James Franco deletes his Twitter account Oscars host James Franco has disabled his Twitter account today after just a month-and-a-half on the social network site . It coincides with the transmission of an interview he recorded on Monday with David Letterman , in which he admits he had '' `` low energy '' '' during his lamented helmsmanship of the ABC telecast for the awards . Some fans of Renaissance man Franco , 32 , have also noted that he deleted his account on April Fool 's Day and are hoping that the sudden disappearance is a Franconian prank . However seasoned followers say it lacks his trademark surreal humour . The 127 Hours star himself seemed to lay the matter to rest when he predicted the death of social media at a dinner in Washington , just hours before he pulled the account . Speaking at the creative writing non-profit 826DC 's benefit held at the Monaco Hotel , actor , writer , artist and Ph.D student Franco said : '' `` Social media is over . Still up there . Going down . You heard it here first . '' '' Franco , who was speaking to newsite Politico , added : '' `` My thought was '' `` this is my Twitter . I can do whatever I want . But certain companies I work with contacted me about what I was saying . '' '' His tweets throughout that ill-fated hosting gig alongside Anne Hathaway , 28 , created a huge buzz on the social media site . Equally , much hype has surrounded the handsome actor posting pictures of himself sleeping with his pet cats and visceral home-made comics showcasing his acerbic wit . But a feud with seasoned Oscar writer Bruce Villanch after that disastrous night , struck a sour note amongst all the creativity . Villanch told New York magazine that Franco had too many '' `` balls in the air '' '' to focus on the job , adding : '' `` He did n't get there . '' '' '' `` I do n't think he realized how big a deal it is to do it until he was actually confronted with it . '' '' Franco , who will hit cinemas in Your Highness alongside Danny McBride and Natalie Portman next Friday , hit back by posting a picture of himself and Villanch on his Twitter account . Over the picture , which he eventually deleted , he daubed the sarcastic caption : '' `` James f *** ed up the Oscars . Trust me , I know comedy . I mean , come on , I write for Bette Midler ! '' '' But last night a more serious Franco contemplated the danger to creativity that sites like Twitter and Facebook pose . Wearing a sharp grey suit with one hand running through his trademark tousled hair , he addressed the benefit . '' `` If you want to write , make the time , '' '' he encouraged . Before adding : '' `` We all have an hour or two a day that can be used for surfing Facebook or writing . No one is going to beg any new writer to write . '' '' Franco , who is pursuing a doctorate at Yale , concluded : '' `` I feel like I did n't get a ton of support in school in creative subjects and I went to a great public school . As a kid , I would have grown from that . '' ''

B I I O B I O B O O O B O B I B O O O B O O O B O O O B O O B O O B O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B B O O O B O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O O O O

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Larry Page set to take over as Google CEO starting Monday When Google -LRB- GOOG -RRB- co-founder Larry Page reclaims the role of CEO on Monday , it will be business as usual at the Googleplex . No formal ceremonies are planned . There will be no speeches . The absence of pomp underscores Page 's focus on the job ahead - spurring Google to innovate faster as it battles Facebook and other competitors , to react more like a nimble start-up even as it zooms past 25,000 employees . As he takes the reins , Page 's aim appears to be to hone Google 's sense of discipline , to keep the company 's management structure as flat as possible despite its growth , and particularly , to urge Googlers to continue to think big . But there are also questions about whether Page 's personality , including his detachment and his past unwillingness to be the public face of Google , will well serve a company facing a host of regulatory challenges . '' `` To a large extent , the culture of Google is what Larry wants it to be , '' '' said Craig Silverstein , who joined Page and co-founder Sergey Brin as the startup 's first employee in 1998 . Google announced in January that Page , Google 's CEO from its incorporation in 1998 until Eric Schmidt 's arrival in 2001 , would again become CEO as of April 4 . Since then , Page has made some subtle but interesting changes to how the company operates . He has told Googlers to change how they run meetings to make them more focused and productive , and he has directed executives to meet in public areas of the Googleplex so they will be more accessible to hearing ideas from rank-and-file Googlers , say people familiar with the changes . Schmidt and co-founder Sergey Brin have been more in the public spotlight than the 38-year-old son of a computer science professor from Michigan over the past decade . But Page has remained a driving force within Google since 2001 , insisting on reviewing every hire , say people familiar with the company , and continuing to push hyper-ambitious projects like the company 's effort to scan every book ever published into a vast digital library . '' `` It 's certainly true that Eric is the public face , but inside Google , the founders are still very much the face of the company in many ways , '' '' said Silverstein , who spoke in an interview just after the Jan. 20 announcement that Page would return to the CEO job , with Schmidt becoming executive chairman . Page has a foresight that few people have , Silverstein said . Page a was a driving force for the massive computing power Google needed to create , long before many at Google saw the need for products like Google Instant - the feature the search giant introduced last year , and that Yahoo -LRB- YHOO -RRB- recently imitated , that begins to offers search results as soon as users type a letter into the query box . '' `` He 'll have an idea that seems really crazy , that we should have enough computing power that we can do something like Google Instant , long before we did it , and everbody says , '' `` We 'll have to spend billions on that ! '' '' and there will be all this push-back , and he 'll hve none of it , '' '' Silverstein said . Paul Buchheit , the former Googler who coined the phrase , '' `` Do n't Be Evil , '' '' said Page 's return sends a signal to Silicon Valley that innovation and taking risks for big ideas still matter at Google . '' `` This notion that something being impossible does n't really bother you , that 's really central to a lot of Google 's big projects , '' '' said Buchheit , who created Gmail before leaving the company in 2006 . When you look at them from the start , they seem impossible - and that does not deter '' '' Page , Buchheit said . '' `` It 's taking on things that might be possible or might be impossible , but if they are possible , it would have a really big impact on the world . '' '' No one expects Page to be a standard-issue CEO . Those like Silverstein who know Page well say that while he is n't shy , neither is he an extroverted , hale-fellow-well met . But he has also been described as brusque with people whose ideas he does n't value , and he has often shunned press attention . Some Google watchers say Page 's famous reticience and his skepticism of the value of external communication may not serve him well as CEO . '' `` Brilliant engineers like Page are really good at things they can measure . They have high a high IQ , but often a low EQ , '' '' or emotional quotient , said Ken Auletta , who spent two years inside the Googleplex reporting his book , '' `` Googled : The End of the World as We Know It . '' '' '' `` Larry is not as talented at things he ca n't measure , like why governments and citizens might fear Google 's dominance , or issues like privacy and copyright . Page certainly is more aware of government and other outside concerns . But they make him impatient . Which is dangerous when you 're wrestling with an 800-pound government gorilla . '' '' Page faces a full and complex plate of legal and regulatory issues when he takes on his new job . Just this week the Federal Trade Commission forced Google into a 20-year commitment to accept outside supervision on privacy , and archrival Microsoft filed an antitrust complaint against Google in Europe . A decision by the U.S. Department of Justice on whether to block on antitrust grounds Google 's $ 700 million purchase of ITA Software , which makes the most heavily used airfare search software , is expected soon . On the day Google announced the change at the top , Page said : '' `` I 've learned a ton from -LRB- Schmidt -RRB- over the years . '' '' He may need those new skills to deal with politicans and regulators in Washington and Brussels who are pushing for an increasing voice in Google 's future . Veteran tech analyst Rob Enderle , who praised the reshuffling in January , said he has become concerned since then that Page '' `` will not step up to the full requirements of the job , which include being the human face of Google . '' '' Google declined to make Page available for an interview . Yardsticks like profit and revenue suggest Google has never been more successful , and its Android smartphone software gives the company a powerful foothold in the emerging mobile web . But Google stock is down 6 percent since the Jan. 20 announcement that Page would replace Schmidt as CEO , a period in which the NASDAQ is up 3 percent . It 's unclear how Googlers as a group view the change at the top , but they do n't seem to be cheering Schmidt 's departure . The employment website Glassdoor.com released a study Friday saying Schmidt has a 96 percent approval rating from Googlers filing anonymous ratings of their CEO over the past 12 months , an even higher rating than Apple 's -LRB- AAPL -RRB- Steve Jobs . Buchheit always believed Page 's return as CEO was inevitable , and that Page 's determination to swing for the fences is critical to Google 's identity . '' `` It was just a question of when it was going to happen , '' '' Buchheit said of Page 's return . '' `` He was originally the CEO and the only reason that changed was because the VCs required it to change . He has a lot of pretty strong opinions about how this thing should be run , and he 's stayed very involved in the company . '' ''

