Downloading child pornography is not a crime to be taken lightly. While we’ve all seen the To Catch a Predator episodes, it may come as shock to find out that the mere presence of child pornography on your computer’s hard drive is enough to send you to prison for 20 years.Matthew White of Sacramento is learning this lesson the hard way. The 22 year-old man is facing hard time for downloading child porn, “accidentally.”White claims that after using Limewire to download “College Girls Gone Wild,” he discovered that inappropriate images of children were also downloaded. Upon the discovery, White claims the photos were immediately deleted.Now White faces up to 20 years in prison and plans to plead guilty, on the advice of his lawyer, in the hopes of getting a 3.5 year sentence instead (though he will have to register as a sex offender when released).CBS in Sacramentocovered the story, and White’s story is as follows:“It didn’t appeal to me,” he said. “I was looking for women my age, so I just wanted to download ‘College Girls Gone Wild’ and accidentally downloaded underage pornography.”About a year later, FBI agents showed up at his family’s home. The family agreed to let agents examine the computer, and at first, they couldn’t find anything.Investigators later were able to recover the deleted images from deep within the hard drive.“I asked them, ‘Where did you get that? I don’t remember that.’ I asked them, ‘Could I access that if I wanted to?’” Matt said. “They said no.”It appears as if the law has no lenience for accidents when it comes to child porn. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, the only option you have to avoid White’s fate is to report the incident to the authorities immediately.Image courtesy of iStockphoto, helenecanada.Reviews: iStockphotoTags: child pornography, matthew white
Just yesterday we learned that Google acquired AppJet, the company behind EtherPad, a real-time collaboration word processor.The announcement came with a bit of bad news for EtherPad users, as the company said it was disabling key functionality (like creating new pads), and planning to shutdown the service completely in March 2010 to focus on Google Wave.Apparently that news didn’t sit well with avid EtherPad users, as the company has issued a new statementin response to the overwhelmingly negative feedback. Aaron Iba, former CEO, asserts that not only has pad creation been re-enabled, but they’re going to open source the code, and also get EtherPad users Google Wave invites.Clearly EtherPad users are a passionate bunch, and their vocal disapprobation of the previous transition plan encouraged the company to do a complete one-eighty. AppJet’s complete statement is as follows:Dear EtherPad Users,Many of you were not super thrilled with the transition plan we announced in our last blog post, which I guess is really quite flattering. We have worked with Google and the Google Wave team to make the following changes to the plan, which I think you will appreciate:- We have re-enabled pad creation from the EtherPad home page.- We have begun planning how to open source the code to EtherPad and the underlying AppJet Web Framework. We will continue maintaining new pad creation from the EtherPad home page at least until we have open sourced the code, and work hard to make sure there will be no or minimal service disruption in the future.- We are working with the Google Wave team to get all EtherPad users a chance to try out the Google Wave preview within the next couple of weeks. We do realize (as does the Google Wave team) that Wave doesn’t yet have all the functionality you rely on, and isn’t yet as mature as EtherPad. We are confident that in the long term you will be really happy with Google Wave, though. That’s why we decided to join them!The team we are joining already gets open souce, and we hope that by releasing the code to EtherPad we will not only help you transition your existing workflow, but also contribute to the broader advancement of realtime collaboration technology.I am sorry for disrupting your productivity, and I hope that this new transition plan helps you out.Sincerely,Aaron IbaFormer CEO of AppJetReviews: EtherPad, Google, Google WaveTags: appjet, etherpad, Google Wave
