The Smarter version of the best stuff on the web. Tune in each Friday as we show you our picks for the top stories in the industry. Enjoy!

Utah Gunman Updating Facebook:

Jason Valdez took a hostage, in a hotel room, after the police tried to arrest him on a felony drug charge. During the 16-hour standoff, he was actively updating his facebook account with pictures and statuses (that received any number of responses from “be careful” to tips on police activity). The new uses for social media are officially endless.

New iPhone

Out of everyone who has heard about the new iPhone, I can’t be the only one thinking, “I can’t keep up!”. It’s getting ridiculous how fast people have to keep updating (or become outdated), but yet, it doesn’t stop me from wanting it any less. So in the spirit of today’s fast paced technology… anyone looking to buy an iPhone 4?

WAJAM!!!!

Sounds like a really cool karate-chopping badass noise, but it’s actually a new browser extension that brings up your friend’s posts in a regular Googlesearch. I have been using it for a couple of days and I have to say, I like it. The name is enticing enough, but it actually works really well.

Charging T-Shirt

So you are at Coachella, it’s around 7 pm, and you have been constantly updating facebook, twitter etc, but you realize your battery is dying! What now! Well not updating every social site imaginable isn’t an option, so they came up with a solution. A t-shirt that uses the sound energy from the festival and charges your phone! Best. Invention. Ever.

Epic Romanian Ad Campaign:

Do you remember where you were when you first saw the Old Spice ads? Well you need to remember where you are right now, that’s how epic this campaign is. Warning: this video may cause one’s mind to blow and greatly increase your desire to share it on your facebook/twitter/tumblr pages – Watch Out!

The Smarter version of the best stuff on the web. From new Apple products to Google rappers, the finest of what’s new and cool on the web is featured here, every Friday, for your convenience and pleasure. Enjoy!
The Launch of the iCloud. Ohhhhh, shiny, right?! Now there is so much buzz, it’s hard to figure out what it actually does, but after much researching, I found a reliable article that gives a simple approach to exactly what the iCloud can offer the consumer. Usually these huge tech releases are so overrated and anyone who isn’t a huge tech geek, either couldn’t figure out, or wouldn’t need it, but this isn’t one of those. iCloud is, without any sarcasm, the coolest sharing program so far.

McDonalds Interactive Billboard Game McDonald’s new approach to “the giveaway” gives the average person the chance to be featured on a huge interactive billboard plus your favorite McDonald’s meal for free! They created a game, controlled by your phone, but shown on a huge interactive billboard in real time, and all without downloading an app. If you win the game, you receive your favorite item from McDonald’s. Although this is only in Stockholm now, it was very successful and will probably be around the corner from you soon. Game on McDonalds lovers!

The UN Declares Internet A Human Right. A top story this week was the United Nations’s choice to state that Internet, at a speed that allows people to access news and other educational materials, is a basic human right and should be treated as one. Good magazine provides a great inquiry into why the UN would think this necessary and how far they might be willing to go in order to protect this right.



Facebook’s Real-Time Feed Facebook is now experimenting with real time feeds, that will allow users to view the regular home page with a sidebar that will show exactly what friends are “liking” or posting at that minute. I think this is a complete waste of time and resources because we already see what everyone is doing every second of the day, who needs it in real time? What do you think?



Hoodie Allen: AKA Steve Markowitz, was a Googler before he left to explore his real passion, music. He uses his marketing skills to promote his music, and pretty well if he’s made it this far. His second album, Leap Year, will be out in July and it features influences from his experiences and classical MCs. You can also find all his music on his website as a free download. He’s different, but ushering in a new era of music. Check it out!

Welcome to the Smarter version of the best stuff on the web. From social pop culture to techie news, the finest of what’s new and cool on the web is featured here, every Friday, for your convenience and pleasure. Enjoy! Feeling Mellow? Try Some JELL-O! With the economy, healthcare, and the general state of American, JELL-O has noticed that people are down. When people are down, they share their misery with other people, more recently through Twitter. So JELL-O has set out to cheer America up with nothing other than… pudding! By tracking tweets, they monitor the general mood of people, and if it’s sad, free pudding is coming your way!

The Takeover (times Google): Now time to tackle Google+, the social media sensation sweeping the nation. There is much speculation about what will happen to Twitter and Facebook as well as other networking sites now that Google+ has arrived. After wading through endless (literally, infinite) numbers of blogs and articles on the impact of Google+, I have found one little graphic that sums up the situation pretty well. Fact: Google+ reached 10 million users in just 16 days. Insanely impressive, but does it mean anything? Will those users stick around, or are these insane numbers the product of fickle, fleeting curiosity?

Comic-Con has Gone Social: Since 1970, fans everywhere have been flocking to San Diego for this fabulous mixture of comics, films, and TV (Apparently, a preview of the new Twilight movie will be shown. Oooooooh!). In recent years, Comic Con has been gaining a stronger social media presence. Now it is the norm to come out with fun social games and use social programs like GroupMe to plan for the event. There is even a live stream of all the wonderful comic goodness hosted by Entertainment Weekly!



Amy Winehouse: While the tragic death of Amy Winehouse is still very fresh in everyone's mind, to some it is less about mourning a great artist, but capitalizing on the sentimental value of her work now that she's gone. iTunes has put "Back To Black" front and center on their homepage (making it the number one selling album), while Microsoft blatantly told people to go buy the album from their site, Zune. Regardless of profit hungry companies, Winehouse was a gift to the musical world and her unique voice and style will be greatly missed.

