Sunday, June 30, 2013

There Are Special Water Bridges, Which Go To The Ships


There Are Special Water Bridges, Which Go To The Ships,As a rule, the appearance of water bridges is the result of lining of water channels for navigation at a different height than the rivers. At the same channel as the channel intersects the river, used for navigation. Near the water bridge, as a rule, is boat lift or lock to move ships in the channel or river.Europe's longest water bridge in the German city of Magdeburg - Magdeburg Water Bridge. It has a length of 918 meters, it was built from 24 000 tons of steel and 68,000 cubic meters of concrete.












Wrap All The Rules


Wrap All The RulesMost world religions, offers devotees a special dress code. It is true that the followers of faiths refer to it in different ways: some are not considered with the requirements regarding clothing, someone follows the rules only in the temples, and someone holds them in everyday life. But if the girls in long skirts and scarves near the Christian church - a spectacle familiar to us, in the Muslim traditional dress There is a lot of myths and misconceptions. Although the figure from head to foot, wrapped a blanket, and now is not so exotic even in Europe, and especially in Asia. On the streets completely secular Turkey a lot of women, who look at the world through a narrow crack in a headdress. "Another beauty in the veil," - commented on the tourists, not thinking that beauty can not be veiled. After all, a decent Muslim large selection of clothing, but to understand what the name of this or that piece toilet orthodox, very difficult.






















Saturday, June 29, 2013

New Apple TV With Smaller Design Appears At The FCC


It would appear that Apple is working on a new version of their Apple TV set top box, as one has recently been discovered with a slightly new design to Apple’s existing Apple TV.



The Apple TV with the model number A149 can be seen in the diagram below, and the dimensions show that the device is smaller than the current Apple TV and also has a slightly different design.



New Apple TV


Google Earth Updated With 100,000+ New Tours Of Popular Worldwide Attractions, Places And Cities


Google has this week rolled out a new update to their Google Earth application for iOS, Android and desktops, adding a massive 100,000 new tours for users to explore and enjoy.



The new Google Earth update adds the new tours for popular sites, cities and places across 200 countries, as well as providing additional enhancements for existing tours.



Google-Earth




Friday, June 28, 2013

PlayStation 4 Specs Include NVIDIA Apex and PhysX Developer Support


NVIDIA has today announced that they are updating their Apex dynamics framework and PhysX physics modelling systems to support Sony’s new PlayStation 4 specs.



There is very little information released about the new PlayStation 4 specs, and Sony has still yet to release a final design for their next generation console.



PlayStation 4 Specs




Apple In Talks With Intel For Future iPhone And iPad Processors (Rumor)


According to a recent report by Reuters, Apple has been in talks with Intel for future processors for the iPhone and iPad, and Intel could end up making Apple’s A-series processors for future devices.



Apple A6X


Thursday, June 27, 2013

New PayPal mobile SDK lets iOS users pay within third-party apps

Paypalwp_640_large



PayPal is updating its developer options today, launching a mobile SDK that will let app makers build in PayPal payment. Starting on iOS and expanding later to other platforms, users will be able to make purchases directly through apps, either by entering information through a PayPal form or by scanning a credit card through camera-based payment tool Card.io. In cases involving subscriptions or in-app goods, that could mean payments are subject to Apple's 30 percent fee; in other cases — like apps selling physical goods — they would likely be exempt.



For web developers, PayPal has also created a simpler JavaScript button that can be added by copying five lines of code, and it's launching new beta APIs based on more modern security...



TweetDeck Android dying off.


705x344xTweetDeck-Banner.jpg.pagespeed.ic.KTdvuE7v_v




In many ways, doubling down on the TweetDeck web experience and discontinuing our app support is a reflection of where our TweetDeck power-users are going. Over the past few years, we've seen a steady trend towards people using TweetDeck on their computers and Twitter on their mobile devices. This trend coincides with an increased investment in Twitter for iPhone and Twitter for Android -- adding photo filters and other editing capabilities, revamping user profiles and enhancing search. That said, we know this applies to most of our users -- not all of them. And for those of you who are inconvenienced by this shift, our sincere apologies.



You geeks catch that? The popular TweetDeck app for Android devices is going the way of the dodo. Thanks to many of the draconian and developer unfriendly measures Twitter is taking (to force us to use their official app) the mobile app will lose support. It’s not just TweetDeck Android but also TweetDeck Air and the iPhone app as well.



Power users who sit on the computer will still be able to use the web interface for TweetDeck, it’s just us mobile users getting the shaft.






Wednesday, June 26, 2013

In Facebook's News Feed Redesign, the Focus Is on the Photos


zuckerberg_mobile_consistency


If nothing else, Facebook knows this: Looks matter.



That has been the theme of Facebook’s revamped News Feed unveiled on Thursday morning — a heavy emphasis on fuller photos, larger check-ins and location displays, and an overall re-think of the way people experience the ceaseless barrage of information flowing through the feed. (Expect it to trickle out on the Web today, and across the mobile apps in the coming weeks.)



The company’s conceit for the new look takes a media-focused tack: “We want to give everyone in the world the best personalized newspaper in the world,” Zuckerberg said at an event at Facebook’s Menlo Park campus on Thursday. And design director Julie Zhuo said that this newspaper is populated with “stories,” or Facebook’s redesigned take on the status update.



But forget all of that. This redesign is about visuals, not the bland, black-and-white text that makes up the stuff of status updates. Photos are full-bleed. Check-ins and “Liking” brands puts more prominence on the photography and less on the words. You can even sort by different categories, including exclusively updates featuring only snapshots. (You’re able to sort by other types of content — like music — as well.)



Facebook Newsfeed Photo




This is all not entirely surprising. According to a source I spoke with recently, Facebook News Feed engineers see the most engagement from users on photography and visuals that appear inside the News Feed. And every time Facebook tweaks the algorithm to show the best content that users engage with the most, photos still float to being the most prominent inside the feed — so much so that Facebook must tweak the algorithm to show more text-based status update content, even if that isn’t the stuff people want to look at the most.



Zuckerberg acknowledges the importance of photos, and the ways people use them. “The types of stories that we tell when we communicate with a photo as opposed to text are completely different,” he said onstage.



But Facebook’s actions make clear that this is the direction it has gone in for some time. Look at the massive $730 million dollar buy of Instagram. Look at the slow “Pinterestification” of certain topics. Look at how much attention photos have received on the phone.



