Keji Technology Blogs

DirectTouch

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:51 UTC

You'd think that with Tegra 3 shipping in the Transformer Prime and all, we'd know everything there is to know about the new SoC. Apparently not. NVIDIA just announced DirectTouch, a technology exclusive to its Tegra 3 platform that uses that bonus fifth core for to improve touch detection. So what does a low-power core have to do with the touch experience, you say? Essentially, what's going on is NVIDIA's PRISM Display technology separates color and backlight intensity to save battery life while preserving fidelity. In a demo, the technology looked mighty smooth, though we'll need to get hands-on ourselves and see the technology in action for more than five seconds before we can weigh in on its utility.

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

NVIDIA gets big names to embrace DirectTouch tech

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:51 UTC

Synaptics, Atmel,N-trig, Raydium, Cypress and Focaltech -- big names in the field of touch-based devices -- have all agreed get on board with NVIDIA's DirectTouch platform. The tech offloads some of the work needed to track and process finger input from the controller to the Tegra 3, improving response and battery life. We were first introduced to the architecture at CES, but wasn't clear that others would embrace it. With two of the biggest makers of touchscreen controllers, Synaptics and Atmel, throwing their weight behind the project, though, things are looking up for NVIDIA-powered tablets. N-trig is even leveraging the processing power to improve the response of capacitive styli by combining DirectTouch with DuoSense (the tech behind the HTC Flyer). For more info check out the PR and video after the break.

Show full PR text

N-trig and NVIDIA to Bring Smoother, More Responsive Pen and Multi-Touch Input to Tablets

N-trig's DuoSense and NVIDIA DirectTouch Architecture provide enhanced touchscreen experience on Tegra 3 devices

KFAR SABA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--N-trig today announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to provide tablets with unparalleled pen and multi-touch performance and functionality. The combination of N-trig's DuoSense® pen and multi-touch user interface with NVIDIA DirectTouch™ architecture boosts performance and enhances the user experience.

"The additional processing power provided by Tegra 3 allows device manufacturers to offer enhanced pen and multi-touch performance without increasing cost or power consumption."
DirectTouch improves touch responsiveness by offloading a portion of the touch panel processing to the CPU cores in the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 processor, the world's only 4-PLUS-1™ quad-core processor with a fifth battery saver core. The architecture also simplifies the implementation of touch-based hardware and user interfaces, requiring less power while delivering more scalable performance.

Michael Rayfield, General Manager of the Mobile business at NVIDIA, said, "We're delighted to take our collaboration with N-trig to a new level in improving the touchscreen experience. The combination of DirectTouch with N-trig's DuoSense user interface will enable device-makers to offer their customers unprecedented precision for active pen and multi-touch processing."

N-trig DuoSense patented technology provides a pen and multi-touch user interface in a single device enabling true productivity in a mobile computing environment. The combination of multi-touch input and an intuitive, easy-to-use pen creates a truly Hands-on® experience for home, enterprise, and education. For example, in the education sector, DuoSense enables students to draw and sketch, take notes with handwriting recognition, and do homework directly on their e-textbooks resulting in a more versatile and creative way in which to interact with their computers.

"With this partnership, we bring advanced active pen and multi-touch capabilities to the tablet market, providing the user with the smoothest and most precise experience possible," said Amichai Ben-David, CEO of N-trig. "The additional processing power provided by Tegra 3 allows device manufacturers to offer enhanced pen and multi-touch performance without increasing cost or power consumption."

DuoSense supports all Windows, Android-based tablets and convertibles, and will be compatible with the Windows 8 operating system.

About N-trig

N-trig DuoSense® offers a complete solution to the ever-increasing demand for productivity on the move, utilizing pen capabilities for greater levels of interactive creativity, and advancing basic touch consumption to a much greater potential for simultaneous input, for a true Hands-on computing experience. Supporting various Windows, Linux and Android distributions, DuoSense can be implemented across a wide variety of form factors, including slates, netbooks, tablets and desktop replacements, supports all LCDs and a wide variety of industrial design options for mobile products, and keeps devices slim and light. N-trig has offices in Israel, the US, Taiwan, China and Japan. For more information, please visit www.n-trig.com.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synaptics Inc. (NASDAQ: SYNA), a leading developer of human interface solutions for mobile computing, communications and entertainment devices, today announced support for NVIDIA®'s DirectTouch™ architecture for the tablet market. Through its engineering partnership with NVIDIA, Synaptics continues to address consumer demand for thinner and lighter tablet devices that deliver an enhanced user experience. By collaborating with NVIDIA on DirectTouch, Synaptics offers OEMs broad choices on tablet touch solutions, including the recently announced high-performance, single asic ClearPad™ 7300, the industry's premier large touch screen solution.

With industry leading system-level engineering expertise, global design and technical support centers and over 1 billion capacitive touch solutions in the market, Synaptics is uniquely positioned to help enrich the success of the DirectTouch architecture. DirectTouch is a new technology of the NVIDIA Tegra® 3 processor, the world's only 4-PLUS-1™ quad-core processor with a fifth battery saver core.

Synaptics' partnership with NVIDIA leverages the company's lengthy tenure of innovation and design expertise in the touch space. OEMs will benefit from rapid development and fast time to market advantages due to the qualification nature of having both the touch and processor solutions offered in a single reference platform.

Michael Rayfield, General Manager of the Mobile business at NVIDIA, added, "Synaptics and NVIDIA are collaborating extensively to deliver an outstanding touchscreen experience to consumers. Combining DirectTouch with Synaptics' technologies provides an offering that will help partners create quad-core mobile devices with a super touch experience."

"Synaptics prides itself on developing key ecosystem partnerships with industry leaders, such as NVIDIA," said Rick Bergman, President and CEO of Synaptics. "We are confident that the user experience delivered by Tegra 3 with its 4-PLUS-1 quad-core processor will raise the performance and battery life bar in the exploding tablet market."

For up-to-the-minute Synaptics news, follow @SynaCorp on Twitter. For more information on Synaptics' products and solutions, please visit www.synaptics.com.

About Synaptics
Synaptics delivers intelligent touch for intelligent devices as the leading human interface solution provider for the mobile computing, communications and digital home entertainment markets. The ClearPad™ touchscreen family supports devices ranging from entry-level mobile phones to tablets. The TouchPad™ family, including ClickPad™, is integrated into the majority of today's notebook PCs. Synaptics has shipped over 1 billion capacitive touch solutions to leading OEMs around the world. (NASDAQ: SYNA) www.synaptics.com.