Welcome to the Smarter version of the best stuff on the web. From social pop culture to techie news, the finest of what’s new and cool on the web is featured here, every Friday, for your convenience and pleasure. Enjoy! Roaming Street Food: All around the world people eat street food. It is cheap, easy, and usually phenomenally good. Now meet the American version of street food: Food Trucks. These delicious mobile food dispensaries have only become more popular as the years have passed. The more affordable trucks give chefs room to experiment with cool exotic ingredients, but keep the prices down so everyone can try it, making it a win-win. I mean, it's gotta say something when Zagat comes out with a 2011 food truck review (naming Kogi BQQ as one of their favorites in LA). Check out Mashable's (beautifully designed) infographic to learn how they started, how quickly they have progressed into a profit machines, and in general, all things food truck.
The Blink-182 Contest You Didn’t Know You Entered: Blink-182, back after eight years with their single, Up All Night, and they are coming back with a bang. Instead of punishing people for illegally uploading their music to Youtube, they rewarded their fans by including some of the videos with Blink-182’s songs as the music. As kind of a fan montage, the videos include everything from cool skateboarding tricks to crazy bathroom jam sessions. They even gave out awards like Best Use Of Father’s Bank Account and Most Appearances In a Public Restroom to their devoted Youtube fans. I am a huge fan of when bands, especially as awesome as Blink-182, reward their fans and include them in their music, so I have already bought the single and plan to continue to love their music for a long time. It’s good to have you back Blink. The Adventures of Living Social: As if Living Social wasn’t already cool enough, right? Now they have a taxi that drives around London and randomly selects adventures for it’s patrons to offer them a unique, on-sale experience through Living Social. Brilliant ad campaign and awesome adventures, who could ask for more! I am so excited for the things to come from Living Social and I can’t wait to try it out on my next trip to NYC (I have heard only good things).
Dear Nokia, We all thought you were gone. Really, I had given up on enjoying products made by you. But here you are, proving me wrong, and breaking world records (largest set used in a stop-motion video). I mean that’s an impressive way to make a comeback. And it actually seems as though the product itself is quite good, especially the camera (haha). Filmed on a beach in South Wales and directed by the amazing Sumo Science, the short is about the crazy seafaring adventures of a cute fisherman. Definitely a little Finding Nemo influence, which is always a good thing, and provides a cool little break from ordinary lives for some simple, sweet enjoyment. Well done Nokia, well done.

Welcome to the Smarter version of the best stuff on the web. From social pop culture to techie news, the finest of what’s new and cool on the web is featured here, every Friday, for your convenience and pleasure. Enjoy!

Twtrland:
Like Candyland, only better because this new platform analyzes your account and gives you a bunch of people you will want to follow (like your favorite candy!). With so many people on twitter, all claiming to be better than the other, it’s like mission impossible to find people who are tweeting about things that interest you. Now, instead of judging by their last few tweets, Twtrland goes deep into the tweeters history and comes back with interesting tweeters you will love.

Tweet & Travel:
Ahhh, preparing for a trip. For me, it's the most stressful part (other than the actual plane ride). The weeks you spend searching everything from Expedia to TravelZoo for hotel deals, flights, and car rentals are always joyous times (HA!). With this new tool called Reach.ly, let the hotels find you! Yeah, you heard me right. Just tweet the place you are traveling, and the site gathers your tweets, sends them to hotels, using the site, in the area and the hotels will contact you! As more hotels join, the less looking you have to do!

Controversial Software used during London Riots:
You know that face recognition software will tag your friends for you on Facebook? Well this new technology is now being used by the UK to identifying the looters and rioters in the London Riots. Scotland Yard and police forces are using the software to try and bring justice and safety to London’s distressed streets. Do you think this controversial software should be used by police?

Facebook Op:
The Internet has been blowing up over the newly released “Anonymous” video (a group initiating civil disobedience through the Internet). The basic message is that Facebook is selling our information and the group plans to bring down the site. Gawker, who interviewed an Anonymous member (Speakeasy), has now revealed that this was not the work of Anonymous. Another group must have found the original Facebook operation plans, which were to ask people to delete their Facebooks to ensure their privacy, and gone from there. Do you support the demise of Facebook?

Welcome to the Smarter version of the best stuff on the web. From social pop culture to techie news, the finest of what’s new and cool on the web is featured here, every Friday, for your convenience and pleasure. Enjoy!

Steve Jobs Resigns: Well, everyone knew this was coming, but yes, Steve Jobs has resigned. It blew up on the web moments after the letter was posted. Since that dark Wednesday, Tim Cook the former COO of Apple, has been promoted to CEO and Apple stock has gone down. In the coming months, many will be holding their breath, seeing if Apple was just Steve Jobs or if it can survive without it’s creator. Definitely keeping my fingers crossed for the company, what about you?


McDonald's Windy Fries: McDonald’s has done it again! As much as I don’t like their food, they have a great marketing team. This time the campaign of choice is specifically in Chicago, focusing on the well-known nickname, “the windy city”. In a place full of bad taxi cab ads, McDonalds has made it work by bringing the fries off the ad, like they are being blown away. Confused? Watch the video and be blown away! (Windy city, blown away, haha, get it?)
The definition of Tweet: In other, awesome, life affirming news, tweet, social media, and crowdsourcing have been accepted by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary! The good news is this means that tweeting is stabilized in our culture. It is official. Unfortunately, they have not updated Microsoft spell-check; so this would only be useful for anyone who actually looks up words in a printed dictionary. But, hey, at least it’s a step forward. The Average Joe On Twitter: Speaking of Twitter, a new inforgraphic was published today containing stats on the every day twitter user. The information provided is perfect for any brand or marketing company because in order to market to the average twitter user, first you must understand the average twitter user. So put your thinking cap on, read through these stats and see Twitter through a different set of eyes.