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Tag: sxsw

  • Boondock Saints Video Game Announced At SXSW

    Fans of the film “The Boondock Saints” have been waiting a long time to hear news of a video game, and yesterday they got it at the Austin, TX event South By Southwest.

    Although the official announcement included more of a “Q&A” session with the actors than anything else, fans didn’t seem to mind, keeping the actors talking for over 45 minutes, as reported on TheVerge.com today. Details of the game are still a little sketchy, but it has been confirmed that main characters Connor and Murphy MacManus and Rocco will be voiced by the original actors–Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, and David Della Rocco. They will also have a hand in the development of the game, much to the appreciation of SXSW fans.

    Although the film was something of a sleeper hit after it was released in 1999, it has garnered so much of a cult following since that a sequel was made a full ten years later, and a rumor of a third film–as well as a television show– is circulating around the web.

    Below is a short clip from SXSW and the video announcement released to attendees.

    As a fan of the films myself, I’m fairly excited about the idea of a game. Early views of it look pretty good, which makes me hopeful that the cheesy element that creeps into a lot of movie-turned-game graphics will be absent.

    Twitter users had this to say about the game:

    @purple_n_orange
    Jason    A Boondock Saints video game voiced by the original cast. I don’t care if this turns out to be awful I will buy it and play it! 22 minutes ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @Indigowd
    Jojje Dalunde    Boondock Saints the video game. What’s next? A sequel to The Matrix? They wouldn’t..would they? #worried #ipdeath #saveitwithdropkickmurphys 56 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @cody_offield
    Cody Offield    I’m setting at home board thinking i can’t wait till the boondock saints game comes out. @seanflanery @wwwbigbaldhead 13 hours ago via Twitter for Android ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @losernames
    losernames    Also, I’m glad “The Boondock Saints” video game is coming out, to appease the zero people who were asking for it. 14 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

  • Instagram For Android Coming “Very Soon.”

    Last week we reported on rumors that Instagram co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom might use his platform at this year’s South By Southwest (SXSW) conference to announce the launch of Instagram for Android.

    Sure enough, speaking at the conference yesterday, Systrom did just that. Though the app is not available yet, he promised that it would be coming “very soon.” In an interview with TechCrunch, Systrom promised that the app would be “better than our iOS app” in some ways.

    Systrom also highlighted the popularity of Instagram. One of the first apps to take full advantage of the much-improved camera of the iPhone 4, Instagram has been downloaded 27 million times since launching in 2010, Systrom said. In the year and a half since launch the app has remained iPhone-only, a fact with frustrated many Android users. The immense popularity of the Android platform, though, means that an Instagram Android app was virtually inevitable.

    There is no word on Instagram for Android’s availability apart from Systrom’s statement that it was coming “very soon.” The app is currently in private beta testing. There is also no word on price, however the app will almost certainly be free, just like the iOS version.

    While many Android users are understandably excited by this news, the reactions on Twitter tend to focus on how long it’s taken the Android version to be ready, with a few using it as an opportunity to score points in the never-ending Android vs. iPhone debate. Check out some of the reactions below.

    @mojorojo
    Rohan Joshi    Hey cool, Android got instagram! Let me be the first to welcome you guys to 2010, you’ll love it here 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @DJDreamer524
    SIЯ DRΣ∀M mICH∀ΣL 3    So I hear that Android is getting Instagram… Congrats.. Better late then never I guess. 12 hours ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @scarlettashley1
    Scarlett Ashley    Oh yay! Instagram annouces an Android app. Now I can see even more crappy pictures of ducks and Starbucks cups. Whoo-hoo!! #sarcasm 4 minutes ago via TweetCaster for Android ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @DDsD
    David Olsen    Instagram for Android? Pretty sure there are no hipsters with Android phone guys – save your time. 10 hours ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Are you excited to see Instagram coming to Android? Let us know what you think in the comments.

  • Marvel Unveils “Marvel ReEvolution” at SXSW

    Marvel Comics is embracing the digital age more than ever as they reveal ReEvolution at South by Southwest (SXSW). Since the popularity of the tablet has grown in recent years, comic book creators have adapted to this new medium by converting their publications to digital formats. Marvel is taking this one step further with “Marvel Infinite Comics”, a new comic book format, and “Marvel AR”, a new app that allows users to be further immersed in their comic book experience. Both are to be released with Avengers vs. X-Men #1 on April 4th.

