Tech 2.0 for Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Instagram backtracks on its new policy, and says users' photos won't be used in ads. The popular photo sharing service says it'll remove language from its new terms of service that suggested users' photos could be used in ads. The new terms created a cyber storm of outrage on Tuesday, with many Twitter users vowing to cancel their Instagram accounts, complaining the new terms essentially let Instagram sell users' photos. In a blog post, the popular photo sharing site announced a change in its user agreement, hinting it might use your uploaded photos in ads to market your friends. The terms suggest Facebook, which recently bought Instagram, wants to integrate Instagram into its ad-serving system and promote an item by telling users their friends "like" it. Currently, Instagram's free service has no way to make money and brings no revenue to its new owner, Facebook.
According to a Couponcabin.com survey, many Americans are feeling positive about what the new year has in store for them. More than half of American adults, or 52 percent, are optimistic 2013 will be better for them financially than years past. That brighter financial outlook may stem from those ready to make a change in their money habits. The survey found nearly four in ten adults plan to revamp their finances.
Nintendo says your new Wii U game console is your new TV remote. On Thursday, it's launching a service called Nintendo TVii. The service transforms the tablet-like controller of the new Wii U game console into a remote that changes the channel of your TV and puts the thousands of shows and movies available through apps all in one place. It's the first time a video game console maker has integrated live TV controls in a device.
