recalled. "To which my co-founder Evan Williams said, 'Well, so's ice cream. You want us to ban ice cream and all joy?' We said, 'Screw that. We'll just keep working on it.'" He went on to remind Conan that Twitter was once referred to as the "'Seinfeld' of the Internet" -- i.e., a site about nothing. "I love Seinfeld," Stone said.

Continue reading Biz Stone on Conan: Twitter Was Once the 'Seinfeld of the Internet'

SwitchedBiz Stone on Conan: Twitter Was Once the 'Seinfeld of the Internet' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BizStoneConanObrienLateNightTalkShowsSocialNetworkingtoptvtwitterWebWed, 23 Mar 2011 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[James Franco Attacks Bruce Vilanch on Twitter]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/james-franco-attacks-bruce-vilanch-on-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/james-franco-attacks-bruce-vilanch-on-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/james-franco-attacks-bruce-vilanch-on-twitter/#commentsLook, we understand that it takes a certain amount of self-importance to become a celebrity of note. It probably takes a lack of self-awareness, too. But, if James Franco is under the impression that his performance at this year's Academy Awards was anything less than dreadful, he might be the least self-aware person on Earth. The actor/author/college instructor/multimedia "artist" took to Twitter to lambaste comedian Bruce Vilanch, who had a less than positive take on Franco's performance.

The comedy writer, who has been a staple of award shows for years, told New York Magazine in an interview that he felt Franco was simply trying to do too much at once. (Between hosting the Oscars, he was also attending Yale and filming a movie.) He also said that, contrary to popular belief, Franco was not intoxicated during the ceremony. Apparently Franco, who has already shown a propensity for lashing out with childish pictures posted to Twitter, took offense to what sounds like a reasonable critique of the performance. He tweeted an image of himself and Vilanch, overlaid with the caption: "James fucked up the Oscars. Trust me, I know comedy. I mean, come on, I write for Bette Midler!"

Continue reading James Franco Attacks Bruce Vilanch on Twitter

SwitchedJames Franco Attacks Bruce Vilanch on Twitter originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BruceVilanchcelebritiescelebrityJamesFrancooscarsOscars2011SocialNetworkingtoptwitterTue, 22 Mar 2011 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone App Makes Drunken Tweets, Status Updates Magically Disappear]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/last-night-never-happened-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/last-night-never-happened-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/last-night-never-happened-iphone-app/#commentsEvery now and then, we come across a new iPhone app that makes us scratch our chins and wonder, "How did this not exist already?" 'Last Night Never Happened' is one such app.

LNNH markets itself as "the world's first morning-after app," but, unfortunately, it's not what it sounds like. This app, you see, has one goal, and one goal only: to wipe out all the tweets and status updates that Drunk You posted last night, in order to make life more manageable for Hungover You this bleary morning.

Gallery: Last Night Never Happened

Continue reading iPhone App Makes Drunken Tweets, Status Updates Magically Disappear

SwitchediPhone App Makes Drunken Tweets, Status Updates Magically Disappear originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsdrinkdrunkfacebookiphoneiphone appIphoneApplast night never happenedLastNightNeverHappenedtoptwitterMon, 21 Mar 2011 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA['Profile Views' Scam Hits Twitter, Affecting Thousands of Users]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/twitter-profile-views-scam/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/twitter-profile-views-scam/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/twitter-profile-views-scam/#comments twitter scam A scam that seems tailor-made for Facebook is worming its way across Twitter.

According to Sophos, thousands of Twitter users have already fallen for the scam, which is luring people in with tweets that read: "My profile was viewed ### times JUST TODAY! Click here to see how many views you got! http://tiny.cc/" Clicking on the link will prompt you to grant account access to a rogue application, which will generate a random number of profile views, and automatically post the exact same message to your Twitter page.