Synaptics, ClearPad, Design Studio and the Synaptics logo are trademarks of Synaptics in the United States and/or other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

predecessor

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:50 UTC

Ah, here we go, Samsung's other cellphone with an integrated projector just got an official launch date. The Galaxy Beam (codename: Halo) with its 3.7-inch Super AMOLED display is now slated to hit Singapore in July. That means that the European and broader launch across Asia should be just around the corner if Samsung's claims from Feburary hold true. At launch, the world's first Android phone with a built-in DLP pico projector will be served version 2.1 of Google's confectionary delight. Specwise, we're talking 7.2Mbps HSPA data on 900/1900/2100MHz and quad-band GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, an 8 megapixel autofocus camera with flash (front-facing VGA) and HD video recording, A-GPS, FM Radio, and an 1,800mAH battery. Memory is confusingly listed as "4Gb + 2Gb + 1Gb + 16Gb MoviNAND" made worse by no mention of microSD though it was definitely there when we went hands-on with Beam at Mobile World Congress. Specs after the break.

Ask Engadget: Best boardroom Skype gear?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:50 UTC

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Hugh, who wants his businesses conference calls broadcasted in eye-watering detail. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

Our office here in Sydney is getting some big screen HDTVs hooked up to a PC running Skype. We'd like to put together an amazing HD video conferencing setup with a webcam that can show the six or seven people around our table as well as a noise canceling microphone or USB table mic. Any suggestion anyone has would be great, thanks heaps!

Let's improve the general standard of the traditionally dour boardroom IT setup by suggesting something world-class, okay chaps and chapesses? It's over to you.

Samsung unveils new Galaxy Beam smartphone / proje

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:50 UTC

Samsung has finally started to reveal its new products at MWC 2012, starting with this refresh of the Galaxy Beam packing Android 2.3 and a dual-core CPU. Just like its predecessor it brings an integrated projector capable of 15 lumens of brightness, enough to shoot a high definition image that's up to 50 feet wide. It has a 2000 mAh battery to keep the party going -- handy when you're stuck somewhere inconvenient with a few dozen of your coworkers -- 8GB of built-in storage and a claimed 6GB of RAM (we're double checking that, consider it a likely typo until you hear otherwise). There's more details and specs in the press release after the break.

Samsung Galaxy Beam

Developing...

Show full PR text

Share the Fun with Samsung GALAXY Beam

February 26, 2012

Samsung's projector smartphone offers unforgettable shared experience for playing multimedia content anytime, anywhere

Barcelona – February 26, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today introduced Samsung GALAXY Beam, the projector smartphone that allows users to display and share multimedia content anywhere on a large luminous projector screen.

GALAXY Beam lets users spontaneously share photos, videos or other digital media with family or friends by beaming content stored on the device directly onto walls, ceilings or improvised flat surfaces, so that everyone can share the fun without the need to huddle around smartphone or pad-sized screens. GALAXY Beam's ultra-bright 15 lumens projector allows users to freely share life's memorable moments instantly and in crisp clarity, even in outdoor environments.

"GALAXY Beam provides mobile freedom, enabling a unique shared experience around digital content for everyone-anywhere and instantly-from a smartphone as slim and portable as any on the market," said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

GALAXY Beam is a device borne out of Samsung's insight and innovation, demonstrating Samsung's commitment to providing extraordinary experiences for consumers with products that let them express and fulfill themselves."

Video clips, maps, business information, games - a whole range of multimedia content can be beamed instantly by GALAXY Beam on a crisp, high-definition projection up to 50'' wide. The device features a projector-dedicated application which makes it easy to select content and activate projection in a few simple steps.

Add a dose of ambience or entertainment to a friends' gathering by transforming any household room or outdoor deck into an instant mini home-theater, projecting full-screen video clips on a ceiling or wall for common sharing, at the touch of a button. Or capture your favorite holiday moments using the GALAXY Beam's 5MP camera, then display a full photo slideshow to family members on a dining room wall while playing accompanying music straight from the device, so that everyone shares the experience.

For young users who depend on constant, immediate socializing of digital content and entertainment, GALAXY Beam introduces a new way of sharing. It becomes much more than a phone-a handy digital tool, deployable anywhere, which can add visual entertainment to a simple street gathering, set the mood for a small party, or simply turn life's moments into something personally and immediately sharable. With GALAXY Beam, a birthday or anniversary party can be enlivened in seconds by sharing YouTube or Hulu music videos straight onto a ceiling or door. Likewise, students can collectively share videos or study-work in any dormitory room or student lounge, turning group study into a whole new interactive experience right from a desk table or from the palm of their hands. GALAXY Beam is also ideal for action-packed interactive gaming: Users can upload their own games or choose from over 1,000 games available via Game Hub, Samsung's dedicated virtual gaming store, then project games to co-players or observers to turn gaming into an unbeatably interactive, shared experience. Additionally, GALAXY Beam is convenient tool for mid-sized business workers. An estate agent can beam images of candidate properties to customers as they tour them; or an architect can display draft concepts or designs to co-workers on the spot at a building site or public location.

Despite featuring a full built-in projector, the GALAXY Beam does not compromise on style or portability, measuring just 12.5mm thick and featuring an elegant, ergonomic design. It runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread which is powered by an impressive 1.0GHz dual-core processor, ensuring great versatility and a highly responsive user interface. An impressive 8GB of internal memory allows ample multimedia storage without compromises, and a powerful 2000 mAh battery ensures greater display power and content freedom.

The GALAXY Beam is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visitwww.samsungmobilepress.com.

Note to Editors:

Samsung GALAXY Beam Product Specifications

Network

HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps 850/900/1900/2100

EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

OS

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

Display

4.0" 480x800 (WVGA) TFT

Processor

1.0GHz Dual-Core Processor

Camera

5MP AF ï¼‹ 1.3MP / Flash

Video

MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, DivX

Recording/Playback: 720p@30fps

Audio

MP3, AAC, AACï¼‹, eAACï¼‹, WMA0fps

Connectivity

BT 3.0ï¼‹HS, 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz, MicroUSB, USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear Jack

PC Applications

Samsung Kies 2.0

Memory

6GB RAM ï¼‹ 8GB Internal Memory, MicroSD slot (up to 32GB)

Dimension

64.2 x 124 x 12.5mm, 145.3 g

Battery

2000 mAh

ï¼Š All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 222,000 people in 205 offices across 71 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world's most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) officially announced a

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:49 UTC

We already saw Samsung's 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 within just over a week ago, and now the company has just come clean with its 10.1-inch variant (along with a new Galaxy Beam smartphone). Aside from bumping up the screen resolution of its LCD to 1280 x 800, from 1024 x 600 on the 7.0, the 10.1 features the same 1Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and HSPA+ connectivity if you opt for the 3G model instead of WiFi. You'll find full details about the slate in the press release after the break and press images in the gallery below.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

...Developing

Show full PR text

Samsung's new GALAXY Tab 2 series offers optimal multimedia experiences in life

February 26, 2012

Samsung introduces its first line-up of tablets for 2012 with the launch of the GALAXY Tab 2 series, expanding the choice of tablets to customers. The GALAXY Tab 2 series includes a 7" version and a 10.1" version. Starting from UK, the GALAXY Tab 2 series will be launched in global market from March.

