Technology

BRUSSELS (AP) undefined European Union regulators will probe whether Google Inc. has been manipulating its search results to stifle competition, funnel more traffic to its own services and protect its global stranglehold of the online search market.

The European Commission's move, announced Tuesday, is the first formal investigation by a major regulatory agency into these issues and potentially could result in billions in fines, as in the recent cases of Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp.

Several competitors, one owned by Microsoft, say that links to their services appear too low on Google's general search results. They also claim that when Google offers similar services, such as online price comparison, it puts its own links higher on the sponsored search results, the ones companies have to pay for.

More at the source Record Eagle

A new scam that exploits curiosity on Facebook is making the rounds.

As reported on The Huffington Post and by Sophos, a software and hardware security firm, Facebook users have received this message: "OMG OMG OMG... I cant believe this actually works! Now you really can see who viewed your profile! on (LINK)."

The link goes to a Facebook application called ePrivacy or Profile Watcher. It supposedly allows users to see who has viewed their profile. In exchange, the application demands unlimited access to a person's profile and personal information. The application can then pose as the person on Facebook and post status updates, share links and look at anything that has been shared with friends.

Pre-business freshman Christy Gonzales had not come across the application or the message, but did hear about it. She said she received event invitations to try out the application, but didn't click on the provided link.

Kelley Bogart, a UA senior information security specialist, said students should be wary of such applications and offers.

Bogart said users should research new applications online to see what people are saying before installing it.

Facebook has an "opt-in mentality," according to Bogart, in that certain personal information is shared with everyone or friends of friends as a default setting. She recommends that users at the UA should review their privacy settings under the account tab.

Bogart also recommends that Facebook users visit the office's website, security.arizona.edu/topten8, for more tips on how to keep their personal information safe on social networks.

Source Arizona Daily Wildcat

Facebook has become the anti-industry standard for protesting businesses, and industries that haven’t gotten wise to social media have suffered. Case in point: a $100 million housing development in Long Island was brought to a  halt by local residents’ postings online.

Up until recently, people opposed to a commercial real estate plan used to circulate petitions to submit to local government, then organize on-site protests of projects that make it through a city hall unopposed. Obviously, Facebook reaches a larger audience much more quickly and effectively.

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I don’t disagree with stats and numbers. If you are integrating social media into the folds of your business, numbers and data should methodically drive and dictate your next move. Just make sure the data you look at is comprehensive enough to give you as much of a 360 view as possible before allowing it to affect your decision making.

A post recently published called “Survey Reveals Facebook Sucks for Business” from an online marketing company gives us some stats and demographic data from a survey regarding doing business on Facebook and other social activity. The problem with this particular post is that it neglects taking into account those businesses that participated, their ability, or inability, to understand how to strategize and execute on Facebook effectively. In the numbers that are presented, there is no information on the backstory from the various companies that participated in this survey.

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• Put a Twitter link in your e-mail signature. By including a link to your Twitter page at the bottom of the signature file in your e-mail messages, you can spread the word about your business every time you hit the Send button. "I use Twitter religiously to promote my company and my clients," says Stacy Kelly, CEO of Mobile Previews LLC, a New York City company that promotes movies and other products by creating engaging experiences that consumers can access on their mobile phones. "I also link to it to help build up my list of followers. The cost is nothing but a little thought power."
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• Turn the back of your business card into a promo. Can't afford to advertise in print or broadcast? The back of your business card is advertising real estate that you own, and, best of all, it's free. By featuring a photo of yourself, a picture of your product, a 10 percent off coupon, or a list of services that your company provides, you can turn your business card into a powerful marketing tool. "That extra info can be a great conversation starter," says John Fletcher, president of Johnny Agency Inc., a New York City graphic design firm that creates marketing materials for growing businesses. "It also allows you to convey important facts about your business during those precious moments when you have someone's attention."
• Revamp your website. If you've already spent the money to build a website, it may be time for a facelift. Rather than spending big dollars to redesign your home page, try creating a series of low-cost "landing pages" to test different ads and offers for your products and services. "Your website is not a brochure," says New York City consultant David Ronick, co-founder of Upstart Bootcamp, an online school for startups. "Most people today come in through the back door and through blog posts." Be sure that your site is easy to read -- not only for people browsing the web through their computers but accessing your site through their iPhones and BlackBerrys, too.
• Position yourself as an expert. There's nothing that builds your brand faster than free advice. Whether you're a landscaper, a handbag designer or a dog walker, your expertise will have customers knocking at your door offering to pay you to help solve their problems. "The key is to give away thought leadership to build an audience," Ronick says. Once you find out what works, go out there and replicate it." One of Ronick's clients, a luxury outsourced concierge service, regularly tweets about hot, new restaurants, clubs and bars, generating new leads from prospects who need the company's service.

A new green way to light up your house is fast becoming the norm for homeowners. They are called LED lights and the new technology that runs them is cleaner and greener.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (CBS/AP) A Chatham County grand jury has indicted Brandon Kent, a Georgia man who police say killed 26-year-old Thai Lam after Lam posted an advertisement on Craigslist to sell his motorcycle.

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“You can’t have a successful offering without a mobile application,” Alex Iskold, CEO of GetGlue.com, a social network for entertainment, told BusinessNewsDaily. “If you don’t have a mobile offering, you’re missing a giant opportunity to engage audiences. Mobile gives you an opportunity to instill the essence of your service.”

For Bizzy.com which is in the process of developing its own app, the essence of its service is helping people find the best places to eat, shop and play, based on their personal profile and recommendations from people with similar preferences. It’s a personalized local business-recommendation engine, said Ryan Kuder, Bizzy.com’s VP of marketing.

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At around $200, the Mint is considerably less expensive than the Roomba and Neato models. But those machines also vacuum carpets; when they’re running low on juice, both automatically find the charging station and, like a cow at the end of the day, head on back to the charging home.

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