Google Settles Buzz Privacy Lawsuit for $8.5 Million

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Mashable

Google has agreed to pay a hefty sum to make a class action lawsuit concerning Google Buzz disappear — $8.5 million, to be exact.

The lawsuit dates back to February, when lawyers filed a class action complaint against Google on behalf of Eva Hibnick, a 24-year-old Florida resident and Harvard Law… read more

Better Manage Your Small Business’s Social Media Presence [APPS]

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Mashable

This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Sprout Social

Quick Pitch: Sprout Social delivers comprehensive tools that… read more

A World Without E-mail: One Man’s Vision of a Social Workplace

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Mashable

Luis Suarez has a dream, and it’s one that many of us with our overloaded inboxes could well buy in to — a world without e-mail.

In fact, it could be argued that Suarez is living the dream. In less than three years, he’s been able to reduce 90% of… read more

Poll: Average Project Time

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter

Over the past few months, I’ve been finding all types of new and exciting clients, with new and exciting projects.  One of the things that I’ve noticed is the variety of projects that are out there.  From quick projects – “The easiest $50 you’ll ever make” – to longer term… read more

Categories: Freelance
Tags: ,

How to Become a Pro Photographer: Part 2 – Getting Started

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Digital Photography School

Image by Romain Guy

Getting started

Once you have the intention and the funds (see Part 1 of Becoming a Pro Photographer) in place it’s time to consider the legality, rules and regulations and all the red tape of what you need to do. In the UK the government provide a range… read more

Social Media Grammar: The “Checkin” Conundrum

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Mashable

Alanna Francis is a SEO Specialist and Grammar Enthusiast at the website design company Blue Fountain Media, where she specializes in e-commerce marketing. She writes for the company’s web design and SEO trends blog and you can follow her on Twitter @AlannaFrancis.

We’re thrilled that the Associated Press has recently released… read more

A Beginner’s Guide to Facebook Insights

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Mashable

Ekaterina Walter is a social media strategist at Intel. She is a part of Intel’s Social Media Center of Excellence and is responsible for company-wide social media enablement and corporate social networking strategy.

You have created a Facebook Fan Page. Now what? I bet these questions come to mind: “Is my… read more

Ask FreelanceSwitch #18: Job Estimating Tips, Pricing Quotes

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Freelanceswitch

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, Travis King and Thursday Bram look at estimating and how to start charging for your work.

Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered,… read more

80+ Latest and Inspirational Single Page Website Designs

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
InstantShift

As you’ve already seen in our previous posts about Single Page Website Designs that showcasing your work in single page design is a hot trend now days. It’s kind of ironic to see what designers can do with single pages as modern age designers love to experiment with things and… read more

Sites of the Week #118 – Ronin Giveaway Winners

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Abduzeedo

For this Sites of the Week, we’re announcing the winners for the Ronin giveaway, check it out below! Also we have selected some great sites such as Quipsologies and Relogik. As usual we would love to hear from you, keep sending your suggestions to us and we will be more… read more

In-Depth Review of Tumblr’s Custom Theming Ability

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Web Designer Depot

Tumblr. If you’re a savvy tech maven, you may have heard of, or had the chance to use, this powerful microblogging platform.

No wonder; millions of people have chosen Tumblr as their blogging service, and the average Tumblr user creates 14 original posts every month. Half of … read more

50 Fresh and Beautiful Ecommerce Websites II

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Specky Boy

Well-designed ecommerce and shopping cart websites are regularly referred to for web design inspiration by creative and experienced web developers. They are also being featured on various CSS website galleries, and in fact there are more than a few gallery sites that are solely dedicated showcasing beautiful and standards compliant… read more

Web Design Checkmate: Using Chess For Success in Web Design

September 3rd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Smashing Magazine

The business of building websites is one of constant change, adaptation and strategy. The way designers and developers build websites is often informed by the methods of others and their own trial and error. In light of this, we can draw a number of parallels — some philosophical, to a… read more

New York’s Newest Law Aims to Protect Online Daters

September 2nd, 2010
New Link Twitter
Mashable

It’s something you’d expect to hear from your mother, not your government, but New York’s newest laws are all about exercising common sense when looking for love online.