One outlier — how will Facebook integrate Instagram, the quintessential “visual” app of the day? Zuckerberg said it’ll be treated like any other app in the ecosystem.



Which is sort of curious, considering another one of today’s themes was “consistency” across platforms. Facebook’s News Feed redesign looks the same on the Web interface as it does on mobile now. But Instagram has a standalone Web site and continues to have a mobile app separate from the main Facebook app. Not sure how that’ll sync up across Facebook as a whole.



Facebook Interface Consistency




It’s a bit funny, too, if you look across the aisle at one of Facebook’s main competitors: Twitter. The microblogging service also revamped its product in a major way this year, adding more prominence to photos, videos and story links from outsiders. It also launched redesigned iPad and mobile apps, aiming for a “consistent” design across all platforms. Even Google+ is heavily invested in the photo-centric focus, blowing up images across all platforms.



So essentially, it’s a race across all platforms to look as pretty as possible. That’s where engagement lies, and how you’ll hook your user base in the long term.



After all, you need to give the people what they want.


Artificial Intelligence, Al Gore, Modern Blogging and More: Where to Find ATD at SXSW


Time again for app-flicking, party-hopping, BBQ-eating and, somewhere in between all that, panel-picking.



AustinSXSW




The interactive portion of the SXSW festival — known as "South By" to hip conference goers — kicks off Friday in Austin, Texas.



And speaking of panels, members of AllThingsD will be moderating a few key ones throughout the fest that you won't want to miss. (We promise not to call you out if we see you hungover and sleeping in the back row. Just come.)



First off, nobody knows more about blogging than the boss, Kara Swisher, who has literally made liveblogging Yahoo's earnings calls an award-winning venture. So on Saturday, March 9, at 12:30 pm local time, she'll be interviewing Mr. WordPress, Matt Mullenweg, about the current state of blogging. More details here.



Later that afternoon, AllThingsD’s other boss, Walt Mossberg, will interview former vice president and New York Times bestselling author Al Gore about his new book, “The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change” — described as “a frank and clear-eyed assessment of the emerging forces that are reshaping our world.” That panel takes place at 3:30 pm local time.



Early risers, reporters who snoop and sources who snitch should add Peter Kafka's panel to the calendar: At 9:30 am Saturday, he’ll be joined by panelists Ed Lee of Bloomberg News, Greg Galant of MuckRack and Joe Ciarallo of Salesforce.com (formerly of Buddy Media) to discuss the shifting dynamics between reporter and source in the age of social media. Here are the details on Peter’s panel.



And on Monday, March 11, I'll be moderating a panel on artificial intelligence — think robots, "smart" calendars and natural-language search apps — with Dror Oren, executive director at SRI International; Raj Singh, founder of Tempo AI; and Nadav Gur, co-founder and CEO of Desti. That panel takes place at 3:30 pm.



And, of course, if you see us elsewhere — at the Mailbox/Dropbox/Highlight cocktail hour Sunday, at the Path/Spotify/A-Grade party that same night, at the Funny or Die + Team Coco’s Comedy Climax Party on Monday, or just hanging around the GroupMe Grill — come say hello.



(Feature art courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.)


Monday, June 24, 2013

LED Ampli-TIE gives you an electrifying appearance



Everyone wants to look their best, it is in our nature always to put our best foot forward. After all, who would like to play the role of a slacker? Nobody, really, unless one does not really care about what the world thinks of them. Well, here is a unique addition to your wardrobe, where it comes in the form of the LED Ampli-TIE which could very well be a DIY project. Basically, your average, boring looking necktie can now be transformed, given a new lease of life as you light it up like a VU meter.



The LED Ampli-TIE will rely on the Electret Microphone Amplifier to that will then trigger 16 Flora NeoPixels which has been sewn using conductive thread along the entire length of the tie in order for it to work. Of course, if you are going to embark on this project on your own, you would definitely need to have a fair amount of DIY knowledge, especially when it comes to Flora, the Adafruit Microphone Amplifier Breakout, and conductive thread among others. Since there are electric bits and pieces all over, should you find a need to wash your LED Ampli-TIE after spilling some curry or wine on it, make sure you remove the battery and perform a gentle spot clean, as water should be refrained from getting into the microphone.



Product Page
[ LED Ampli-TIE gives you an electrifying appearance copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]


Levitron Lamp



You might not be the wise old man sitting at the top of an impossible-to-climb mountain, and neither are you a swami who sleeps on a bed of nails, but this does not mean you are unable to make things levitate. Thing is, you will first need to lighten your bank account by $150 before you are able to get hold of the Levitron Lamp which is light as air, and the middle bit of the lamp does seem as though it is "missing", hence leaving the top bit floating .



The Levitron Lamp is lit by half a dozen cool-white, high-intensity LEDs, where this illusionary lamp will blend both art with innovative technology into accent lighting. Definitely the way to leave a lasting impression, don't you think so? Thanks to the power of magnetism, this apparently gravity-defying “shade” of the lamp will remain suspended over an inch above its base, making it look as though it remains floating on a halo of light. Some assembly required, so you might want to enlist some help from your man to get it up and running.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Path adds messaging, stickers for messaging, and a shop to, um, buy stickers for messaging


Path adds messaging, stickers for messaging, and a shop to, um, buy stickers for messaging




Path, the eye-candy filled semi-private social network app for iPhone and iPad, has updated to version 3.0. New features center around messaging, which allows you to communicate directly with a specific friend, rather than posting things for all of them to see. They've also added stickers, or little graphics you can send via messaging, and store to buy stickers. That's right, Path's way of asking you to tip the service, if you like it, is through $1.99 sets of cutesy pics.



The sticker sets are made by well known artists, like the Iconfactory's Dave Lanham, and each set has a score or so of stickers.



Path messaging screens




As to the rest of it, it remains as it ever was. Meandering and mixed. The user interface is gorgeous but the user experience is flummoxing. For an app called Path, it's ironically unclear how to move through it. Messaging is even worse. In my brief test, half the messages I sent were unintentional. The interface was fantastic, but I ended up sharing my location -- something I regard as highly private -- and stickers totally by accident.



Path sent them as I browsed them. That's bad behavior. I should be able to tap something, change my mind, tap something else, then only send it when and if I hit the actual Send button. Otherwise, why have a Send button at all? That lack of control makes it unusable to me.



