web 2.0 posts

Woofer: Twitter's 1,400 Character Opposite

by Leila Brillson (RSS feed) — Aug 27th 2009 at 12:30PM

In speaker technology, the opposite of a tweeter is a woofer, which pumps low-end frequencies while the tweeter amplifies higher-range sounds. On the Web, a tweeter is one who frequents Twitter, using the micro-blogging service to blast 140-character-or-less messages called tweets. So Twitter's opposite is, naturally, Woofer, a new micro-, err, macro-blogging service that requires a minimum of 1,400 characters.

In no way affiliated with Twitter, the site seems to be growing, with already over 9,000 users. The preferred Woof seems to be copy and pasting, with the Gettysburg Address and the beginning of 'Moby Dick' being popular entries. Labeled an 'homage' to the little bird, Woofer's interface is the exact same as its more popular little sibling, with only a burly bulldog instead of a little bluebird. It even includes a field for entering a Twitter user name.

Tags: micro-blogging, top, Twitter, web 2.0, Web2.0, Woofer

Web

Researchers Use Web to Determine Wednesdays Are the Worst

by Leila Brillson (RSS feed) — Aug 24th 2009 at 12:48PM

The usefulness of searchable, user-generated content apparently knows no bounds -- especially for zealous researchers who set out to determine exactly what all those bloggers, tweeters, and status updaters really think. Studies have shown that a nation's mood can be foretold on the Net, Twitter can be used to produce psychological profiles, and even desktops speak volumes. The analytical possibilities are endless.

So endless, in fact, that researchers have set out to solve seemingly unanswerable questions with such content. Take, for example, the Vermont University professors wondering which day of the week makes us unhappiest. Surveying 2.4 million Internet sites, Christopher Danforth and Peter Dodds scored phrases used on profiles and updates, ranking words like 'hatred' and 'betray' poorly and 'free' or 'fun' highly. Saturday and Sunday did well, of course, but surprisingly the pair discovered Monday to be the second happiest day of the week, due to individuals reflecting on their weekends. By Wednesday, of course, no one is thrilled, and the weekend is still two days away.

Tags: mood, psychology, research, top, twitter, web 2.0, Web2.0, wednesday

Web

Music Critic Promises to Tweet 1,000 Record Reviews

by Leila Brillson (RSS feed) — Jun 19th 2009 at 7:35AM

"All that a music review does now is reinforce an opinion somebody already has," music writer Christopher Weingarten said at the 140 Character Conference, an event in New York that addressed Twitter's effect on music and culture. He went on to say, "If it doesn't fit into 140 characters, it's not worth saying." Weingarten has written for some big-time musical publications, like Rolling Stone, The Village Voice and Fader, but according to him, this time next year, he'll be looking for a new job.

The reason, says the glib writer-now-tweeter, is crowd-sourcing, Web 2.0, and the abundance of blogs. Combined, those factors have made music so accessible that critics are racing to keep up with their audience. Additionally, he points out, writers and publications are focusing more and more on one genre (a dedicated rap blog, for instance).

Tags: music, reviews, top, twitter, web 2.0, Web2.0

Web

Iran Cracking Down on Digital Media

by Leila Brillson (RSS feed) — Jun 17th 2009 at 12:20PM

Since the first reports that Iranians had taken to Twitter to express their outrage over the dubious reelection of incumbent leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over Mir Hossein Mousavi on Monday, Iranian officials have reportedly cracked down on online media. Tuesday, the Iranian government banned international reporters from leaving their headquarters and filming the ongoing protests, claiming to have the journalists' safety at heart. Furthering their grip on the Internet, the country's Revolutionary Guard, responsible for maintaining and enforcing Islamic Law, has said it will ban or prosecute any sites that publish material that "creates tension." Tension, it appears, is an understatement, as CBS reports that the protests have already left seven people dead. The Washington Times has stated that key figures in the opposition movement have been detained.

Despite Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's calls for a united Iran that supports the government, former candidate Mousavi continues to argue for a recount, encouraging protesters to raise their voices. Using proxy servers and amateur video, Iranians continue to pump YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter (which postponed scheduled maintenance this weekend at the U.S. State Department's behest) full of information about -- or at least images and first-person footage of -- what is happening within the country.