Sounding like something between a schoolteacher and a public service announcement, the Internet safety act will require online dating websites to warn their… read more

Excellent Mockup And Wireframing (9) Web Apps Which You Would Love To Know

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Smashing Apps

A wireframe or mockup tool is a must have tool for every web designer and developer. These tools have their importance in web designing and development world. It is good to use them because it saves your time and efforts, a mockup or wireframe can give you the whole idea… read more

RIP Meme: The Double Rainbow Guy Sells Out to Microsoft

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter

We were enamored of your childlike delight. We reveled in the remixes. But now, Double Rainbow Guy, we are less than amused. What’s the sure-fire way to kill a viral video? Festoon it with dollar signs.

Yup, the above video is a commercial for Windows Live Photo Gallery, and yup, the… read more

Goal Planning: Is There Life After Freelance?

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Freelanceswitch

A goal without a plan is just a wish. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

You might have noticed it already, but I really enjoy living the freelance life.  The freedom and the flexibility that I now have allows me to look at things differently.  I may not have the security that comes from… read more

Categories: Freelance

8 Funding Contests to Kick Start Your Big Idea

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

This post originally appeared on Dyn.com, a world leader in managed DNS, powering the best brands on the web including Gowalla, Mashable, Twitter, Wikia and more. Follow @DynInc on Twitter.

Taking a business from idea to reality involves a good deal of attrition, ingenuity, and compromise. But no matter how much… read more

How Social Data Built a Better Health Care App

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Alexander B. Howard is the Government 2.0 Washington Correspondent for O’Reilly Media, where he reports on technology, open government and online civics. He’ll be reporting live from the upcoming Gov2.0 Summit in Washington, D.C., on September 7-8.

Every year, poison control centers get more than one million calls for pill identification…. read more

On the Concept of Process

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter

I’m going to start this discussion of by revealing a secret about my own design work: I don’t have a process. At least, I don’t have a rock solid, time tested step by step formula that I follow for all my projects. That’s not to say that I shoot from… read more

WorkingPoint Manages Business Transactions Efficiently

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Smashing Apps

Running a business today is not as straightforward as it once used to be. This is primarily because one needs to maintain records of every transaction that has occurred. Because there are many transaction and of different types, organizing and managing them becomes difficult. To help business owners in this… read more

Categories: Freelance
Tags: ,

Ambitious Online Banking Alternative Scores $2.9 Million in Series A

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Banksimple has just raised $2.9 million in a Series A round to fund their ambitious alternative online banking startup for full-service, fee-free banking. The round includes investments from First Round Capital, IA Ventures and Village Ventures, a collection of industry veterans with extensive startup portfolios.

Banksimple’s mission is to reinvent the… read more

Announcing MashBash BlogWorld: Win a Free Pass [CONTEST]

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Mashable is excited to announce MashBash BlogWorld, the opening party for this year’s BlogWorld & New Media Expo in Las Vegas on October 15-16. To kick off the Expo, we’ll be hosting the first night’s official party at Haze at Aria Hotel.

We would love for you to join us, so… read more

15 Essential Back to School Podcasts

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Alexander Hotz is a freelance multimedia journalist and public radio junkie based in New York City. Currently he teaches digital media at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Follow Alex on Twitter at @hotzington.

With another long hot American summer coming to a close, many students are scrambling to get back… read more

Google to Power AOL Search for the Next 5 Years

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Google and AOL have signed a deal that extends the search and advertising partnership between the two companies for another five years. The agreement also includes mobile search and adds a content sharing partnership with YouTube.

In a statement, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong said that, “After nearly a… read more

Showcase Of Appetizing Restaurant Websites

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Smashing Magazine

They say the first bite is taken with the eye. If so, these appetizing restaurant websites succeed in whetting our appetites, inviting us to a savoury next bite. In these designs, color scheme and introductory copy show vastly different aspects of the restaurant experience. Moody warm tones create atmosphere, vibrant… read more

Keeping Clients: Ongoing Clients & Agency Work

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Freelanceswitch

By definition, the word “freelancer” implies that you are self-employed take on several projects from multiple parties. Many freelancers find this sort of a glamorous life, but in a sense I have to argue against it. In fact, there’s not too much that is desirable about scraping for food. And… read more

Working For A Web Design Agency

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Web Designer Depot

The most obvious job for a web designer is working for a web design agency, but if you’ve never done that before… then how do you know what to expect? Is it even the right path for you?