A recent video on YouTube, which shows a car hit by a large wrecking ball, is fast approaching viral status on the site.The video description attempts to paint the incident as real and claims that a, “Dodge minivan that entered a closed construction zone in Manhattan was accidentally hit and flipped over by the wrecking ball as onlookers watch in horror and ran for cover. Driver escaped with minor injuries.”The problem is that everything about the video makes us think that this is a fake. A few questions that arise: Why would they be using a wrecking ball adjacent to a Manhattan city street? Is there a voice in the background yelling cut? Is there a flipping mechanism underneath the car? Would it be possible to survive from the impact? Why are there no news reports on the incident? And the list goes on.Given the video description mentioning Dodge, the Chicago Tribuneeven speculates that the video might be an attempt at a viral ad by Dodge, and we wouldn’t be surprised if that turned out to be the case. Remember the “Amazing ball girl catch” viral video that turned out to be a viral ad engineered by Gatorade?While you can probably guess where we stand on the video’s status, we want your take. Is the, “OMG! Car Hit and Flipped By Wrecking-Ball in NYC!” video real or fake? What’s your take, and why?Tags: car flipped by wrecking ball, viral video
Search Google for Ron Livingston, the man of Office Space (and Sex and the City) fame, and you’ll find IMDB links for information on his acting career. You’ll also come across a Wikipedia page on the movie and TV star, with inaccurate details on his personal life. And that’s the problem.Since May, Livingston has continually fallen victim to an anonymous Wikipedia detractor who continually edits the entry to read that the actor is in a gay relationship.Livingston, who is married to Rosemarie DeWitt, calls the rumor that he is in a relationship with Lee Dennison “malicious,” and to make the behavior stop he’s filed a lawsuit. The suit, filed yesterday with the Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages for libel, invasion of privacy, and for using his name and likeness without permission.According to TMZ, “Ron believes the perp also created fake Facebook profiles for himself and Lee, and both pages claim the two are “In a relationship” with each other.”Details of the suit are minimal, but given that the online detractor is anonymous, the case would likely require Wikipedia to reveal the poster’s identity to move forward. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.Reviews: Facebook, WikipediaTags: ron livingston, wikipedia
Reddit community member elmstreeter’s mother passed away this week, and yesterday he turned to the social news site to create a photographic memento: his last photo with his mom had her breathing tubes obscuring her face, and he wanted them removed. He wrotein a posting to the site: My mother died of cancer yesterday. This is the last picture of us together and I wondered if anyone with mad Photoshop skills could touch up the picture and remove the oxygen cannula. I would greatly appreciate anyone who could be of assistance.PS Hug your mom todayTouchingly, Reddit users did come to his aid, Photoshopping out the tubes and even fixing up a broken chair. This might be the sweetest story we’ve heard all week. Nice work, Reddit users.[via Redditvia The Daily What]Reviews: reddit.comTags: trending
Now that the holiday shopping season is officially in full swing, you still have a few weeks to get out and get gifts for everyone on your list. If you’re reading this site, chances are you know at least one person who is obsessed with everything Apple (or you are that person yourself). Gifts that fit someone’s personality and existing gadget collection are often a great way to say “happy holidays.”Here are 10 great holiday gifts perfect for the Apple fan in your life. These gifts run the gamut from stuff that touts an Apple fan’s devotion to those just add a little bit of flair to an existing Mac.Macify a WorkspaceKnow someone who just got a new Mac or needs a little help making their workspace more, well, workable? Check out some of these awesome workspace additions for Macs of all kinds and sizes.BookArc— Twelve South makes some really spectacular stuff to accompany your Mac. The Book Arc is one of those perfect items for the user who always has their MacBook or MacBook Pro connected to an external monitor and keyboard. The stand fits all MacBooks, holds the laptop securely and can save a ton of space or just freshen up how an office looks.Twelve South sent us one to review and we’re now using it with a MacBook hooked up to an external monitor as a secondary computer on the same desk as a 27″ iMac.BackPack— The BackPack is also from Twelve South and it is a great addition to any iMac or Apple Cinema Display user’s desktop. It’s a shelf that fits easily onto the back stand of the iMac or Cinema Display and can easily hold an external hard drive, a caddy of pens, a bobble head, you name it. For Mac users that keep an external drive connected for Time Machine, this is a great way to keep the drive out of the way.BassJump— Twelve South just introduced the BassJump, and for MacBook and MacBook Pro users looking for a nice, portable way to boost the sound that comes out of the Mac, it’s pretty ingenious. The BassJump connects to an Apple portable via USB and acts as a subwoofer, adding a richer, more