    Marvel Infinite Comics is a new digital medium that allows creators to add motion and 3D effects to a comic within the typical format. Creators will now make the comic within this format instead of doing the drawings on paper and then converting them to digital.

    “We call these Marvel Infinite Comics because the storytelling possibilities are, frankly, infinite. Writers and artists now have a whole host of new tools at their disposal to redefine the comic book medium,” said Alex Alonso, Marvel comics Editor in Chief. “Current tablets and smartphones, along with comiXology’s Guided View technology, allow us to develop new, full length stories for a different medium that are very much truly comics—but experienced by readers in a way no other major company has ever executed.”

    Marvel AR features include the ability to scan comics with the Marvel AR logo and view them with the app. Added 3D effects and bonus material bring the comics to life. Users can view original pencil drawings and behind the scenes content from the creation of their favorite comics.

    In an interview with Forbes Magazine, Alonso outlines the details of Marvel ReEvolution and the future he sees for comic book technology:

  • SXSW 2012: Android Powered LEGO Robots Clash For Fame And Fortune

    LEGO may be a building toy, but people can also build awesome robots with it. Google is doing just that this year at SXSW with the Google LEGO MINDSTORMS Hackathon.

    The event sees teams building a robot out of LEGO running on Google’s Android operating system. Teams have from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to build their robot and make it race ready before the main event starting at 8 p.m. It’s pretty awesome as its like the Iron Chef of LEGO robots with the teams only being allowed to use the pieces they are given at the event. After they build their LEGO robot, teams will have to use an Android device and the MINDdroid app to compete.

    If you are at SXSW, you might want to check out the event and watch the teams building their awesome LEGO robots. For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to be at SXSW, Google will providing a live stream on YouTube of the main event at 7:30 p.m. CST. You can check out the video here.

    In the meantime, here’s last year’s LEGO event:

  • MapQuest Vibe Gaming, Search Features Launch At SXSW

    AOL’s MapQuest announced the launch of some new features for its MapQuest Vibe product (web and iPhone), bringing a gaming element to it.

    That includes check-ins, “neighborhood influence,” which lets users share votes, comments and check-ins across Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter, the ability to compete against friends and other people for said influence, the ability to win VIP badges, and an activity wall, which includes search functionality the company has retooled to provide faster results. Users can now search for businesses by name or reputation, using keywords.

    It uses “Vibe Score” to rank criteria like user votes and MapQuest’s own info on reputation, popularity, edginess, walkability and other metrics.

    “What nudges someone through the door of a restaurant when unsure of the potential outcome is usually a friend’s opinion,” said Michael Iams, principal product manager, MapQuest Mobile. “The MapQuest Vibe iPhone app unites and organizes the shared wisdom of a person’s social network when hunger strikes and neighborhoods are unfamiliar. Even locals sometimes need a little coaxing to make a decision on where to go, which mqVibe answers with quick, real-time recommendations.”

    MapQuest says mqVibe’s algorithm generates real-time rankings in 50,000 neighborhoods, 30,000 cities and 50,000 “hotspots” around the U.S.

    “MapQuest Vibe is very useful during an event like SXSW, where you need to be able to find the best places in Austin to eat, grab a drink or just hang out,” said Vijay Bangaru, VP of product at MapQuest. “Our initial launch of mqVibe introduced the neighborhood as a new context for local discovery. This latest version layers in the expertise of the community and sets up a framework to rewarding our users with influence and reputation. mqVibe now gives you merchant deals, the ability to have targeted local information, and other new offerings that address a lot of the needs of the SXSW crowd.”

    They’re actually launching a national tour for mqVibe, starting with SXSW in Austin.

    At SXSW, MapQuest is giving users the opportunity to win prizes like cowboy boots, an Austin BBQ dinner and event Austin-brewed beer. Users can show MapQuest’s street team members, who will be sprinkled throughout the town from the sound of it, that they’ve downloaded the iPhone app. The app will feature five daily specials and flash-mob giveaways throughout the entire SXSW event.

    MapQuest currently has 36 million unique monthly visitors, according to the company.

