Tech 2.0 for Thursday, March 7, 2013
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled a new look for the social network's News Feed, the place where its 1 billion users congregate to see what's happening with their friends, family and favorite businesses. The makeover will carve out more space to show the billions of photos and videos that are being posted on Facebook each month. The redesign, which began rolling out Thursday, also ushers in more ways for users to control the types of posts that appear in their feeds. Zuckerberg says he wants the News Feed to become more like a digital newspaper filled with compelling information tailored for each user. The changes are Facebook's attempt to learn more about its users and keep people coming back so the company can sell more advertising.
The European Union says Microsoft has failed to keep its promise -- and will have to pay for it. The EU's executive arm has hit the software maker with a levy of $733 million dollars -- because it didn't follow through on a pledge to offer personal computer users a choice of Internet browsers when they install the Windows operating system. The promise was made as part of a 2009 settlement with the EU to resolve differences over Microsoft's abuse of the dominance of Windows. The penalty imposed is a first -- because before now, no company has ever failed to hold up their end of a bargain with EU authorities. An EU official says the fine is stiff -- because the European Commission wants to make sure no company will ever think of ignoring an agreement with the EU again.
First it was the Big Gulp. Now, New York City officials are trying to tackle the big noise. The city is planning a social media and marketing campaign to get music lovers to crank down the volume on their headphones or ear buds. Health officials say listening to personal music players like iPods at such loudness can cause hearing loss. The ads the city has done to tackle public health problems like smoking and drinking soda have been anything but subtle. Anti-smoking ads show graphic images of people hurt by smoking -- like a woman who needs an artificial voice box to speak and another ad featuring a close-up of a smoker's toes, infected with gangrene.
It's a different way to get kids programs from Amazon.com. Instead of buying them on the site, you can watch them. The online seller says it will make a test pilot for the show "Sara Solves It" -- an animated math mystery. It's the sixth pilot aimed at kids by Amazon Studios. The studio arrangement was launched in 2010 -- and will begin showing the pilots this spring. Amazon also has comedy pilots and movies in the works.
Facebook facelift feeds mobile appetite, may appeal to advertisers
http://t.co/Izy8TRNA12
It'll be interesting to see how the new Facebook newsfeed affects displaying ads.
http://t.co/I8WIj6lbXu
Facebook unveils "mobile first," picture-friendly newsfeed
http://t.co/mgoCOPzn7h
EU Fines Microsoft $732 Million Over 'Browser Ballot' Glitch
http://t.co/VSWyloD2Yf
Microsoft fined $731m for failing to comply with its EU 'browser ballot' commitments
http://t.co/nFLuzCiAIO
#Microsoft fined �484m for failing to promote web browsers other than Internet Explorer in EU
http://t.co/yf0OgCP5q4
LOVED @mclyte's comment on CNN tday about NYC's low HS graduation rate. Diplomas over Earbuds or else no educ = no/low pay = can't buy buds
In Case You Missed It: #NYC Now Targeting Teens & Their Too-Loud Headphones
http://t.co/f4BfQ7poPb
RT @chacal_lachaise: What Will Mike Bloomberg Ban Next? - Earbuds. He's not a fan.
http://t.co/Ujb8ep3uwI