If you've tried it out, let me know what you think. Are you all in on Path, and if not, does the messaging or stickers pull you in more, or send you running even further?


  • Free - Download now


Mobile Nations Fitness Month final winners announcement!





Fitness Month is over here at Mobile Nations for another year. Health and fitness should be a year-round commitment, and it's never too late to start so if you missed out during February be sure to check back through the blogs and forums for content you may have missed. Hopefully you found some apps or tips to help you meet your fitness goals, or maybe even found some moral support in the community to help keep you motivated.



All throughout the month each site was giving away prizes for participation. We announced some winners mid-month, and below are the final results from the remaining contests from across Mobile Nations. If you were participating in the forums or on the blog contests, be sure to look below and see if you're a winner!



Daily forum participation contests - $20 gift certificates
Alli
phirefly
psipher
adriel623
awsman
bamf-hacker
Bulldog1377
damielrohie
gksmithlcw
Grabber5.0
IggySmalls
jean15paul
KaraNari
lippidp
makaroni
moc426
mpinter
pdl2mtl90
Pmac25
Premium1
racingbmwm3
ro1224
the tree
Timelessblur
vincentw56



Weekly forum participation contests - $100 gift certificates
da_abades
GMMan
jean15paul
juggle
LeLee092
RandomNickname
Thargoid



Fitness Month Dream Device Giveaway! - $400 value
czhDavid
Darkgift
Fairclough
OmniGeorge
OriginalLucy



Week 2: Nutrition! - Withings Scale
GlennRuss



Week 3: Sleep and relaxation - FitBit
willrazor



Congratulations everyone!



Please note that this list is not all inclusive, as some winners were announced mid-month on a couple of the sites. If you were a winner earlier in the month and haven't been contacted yet, sit tight as it all will be sorted out this week. And new winners, same for you - expect a PM or email in the next few days.




Saturday, June 22, 2013

Marshall Kirkpatrick’s ‘Hey Big Fish’ Project Highlights Influential People And Tweets At SXSWi


South by Southwest Interactive is coming up this weekend, and that usually means a flood of content on Twitter - some of it interesting and relevant to you, much of it not. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by all the social media noise, one new tool to try out is Hey Big Fish, a website created by startup Little Bird, design firm Tater Tot Designs, and PR agency Waggener Edstrom Worldwide.



The goal, according to Little Bird founder Marshall Kirkpatrick (a former editor at ReadWriteWeb and an early writer at TechCrunch), is to give people a place where they can “just go and see the hottest conversation by the most influential people at South by Southwest.”



The Hey Big Fish website is built on Little Bird’s technology for identifying influencers in specific topics. It then narrows those groups of influencers down even further to the people who are talking about SXSW on Twitter. So instead of delivering a list of the most influential people in 3D printing or blogging or health tech (those are three random examples out of the 30 topics on the site), Hey Big Fish provides a list of people who are currently the most influential about that topic at SXSW specifically. It also identifies the content from those influencers that has gotten the best response so far.



So you can find popular content, and also relevant people you might want to see or talk to while you’re in Austin. Kirkpatrick said there’s also the lure of vanity to draw people to the site, because you actually sign-in with your Twitter account, and Hey Big Fish will tell you how your influence stacks up against the more than 72,000 people that it’s tracking. (I ranked 715, in case you were wondering.) Brands are currently occupying most of the top slots in the overall leaderboard (SXSW itself ranks No. 2, second to IFC and just ahead of BuzzFeed), but there are some individuals too, led by designer Kevin Mullett (@kmullett) and entrepreneur Lena West.



Kirkpatrick said he hadn’t been planning to launch anything at SXSW this year, because there’s so much going on at the conference, but Waggener Edstrom approached him - which was both flattering and appealing, since the agency can give the project a real promotional push. Plus, Hey Big Fish is a project that doesn’t try to resist how noisy SXSW has become, but is instead useful for that very reason.



And yes, you’ll be able to access all this information while you’re on-the-go at the conference, because the Hey Big Fish site is responsively designed, so the elements shift to fit into whatever screen you’re using, whether it’s a laptop, tablet or smartphone.



In addition to being a cool project, the site is also the first use of the Little Bird API. Kirkpatrick said that the company has been building out new features since it launched last fall: “At a certain point we said, ‘Let’s stop building features ourselves and let other people build things.’” Hence the creation of an API for accessing Little Bird data. The company plans to make both the Little Bird service and the API available this spring, he said.



Ourspot Launches A Marketplace For Hiring Amateur Photographers




With DSLR sales up and Instagram setting a new bar for tastefully shot photos, there are countless hobbyist and amateur photographers out there.



A new startup called Ourspot is tapping into that community by creating a marketplace where anybody can hire amateur photographers to shoot events for free to around a few hundred dollars or more. It’s out for San Francisco today, but Los Angeles and New York are coming soon.



The sole founder, Sam Yam, is a veteran entrepreneur who worked at Loopt before co-founding and selling mobile ad mediation startup AdWhirl to AdMob. After leaving Google shortly after the $750 million AdMob acquisition, he started group-buying site ChompOn. But that flamed out like so many other group-buying startups and Yam started tinkering with new ideas.



“I was thinking about people’s passions and how to find an opportunity for them to extend those out beyond hobbies and make them a supplement,” he said.



He explored some of his own personal hobbies like music, but then settled on photography.



“Those things are really hard to monetize by yourself unless you focus exclusively on them as your life,” he said. “But photography is something that you can run random gigs for. There are a lot of people who are into photography, but they might not have the means to be a professional or market themselves. I just wanted to create an opportunity for them to put their work out.”



On the site, you can scroll through photographers’ portfolios and list events that you want to hire for. You can pay as much or as little as you like, but the site suggests $10 for “fun” shoots, $25 for “standard” shoots and $100 or more for custom work. Ourspot takes an 8 percent cut, but Yam said he might potentially change that fee.



It’s easy to sign-up to be a photographer. You either log-in with your e-mail or Facebook. Yam says that all photographers who put their work on Ourspot keep the rights to their photos. (He wanted to avoid an Instagram-like debacle, after the Facebook-owned mobile app initially said it would reserve the right to use people’s photos as ads.)



He also says he’s not trying to cannibalize the market for very high-end segments like wedding photography, which can cost thousands of dollars.