  • Eyejot Launches SXSW Edition Of Video Business Card iPhone App

    Eyejot launched a new version of its video business card iPhone app for SXSW. The app lets users create and send digital business cards, and send them via email with a QR code to the sender’s contact info along with a link to a Google map of where the contact was made.

    “It’s one thing to tell someone where you met them. It’s an entirely different matter to actually show them,” the company says on its app page. “So, the Eyejot vCard SXSW Edition app remembers where you were when you sent your vCard and sends it along with your video.”

    The iTunes description says:

    Designed expressly for SXSW attendees in Austin, the Eyejot vCard SXSW Edition makes sharing personal contact information fast, fun and, best of all, memorable. Forget old-fashioned business cards. With Eyejot’s vCard SXSW Edition you’ll be able to share your contact information and introductory video with everyone you meet at SXSW.

    With lanyard mode turned on your iPhone or iPod Touch doubles as a cool name badge you can wear suspended from your neck with a lanyard-equipped case. Flip your device around and your ready to send a new Eyejot vCard. To get the best use of lanyard mode be sure to turn off your device’s lock screen while you’re using it (and turn it back on after your event).

    “We all go to events and need to share valuable contact information, and with Eyejot vCard, iPhone users can stay better organized and deliver more personable and memorable impressions,” says Eyejot President David Geller. “Our special vCard application will give SXSW attendees a chance to put Eyejot vCard through its paces and exchange contact information more quickly, easily and memorably than ever before.”

    More SXSW coverage here.

  • Vic Gundotra Talks Google+ At SXSW, Draws Some Criticism

    Vic Gundotra, Google’s Senior Vice President, Engineering, talked about Google+ at SXSW in a conversation with Guy Kawasaki, now immortalized in a hip hop song.

    Much of the conversation was a rehash of things we already knew about – Google’s new privacy policy, Google+ growth, etc. However, Gundotra did shed a little light on what many already suspected. Google’s not counting Google+ users simply as just those who are spending a lot of time using Google+ itself. It counts users who sign into Google+, and use another Google product within a month. Presumably, this includes Gmail, YouTube, a signed in Google search (complete with Search Plus Your World), Google Reader, etc. Under this philosophy, he said Google+ has 100 million “30-day active” users.

    It’s not hard to see why people would criticize Google’s user counts for Google+, because the easy thing to do is compare it to Facebook and its 800 million+ users, but it actually makes sense if you look at Google’s strategy, which includes the integration of Google+ into its various products and the consolidation of privacy policies. Google has had the “Google+ is Google” mentality from the start. Google+ was always described as a “social layer” as much as people want to compare plus.google.com to Facebook, Twitter, etc.

    Like Gundotra said at SXSW, it’s more like comparing it just to people looking at Facebook’s news feed or “liking” content”. Google – the Google account – is what it’s all about. Google’s “features” are spread out across products, though they’re working to tie them more together. Facebook has Facebook videos. It’s just part of Facebook. Google has YouTube. Likewise, photos are just part of Facebook. Google has Picasa web albums (and Google+ photos together). And so on.

    Kawasaki asked him why Google+ still feels like a ghost town, and Gundotra is quoted as saying, “Make sure you’re using it correctly.”

    It’s worth noting that Kawasaki was hyping up Google+ as much as anybody at BlogWorld in November. “I think Google+ is to Facebook what Mac is to Windows. Think about that for a second,” he said at the time.

    Gundotra also said he wants to make sure the developer environment for Google+ is just right before opening it up. CNN quotes him: “I’m going to release that (programming interface) when I know we’re not going to screw over developers. We hold ourselves to a higher standard. Sometimes that means restraint.”

    Here’s what some people are saying on Google+ itself:

    Thom Kennon says, “Gundotra sez G+ not dead yet http://goo.gl/5IdCv 50mil daily users yet still, 4 me, last 2+ weeks utterly crickets. Work w/ me people…”

    Kosso K writes:

    In order to not make a mistake, +Vic Gundotra is deciding to do nothing at all.

    Back in October at the web20summit, he said they want to be “cautious” and they don’t want to make the same “mistakes that others have made” where they had to offend and upset developers by having to roll back access to certain things over time.

    Where I come from, that’s gutless behaviour. Grow some balls.

    You won’t learn a thing by doing nothing and making no mistakes.
    It’s pathetic.