Continue reading 'Profile Views' Scam Hits Twitter, Affecting Thousands of Users

Switched'Profile Views' Scam Hits Twitter, Affecting Thousands of Users originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applicationprofileprofile viewsProfileViewsscamsecuritySocialNetworkingtoptwitterWebFri, 18 Mar 2011 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Following Twitter Incident, NYC Ballet Revises Social Media Policy]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/following-twitter-incident-nyc-ballet-looks-into-new-social-med/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/following-twitter-incident-nyc-ballet-looks-into-new-social-med/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/following-twitter-incident-nyc-ballet-looks-into-new-social-med/#commentsThe New York City Ballet is looking to tighten its control over its employees' use of social media, following an embarrassing incident on Twitter. After his boss was arrested for drinking and driving, corps de ballet member Devin Alberda posted a tweet about drinking on the subway, followed by another disparaging tweet about another dancer. The organization, like many others, is now negotiating a new social media policy "for all artistic and administrative employees with respect to their professional lives."

SwitchedFollowing Twitter Incident, NYC Ballet Revises Social Media Policy originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artballerinaballetdancenew york citynew york city balletNewYorkCityNewYorkCityBalletpolicysocial mediaSocialMediaSocialNetworkingtoptwitterWebThu, 17 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[NBA Referee Slams AP Writer With Twitter Defamation Lawsuit]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/bill-spooner-slams-jon-krawcyznski-twitter-defamation-suit/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/bill-spooner-slams-jon-krawcyznski-twitter-defamation-suit/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/bill-spooner-slams-jon-krawcyznski-twitter-defamation-suit/#comments jon krawczynski's tweet An NBA referee has filed a defamation lawsuit against an Associated Press reporter over an accusation the reporter made on Twitter. During a Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets game on January 24th, AP writer Jon Krawczynski wrote, "Ref Bill Spooner told Rambis he'd 'get it back' after a bad call. Then he made an even worse call on Rockets. That's NBA officiating folks." Rambis is the Timberwolves head coach who, according to the lawsuit, argued about a foul Spooner called on a T-wolves player during the second quarter of the game. Spooner doesn't deny the exchange with Rambis, but he claims he never promised a make-up call, instead telling the coach he would review the foul call at halftime, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. Spooner is asking fro $75,000, that the tweet be removed, and a published retraction.

Of course, this is a very serious accusation. If Spooner promised a make-up call, he conspired to fix the game. (Some fans believe that happens nightly in the NBA anyway.) That could mean disaster for a league that has struggled with its image. But aside from the impact this case might have on the game, it could also go a long way in defining the legal gray area Twitter resides in.

SwitchedNBA Referee Slams AP Writer With Twitter Defamation Lawsuit originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>basketballbill spoonerBillSpoonerjon krawczynskiJonKrawczynskilawsuitlawsuitsNBANbaRefereessocial networkingSocialNetworkingsportssuetoptwitterTue, 15 Mar 2011 15:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Radiation Panic is Mounting Online in Japan (and Beyond)]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/radiation-panic-in-japan-on-twitter-online/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/radiation-panic-in-japan-on-twitter-online/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/radiation-panic-in-japan-on-twitter-online/#comments radiation screening in japan In both horror and sadness, the world is watching the crisis unfold in Japan. The damage to the Fukushima nuclear facility adds another menacing dimension to the disaster. As murky reports emerge, so does increasing panic, made only worse by the viral aspect of social networking. Frantic messages have been pervasive on Twitter, where Tokyo residents report fleeing, encouraged by the international community. LivingSafely tweets, "Japan/Tokyo: We continue to urge evacuation of Japan due to radioactivity; otherwise, shelter in place, seal windows. #earthquake." A user named miscastdice fearfully shares, "...this is only the FIRST DAY of uncontrolled release. Levels in #Tokyo have nowhere to go but up! Plan for shelter or evacuation now." Twitter messages range from terrified to positively apocalyptic.

As the government struggles to regain its footing, it may be beneficial that Tokyo residents are turning to new media to locate supplies, ways to leave the island and breaking news, effectively bypassing traditional or official sources; they're crowd-sourcing solutions. But fear and hyperbole are spreading at a rapid pace, and as the swine flu panic, the Haiti earthquake and the BP oil spill have demonstrated, scammers and ne'er-do-wells immediately latch on to worldwide tragedies for phishing scams. The BBC reports that it is not behind the circulating e-mail suggesting that residents of Asian countries should stay inside because radiation is leaking beyond Japan. Whether or not this e-mail has any malicious software associated with it is unclear, but it certainly is a hoax.