enhanced sound.Testing the BassJump with my MacBook, I was impressed at how much better the system sounded when it was turned on. Rock and pop music especially was much more lush, less tinny, and had more definition. At $79.99, it’s not a bad option for someone who works in a small office or dorm room and wants a sound solution that is portable (it comes with its own neoprene case).Slimkey V2— Macessity makes some really nice Mac-centric accessories, but the Slimkey V2 really takes the cake. It’s a stand for your computer (you can use it with a monitor, a laptop, or with an iMac) that also contains a side-accessible USB hub. This is great because the USB ports on the back of the iMac can often be hard to access and this makes it easy to connect items without having to reach around, which can be really helpful for users who keep their Macs on a desk with a hutch.Fashionable Cases and BagsThe Apple-addict in your life probably already has a case for their laptop or iPhone, but it probably isn’t as nice as some of these.Lacoste Messenger Bag— Designed to hold up to a 15.4″ MacBook Pro, this messenger bag was made by Lacoste specifically for Apple computers. It has a pocket for cables, accessories, and even an iPod or iPhone (with holes for earphones). It’s also waterproof so it’s good for the Mac user who has to trek around in all kinds of weather.Vaja Leather Products— Vaja cases for the iPhone or Mac portables can be pricey — everything is handmade — but the quality is impeccable and the design aesthetic just flat-out rocks. Some of the custom styles can take 25 days to make so they won’t be ready by Christmas, but Vaja does have some models already made and ready to buy.Vogue Leather Collection— If Vaja is out of your price range, check out the Vogue Leather Collection from More-Thing.com. Good looking and affordable.Apparel and ToysApple has a Company Store at their Cupertino campus that sells lots of official Apple merchandise and apparel. Unfortunately, you can’t buy that stuff anywhere except for the Company Store (although a few places sell some of the items online). That doesn’t mean you can’t still get Mac-centric clothing and toys from other places.Some favorite spots:Insanely Great Tees— Insanely Great Tees has a variety of shirts for guys and girls that celebrate the fun, artistic, and geeky side of Mac life. They are printed on American Apparel shirts and hold up extremely well. I have shirts that are two years old that still look brand new.The Iconfactory— The Iconfactory makes apps and icons for the Mac and the iPhone. They’re the geniuses behind Twitterrific (one of the very first Twitter apps EVER), and their icon “Ollie” is probably as well known as the official Twitter logo. The Iconfactory sells t-shirts featuring their app icons (see above photo) and will soon be offering vinyl toy Ollies – perfect for a Mac lover’s stocking.If you want to get something really cool and contribute to a great cause, you can bidon a set of four Ollie prototypes. 100% of the proceeds from the auction will go to the American Cancer Society, with Iconfactory matching the winning bid up to $500.00Throwboy— You can get the Mac lover in your life pillow versions of their favorite Mac OS X dock icons. These pillows from Throwboy are handmade and extremely cool.Photo courtesy of Nik FletcherMore holiday shopping resources from Mashable:- 10 Gift Suggestion Sites for Hapless Holiday Shoppers- 10 Unique Gifts You Can Make with Help from the Web- HOW TO: Use Social Media to Find Deals This Holiday Season- 10 New Sites for Socially Responsible ShoppingReviews: Twitter, TwitterrificTags: apple, Holidays, List, Lists, mac, online shopping, shopping
While Lawnmower Man may have led us to believe the future was a virtual one, it seems that in fact augmented reality (the overlaying of digital data on the real world) is where we’re headed.A buzz technology right now, augmented reality apps are quickly gaining momentum on the iPhone. So to add to the quick overview of six AR appswe brought you earlier, we sort the digital wheat from the pixellated chaff to bring you ten AR apps for the iPhone that vary from functional, to educational, to just plain fun.1. Le Bar GuideAlthough the wisdom of getting drunk people to wave their iPhones around on today’s mean streets is questionable, if you drink responsibly, as this Stella Artois-backed app urges you to, this could be a handy tool. As with similar location-based AR apps, Le Bar (that’s French for bar, by the way) Guide will assist you in finding the nearest watering hole, give you ratings and then even point you to a taxi within stumbling distance. It’s accurate to 20 feet, which is a coincidence, as that’s about our level of accuracy after three pints of the French stuff.2. WorkSnugAnother corporate-backed app, this time by Plantronics, is