901am

New Media News Every Morning

Facebook Facelift Set for June ’08

By Leave a Comment

Facebook, which has become increasingly cluttered over the past year, is prepping for a major facelift, set to go live next month.

According to Facebook staffers, user profiles will be “cleaner and simpler.”

Mark Slee, the site’s product manager who is overseeing the changes says:

“Change is difficult for our users, even positive changes…But we are pretty confident that we can walk everyone through this so they will be engaged with the changes and enjoy them.”

I won’t lie, I welcome the changes.  As someone who openly has never embraced the social network, and seldom logs in, I have often found myself lost.

In June you can expect new tabs at the top of your profile page that will help people navigate around personal information in an easier fashion.

This isn’t reconstructive surgery, it sounds more like a Botox injection.

Originally posted on May 22, 2008 @ 9:16 am

Google Will Accept Third-Party Ads on Its Content Network

By 1 Comment

Break in case of a Microsoft/Yahoo deal!

In order to cover their bases, Google has announced  that they are opening their massive content network to all ad buyers.  Basically, third-party ads will be accepted.

The move should please both advertisers and publishers alike, allowing them to better understand the value of their inventory and increase everyone’s revenue.

From Google:

“Today, we’re announcing that Google is accepting third-party advertising tags on the Google content network in North America. This will empower advertisers to work with approved third parties to serve and track display ads, including rich media ads, across the Google content network through AdWords, giving them more options, flexibility and control over their campaigns.”

Sounds like good news for everyone, except Microsoft and Yahoo.

Originally posted on May 19, 2008 @ 11:16 am

Transfer Money to Friends With Facebook

By Leave a Comment

With too many Facebook applications to name, it’s hard to keep afloat with the latest and greatest.

UK-based Moneybookers (Paypal competitor) will offer their customers and Facebook users the ability to use an app to transfer money to and fro. Billed as a “social fundraising” application, the project is currently in beta mode, expected to be released to the general public some time in June.

Moneybookers currently has 4.6 million customers, and will likely see that number head north with the new app. The site requires identity verification before using their service to minimize fraud and prevent money laundering. Their fee structure is comparable to Paypal’s.

I’m all for charity, but let’s hope this doesn’t turn into another vehicle for bloggers to beg for ‘donations’ they don’t need (or deserve).

Will you roll the dice on completing a financial transaction within the Facebook framework?

Originally posted on May 16, 2008 @ 2:48 pm

MyBlogLog Adds ‘Friender’ Search

By Leave a Comment

Straight from my inbox…

Feature Alert! Find others you may know who are already kickin’ it on MyBlogLog.  Friender searches your friend lists across the web to suggest new contacts.

http://mybloglog.com/user/friender

– The MyBlogLog crew

The system was able to find services where I used the same name as my Yahoo ID. (del.icio.us, FriendFeed, Pownce, tumblr and YouTube). My username for everything happens to be unique, but be aware that the system can pull profiles that are not really yours.

If you happen not to have any friends on these services (you loner!), you can use the MyBlogLog invite that automatically appears.

Originally posted on May 15, 2008 @ 2:33 pm

One Laptop Per Child Scales the Gates

By Leave a Comment

Microsoft, along with the One Laptop Per Child project, have announced that the XO laptop will be available in both Linux and Windows.

The Windows-powered XO will be released in approximately six countries starting next month. Expect a wider release later in the year.

The agreement, which has been rumored for quite some time, guarantees a broader acceptance for the XO which has gotten off to a shaky (at best) start. Several countries, such as Uruguay, made Windows a mandatory requirement in order to embrace the program.

The ultimate goal is to create a laptop that with boot in either Windows or Linux.

See, in order to get laptops into the hands of children in developing countries, everyone can get along!

Read more at BusinessWeek.

Originally posted on May 16, 2008 @ 9:10 am