O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O B B O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O B O B B O O O O O B O O O B O B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O

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Malicious attack hits a million Web pages SEATTLE : More than one million website pages have been hit by a sophisticated hacking attack that injects code into sites that redirect users to a fraudulent software sales operation . The so-called '' `` mass-injection '' '' attack , which experts say is the largest of its kind ever seen , has managed to insert malicious code into websites by gaining access to the servers running the databases behind the Internet , according to the technology security company that discovered it . Websense , which first found evidence of the attack earlier this week , has called it '' `` LizaMoon , '' '' after the site to which the malicious code first directed its researchers . Users can see that they are being redirected when they attempt to visit an infected address , and can close the window with no ill effects , said Patrik Runald , a senior manager of security research at Websense . The attack has largely affected small websites so far , he said , with no evidence that popular corporate or government websites have been compromised . If users do not close the window after typing an infected address , or clicking an infected link , they are redirected to a page showing a warning from '' `` Windows Stability Center '' '' - posing as a Microsoft Corp security product - that there are problems with their computer and they are urged to pay for software to fix it . Websense said the site appeared to be set up by sophisticated fraudsters out to make money , but it was not clear whether the site also planted malicious software on users ' computers if they made a purchase on the site , or if the operation was linked to an identity theft scam . The presentation of the bogus website , as shown by Websense , is high quality but clearly fraudulent . Microsoft has no product called '' `` Windows Stability Center '' '' . The company did not immediately have a comment on the attack . Websense said some third-party Web addresses containing information about podcasts available on Apple Inc 's iTunes service had been compromised , but said Apple appeared to have prevented the malicious links from working . Apple did not respond to a request for comment . The attack may take some time to be tamed , warned Runald , as researchers first have to identify the software being compromised , and then website operators have to install updated software . '' `` Attacks like this tend to stay for a very long time , '' '' he said . '' `` Once they are onto something , it tends to stay with us . This LizaMoon event wo n't disappear over a day . '' ''

B B O O O B I B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I B O B O O O O B O O O B I O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B B B O B O O B O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O O B I O O O B O B O O B O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O B B O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O B O O B O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O

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RockMelt Rethinks Web Browser With More Social Inside Trying to get people to use a new web browser is a tough task . Others have tried and not quite made it . But RockMelt believes it can get the -LRB- mostly younger -RRB- demographic who lives and breathes social media to attach itself to RockMelt . About 70 % of RockMelt users are between 18 and 34 , and 41 % of its users are in high school or college . Unlike other Internet product loyalties like search engines or email , it 's theoretically easier to switch web browsers , as Google Chrome has shown . But then again , that 's Google . If RockMelt can break through , it 's a big opportunity . When it launched last fall , the company drew strong interest , partly due to its funding from Andreessen Horowitz , including Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen . RockMelt integrates social networking services like Facebook and Twitter directly into the browser to make a more interactive and social experience . Facebook friends show up on the edge of the browser for quick chats , while updates from Twitter and Facebook are easily reachable on the other side of the browser . The thinking is that these social services are used the most , so it makes sense to put them at your finger tips . Since people are using the web to communicate with friends and consume information , RockMelt is attempting to bake all these services directly into the browser . RockMelt has just released a new version of the browser , RockMelt Beta 2 , with several changes in response to requests from users . First it 's allowing multiple Facebook chats simultaneously by placing its chat bar on the bottom of the browser . It also added a new Twitter app that gives fuller Twitter functionality , such as replies and search . Interestingly , RockMelt has also added Instapaper support , which enables people to read articles later on their mobile devices or PCs by clicking a button . This read-it-later service has become a replacement of the traditional browser bookmark for the short-attention-span , digital generation . Still , will people switch from established players in the space like Mozilla Firefox , Google Chrome or Microsoft 's Internet Explorer ? These incumbents are increasingly becoming similar , which makes it easier for RockMelt to stand out , says with Eric Vishria , CEO and founder of RockMelt . '' `` Most people have no idea what a browser is , '' '' Vishria says . '' `` If you look at the differences between the browsers on the market today they 're very small ... With RockMelt you can see it visually so it 's very different and you can quickly understand what it is . '' '' Vishria said RockMelt has '' '' a few hundred thousand '' '' users .