WorkSnug, an iPhone app that finds digital nomads a place to lay their weary laptop. It identifies Wi-Fi hotspots and potential workplaces – from coffee shops to professional rent-a-desk office spaces – with user reviews encompassing power provision, atmosphere, noise levels and even the quality of the coffee. Although currently only available for London, versions for San Francisco, New York, Berlin, Madrid are due soon.3. Pocket Universe: Virtual Sky AstronomyThis star map app will spell out the stars, planets and constellations for you. Needing no connectivity, this clever app contains data on 10,000 stars, 88 constellations and lunar phases, while the “tonight’s sky” feature shows meteor showers and visible planets based on your location. Just hold your iPhone skywards on a bright night and before you can say “Hubble telescope” you’ll be looking at Uranus.4. DishPointerStaying on the celestial theme, what started out as a clever Google Maps mashup has been turned into an iPhone app, and is within days of launching for Android handsets too. The mobile version of DishPointer is designed for satellite installers or mobile broadcasters to hold their phones up to the sky and get a virtual overlay of their nearest satellites to know which way to point the darn dish. If you aren’t employed in such a field, yet you have this on your phone, then your nerd-score just went through the stratosphere. Way to go, cable guy.5. AugMeasureFinally an iPhone app your dad can get excited about. Augmented reality measuring arrives with AugMeasure which lets you gauge short distances using on your iPhone’s camera. AugMeasure displays distances (up to 30 centimeters or 12 inches) on the screen overlaid onto the live image which will change as you move the phone. While the results might not be precise enough for that intricate woodworking project you’ve got going on in the basement, for those quick, “No, it’s definitely longer than 6 inches” moments, it’s a must.6. Virtual GraffitiIf the militant grammar nerd within knows that the sign for “Buddys Bar” needs an apostrophe, then Virtual Graffiti can help. Snap an image, add your witticism, embellishment or “tag”, then, once uploaded, your artistic addition to the world can be browsed on a location basis thanks to the Google Maps integration. All the fun of tagging, none of the embarrassment of getting caught with a spray can in your hot little old-enough-to-know-better hand.7. TheodoliteIf you’re the type that likes to know what axis is bisecting your Northerly inclination and at what altitude, then chances are you already have an actual theodolite. If you don’t and that sentence gave you chills (in a good way) then you’re 99 cents away from topographical heaven. As well as offering all that a theolodite might, but in a decidedly more portable package, this app overlays such data over your camera’s image and even lets you snap the odd screenshot for posterity.8. Car FinderWe’re sure you have no use for this one yourself,but if you know anyone who might have difficulty finding their way back to the car in those huge parking lots, then the Car Finder app is a good suggestion. Once the car’s location is set, the app creates a visible marker showing the car, its distance away and the direction in which to head. There are other non-AR apps which offer this kind of tool, but we think seeing it on a real-life display will make locating that pesky Pontiac a piece of cake.9. Firefighter 360Catering to both pyromaniacs and Backdraft fantasists, Firefighter 360 will set your immediate location on fire, requiring you, as heroic fireperson, to get out the hose, douse some flames and save some passers-by. As far as iPhone gaming goes, it’s arguably not a high point. The sound effects are crude and the graphics cartoonish. But it’s an interesting application of AR that makes us excited about the next wave of AR games. Did we mention you get to play a fireperson?10. iPewWant to shoot people in the face with a laser? Yep, there’s an app for that. iPew could easily also be named iPuerile, as it really is that dumb. But, sometimes it’s the simple things in life (kicking leaves, vanilla ice cream, swapping around the keys on a colleague’s keyboard when they’re on vacation) that offer the most pleasure – at least on a short term basis. iPew offers you a choice of weapons and provides gratifying noises as you get someone in your virtual sights and blast them away. Recommended for board meetings, long commutes and those cozy nights in with the in-laws.More iPhone resources from Mashable:- iPhone TV: Top iPhone Apps for Live Streaming Television- Top 10 iPhone Apps as Judged by Mashable Readers- 7 iPhone Apps That Can Save Lives- 5 Must-Have iPhone Apps for Wine Lovers- 20 Creative Apps For Your iPhoneReviews: Android, Google MapsTags: Augmented Reality, iphone, iphone app, Lists, mobile app, trending