“There’s just a much larger market of people that could casually take photos,” he said. Plus, he said this could make it easier to hire people who want to shoot for fun for super-casual events like picnics.



To grow a community for the site, Yam is giving out free business cards to Ourspot photographers (pictured below). He’ll also hold monthly meetups in San Francisco where a professional photographer will be available to do training sessions with Ourspot members.



Yam built and designed the entire site himself without a co-founder. Ourspot hasn’t taken funding yet, but Yam says he’s looking at a seed round.





Friday, June 21, 2013

Surface Pro Clone Tablet On Show At CeBit By HKC


At CeBit this week HKC has unveiled a new Surface Pro clone tablet they have created which is a copy of Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 Surface Pro tablet, with a few changes to keep the price lower.



The HKC Windows 8 tablet is fitted with a 13.3 inch, display, and is powered by a Intel Core i3 or i5 processor supported by 4GB of RAM. Watch the video after the jump to learn more about the Surface Pro clone and see it in action.



Surface Pro Clone




Amplify Tablet Custom Built For Education Launches (video)


A new Android Amplify Tablet has been unveiled today which has been created by Amplify Education, specifically for the education market and particularly K 12 education.



The Amplify Tablet is fitted with a 10 inch screen and comes supplied running a customised version of Google’s Android operating system.



Amplify Tablet




Thursday, June 20, 2013

Full Immersion Professional Racer’s Simulator



You know something? It is a whole lot easier to be a backseat driver, as you tend to be able to make all of the correct decisions that the driver him or herself was seemingly unable to make when they are at the wheel. Same goes for high stakes Formula 1 racing, where being in the comfort of your living room, you can cuss at the driver's decision, but you have never really placed yourself in such a high pressure cooker situation, have you? Perhaps it is time to change things and give you a tiny taste on what could be – with the $58,500 Full Immersion Professional Racer’s Simulator.



Yes sir, with that kind of money, you can buy yourself an exotic race car (on the low end side of things, though), but at least with the Full Immersion Professional Racer’s Simulator, you would not have to worry about stuff such as insurance claims, folks scratching your car out of jealousy and the ilk. The Full Immersion Professional Racer’s Simulator is said to be the only racing simulator in the market to come with a 180 , 106″-wide HD screen which will keep you immersed in a high-speed virtual car race of unparalleled realism. 7 million-pixels will wrap themselves halfway around you, showing the window net, side mirrors, and passed cars in your peripheral vision as though you are in an actual vehicle. 57 renowned race circuits, including Daytona International Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Laguna Seca, have been recreated from 3D laser scans. Talk about extravagant!

How Lamborghini Celebrates a Birthday





Happy 50th birthday Lamborghini! Yes, these sleek speed machines have graced roadways - and garages of the rich - for five decades. In very Automobili Lamborghini style they are pulling out all the stops to commemorate their anniversary. And I mean ALL the stops. Unveiled this week prior to the start of the Geneva Auto Show was the Lamborghini Veneno, a $3.9M supercar. (And you thought your friend's 50th surprise birthday party was a hefty expense.) Only three Veneno's will be produced for sale. Once you get done dropping expletives read on to get the details of what a $3.9M supercar entails.



First look under the hood. Patterned after the Aventador, the 6.5liter V-12 engine and 740hp will get you 0 to 60 quicker than a sneeze. It tops out at an impressive 221mph. The design definitely turns heads. Carbon fiber galore means emphasis on aerodynamics and downforce - afterall the last thing you want is your multi-million dollar car to fly off the road when you accelerate. Even the interior contains carbon fiber. Trim accents will be in green, red or white (get it - Italian flag). So each of the three produced will be completely unique. Now hold on to your checkbooks. Three lucky buyers have been confirmed and the model in the picture is museum bound. Sorry to burst your bubble. But the Veneno sure provides a fun way for us to "oooh" and "aaahh" and is certainly a fitting tribute for one of the most technologically advanced auto makers.





Thanks: AutoWeek
[ How Lamborghini Celebrates a Birthday copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

5 Top Travel Apps for New York Urban Adventure


30 Rock




A visit to Manhattan isn't something you should take lightly. Some people may want to just thrust themselves into the city lights and let the push and bustle of the crowd take them where it may. My adventure was a more planned affair, with lists of sights to see, places to eat, and department stores to shop.



I used my iPhone for tracking and planning my movements around Manhattan and also downloaded a number of applications before leaving. Each app offered its own insight, covering planning, navigation and even historical perspective.



1. TimeOut (Free)






If you want to act like a local without permanently shifting zip codes, this is your app. Timeout is a print and web resource for people who live in major urban areas, ranging from New York to London, Dubai and beyond. Its New York app provides great insight into the city's cultural events, nightlife, and eateries through its simple menu, which asks: What, When, Where? It can help you plan a trip by revealing what is taking place during your visit, or share random insights with your traveling companions.



2. Fodor's City Guides - New York (Free)






When planning a trip, Foder's City Guides offers more tourist-oriented information. Its New York guide packages everything offered in the city's various neighborhoods, allowing users to switch between sights, restaurants, shopping, performing arts, nightlife, and hotels. The lists are by no means exhaustive. However, they prioritize highlights so visitors on a quick trip won't miss what's happening right around the corner.



3. New York - Offline Map (Free - $4.99 for premium)






To be honest, I used offline maps of New York before the trip more often than while I was on the ground. I installed them on my iPad, but found it a little too large so I tended to consult Apple's Maps or Google Maps on the iPhone in the heat of the moment. These apps, however, were very helpful in planning the trip and creating the itinerary of what to visit which day.



New York Offline Map product provides some basics, but its lack of detail is frustrating. Most notably, when zoomed in you won't see street names for anything but major thoroughfares, and the names may be placed somewhere other than where you're looking. The app does overlay the subway system onto the street maps, but it is very hard to read and not very informative about what to do based on where you are. However, if your cellular network and Wi-Fi both abandon you, this may be the only map you have unless you're carrying around something on paper (heaven forbid!)



4. New York Subway Map - (Free)






If you are looking for a subway map, this app does the job. Not only does it include the entire system, it offers guided instructions of how to get from point A to point B. If however, you don't know which station is nearest your destination - as we experienced looking for a boat tour around the Statue of Liberty - then it isn't much more helpful than its paper counterpart.  If you have absorbed the language of New York and its subway system, then this app will prove a credible companion.