B O O B O O B O B O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O B O O B O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I O B O O O O B B B O B O O O O O B I O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O B O B O O B O O B O O O O B O B O O O B B B B B B B O O B O O B O O O O B O B O O B B B O O O O O O B O B I O O B O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O B B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O B I O B O B O B O O B B O O B O B O O B O O B O O B O B O O O O O B O O O B O B O O O O O B B O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O B O O B B I O O B B O O B O O O B O O O O B O B O O O B O O O B O O B B B O O O O O O O O O O B B O B I O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O B O B O B O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O B I O O O B O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B I O O B O

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Twitter Tax Deal Creates Classic San Francisco Row SAN FRANCISCO - In the shadow of San Francisco 's stately City Hall , sidewalks abound with transients , drugs and crime . Into this neighborhood , one of the world 's hottest social media companies has promised to stride , offering urban rebirth in exchange for a tax break . Tax incentives to bring businesses to blighted streets are not unusual . But this is San Francisco . And Twitter . The mayor supports the plan , but progressive politicians -- and now the city 's largest public employee union -- call the proposal a poorly crafted giveaway to the rich . The conflict comes at a time when the city 's high tech economy teems with energy not seen since before the first Internet bubble burst more than a decade ago . At issue is the city 's payroll tax . San Francisco is the only city in California to levy its business tax based on how much companies pay workers , rather than how much money they take in . Since Twitter emerged as a side project of a San Francisco podcasting company in 2006 , the business has grown from a handful of employees to a few hundred . With investors pouring money into Twitter , the company expects to grow to more than 3,000 . To do that , Twitter needs a lot more space . One option would be to flee to a sprawling suburban campus in Silicon Valley , where adding more employees would not mean adding to the tax bill . But earlier this month , recently appointed Mayor Ed Lee announced what seemed like a winning solution for everyone . Twitter had signed a letter of intent to sign a six-year lease on several hundred thousand square feet of office space in a historic building in the struggling Mid-Market neighborhood . The only condition : The city must agree to exempt Twitter from paying any new payroll taxes on any additional hires . For a company that expects to add thousands of new of employees in the next few years , the savings would add up quickly . '' `` This is the moment we have been waiting for , '' '' Lee said of the proposed deal . '' `` The transformative nature of an anchor tenant like Twitter will revitalize this community . '' '' Yet in San Francisco , where an overall economy largely untouched by the recession has kept real estate prices among the highest in the country , some low-income residents worry that revitalization will just lead to higher rents . And city employees facing layoffs and contract concessions thanks to a massive budget shortfall resent what they see as a giveaway to venture capitalists and a bailout for landlords . '' `` Who are the -LRB- Twitter -RRB- investors ? '' '' Supervisor John Avalos told The San Francisco Examiner . '' `` Probably some of the wealthiest people in this country . And we are giving them more wealth . '' '' Last Tuesday , members of a neighborhood group protested outside Twitter 's current headquarters , about a mile from the proposed new offices . They accused Twitter of not living up to its pledge to be a good neighbor . They complained neither the city nor the company have considered the low-income residents who would be adversely impacted by rising rents spurred by the prosperity Twitter could bring . '' `` The residents are feeling that if they 're not going to benefit from this revitalization that the city is pushing for , it really does n't make sense for these companies to stay in San Francisco , '' '' said Angelica Cabande , director of South of Market Community Action Network . Twitter declined to comment on the tax-break fracas . As a result of the controversy , a lawmaker on the Board of Supervisors ' progressive wing , Ross Mirkarimi , has proposed an alternative measure he says will fix an underlying legal flaw that has led to anxiety among hot tech companies looking to grow . San Francisco 's payroll tax is unusual enough , but one provision makes it even more unique . The city in 2004 added language to the tax code to make clear that tax collectors considered stock options a part of employees ' compensation and hence taxable as part of the payroll . For tech startups , stock options are one of the most common ways to hold onto employees , especially when a lack of funds does n't allow them to offer competitive salaries . When lucky companies reach a point where they can make their initial public offering of stock , those options can turn into a major windfall for workers . But for companies in San Francisco , that windfall sticks employers with a huge tax increase right at the time they 've issued the stock in an effort to expand . Mirkarimi 's proposal would place a two-year moratorium on taxing any company 's stock options to ease the fears not just of Twitter , but other San Francisco-based startups like social gaming leader Zynga and consumer review website Yelp . '' `` You do n't want to write law in a way that only helps one company or one neighborhood in one part of the city , '' '' Mirkarimi said . The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the Twitter package , and Mirkarimi predicts it will pass even without his vote . If that happens , Service Employees International Union Local 1021 , the public employees union , may seek a ballot measure that could delay the deal until voters weigh in . City economic officials paint any failure of the deal not as a loss to Twitter but as a loss for the neighborhood , where more than half of the available commercial real estate sits vacant . While Twitter is the big fish the city is seeking to catch , any businesses within the geographic zone defined by the legislation would get a similar tax break . '' `` The benefit we want , which is jobs in this area , is not happening without some incentive , '' '' said Jennifer Matz , director of the city 's Office of Economic and Workforce Development . Without such incentives , she said , the neighborhood has not seen improvement for a generation . '' `` It resisted the last dot-com boom . '' ''

B I O O O B I I O O O O O B O O O O O B I O B I O B O B O B O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O B O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

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Clouds over Amazon.com Amazon.com 's recently announced cloud-based music storage and streaming product has already run into resistance from the recording industry , but the service may have bigger problems than that . While some music fans are applauding the idea of storing their tunes in the cloud , the Amazon Cloud Drive is facing criticism because of the time it takes to upload files and fueling experts ' doubts . Carl Howe , director of the Yankee Group 's Anywhere Consumer Research Group , said the market for the service has yet to be proven . `` I really do n't hear people complaining that they do n't have cloud access to their music , '' he said . The service gives users 5 gigabytes of free space to store files -- music , photos or documents , for example -- in the cloud , accessible from any computer with an Internet connection . Extra storage can be purchased for $ 1 per GB , at intervals ranging from 20GB to 1,000 GB . Songs bought through Amazon 's MP3 store can be automatically uploaded to the cloud service , and streamed via Web browser or a mobile app made for Google 's Android mobile operating system . The app will not be available for Apple iOS devices such as the iPhone or iPad . Apple , which has been the dominant player in digital music for years , imposes restrictions on music-playing apps sold in the iTunes App Store . Amazon 's streaming service has already run afoul of the record labels , which want licensing fees for the streamed music and the company has quickly agreed to work out deals with the labels . Apple bought music - streaming company LaLa in 2009 , but shut the service down last year . At the time , rumors swirled that Apple was readying a cloud-based iTunes , but Howe said iTunes ' success has been based on Apple 's philosophy that people like to own their music and carry it around with them . Google is reportedly testing a new music service . Howe said the Cloud Drive is trying to do too many things -- including acting as a digital storage locker and streaming music service -- which may confuse consumers . `` It 's got to decide what it wants to be when it grows up , '' he said . Still , Howe added that the market may develop after a few years , and called the service a low-risk move on Amazon 's part , since the technology is built on the company 's existing cloud infrastructure . `` They already had this stuff , '' he said . bizsmart@bostonherald.com

