Web 2.0 and Web Apps - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Twitter's new CEO expected to show them the money

  The switch in leadership at Twitter is signaling that the company is ready to turn what has been something of an online adventure into a real money-making business.

• Xmarks browser sync starts pledge drive to stay alive

  The Xmarks browser bookmark sync service is soliciting pledges from potential customers willing to pay at least $10 annually, saying that it will reconsider staying in business if it collects 100,000 promises.

• Google's WebP makes images more byte-size

  In its continuing attempts to make the Web faster, Google is trimming down the size of image files, which make up about 65 per cent of the bytes on the Web.

• Avaya, Skype in deal to offer low-cost, IP-based calling

  Avaya and Skype signed an agreement Wednesday to offer Skype Connect to Avaya customers to help them lower international voice-calling costs through IP-based calls.

• Google goes on acquisition spree this year

  Google pulled out its wallet and went on an acquisition spree this year.

• Facebook may be considering IPO after 2012

  Reports are circulating on the Internet that Facebook executives are a few years away from taking the company public.

• Facebook outage spotlights social media addiction

  After Facebook went down on Thursday, one thing was certain: People don't like to go without their favorite social networking site.

• BlackBerry for Business blog debuts

  Research in Motion launched a BlackBerry for Business blog Friday, bearing a post from its lead contributor simply named "Roger," who has been a RIM marketing employee since 2001.

• Facebook CEO unveils foundation, $100M donation

  Following a day of frenzied reports about an upcoming $100 million donation to a struggling school system, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Friday the creation of a new foundation called Startup: Education.
  

• Facebook suffers second outage in as many days

  Facebook was struggling today as its popular social networking site went offline for at least 45 minutes Thursday afternoon. It's the second day in a row the popular site has had problems.

• Smartphones, other mobile devices boost social networks

  There's mounting evidence that smartphones and mobile devices are increasing the use of social networks and microblogging sites.

• Watch out Google, here comes Facebook

  Facebook is giving Google a run for its money.

• Facebook, Twitter imposters may be outlaws in Calif.

  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature on a bill passed by state legislators last month would make it illegal to impersonate someone on Facebook or Twitter there.

• Spammers exploit second Facebook bug in a week

  Facebook today said it has fixed the bug that allowed a spamming worm to automatically post messages to users' walls earlier this week.

• Gmail promo for Priority Inbox creeps out Chrome users

  Chrome users yesterday bombarded Google's Gmail support forum with complaints about music suddenly playing in the background when they reached their inboxes.