Facebook’s Killer Feature Coming Soon

Back in August I suggested that if Facebook allowed you to place your friends in specific groups (e.g. professional, social, family, etc) and assign custom privacy settings, LinkedIn would be doomed. While Facebook is going to have to work toward putting an end to LinkedIn, they have announced their intention to launch this new [...]

Back in August I suggested that if Facebook allowed you to place your friends in specific groups (e.g. professional, social, family, etc) and assign custom privacy settings, LinkedIn would be doomed. While Facebook is going to have to work toward putting an end to LinkedIn, they have announced their intention to launch this new feature. Facebook states:

We’ll let you organize that long list of friends into groups so you can decide more specifically who sees what.

As Alexey Komissarouk told me: it doesn’t get more official then that. This is a highly anticipated feature. A number of people posted comments on my article stating that this was a critical feature that Facebook should release in the near future. I couldn’t agree more and fortunately, it looks like they are listening. Are you going to stop using LinkedIn when this new feature comes out?

Original source : http://xfruits.com/rkminc/?id=30775&clic=140314021…

The Facebook Book Sold to Henry N. Abrams Inc

Satirical Book About Facebook Sells For $50,000
Apparently Facebook is so hot that people are willing to pay for works of satire about the social network. According to the New York Observer, Recent Harvard graduates Greg Atwan and Evan Lushing have sold a satirical book about Facebook to Harry N. Abrams Inc, to be published in [...]

Satirical Book About Facebook Sells For $50,000

Apparently Facebook is so hot that people are willing to pay for works of satire about the social network. According to the New York Observer, Recent Harvard graduates Greg Atwan and Evan Lushing have sold a satirical book about Facebook to Harry N. Abrams Inc, to be published in spring 2008. It was reported that the book sold for around $50,000.

Mr. Lushing, said the book will be made up of short, abstract humor pieces, stating that, “The best metaphor, would be if the Lampoon had done a Facebook number.” If never ceases to amaze what people will do and buy about Facebook. what is next, facebook the move?

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Access to Facebook blocked by American Corporations

Via Mashable Social networking may be on the rise but business minds in America think otherwise. In what appears to be a shocking statistic, more than one-third of US employers have restricted access to social networking sites.
Various reasons apart from productivity loss are being attributed to this move. Organizations are worried about security issues with [...]

Via Mashable Social networking may be on the rise but business minds in America think otherwise. In what appears to be a shocking statistic, more than one-third of US employers have restricted access to social networking sites.

Various reasons apart from productivity loss are being attributed to this move. Organizations are worried about security issues with their employees visiting these networking sites.

Recently there had been news of worker productivity being hampered in Australia because of excessive time being spent on Facebook.

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AT&T offers $5000 to Facebook Developers

AT&T has put up a developer challenge contest on Facebook. The contest runs between Sept. 21st and Dec. 14 2007. First prize is a cash reward of 5K and media and exposure on Facebook. You have to integrate with the FB and AT&T API (didn’t know they had one which is rather [...]

AT&T has put up a developer challenge contest on Facebook. The contest runs between Sept. 21st and Dec. 14 2007. First prize is a cash reward of 5K and media and exposure on Facebook. You have to integrate with the FB and AT&T API (didn’t know they had one which is rather cool) details on the AT&T AJAX API here.

You can check out the official rules and contest entry details here.

Good Luck to all FB l337 and make sure to register yourselves in the Facebook Observer Developer Directory.

We look forward to seeing and reviewing the winning entry, the developer will have no shortage of work after winning this event.

DEVELOPER’S CHALLENGE by AT&T

Put your developer skills to the test, showcase your creativity, and enter for a chance to win $5,000 cash and media coverage on Facebook. Submit an application you’ve developed that integrates a Facebook feature with your favorite mobile components. To be eligible, the application must:

• Incorporate at least one key Facebook feature (i.e. photos, messages, news feed, pokes, etc.)
• Integrate at least one mobile component (i.e. text, picture, video messaging as well as downloadable content such as ringtones, graphics, games, etc.)

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Is Traditional Social Networking Doomed?

Yesterday Fortune published “Are we already moving on from traditional social networking?” Much of what was discussed was Netvibes and how they are struggling with monetization solutions for widgets. What grabbed my attention was the article title. My response to the question: are we moving on from traditional social networking? [...]

Yesterday Fortune published “Are we already moving on from traditional social networking?” Much of what was discussed was Netvibes and how they are struggling with monetization solutions for widgets. What grabbed my attention was the article title. My response to the question: are we moving on from traditional social networking? Yes! Is social networking doomed? No.