B O B B O O B O B I O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O

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Facebook 's Fired Manager : I Did Nothing Wrong The blogosphere has been abuzz today about TechCrunch 's report that Facebook fired corporate development manager Michael Brown for buying shares of the company on the private market . Sources tell me Facebook 's general policy is that no current employee can buy or sell shares , which is why Brown was fired . Mike Brown 's attorney Ed Swanson just sent us the following statement from Mike Brown , acknowledging that he bought the shares and defending his intentions : '' `` False and damaging information has been published about my actions and in the interest of defending my character I feel it is necessary to make a statement . I did buy Facebook stock on the secondary market in early September 2010 , and I did so with the absolute best of intentions and only because I believe in Facebook . As for any allegations regarding the Goldman Sachs / Facebook transaction , I had absolutely no knowledge of that transaction until it appeared in the press in January 2011 . I am saddened by the course of events that led to my departure and the incorrect reporting of it . I am now focused on moving on past this unfortunate series of events . '' '' Facebook can monitor whether its employees are purchasing shares - every time its shares are sold in the secondary market as a private placement Facebook has right of first refusal . A source at a platform that trades these shares tells me Facebook is meticulous , and certainly would take note of an employee name on a transaction . So if Brown had gone to SecondMarket , his request to trade likely would have been rejected . That means Brown likely bought his shares through a private company fund , of which there are several , run by SharesPost , Felix , and Wedbush . This shines the spotlight on funds of private company shares as an area where the SEC is likely to really crack down . These funds make private shares far more like securities , and when it comes to insider trading they 're far harder for companies to monitor than individual transactions . CNBC 's John Carney has a great blog on Silicon Valley 's Insider Trading Problem . MediaMoney@cnbc.com

B O O B O O O O O O B O O B B I O O B O B O B I I O B O O B O O B O O B O O O O O B O O B O O O B I O O O O B O O O O B O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O B O B O B O O O O O B B O O B O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O O O B B O O O B O B O O B I O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O B O O B O B B O O O O B O O O O B I O O B B B O O O O B O O B O O B O O O B O O B O B O O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O

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Teacher suspended for calling her students '' `` future criminals '' '' A teacher was suspended after parents complained that she allegedly described her students as '' `` future criminals '' '' on her Facebook page . The first-grade teacher , who is in charge of six and seven-year-olds and who has not been named , wrote about feeling like '' `` a warden . '' '' She was suspended with pay after several parents , having seen the posts on Wednesday , turned up at School 21 in Paterson , New Jersey , and demanded their children be taken out of her class , according to board president Theodore Best . Mr Best said : '' `` You ca n't simply fire someone for what they have on a Facebook page . But if that spills over and affects the classroom then you can take action . '' `` The reason why she was suspended was because the incident created serious problems at the school that impeded the functioning of the building . '' `` This is not first time I 've heard something like this from a teacher . '' `` Overall , I think we have really good teachers . '' `` But there 's also a significant population of teachers here to collect the pay check and do n't have the best interests of the students in mind . '' '' The school 's superintendent Donnie Evans added : '' `` It 's a personnel matter and we 've taken action . There is an investigation underway . '' '' The school is in a neighbourhood plagued with poverty , crime and single-parent households . But the Rev. Barry Graham , assistant pastor at Canaan Baptist Church , which is close to the school , said : '' `` There might be others who share the sentiments of the online remarks but all I 've dealt with have shown no signs like that . '' `` But we ca n't have anyone with that attitude teaching our children . '' '' New Jersey Education Association , the statewide teachers '' '' union , is said to be providing the Paterson teacher with a lawyer , northjersey.com reports . The controversy comes just weeks after a high school English teacher from outside Philadelphia was suspended for a profanity-laced blog in which she called her young charges '' `` disengaged , lazy whiners . '' ''

B B O B O B O O B B O O O B O B O B O O O B O O B O O O B B O O O O B O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

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LizaMoon attack infects millions of websites NEW YORK -LRB- CNNMoney -RRB- - Have you heard the scary news about '' `` LizaMoon , '' '' a malicious code attack that has already infected more than a million websites ? Do n't panic . This particular bit of hacker mischief is setting off alarms among online security watchdogs for its speed and scope , but built-in software safeguards mean few actual users will end up suffering . The exploit drew headlines because it 's affecting a surprisingly large number of websites - nearly 4 million so far - and because some of those sites feed into Apple 's iTunes platform . Websense , the security software vendor that first broke the news about LizaMoon in its blog , played up the iTunes connection in its first warning about the attack . But Apple -LRB- AAPL , Fortune 500 -RRB- has iTunes designed to automatically neutralize this kind of threat . That means there 's zero risk of an iTunes user 's computer actually getting infected by this bit of malware . Websense acknowledged that in its latest LizaMoon update . '' `` Every time there 's a mass-injection like this , and there really has n't been anything this big before , we try to identify larger systems and sites that have been affected , '' '' the company wrote in its blog . '' `` There are few systems out there bigger than iTunes , so when we saw that content on itunes.apple.com contained the injected link we wanted to make people aware of that , even if the script did n't work . '' '' LizaMoon is what 's called a SQL code injection attack , where a Web application vulnerability is exploited to inject malicious code into affected websites . If a Web surfer visits an affected site , they 'll be redirected to a rogue website that tries to install a '' `` scareware '' '' file . The file generates messages warning the user that their computer is infected with viruses , and offers to sell them antivirus software in defense . Most actual , legitimate antivirus programs will detect and eliminate the malicious file . And most websites have protections in place to prevent them from getting infected in the first place . While LizaMoon has infested million of websites , security experts say it 's a run-of-the-mill threat that is mostly hitting obscure , low-traffic sites . '' `` Defense against your sites getting infected is the standard things we ought to be doing anyway , '' '' the SANS Internet Storm Center , a security monitoring site , wrote in its LizaMoon analysis .

B O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O O B O O O O O B O B O B B O O O B O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O B O O O O O B I O O B O O B O O O O O O B B O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O B B O O O O O B O O O O O O B I I I O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O B I O O B O O B O O B B O O O B I O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O B O O