Setting foot in an agency for the first time can be daunting. It’s… read more

Competition Responds to Apple TV and Ping

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Apple made a lot of announcements today, from the new Apple TV to the Ping social network for music built into iTunes 10.

Because Apple is entering some new market segments (or, in the case of Ping, some new markets, period) Apple is now a direct competitor to a number of… read more

20 Useful Free PDF ebooks for Designers and Bloggers

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Specky Boy

Over the years I have a saved a decent sized library of useful design and blogging related PDF ebooks, I love them. I have voraciously collected them, and all stored on my mobile for whenever the chance of quick read arises. In this post I would like to share my… read more

Working on Your Business, Not Just in It

September 2nd, 2010
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Working on Your Business, Not Just in It

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Categories: Freelance

A Facebook-Based Online Store Just for Students

September 2nd, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Kembrel

Quick Pitch: A private store for students that can… read more

Secure Your Data in the Cloud with CloudSafe

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Web App Storm

Everything’s stored online nowadays. Contact information, bank details and even your files. But just how secure are those backups?

CloudSafe helps to secure online files by the use of heavy encryption. In this article, I’m going to be showing you how to set up a virtual safe where you can store… read more

QR Codes Help Consumers Shop for Wine

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Selecting the right wine for every occasion is a form of art most of us only pretend to understand. That’s why Lion Nathan Wine Group, a wine owner and importer, has put QR codes on wine bottles to help everyday wine buyers make better selections.

Cellar Key, a joint initiative between… read more

HOW TO: Follow the US Open with Social Media

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

It’s US Open time in New York, which means tennis fever has officially hit the city that never sleeps. As the final major tournament in professional tennis, the US Open always draws a healthy audience, nationally and abroad.

Maybe you’ve been waiting for the US Open tennis tournament since Wimbledon ended… read more

Review: Toodledo Task Manager

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Freelanceswitch

First, let me share a little secret with you.  I am a master procrastinator.  I always manage to get the job done, and often to the best of my abilities, but if I don’t have that looming deadline, sometimes time slips through my fingers.  I blame YouTube, Twitter, FreelanceSwitch, WorkAwesome,… read more

We’re Hiring! 50+ Job Vacancies in Social Media, Web Design, and More

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

If you’re seeking a job in social media, we’d like to help out. For starters, Mashable’s Job Lists section gathers together all of our resource lists, how-tos and expert guides to help you get hired. In particular, you might want to see our articles on How to Leverage… read more

Target to Sell Facebook Credits as Gift Cards in Stores

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Target will be the first retailer to sell Facebook Credits in its stores come Sunday. The Facebook Credits gift cards will be available in $15, $25 and $50 denominations at all 1,750 Target locations and at Target.com.

The cards will soon make their way to two or three additional national retailers,… read more

Thank You Our Valued Sponsors For Being With Us In The Month Of August

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Smashing Apps

This is a post in which we want to say a big Thank You to the SmashingApps’ fastest growing community for regularly visiting our blog. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and be the one… read more

Salesforce and Jigsaw Help Keep Business Data Up-to-Date in Real-Time

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Enterprise cloud computing company Salesforce.com is introducing the newest component to its platform, Jigsaw for Salesforce CRM.

Jigsaw for Salesforce integrates the Salesforce CRM and Salesforce Chatter experience with Jigsaw’s crowdsourced business data service. Salesforce acquired Jigsaw in April; this is one of the first big developments from that acquisition.

read more

4 Tips for Writing SEO-Friendly Blog Posts

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

In addition to writing for their human readers, web writers and bloggers have to consider the digital web crawlers employed by search engines like Google. Your business… read more

FashionStake Shifts Fashion Industry Power to the Consumer

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Put this on your startups-to-watch list: FashionStake, a New York City-based company that allows consumers to buy a “stake” in a designer’s collection in exchange for varying degrees of perks and privileges, such as pre-order discounts and runway show tickets, has launched just ahead of New York Fashion Week.

The startup,… read more

Creative Bookmarks: Best of August 2010

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Tutorial9

August was another awesome month with great tutorials and articles oozing from everywhere. Here’s Creative Bookmarks August!