Tags: facebook, Iran, protest, top, Twitter, web 2.0, Web2.0

Celebrities, Web, Social Networking

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails Waves Goodbye to Social Networking

by Lee Bains (RSS feed) — Jun 17th 2009 at 6:23AM

Trent Reznor, the man behind industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails (NIN), is no straggler when it comes to embracing the Internet-age. Way back in 2007, months before Radiohead offered its album 'In Rainbows' for free via download, Trent straight-up told fans at a show in Australia to steal music via peer-to-peer sites. Several months later, in 2008, he gave away the first part of NIN's four-part album 'Ghosts' to eager downloaders, encouraging them to share the rest of the album on torrent sites. His Internet-savviness hasn't just been restricted to music sharing. Last month, the musician used his popular Twitter account to help raise $850,000 for an uninsured fan in need of a heart transplant. Needless to say, we were shocked when Pitchfork.com informed us last week that Trent will soon be bringing his long Web foray to a close.

Tags: anonymous, expire-images:2010-6-17, nine inch nails, NineInchNails, privacy, social networking, SocialNetworking, trent reznor, TrentReznor, web 2.0, Web2.0

Web

'Web 2.0' Becomes Millionth English Word

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jun 11th 2009 at 6:45PM

According to at least one estimation, the English language has collected its one millionth word. The Global Language Monitor, whose authority on the issue is on the questionable side, got us geared up for the Million Word March in May. At that time the Language Monitor was expecting the millionth word to be "noob" or "defriend," but both were beaten to the punch by "Web 2.0."

The Global Language Monitor tracks the usage of words and phrases across billions of Web sites. When a word or phrase has been used over 25,000 times, the Language Monitor considers it to be a part of our language. "Web 2.0" apparently crossed that threshold at 5:22 a.m. EST on Wednesday, June 10th.

Language experts like Jesse Sheidlower, editor at large of the Oxford English Dictionary, and Sarah Thomason, president of the Linguistic Society of America and a professor of linguistics at the University of Michigan, were critical of the Language Monitor's count and its methodology. The Oxford English Dictionary has roughly 600,000 entries, but Sheidlower told CNN that it is impossible to count the number of English words, "and to pretend that you can is totally disingenuous." Part of the issue is how to break down "words." Sheidlower gave the example of "great-great-great-great grandfather." Technically, it could be considered its own word, but it would never find its way into a dictionary.

More than anything, we're just confused as to how a several-year-old buzz word like "Web 2.0" has only now crossed the 25,000-use threshold. We're pretty sure it's appeared on Switched almost that many times. [From: CNN and The Global Language Monitor, via John Battelle's Search Blog]

Tags: english, global language monitor, GlobalLanguageMonitor, language, linguistics, web 2.0, Web2.0, word, words

Web, Social Networking

New Twitter Research: It's A Boys' Club, and Young Adults Slow to Join

by Leila Brillson (RSS feed) — Jun 3rd 2009 at 6:06AM

Two independent studies show that Twitter is all about man-on-man action, and that teens are having a hard time embracing microblogging, respectively. Researchers over at Harvard Business surveyed 300,542 users in May, discovering that, though men and women for the most part follow the same number of tweeters, a man is twice as likely to follow another man than he is a woman. In addition, a larger percentage of men follow those that follow them. The study suggests "that women are driven less by followers than men, or have more stringent thresholds for reciprocating relationships." (Much like in real life?)

According to CNET's coverage of a study that similarly mirrors reality, Pace University found that a mere 22-percent of 18- to 24-year-olds use Twitter, despite findings that suggest 99-percent of the same demographic maintain profiles on social media networks in general (and 89-percent have installed applications). What the study appears to suggest is that an older audience, one that made their entrez into social networking with Facebook several years ago, has an easier time tweeting. However, we'd like to think the lack of a comments section, Mob Wars apps, and glittery HTML graphics also has something to do with the lack of teenage interest. [From: Harvard Business Publishing and CNET News]

Tags: demographics, men, social networking, SocialNetworking, top, twitter, web 2.0, Web2.0, women

MySpace, Web

MySpace Will Throw Your Wedding for the Price of Your Soul

by Chad Mumm (RSS feed) — Mar 30th 2009 at 9:41AM

Married on MySpace Trailer

We know what you're thinking... "It's my wedding day and it should be perfect." So, why not let millions of MySpace members decide on every detail? It seems that the Web 2.0 has finally hit weddings, although this one comes tethered to enough corporate sponsorships to field a PGA Tour event.

