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Google Wave, one step closer to the Google OS? No way, it’s even no Beta.

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On the day that Skype announced a new version, completely with screen sharing cross platform-wide (although the new version was only released for Windows), the Big G went one step further and announced Google Wave.
Jens and Lars Rasmussen, creators of Google Maps, discovered that in our modern era online communication the A and O is but still leaves lots to be desired, so they started a new project based on actual restrictions:

  • Why do we have to live with divides between different types of communication — email versus chat, or conversations versus documents?
  • Could a single communications model span all or most of the systems in use on the web today, in one smooth continuum? How simple could we make it?
  • What if we tried designing a communications system that took advantage of computers’ current abilities, rather than imitating non-electronic forms?

After two years of development, Google Wave was born.

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What is Google Wave? Let’s not beat around the bush but face things as they _really_ are: Google Wave is the next big thing. It will cook your potatoes, boil your eggs, chop your trees and slice tomatoes for you. Google Wave will become the Rolls Royce of the internet. The whole world wide web and some more agree.

What is Google Wave exactly? [Read more…]

Beacon Street Girls adds virtual enconomy features to social media

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The Beacon Street Girls (BSG) have launched a virtual economy on their social media site for tweens. The enhancements provide lessons in financial literacy, allowing girls to use “Marty$Money” and “Happy Lucky Points”to purchase virtual goods and accessories.

BSG’s virtual economy is bolstered by their partnership with Simon & Schuster, one of the world’s largest purveyors of children’s literature Beacon Street Girls will be giving away $3 million in virtual currency through books, select major retailers and at live events. Codes redeemable for virtual currency are included in 10 books being released this fall, including two new Beacon Street Girls titles, Green Algae and Bubble Gum Wars and Isabel’s Texas Two-Step, as well as non–BSG tween titles such as: Nancy Drew Ghost Stories, Nancy Drew Perfect Escape, Four Truths and a Lie, Total Knockout, Alice in April, and Alice In-Between. Users will also be able to purchase additional Marty$Money on the site through credit cards or PayPal.

The Beacon Street Girls’ online monetization and business model includes micro-payments from the sale of virtual goods; sponsorships and underwriting from like-minded organizations, as well as select marketing partnerships and licensing.