There used to be a battle between social networks to simply build their user base. Since then the battlegrounds have changed locations. The new battle is between the top tier social networks (and Google) who are now attempting to own the social backbone of each individual. We all have unique interests and as such we will browse the web for information we are interested in. Rather than just interacting with the website we are going to start interacting with both strangers and friends that are viewing the site.

This is already beginning to happen with the Facebook. The best applications provide social interaction with your friends. Once Google launches their platform, I have a feeling that we are going to see this social platform brought to the web. You browse the web but you are interconnected via an abstracted layer that keeps you interconnected with your contacts. The main goal of all these features is to make web browsing an increasingly shared experience. Out of curiosity, do you feel lonely browsing websites without your friends or do you prefer surfing solo?

Original source : http://xfruits.com/rkminc/?id=30775&clic=140314022…

Facebook Developer Garage D.C.

I am pleased to announce the official Facebook Developers Garage taking place in Washington, D.C. on October 10, 2007. This is being hosted the day after the Facebook political summit. That event already has 180 confirmed guests! We have yet to pick a location so if your company would be interested [...]

I am pleased to announce the official Facebook Developers Garage taking place in Washington, D.C. on October 10, 2007. This is being hosted the day after the Facebook political summit. That event already has 180 confirmed guests! We have yet to pick a location so if your company would be interested in hosting the event (and are close to a metro) please send me an email at allfacebook [AT] gmail [DOT] com. So what is the Facebook Developers Garage anyways? As described by Facebook:

Garages are just like they sound – a place for you to explore, get gritty, tinker, experiment, and test out your ideas for Facebook Platform. Being in the Garage is all about participating, getting your hands dirty, and exploring fresh ideas and solutions.

Most Garages will offer you the opportunity to give a 5-10 minute brief presentation or case study on your App – you can show and tell, get feedback, highlight any novel techniques you’re using, or hunt for partners. So far popular topics include: optimizing product design, best practices for viral growth, tricks for testing your app, metrics for success, ninja code tricks…the usual. Pretty much anything goes.

In general, Garages will welcome ad hoc presentations, brainstorming sessions with other developers, and social interaction time. Some Garages will also offer some Q&A time with Facebook Platform Engineers, either via video conference or in person. Most will also provide food, power, and wireless connectivity. Check your area’s Facebook Developer Garage for specific details about what to bring or what to expect.

If you are interested in attending then go join the Facebook Developer Garage – Washington DC event on Facebook. Hope to see you there!

Original source : http://xfruits.com/rkminc/?id=30775&clic=140314023…

Facebook Burmese Monk Protest Support Group, growing @ 3000 people an hour

from Allfacebook.com ~ Facebook is providing a unique opportunity for the dissemination of information coming out of Burma. The group is covering local protests in all major centers worldwide and up to the minute information on the current democracy protests in Burma. The group can be joined here.

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from Allfacebook.com ~ Facebook is providing a unique opportunity for the dissemination of information coming out of Burma. The group is covering local protests in all major centers worldwide and up to the minute information on the current democracy protests in Burma. The group can be joined here.

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True Test of Intentions

Earlier this morning I posted about how the best ad networks will be able to target ads based on user intentions. If any application was a test of intentions, the Likeness UNRATED application surely is. The first quiz you are given states “List the crimes you are MOST likely to commit first.” [...]

Earlier this morning I posted about how the best ad networks will be able to target ads based on user intentions. If any application was a test of intentions, the Likeness UNRATED application surely is. The first quiz you are given states “List the crimes you are MOST likely to commit first.” This is hillarious! Does my response express my intention to do so? Is the FBI tracking this? I’m not quite sure but this application definitely is entertaining. The options for the first quiz that you are asked to sort are:

• Buy drugs
• Drive drunk
• Shoot cheating lover
• Sex for money
• Shoplift
• Arson
• Rob a bank
• Sell drugs
• Cheat on taxes
• Steal a car

I won’t disclose what order I placed these in but this is definitely a risqué app. The other quizzes that are available are “Excuses to have sex,” “Truth or dare,” “Excuses for No Sex,” “Places to Make Out,” “Misadventures in Sex,” and “Inner Criminal.” See a pattern here? It looks like RockYou intends to add quiz creation capabilities to this application in the near future. One great feature of this application is it tells you how closely your other friends were in answering these truly insignificant questions. If you want to have fun answering unrated and uncensored questions, go grab the Likeness UNRATED application.