5. MapMatcher New York (Free)






MapMatcher offers the unique ability to compare a current map of New York with a historic or other representation of the city (like a tourist map).  I found this a fun, if buggy, way to get some historical perspective of New York. Sometimes the maps I tapped on revealed only a white screen, but when it did work, it demonstrated how the city has changed overtime and how much more detailed our lives are now than they were in the past.



New York tends to just happen to you. Adventures in New York force choices, and as in life, those choices have consequences of distance and the sights seen along the way. Had we arrived at the Statue of Liberty tour with great expeditiousness then we would have missed the rather beautiful, if cold and breezy, walk along the Hudson River through Battery Park City and the Financial District. By not knowing the best path, we saw things that those on more constrained tourist leashes would never see.


iLine Mobile Music Cables Review


 






Most audiophiles and budding musicians can recall a panic-ridden episode with a missing audio cable, ending in a speed run to the local music store to find a cable or adaptor to connect to their amplifier or mixing board. IK Multimedia's iLine Mobile Music Cables ($59.99) intend to make those situations a thing of the past. iLine is a package of mobile music cables designed to hook your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or standard jack audio device into a variety of audio input and output devices. 



The package comes with six different connectors, including a mono output adapter, an input output extension, a standard stereo aux cable, a 3.5mm stereo headphone splitter, an RCA output adapter, and a mono output splitter.



The cables can be used separately or strung together to traverse a particularly gnarly setup, are color-coded, and hold up extremely well in even rugged stage conditions.



All the plugs are plated in 24K gold to prevent oxidization and to maintain solid connectivity. Each cable's high-density shielding protects the low-capacitance insulation that protects the high-purity copper conductors within.



These cables are not your cheesy spare parts bin throwaways, but rather are high-quality connectors you'd be bummed to accidentally leave behind at a gig or mix party. Also included in the package is a vinyl carrying case that is more like a sleeve with pockets to fit each wrapped cable. 



In addition to the iLine cable bundle, IK Multimedia also sells the cables individually. But given the variability of speakers, amplifiers, and other audio devices, I suggest spending the money for the full package. If you use your iOS device for party mixes, performances, or jamming with friends, you will undoubtedly use each of the included cables at least once in your sonic engagements.



IK Multimedia manufactured this product seriously. The high-quality construction combined with the thoughtful combination of mono and stereo adapters shows how in tune the company is with its customer base. If you're already using other IK Multimedia iOS hardware products like iRig KEYS, and iRig MIX, iLine is a perfect compliment.



The only thing not included I'd have liked to see is a 3.5mm stereo splitter with male ends versus the female ends in the headphone splitter. While it's not a deal breaker (simply pair the headphone splitter cable with two stereo aux cables), I've run into a need for such a cable several times.



So if you're looking for a high-quality audio cable collection with decent variety and thoughtful design, I recommend taking a closer look at IK Multimedia's iLine Mobile Music Cables.



 



Product & Manufacturer:  iLine Mobile Music Cables by IK Multimedia



Price: $59.99



Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Obama gun control agenda helps fuel 'explosive' rise in extremist groups


Southern Poverty Law Center writes to government officials warning of serious potential for domestic terrorism in the US



The number of anti-government, far-right extremist groups has soared to record levels since 2008 and they are becoming increasingly militant, according to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center.



It says the number of groups in the "Patriot" movement stood at 1,360 in 2012, up from 149 in 2008 when Barack Obama was first elected president, an increase of 813%. The report said the rise was driven by opposition to Obama and the "spluttering rage" over federal attempts at gun control.



Those who were identified as "militia" groups or the paramilitary wing of the Patriot movement, numbered 321, up from 42 in 2008, the SPLC said in its report.



Concern over a "truly explosive growth" of groups on the radical right, along with a rise in domestic terrorist plots, has prompted the SPLC to write to US attorney general Eric Holder and Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano, warning of the potential for domestic terrorism and urging them create a new, inter-agency task force to assess whether it has adequate resources to deal with it.



The report says that the numbers far exceed the "high-water mark" of 820 groups in 1990s when the rise in militias was fuelled by the Waco siege, the Brady Bill and the 1994 assault weapons ban.



Richard Cohen, the SPLC president and a member of the Department of Homeland Security's group to counter violent extremism, wrote in the letter: "On October 25, 1994, six months before the Oklahoma City bombing, we wrote attorney general Janet Reno about the growing threat of domestic extremism. Today we write to express similar concerns.



"As in the period before the Oklahoma City bombing, we now are seeing ominous threats from those who believe that the government is poised to take their guns."



Timothy McVeigh drove a truck full of explosives into a federal building in Oklahoma City in April 1995, killing 168 people, 19 of them children under six, and injured hundreds more.



"We are seeing a real and rising threat of domestic terrorism as the number of far-right anti-government groups continues to grow at an astounding pace," said Mark Potok, SPLC senior fellow and author of the report. "It is critically important that the country take this threat seriously. The potential for deadly violence is real, and clearly rising."



Potok said that the demographic factors driving the rise in such groups began before Obama became president - the census bureau predicts that whites will become a minority group in the US by 2043 - but have been fuelled by the changes in America he represents. The growth in extremism has been helped by the "successful exploitation over illegal immigration" and by anger over the gun control debate, he said.



Law enforcement officials have uncovered numerous terrorism conspiracies born in the militia subculture, including plots to spread poisonous ricin powder, to attack federal installations, and to murder federal judges and other government officials, the report says.



Potok cited a study by the Combating Terrorism Center at the West Point military academy, which found that right-wing violence in 2000-2011 surpassed that of the 1990s by a factor of four. He expected extremism to rise, as anger over gun control had become a "grassroots rebellion". He said that 20 states are considering laws that would aim to nullify federal gun control measures and 500 sheriffs mainly in western US, who say they will not enforce any such measures.



Daryl Johnson, a former Department of Homeland Security official, said in a press call that SPLC's numbers were likely to be a "on the conservative end" because they did not include clandestine and underground groups which did not have a presence on the internet.



Johnson, who was a member of the now-disbanded non-Islamic terrorism unit at the Department of Homeland Security, authored a report in 2009 warning about the increasing dangers of right-wing extremism which created a political firestorm, and was later withdrawn. He said it was "quite unsettling" that nothing had changed at the DHS in the last four years despite the rise in extremism.



