Xtra wired dec 11

Posted: 12/12/2011 1:00 AM

Looking for a new social network?

Facebook allows you to have 5,000 friends. Twitter allows you to share stories with virtually trillions of people. Well, have you ever wanted a social network where you just have just 50 of your closest friends? I recently ran into a really cool website called Path.com. It allows you set up a very personal profile, and only have your closets friends/family/colleagues on your network. The design is somewhat similar to Facebook, but much better in the design aspect. The thing that I find interesting is that there is no online site… it’s solely and completely a mobile application. This company launched in November 2010 and has grown to just over a million users. Path’s goal is to provide a service that enables you to keep a personal journal, or "path" of your life. I really enjoy this network, and applaud the idea. I’m going to try to get my whole family on this just so I can experience Path to the fullest. The mobile app is developed for iPhone and Android, so if you use a BlackBerry device, you’re out of luck. Go ahead and sign up for Path today, I do not think you will be disappointed.

Facebook’s ‘other’ messages

Under the Facebook messages tab, users have realized that there is an "other" tab. You may have noticed this, but have you checked it out? It contains messages Facebook has categorized as non-important. These messages are usually group shout-outs from events, or fan pages/groups. Though this "other" tab is certainly not new to anyone, it has recently caught the attention of many, including a reporter who was messaged by a man who found her lost laptop. When I checked my Facebook messages there, I found hundreds of fan pages that I have liked sending me out information. Most of it can be categorized as spam but some of it I may have wanted to read. So I encourage you to go check that "other" tab…there may be something you have missed.

YouTube’s most-shared advertisements of 2011

Advertising online is a big market, but it also is a big enough market that if your advertisement is funny/heartwarming/interesting you may experience a hit product. People love destruction, love crazy stunts and love action in advertisements. They also seem to like to be tricked. This playlist shows all the commercials that went viral on YouTube for the year of 2011. Enjoy! http://on.mash.to/youtubeads2011

Score mobile application for BlackBerry Playbook

If you are a Blackberry user, I’m sure you are always looking for cool applications to load up onto your device. I certainly know I am. Well for sports fanatics, Score Mobile will be exactly what you’re looking for. First off, when you open the application on the Playbook, it’s absolutely gorgeous. I can’t express that enough. Also the layout is very nice and it displays all the main sports feeds on the left hand side. They cover the CFL, NFL, NHL, NCAAF, NBA, and MLB. Once you choose on of those sports on the left hand tab, you can view all the scores, as well as all the news and video pertaining to that league. This application is by far my favorite application for the BlackBerry Playbook, and I use it nearly every day. The application is free, and is waiting to be downloaded in the App World.

Top iPhone Apps for 2011

The award for best iPhone application of the year was given to Instagram, I have talked about Instagram several times in the past Wired weeks. But for new readers, it’s basically a photo-taking app that can add a lot of cool effects to those photos. This app is very deserving of taking home this award, but I think the game Tiny Wings should have won. Nevertheless, my opinion doesn’t matter. They also posted a list of the Top Paid, Top Free, and Top Grossing. The list is very cool, and it’s good for people who are looking for new apps, or who are just interested. So here you go!

TOP PAID
1. Angry Birds
2. Fruit Ninja
3. Angry Birds Seasons
4. Cut the Rope
5. Tiny Wings
6. Angry Birds Rio
7. Words With Friends
8. Camera+
9. Doodle Jump
10. Plants vs. Zombies

TOP FREE
1. Facebook
2. Pandora
3. Words With Friends
4. Angry Birds Free
5. Skype
6. Netflix
7. Angry Birds Rio Free
8. Groupon
9. Fruit Ninja Lite
10. Twitter

TOP GROSSING
1. Tap Zoo
2. Angry Birds
3. Zombie Farm
4. Tap Pet Hotel
5. Poker by Zynga
6. Smurfs’ Village
7. Texas Poker
8. Haypi Kingdo,
9. Infinity Blade
10. MotionX GPS Device