    Kam Rafique writes:

    “Make sure you are using it correctly” says Vic Gundotra about Google+ to an audience hosted by Guy Kawasaki.

    William Edward Deming taught the Japanese about design in the 50’s and one of his 14 points was that to reduce defects (errors) in manufacturing, it is not the fault of the user but the fault of the process.

    Google+ should not blame the users for mistakes.

    #sxsw #google+ #ghosttown

    Amit Agarwal says:

    +Vic Gundotra says that +Google+ doesn’t have an API yet as stories from third-party apps could “overwhelm” your stream. I will probably use Google Plus more if they made it easy for publishers to cross-publish stuff. Let the users decide.

    Vincent Leeuw says:

    This is pretty much a problem for most of my non-G+ friends as well. Some are actually interested in +Google+ yet without any way to easily share readily available data it becomes rather annoying.

    Lead image courtesy: Hitomi Kumasaka via Google+

  • SXSW Day One Recap By Way Of Dope Rap

    SXSW Day One Recap By Way Of Dope Rap

    You don’t hear raps about Guy Kawasaki and Google+ very often, but this one, which has a pretty hot beat, I might add, fills that void. It gives a nice, brief recap of day one of SXSWi in a way that’s entertaining and easy to digest.

    There’s plenty going on that the recap didn’t touch on. The event is just too big, that I don’t believe any one report or even publication could capture all of it, but everybody has their highlights. No pun intended.

    Perhaps we’ll see some social discovery-based freestyling before the event is over. That’s clearly one of the big trends in Austin this year.

  • Street Treats Puts The Homeless To Work At SXSW

    Mobile Loaves & Fishes started an initiative for SXSW, which put homeless people to work selling ice cream to attendees. It’s called Street Treats, and the vendors, reportedly, get to keep all of the revenue.

    There was a brief mention of it on a local Austin news program:

    Here’s how the Street Treats site describes the project:

    Street Treats is a chance for homeless and formerly homeless individuals to earn legal, dignified living on the streets of Austin.

    When you buy a treat for yourself, you’re also making it possible for someone else to pull themselves up off the streets.

    Founded as a part of Mobile Loaves & Fishes ReWork Project, our ice cream vendors offer delicious, wholesome Blue Bell ice cream treats for $1.00 a piece.

    Doing good never tasted so sweet!

    Here’s what they’ve actually been selling:

    Chooclate Fudge Bar
    Strawberry Fruit Bar
    Rainbow Freeze
    Ice Cream Sandwich
    Vanilla Country Cone (topped with chocolate and nuts)

    They also gave out free t-shirts to their first 100 customers.

    They’re supposed to be tweeting out vendor locations throughout SXSW, but interestingly, when I try to go to the official Twitter account for the initiative, it’s telling me the account is suspended.

    According to the announcement for the project, they sold until midnight on Friday. It’s unclear if it will continue throughout the event.

  • Adobe Reveals Full Line-up for SXSW

    Adobe Reveals Full Line-up for SXSW

    Adobe will host the following panel discussions at SXSW this week. If you are in Austin, check them out…

    The Future of Access to Digital Broadcast Video
    Friday, March 9, 2012, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
    Austin Convention Center Room 9 ABC

    A Panel of Media Professionals will help Adobe professionals understand accessibility requirements and how to better implement them. Presenters include Andrew Kirkpatrick, Group Prod Mgr, Accessibility, Adobe Systems Inc and Craig Cuttner, Sr VP, Advanced Technology, Home Box Office.

    The State of Browser Developer Tools
    Saturday, March 10, 2012, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
    Austin Convention Center Ballroom A

    This series will focus on tools for debugging web-sites, remote mobile device debugging and other functions. Presenters include Brandon Strom, Garann Means, and Joe Stagner.

    Social Role-Playing: Brands and Publishers
    Monday, March 12, 2012, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
    Sheraton Austin, Creekside I & II

    A panel for publishers, Experts discuss the role of publishing in social media.

    Adobe Creative Camp – a full day of Adobe fun
    Monday, March 12, 2012, 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
    Radisson Town Lake Ballroom

    • 9:30 a.m.: The Future of HTML5 Motion Design

      • Paul Trani talks about Adobe Edge, tools for creating motion and interactive web content.