Although only a small pool of individuals associated with such groups were potentially violent, and radicalisation was difficult to analyse, Johnson said: "This pool of potentially violent extremists should raise a red flag of concern."



He urged FBI and local law enforcement officials to assess the threat, and said more analysis was needed.



The SPLC's report on hate and extremism, contained in its quarterly intelligence report, also found that hate groups remained at a near-record level of 1,007 groups in 2012, a slight drop from the 1,018 groups documented in 2011.



SLPC defined "Patriot" groups as those who believe that the federal government is engaged in a conspiracy, is prepared to engage in martial law, would take away guns and would force the US into some kind of so-called "One World Nation".



The hate groups listed in this report include neo-Nazis, white nationalists, neo-Confederates, racist skinheads, Klansmen and black separatists. Other hate groups on the list target gay people, Muslims or immigrants, and some specialise in producing racist music or propaganda denying the Holocaust.


Dow pushed to record high as markets shrug off slow US growth figures


Dow breaks previous record set in October 2007 as investors absorb signs of recovery in US and better figures in Europe



The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Tuesday surged to its highest closing level ever, erasing the index's loses during the financial crisis even as Washington's fights over its debts and Main Street seem far from mended.



The Dow closed at 14,254, passing its previous high of 14,164.52 in
October 2007.



Better-than-expected news from the service sector bolstered the rally that had begun even before the market opened. Dow futures, a somewhat unreliable indication of the direction the market is likely to take, pushed the index higher before the opening bell as investors absorbed better-than-expected retail figures from Europe.



On Monday, the Dow closed at 14,127.82, up 38.16 points, or 0.27%, a 52-week high. The index has risen for four of the past five trading days.



The Dow has not touched these levels since before Barack Obama's first election victory. Global stock markets went into freefall shortly after, as the implosion of housing market and Europe's woes dragged the world into the worst financial crisis in living memory.



Massive issues remain, however. Unemployment, especially among the young, remains high, and in Washington politicians are still at loggerhead over America's $16tn debt. Last Friday the government started making $85bn of cuts - known as the sequester - in a move Obama and others predicted would cause widespread chaos and financial hardship. In Europe, major US companies including GM and Ford are being hit by the region's continuing economic crisis.



But these are old debates now - and Wall Street doesn't seem to be worried.



The latest figures from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), released Tuesday morning, showed positive growth in the service sector. The ISM index stood at 56 in February. Anything above 50 indicates growth, and the number was ahead of analysts' forecasts. US markets were also buoyed by rallies in Europe and Asia. In London the FTSE closed up 86.32 points.



The Dow Jones index has now more than doubled since a low point in March 2009, stunning many market watchers and coming against a still lacklustre economic recovery. Corporate profits hit record highs last year, fuelled largely by cost cuts. Economists and market watchers said the Federal Reserve's massive bond-buying programme has fueled the market but that beneath that there were concrete signs of improvement.



Gus Faucher, a senior economist for PNC Financial Services Group, said Washington still mattered and warned that if the sequester drags on, the Dow's gains could be at risk. "That said, the fundamentals are better. Profits are at an all-time high, business balance sheets have improved, interest rates are low. The markets are expecting more growth through 2013."



Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Bank, said investors fed up with low yields from the bond markets were looking for better returns in equities. Bonds were also being issued in order to buy shares, he said. He said the wider economy looked like it was steadily improving, but warned there could be problems ahead.



"Investors are embracing progress. They weren't shaken by the tax hikes at the end of the year and not by the sequester either," he said. "The Dow looks fairly priced now."



But he warned that the Federal Reserve's massive bond-buying policy could drive more people into equities. "If you want to see a swift end to monetary easing, another 10-20% hike in the Dow will probably do that," he said.



Minutes of the Fed's last meeting revealed a split in the central bank's rate setting committee. While the Federal Open Markets Committee's members were still worried about unemployment, "many participants also expressed some concerns about potential costs and risks arising from further asset purchases", according to the minutes.



Friday may prove the next test for the markets, and the Fed, when the latest nonfarm payroll figures are released. The US added 157,000 new jobs in January. Average job creation for 2012 was around 181,000, a number just above the benchmark economists calculate is enough for the unemployment rate to stabilise, but not fall.


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Google employee creates ‘memorable’ Googleplex rap video








Google likes to let us all know that it is a fun place to work. The company, and its employees, do it all the time. There is even a company policy which states that its employees only have to work 80% of the time, and can spend the rest of the 20% doing whatever they want. Well, we hope this rap by Google employee Andrew Fink is what they do with that 20% of free time over there, because it is both the best and worst thing we have seen (and heard) in a long while.



Andrew Fink works out of the New York City Google office, and we guess this is how the employees spend their time. It’d be amusing if this rap was part of their 80% and not their 20%, and that this kind of thing is officially sanctioned work integral to the Google business model, but that’s unfortunately probably not the case.



Google rap




Perhaps the most amusing part of the song is that it takes a cue from actual current popular rap trends. Namely, some traits of cloud rap — such as the deep voice synthesizer, and the slow, trippy background music. Granted, there weren’t any lyrics involving various types of “drank,” but there was this guy dressed up as Popeye, so that makes up for most things. The Android mascot also got down and funky, so you can now tick seeing that happen off your bucket list.



If your gym playlist really needs some Google-based rap, you can head on over to Fink’s website and toss the song on your phone.




Cree’s LED bulb looks like an incandescent and lights like one, for under $10




CREE LED BULB




Today Cree, the North Carolina-based LED manufacturer, is making a move that will have major implications for the LED lighting industry. The company, which is known for its high-quality LEDs and its lighting fixtures, has announced a line of LED bulbs, marking the first time it will offer the A-style replacement bulb that lights most homes. This will put Cree in competition against giants like Philips and GE, as well as directly up against companies that buy Cree LEDs, like Best Buy.



While Cree offering bulbs is big news for LED insiders, today’s announcement is notable for consumers as well. This is because Cree will be extremely competitive with its pricing. The line of Cree LED bulbs (that’s actually the name) will include three models: a warm white 60W-equivalent at $12.97, a daylight 60W-equivalent at $13.97, and a warm white 40W-equivalent at $9.97. In other words, Cree isn’t only coming out with a line of bulbs they are also breaking the $10 mark, something which competitors are not going to be able to ignore. All three of the bulbs will be available from HomeDepot.com today and in Home Depots by the end of the month.



