Author Archives: Ben Bold

BlackBerry set to unveil Apple-gnawing ‘BlackPad’ next week

Blackberry owner Research In Motion’s moves to claw back share from arch rival Apple are about to become a whole lot more aggressive in light of a report that says that RIM will be unveiling its new tablet computer and the operating system that will power it as early as next week.

Read more on BlackBerry set to unveil Apple-gnawing ‘BlackPad’ next week…

Google redesigns homepage twice in as many days – is Google Me here?

Google’s homepage logo has changed again, for the second time in 24 hours, like the rumblings preceding a seismic shift. Could the search giant be about to launch its much-anticipated social networking service, Google Me?

Read more on Google redesigns homepage twice in as many days – is Google Me here?…

Today could see the launch of Facebook Places

Facebook will today announce the addition of a series of new features on its website, which are thought to include a Foursquare-style ‘places’ function that can be integrated into third-part applications. This is going to be big.

Read more on Today could see the launch of Facebook Places…

As MySpace haemorrhages money – can News Corp turn its social networking strategy around?

Ahead of a relaunch of MySpace, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has announced that its Digital Media Group, which houses the social network, haemorrhaged $174m (£109.5m) in the fourth quarter of its 2009 fiscal year, which brought the division’s full-year operating loss to $575m. Read more on As MySpace haemorrhages money – can News Corp turn its social networking strategy around?…

Would you pay to use Twitter? Some say they would

Revered American film critic Roger Ebert asked his 196,838 followers if they would be willing to pay to use Twitter — 20% of them said that they would cough up for the privilege as the debate about how will Twitter make money continues. Read more on Would you pay to use Twitter? Some say they would…

Facebook irritates US consumers more than the IRS

We all know that social media’s image has been tainted by issues such as personal data abuse, intrusive display advertising, and plagues of unsolicited demands from ‘friends’ to join mafia or pirate clans; but issues such as these have so irritated US consumers that they have rated Facebook as more annoying than many airlines, cable firms and even the IRS, according to research.

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People ARE subscribing to Times Online

The Times Online has lost two-thirds of its audience since putting up its paywall, according to Hitwise data – a figure that doesn’t tally with the doom-laden predictions of recent weeks. Read more on People ARE subscribing to Times Online…

Spotify promotes new British synth band Monarchy in image-recognition campaign

Fans of UK 80s-style synth duo Monarchy can access an exclusive track using an iPhone’s image-recognition technology, ahead of the single’s official release on 30 August, thanks to a deal with music streaming website Spotify. Read more on Spotify promotes new British synth band Monarchy in image-recognition campaign…

Treasury website invites comments from morons. Question: Does crowdsourcing work?

Does crowdsourcing work? is the question posed by a blogger on the Guardian’s Comment Is Free site after a government website asked the electorate to post their views on spending cuts and was barraged with offensive and cretinous comments. Read more on Treasury website invites comments from morons. Question: Does crowdsourcing work?…

Microsoft announces tablet launch and world yawns

Microsoft's Steve Baller with a HP Slate; Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer has announced that consumers can expect to see a raft of Microsoft tablets and smart devices launched into the Apple-dominated tablet market, a range of products that even the hyperactive CEO described as just “quite impressive”. Read more on Microsoft announces tablet launch and world yawns…