Original source : http://xfruits.com/rkminc/?id=30775&clic=140314024…

Facebook Conferenes, Events & Gatherings

It is not just about online social networking. The following conferences aim to take the Facebook discussion offline. Don’t miss out these events as you’d find many evangelists and interest folks to hook into.
Future Events
The Story Behind The Facebook Platform – London – 03 Oct, 2007

Its going to be Dave Morin who would [...]

It is not just about online social networking. The following conferences aim to take the Facebook discussion offline. Don’t miss out these events as you’d find many evangelists and interest folks to hook into.

Future Events

The Story Behind The Facebook Platform – London – 03 Oct, 2007

Its going to be Dave Morin who would be talking about Facebook history at the Future of Web Apps conference.

The Great Facebook Debate – London – 17 Oct, 2007
To be organized in the city of London, tickets to the event have been sold out already. The eminent list of speakers include Hugh MacLeod & Robert Loch.

App-Camp – San Francisco – 20 Oct, 2007

App-Camp is focussed towards application development within API environments.

Snap Summit – San Francisco – 26 Oct, 2007
One day conference with in-depth focus towards Facebook and future applications like Yahoo! Mash.

Seattle Facebook Event – 05-06 Dec, 2007
The goal of Web Community Forum Seattle 2007 is to discuss and propose some tentative best practices for community building for business, political campaigns, marketing, and other professional efforts using Facebook and the Facebook platform.

Past events

MySpace, Facebook & Your Future Employer – 13th Sept, 2007

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3000 Users Per Hour Join Burma Protest Group

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past week, you have probably heard about the atrocities taking place in Burma. A similar event occurred 19 years ago when 4,000 people were killed in response to pro-democracy uprising. The same thing is happening again and a large number of people on [...]

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past week, you have probably heard about the atrocities taking place in Burma. A similar event occurred 19 years ago when 4,000 people were killed in response to pro-democracy uprising. The same thing is happening again and a large number of people on Facebook are organizing worldwide protests in response to the events.

One group, “Support the Monks’ protest in Burma” was adding over 3,000 users an hour at its peak. The group has now attracted over 100,000 individuals and still continues to grow. The group is a central place for the group administrators to distribute news and information regarding protests taking place worldwide today and tomorrow. I went ahead and joined the group but it can definitely use more people. I won’t wax-poetic about the issue given that this isn’t a political blog. If you want to express your support of the Burmese monks, go join the group.

Original source : http://xfruits.com/rkminc/?id=30775&clic=140314025…

Facebook Ad Wars

On the Facebook platform there is a battle waging. The battle is between advertising networks, all scrambling to get a piece of the highly lucrative ad market. Today, Om Malik highlights the Appfuel network which is one of close to 10 ad networks currently on Facebook. They are by no means the [...]

On the Facebook platform there is a battle waging. The battle is between advertising networks, all scrambling to get a piece of the highly lucrative ad market. Today, Om Malik highlights the Appfuel network which is one of close to 10 ad networks currently on Facebook. They are by no means the last company to join the race. Many have questioned whether or not Google will decide to hop in as well. Chances are they will join via their new platform which they are announcing at the beginning of Novemeber.

Currently, RockYou and Social Media are the dominant players in the Facebook ad market. Once Facebook decides to join, all that may change. Regardless, the one thing that is slowly becoming apparent is how important targeting is. If you send 100 untargeted users to your application, there is no measure of value (aside from the number of users that joined). Being able to determine a user’s intentions and desires is going to be a critical point of success for many of these companies. Any company that provides untargeted ads is only in the market for the short-run.

Last night I had the opportunity to speak with one person who plans on hopping into the ad market in the coming weeks. He discussed the importance of intentions and I couldn’t agree more. Previously, I had stressed the value in being able to target ads based on gender and age in addition to location. The reality is that all those things are pretty much worthless if you don’t know what the person’s intentions are.

In the coming months we are going to witness a significant shift in advertising as ad networks become more advanced in their ability to target based on our intentions. The race is on to be the first to market and the race isn’t ending anytime soon. It is well known that both Google and Facebook are entering this market, but the real question is when. For all the smaller players in the market, now is the time to grab up as much market share before the big companies join in. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Original source : http://xfruits.com/rkminc/?id=30775&clic=140314026…

Facebook Conference Calendar: 3 More Coming Soon

A few weeks ago we wrote about the upcoming Graphing Social Patterns: The Business & Technology of Facebook and Community Next: Platform conferences on building for the Facebook Platform — they’re now coming up soon! I look forward to seeing everyone there in a couple weeks!
But wait, there’s more — the Facebook conference calendar is [...]