Continue reading Radiation Panic is Mounting Online in Japan (and Beyond)

SwitchedRadiation Panic is Mounting Online in Japan (and Beyond) originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FukushimaFukushima nuclear facilityFukushimaNuclearFacilityjapanjapan earthquakejapan tsunamiJapanEarthquakeJapanTsunamipanicradiationscamsSocialNetworkingtoptwitterwebTue, 15 Mar 2011 14:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Ann Curry Reunites Tsunami Victim and Family With the Aid of Twitter]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/ann-curry-uses-twitter-reunite-tsunami-victims/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/ann-curry-uses-twitter-reunite-tsunami-victims/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/ann-curry-uses-twitter-reunite-tsunami-victims/#comments
Canon Purdy had just arrived the town of Minamisanriku, Japan when the deadly tsunami tore through the area, leaving more than half of its residents missing. Canon's sister, Megan Walsh, was desperate to find her; with the phone lines down, she turned to the Web for help. Megan began firing off tweets, both to the Internet at large and to specific media outlets, like CNN and the Japan Times, looking for assistance in locating her sister. "Please help with any news of evacuees," she pleaded.

NBC's Ann Curry spotted the messages and replied to Megan that she would do her best. Though initial efforts to track down Purdy using Google's People Finder failed, Curry didn't give up. She eventually located Purdy in a refugee center in the town. Curry quickly put Purdy on her cell phone to call her family back home in San Francisco, in order to let them know that she was okay.

Continue reading Ann Curry Reunites Tsunami Victim and Family With the Aid of Twitter

SwitchedAnn Curry Reunites Tsunami Victim and Family With the Aid of Twitter originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ann curryAnnCurrycanon purdyCanonPurdyjapannbcsocial networkingSocialNetworkingtoptsunamitwitterTue, 15 Mar 2011 13:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Gilbert Gottfried Loses Aflac Duck Gig After Tsunami Joke Tweets]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/gilbert-gottfried-loses-aflac-duck-gig-after-tsunami-joke-tweets/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/gilbert-gottfried-loses-aflac-duck-gig-after-tsunami-joke-tweets/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/gilbert-gottfried-loses-aflac-duck-gig-after-tsunami-joke-tweets/#commentsGilbert Gottfried, the comedian best known for being irritating, has lost his job as the voice of the Aflac duck after posting a series of offensive tweets about the recent disaster in Japan. Never one to squander a chance to ridicule tragedy, Gottfried took direct aim at Japan's tsunami victims with a slew of jokes that seem to have been sculpted with a sledgehammer. The comedian deleted the tweets and issued a (semi-)apology, but it wasn't enough to save his career as a talking duck.

SwitchedGilbert Gottfried Loses Aflac Duck Gig After Tsunami Joke Tweets originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aflacaflac+jokeaflacjokecelebritiescelebrities+and+controversycomediangilbert gottfriedgilbert+gottfried+tweetsGilbertGottfriedgilbertgottfriedtweetsjapan earthquakejapan tsunamiJapanEarthquakeJapanTsunamioffensiveSocialNetworkingtoptwitterTue, 15 Mar 2011 11:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's Phil Schiller: White iPhone 4 Will Drop This Spring]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/phil-schiller-white-iphone4-coming-spring/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/phil-schiller-white-iphone4-coming-spring/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/phil-schiller-white-iphone4-coming-spring/#comments phil schiller tweet Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, tweeted yesterday that the white iPhone 4 will finally be available this spring. Schiller didn't reveal any specific details about the mythical phone, like whether it'll be available on both Verizon and AT&T, or its exact release date. But with summer a likely target launch date for the iPhone 5, we'd bet on seeing the white iPhone 4 sometime around Easter.