    • 11:00 a.m.: Boost your Mobile Workflow with Adobe

      • Adobe will unveil a new product for web designers and developers to help with mobile web workflow.

    • 12:30 p.m.: “The Page is Dead,” Responding to the Responsive Web

      • A session focused on design philosophy and development techniques

    • 3:30 p.m.: Demystifying Devices: Understanding the Future of the Web and Apps

      • Discussion on CSS, HTML5, jQuery Mobile, PhoneGap, TypeKit and Sencha Touch

    • 3:30 p.m.: Efficient Frontier/Context Optional Meet-up
    • 5:00 p.m.: Building online businesses with Adobe Business Catalyst and Dreamweaver CS5.5

    Efficient Frontier/Adobe Happy Hour
    Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
    Austin Convention Center

    Adobe wrap party – Adobe will give away Efficient Frontier branded Moleskine Journals with one Golden Ticket inside. One lucky happy hour guest will get setup with CS5.5

  • More Relevant Review Service Launches At SXSW

    Are you sick of recommendations from people who don’t know you and don’t seem to suggest anything that suits you? So is LOCALFAVE. Today, they announced their official launch at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. The utility of the sites services comes from the fact that all their recommendations will come from friends who live in close proximity to you. The greatest thing about them are they’re discrete, the recommendations don’t tell you the exact date and time of the review.

    Vishal K. Gupta, CEO of localfave commented on the service:

    “Location-based services are so helpful, but the average user may not want to explicitly share their location as many services require,”

    “At localfave, our goal is to provide a vehicle for our users to rank and categorize the places they’ve been in the past and to share their experiences easily with friends. That’s localfave. It’s a location based service for everyone.”

    Probably the worst thing about a recommendation from a friend is that they expect you to like what they recommended. Unfortunately that’s not always the case. Not everybody has the same basis for comparison or gets as easily excited about new businesses.

    Pat McCreary, CTO of localfave comments on this phenomenon:

    “We’ve noticed that it is harder and harder to discover truly great venues. One person’s 5-star review, is another person’s 3-star. This is the reason we created the idea of a ‘fave’. Ultimately, knowing that your friend’s favorite sushi joint is around the corner is much more important than knowing that it has averaged 3.5 stars.”

    Their ‘fave’ button is a way to keep things in perspective, you know how some people are, everything you mention is their “favorite’. They’re just very excitable people. Localfave challenges them with the ‘fave’ button. Once you mark something as a ‘fave’ you can’t feature anything else as a ‘have’ in the same category. After all, there is only one favorite, that’s what the word means. I can appreciate this option from Localfave.

    Sounds like a well needed service if you ask me. I look forward to getting some recommendations from their site. Has potential to be more than just another review site. I like the features they are showcasing and I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it comes to my computer.

  • Glomper Adds You To The SXSW Party

    Today marks the launch of a new free mobile app by Glomper Events created just for people who want all their social activities in one place. The app, which was unveiled at SXSW, allows users to create as well as find all the best local events, as well as share photos and comments through it’s “lifestream” feature. Thanks to Facebook Connect, the app is a one-stop-shop for people on the go, eliminating the need to search across various social networks for specific event details.

    At SXSW–one of the largest festivals held annually in the country– attendees who download the app from Itunes or from the Android Market will have instant access to all the events and where their friends will be during the week. An interesting feature is the interactive map, which allows users to see where their friends are in real time and plan their outings together–a technologically advanced version of Harry Potter’s Marauder’s Map.

    Of course, with any app that uses so much personal information, privacy is always a concern with users. As Chris Crum reported earlier, “social discovery” has become a factor in which apps are used most. But according to Alexander Borodich, CEO of Glomper, people are eager to use social media to include friends in their activities.

    “Social media plays a huge role in our online and offline social lives – that’s how we hear about events, conferences, meet-ups; decide which clubs, restaurants, bars are the best; what parties are going on, if it’s rocking or if it’s a dud – and for the busy social butterfly, there’s currently no way to track it all in one place – instead we’re forced to scour our social networks for information and piece it all together ourselves,” says Borodich. “Glomper Events is the perfect mobile app for everyone with an active social life, who likes to explore new places, and meet new people – we want to bring the engagement of social media to their offline world, and what better place to launch than at SXSW.”