We’ve had some close calls here in our ongoing Faceoff Series, but this week’s was certainly not one of them. Each week we put two web services, companies or pieces of software side by side and ask you which of the two would win in a knockdown, drag out fight. This week we pitted Google against Bingfor the Best Search Engine crown, and the victory was decisive. Much like last week’s matchup when Verizon trounced AT&Tin a battle of cell carriers, this week saw a clear winner emerge once again. Out of almost 3000 votes, the unsurprising victor was……Google with a full 78% of the vote. That’s 2180 votes to Bing’s 519, relegating it to a distant 2nd place at 19%. A slim 3% tie vote at 97 fence-sitters rounded out this week’s head to head brawl.Check out the full list of winners in the Faceoff series listed below. We’ll keep the series rolling starting again on Monday, so be sure to tune in. Who do you think we should match up in a future edition? Web Faceoff: Overall ResultsWeek 1:- Mozilla Firefox vs. Google Chrome- WINNER: Firefox, 4600 votes (Chrome: 3310 votes, Tie: 911 votes)Week 2:- Tumblr vs. Posterous- WINNER: Tumblr, 1809 votes (Posterous: 1496 votes, Tie: 256 votes)Week 3:- Pandora vs. Last.fm- WINNER: Last.fm, 1187 votes (Pandora: 1156 votes, Tie: 122 votes)Week 4:- Twitter vs. Facebook- WINNER: Facebook, 2484 votes (Twitter: 2061 votes, Tie: 588 votes)Week 5:- WordPress vs. Typepad- WINNER: WordPress, 2714 votes (Typepad: 267 votes, Tie: 357 votes)Week 6:- Windows 7 vs. Snow Leopard- WINNER: Windows 7, 3632 votes (Snow Leopard: 3278 votes, Tie: 121 votes)Week 7:- TweetDeck vs. Seesmic Desktop- WINNER: TweetDeck, 3294 votes (Seesmic Desktop: 1055 votes, Tie: 260 votes)Week 8:- Microsoft Office vs. Google Docs- WINNER:Microsoft Office, 1365 votes (Google Docs: 994 votes, Tie: 315 votes)Week 9:- Apple iPhone vs. Google Android- WINNER: Google Android, 3323 votes (Apple iPhone: 1494 votes, Tie: 228 votes)Week 10:- AT&T vs. Verizon- WINNER: Verizon, 1161 votes (AT&T: 538 votes, Tie: 118 votes)Week 11:- Google vs. Bing- WINNER: Google, 2180 votes (Bing: 519 votes, Tie: 97 votes)Reviews: Bing, Chrome, Facebook, Firefox, Google, Google Chrome, Google Docs, Mozilla Firefox, Pandora, Posterous, Seesmic Desktop, Tumblr, TweetDeck, Twitter, TypePad, WordPressTags: bing, Google, microsoft, poll, Search, web faceoff
As of today, Digg is five years old. Think about that: that’s around 1825 days of story submissions, front page wrangling, and explosive growth. Hell, Digg is older than Twitterand YouTube. Now that we’ve had half a decade to digg and be dugg, it seems like a perfect time to reflect on Digg’s history, growth, and struggles. While there are many events that shaped the character of the social bookmarking site, five events across five different years stood out to us as pivotal moments in Digg’s history.Below is a recounting of some of the company’s major turning points, from its birth in 2004 to its struggle to become profitable this year. Here are five of the biggest milestones in Digg’s history:1. Digg’s LaunchYou can’t start a list like this without recognizing how it all began. In November of 2004, founder Kevin Rose (former host on TechTV), along with Owen Byrne (original developer), Ron Gorodetsky, and Jay Adelson (now Digg’s CEO) helped get Digg off the ground. On December 4th, 2004, it launched to the public with less than 1000 users.Back then, it was simple, ad-free, and focused on tech, but it was the birth of a social media juggernaut.2. DiggnationOn July 1, 2005, Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht (Kevin’s previous co-host on TechTV’s The Screen Savers), started a video podcast centered around what was popular on Digg. It was one of the first three shows to launch on a new Internet video network called Revision3. That show was Diggnation, and it quickly grew with the help of loyal diggers into one of the largest and most popular video podcasts around. It helped push Digg and its brand to new audiences while acting as the flagship program for Revision3 at the same time.Diggnation’s impact on the Digg brand and its community has been tremendous, although it hasn’t helped push Digg into the mainstream consciousness. Still, 231 episodes later, Diggnation has been a big success.3. Launch of Digg 3.0The social bookmarking website has gone through several iterations, but perhaps the most important one of them all was when Digg 3.0 launchedon June 26th, 2006.What was so special about Digg Version 3? It was when Digg launched topics and categories, expanding it beyond its technology base. Politics, gaming, business, science, and all of its various verticals have successfully grown and helped Digg exceed its technology roots, although it is still the core that holds the Digg community together.4. Digg DRM