Sep. 23, 2010 at 4:13 p.m.
Filed under:
Technology,
Updated
By Reuters
Facebook, the world’s No. 1 Internet social network, experienced technical difficulties Thursday that made its website slow or inaccessible to some of its 500 million users. Get the full story »
By Wailin Wong
Motorola Inc. said Thursday it has acquired a company that develops location-based software for smartphone devices.
Terms of the deal with Aloqa GmbH, which has offices in Munich, Germany and Palo Alto, Calif., were not disclosed. Aloqa makes a mobile phone application that delivers content to a device based on where its owner is located. A person might receive discounts on local businesses or information about nearby events, Motorola said. Get the full story »
Sep. 9, 2010 at 8:02 a.m.
Filed under:
Autos,
Computers,
Internet,
Software
By Associated Press
General Motors Co. is testing software that would let drivers talk to their cars to update status messages on the Facebook social media Web site, as well as listen to Facebook messages, the company said Wednesday. Get the full story »
Aug. 31, 2010 at 1:01 p.m.
Filed under:
Internet,
Litigation,
Privacy issues,
Technology
By Reuters
Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg says a lawsuit by a man who claims to own a huge chunk of the popular social networking site is seeking to uncover needless details about his private life.
Zuckerberg is fighting a civil lawsuit filed by Paul Ceglia, who claims an 84 percent stake in the privately held company, believed to be worth several billion dollars. Get the full story »
Aug. 30, 2010 at 3:17 p.m.
Filed under:
Internet,
Technology
By Associated Press
MySpace, which recently revamped itself to look more like Facebook, is now allowing users to sync their posts to Facebook, too. That means people on Facebook can see their friends’ MySpace items without leaving Facebook. Get the full story »
Aug. 27, 2010 at 11:42 a.m.
Filed under:
Litigation,
Technology
By CNN
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Facebook, which has gone after sites with the word “book” in their names, is also trying to trademark the word “face,” according to court documents.
But the social networking site has met with a familiar foe. As TechCrunch first reported, Aaron Greenspan has asked for an extension of time to file an opposition to Facebook’s attempt. Greenspan is the president and CEO of Think Computer, the developer of a mobile payments app called FaceCash.
Greenspan, also a former Harvard classmate of Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, claimed he had a hand in developing the social networking giant. The case was settled last year. Get the full story »
Aug. 25, 2010 at 2:39 p.m.
Filed under:
Internet,
Litigation,
Technology,
Updated
By Wailin Wong
Facebook employees write on the Facebook "wall" following a news conference at Facebook's headquarters, August 18, 2010. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Teachbook.com has two employees and fewer than 20 users signed up for its free Web community. The site has yet to officially launch.
But the Northbrook, Ill.-based company, which provides tools for teachers to manage their classrooms and share lesson plans and other resources, has been thrust into the spotlight by social networking giant Facebook, which sued the start-up for using “book” in its name.
“We’ve been sitting here scratching our heads for the last couple of days,” Teachbook’s managing director, Greg Shrader, told the Tribune on Wednesday. “We’re trying to understand how Facebook, a multibillion-dollar company, feels this small enterprise in Chicago is any type of threat.” Get the full story »
Aug. 25, 2010 at 7:27 a.m.
Filed under:
Internet,
Trade
By Associated Press
Germany’s government is planning a new law to protect employees’ privacy, including making it illegal for employers to check on job candidates’ private Facebook postings. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Wednesday the law would make it illegal for future bosses to ask applicants to become their Facebook friend in order to check out details they would otherwise keep private. Get the full story »
Aug. 19, 2010 at 9:28 a.m.
Filed under:
Technology
By Associated Press
Facebook users carrying their smart phones will soon be able to “check in” to real-world locations such as bars, parks and live concerts as the social network makes its first foray into the location services craze.
With the much-anticipated launch of Facebook Places late Wednesday, the world’s largest social network joins a growing number of services that let users find coupons, earn quirky merit badges or simply share with friends where they are.
Aug. 13, 2010 at 8:02 a.m.
Filed under:
Airlines,
Tourism,
Travel
By Associated Press
Delta Air Lines Inc. said Thursday it’s launched a new “Ticket Window” on Facebook that will allow passengers to book directly on the social media site.
It’s the first time an airline has allowed customers to reserve flights on Facebook, although nearly all major U.S. airlines use Facebook and Twitter to promote sales. Get the full story »
Aug. 11, 2010 at 5:33 p.m.
Filed under:
Design,
Internet
By Associated Press
The once-dominant social network MySpace is revamping its home page. It’s looking a little more like its more popular and populous rival, Facebook, even as it attempts to set itself apart.
In simplifying its user home page, MySpace is making users’ stream wider and more prominent. The stream is the constantly updated flow of status updates and shared content, much like the news feed that is front and center in Facebook. Get the full story »
From The New York Times | Vonage has introduced two apps that allow you to make free phone calls to your Facebook friends nationally and internationally. The apps, called Vonage Mobile for Facebook, are available free for the iPhone and Android phones.
July 21, 2010 at 12:55 p.m.
Filed under:
Internet,
Technology
By Wailin Wong
Facebook said today it has hit 500 million members, a milestone that had been anticipated by the social media industry for months. Get the full story »
July 20, 2010 at 10:50 a.m.
Filed under:
Consumer news,
Internet,
Technology
From The Wall Street Journal | The American Customer Satisfaction Index, developed by the University of Michigan’s Business School, reported that Facebook has one of the lowest scores in its regular survey of consumer satisfaction with companies. Facebook scored in the bottom 5 percent of all private sector companies, in the same range as the IRS tax e-filing system, airlines and cable companies. Among social websites, Wikipedia led the survey with a 77, followed by YouTube at 73.
July 13, 2010 at 2:08 p.m.
Filed under:
Consumer news,
Internet,
Litigation
From CNN | Facebook is fending off a New York restraining order temporarily preventing it from transferring or selling any of its assets.
The order stems from a case filed in late June in New York’s Allegany County state court by Paul Ceglia, a local resident who claims that in 2003 he paid Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg $1,000 to build a Web site “designed to offer the students of Harvard university access to a wesite (sic) similar to a live functioning yearbook with the working title of ‘The Face Book.’ ” Get the full story »