Quick Nav:

Photoshop TutorialsIllustrator TutorialsWeb/Blogging TutorialsFreebies, Inspiration, & ResourcesPhotoshop TutorialsHow To Create The Expendables Winged Skull Poster Art

In this tutorial, by Chris Spooner, you’ll learn how to re-create the sinister and gun-crazy poster for the… read more

How to Become a Pro Photographer: Part 1

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Digital Photography School

Image by Romain Guy

As lovers of photography – we can all admit to dreaming of chucking in the day job and setting up shop as a professional photographer, but for many of us it can remain just that – a dream. But for those with the talent, support system and… read more

Mactracker: Find Out Everything About Any Mac

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mac App Storm

Have you ever tried to hunt down technical information about your Mac? This can be quite the daunting task to someone who isn’t particularly familiar with Macs. But fear not, whether you own a brand new MacPro or a 1997 Apple Quicktake 200, today’s app will tell you everything you… read more

10 Requirements for Working with Clients in Other Countries

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Freelanceswitch

Freelancers are given the opportunity to work for either clients within their respective areas or clients coming from abroad. Personally, as a freelancer living in Asia, I’ve worked only with clients who run their businesses a hundred miles away such as those in the US, the UK, and Australia…. read more

Top Articles On The Web Design Billboard In August’10

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
InstantShift

A perfect layout, A Good Design and Nice Resource can produce a creative output. Layout, textures, typography and patterns are used more often than one may think but the outcome of different combination can result verity of excellent designs. Professionalism is built upon knowledge and experience. However, When it comes… read more

Gowalla Feature Defines Place Popularity by Experience, Not Checkins

September 1st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Travelers and city adventurers looking for a better way to harness geolocation data for their own amusement, get ready: Gowalla is releasing a brand new beta feature designed to crowdsource the best a city has to offer.

Gowalla Highlights is a web-based product that currently consists of 18 place-based questions that… read more

How To Create An Effective Banner Ad Marketing Campaign: Part Two

September 1st, 2010
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How To Create An Effective Banner Ad Marketing Campaign: Part Two

read more

Categories: Freelance

Business Writing for the Web: 27 Ways to Write Better

September 1st, 2010
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Business Writing for the Web: 27 Ways to Write Better

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Categories: Freelance

Facebook’s Latest Patent Targets Search Behaviors

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Serving up search results based on what your friends clicked: It’s been a hot topic lately, and one that Facebook has seen fit to claim as its own.

The social networking goliath has just won a patent covering a certain type of search algorithm, one that is largely based on the… read more

The Death of the Print-Only Freelance Designer

August 31st, 2010
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The Death of the Print-Only Freelance Designer

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Japanese Resort Caters to Men with Virtual Girlfriends

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

File this one under “only in Japan”: A beach town near Tokyo has begun catering to a specific segment of young men, ones who play the game Love Plus and have a strong desire to take their virtual “girlfriends” from this game on a romantic holiday in the real world.

Love… read more

Digg Crowns Former Amazon Exec New CEO

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Digg has confirmed that it has hired Matt Williams from Amazon to replace Kevin Rose as CEO. Rose says that he will “remain actively involved in the product” but is handing over “day-to-day running of the business” to Williams.

This news comes five months after Rose announced former CEO Jay… read more

Recovering lost or deleted files – Backing Up & Saving Your Images: Part 4

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Digital Photography School

This post is the final part in our Backing Up and Saving Your Images series. See previous posts on Backing up and Saving Your Images – External Hard Drives – Online Storage Sites and Software Solutions.

That crushing, sickening and agonising feeling of realising your memory card has corrupted or for… read more

Legal Agreements: Do You CYA?

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Freelanceswitch

As a freelancer, it’s sometimes easy to do a deal on a virtual handshake and feel confident that you know exactly what your client wants.  Usually, this is because they told you exactly what they “think” they want – but that’s a post for another day.  For the most part,… read more

Categories: Freelance

Real-Time Analytics Provider Chartbeat Raises $3M from All-Star Investors

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Boasting a star-studded roster of investors, New York-based startup Chartbeat has raised a $3 million Series A.