The GALAXY Tab 2 series is available in 3G and WiFi versions, as well as in 7" and 10.1" variants. Light and portable, the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) is the ideal personal on-the-go device; while the larger GALAXY Tab 2 (10.1) is well-suited for home and family use.

The GALAXY Tab 2 series is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visitwww.samsungmobilepress.com.

Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) Product Specifications

Network
HSPAï¼‹ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100
Processor
1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display
7" WSVGA(1024x600) PLS TFT
OS
Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera
Main(Rear): 3 Megapixel Camera
Sub(Front): VGA for Video Call
Video
Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, VP8
Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKV, WebM
Playback/ Recording: Full HD@30fps, HD@30fps
Audio
Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, MID, WMA, WAV, OGG
Music Player with SoundAlive
3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-added Features
Samsung TouchWiz/ Samsung L!ve Panel
Samsung Apps
Samsung Hubï¼Š
- Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung Hub Widgetï¼Š
- Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung S Suggestï¼Š (App recommendation service)
Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
Samsung AllShare Playï¼Š
Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
GoogleTM Mobile Services
- Android Market™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Maps™,
Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google Search, Google ï¼‹
Polaris document editor
A-GPS, Glonass
Connectivity
Bluetooth technology v 3.0
USB 2.0 Host
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
Sensor
Accelerometer, Digital compass, Light
Proximity(ï¼Š Available on 3G version only)
Memory
8/16/32GB User memory ï¼‹ 1GB (RAM)
microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension
193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5 mm, 345g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-ion 4,000mAh
ï¼Š Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region.
ï¼Š All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (10.1) Product Specifications

Network
HSPAï¼‹ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100
Processor
1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display
10.1" WXGA(1280x800) PLS TFT
OS
Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera
Main(Rear): 3 Megapixel Camera
Sub(Front): VGA for Video Call
Video
Codec: MPEG4, H.264. H.263, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, VP8
Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKV, WebM
Playback/ Recording: Full HD@30fps, HD@30fps
Audio
Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, MID, WMA, WAV, OGG
Music Player with SoundAlive

3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-added Features
Samsung TouchWiz / Samsung L!ve Panel
Samsung Apps
Samsung Hub
- Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung Hub Widgetï¼Š
- Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung S Suggestï¼Š (App recommendation service)
Samsung ChatON mobile communication servicea
Samsung AllShare Play
Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
GoogleTM Mobile Services
- Android Market™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Maps™,
Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google Search, Google ï¼‹
Polaris document editor
A-GPS, Glonass
Connectivity
Bluetooth technology v 3.0
USB 2.0 Host
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
Sensor
Accelerometer, Digital compass, Light
Memory
16/32GB User memory ï¼‹ 1GB (RAM)
microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension
256.6 x 175.3 x 9.7 mm , 588g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-ion 7,000 mAh

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:44 UTC

PSFK is a Mashable publishing partner that reports on ideas and trends in creative business, design, gadgets, and technology. The following article is reprinted with the publisher's permission.

A new kind of outdoor advertisement is being tested on Oxford Street in London’s West End. The interactive advertisement uses a high-definition camera to scan pedestrians and identify their gender before showing a specific ad. The built-in system has a 90% accuracy rate in analyzing a person’s facial features and determining if they’re male or female.

The Â£30,000 display is set up by Plan UK, a not-for-profit organization that helps children in third-world countries. Female passersby will be shown the full 40-second video of its ‘Because I’m a Girl’ campaign that promotes sponsoring a girl to receive proper education in a developing country. Males won’t be able to see the full ad and will be directed to Plan UK’s website instead. The purpose of this was to show men “a glimpse of what it’s like to have basic choices taken away.”

The ad campaign will run for two weeks and hopes to raise quarter of a million pounds in donations during the next four months.

This article originally published at PSFK here.

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:43 UTC

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Gogobot

Quick Pitch: A travel planning site sourcing recommendations from your social network.

Genius Idea: Gogobot is like a Pinterest for vacation travel. You can plan trips, read friends’ reviews, see their travel photos and create wish lists.

Travis Katz figures that between all your friends and contacts on Facebook, they’ve collectively traveled to tons of places. So when you’re planning a trip, why not collect that information in one place?

“Almost any place you want to go, you probably know someone who’s been there,” Katz says.

Gogobot is one of the new integrated Facebook apps announced in January. It lets you plan a trip using advice, photos and check-ins from Facebook friends.

One of the cool things about Gogobot is you can verify people’s identities. Of course, you know your friends, but unlike other travel sites, if you read a review from a stranger, you can see that reviewer’s photos, see his face, know his name and connect on Facebook.

Katz came up with this idea while working for MySpace doing international business in London. He and his wife were living in London and constantly traveling around Europe. They would spend an entire weekend day planning a trip — trying to figure out where to stay, what places to see, where to eat and never knowing if the information on travel websites was up-to-date or trustworthy.

Katz says they would search for friends who had been to the destination they were planning to visit. He says he realized how valuable that information would be all in one place on the Web.

“Gogobot unlocks all of this rich information and make it accessible,” he says.

The most popular feature is the Gogobot passport, Katz says. (I had fun using this feature, too). You can add places you’ve been, photos you’ve taken and write reviews. You can browse through others’ passports and add those destinations to your trip. The plus icon means “add to my trip,” the check symbol means you’ve visited that place and clicking the heart will add the destination to your wish list.

Let’s say you’re interested in visiting Thailand. Click “destination” and you’ll see a world map. Click on the region you’d like to visit, in this case Thailand. The results show who’s visited Thailand — a total of 8,714 Gogobot users. The list begins with the people I’m connected with on Gogobot and then lists strangers. I clicked on the second contact listed, someone I know. I can see his profile and view the countries he’s traveled to by map or list (Map is easiest if they’ve been to a lot of places). He left a photo of a place he recommends visiting in Thailand: Phang Nga Bay. I can click on the heart icon on this photo and add this destination to my wish list.

Check-ins on Facebook are also grouped in the passport to create a comprehensive profile of the places you’ve visited. This way, you can capture the smallest details, like where you went to get gelato in Venice.