  • South by Southwest Evolution Through The Ages

    If you’re like a lot people you’re probably wondering how the South By Southwest (SXSW) Festival got to be such a big deal and who attends the event. The following infographic from Rocksauce answers that exact questions and gives us some fun facts about what goes on there as well.

    Before we get into the infographic I’ll give you a brief summary of the typical demographic which attends SXSW. A majority of SXSW attendees are between the ages of 21 and 50 and make over $85,000 per year. In fact, if you make under $55,000 per year there’s a slim chance you’ll be attending. Successful startups that have launched from the SXSW festival include Twitter and Foursquare. Most interactive registrants came from the West, Southwest, and Northeast.

    Here’s the facts according to Rocksauce:

    There you have it, it was planned small, turned out huge and has just kept getting bigger ever since. Sounds like Woodstock. Hopefully you are lucky enough to attend. I wonder what the future will bring for the festival?

  • How to Recognize an SXSW Fan on Facebook

    Swaylo, a facebook app that measures how much attention you get on what you post, has released a new infographic measuring the trends of the 200,000+ people who have liked SXSW on Facebook.

    If you like SXSW on Facebook, odds are you also like Johnny Cash, Radiohead, and The Doors. You are probably listening to NPR, drinking Dos Equis, eating Chik-Fil-A and watching Dexter, though probably not at the same time.

    All the hipster fanfare is there, minus the PBR…

    You may also like wayfarer glasses, emo hair, and handle bar moustaches, though I don’t think that was part of the study.

    @thedroidguy
    Droid Guy    Pregaming for #sxsw listening to Skrillex on TDGN on @slackerradio getting my hipster on……. 2 minutes ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @jirvindally
    J. Irvin Dally    SxSW = the hipster Burning Man Festival 9 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @tikidaisy
    Alison    If hipster were a religion, Austin would be Mecca and #SxSW he hadj. 28 minutes ago via Plume for Android ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

  • Glomper App Launches Today at SXSW

    Glomper App Launches Today at SXSW

    Glomper Event is a new app that allows users to get pertinent details about an event, with photos, conversations, comments, and interactions while on the go. It launched today at SXSW to give festival attendees a better glimpse of its capabilities with a pre-populated list of all the SXSW events.

    The Glomper interface looks a lot like Pinterest, with streaming photos from events aligning down the center of the page. The user can click on an event to see the full details, including pictures, people who are attending and comments. When you click to view an event, it sort of looks like a Facebook home page for parties instead of people. Glomper even includes a feature where you can “heart” something by clicking an outline of a heart which fills in when you “like”, um, “heart” something.

    The free app version is now available for iPhone or Android phones, and lists all of the parties and activities going on at SXSW. Event attendees can keep track of where all there friends are and share photos of what they’re doing.

    Glomper features

    • See full stream of one event – pictures, comments, tags, and conversation happening there
    • Offline mode
    • Interactive map so people can see where their friends are hanging out.
    • Uses Facebook Connect, allowing anyone to share pictures and posts.

    Here is what Glomper CEO, Alexander Borodich said about the launch and the hopes he has for Glomper:

    “Social media plays a huge role in our online and offline social lives – that’s how we hear about events, conferences, meet-ups; decide which clubs, restaurants, bars are the best; what parties are going on, if it’s rocking or if it’s a dud – and for the busy social butterfly, there’s currently no way to track it all in one place – instead we’re forced to scour our social networks for information and piece it all together ourselves. Glomper Events is the perfect mobile app for everyone with an active social life, who likes to explore new places, and meet new people – we want to bring the engagement of social media to their offline world, and what better place to launch than at SXSW.”

  • Mozilla Teams With New York Times For OpenNews

    Mozilla is planning to make an announcement at SXSW 2012 on Saturday that The New York Times will be joining the Knight-Mozilla OpenNews project. The project is designed to drive technological innovation in journalism by placing fellows in the newsrooms of various news organizations to work alongside developers and journalists. Those who receive the fellowships share their work with other members of the OpenNews project, allowing others to see and duplicate what advances are being made.