SwitchedApple's Phil Schiller: White iPhone 4 Will Drop This Spring originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applecellphonesiphoneiphone 4Iphone4PhilSchillertoptwitterwhite iphonewhite iphone 4WhiteIphoneWhiteIphone4Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Bing's Tactless Tsunami Tweet Provokes Twitter Rage]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/bing-japan-tsunami-tweet-sparks-twitter-outrage/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/bing-japan-tsunami-tweet-sparks-twitter-outrage/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/bing-japan-tsunami-tweet-sparks-twitter-outrage/#comments bing's japan tweet Did we learn nothing from Kenneth Cole's tasteless Twitter gaffe? Or is Microsoft just employing the same marketing brain trusts?

Japan is on everyone's mind --at least, we hope -- and the tech giant's flacks haven't ignored that. Saturday morning, a message of hope callow douchebaggery came out of the official Bing Twitter account: "How you can #SupportJapan -For every retweet, bing will give $1 to Japan quake victims, up to $100K."

Continue reading Bing's Tactless Tsunami Tweet Provokes Twitter Rage

SwitchedBing's Tactless Tsunami Tweet Provokes Twitter Rage originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>binggaffesjapanjapan earthquakejapan tsunamiJapanEarthquakeJapanTsunamijerksMicrosoftSocialNetworkingtoptwitterMon, 14 Mar 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Read This: Shut Up About 'Social Media Revolutions' in the Middle East, Please]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/read-this-evgeny-morozov-social-media-revolution-middle-east/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/read-this-evgeny-morozov-social-media-revolution-middle-east/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/read-this-evgeny-morozov-social-media-revolution-middle-east/#comments
[While] the recent round of uprisings may seem spontaneous to western observers - and therefore as magically disruptive as a rush-hour flash mob in San Francisco - the actual history of popular regime change tends to diminish the central role commonly ascribed to technology. By emphasising the liberating role of the tools and downplaying the role of human agency, such accounts make Americans feel proud of their own contribution to events in the Middle East. After all, the argument goes, such a spontaneous uprising wouldn't have succeeded before Facebook was around - so Silicon Valley deserves a lion's share of the credit.
Score one for the Gladwellians? Evgeny Morozov thinks all of those "Internet cheerleaders" who are championing North African/Middle Eastern uprisings as "Facebook revolutions" have their heads up their cyber-utopian asses.

SwitchedRead This: Shut Up About 'Social Media Revolutions' in the Middle East, Please originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>egyptegypt protestsEgyptProtestsevgeny morozovEvgenyMorozovfacebooklibyalibya protestsLibyaProtestsmiddle eastMiddleEastreadthisSocialNetworkingtoptunisiatunisia protestsTunisiaProteststwiterWed, 09 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Fidel Castro Tweets Like a Star, Passes 100,000 Followers]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/fidel-castro-tweets-like-a-star-passes-100-000-followers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/fidel-castro-tweets-like-a-star-passes-100-000-followers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/fidel-castro-tweets-like-a-star-passes-100-000-followers/#commentsFormer Cuban President Fidel Castro hit that all-important milestone this week: 100,000 followers on Twitter. Castro's account -- a collection of the 84-year-old's thoughts on world and local affairs -- was launched in late 2009. While his follow count is far lower than some leaders we know, he is one of the leading tweeters in Cuba. For what it's worth.

Continue reading Fidel Castro Tweets Like a Star, Passes 100,000 Followers

SwitchedFidel Castro Tweets Like a Star, Passes 100,000 Followers originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cubafidel castroFidelCastropoliticsSocialNetworkingtoptwitterwebWed, 09 Mar 2011 09:53:00 EST<![CDATA[If You Take a Photo of Your Breakfast, Kellogg Will Donate Food to Needy Kids]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/kellogg-share-your-breakfast/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/kellogg-share-your-breakfast/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/kellogg-share-your-breakfast/#comments shareyourbreakfast.com What better way to help those who can't afford to eat breakfast than by celebrating the processed trash that the rest of America scarfs down every morning? That seems to be the impetus behind Share Your Breakfast, a new campaign launched by the Kellogg Company. For every image uploaded to the campaign's site, Kellogg will donate a breakfast to a child in need, in the hopes of handing out a million meals by the start of the 2011-2012 school year. If you want to participate, you can text your photo (along with the word "share") to 21534, or share it on Twitter, using the #ShareUrBreakfast hashtag. It would certainly go toward a worthy cause -- assuming, of course, that Kellogg doesn't clog poor kids' arteries with whatever this is.