'Married on MySpace' is a new online reality show where voters can select one lucky(?) couple to win an all-expenses-paid wedding, courtesy of MySpace, wedding site The Knot, and Disney. The 13-webisode series begins on May 15th and will follow the chosen couple through the planning process, with every detail -- from the bachelor party to the dress -- determined by MySpace voters. The show is being produced by the same company that brought you 'Fear Factor,' 'Extreme Makeover,' and 'Big Brother,' so expect plenty of cheesy drama and dramatic music.

Think you and your fiance have the sweetest proposal story ever? You can submit a video explaining why, here. The shenanigans start in May with the announcement of the winning couple.

No amount of money would justify giving up our weddings to the masses, but there are plenty of people online who need the attention. Meanwhile, we'll keep our digital dating to sheepish Facebook pokes and Down to Earth memberships. [From: TechCrunch]

Related Links:

Tags: dating, dating tips, DatingTips, myspace, online dating, onlinedating, reality show, RealityShow, web 2.0, Web2.0, webisodes

Computers

Twitter Fight Scandalizes Micro-Blogosphere

by Chad Mumm (RSS feed) — Feb 13th 2009 at 6:00AM

What happens when micro-blogging turns macro-psychotic? On February 11th, marketing consultant April Dunford posted an annoyed message to Twitter, the mircro-blogging site, about being condescendingly scolded by a newspaper reporter. Although she named no names, the reporter in question, David George-Cosh of the National Post, saw her 'tweet' and took offense in a big way. His venomous, profanity-laced responses started an embarrassing (to him) Twitter fight that played out in public for the whole world to see.

This was April Dunford's first post: "Reporter to me 'When the media calls you, you jump, OK!?' Why, when you called me and I'm not selling? Newspapers will get what they deserve"

You can check out Mr. George-Cosh's response -- and the subsequent war of words -- after the break.

Tags: argument, fight, top, twitter, web 2.0, Web2.0

Computers

Speaker Of The House, Nancy Pelosi, Rickrolls America

by Will Safer (RSS feed) — Jan 15th 2009 at 1:42PM

Even if you don't agree with her politics, you must admit Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has a sense of humor. To celebrate the launch of the U.S. Congress' YouTube channels for the House and Senate, Pelosi posted a video of her cats roaming around her Capitol office, playing with her gavel, and enjoying the view. That alone works well enough for us.

That she Rickrolls us halfway through the video is the piece de résistance. It's a nice nod toward the Web 2.0, social networking, tongue-in-cheek, spoofing, smirking, online crowd that funnels easily half their energy into viewing and contributing content to such sites as FailBlog, FailDogs, I Can Has Cheez Burger, and others.

What does it mean to be Rickroll'd? It's a basic bait-and-switch gag, bouncing around the Interwebs in many, many forms. Typically a viewer or reader is provided with a link to a Web site claiming to have some important information, something relevant to the serious topic at hand. The gotcha moment comes when you're presented with the video from Rick Astley's 1987 release "Never Gonna Give You Up." The use of Rickrolling is increasing, even crossing over into real-life situations.

Tags: congress, Nancy Pelosi, NancyPelosi, politics, rickroll, Rickrolling, speaker of the house, SpeakerOfTheHouse, video, web 2.0, Web2.0, weird

Cell Phones, Computers, Google

Twitter-Competitor Pownce Closing Down

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Dec 3rd 2008 at 7:57AM

In case you've been waiting for it, the second Internet bubble might be on the verge of bursting. Banks and mortgages aren't the only things collapsing in the now official recession -- Web 2.0 startups are starting to drop like flies.

The most recent collapse is Twitter-competitor Pownce. The feature-packed micro-blogging service, backed by Digg founder Kevin Rose, was bought up by SixApart, the company that makes the MovableType blogging platform and runs the VOX social network. While Pownce never drew the near the numbers that Twitter attracts, it was still successful in its own right, and this might signal trouble for many smaller services with lesser-known talent behind them. The service will officially close on December 15th.

Pownce was very much a victim of its own hype, the subject of glowing write-ups in the New York Times and other places early on. Unfortunately, it may have been a bit too 'exclusive' for its own good. Besides never getting mass numbers of folks to join, the service didn't really play well with others. Though it packed in more features than Twitter and was, at least at first, more reliable, Pownce lacked the ability to let other applications interact with it. Unlike Twitter, which allows developers to write code that can add items to a to-do list and track packages, among other things.