    The New York Times is one of four partners that are joining the project. ProPublica, Spiegel Online (in Germany), and La Nacion (in Buenos Aires) are also new partners this year. These four new organizations join the BBC, the Guardian, Zeit Online, the Boston Globe, and Al Jazeera as partners in the program, which was founded in the spring of 2011.

    The OpenNews Project will be awarding eight new fellowships in the coming months, with applications opening on April 9. Fellows spend a year embedded with one of the eight partner organizations, writing code alongside developers and journalists. Aron Pilhofer, Editor of Interactive News at The New York Times, expressed his enthusiasm at the project, which he said grands those in the news industry the opportunity to “dig deep on a subject of critical importance” in a way they usually can’t.

  • Foursquare and AmEx Offer SXSW 2012 Deals

    Foursquare and AmEx Offer SXSW 2012 Deals

    Foursquare, the location-based social networking app that debuted at SXSW is heading back to SXSW 2012. And, they want to give you some money.

    If you have a Foursquare account and an American Express card (U.S. only), you can sync the two together and get discounts galore when you visit SXSW 2012. Foursquare recommends that you use their app while in Austin, specifically the Explore feature. When you do so, you will be shown the best places in town, based on where you, your friends and Austin’s local experts have been. In the app, you will see deals for American Express card holders marked in orange.

    The Foursquare blog tells how to redeem your $10 savings at all the locations you’ll find marked:

    Redeeming your $10 is super easy – tap ‘Load to Card’ on the Special screen once you’ve checked in, pay with your American Express® card, and see the $10 credit on your bill in a few days. No need to show your phone to an employee or anything. (If you want to be super prepared, you can sync your card in advance here.)

    According to Foursquare, there are thousands of places at which you can redeem a $10 savings.

    The American Express Terms and Conditions on the Foursquare program do mention a few more details.

    Once you have completed the registration/syncing process, when you use your Foursquare account to “check in” to a location for which an Offer exists, an electronic message will be sent to your mobile device through your Foursquare account notifying you of an available Offer (such as, by way of example, a statement credit or point of sale discount) and you must activate certain Offers by pressing the “Load to Card” or similar button. To redeem an Offer, you must follow the instructions in the Offer Terms and use your Registered Card for the entire purchase described in the Offer at the location described in the Offer, unless otherwise indicated in the Offer Terms.

    So, apparently there will be offers sent to your phone via Foursquare, not just orange markers within the app itself.

  • SXSW 2012 Musicians Get Exposure at Houlihan’s

    SXSW 2012 Musicians Get Exposure at Houlihan’s

    For promising musicians looking for their big-break, being “H-Listed” could be the ticket. Houlihan’s Restaurants, known for infusing their music strategy into the dining experience by featuring indie bands and lesser known tracks, launched the multi-faceted campaign today to provide budding musicians a vast, new platform to be heard.

    The perks of being “H-Listed” include promotion of artists and bands within 83 Houlihan’s restaurants across the country and more than 1 million impressions online through Houlihan’s website, social media channels and email marketing campaigns. A new group or artist will be featured the first Friday of every month, and guests will be able to download the artist’s music and interviews directly to their phones by scanning in-store QR codes.

    The first three “H-Listed” artists, the Parlotones, Big Harp, and Feathers, will perform at the Houlihan’s sponsored Artist Showcase during The South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival on Friday, March 16, 2012. The Houlihan’s Artist Showcase will be held at the Speakeasy in Austin, TX and all performances will be filmed by PlayNetwork and made available on www.Houlihans.com/music beginning March 30, 2012.

    “Music plays such an important role in our lives, and sharing music has become a way to connect with others in a meaningful way,” said Jen Gulvik, VP of Marketing and Creative Director for Houlihan’s. “Music triggers memories, it energizes, it shapes perceptions and identities for people and brands alike. H-Listed allows us to share our own musical discoveries with our guests, while providing immense exposure for lesser-known artists who don’t have the financial backing of major record labels.”

    Starting March 9, 2012, artists who would like to be considered for “H-Listed” can apply online at www.Houlihans.com/music. Talent is chosen based on the synergy between the artist’s style and Houlihan’s in-restaurant music mix.

    Throughout the years, Houlihan’s has passionately supported independent artists, along with music education through fundraising for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, an organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America’s public schools. Over the last four years, Houlihan’s Restaurants has donated more than $168,000 for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, which equates to fully restoring five music education programs and impacting the lives of more than 3,300 students.