The cash infusion is led by Index Ventures and rounded out by the likes of Ron Conway, Jeff Clavier, Jason Calacanis, Chris Sacca’s Lowercase Capital and Betaworks.

Betaworks is the NYC-based startup incubator and investment… read more

40 Tutorials and Techniques for Creating Business Logos

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
YouTheDesigner

A logo alludes to its company’s identity in its appearance and visual impact; that’s how it starts branding. Seeing how important it is, we designers must not underestimate the potential of this simple graphic, and instead hone our skills as much as possible in creating and polishing logos,… read more

Social Network Unites Writers and Fans of Short Fiction [INVITES]

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Fictionaut

Quick Pitch: A social network for writers that doubles… read more

HOW TO: Incorporate Your Startup at the Right Time

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Nellie Akalp is the CEO & Co-Founder of CorpNet, her second incorporation filing service company based on the simple philosophy of truth in business and her strong passion to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs. Follow her on Twitter @corpnet and Facebook.

Now that we’re nearing the home stretch of… read more

Win a Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen or a PrintedPiece Premium Account!

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
DesignM.ag

PrintedPiece is doing a huge giveaway of 10 Premium Accounts and 1 Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen!

Company Proile

Printed Piece is a website where you can find print design inspiration from everything from corporate identity, collateral, apparel, posters, banners, logos, brochures, postcards, mugs, mouse pads, stickers, and much, much more!… read more

Loopt Checkins Can Get You Two-for-One Tickets to Mexico on Virgin America

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Social-media savvy airline Virgin America, which used Twitter to announce its expansion to Toronto, is making use of location-based rewards network Loopt Star to draw attention to its next international expansion: Mexico.

Virgin America will be running non-stop flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Cabo (SJD) and from Los Angeles… read more

Morning Brief: Gmail and Hotmail Upgraded, Blogger Gets Real-Time Stats

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

This series is brought to you by HTC EVO 4G, America’s first 4G phone. Only from Sprint. The “First to Know” series keeps you in the know on what’s happening now in the world of social media and technology.

Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in… read more

What My Law Career Taught Me about Freelance Writing

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Freelanceswitch

When I was a practicing corporate lawyer and dreamed of getting into freelance writing, I didn’t think that the two worlds had much in common. Sure, I knew that both jobs required a good deal of reading, researching and writing. But apart from that fundamental skill set, I imagined… read more

Best of the Vector Web – August 2010

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Vector Tuts

As you know, each month, we search the web for the best vector-related content and showcase it here for you all to enjoy. This month, we found some really great tutorials on vector character design, creating charts in Illustrator, and vector skulls among others. We’ve also expanded this month’s offering…. read more

Appbistro: Supermarket for Facebook Apps

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Web App Storm

Just like Android apps, Facebook apps are growing exponentially in number. But just like the Android platform, Facebook app platform is also bogged down by the lack of a great centralized repository from where people can find, read about & install apps and comment on the usefulness apps as well.

Enter… read more

Digital Coupon Clipping Comes to the iPad Via CardStar

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Today, a Verizon-backed startup is releasing its iPad application and introducing a new functionality — digital coupon clipping.

CardStar makes mobile applications to digitally manage retailer club and membership cards. CardStar for iPad doubles as a personalized, digital circular for coupons. The app lets users discover coupons relevant to each of… read more

How to Make an Internet Web Page

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Web Designer Depot

Do you browse the internet often? Are you amazed at how many internet web pages there are in the world today? Don’t you wish you could get a piece of that action?

You’re probably thinking that in order to build an internet web page, you have to… read more

Gmail Priority Inbox: 5 Tips for Better Productivity

August 31st, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

With the launch of Priority Inbox, a radical new way to sort mail, Google has hugely changed the way you can process and manage email. As Gmail Product Director Keith Coleman says, “Once you go priority, you never go back.”

The set-it-and-forget-it solution has actually existed in various states of completion… read more

Hell Freezes Over: AutoCAD Returns to Mac

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

After an 18-year absence, AutoCAD is finally coming back to Mac OS X. Autodesk, the company that makes the CAD program that has become he defacto industry standard, last released a native Mac version of its flagship product in 1992.

Not only is AutoCAD coming back to Mac OS X, Autodesk… read more

Super Stylish Posters by Protesto

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Abduzeedo

There are all kinds of posters out there. B movies posters, gigs posters, and many others… and I truly dig a good poster design. Yesterday one of our readers, @henriquepetarli, suggested the work of Protesto.