SwitchedIf You Take a Photo of Your Breakfast, Kellogg Will Donate Food to Needy Kids originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakfastcampaignchildrenkelloggkidsneedyphotosshare your breakfastShareYourBreakfastTextingtoptwitterwebTue, 08 Mar 2011 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter, Facebook Still Reluctant to Join Free Speech Initiative]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/twitter-facebook-reluctant-to-join-global-network-initiative/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/twitter-facebook-reluctant-to-join-global-network-initiative/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/twitter-facebook-reluctant-to-join-global-network-initiative/#comments Three years ago, some of the world's leading tech companies agreed to participate in the Global Network Initiative (GNI) -- a code of conduct designed to protect online speech and privacy around the world. The initiative was originally launched in response to brewing tensions in China, where some Internet companies were accused of complying with government censorship policies in order to pursue profit-driven agendas. Today, the GNI can count corporations like Google, Microsoft and Yahoo among its prized members, but there are still some glaring omissions -- including Facebook, and Twitter.

According to its code of conduct, all initiative participants are required "to avoid or minimize the impact of government restrictions on freedom of expression," while doing their best to protect user privacy whenever government regulations "compromise privacy in a manner inconsistent with internationally recognized laws and standards." All companies and organizations are subject to evaluations from independent auditors, who determine whether or not their policies comply with the initiative's objectives.

Continue reading Twitter, Facebook Still Reluctant to Join Free Speech Initiative

SwitchedTwitter, Facebook Still Reluctant to Join Free Speech Initiative originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freedom of speechFreedomOfSpeechglobal network initiativeGlobalNetworkInitiativegovernmentmiddle eastMiddleEastpoliticsprivacyregulationsecuritySocialNetworkingtopWebMon, 07 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Roger Ebert Calls the Web a 'Life-Saver' at TED Talks]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/roger-ebert-calls-the-web-a-life-saver-at-ted-talks/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/roger-ebert-calls-the-web-a-life-saver-at-ted-talks/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/roger-ebert-calls-the-web-a-life-saver-at-ted-talks/#comments Ebert at TED It's no secret that Team Switched is a big fan of Roger Ebert: his witty Tweets, on-point reviews and fascinating blog posts are both entertaining and thoughtful (even if he once bemoaned the idea of art in video games). And, as a Chicagoan, your author was often lulled to sleep by late-night airings of 'At the Movies,' during which Ebert's know-it-all voice often overpowered the measured calm of Gene Siskel. Last year, however, the critic received attention not for his opinions, but for his newfound silence, when Esquire wrote a heart-wrenching article about his bout with thyroid cancer, after which Ebert lost both his jaw and ability to speak.

Eventually, Ebert took to Twitter and blogs, constantly retweeting and posting his thoughts, ideas and reviews as normal. He continues his post as the resident critic at the Sun-Times (though he did lose his show on PBS), and he is one of the most read tweeters on the micro-blogging site, boasting a strong following of almost 373,000.

Continue reading Roger Ebert Calls the Web a 'Life-Saver' at TED Talks

SwitchedRoger Ebert Calls the Web a 'Life-Saver' at TED Talks originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggingcelebritiesmovie criticsMovieCriticsmoviesRoger EbertRogerEbertSocialNetworkingtedted talksTedTalkstoptwitterWebMon, 07 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Seattle Man Uses Twitter to Apologize for Traffic Jam]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/michael-micheletti-twitter-apologizes-for-traffic-jam/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/michael-micheletti-twitter-apologizes-for-traffic-jam/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/michael-micheletti-twitter-apologizes-for-traffic-jam/#comments
On Friday, Michael Micheletti was driving along a Seattle interstate, when his BMW suddenly stalled and came to a stop in the middle lane. The incident led to a lengthy traffic jam and left Micheletti feeling pretty embarrassed. So, he decided to apologize for the inconvenience, via Twitter. "That black BMW stalled in the center lane of I-5? Yeah, that's me. Sorry, I don't like it either," the man wrote. The tweet quickly caught the attention of many other amused locals, including the Washington State Department of Transportation, which warned other drivers to "give Mike some room." Once help arrived on the scene, Micheletti posted a few more tweets, to thank everyone for helping out, and putting up with his car problems.

