Google grabs facial-recognition ‘ware firm’; The Register
Google has bought a facial recognition company called pittpatt.
The Takeaway: The acquisition looks a little curious in light of comments by Eric Schmidt at Google’s ‘Big Tent’ privacy conference in May to the effect that facial recognition technology creeped him out, and in which the company co-founder seemed to state that Google would not make use of such technology. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Twitter
Digital Week in Review: Why Google + is Not the Facebook Killer it Thinks
Why Google+ is Not the Facebook Killer it Thinks it is; Technorati
Google+ has attempted to usurp the King of Social Media, Facebook. While it will start things with a slightly changed interface, it will not be the change that we are all looking for, as the Google insight into social media is the same as it was, and the same as it will be until a fundamental shift in ideas occurs.
The Takeaway: Despite the majority of truly innovative products that Google has developed over the years, the move into the Social Media space makes Google and Google+ a big, yes, you guessed it, copycat. Continue reading
Jonah Berger: How to Create Viral Content for the Web
The Science of Creating Shareable Content
Do influencers really exist? How to craft viral content? What is the return on relationships? These questions, among others, were on the table at United Insight’s Contagious Marketing: The Science of Word-of-Mouth in the Age of Social Media conference on June 30th. Continue reading
Digital Week in Review: Google+, Facebook Skype and More!
Google+ More Right than Wrong. For Now; Information Week
After several fizzled attempts at social networking — from Buzz to Wave — Google at last is getting it more right than wrong. Via its on again off again beta, Google+ is generating a ton of interest.
The Takeaway: So far, so good for Google. What’s less clear is whether Google can build this into a lasting impression product that gets long-term, engaged use from current Facebook users. There is a lot Google is going to have to do to get there. Continue reading
Twittamentary: A Film with a Cast of 140 Characters
Twittamentary, a documentary by Singaporean filmmaker, Tan Siok Siok, peels back the Twitter handles and avatars, and takes a long look at the characters behind them. Unlike The Social Network, which focused on Facebook’s founders, Twittamentary is all about the users. The film, which screened June 29th at an event hosted by Social Media Club NYC, succeeds because its focus isn’t technology, it’s humanity. Continue reading
Founding Fathers (and Monster Mothers): Gaga, The Pope, Biz, and Tom
This week’s social media big news roll call reads like the setup of a joke. Lady Gaga, The Pope, Biz Stone of Twitter and Tom of MySpace (remember MySpace?) are all making big online moves, and as we approach this weekend’s annual homage to the birth of America via keg parties and explosives (genius, I’m sure), the social media headlines belong to Founding Fathers and Monster Mothers.
Digital Week in Review: Olympics chiefs approve Twitter use at London 2012
GSV Capital Invests in Facebook; MarketWatch
GSV Capital Corp. GSVC +19.73% announced that it has acquired 225,000 shares in social-networking company Facebook at an average price of $29.28 per share.
The Takeaway: The investment of $6,587,500 represents approximately 15% of GSV’s total portfolio, making it one of their biggest investments to date. Continue reading
Digital Week in Review: Facebook Leads 2011 Online Display Ad Sales
REPORT: Facebook Leads 2011 Online Display Ad Sales; All Facebook
Facebook will have a 17.7 percent share of the market for online display ad sales this year.
The Takeaway: That’s eMarketer’s latest forecast for 2011; in March the consultancy first said that Facebook was on track to outsell Yahoo and Google in the online display ad market. By contrast, Facebook had 12.2 percent of the online display ad sales market in 2010. And eMarketer expects the social network to take 19.4 percent of the online display ad market in 2012. Continue reading
Digital Week in Review: Privacy Regulators See Red Over Facebook Facial Recognition
Privacy Regulators See Red Over Facebook Facial Recognition; Search Engine Watch
The long worked on facial recognition technology recently released by Facebook is coming under attack from European Union regulators questioning its intrusion in to users’ privacy.
The Takeaway: The reality is that facial recognition is already here, and it’s not going away so the debate at this point should be a matter of figuring out how the technology should be used rather than if it can be created in the first place.
Why Facebook is Becoming Twitter and Twitter is Becoming Facebook; Shiny
While Twitter once tried to distinguish itself as an “information network” it has with its recent product announcements, like an improved Twitter.com and a native photo sharing service, put itself right up there to take on Facebook head-to-head in the battle for the social network crown.
The Takeaway: This is might prove to be a significant blow to Facebook which has for a long time been the preferred – or default – ‘connection’ mechanism for social sharing. Continue reading
Digital Week in Review: Internet Week Starts in New York
Official Chinese Media Lash Out at Google; Wall Street Journal
A leading Chinese government newspaper lashed out at Google Inc., saying the company’s allegations of China-based hacking were a politically motivated attempt to spark new disputes between China and the U.S.
The Takeaway: Google shouldn’t engulf itself in the international political war as a tool for political gaming. If there is “any change in the international atmosphere, I am afraid Google will become a target to be sacrificed by politics, and also will be discarded by the market. Continue reading
