Posted by Debby Penton on May 09, 2013
If you’re reading this blog it’s a safe bet that you belong to a social network or two – probably more these days. Facebook paved the way for a whole host of online communities that followed. But many of us are looking for something more from our online networking and, if reports are to be believed, people are abandoning Facebook in droves (although we don’t think Facebook will be disappearing any time soon). So as we mature in the way we use social networks and what we demand of them, what’s the future likely to bring to social networking?
These days just because someone launches a social network, doesn’t mean they have designs on being the next Facebook (well, maybe in their deepest desires). What they are increasingly tapping into is the trend towards niche social networks. These could be online communities that focus on a particular feature, as Instagram does with photo sharing and slide.ly does with sharing music and photos, or social networks that cater for a specific group of people, united by common interests, beliefs or demographics.…
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Posted by Andrew Hill on Apr 04, 2013
Bitcoin, noun
- A decentralised digital currency.
- We do not accept bitcoin at this store.
- A unit of the bitcoin digital currency.
- This item costs one bitcoin.
With Bitcoin gaining ever more column inches – including a very respectable double page spread in today’s Guardian – more and more people are trying to get involved with the futuristic currency that has been heralded as everything from a replacement of the modern banking system, to the drug dealer’s best friend. Most criticism of it has focused on issues with hacking, however I’d argue this unfairly criticises Bitcoin for an issue it doesn’t create – is it fair to say money doesn’t work because people steal from banks? – and unfairly ignores the other issues people have with the currency.
Where to start?
As recent articles in the press have shown, it’s easy to explain to ‘the masses’ the idea behind Bitcoin, but less simple to explain how it works, what advantages it offers and how to get involved in the market.…
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Posted by Darren Willsher on Jan 09, 2013
Yesterday Ofcom released ‘The Consumer Experience 2012,’ its annual report into the consumer experience of the fixed and mobile, internet and digital broadcasting markets.
The link to the full report is here – it’s over 140 pages so not light reading. The good news is that we’ve read it so you don’t have to. Well, most of it, we do have social lives you know.
The report covers a surprisingly broad range of areas, for instance did you know that to complain about the postal service you go to Ofcom? Me neither (HT @nifs).
Some of the conclusions won’t come as a surprise – that mobile data is still on the rise along with smartphone ownership and that email is replacing posted mail for example, but the report is well worth a read and does go into a good amount of detail in each of the areas it covers.
Here are some of the highlights we’ve picked out:
- Good news for VoIP companies, 78% are now aware of the services and just under three in ten now claiming to use them.
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Posted by Alex Perryman on Aug 03, 2012
The eagle-eyed amongst you can’t have failed to notice that Tweetdeck, the old incumbent Twitter client so widely used by social media professionals, has just received a welcome injection of competition from a brand new client called Tweetbot.
Frankly, at this stage, I’d welcome seeing the two duke it out in some kind of self-improving Twitter-client Battle Royale.
Currently in Alpha, and available for free download, it’s pretty clear where Tweetbot gets its inspiration from: Its older competitor.
Tweetdeck, once the best Twitter client for busy social media professionals, clearly decided at some point that all this ‘being useful’ lark was a bit unfashionable, and has spent the last couple of years shooting itself in the foot, ignoring its users suggestions, and has generally shown signs of becoming one enormous fudge-factory.
Tweetdeck was already known to be the memory-resident equivalent of trying to store GTA4 on a pocket calculator: Run Tweetdeck, and everything else suffered.…
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Posted by Richard Lambert on Mar 27, 2012
“Imagine if you can Richard Littlejohn’s worst nightmare…” read the headline in The Guardian’s focus on its inaugural Open Weekend. And it’s hard to think of a publication more likely to throw open its doors to friends and foes alike for a weekend of festivities.
The publication has of course taken a leading stance in the recent push for ‘open journalism’, promoting new ideas such as opening up its editorial schedule to readers.
The weekend was a true representation of everything the publication stands for today, with people of all ages creating an excited buzz in the packed foyer and corridors of London’s King’s Place.
Writing with the left hand?
My main interest was in the “Writing with the left hand” session.
Led by Stephen Moss, the discussion explored a variety of issues facing journalism, but took a particular look at the impact of technology on the profession, both now and in the future.…
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If you’re reading this blog it’s a safe bet that you belong to a social network or two – probably more these days. Facebook paved the way for a whole host of online communities that followed. But many of us are looking for something more from our online networking and, if reports are to be believed, people are abandoning Facebook in droves (although we don’t think Facebook will be disappearing any time soon). So as we mature in the way we use social networks and what we demand of them, what’s the future likely to bring to social networking?
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