Katz brought up a good point about check-ins on Facebook and Foursquare — that information gets washed away so quickly. After 30 minutes or so, it’s buried in the news feed. On Gogobot, the information is captured in your profile.

“A lot of people have described it as a Pinterest for travel,” he says.

The Gogobot mobile app for iOS launched in October. With the current app, you can take trip plans on-the-go and create digital postcards. It makes it easy to access phone numbers of the hotels where you’re staying, addresses and other information from travelers on the app. A new version of the app will be available early next week. The new version will also let you explore more than 60,000 destinations worldwide and find popular places.

“Everything on the list is personalized for you,” he says. “Results are different for everyoneâ€¦friends’ recommendations will show up first in cities you’re visiting.”

Gogobot attracted significant major funding. The company raised $19 million in venture capital money from Battery Ventures (involved in Angie’s List and Groupon), Google’s Eric Schmidt’s Endeavor fund and the GM of Squares.

What do you think about Gogobot? Will you use it? Tell us in the comments.

Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:42 UTC

Mashable‘s top comments segment is back. Every week, the Mashable community team keeps a close eye on our comment section in search of particularly insightful comments.

Two of our top comments this week are responses to an article about the Apple’s Foxconn controversy. Other top reader comments ponder the value of Google’s Foursquare competitor and responds to a British hacker’s violation of Facebook.

Keep responding to Mashable articles for a chance to be featured in next week’s Top Mashable Comments. No comment goes unread and we are always on the lookout for thoughtful responses from our readers.

Top 6 Mashable Comments Feb. 19 - Feb. 25

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MÃ¡rio Rodrigues shares an insightful response to an advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy Note. He questions the legitimacy of the ad and the knowledge of the iPhone user portrayed.

Original comment posted on:
Samsung Totally Copies Us With Galaxy Note â€˜Street Challengeâ€™

Samsung Galaxy Note Ad - Genuine?

MÃ¡rio Rodrigues shares an insightful response to an advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy Note. He questions the legitimacy of the ad and the knowledge of the iPhone user portrayed.

Original comment posted on:
Samsung Totally Copies Us With Galaxy Note â€˜Street Challengeâ€™

Samsung Galaxy Note Ad - Genuine?

Brian Hayashi responds to an article about Foxconn. ABC's Nightline was given access to the controversial facility that manufactures parts for Apple and other companies.

Original comment posted on:
Inside Foxconn: You Will Think Differently About Apple Products

Context About Foxconn

oomatter questions the motives behind the access to Foxconn that was granted to ABC.

Original comment posted on:
Inside Foxconn: You Will Think Differently About Apple Products

Foxconn Tour: A PR Stunt?

BenAndrews21 adds a bit of humor to a story about a hacker who faces some serious consequences after hacking into Facebook.

Original comment posted on:
Student who Hacked into Facebook Employee Account Gets Jail Time

Hacking You to Help you?

Michael Bauser gives his take on the value of Foursquare compared to that of Google Latitude.

Original comment posted on:
Latitude Leaderboard: Does Google Want to Be the New Foursquare?

Google Latitude vs. Foursquare

kmulcahy responds to an op-ed about the possible demise of wireless carriers. Â His comparison of wireless carriers to the music industry brought up a valid point about innovation versus grasping onto for old technology.

Original comment posted on:
2020: The Rise or Demise of Wireless Carriers?

The End for Wireless Carriers?

Original comment posted on:
2020: The Rise or Demise of Wireless Carriers?

The End for Wireless Carriers?

View As One Page »

View As Slideshow »

Samsung Galaxy Note Ad - Genuine?

MÃ¡rio Rodrigues shares an insightful response to an advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy Note. He questions the legitimacy of the ad and the knowledge of the iPhone user portrayed.

Original comment posted on:
Samsung Totally Copies Us With Galaxy Note â€˜Street Challengeâ€™

Samsung Galaxy Note Ad - Genuine?

MÃ¡rio Rodrigues shares an insightful response to an advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy Note. He questions the legitimacy of the ad and the knowledge of the iPhone user portrayed.

Original comment posted on:
Samsung Totally Copies Us With Galaxy Note â€˜Street Challengeâ€™

Context About Foxconn

Brian Hayashi responds to an article about Foxconn. ABC's Nightline was given access to the controversial facility that manufactures parts for Apple and other companies.

Original comment posted on:
Inside Foxconn: You Will Think Differently About Apple Products

Foxconn Tour: A PR Stunt?

oomatter questions the motives behind the access to Foxconn that was granted to ABC.

Original comment posted on:
Inside Foxconn: You Will Think Differently About Apple Products

Hacking You to Help you?

BenAndrews21 adds a bit of humor to a story about a hacker who faces some serious consequences after hacking into Facebook.

Original comment posted on:
Student who Hacked into Facebook Employee Account Gets Jail Time

Google Latitude vs. Foursquare

Michael Bauser gives his take on the value of Foursquare compared to that of Google Latitude.

Original comment posted on:
Latitude Leaderboard: Does Google Want to Be the New Foursquare?

The End for Wireless Carriers?

Original comment posted on:
2020: The Rise or Demise of Wireless Carriers?

The End for Wireless Carriers?

Original comment posted on:
2020: The Rise or Demise of Wireless Carriers?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:29:42 UTC

Tony Morrison is the Vice President of Business Development at Cachinko, a unique professional community where social networking and job opportunities come together. Find him on Talent Connection and connect with Cachinko on Facebook or Twitter.

Eventually, Facebook’s 845 million users will have to climb abroad the Facebook Timeline hub.

There will be plenty of challenges to consider with the slow roll-out of updates to the world’s largest social network affecting millions of people.

More than 18.4 million Americans have used Facebook to find a job. Facebook Timeline poses new obstacles for current adults looking for work.

How can the Timeline mess up an existing job search? Here are three things job seekers should avoid doing on Facebook Timeline.

Whine

Thousands of users are making it clear that they hate Facebook Timeline, especially in their status updates. Complaining about Facebook Timeline — among other things — will lead people to think you will not be able to handle the little things once you get a job.

Employers are Googling you to get a first impression of who you are and what you will be like at the company. The virtual complaining can come back and haunt you.

Refusing to Adjust, Take Advantage of New Things

It should be abundantly clear that Facebook Timeline is different, which can be a good thing. If you review Facebookâ€™s introduction page, youâ€™ll find that Timeline offers some pretty neat new features including a cover image, the ability to highlight a story and full app integration.

Job seekers should take advantage of these new features to tell a more complete story about themselves. Your Facebook Timeline should be considered an online brochure for your personal brand and what you can bring to the table.