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Proposed tax break to keep Twitter in city leads to classic San Francisco fracas SAN FRANCISCO - In the shadow of San Francisco 's stately City Hall , sidewalks abound with transients , drugs and crime . Into this neighbourhood , one of the world 's hottest social media companies has promised to stride , offering urban rebirth in exchange for a tax break . Taxe incentives to bring businesses to blighted streets are not unusual . But this is San Francisco . And Twitter . The mayor supports the plan , but progressive politicians -- and now the city 's largest public employee union -- call the proposal a poorly crafted giveaway to the rich . The conflict comes at a time when the city 's high tech economy teems with energy not seen since before the first Internet bubble burst more than a decade ago . At issue is the city 's payroll tax . San Francisco is the only city in California to levy its business tax based on how much companies pay workers , rather than how much money they take in . Since Twitter emerged as a side project of a San Francisco podcasting company in 2006 , the business has grown from a handful of employees to a few hundred . With investors pouring money into Twitter , the company expects to grow to more than 3,000 . To do that , Twitter needs a lot more space . One option would be to flee to a sprawling suburban campus in Silicon Valley , where adding more employees would not mean adding to the tax bill . But earlier this month , recently appointed Mayor Ed Lee announced what seemed like a winning solution for everyone . Twitter had signed a letter of intent to sign a six-year lease on several hundred thousand square feet of office space in a historic building in the struggling Mid-Market neighbourhood . The only condition : The city must agree to exempt Twitter from paying any new payroll taxes on any additional hires . For a company that expects to add thousands of new of employees in the next few years , the savings would add up quickly . '' `` This is the moment we have been waiting for , '' '' Lee said of the proposed deal . '' `` The transformative nature of an anchor tenant like Twitter will revitalize this community . '' '' Yet in San Francisco , where an overall economy largely untouched by the recession has kept real estate prices among the highest in the country , some low-income residents worry that revitalization will just lead to higher rents . And city employees facing layoffs and contract concessions thanks to a massive budget shortfall resent what they see as a giveaway to venture capitalists and a bailout for landlords . '' `` Who are the -LRB- Twitter -RRB- investors ? '' '' Supervisor John Avalos told The San Francisco Examiner . '' `` Probably some of the wealthiest people in this country . And we are giving them more wealth . '' '' Last Tuesday , members of a neighbourhood group protested outside Twitter 's current headquarters , about a mile from the proposed new offices . They accused Twitter of not living up to its pledge to be a good neighbour . They complained neither the city nor the company have considered the low-income residents who would be adversely impacted by rising rents spurred by the prosperity Twitter could bring . '' `` The residents are feeling that if they 're not going to benefit from this revitalization that the city is pushing for , it really does n't make sense for these companies to stay in San Francisco , '' '' said Angelica Cabande , director of South of Market Community Action Network . Twitter declined to comment on the tax-break fracas . As a result of the controversy , a lawmaker on the Board of Supervisors ' progressive wing , Ross Mirkarimi , has proposed an alternative measure he says will fix an underlying legal flaw that has led to anxiety among hot tech companies looking to grow . San Francisco 's payroll tax is unusual enough , but one provision makes it even more unique . The city in 2004 added language to the tax code to make clear that tax collectors considered stock options a part of employees ' compensation and hence taxable as part of the payroll . For tech startups , stock options are one of the most common ways to hold onto employees , especially when a lack of funds does n't allow them to offer competitive salaries . When lucky companies reach a point where they can make their initial public offering of stock , those options can turn into a major windfall for workers . But for companies in San Francisco , that windfall sticks employers with a huge tax increase right at the time they 've issued the stock in an effort to expand . Mirkarimi 's proposal would place a two-year moratorium on taxing any company 's stock options to ease the fears not just of Twitter , but other San Francisco-based startups like social gaming leader Zynga and consumer review website Yelp . '' `` You do n't want to write law in a way that only helps one company or one neighbourhood in one part of the city , '' '' Mirkarimi said . The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the Twitter package , and Mirkarimi predicts it will pass even without his vote . If that happens , Service Employees International Union Local 1021 , the public employees union , may seek a ballot measure that could delay the deal until voters weigh in . City economic officials paint any failure of the deal not as a loss to Twitter but as a loss for the neighbourhood , where more than half of the available commercial real estate sits vacant . While Twitter is the big fish the city is seeking to catch , any businesses within the geographic zone defined by the legislation would get a similar tax break . '' `` The benefit we want , which is jobs in this area , is not happening without some incentive , '' '' said Jennifer Matz , director of the city 's Office of Economic and Workforce Development . Without such incentives , she said , the neighbourhood has not seen improvement for a generation . '' `` It resisted the last dot-com boom . '' ''

B B O O O B O O O O O B I O B I O O O B O B I O O B I O B O O B O B O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O B O B O B B I O B O O B O O O B O O B O B O O O B O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B I I O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B B O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O B O O O O O O O O B B O B I O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O B B O O O B O O B I B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O B I B O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O B I O B B O B O O O B I O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O B O B O O B O O O B O B O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O

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Twitter tax deal creates classic San Francisco row In the shadow of San Francisco 's stately City Hall , sidewalks abound with transients , drugs and crime . Into this neighborhood , one of the world 's hottest social media companies has promised to stride , offering urban rebirth in exchange for a tax break . Tax incentives to bring businesses to blighted streets are not unusual . But this is San Francisco . And Twitter . The mayor supports the plan , but progressive politicians _ and now the city 's largest public employee union _ call the proposal a poorly crafted giveaway to the rich . The conflict comes at a time when the city 's high tech economy teems with energy not seen since before the first Internet bubble burst more than a decade ago . At issue is the city 's payroll tax . San Francisco is the only city in California to levy its business tax based on how much companies pay workers , rather than how much money they take in . Since Twitter emerged as a side project of a San Francisco podcasting company in 2006 , the business has grown from a handful of employees to a few hundred . With investors pouring money into Twitter , the company expects to grow to more than 3,000 . To do that , Twitter needs a lot more space . One option would be to flee to a sprawling suburban campus in Silicon Valley , where adding more employees would not mean adding to the tax bill . But earlier this month , recently appointed Mayor Ed Lee announced what seemed like a winning solution for everyone . Twitter had signed a letter of intent to sign a six-year lease on several hundred thousand square feet of office space in a historic building in the struggling Mid-Market neighborhood . The only condition : The city must agree to exempt Twitter from paying any new payroll taxes on any additional hires . For a company that expects to add thousands of new of employees in the next few years , the savings would add up quickly . '' `` This is the moment we have been waiting for , '' '' Lee said of the proposed deal . '' `` The transformative nature of an anchor tenant like Twitter will revitalize this community . '' '' Yet in San Francisco , where an overall economy largely untouched by the recession has kept real estate prices among the highest in the country , some low-income residents worry that revitalization will just lead to higher rents . And city employees facing layoffs and contract concessions thanks to a massive budget shortfall resent what they see as a giveaway to venture capitalists and a bailout for landlords . '' `` Who are the -LRB- Twitter -RRB- investors ? '' '' Supervisor John Avalos told The San Francisco Examiner . '' `` Probably some of the wealthiest people in this country . And we are giving them more wealth . '' '' Last Tuesday , members of a neighborhood group protested outside Twitter 's current headquarters , about a mile from the proposed new offices . They accused Twitter of not living up to its pledge to be a good neighbor . They complained neither the city nor the company have considered the low-income residents who would be adversely impacted by rising rents spurred by the prosperity Twitter could bring . '' `` The residents are feeling that if they 're not going to benefit from this revitalization that the city is pushing for , it really does n't make sense for these companies to stay in San Francisco , '' '' said Angelica Cabande , director of South of Market Community Action Network . Twitter declined to comment on the tax-break fracas . As a result of the controversy , a lawmaker on the Board of Supervisors ' progressive wing , Ross Mirkarimi , has proposed an alternative measure he says will fix an underlying legal flaw that has led to anxiety among hot tech companies looking to grow . San Francisco 's payroll tax is unusual enough , but one provision makes it even more unique . The city in 2004 added language to the tax code to make clear that tax collectors considered stock options a part of employees ' compensation and hence taxable as part of the payroll . For tech startups , stock options are one of the most common ways to hold onto employees , especially when a lack of funds does n't allow them to offer competitive salaries . When lucky companies reach a point where they can make their initial public offering of stock , those options can turn into a major windfall for workers . But for companies in San Francisco , that windfall sticks employers with a huge tax increase right at the time they 've issued the stock in an effort to expand . Mirkarimi 's proposal would place a two-year moratorium on taxing any company 's stock options to ease the fears not just of Twitter , but other San Francisco-based startups like social gaming leader Zynga and consumer review website Yelp . '' `` You do n't want to write law in a way that only helps one company or one neighborhood in one part of the city , '' '' Mirkarimi said . The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the Twitter package , and Mirkarimi predicts it will pass even without his vote . If that happens , Service Employees International Union Local 1021 , the public employees union , may seek a ballot measure that could delay the deal until voters weigh in . City economic officials paint any failure of the deal not as a loss to Twitter but as a loss for the neighborhood , where more than half of the available commercial real estate sits vacant . While Twitter is the big fish the city is seeking to catch , any businesses within the geographic zone defined by the legislation would get a similar tax break . '' `` The benefit we want , which is jobs in this area , is not happening without some incentive , '' '' said Jennifer Matz , director of the city 's Office of Economic and Workforce Development . Without such incentives , she said , the neighborhood has not seen improvement for a generation . '' `` It resisted the last dot-com boom . '' ''