<!–break–>

Protesto is the Brazilian designer Michel Diniz de Carvalho, who’s been living in Norway doing some… read more

Skype Tries Its Hand at VoIP for Business

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Skype has formally announced its newest product for business users, Skype Connect.

Skype Connect, formally Skype SIP, is Skype’s play at the IP-enabled PBX and Unified Communications (UC) market. With Skype Connect, businesses can now integrate the service into their existing PBX systems.

In addition to making outgoing calls at Skype rates… read more

3 Winning Alternatives to Online Sweepstakes

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Meaghan Edelstein has gained national media attention through her blog, I Kicked Cancer’s Ass, which she started to document her battle with end stage cancer. She is an attorney, the founder of the non-profit organization Spirit Jump, and works for the Real Time Marketing Group.

For some time now, companies have… read more

Bing for Android Has Arrived… for Verizon Only

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Bing has made its debut on Android, but you can only download the app if you’re a Verizon customer.

The new app doesn’t skimp on bringing the full Bing experience to Android. Not only can users search the web with the Bing app, but they can also browse search results… read more

Know When to Stop Talking

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Freelanceswitch

I think I experienced a new first for me in my life of freelancing.  I responded to a tweet looking for a copywriter to do some basic web copy.

I responded, and chatted with the client for a little bit, discussing his needs and my offerings.  Things were moving in the… read more

Adding Credibility Signs To Have A Profitable eCommerce Website

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Smashing Apps

With the incredible competition in the online marketplace, it has become obvious that more importance should be put on site’s credibility. Generating more leads becomes possible when customers feel comfortable and secure while shopping online with your web store. So it is highly recommended to apply the proven basics of… read more

How CEOs Will Use Social Media in the Future

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

This series is supported by Gist. Gist provides a full view of the contacts in your professional network by creating a rich business profile for each one that includes the most news, status updates, and work details. See how it works here.

Today’s CEO is not social. So says Forrester… read more

Make Your Outlook Inbox Smarter with Meshin [INVITES]

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Meshin

Quick Pitch: Meshin is an Outlook sidebar that organizes… read more

Arcade Fire’s Experimental New Video Shows What’s Possible with HTML5

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Watch out MTV, the music video has just got a new gold standard. Indie band Arcade Fire has released a vid for the song “We Used to Wait” off of their new album, The Suburbs, and it’s basically one big ball of HTML5/Google Maps/musical goodness.

The video was announced today on… read more

Google and Associated Press Make Content Licensing Deal

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Google has inked a deal with the Associated Press to keep the news organization’s content on Google News, an issue that was very much in doubt for a time earlier this year when the news aggregator stopped posting AP content as the two sides worked on a new deal.

In a… read more

HOW TO: Respond when Social Media Attacks Your Brand

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

For all the praise that brand advertisers have for social media, they must be aware that it’s very much a double-edged sword. And for all the free… read more

An Interview With Professional Nature Photographer Jon Cornforth

August 30th, 2010
Link Twitter
Digital Photography School

I was blown away the first time I saw Jon Cornforth’s images.  Even more so because many of the images were taken in my native Washington State.  While we have many talented photographers in our fine state, I was also impressed with how personable Jon was on Twitter and… read more

The Next “Oxford English Dictionary” Could Be Online-Only

August 30th, 2010
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Mashable

Bad news for everyone out there who was eager to hold the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (that exceedingly portable 20-volume set of wordy goodness): Thanks to the rise of the Internet, the next OED will probably be online-only.

Granted, OED3 is still about a decade in the making… read more

Writing and Web Design: Editorial Calendars and Style Guides

August 30th, 2010
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Smashing Magazine

A few years ago, you might not have pointed out during a meeting with a potential client that you maintained a blog. Over time, though, blogs have evolved from the being a personal hobby to a serious work tool. In fact, today, web designers are supposed to know much more… read more

Promoting Yourself To… GASP!… Live People!