Every time Facebook (or other social media â€‹platforms, for that matter) makes any structural changes, there is a group of people who simply wonâ€™t stand for it. This is a huge mistake. Why? Refusing to adjust means that you are likely to miss out on opportunities.

Put yourself in an employerâ€™s shoes: If you came across a candidate who stuck to their guns and wouldnâ€™t adjust to changes on a simple thing like Facebook, what do you think theyâ€™ll do at work? Visions of future employees protesting new filing systems or office suppliers are not good.

Neglecting to Edit

One caveat of Timeline is that the past is a whole lot more accessible. Privacy settings remain the same, but many usersâ€™ content will go all the way back to 2006 or earlier. Would you want to be held to everything you said six years ago? I know I donâ€™t.

A big mistake job seekers will make on Facebook Timeline is not take the time to review old content and delete the stuff that simply shouldnâ€™t be remembered. Take a stroll down memory lane. You might find some public content that should be taken down and you might also find content that is worth uncovering.

Fortunately, Facebook is allowing users to take a seven-day grace period to hammer all those potentially regrettable posts out of sight.

What do you think? Do you think Facebook Timeline is good for the job seeker? Or can it be cause for image destruction? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Social Media Job Listings

Every week we post a list of social media and web job opportunities. While we publish a huge range of job listings, we’ve selected some of the top social media job opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!

CRM & Partnerships Manager at Time Out New York in New York City
Senior Front End Web Developer at Limited Brands in Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Social Media Manager at Ergobaby in Los Angeles

PlayStation Vita Facebook app pulled for repairs,

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:30 UTC

After a short, two day stint on Sony's next generation portable, Facebook's Vita app has been pulled from the PSN store. According to a post on the official PlayStation Forums (EU), users were encountering an error code while trying to log into the popular social network, forcing them to close the application. Community team leader PadPoet says the error is a "Facebook specific issue (on their side)," and that the two outfits are working on a solution. "We will announce further details when ready," a Sony rep told Joystiq. Hopefully the app will make a triumphant return shortly, though it's absence doesn't make cripple the handheld's social aspiration's completely -- after all, there's always Twitter.

'City' endeavors

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:30 UTC

When it comes to vacuums it's obvious that we tend to like the ones that propel themselves -- your Roombas and your XV-11s and the like. But, when it comes to getting something properly clean sometimes you need to break out the manually modulated models, and those from Dyson tend to be the most coveted. The $399 Dyson City is the latest, a little sucker for those with smaller floor plans and shorter attention spans. But, we think it's good enough for country folk too.

Dyson City DC26

Hardware

The Dyson City was actually announced nearly a year ago and has been available in Europe for quite some time. But, it's only now getting a release in the US of A, and we're glad for it. It's the company's smallest non-handheld vac, a canister model that weighs just 12lbs. Compare that to one of the Dyson uprights, which weigh in the mid-30lb range, and you'll see it's quite an improvement.

Of course as it's a canister vac it feels even lighter because the majority of the weight hangs out behind you on the floor and you're left just swinging around a very lightweight nozzle. Naturally, as this is a Dyson, it's a reasonably high-tech nozzle. It telescopes with the push of a button and the most important attachments clip right onto it -- a sort of utility belt for fighting dust bunnies.

On the back rides the free-spinning turbine head, sitting on like a penny aft of the canister's Choro-Q-like design. Appropriately as you drag it around it loves to pop wheelies but does a commendable job of not tipping over -- a problem on many canisters.

Like other Dysons the dirt compartment lifts right out easily and the bottom flaps open with the press of a button, saving you from touching anything icky and, since you can stuff it down in the trash bin, helping to keep much of what you've sucked up from blowing all over the house again. There are also two filters onboard, both of which can be cleaned and, in theory, will never need replacement.

Testing

Tucked atop the Dyson City's cool, shimmery blue surface are a pair of buttons. One recoils the retractable power cord, which we were disappointed to find comes flying in like any basic vac's. We might have liked something with a bit of damping here. The other button of course turns it on, which means you'll be bending over whenever you want to stop or start. That too is an annoyance, and we'd have much preferred to see a power button on the handle of the telescoping arm.

Instead what you get up on the handle is a vacuum release button, a sort of panic switch that you can hit when the City starts to eat your curtains, carpet, or small pets. This doesn't actually shut off the vacuum, just lets it suck in air from the top instead to release the suction at the bottom. Handy, but we'd much prefer a proper power switch, even if it'd mean running a wire up the hose to connect it.

Bend over to turn the thing on and you'll find the little monster makes nearly as much noise as the upright model, which is a bit surprising, but we were happy to see that the considerable torrent of warm air pumped out of the canister is ducted up and back from the body, keeping it from blowing away the very shedded fur and bits of cereal you're trying to capture.

That telescoping arm is very light weight, even with the heavier but rather more narrow spinny turbine head attached. That attachment is said to be for giving dirty floors an extra clean, but we found it did an okay job on short carpet too -- so long as you kept it moving. Leave it in one place and the bristles quickly grind to a halt. While this machine delivers plenty of suction for most purposes, it simply doesn't match the lint-licking power of a bigger Dyson upright.

On hardwood or the like, though, it's a champ. If you attach the wide nozzle you can quickly and easily zip through rooms, pivoting it under and around furniture like you're on a domesticated parkour training run. However, be prepared to take lots of breaks. That easily detachable canister has a very limited capacity that's a fraction of one of the uprights. It's enough to get through a small house or largeish apartment in one shot -- assuming it wasn't too filthy to begin with.

Wrap-up

The Dyson City is a lightweight canister that can stand up to the heavyweight upright competition -- if your floors aren't covered with shag. Cleaning up on hardwood, linoleum, and short carpet of the durable corporate variety is a cinch with the City and, thanks to its light weight, you'll get things over with more quickly. But, if you really want to give your deep pile a deep tissue massage you're still going to have to break out one of the company's heavier models. This means it is of somewhat limited use for its hefty $400 price tag, but if you have the right floors and the right means it is the right vac for you.

DIY'er makes his own conductive ink, teaches you h

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:29 UTC

There are DIY projects that you should do at your own risk, and then there are DIY projects that you should do at your own risk. This conductive ink concocted by Jordan Bunker falls into the latter category, but it should be relatively straightforward for those who know what they're doing (or those with proper supervision), and it results in a product that's markedly cheaper than existing off-the-shelf alternatives (Jordan spent around $150 for a decent-sized batch). That can then be used for any number of electronics projects, of which you'll have to discern your own degree of danger. Jordan's promising a video soon, but you can find the complete instructions for making your own at the source link below in the meantime.