SwitchedSeattle Man Uses Twitter to Apologize for Traffic Jam originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwseattleSocialNetworkingtopTraffictraffic jamTrafficJamtweettwitterWebMon, 07 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Courtney Love Settles Twitter Defamation Lawsuit for $430,000]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/courtney-love-settles-twitter-defamation-lawsuit-for-430-000/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/courtney-love-settles-twitter-defamation-lawsuit-for-430-000/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/courtney-love-settles-twitter-defamation-lawsuit-for-430-000/#commentsCourtney Love has agreed to pay about $430,000 to settle a defamation lawsuit filed against her by fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir.

The dispute began in 2009, after the designer claimed that Love owed her $4,000 for services specified in a contract. Love disagreed, and posted a series of profanity-laced comments to her Twitter account, calling Simorangkir a "nasty lying hosebag thief," among other things. Simorangkir, in turn, filed a lawsuit against the singer, alleging that Love's defamatory tweets damaged her business.

Continue reading Courtney Love Settles Twitter Defamation Lawsuit for $430,000

SwitchedCourtney Love Settles Twitter Defamation Lawsuit for $430,000 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesCourtneyLoveDawnSimorangkirdefamationlawsuitsettlementsocialnetworkingtoptwitterWebFri, 04 Mar 2011 08:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Yale Daily News Writer Draws Vulgar Tweets From James Franco]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/james-franco-twitter-vulgarity-against-cokey-cohen/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/james-franco-twitter-vulgarity-against-cokey-cohen/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/james-franco-twitter-vulgarity-against-cokey-cohen/#comments james franco's response to the yale daily news James Franco, who we prefer to remember as the stoner love interest of Lindsay Weir on 'Freaks and Geeks,' joined Twitter just a few weeks ago to help promote the Oscars. His feed has been primarily stuffed with random links and photos [Ed. note: excellent cat photos] and virtually no commentary. And, while his performance hosting the 83rd Annual Academy Awards has been roundly panned, it was criticism of his Twitter persona that sparked the star's ire.

Cokey Cohen, a writer for the Yale Daily News, penned a rather blunt editorial about the actor's feed, saying, "James Franco, your Twitter sort of sucks." His fellow student (as Franco is going for his Ph.D. in English at Yale) called on the star to insert more "pithy statements" into his feed, and to become the "insane (and insanely follow-able) celebrity" she knows he can be. Franco took umbrage to being schooled on how to use Twitter, and posted a photo of himself with words "FUCK THE YALE DAILY NEWS" scrawled in giant, red, capital letters.

Continue reading Yale Daily News Writer Draws Vulgar Tweets From James Franco

SwitchedYale Daily News Writer Draws Vulgar Tweets From James Franco originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiescokey cohenCokeyCohenjames francoJamesFrancoSocialNetworkingtoptwitterwebYaleDailyNewsThu, 03 Mar 2011 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Brazilian Drivers Use Twitter to Avoid DUI Checkpoints]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/twitter-helps-brazilian-drivers-avoid-dui-checkpoints/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/twitter-helps-brazilian-drivers-avoid-dui-checkpoints/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/twitter-helps-brazilian-drivers-avoid-dui-checkpoints/#commentsOver the past two years, police in Rio de Janeiro have been cracking down on drunk drivers as part of a strict city-wide campaign. Many motorists, however, have found a way to avoid the watchful eye of Rio's law enforcers: Twitter.

Under Operation Lei Seca ("dry law"), Rio police have been setting up checkpoints at accident hotspots across the city, where they administer breathalyzer tests to drivers. Those who fail the test can face fines, have their licenses suspended, or have their cars towed.