B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O B O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B B O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

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Amazon set to dabble in mobile payments , report suggests According to a report filed by Bloomberg , online retail giant Amazon is toying with the idea of launching a mobile payments service . Citing two anonymous sources , the publication notes that the service would '' `` let consumers pay for goods in brick-and-mortar stores using their mobile phones . '' '' Amazon is purportedly testing payment technologies based on NFC -LRB- Near Field Communications -RRB- in an effort to expand its Payments service . This is the company 's latest venture into the mobile world . Amazon officially opened its Appstore for Android on March 22nd and its Cloud Drive music storage/streaming service on March 29th . The company has not made any public statements about future plans involving mobile payments or NFC . Read

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Why Google is getting into the '' `` Like '' '' business Computerworld - Google announced this week a new social search feature called +1 . The new offering competes in some ways with Facebook 's '' `` Like '' '' button . By clicking on an optional new +1 button on your Google search results , you can tell family and friends that you recommend certain links . Big deal , right ? Well , actually , it could soon be a very big deal . What Google 's +1 adds up to Google 's +1 is n't what Google would call a '' `` shipping '' '' product . It 's a '' `` Labs '' '' experiment , a cross between a beta program and a trial balloon . But it 's available to everyone and easy to use . You just go to the Google Labs page and click '' `` Join this experiment '' '' in the section about +1 . Once you 've done that , when you 're searching on Google , you 'll see a +1 button on every search . All your +1 recommendations are retained on a new tab viewable on your Google Profile . You can choose to make them public or keep them private . -LRB- I 've made mine public - you can check my +1 '' `` s here . -RRB- Also : When your Google contacts conduct searches of their own that bring back links you 've flagged with +1 , they 'll see your recommendation on the results page . For now , the feature is limited to Google Search . Google plans to roll out the feature for websites of all kinds , including blogs . Google also says it plans to '' `` record information about your +1 activity in order to provide you and other users with a better experience on Google services . '' '' That could mean just about anything , although Google says +1 activity does not affect search rankings . How +1 is like , and unlike , '' `` Like '' '' Once Google offers the ability for website owners to add +1 buttons on their sites , the service will be a lot like Facebook 's '' `` Like '' '' feature . With Facebook , everything you '' `` Like '' '' anywhere on the Web is viewable by friends on Facebook . And that 's one of the differences . With +1 , your recommendations are currently unlikely to be encountered '' `` in the wild '' '' by contacts . It requires both opt-in by contacts , plus the unlikely event that the other person searches for something you 've already flagged . Google +1 is currently useful only for seeing someone 's preferences after you 've run across them on your own , while Facebook '' `` Like '' '' is better for discovery . Both could be a lot better for discovery . What 's missing from both Google 's and Facebook 's recommendation engines is the ability to pool all that data in a single space . The ultimate application would be open APIs by both parties , with some scrappy startup building the ultimate Digg replacement site where both systems are combined into a single popularity contest for content . One advantage of +1 over Like is that it lets you recommend things without appearing to approve of them . When I encounter a blog post headlined '' `` Tickets for Apple 's Developer Event Selling for $ 3,500 on eBay '' '' and click the Facebook '' `` Like '' '' button , it appears on my Wall above the phrase '' `` Mike Elgan Likes this . '' '' It makes me look like a sociopath . Google 's +1 is more neutral . Google currently has two incompatible systems . You can click +1 on search . But on Buzz , where the +1 could really find some use , Google uses the word '' `` Like '' '' in a system that 's disconnected from the +1 recommendations . This is especially awkward because Google went to great pains to connect Profiles and Buzz . But +1 recommendations show up in Profiles , and '' `` Likes '' '' remain in Buzz . It 's a fractured mess . Meanwhile , Facebook 's '' `` Like '' '' system is unified . Why +1 and Like matter Social recommendation tools like +1 and Like can potentially help users do things such as the following : • Get and give recommendations to friends -LRB- replacing link sharing -RRB- . • Bring attention to cool stuff -LRB- replacing or enhancing Digg and Reddit -RRB- . • Bookmark and remember things -LRB- replacing browser bookmarks , Instapaper and StumbleUpon -RRB- . • Set up popularity polls -LRB- replacing poll plug-ins on blogs -RRB- . • Engage in social science research -LRB- replacing text-based voting on American Idol -RRB- . The exciting thing about the Like-button concept is that it can , and probably will , spill over into the real world . Within a few years , you 'll probably be able to '' `` Like '' '' TV shows , locations -LRB- via existing location-based services like Foursquare , Google Latitude or Facebook Places . Smartphone app-based services are getting better and better at recognizing songs and TV shows -LRB- by the sound -RRB- , and soon they 'll be able to recognize objects that you photograph with the camera in your phone . So you 'll be able to '' `` Like '' '' all kinds of content and objects in the real world . Google 's +1 system is new and experimental and therefore is n't changing the world yet . Facebook 's '' `` Like '' '' system is becoming influential , but it 's still overshadowed by Twitter , link sharing and other ways of sharing and recommending content . The reason this is a big deal is this : History tells us that obscure , trivial services like Twitter and Facebook and even Google itself can rise to dominate user attention , and make billions for the entrepreneurs who get it right . Whoever dominates '' `` Like '' '' - type services could end up making enormous amounts of money . The whole '' `` Like '' '' idea is potentially superior to link sharing , bookmarking , social bookmarking , polling and other technologies that millions of people use every day . If the concept really takes hold , it could become the primary way for people to share content , links , opinions and much more . And do n't even get me started on the marketing potential . Once companies get us to start '' `` Liking '' '' and recommending the products and services we buy , they 'll have found a lucrative enhancement to advertising and marketing campaigns . Google +1 , Facebook '' `` Like '' '' or some other service we do n't know about yet could one day rise to dominate the lucrative new world of social influence . Mike Elgan writes about technology and tech culture . Contact and learn more about Mike at Elgan.com , or subscribe to his free e-mail newsletter , Mike 's List .