Engadget Mobile Podcast 127 - 02.24.2012

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:29 UTC

We are pretty excited for MWC. If you don't believe us, walk with us down this 127th Engadget Mobile Podcast path. It will make a believer out of you.

Hosts: Myriam Joire ( tnkgrl), Brad Molen, Joseph Volpe
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake ( Ghostly International)

00:07:58 - LG Optimus 4X HD unveiled: Quad-core Tegra 3, Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.7-inch display

00:13:59 - LG Optimus Vu officially revealed ahead of MWC with stylus, 1.5GHz CPU (Updated)
00:20:24 - LG Optimus 3D Max is a slimmer sequel, world's first phone with 3D video editing
00:28:35 - LG busts out a trio of L-series phones in the run up to MWC
00:35:55 - LG's Optimus LTE gets NFC variant, wants to be known as Optimus LTE Tag

00:39:30 - Nokia bringing two Lumia devices to MWC next week?

00:40:30 - Nokia teases with imaging-themed video ahead of MWC

00:55:44 - Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy mini 2 officially revealed, launch first in Europe

00:56:05 - Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G making its way into T-Mobile stores in March for $150

00:58:14 - Samsung Rugby Smart officially coming to AT&T March 4 for $100

01:06:05 - ZTE to unleash eight new phones at MWC, hopes multi-core chipsets and LTE push them into third place
01:07:50 - ZTE Mimosa X official: ICS, Tegra 2, HSPA+ and 4.3-inch qHD display, arriving in Q2

01:09:03 - ZTE announces two LTE Android smartphones: high-spec PF200 and low-spec N910 (updated)
01:10:10 - Panasonic: Eluga means 'Elegant, user-orientated gateway,' not a cry of distress
01:12:12 - Sony Xperia U 'Kumquat' pics leak, gets sized up ahead of MWC

01:15:30 - Huawei Ascend D1 Q shows off its corners, packs the same number of processors?

01:18:00 - T-Mobile lost more customers in Q4, will launch LTE in 2013 with AWS spectrum from AT&T

01:24:24 - Droid RAZR ICS screenshots leaked, could this be the next Blur?
01:29:00 - Fujitsu readies its 'final model' quad-core smartphone for reveal next week

Hear the podcast

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NuForce Air DAC wireless audio streamer on sale: $

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:29 UTC

We may live in a digital world, but analog still rules the roost when it comes to audio, and a dedicated DAC can improve the quality of your tunes considerably. Back at CES, we teased you with NuForce's Air DAC that wirelessly streams music from mobile to your home stereo on the 2.4GHz band at a range of 30-65 feet (10-20 meters). Well, it's been priced and is now officially available. For those with Apple devices, the 30-pin iTX dongle will set you back $79, and those keeping their music elswhere can grab the uTX USB transmitter for $59. On its own, the DAC receiver costs $149, though the whole iOS-compatible kit can be had for $199, while the USB version's yours for $179. PR's after the break.

Show full PR text

NuForce Announces its Air DAC Wireless System for High Quality Audio Streaming

The NuForce Air DAC System features SKAA technology and allows users to cut the cord and wirelessly stream CD-quality music from a computer and mobile devices

Milpitas, Calif. – February 23, 2012– NuForce, Inc., a leader in professional and consumer audio solutions, today announces the release of its Air DAC Wireless System for personal audio streaming. The NuForce Air DAC system gives users the ability to wirelessly transmit their music from a computer without latency and interference, while preserving CD-quality sound.

The Air DAC wireless system is a combination wireless transmitter (NuForce iTX for Apple devices or uTX for computer USB) and a radio receiver (Air DAC) that operates in the 2.4GHz radio band. The NuForce Air DAC wireless receiver and any device outfitted with an appropriate matching TX transmitter can be combined to form a wireless audio network.

The NuForce wireless transmitter and receiver set not only permits users to get exceptional wireless sound, it also allows users to send it to multiple devices in just about any room in the house. Each transmitter can send audio to four receivers, and each receiver can connect to as many as four transmitters.

Setup doesn't require WiFi routers or IP addresses, making setup a hassle-free experience. Just plug in the appropriate wireless transmitter into and link the device wirelessly to multiple amplifier/speaker systems located throughout your home. Then simply walk into any room with your portable player and the system automatically locks on to its signal and streams the music to the speakers in that space. Move to the next room and stream music from the same device to that room's receiver. Wherever you roam in your home or office, your music is with you. (iTX for Apple devices will be available in the near future)

"We wanted a robust, high quality, easy to use wireless audio streaming solution," said Jason Lim, CEO of NuForce. "The NuForce Air DAC wireless system is the perfect solution for any home or office."

Air DAC uWireless System
The NuForce uTX Transmitter plugs into your computer's USB port and then sends the digital audio data to the Air DAC receiver. The uTX has a wireless range of approximately 15-30 meters. The Air DAC receiver is available now for $149, the uTX transmitters are available now for $59. A bundle with the receiver and one transmitter is $179.

Air DAC iWireless System
The NuForce iTX Transmitter is a small dongle that is plugged into your Apple device using the 30-pin dock connector. The dongle then sends the signal to the Air DAC Receiver. The iTX has a wireless range of 10-20 meters. The Air DAC receiver is available now for $149. The iTX transmitters will be available soon for $79 and a bundle with the receiver and one iTX transmitter will also be available soon for $199.

For more information on this or any other NuForce products, contact PR representative Jessica Darrican at 305-576-1171, extension 16.

NHK's new Super Hi-Vision sensor captures 8K at 12

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:28 UTC

As amazing as Super Hi-Vision televisions are, most of the footage we've seen is of slow-moving cityscapes, nature and portraits. We may get more action sequences soon, thanks to a new CMOS sensor capable of picking up 8K (33MP) footage at 120 frames per second. The joint project between NHK, Shizuoka University and the Research Institute of Electronics is being shown off on the 27th at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference The chip is developed on a .18 micrometer process, with an enhanced analog to digital converter that enables the faster frame rates. That cut down data processing time and power consumption, all key to getting some sweet super high res televisions (16x more pixels than your current HDTV) in our living room sooner rather than later. Our only question? If they can build a new camera around it in time to catch the world's fastest human being do his thing at the 2012 London Olympics.

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:24 UTC

Users on the Yahoo-owned photo social network Flickr can now block Pinterest aficionados from tacking Flickr pictures onto their beloved online image boards.

Flickr users can block pinning by changing a “Yes” to a “No” in user Privacy Settings. Simply state “No” in the area where you “Allow others to share your stuff.” The Pinterest “nopin” code will be enabled.