But, in June 2009, a man named Bruno Pontes created a Twitter feed with which Brazilian drivers could warn each other about any police checkpoints they see on the road. The account, LeiSecaRJ, was originally launched in response to similar warnings that Rio's Twitter users were already posting, and now has over 150,000 followers. "We just put all these warnings in one place," Pontes told the BBC. "It was already a spontaneous popular movement, we are just supervising it."

Continue reading Brazilian Drivers Use Twitter to Avoid DUI Checkpoints

SwitchedBrazilian Drivers Use Twitter to Avoid DUI Checkpoints originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BrazilcampaigndrinkingDrivingDrunkDrivingduilawpoliceRioDeJaneiroSocialNetworkingtoptwitterwebThu, 03 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[@CharlieSheen Sets Guinness World Record, Makes TwitPic Over $10,000]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/charlie-sheen-sets-guinness-world-record-makes-twitpic-over-10/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/charlie-sheen-sets-guinness-world-record-makes-twitpic-over-10/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/charlie-sheen-sets-guinness-world-record-makes-twitpic-over-10/#comments Charlie Sheen TwitPic
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Charlie Sheen has, to put it politely, gone off the rails. And, as tabloid-loving Americans, we can't turn away from this train wreck, who seems to be taking every opportunity put himself in the spotlight. After several recent, soon-to-be infamous radio and television interviews, Sheen took his quest to never shut up to the next logical venue: Twitter. His debut on the microblogging service was an epic success, if success is a measured by how many followers one accrues. Guinness thought so, as the star of the now-canceled 'Two and a Half Men' set a new world record by amassing one million followers in 25 hours and 17 minutes.

Sheen's stunning popularity may also be a boon for third-party Twitter services like TwitPic. Thanks to America's morbid curiosity, images posted from the @CharlieSheen account have racked up a staggering amount of views. For instance, the photo above of Sheen posing with a bottle of chocolate milk and a porn star is swiftly approaching 1.5 million views. (The iconic image of Flight 1549 floating in the Hudson River has managed just under 700,000 views in its significantly longer time online.) Sheen's six TwitPic postings are estimated to have made just under $10,000 for the service, or about $1,600 per image. (That number could be significantly higher or lower, based on how many ads the company sold and how much they were sold for.) Sheen's public meltdown probably won't earn TwitPic founder Noah Everett enough to immediately retire, but it's certainly helping the company towards its goal of $3 million to $4 million in revenue.

Gallery: @charliesheen twitpics

Switched@CharlieSheen Sets Guinness World Record, Makes TwitPic Over $10,000 originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiescharlie sheencharlie+sheen+imagescharlie+sheen+twitpiccharlie+sheen+twittercharlie+sheen+twitter+accountCharlieSheencharliesheenimagescharliesheentwitpiccharliesheentwittercharliesheentwitteraccountsocial networkingSocialNetworkingtoptwitpictwitterThu, 03 Mar 2011 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Twit Tweets: Charlie Sheen Gets 700,000 Twitter Followers in No Time]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/charlie-sheen-joins-twitter-700000-followers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/charlie-sheen-joins-twitter-700000-followers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/charlie-sheen-joins-twitter-700000-followers/#comments charlie sheen tweet Not content wasting away in private, Charlie Sheen has certainly made the rounds the past couple weeks. But where is he supposed to spew egomaniacal jibberish and pitiful self-aggrandizements when he's not on TV or being chased by paparazzi? The same place everybody else does: Twitter. Since joining last night, he's gained over 750,000 followers, and made plans to hang out with P. Diddy. What have you done today?

SwitchedThe Twit Tweets: Charlie Sheen Gets 700,000 Twitter Followers in No Time originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiescharlie sheencharlie sheen twittercharlie+sheen+tweetscharlie+sheen+twitter+nameCharlieSheencharliesheentweetsCharlieSheenTwittercharliesheentwitternameSocialNetworkingtoptwitterwebWed, 02 Mar 2011 09:32:00 EST