O B O O O O O O B O O B B O B B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O B B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O B B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O B O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O B O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O B B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B B B O B B O B O O B O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O

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State Department Builds A Panic Button App Imagine you are a pro-democracy protester on the streets of a repressive government . You 've got your cellphone and you are messaging your friends . In the crowd near you , the police start making arrests . Fearing the government will confiscate your phone and investigate your contacts , you push a `` panic button '' on your phone . It deletes the contacts in your address book and sends out an alert . Such an app was n't readily available so the U.S. State Department , acting as a venture capitalist , decided to build one . The State Department tells TechCrunch government funded work is underway to build an Android version of this `` panic button '' app . No release date has been set . Another version designed to work on low-cost Nokia phones , more common in the developing world , is being considered . No iPhone app is planned for now . The special app , first reported by Reuters , is part of an initiative to promote new technologies for social activists . So far , the State Department has funded $ 22 million in `` Internet freedom programming . '' The money goes to innovators in the form of small grants ranging from a few to tens of thousands of dollars . TechCrunch asked who was getting the money , but due to the sensitive nature of the project , the government wo n't disclose names . An open , competitive bid process was used to award the grants . While the government is n't looking for more help building these apps , they may have future projects designed to advance `` Internet Freedom '' in other ways . Keep an eye on www.grants.gov for any additional info . Some of the past program objectives have included developing technology `` to enable users in closed societies to get around firewalls and filters in acutely hostile Internet environments '' and training bloggers and activists to safely and anonymously participate in online forums . The effort is another example of how the administration sees the important role social media and technology has played in global politics . In 2009 , the U.S. asked Twitter to delay maintenance work so real-time information about the Iranian protests could continue . The White House has also called on Egypt and Libya to restore internet blackouts . The State Department says it 's not just writing checks . The government is trying to use venture capitalist techniques to produce the best results . No , the goal is not to make 10x on the investment . But , the government is supporting a diverse portfolio of innovation rather than just funding big established technologies . It 's providing knowledge and connections , not just cash . And they are investing to incubate a new community focussed on the intersection of technology and human rights . Of course with any well intentioned program , there could be negative side effects . What happens if the panic button app gets into the wrong hands , such as drug dealers or terrorists ? A State Department spokesperson tells TechCrunch it 's a legitimate concern and they are taking that into account when planning the distribution and publicity of the app . It seems TechCrunch readers wo n't be a problem .

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Cablevision Optimum for iPad app now available , streams hundreds of TV channels plus VOD The new Cablevision iPad app is out , taking on broadcasters -LRB- Fox , Discovery , Viacom -RRB- attacking Time Warner 's live TV streaming TWCable TV app by offering subscribers the same channels as their iO TV package and video on demand . The Optimum for iPad app also includes the ability to set up DVR recordings , delete recorded shows and browse TV listings , although it does n't act as a direct remote for the cable box . The last time Fox and Cablevision squared off subscribers could n't watch their shows on Hulu or two games of the World Series which , along with a long battle over network DVRs , suggests the cable company is prepared to dig its heels in deep on this issue . Multichannel News points out subscribers need at least one cable box to make use of the new app and the TOS states it can only be used within the customer 's residence . Subscribers suitably equipped can grab the app at the iTunes link below , check out pics in the gallery or a video demo by a user embedded after the break . Update : Now we have the press release and fact sheet from Cablevision -LRB- included after the break -RRB- so here it is by the numbers : 300 channels , can be registered on up to three iPads per account and used on any two simultaneously . Remote control functions are scheduled for the summer , and the company states that since it is delivering channels over the digital cable network and not the internet -LRB- no '' `` net service required -RRB- it believes this use is covered by existing carriage agreements . -LSB- Thanks , johnnydop , jcdesimp & Michael -RSB- CABLEVISION 'S NEW OPTIMUM APP DELIVERS THE FULL CABLE TELEVISION EXPERIENCE TO AN iPAD IN THE HOME Customers Can Enjoy Cable Television Service Including Hundreds Of Channels , Video On Demand , Enhanced And Searchable Guide Information And DVR Controls On Their Tablet Device , Which Functions As A Television In The Home Available At No Additional Cost To Existing Optimum Cable Television Customers BETHPAGE , NY , April 2 , 2011 -- Cablevision Systems Corp. -LRB- NYSE : CVC -RRB- today announced the launch of the Optimum App for iPad , which allows its cable television customers to experience iO TV digital cable -- including access to hundreds of channels and video on demand -LRB- VOD -RRB- -- on an iPad in the home . The application delivers the full cable television experience to the tablet device , and allows the iPad to function as a television . Like all additional outlets , it is free to existing Optimum cable television customers . In addition to approximately 300 live channels and access to VOD , the Optimum App for iPad integrates enhanced guide information that makes it easier than ever before for customers to find the content they already receive as part of their cable television subscription . Programming is fully searchable , including by genre , and the application includes the ability to schedule DVR recordings and manage previously-recorded content . '' `` This application allows the iPad to function as a television , delivering the full richness and diversity of our cable television service to a display device in the home , '' '' said Tom Rutledge , Cablevision 's chief operating officer . '' `` It gives our customers the additional flexibility and convenience of watching television throughout the home , in places where set-top boxes might not be ideal or even practical , like the kitchen , bathroom or work room . This is the future of Advanced Digital Cable televisions served with virtual set-top boxes , and just one of many digital displays we are going to be serving through a variety of applications , '' '' Mr. Rutledge concluded . Cablevision uses its secure and proprietary Advanced Digital Cable television network to deliver cable programming to customers for viewing on the Optimum App for iPad , and content is not delivered over the Internet . The application turns the iPad into an additional television , enabling Cablevision customers to view the same live programming and VOD content already being delivered to other TVs in the home as part of the service they have paid for . Cablevision has the right to distribute programming over its cable system to iPads configured in this way under its existing distribution agreements with programming providers . Cablevision has been serving customers with switched digital cable for more than five years . Advanced Digital Cable allows the company to switch in multiple digital formats , as its customers continue to buy the latest display devices . Customers do not need to have Internet access to use the Optimum App for iPad . Cablevision plans to deploy additional applications that deliver the same experience to other tablets and display devices , functioning as televisions . The company plans to integrate remote control functionality into the Optimum App for iPad this summer . _____ Fact Sheet OVERVIEW : The Optimum App for iPad delivers Cablevision 's full cable television service to the iPad , which functions as an additional television in the home . At launch , the App delivers the following : Approximately 300 channels of live television More than 2,000 titles of Video on demand -LRB- VOD -RRB- available today , with Cablevision 's full VOD library expected to be encoded and available by early summer Enhanced guide information that is fully searchable and able to be filtered based on genre , cast , time of day and favorite channels The ability to schedule future DVR recordings and manage -LRB- erase -RRB- previously-recorded content Full parental controls -LRB- specific to each iPad -RRB- Closed Captioning This summer , remote control functionality will be added to the App , allowing customers to control televisions in the house . AVAILABILITY : Available as a free download to Cablevision 's cable television customers in the Apple App Store , starting on April 2nd . INSTALLATION : Once installed on the iPad , customers enter their Optimum ID and password to access programming on the device . Up to three iPads can be registered to one account . Customers can use up to two iPads in the home at one time . Programming -LRB- live TV and VOD -RRB- is available only for viewing in the home . Customers do not need to have Internet access to use the Optimum App for iPad . CONTENT AND CAPABILITIES : The Optimum App for iPad allows customers to move from room-to-room with their full in-home cable television experience on their iPad . Cablevision uses its secure and proprietary cable television network to deliver cable programming to customers for viewing on the Optimum App for iPad , and content is not delivered over the Internet .