“Flickr has implemented the new tag that Pinterest introduced, and it now appears on all non-public/non-safe pages, as well as when a member has disabled sharing of their Flickr content,” Jason Khoury, Director of Yahoo! Global Product Communications told Mashable in an email.

Pinterest users can pin all pictures that are public, but only if sharing is not prohibited by the images’ owners.

SEE ALSO: Sorry, Pinterest Users: Websites Can Now Block Pinning [VIDEO]

Stephen Woods — a Flickr web developer — told users they would be able to opt out starting this week. The “nopin” code was created by Pinterest allows web publishers, companies and individuals to protect copyrighted content.

The Flickr implementation of the Pinterest opt-out code was first suggested by a user.

“We liked this idea so much we went ahead and did it. The photo page now includes this tag if you have opted out of sharing (or if it is not a public photo). Thanks for the suggestion!” Woods stated on a Flickr help section thread.

Meaning, Flickr users will have the power to share photos Pinterest admirers, or not. Now, Flickr’s default setting is to not allow sharing of images on Pinterest, but that can be easily changed to allow sharing.

The Pinterest opt-out option will prompt a message that says: “This site doesn’t allow pinning to Pinterest. Please contact the owner with any questions. Thanks for visiting!”

The two-year-old social bookmarking website that has gained 13 million users (and counting) in 10 months is gaining naysayers just as quickly because of copyright issues.

Usually, the “pinning” action will automatically link back to the original source of the pin. Pictures are often not credited when a person saves an image to their desktop and uploads it onto a board from there.

Flickr photographers Mashable contacted for the story had this to say:

Jennifer Sosa, a lifestyle and wedding photographer, has Pinterest and Flickr accounts.

“Back in the day with magazines, you would tear up the magazine and put it on a bulletin board,” Sosa said. “Pinterest is a way of categorizing it. I think it’s bizarre people see it as a violation of copyright. I see people pinning my stuff and I’m happy.”

Lee Cullivan is also a professional photographer on Flickr. He believes giving users access to a Pinterest opt-out is great.

“I think is the right thing to do,” he said. “As long as my photograph would be credited, unaltered, and linked back to the Flickr site I wouldn’t have a problem with it.”

Image courtesy of Flickr, dabblelicious

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:23 UTC

This year’s Mobile World Congress is fast approaching — are you caught up on all of Mashable‘s digital media resources? If not, don’t fret. Here’s our convenient and comprehensive weekly features roundup.

This week we have a list of free Android apps you’ll use every day, tips for reaching voters successfully via social media and how to get your Facebook friends’ birthdays onto your Google calendar. We’ve also covered everything you need to know about the new PlayStation Vita, tips for small business marketing on Facebook and an explanation of how Google’s +1 button affects SEO. You’ll even find an interview with Zooey Deschanel and Sophia Rossi as two of the three co-founders of HelloGiggles, a new website for empowering young women.

If you’re looking for the best social media, business and technology resources, youâ€™ve come to the right place:

Editor’s Picks

Pinterest or Porn-terest? What the Social Network Is Doing to Keep It Clean
If youâ€™ve browsed Pinterest, you may have seen a nude photo or two. Here is Pinterest’s policy and what its team is doing about it.
5 Tips for Reaching Voters in the Social Stream
2012 might be the year where social media marketing can make or break a political campaign. Here are tips to drive political awareness using new media channels.
How HelloGiggles Creates a Positive Online Community for Young Women
HelloGiggles is warming up the cold, often critical world of the web, with fun and empowering, lady-friendly content.
How Googleâ€™s +1 Button Affects SEO
Google’s +1 button doesn’t share content to the stream the way the Facebook “Like” does, but there must be a connection to search. Here’s what we know so far.
The 10 Most-Followed Brands on Pinterest
Zoomsphere has compiled a list of the 10 most-followed brands on Pinterest.
10 Free Android Apps Youâ€™ll Use Every Day
We have rounded up 10 solid apps that will make your daily routine, and life in general, much easier.

Social Media

5 Tips for Using LinkedInâ€™s Mobile Site
Not interested in tacking on another app to your smart phone? Check out these tips for using LinkedIn’s mobile site.
10 Creative Pinterest Board Hacks by Mashable Readers
Last week, we shared tips to trick out your Pinterest Boards with a simple hack. Then, we asked you to share your own creations!
10 Awesome Animated Google+ Profiles [VIDEOS]
We’ve seen some great Google+ profile hacks in the past, but there’s a new breed of design in town — the animated Google+ profile.
How to See Facebook Birthdays in Google Calendar
One of Facebook’s most useful features is the way it alerts you to the birthdays of all your buddies. Did you know that you can export this valuable data to other calendar applications?
8 Ways Pinterest Is Inspiring Projects
Mashable and CNN iReport asked how you were using Pinterest for project inspiration. Here are the results you sent us.
10 Non-Profits Leveraging Pinterest for Social Good
Non-profits are flocking to Pinterest and utilizing its features to gain exposure and build support.
How to Hide From Annoying Friends on Facebook Chat
Whether you want to chat in secret from the boss, hide from your annoyingly talkative cousin or only appear as online to one special person, we can help you out.

For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashable‘s social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Business & Marketing

9 Hot Tips for Small Business Marketing on Facebook
Think you need a large budget and a whole army to maintain a marketing campaign on Facebook? Think again. Here are a few time-saving tricks.
Is YouTube Too Big to Fail?
YouTube won’t be getting government money anytime soon, but as it fights copyright lawsuits, court decisions could be setting precedent for a “judicial bailout.”
Yelp: From Scrappy Startup to $100 Million IPO [INFOGRAPHIC]
Yelp will hit the stock market on March 2. Here’s a look at how far they’ve come in terms of user growth and revenue.
What Marketers Can Learn From Whole Foodsâ€™ Organic Approach to Pinterest
Take a look at just how the organic grocery company is targeting users of Pinterest in a winning way.
How to Fix Microsoft With Marketing
A company cannot be truly effective unless it markets life-improving products, but Microsoft sees itself as a product engineering organization.
3 Things Retailers Can Learn from Mom and Pop Facebook Stores
Social commerce is thriving. Here are three things small sellers can teach large retailers about Facebook commerce.