RevoltWhile it’s always been known that Digg and its users have a lot of influence across the web, it was made clear to everybody in dramatic fashion on May 1st, 2007.A group of hackers successfully found a way to crack the Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection of the now-defunct HD-DVD standard. With the encryption cracked, Digg’s users posted the code and instructions on how to copy and crack HD-DVDsDigg itself was worried that the cracked keys would result in lawsuits and cease and desist orders. Thus, they decided to delete articles referencing it and, in a blog post, stated that “In order for Digg to survive, it must abide by the law.”That’s when Digg went out of control. Its users flooded the entire website with nothing but the HD-DVD crack or anti-Digg submissions. Digg couldn’t keep up. Eventually Kevin Rose stepped in and conceded to the community’s wishes. From his blog post.“But now, after seeing hundreds of stories and reading thousands of comments, you’ve made it clear. You’d rather see Digg go down fighting than bow down to a bigger company. We hear you, and effective immediately we won’t delete stories or comments containing the code and will deal with whatever the consequences might be.”It was on this day that Digg proved its power and really caught the attentionof the mainstream media.5. Digg AdsAt the beginning of this year, Digg was in crisis mode. It laid off 10% of its staffand focused on getting profitable after it was revealed that the company made only made $6.4 million in the first nine months of 2009.Digg had a plan, however. In June, the company revealed Digg Ads, a new system of advertising where users would control how much advertisers pay for ad space on the homepage of Digg and elsewhere. They officially launched on August 6th. It’s too early to tell how successful Digg Ads will eventually be, but so far, the future of Digg Ads (and Digg itself) look bright.Reviews: DiggTags: digg, diggnation
This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.Name: FlickchartQuick Pitch: Flickchart is a social network for film lovers to rate, compare and share their favorite films through a unique game-like one versus one mechanism.Genius Idea: If you’re a movie lover, or even just someone who watches the occasional film, Flickchart is a unique take on rating and socializing your favorite movies. The site shows you two movies at a time and prompts you to pick which one you liked better; if you haven’t seen one or either film just click a button to indicate that and get new choices.Over time, Flickchart builds a prioritized list of your favorite movies. It uses the aggregate data from all its users to create charts of the most popular films that you can then break down with all sorts of filters including genre, year or decade, actors, directors and by other users. You can also leave comments on any of your comparisons and share films and lists with your friends on Facebook and FriendFeed.Users can also check out the aggregate stats about individual films, and going in discussions about particular matchups conveniently organized by popularity so you can find the hottest current topics easily. The site also keeps track of the films you’ve marked as “haven’t seen,” which can create a nice “to watch” list for movie buffs.Flickchart is a fun and compelling site for movie lovers thanks to its simple, game-like premise that’s rather addictive. The rankings and charts it builds for you personally and for the userbase as a whole over time are an interesting and useful data set for people who enjoy film. With an easy to use interface that generates decent utility through enjoyable interactivity, Flickchart is well worth a spin for movie buffs who enjoy a web-based social experience surrounding film.Spark of Genius Series Sponsored by Microsoft BizSparkBizSpark is 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.Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the Azure Services platformfor their website hosting and storage needs. Microsoft recently announced the “new CloudApp()” contest– use the Azure Services Platform for hosting your .NET or PHP app, and you could be the lucky winner of a USD 5000* (please see website for official rules and guidelines).”Reviews: Facebook, Flickchart, FriendFeed, PHPTags: bizspark, Film, flickchart, Movies, social networking