August 30th, 2010
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Noupe

By Speider Schneider

A friend of mine started an organization named “Creative Connect,” a twice a month get-together for anyone in the creative field. He said it was to, “get people away from their computers and to get them talking at least twice a month.” Mostly designers, programmers, illustrators and photographers… read more

Unique Business Cards: Showcase Of Inspirational Designs

August 30th, 2010
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Designrfix

As I try to do ever month, I am bringing you the latest in business card design.  There is never a shortage of new business cards to drool over. In this post you will see business card designs ranging from really creative and cool to very simple and… read more

Samsung Ships 1 Million Galaxy S Smartphones in the U.S.

August 30th, 2010
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Mashable

It seems that Samsung’s extensive marketing campaign for their Android-based smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S, is paying off: the company announced it has shipped one million of them in the U.S. market.

The Galaxy S is a powerful smartphone with a 1 GHz processor, 512MB of memory and a 4-inch Super AMOLED… read more

AMD Discards ATI Brand Name

August 30th, 2010
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Mashable

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has decided to kill its ATI brand name, judging that the names of its graphics chip products, such as Radeon and FirePro, in combination with the AMD brand, are familiar enough to consumers to stand on their own.

AMD had bought graphics chip manufacturer ATI for $5.4… read more

8 Free Blackberry Games Worth Downloading

August 29th, 2010
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Mashable

It has probably happened to you. You download a free BlackBerry game, full of so much hope and promise, only to discover that it was a waste of time and disk space. “At least it was free,” you tell yourself.

This is an especially common experience for BlackBerry owners. There are,… read more

Honda Takes Social Gaming for a Test Drive

August 29th, 2010
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Mashable

It’s not unusual for a large car company like Honda to advertise its newest release on a billboard — unless, of course, that billboard exists in a virtual gaming community on Facebook.

To promote the U.S. launch of its latest sport hybrid coupe, the Honda CR-Z, the company initiated a two-month… read more

Are You a Good Sport Freelancer?

August 29th, 2010
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Are You a Good Sport Freelancer?

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Categories: Freelance

Internet Killed Blockbuster. Who’s Next?

August 29th, 2010
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Dallas – The bomb blew up just a few days ago when a Los Angeles Times article reported that Blockbuster Inc., the video rental giant, is ready to file for bankruptcy.

Overwhelmed by debt and losses amounting to over $1 billion since 2008, the video rental chain is yet another… read more

iPads Now Shipping Within 24 Hours

August 29th, 2010
Link Twitter
Mashable

Apple has reduced the estimated shipping time for all six of its iPad models (Wi-Fi 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, and Wi-Fi + 3G 16GB, 32GB and 64GB) to “within 24hrs” on its online store.

Up until this weekend, Apple promised that iPads would ship within three to five business days, and… read more

50+ Web Development, SEO, Social Media and Sales Job Opportunities

August 29th, 2010
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Mashable

If you’re seeking a job in social media, we’d like to help out. For starters, Mashable’s Job Lists section gathers together all of our resource lists, how-tos and expert guides to help you get hired. In particular, you might want to see our articles on How to Leverage… read more

27 Essential Social Media Resources You May Have Missed

August 29th, 2010
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Mashable

A new Digg, a new school year, and a new weekly roundup of essential resources. In case you were too busy buying pencils and calculators for yourself or a young ‘un, we’ve pulled together our top posts from the past week or so.

Check out our updates on Digg, or our… read more

Linkswitch #33: Photo Manipulation, Investing, WordPress SEO

August 29th, 2010
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Freelanceswitch

Why I Stick to Pen and Paper for Goals and Tasks

Technology is great…but I sure do like pen and paper – as I mentioned to one of our readers who asked me what I use to keep track of things. For one thing, I remember things better… read more

Older Adults Nearly Double Social Media Presence [STATS]

August 28th, 2010
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Mashable

A new study from Pew Internet found that between April 2009 and May 2010, social networking site usage grew 88% among Internet users aged 55-64, and the 65 and older group’s social networking presence grew 100% in the same time frame.

Young people still dominate social networks like Facebook, but their… read more

Top 10 Fantasy Football Sites to Help You Win

August 28th, 2010
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Mashable

Miranda Lin recently completed an M.S. degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and now works as a freelance writer and full-time sports fan.

While the opening kickoff to the 2010 NFL season is still over 2 weeks away, die-hard fantasy fans are already hard at work crunching stats and… read more