For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable‘s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Tech & Mobile

5 Places to Get Digital Textbooks
The days of shuffling that 10-pound textbook to class or those countless fiction novels in your backpack are over. Check out these five digital text services.
The Evolution of Online Travel [INFOGRAPHIC]
From the very first electronic system to the hottest travel websites on the Internet, here’s how we’ve changed the ways to get away.
5 Ground-Breaking Competitions for Innovative Youth
Hosted by major companies and organizations, these five STEM competitions are giving young people a chance to innovate.
5 Key Components of a Successful Interest Graph
Whatâ€™s involved when building a complete and expressive interest graph platform? How can the resulting graph effectively optimize data?
Everything You Need to Know About Wireless Spectrum [INFOGRAPHIC]
Want to know more about spectrum, the invisible signals that wireless devices such as cell phones rely upon? Look no further.
PlayStation Vita: 15 Games You Can Play at Launch
On Feb. 22, the PlayStation Vita and its games were released in the U.S. Find out what games you can play.
How Mobile Payments Are Revolutionizing Public Transit
Various countries worldwide are experimenting with new ways to reach out to travelers and make the payments process a lot easier.
Snow Day: 10 Wonderful Wintery iPhone Photographs
From the first frost through to adventures in sledding via some beautiful nature scenes, our gallery captures many aspects of wintery weather.
PlayStation Vita: Everything You Need to Know
Mashable answers all your questions about PlayStation’s new mobile gaming device, Vita.
Nostalgia Overload: New Tumblr Challenges You to Draw Classic Video Game Maps From Memory
“Mapstalgia” is a Tumblr blog where readers submit video game maps they’ve drawn from memory. What is it about game worlds that make them so memorable?
What You Need to Know About Building a Mobile App for Your Brand
So, you’re interested in a customized mobile app for your business. Here are some major points to consider before you start your project.
5 Essential Mobile Apps for Keeping Up With U.S. Politics
Use these five politically-minded apps for your smartphone or tablet to stay on top of the latest U.S. election and government news.
10 Best Strategy Games for Android
Looking for a mobile gaming fix that’s a bit more cerebral? We’ve plucked out the 10 best strategy games from the Android market.
8 Free Apps for Planning Your Perfect Night Out
The weekend is finally here and you’re ready for a great time with your friends. We’ve assembled a list of free apps to plan your perfect night out.
Happy Birthday, Steve Jobs: A Look Back at the Man Who Changed Tech
Feb. 24, 2012, would have been Steve Jobs’s 57th birthday. We’d like to wish the man who changed the face of technology a happy birthday with some of our favorite coverage of him throughout the years.

For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable‘s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, akinbostanci.

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:23 UTC

This seems like a good place to start. Many of the words are simple words that are rarely mistaken for being pronounced any other way. They abide by the phonetic laws of English. When they're pronounced incorrectly, it's pretty darn funny.

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:29:23 UTC

Top 10 Twitter Pics of the Week (2/25/2012)

More Popular Galleries

Comment Share

Previous 1 of 10 Next

The situation in #Bahrain is a popular subject for photos on Twitter every day. This picture of a child in the middle of a street battle was posted by @Reality_Bahrain.

1. Bahrain

This picture, posted by @schoolposts (33.000+ followers), says it all. It was the top pick from hashtag #ificouldwishforanything. Itâ€™s from a Tumblr account that posts all sorts of things people wish for.

2. If I Could Wish For Anything

Nostalgia has proven to make a great subject for photos on Twitter. This week, #BackWhenIWasaKid is the most popular memories hashtag. Anyone who used to play PokÃ©mon games on a Gameboy probably remembers this moment: Trying to decide which of three pokÃ©mons to start the game with.

3. Back When I Was a Kid

A call against bullying and anorexia by @NathansReality (41.000+ followers), who wants to inspire people around the world with his website. His pic is accompanied by a tweet that reads: â€œ #NeverTellAGirl she is ugly, fat /over weight. This is what happens.â€�

4. Never Tell a Girl

London Fashion Week ( #LFW) ended on Feb. 22, followed by Milan Fashion Week, which takes place from Feb 22 - 28. This picture was described as â€œThe Finale with Christopher Bailey #Burberry Prorsum A/W12#LFWâ€�.

5. London Fashion Week

On Feb. 21, the Brit Awards were held, where Adele raised her middle finger to the #Brits organization for cutting off her speech. However, that moment was not the Britsâ€™ most popular Twitter photo: The boy band One Direction, featured on this list quite a few times before, won the Brit award for best British single last Tuesday. This picture of One Directionâ€™s Harry Styles on the red carpet, along with Dermot Oâ€™Leary, ended up as the most retweeted Brit Awards picture.

6. Brits

This Mardi Gras picture by the @saints (180.000+ followers) displays â€œDarren Sproles float in the Bacchus Parade last night.â€�

7. Mardi Gras

As you probably expected, again, there is a Harry Potter reference in this list, this time under the hashtag #iusedto. This image by @_Snape_ (over 550.000 followers) displays character Karen Smith (from film â€˜Mean Girlsâ€™) and the bad guy from the Harry Potter series.

8. I Used To...

Jeremy Lin and #linsanity was featured on this list last week as well. This picture, showing Lin on the front page of the Daily News, was tweeted by @joebudden (450.000+ followers). The Knicks lost the game against LeBron (Heat) on Feb. 23, though.

9. Linsanity

Michael Jordan turned 49 on Feb. 17. His birthday was celebrated on Twitter and ended up in the top 10 of this weekâ€™s top photo trends. The tweet this image was accompanied by reads: â€œHappy Birthday Michael Jordan! #Bulls legend and greatest of all-time turns 49 today.â€�

10. Michael Jordan Turns 49

View As One Page »

View As Slideshow »

1. Bahrain

The situation in #Bahrain is a popular subject for photos on Twitter every day. This picture of a child in the middle of a street battle was posted by @Reality_Bahrain.

2. If I Could Wish For Anything

3. Back When I Was a Kid

4. Never Tell a Girl

5. London Fashion Week

6. Brits

7. Mardi Gras

This Mardi Gras picture by the @saints (180.000+ followers) displays â€œDarren Sproles float in the Bacchus Parade last night.â€�

8. I Used To...

9. Linsanity

10. Michael Jordan Turns 49

Each week there are even more Twitter photos to choose from, and this week our eagle-eyed researchers at Skylines used a trusty algorithm to browse through 45 million photos. Here’s what landed on the top of the list.

The treasure trove of pictures include a look at London Fashion Week, New Orleans celebrations on the last night of Mardi Gras, Linsanity and much more.

If you’d like to know more about our top-secret selection process, well, we’re not going to tell you anything about that, but you can see our full results here.

If you missed them, here are last week’s Top 10 Twitter Pics.

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Whine

Refusing to Adjust, Take Advantage of New Things

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Wrap-up

DIY'er makes his own conductive ink, teaches you h

Engadget Mobile Podcast 127 - 02.24.2012

NuForce Air DAC wireless audio streamer on sale: $

NHK's new Super Hi-Vision sensor captures 8K at 12

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