The Microsoft-Yahoo search and advertising deal, first announced back in July, has just been finalized by the two companies. Back in October, it was revealed that details were still being mulled over because of the deal’s complexity, but this afternoon, the companies put out a statement to let the world know that the deal is now complete.Here’s the statement:Yahoo!Inc. and MicrosoftCorporation today announced that the companies have finalized and executed the definitive Search and Advertising Services and Sales Agreement and License Agreement in accordance with the letter agreement announced in July.The companies released the following joint statement:“Microsoft and Yahoo! believe that this deal will create a sustainable and more compelling alternative in search that can provide consumers, advertisers and publishers real choice, better value, and more innovation.“Yahoo! and Microsoft welcome the broad support the deal has received from key players in the advertising industry and remain hopeful that the closing of the transaction can occur in early 2010.” Now, we wait for Bing to become Yahoo’s search engine, a process that likely won’t be finished until late next year, but will have major implications on the search landscape once complete.Reviews: Bing, Yahoo!Tags: bing, microsoft, Yahoo
It’s no secret that Android and iPhone are something of mortal enemies — just take a look at any of the Droid adscurrently hitting TV screens across the country. Well, imagine a world in which the makers of Android — Google— kicked up their battle plan a notch, drawing upon the arsenal of dirtthat the search engine has cached on its users to blackmail us all into ditching our iPhones in favor of Motorola’s myTouch. College Humorhas imagined such a world, which they have hilariously rendered in the video after the jump.That’ll make you think twice for sexting, huh?Reviews: Android, GoogleTags: andoid, college humor, droid, Google, iphone
Do you remember Friendster? Several years ago, it was one of the hottest startups and social networks around, long before MySpaceor Facebookhit the scene. Google even tried to acquire it back in 2003. But while it’s on the decline in the western world, it’s a powerful force in Asia, where it is one of the most popular Web sitesin nations such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Indonesia.According to Reuters, the social network is not only moving to lock in its Asian audience, but it’s about to get a new Asian owner as well. Fresh off a redesignaimed at its Asian userbase, Friendster will be sold by the end of the year to an Asian buyer for an amount north of $100 million.The company, which has been private since its inception in 2002, was founded by programmer Jonathan Abrams and received investments from several venture capital firms totaling around $50 million. Now it’s led by CEO Richard Kimber, a former director of Google’s South Asian affairs. It’s no surprise to us that Friendster’s focus on the Asian market would eventually result in an Asian owner. Friendster, while mostly ridiculed and forgotten in the U.S., is still one of the world’s largest Web sites and has room to grow within Asia. Considering its rapid decline in the U.S., Friendster could have done a lot worse.Did you use Friendster back in the day or are you a current user? We want to hear your Friendster stories (or ridicule) in the comments.Reviews: FriendsterTags: asia, friendster
Happy Friday, folks! That means it’s time once again for the weekly Lunchtime Poll! Last time we asked about your favorite video sharing sites — be sure to check out the results of Mashable readers’ video sharing favoritesto get caught up. This time we want to know about your favorite blogging platforms: What do you use when 140 characters or a short status update aren’t quite enough? Head on past the break to find out the Mashable staff favorites, then let us know your choice in the comments (and why).What’s your favorite blogging platform?Mashable FavesAdam Ostrow: For personal use: Posterous, for professional: WordPress.Jennifer Van Grove: Posterous: The super simple platform makes it possible for me to maintain fresh content with little to no effort… Ironically, I’ve found that my Posterous posts are seeing impressive page views. Consistency and frequency is the play, and Posterous makes that possible.Brenna Ehrlich: Tumblr: I like being able to interact with my readers, who frequently reblog my posts and pass them ’round the Web. I get a ton of traffic from Tumblr alone.Christina Warren: Long-form: WordPress, even though I think it is mediocre at anything other than blogging (CMS it isn’t). Short-form: Tumblr.Tamar Weinberg: WordPress!Matt Silverman: Bloggerfor me, despite its faults. I like to keep things within one Googleusername as much as possible.Josh Catone: WordPress for long posts, Tumblr for fleeting thoughts. Ben Parr: WordPress, then Posterous. Drupal is better for more complicated CMS tasks, though.Barb Dybwad: I love the simplicity and community baked into Tumblr, but also the customization and full-featured power of WordPress.Image courtesy of iStockphoto, ericsphotographyReviews: Drupal, Google, Mashable, Posterous, Tumblr, WordPress, blogger, iStockphotoTags: blogger, blogging, blogging platforms, lunchtime poll, poll, posterous, tumblr, Wordpress