A few weeks ago we wrote about the upcoming Graphing Social Patterns: The Business & Technology of Facebook and Community Next: Platform conferences on building for the Facebook Platform — they’re now coming up soon! I look forward to seeing everyone there in a couple weeks!

But wait, there’s more — the Facebook conference calendar is really heating up. Over the course of the next couple months 3 more events are being held in the Bay Area and Seattle to grok the Facebook Platform. Here’s the scoop:

SNAP Summit

October 26, San Francisco

SNAP Summit is a one-day, single-track conference that focuses in-depth on the Facebook platform, while looking ahead at new and emerging platforms, such as Yahoo! Mash.

Our conference is designed especially for developers, and is also relevant to entrepreneurs, marketers, visionaries, and anyone interested in the web’s next big revolution.

InsideFacebook readers can save 10% on their registration by entering discount code “insidefacebook”!

App-Camp

October 20, San Francisco

App-Camp 2007 is a Saturday gathering focused on the development of applications within open API environments.

This will be an opportunity to discuss everything from user behavior and best practices to technical solutions. There will also be plenty of food during the day plus an after party with even more food – and entertainment to boot!

Web Community Forum: Facebook

December 5-6, Seattle

The goal of Web Community Forum Seattle 2007 is to discuss and propose some tentative best practices for community building for business, political campaigns, marketing, and other professional efforts using Facebook and the Facebook platform.

Technorati Tags: facebook, conference, snap, appcamp, community, forum

Original source : http://xfruits.com/rkminc/?id=30775&clic=140314031…

Facebook Developers Directory

Are You a Facebook Developer Looking For Work?
Earlier this week a client of mine who is interested in creating a Facebook application that compliments their business was asking me about where she could go to find potential Facebook developers. While I know of a couple of people, including a few of my friends, all of [...]

Are You a Facebook Developer Looking For Work?

Earlier this week a client of mine who is interested in creating a Facebook application that compliments their business was asking me about where she could go to find potential Facebook developers. While I know of a couple of people, including a few of my friends, all of them are too busy with their own projects to take on any client work.

This got me thinking (which is always dangerous).Why not start a directory for Facebook developers and those who are looking to hire Facebook developers? After all, if you are a developer you probably are looking for clients (but where?) and if you are interested in having a Facebook application developed, where do you turn to find one?

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See Facebook Friends’ Comments on the Web

Want to post comments on content anywhere on the web that your friends can see? I new startup called CommentAnywhere enables users to post text, photos and videos directly to any website and share that content with their friends. When you browse to a page, you can view which of your friends have [...]

Want to post comments on content anywhere on the web that your friends can see? I new startup called CommentAnywhere enables users to post text, photos and videos directly to any website and share that content with their friends. When you browse to a page, you can view which of your friends have commented on that content. The only downside of the application is that currently you need to register by entering your Facebook email and password but there is nothing on the page specifying that they have integrated with Facebook.

From the perspective of an average visitor, I would be highly skeptical of a registration like this. The cool part though is that the software utilizes Facebook for the social connections. Ultimately, I think individuals are going to use one site to manage all of their social connections and then there will be websites and/or applications that leverage those connections. I would assume that this is what Google is aiming for with their new platform. If you want to check out their application which is in the alpha phase, go check out their website.

Original source : http://xfruits.com/rkminc/?id=30775&clic=140314027…

I Can Think of 500M Reasons Why Zuckerberg Was Spotted in Seattle.

Fortune Senior Editor – David Kirkpatrick – is reporting that Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook was spotted in Seattle Tuesday, heading for meetings at Microsoft.
The web is abound with rumors that this 23yr. old reincarnation of Bill Gates is holding out for a $15 Billion dollar valuation on Facebook. Microsoft is rumored to [...]

Fortune Senior Editor – David Kirkpatrick – is reporting that Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook was spotted in Seattle Tuesday, heading for meetings at Microsoft.

The web is abound with rumors that this 23yr. old reincarnation of Bill Gates is holding out for a $15 Billion dollar valuation on Facebook. Microsoft is rumored to be interested in doing a deal to buy a 5% piece for upwards of $500M. This is truly mind boggling.

Microsoft’s recent purchase of the aQuantive ad network for a staggering $6 Billion would tie in perfectly with Facebook’s search for increasing monetization strategies.

One thing is certain, Zuckerberg and the Facebook investors, can’t lose anything but momentum from being ’spotted’ in Seattle. – Google and the giant checkbook, are sure to be watching this carefully.

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