Archive for: myspace
- December 31, 2010 9:53 am
MySpace just can’t catch a break. Even after numerous desperate attempts to rebrand themselves, change their overall layout, and new logo, new rumors circulating this morning are painting a rather grim picture. According to AllThingsD, MySpace executives are looking to cut up to 50% of their own staff in the coming weeks. Combine that with further grim news that MySpace owner, News Corp. is looking to wash its hands of this social media disaster as well and the bleak outlook becomes even more apparent.
For now, MySpace is remaining mum on the claims above, though it is honestly the only logical decision if they hope to remain in business. And to think, just a few short years ago MySpace was many times larger than Facebook.
- November 30, 2010 10:50 am
Myspace may not be the social juggernaut that it once was, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to win back our attention. This morning Myspace announced both a new mobile website and upcoming iPhone app update aiming to re-invent the once popular brand’s image. On that note, the new mobile site is live as we speak. The iOS app on the other hand merely has a “coming in a few weeks” phrase attached to it. Though as we can see from the image (right), it looks pretty slick.
While we’re on the topic of the new iOS update — supposedly the new app will automatically display band info within your stream based on what music you have loaded on your iOS device. Sounds pretty cool on paper. Though I’m not sure I’d want to really follow every comment from every band I have on my phone. Can you say clutter? Another “feature” of sorts is the fact that users won’t be required to log in on either the mobile website or iOS app.
It’s a good start — the new look and added features — but the true test will be actually stopping the bleeding of users. Last month Myspace claims they had 60 million visitors. A big number for sure, though far less than previous years and even now, declining monthly. We’ll see…
- February 17, 2010 6:32 am
While those stuck reading this in some dimly lit, cold, and rank smelling cubicle may have nothing but malice and dissent for Microsoft Outlook as it takes up countless hours of their lives each day, people who actually choose to use it on the outside seem to think pretty favorably of it. Outside of the enterprise world, Outlook itself is a pretty decent desktop email client that can at least hold it’s own against many other desktop email clients from various software companies. But even in the consumer space, Microsoft Office still feels like it’s at work. That stodgy corporate image is hard to shake.
Last year, Microsoft announced that they would be rolling out a “Social Networking Connector” plugin for Office 2010 that would allow social networking sites to be more deeply integrated with the defacto corporate standard desktop email client. No surprise here, LinkedIn was the first to jump on the bandwagon seeing as how it is a Facebook of sorts for the corporate world. But LinkedIn integration is hardly going to pick up any worthwhile amount of consumer based users as most of those said users don’t use LinkedIn.
Consider that problem solved. Microsoft has officially announced that within the next few months, two new, big partners are joining the Office social frenzy — MySpace and Facebook. I’d say that by integrating two of the most consumer focused social networks into the corporate workhorse email client can only go up. That is, if the integration is deep (we don’t know yet), well laid out, and easy to use. If not, it will be an epic failure.
I hold out hope however, as I myself am one of those very people I outlined above — stuck in a cold, dark, dimly lit cubicle that reeks of old cheese and 1974. Now, the only question is if those who run the network I use will allow such social shenanigans to take place. At least in my case, I think not. But for the rest of the Office/Outlook using world, this new social madness is looking might nice.
Question: Will MySpace and Facebook integration keep you from leaving Outlook or even draw you in if you’ve never used it before?
[Image Source]
- January 20, 2010 11:33 am
Usually when we talk about censorship, we talk about communist societies and governments which unfairly oppress those living within the boundaries. However, such environments aren’t the only places where humans are unfairly restricted. Real censorship and oppression comes a lot closer to home for many of us. This time, it’s professional athletes who are feeling the heat.
Within the last year or so, we’ve seen various professional sporting leagues such as the NBA and NFL decry personal social networking accounts for players in various forms. In the case of the NBA and NFL, it’s a simple blanket ban on any social networking by players within a set time limit before and after games. With several multi-million dollar news contracts and such, it’s easy to see why the ban stands. Though, that doesn’t make it right.
If you though the NBA and NFL were bad, think again. They’re nothing compared to the crackdown Manchester United is forcing upon their players. The fine professional athletes of MU would take a pre/post game ban with stride seeing their current situation — they aren’t allowed to have any personal social networking accounts. Those that did have personal accounts such as Twitter and Facebook have had said accounts taken over by the team.
At this point I’m sure you’re all wondering why MU would do this? While the team hasn’t come out and outright announced or stated anything, the general consensus is that the team is doing it solely to drive more traffic to their own webpages — a downright shitty move for sure.
Generally when some individual, organization, or government tries to limit ways in which citizens can simply live out their lives, the determined get to working on a work around. In this case there isn’t much the players themselves can do.
But it really begs the question: Why force people to come to your teams official webpage? If you have to force people to use your product, you aren’t doing something right.
It’s quite sad really. Hopefully those running MU will come to their senses…or at least remove their heads from their asses.