If it’s not clear yet, Cree is striking at the heart of the consumer LED lighting segment. The company is doing this with a three-pronged approach…



cree bulb package


The first point of attack is price. Breaking the $15 and $10 marks is big but, importantly, Cree is doing it with a quality lamp. Buyers have been able to pick up a 40W-equivalent Ecosmart LEDs at Home Depot for $9.97 for some time now, but it’s not a great bulb.



The second point of attack is confidence. Consumers may not know the Cree name, but the company will soon have Energy Star compliance for each model making for a meaningful seal of approval. Moreover, each bulb is backed by a 10-year warranty. 3-5 years is typical in the 25,000-hour-lifetime market, so Cree is putting some weight behind their claims.



Finally, the Cree LED bulb looks like an incandescent bulb. LED lighting may be getting more popular, but consumers still care how a bulb looks when it’s off. And when the average buyer needs to replace an incandescent they want something that’s as close as possible to that design. Cree recognized this and delivered LEDs encased in frosted glass with a true bulb shape.



The mainstay bulb in the series will be the $13 warm white (2700K) 60W-replacement. This $14 bulb will produce 800 lumens at 9.5W (84.2 lumens-per-watt). Cree is going for an incandescent-like experience so they opted for 2700K instead of 3000K, which has efficiency benefits but offers a cooler tone. Like the other two bulbs in the series, this model is dimmable, has a CRI of 80, and is rated for 25,000 hours of use.



The $14 60W-equivalent model runs at 5000K and produces 800 lumens at 9.0W (88.9 lpw). The $10 40W-equivalent bulb will produce 450 lumens at 6W (75 lpw) with a color temperature of 2700K.



Cree LED bulb - Straight on


On the hardware front, the Cree LED bulb has what appears to be a very conventional design. The interesting thing is that the design is conventional for an incandescent, which is hard to pull off with LEDs. The exterior is a glass dome and is the first sign that something unique is going on. The majority of LED bulbs, aside from Switch’s, use plastic because it’s cheap and durable. Cree opted instead for glass, but they coated the glass with a tacky rubber in order to make it shatter-resistant. The glass and bulb shape give the Cree bulb a true omnidirectional light pattern, though it seems like dust and grime could build up on the sticky rubber material.



I haven’t opened up the Cree bulbs I’m testing, but the available art of the interior shows another homage to the incandescent. Cree calls this their “LED Filament Tower”. The design features pairs of XP-E LEDs in a ring around a central tower, inside of which is the driver circuitry. This design is modeled after an incandescent’s filament, but also is reminiscent of the out-dated “corncob” style LED bulbs. Corncob bulbs were somewhat popular but provided poor light quality, so have since been replaced with better technology. Cree modified this design and replaced the long columns of cheap LEDs with 10 pairs of high-voltage ones. Cooling the LEDs and fitting a driver inside the tower, all while keeping costs down, must have been a challenge for the engineering team.



I’ve only used the 60W-equivalent 2700K Cree bulb for a few hours, so it’s too early to deliver a verdict, but so far all the news is good. The bulb is lightweight, starts up quickly, is responsible about power (my meter put it at 8W), and it runs at a cozy, incandescent-like 2700K. The light pattern seems right on target for an omnidirectional design. The bulb, which is able to run in an enclosure and in any orientation — just like an incandescent — remains cool to the touch (very much unlike an incandescent).



cree bulb - by sal cangeloso




With this series of LED bulbs Cree wants to make a convincing case to buyers who are tempted to switch from their incandescents and CFLs. Mike Watson, Cree’s VP of Marketing, told me the company will avoid niche markets and produce bulbs that move the world towards 100% LED adoption. While that’s certainly an optimistic goal, this release is a step in that direction. It remains to be seen if the $10 point is the barrier to rapid adoption that LED light manufacturers are now claiming it is — just a year ago most would have put the mark at $15 — but the availability of high-quality, affordable LED bulbs is one thing that is sure to boost LED sales.



Cree’s LED bulbs will be available through Home Depot online on March 5th and in all US Home Depot stores on March 21st.



Now read: Philips Hue is where gadgets, apps, and lighting meet




Saturday, June 15, 2013

Report: Apple’s iWatch Will Run iOS




iWatch




Hot on the heels of Bloomberg’s report that claims that Apple may launch the iWatch as soon as this year, The Verge has also chimed in with more details.



The Verge claims that according to their source, Apple’s smartwatch will run a full version of iOS and the watch project is being led by Jony Ive, Apple’s Design Chief and who also provides leadership and direction for Human Interface software teams across the company.



The Verge reports:



Interestingly, we’re also told that Apple’s chosen to rework the full iOS to run on the watch instead of building up the iPod nano’s proprietary touch operating system - although the previous nano was already watch-sized and seemed like a great starting point for a wrist-sized device, Apple’s betting on iOS across product lines.



The report also points out that Apple’s decision to use iOS is resulting in battery life issues on the iWatch prototypes.



[T]he goal is to last at least 4-5 days between charges, but the current watch prototypes are apparently only going for a couple days max. We’re also told Apple has some work to do with iOS on the iPhone, which currently has several hooks for supporting a watch-like device but lacks the appropriate interface or settings to make it work properly.



So I really hope that the iWatch runs a full version of iOS as opposed to a barebones OS that relies on the smartphone like iPhone for its “smartness” as it would have to depend on the reliability of the connection between the two devices.



I have been using the Pebble smartwatch for the last two weeks, which connects to my iPhone 5 over Bluetooth and based on my brief experience, the reliability of the Bluetooth connection is probably the most annoying thing about it.



Via: The Verge






White House Responds To ‘Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal’ Petition






That was surprisingly quick! The White House has given its official response to the “Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal” petition, which had received over 100,000 signatures.



You probably know by now that unlocking a cell phone is illegal in the U.S. as it would be a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).



Many consumers disagreed with this and started a White House petition, which appealed to the U.S. President to ask the Librarian of Congress, who originally deemed unlocking illegal in October last year, to reconsider the decision given the legitimate reasons a customer might want to unlock his or her carrier locked phone.



The petition needed 100,000 signatures to get an official response from the White House, which was achieved two days before the deadline.



Here’s the official response from the White House to that petition:



Thank you for sharing your views on cell phone unlocking with us through your petition on our We the People platform. Last week the White House brought together experts from across government who work on telecommunications, technology, and copyright policy, and we’re pleased to offer our response.