B I O B B O O O B I O B O O B O B B B B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O B O O O B B O B B O B I O O O O O O B B O B O B O O B O B B O O O B O O O B B O B B O O B B O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O B B O B I O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B B B O O O O O B O O B O O B B O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O B O B O B O O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O B O O O O O O B O B O B B I O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O B O O B I O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O B O O B B O B O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O B B O B I B O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O B B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B B B I O O O B O O O B O O O O B B O B O O B O O B O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O B B O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O B I O O O O O O B B I O O B O O O B O O O O O B B O O O O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O B B O B O B O O O O B O B O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B B O B O B O O B O O O O B B O B O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B B B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O B O O B O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O B O O O O B B O B O B O O O O B B O B O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O B B O B O O B O O B O O B O

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True Colors : Bathing Mobile In An Entirely New Light Editor 's note : Guest author Semil Shah is an entrepreneur interested in digital media , consumer Internet , and social networks . He is based in Palo Alto and you can follow him on twitter @semilshah Color Labs is assumed to be the newest combatant in the photo-sharing wars . Many people ripped its floppy launch , interface , crashes , and some are feeling creepy about the Chatroulette aspect . Then there was the backlash to the backlash , where believers applauded the vision , risk-taking , and promise of mining meta-data from phones . Even with the latest update pushed out last night to address some of the initial product 's shortcomings , Color remains the most polarizing Silicon Valley startup since Quora 's rise and , appropriately enough , folks at Color have been answering questions on the company 's Quora topic page . The source of the furor varies from the amount of money raised -LRB- $ 41m -RRB- to the team size -LRB- 27 -RRB- to the buggy app -LRB- despite updates -RRB- . A good chunk of the backlash is because users perceive it as a photo-sharing service . But , what if Color is more than a photo-sharing service ? Color Labs is on the record stating they are more of a data mining company with technology that , operating in concert on the phone , can paint a detailed mosaic of our mobility . Its patent-pending technologies are said to able to place users in proximity to others based on sounds and images , can capture the angle at which we hold our phones , how fast we move them in gestures , and how bright the environment is . And when users actually have the camera open , that 's when the real show begins , tagging images , setting context , and opening the type of world Christopher Nolan conceived of in The Dark Knight , when Lucius Fox and Bruce Wayne use cell phone triangulation to create a digital reflection of the real world . At the same time Foursquare and Facebook are clamoring to obtain our location , others already have a much better implicit depiction of our whereabouts and purchasing behaviors , mainly credit card companies and phone companies . For months , Facebook 's mobile apps have gently signaled to users if friends have been spotted nearby . A few weeks ago , Foursquare inked a groundbreaking deal with AMEX to tie the app to a payments system . And , a well-known secret in Silicon Valley is that Facebook is hard at work building its own mobile operating system that will bake '' `` social '' '' into as many mobile devices as possible . In order to get more information than credit card companies have , the phone companies need the user 's assistance and permission . And in the case of Color , the user has to have the app running , preferably with the camera open - at dinner , at a sports game - along with all the other apps competing for attention in a crowded , fragmented mobile apps marketplace . Color could give phone companies the chance to get as much as , or more , information about us than the credit card companies have . Before any of this can happen , however , the question looms : Will Color be able to withstand this initial backlash , iterate , and keep improving on their app ? Some believe the team will find its way . Others believe that in such a competitive environment , it 's not possible to get a second chance . The truth is that nobody knows , but if Color weathers this initial storm and is successful , what could it evolve into ? My sense is that Color Labs is thinking ahead two to three years , by which time users may grow tired of sorting through a constellation of apps and services to share and broadcast their location , purchases , and pictures . Instead , these features will converge in a slightly smaller number of unified apps . We 'll have folks using phones running on Android , iOS , or Facebook variants , among others , and we 'll have a chance to leverage features from Color Labs 's systems . This is what I believe Color Labs is going after : The augmentation of mobile operating systems . Ultimately , they do n't want their service to run as yet another fragmented app on your phone - they want their system to entirely augment mobile operating systems , using their technologies to document every sound , image , movement , transaction , and message your phone transmits or receives . The folks creating this system are building tools for a world in which our mobile phones and tablets will take the place of many of today 's traditional computing devices . In this world , users will carry around their wallet , books , and other files in their phones and tablets , docking them into monitors and screens as they move from location to location . This is pure speculation on my part and nothing more than a fun attempt to connect some dots . But if a seamless mobile operating experience is their ultimate goal , this is the type of undertaking that truly needs venture capital , and lots of it . Part of the reason folks may be lashing out against the concept and launch is that , frankly , we have n't seen a concept this big emerge for a while . Everyone loves a big concept , but a concept remains just that until the products gets in the hands of enough users to make a real impression . Color Labs may be on a mission to perfect and harmonize its technologies to dramatically augment the mobile operating experience . Its founders are accomplished , its team is big , its technologies are novel . The brand is polarizing . Its a company that can convince Sequoia Capital to invest about 1.8 % of its current fund for the chance to build something fresh from the ground up . It 's a company that 's being built entirely within a mobile world , an attempt to test the lasting power of Facebook 's symmetrical relationships and offer , as Fred Wilson notes , a more '' `` implicit , '' '' or as the company notes , '' `` elastic '' '' network , one that is built with a different set of rules , norms , and permissions that could perhaps more accurately reflect the random ebbs and flows of our social interactions in real life that have yet to be captured fully by any digital network . Photo credit : Flickr/Pilottage

O O O B I O O B I I O O O O B I I I O O O O O B I O O B O O B I O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I O O O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O

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