Tags: business, economic crisis, EconomicCrisis, economy, i want sandy, IWantSandy, microblogging, pownce, sandy, social networking, SocialNetworking, stikkit, twitter, web, web 2.0, Web2.0

Computers

Gone Phishing? Collaborative Site Roots Out E-Mail Scams

by Will Safer (RSS feed) — Jun 22nd 2008 at 2:12PM

It's time to assemble your pole, bait the line and drop a hook into the wild waters of the Internet. Yes, Switched fans, we're looking to get the catch of the day, PhishTank style.

The folks at PhishTank, part of OpenDNS, have tapped the social-linking-collaborative environment of Web 2.0 to assemble what could be the master list of all phishing scams out there on the Web today.

A phishing scam is an attempt by some ne'er-do-well to to steal your personal information, usually with an e-mail entreaty to start. These e-mail messages look like they come from a reputable and trusted source, like a bank or eBay, but they ask for lots of important personal information, such as a credit card number, Social Security number, account number or password. It may seem like common sense to ignore such a request by e-mail, but plenty of people -- perhaps in a rush to be cooperative -- give away all these details, and then it's open season on their accounts by the criminals.

Tags: features, opendns, phishing, phishtank, security, Web 2.0, Web2.0

Computers, MySpace

Malware Entrepreneurs Thrive in the Web 2.0 Marketplace

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — May 30th 2008 at 9:29AM

it's an open secret that one of the downsides to the the ubiquity of Web 2.0 sites and services is the ease with which the burgeoning malware (viruses, spyware, etc) market has been able to blossom. Hacking groups have used YouTube to advertise their services and products and have used social networking sites like MySpace and LiveJournal to find and stay in touch with clients.

Many are not just using the sites to advertise however. Some are using holes in those sites security measures as a way of watching those who watch them. Researchers recently found that some criminals were using a MySpace page loaded with malicious code to automatically subscribe visitors to their video channels instantly producing a record of ever person who visited their site.

Most of these nefarious groups and individuals are hiding in plain sight. The problem is that merely creating tools which allow you to infect PCs, steal data, or hijack a computer is not illegal, only using them to actually break the law. So these groups live in a legal gray area where they don't want to necessarily draw too much attention to themselves, but are usually safe from legal action. Law enforcement officials say they could charge a vendor of malware with aiding and abetting if their product was used illegally, but they would have to prove intent, which is always difficult. [Source: Yahoo! News]

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, malware, web 2.0, Web2.0, youtube

Computers

Exclusive, Would-Be MySpace-Rival Pownce Goes Public

by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Jan 22nd 2008 at 1:01PM

Do you like Twitter, but wish that it offered a little more functionality? Or do you dig Facebook, but think the whole Web 2.0 social networking scene is a bit stale? Whatever your feelings, you need to check out Pownce, the latest revolution in keeping in touch with friends. The social-networking service has just entered a public beta, meaning the software isn't quite ready for prime-time, but is open for you to check out.

Created by the same people behind the immensely-successful Digg, Pownce is a mixture of group-based IM, event invitations, and file sharing. You create lists of friends and can post updates a la Twitter, but can also post files for download like any file sharing app. You can also post up events for friends to join in on. It's a bit of an odd mix of features that we're not sure will necessarily make Pownce the next MySpace, but, again, if ya gotta be cutting edge, this is it.

From TechCrunch

Related Links:

Tags: Facebook, Pownce, social networking, SocialNetworking, Twitter, Web 2.0, Web2.0

Computers, Top Lists

The 10 Most Annoying Things On the Internet

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Oct 31st 2007 at 4:37PM

There's plenty to love about the Internet. But there is also plenty to loathe. Ridiculous banner ads, the crappy quality of the vast majority of Web video, and complex Web 2.0 services without any support.

PC World surveyed its readers and found out what they think the Top 10 Web Annoyances are. From Ticket Master to trolls (those people who post annoying, nonstop comments on forums), there's plenty of annoying stuff you'll recognize in this piece.

Online forms -- a pet peeve of ours -- makes the list. These overly complex forms that ask for a head scratching amount of personal information just to read an article or post on a forum are, to put it lightly, a bit pain in the ___. We can't count the number of times we've spent five minutes filling out a form, only to have missed a "required field" that wasn't marked clearly. Or the instances where we've input an answer in an unsuitable format that had no instructions, only to have the form clear itself completely and tell us we messed something up (but not tell us what!).

For all the convenience it has brought us, the Internet sure is annoying.

How about you? What do you think is the most annoying stuff on the Internet?

From PC World

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'Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

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Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.

Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.

Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.

Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.

HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.

HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.

HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.

GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.

Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.

Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.

Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.

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