The White House agrees with the 114,000+ of you who believe that consumers should be able to unlock their cell phones without risking criminal or other penalties. In fact, we believe the same principle should also apply to tablets, which are increasingly similar to smart phones. And if you have paid for your mobile device, and aren’t bound by a service agreement or other obligation, you should be able to use it on another network. It’s common sense, crucial for protecting consumer choice, and important for ensuring we continue to have the vibrant, competitive wireless market that delivers innovative products and solid service to meet consumers’ needs.



This is particularly important for secondhand or other mobile devices that you might buy or receive as a gift, and want to activate on the wireless network that meets your needs — even if it isn’t the one on which the device was first activated. All consumers deserve that flexibility.



The White House’s position detailed in this response builds on some critical thinking done by the President’s chief advisory Agency on these matters: the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). For more context and information on the technical aspects of the issue, you can review the NTIA’s letter to the Library of Congress’ Register of Copyrights (.pdf), voicing strong support for maintaining the previous exception to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) for cell phone carrier unlocking.



Contrary to the NTIA’s recommendation, the Librarian of Congress ruled that phones purchased after January of this year would no longer be exempted from the DMCA. The law gives the Librarian the authority to establish or eliminate exceptions — and we respect that process. But it is also worth noting the statement the Library of Congress released today on the broader public policy concerns of the issue. Clearly the White House and Library of Congress agree that the DMCA exception process is a rigid and imperfect fit for this telecommunications issue, and we want to ensure this particular challenge for mobile competition is solved.



So where do we go from here?



The Obama Administration would support a range of approaches to addressing this issue, including narrow legislative fixes in the telecommunications space that make it clear: neither criminal law nor technological locks should prevent consumers from switching carriers when they are no longer bound by a service agreement or other obligation.



We also believe the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with its responsibility for promoting mobile competition and innovation, has an important role to play here. FCC Chairman Genachowski today voiced his concern about mobile phone unlocking (.pdf), and to complement his efforts, NTIA will be formally engaging with the FCC as it addresses this urgent issue.



Finally, we would encourage mobile providers to consider what steps they as businesses can take to ensure that their customers can fully reap the benefits and features they expect when purchasing their devices.



We look forward to continuing to work with Congress, the wireless and mobile phone industries, and most importantly you — the everyday consumers who stand to benefit from this greater flexibility — to ensure our laws keep pace with changing technology, protect the economic competitiveness that has led to such innovation in this space, and offer consumers the flexibility and freedoms they deserve.



R. David Edelman is Senior Advisor for Internet, Innovation, & Privacy



Let us know what you think of the response in the comments.






Friday, June 14, 2013

T-Mobile May Eliminate Two-Year Phone Contracts This Week


T-Mobile executives haven't beat around the bush when expressing their distaste for smartphone subsidiaries. In December, the company's CEO spoke to investors about alternatives paths the carrier could take to compete with Verizon and AT&T. According to an internal memo obtained by TmoNews, the company could announce its "uncarrier" plans as soon as March 4th. The initiative would remove two-year contracts, early termination fees and traditional phone subsidies, allowing customers to instead purchase new devices with a monthly installment plan. The memo also revealed that T-Mobile plans to market its HSPA+ and upcoming LTE network as "dual 4G" technology in the wake of its merger with MetroPCS. T-Mobile's rebranding efforts will reportedly kick off on March 24th.



Read the full story at Boy Genius Report.


Overcoming a Meltdown With Social Media


Iceland's Social Media




Iceland is a very small country with a big "brand" influence in a state of recovery, discovery and evolution.



"Few countries blew up more spectacularly than Iceland in the 2008 financial crisis. The local stock market plunged 90 percent; unemployment rose ninefold; inflation shot to more than 18 percent; the country's biggest banks all failed.



This was no post-Lehman Brothers recession: It was a depression."



Bloomberg, Sep 26, 2012



The collapse was profound, as was the response of Icelanders known for their tech savvy connectivity and fierce independence. The citizens didn't wait for politicians to act or for banks to repossess their homes. True to their nature, these quirky and decisive people took to the streets with humble pots and pans, protesting at the doors of Parliament. In one show of solidarity after another, the masses refused to bear the burden of the failed policies of the lawmakers and money lenders. They demanded protection, accountability, resignations, transparency, and they called for a new constitution.



Which is exactly what they got. Iceland jailed its bankers, bailed out its people and ousted the "old boys" from office. It has reduced its unemployment to 5 percent, has repaid its loans ahead of schedule and is recovering economically at an enviable rate. All of which is impressive.



But it's the rewriting of the constitution that should give every one of us with a Facebook page in a broken political and financial system cause for pause. Icelanders had lost confidence in their government- they didn't wait for the "conspirators" to resurrect a plan that protected the "establishment." Once again they got involved; the citizens, over 90 percent of whom have access to the web, engaged in an open, iterative, crowd sourced, digital project that ultimately re-framed the nation's constitution. Over half of eligible voters participated simply and conveniently through social media. The referendum passed with 66 percent of the vote.



"... technology is having a greater impact on politics in both small and large communities. What could have taken months to accomplish is now possible in just hours, thanks to mobile phones and the Internet.”



Iceland's President, lafur Ragnar Gr msso



All the world is watching as Iceland recovers, discovers and evolves its sustainable economy, communal values and national identity. Government officials and citizens are engaging, debating and solving real problems with technology driven collaborative tools. Collectively, Iceland has defined policies that protect the stability of the island's natural resources; declaring national control over lucrative fish reserves and the geothermal energy resources that aren't already privatized. Right now the people and the politicians are weighing the social consequences and economic conflicts of restricting access to violent internet pornography in a country that stands to profit as a haven of free expression. Policies on privatization or positions on moral censorship aside, the big takeaway here is that technology has radically democratized how this government governs and how this public takes interest in protecting their shared interests.



It matters little if you and I are leading countries, companies or classrooms. What we need to ask ourselves is: How are we harnessing the true power of social media and the networks that follow? Are we engaged in meaningful discourse; addressing concerns, exchanging knowledge, and assuming responsibility for our shared social, financial and ecological well being? Are we curating cultures that respect and inform our mutual interests? Or are we schlepping products, spinning hype, and dumbing the potential down to the lowest value?



Either way, like me on Facebook!