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New Media News Every Morning

Facebook Phone: iPhone Killer Or Android Slayer? (Rumor)

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Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Why on Earth would Facebook launch a phone with Microsoft jumping in the fray and HP attempting to resurrect Palm in order to take on Apple and Android.

Apparently Micahel Arrington from TechCrunch fame received a tip from a credible source saying that Facebook is about to launch its own mobile phone.

Facebook is building a mobile phone, says a source who has knowledge of the project. Or rather, they’re building the software for the phone and working with a third party to actually build the hardware. […]

Specifically, Facebook wants to integrate deeply into the contacts list and other core functions of the phone. It can only do that if it controls the operating system.

Two high level Facebook employees – Joe Hewitt and Matthew Papakipos – are said to be secretly working on the project, which is unknown even to most Facebook staff. (via TechCrunch)

Some people are already claiming that this rumor is a farce, with public denials from Jaime Schopflin (Facebook’s spokesperson).

Despite the the apparent absurdity of a Facebook phone (at least to those within the geekosphere), a Facebook phone could potentially threaten both Apple and Google’s reign in the smart phone world (key word is “potentially”). [Read more…]

Is Bing Crippling Facebook Places?

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As every iLover knows, Facebook recently added Facebook Places to their iPhone. However instead of choosing to partner with their frenemy Google, Facebook instead is allowing Bing to power its location feature.

And, while location-based services like this are certainly interesting to me I’m writing this for you because Facebook is using Bing Maps to pinpoint everyone’s location-based experiences on Facebook.com. […]

Select the Places button, find the location where you are and check-in. Just like that, the check-in will flow to your profile on Facebook.com complete with a Bing Map, a pin of your location and any commentary you’ve added to your check-in. Places also includes the ability to see where your friends have checked in, a link to get directions to a place (via Bing Maps) and a Like button for the respective place page. (Bing Community Blog)

While it’s no surprise Facebook chose Bing over Google (due to the latter’s upcoming social network), doing so may have handicapped the service as Bing via iPhone is only available for users within the US, despite the fact that Facebook has a large international audience.

Unless Bing plans on expanding their mobile feature beyond the US borders soon, Facebook’s places will probably fail to be as powerful as Twitter Places (the latter which choose Google Maps for their service).

Although Facebook places has the potential of making location statuses popular among the masses on a scale yet to be seen by any social network, its America only limitation may keep Facebook from being adopted globally (which may benefit rivals like Twitter and the upcoming Google Me).

Google Panic: Facebook May Dethrone Orkut In The Nation Of A Billion Minds

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Poor Google. Despite launching a social network dubbed Orkut many moons ago, the site failed to take off anywhere outside of Brazil and India (despite its original focus being upon the US).

Although the social did very well in both of those nations, it looks as if the search engine giant may need to come up with a new strategy, as Facebook may have captured the nation of a billion minds. [Read more…]

Facebook Launches a New Mobile Site, and it’s Free

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If you don’t own any of the smartphone including iPhone, Android phone, BlackBerry or Palm, chances are you’re accessing Facebook via its mobile site – m.facebook.com. The thing is, accessing this site incur you more data charges than when using native mobile phone Facebook apps. Enter “0.facebook.com” a fast and free mobile Facebook site.

This new mobile Facebook site was made possible with around 50 mobile carriers globally. So, it means that if you’re current mobile carrier is not one of those on the list you won’t be able to access the new mobile site for free. You can still access the old Facebook mobile site though but like I said, appropriate data charges will apply.

Feature-wise, 0.facebook.com will let you enjoy all the key features of the standard Facebook mobile site (m.facebook.com). You can update your status, view news feed, like or comment on posts, send and reply to messages or write on your friends’ walls.

As for viewing photos, the new mobile site will not display them but instead redirect you to another page so as not to slow down the viewing experience on the new mobile Facebook site.

So, check out the list below if you’re mobile carrier is included. Facebook promise to bring in other carriers soon.

Kindle Firmware Update Integrates Facebook, Twitter

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Amazon is really trying hard to make its Kindle eBook reader to become a multi-function device – much like the Apple iPad. But I guess, due to the limited technical capabilities of the Kindle, making it at part with the iPad in terms of multi-features would be a hard feat to accomplish. Well, at least Amazon is trying and its latest effort will be rolled out with the new firmware  version 2.5 upgrade for Kindle – Facebook and Twitter integration.

Well, it’s not really a full Twitter and Facebook integration since this would be pretty hard to accomplish. What the new feature will let you do is to let you share book passages with friends on Facebook and Twitter directly from your Kindle. Unfortunately, that’s just how far Amazon can probably stretch the Kindle’s social capability.

But, don’t let this lack of powerful social features disappoint you. There are other new features that the Kindle firmware version 2.5 that are worth waiting for. These include:

  • Collections: Organize your books and documents into one or more collections.
  • PDF Pan and Zoom: Zoom into PDFs and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics.
  • Password Protection: Password protect your Kindle when you’re not using it.
  • More Fonts & Improved Clarity: Enjoy two new larger font sizes and sharper fonts for an even more comfortable reading experience.
  • Popular Highlights: See what the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you’re reading.

Kindle’s firmware upgrade will be rolled out automatically via OTA to all Kindle users in the coming days.