Tech Digest
If we could travel back in time as little as two years ago and look at the social networking war between Facebook and MySpace, we’d remember the cut throat battle that was being waged between the two. My how a couple years change people and companies. This past year has seen MySpace followers defect in record numbers with the once social network falling from it’s high podium. For most, the lack of innovation and overall inability to get past the whole tweenie bopper crowd is the sole cause for MySpace’s decline. Personal opinions aside, I never thought I’d live to see the day MySpace and Facebook teamed up. Perhaps “teamed up” isn’t exactly the most accurate term– more like “borrowing” a feature.
As early as 2010, MySpace could incorporate and rollout Facebook Connect features in many areas site wide which would bridge a monumental gap between the two social networking giants. With the inclusion of Facebook Connect support, MySpace will be able to tap into copious amounts of social demographic data as well as have access to untold amounts of traffic — traffic which MySpace could greatly benefit from. To reiterate, Facebook and MySpace haven’t actually “teamed up”. Instead, MySpace is using one of Facebook’s most useful yet neutral features: Facebook Connect.
For now, both sides are remaining relatively mum on what exactly either company will do in regards to feature support and new developments. If the rapid change in the last two years is any indication, the next two years will be quite a ride. What will MySpace’s Facebook Connect support bring? Leave it inside…
Inside Facebook
If there was ever a pairing between two long time rivals that eventually kissed and made up, the rivalry between Facebook and MySpace would definitely not be near the top of my list list. But pigs are going to soon sprout wings and hell will in fact start freezing over (I can feel my feet getting cold as we speak) as Owen Van Natta, MySpace CEO has been officially quoted saying that they are “in talks” with Facebook exec’s. Similarly, Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg stated: “we would like to have MySpace’s content”.
Essentially, there are two paths two dueling companies can take when a winner and loser come forth. The losing company can take the legal route and start suing the winning company away. Or, the losing company can be bought/adopted/partner with the winning company. Thankfully for the sanity of consumers and to much delight from the poor judge who would have to oversee such a lawsuit, MySpace’s talking with Facebook could actually be an awesome thing for both companies and networks.
While MySpace has been losing on the general social networking front more noticeably in the last year, it isn’t necessarily solely because they stalled on the innovation front which in turn caused visitor numbers to plummet. Instead a “vision change” of sorts has been in the making. MySpace now is as they call it a media hub — a place for musicians and artists to showcase their talent with music and video taking a much larger presence than before. So MySpace would again enjoy huge visitor numbers and media spotlight in partnering with Facebook. So what exactly would Facebook gain?
Multimedia. Sure Facebook is the social networking champ with it’s main intentions being to communicate between people. Games have recently come into the fray though aren’t the bread and butter of FB. A partnership with MySpace would bring in (through Facebook connect I assume) a channel for a vast library of music and video that so far Facebook has been lacking in.
In the end, you have Facebook enjoying the spoils of victory, being the social networking champ with MySpace enjoying “being different” now. They don’t have to compete with Facebook anymore. Now MySpace can really focus on their strong points which as mentioned many times before are audio and video. It really is a win-win for everyone. Happy happy harmony for all. Of course, none of this is official with the comments of partnerships from both Facebook and MySpace exec’s all “off the record”. Still, the fact that they’re even hinting at such things has to mean something right?
Would you enjoy such a partnership?
Cnet
Image Source
If that isn’ t a slap in the face, I don’t know what is. Whether Mr. Anderson has some ill will or salty feelings for his old love is between him and himself for the time being. What is immediately apparent to all of us is now that he’s free, he can be a bit more, um, social. Even though the page is fake, as one can see above, it is well done and a great play on social networking none the less. Did it have you fooled at first?
Mashable > Comedy.com
The NBA recently announced they were following in several other industries footsteps by banning any social networking use by players, coaches, and other staff alike. At first, many will come to believe it’s to prevent embarrassing situations and outbursts. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth and anyone with a grain of intelligence knows it. It really comes down to a simple explanation — Greed!
- September 11, 2009 5:47 am
Over the last couple years, Facebook has exploded in popularity surpassing the once great MySpace. The draw for many was the slick, quick, and uncluttered interface. Well, with the addition of every quiz, app, and game underneath the sun, Facebook is turning into the bloated giant MySpace still is. What to do? Cut the fat that’s what. Since Facebook started adding all of the frilly junk, many users have been begging for a “Facebook Lite” that gives them the good ‘ol Facebook free from distractions. Well, that time has come…at least for U.S. and UK users. Facebook Lite has officially launched for the previously two mentioned countries giving users a glimpse at simpler times while allowing them to get down and dirty with social networking at its very core free from the fluff that is quickly filling up the regular Facebook. If you’d like to give it a spin and reminisce about yesteryear or are simply tired of the crap filling up your Facebook profile, go ahead and give Facebook Lite a try at Lite.Facebook.com and lets us know what you think of it.
**Update: Reports are coming in that many more countries across the big blue are able to access lite.facebook.com. I’ve been playing around with it for several hours now and can honestly say it is leaps and bounds better — faster, much less cluttered, and overall more enjoyable. Agree?
Source: Mashable