    More information about Houlihan’s sponsored Artist Showcase and how to get “H-Listed” can be found at www.Houlihans.com/music

  • BrandCinema Seeks Partners At SXSW 2012

    BrandCinema Seeks Partners At SXSW 2012

    BrandCinema is a new digital development and production company that seeks to create partnerships and collaboration between story writers, online sponsors, and digital agencies. They come to South by Southwest (SXSW) 2012 with a variety of new shows featuring some of the most prominent screen writers in the digital domain today including Tina Cesa Ward, Daryn Strauss and Andrew Leitch.

    At SXSW they are hoping to find new sponsorship and new platforms to carry their content. They have yet to introduce an array of strategies they have devised to promote their forthcoming creative works. What BrandCinema hopes to create is strong story influenced worlds that encompass the entire experience from advertising to every other element along the way.

    Here’s what BrandCinema already has in the works:

    WEIGHT – a smart dramedy about Claire Carlson, who returns home from a reality weight-loss show 100 pounds lighter, to find family life is sometimes excess baggage. by Daryn Strauss

    EXTENDED LEASE – Four estranged cousins inherit their grandparents’ large old country house outside of New York City with the stipulation they spend time living together as a family, causing some changes to their individual city lives. by Tina Cesa Ward

    THE RUNNER – Money is the most dangerous sport in this dramatic series exposing the dark machine of building sports empires. Friday Night Lights crashes into The Wire as we follow the wild and shady exploits of DSM, a top sports agency looking to corner the nation’s best collegiate athletes. by The Raven Film Company.

    MONTAUK BOYS – a sci-fi drama about love and friendship – complicated by the small matter of time. Inspired by legends of 1950s time travel experiments out of Camp Hero at the Long Island coastal town. by Andrew Leitch and Alexandra Tolk.

    You can find BrandCinema at this years SXSW festival in Austin, Texas or you can visit their site to learn more. The digital development company chose to announce their launch at SXSW because of the exposure the festival brings.

    BrandCinema co-founder Jennifer Warren commented on the decision:

    “We decided to announce our launch at SXSW because it’s the perfect place to marry brand interaction with creativity,”

  • What Is Bing Doing At SXSW?

    What Is Bing Doing At SXSW?

    As previously reported, Bing’s Duane Forrester is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion at SXSW this weekend, called Dear Google & Bing: Help Me Rank Better! Also scheduled for that session are Matt Cutts and Danny Sullivan, but Matt Cutts tweeted today that he won’t be able to make it as his wife is having surgery, though he’s going to try and appear by way of Skype.

    This is not the only presence Bing will have at the event, however. Microsoft ran down a few ways Bing will be participating at SXSW in a blog post today. Microsoft’s Leslie Feinzaig and Jacquelyn Krones will be in the session Mind Reading: Identifying Needs Users Don’t Know They Have on Saturday. Here’s the official description for that:

    When your product is facing serious competition, knowing what unmet need still exists is crucial to planning your next move. But in surveys you find that everyone is reasonably satisfied with all of the key features in your competitor’s products and they do not perceive that their experience could be better than it currently is. So how do you identify opportunities that seem not to exist? In this session, using Bing’s insight development practices as a case study, we will discuss techniques for gaining deep understanding of and empathy with customer’s pain to spur product innovations. We will share insights that we’ve identified that point to broad cultural shifts in how people think about knowledge that impact what is perceived as trustworthy and what is complete information required to make important decisions. We will share both how we were able to identify these needs and specifically what these needs are in an effort to encourage thinking about how to better meet them. This session is sponsored by Bing.

    From March 9 – 12, Bing will host the Bing Lot, where the company will show off some Bing Booster startups. Bing Booster is Bing’s program “aimed to help ideas flourish, stuff get built and services grow,” as they put it. It’s a parking lot with food, drinks and announcements.

    Bing Lot

    On March 9, there’s a panel series presented by PSFK in partnership with Bing. They’re also hosting a cocktail party. The event page says:

    Working with their partners at bing, PSFK will reveal five key trends which every attendee ‘Needs To Know’: Social-Pairing, Co-Sharing, Me-TV, Sonic-Interface and Gaming-For-Good – key themes you should be on the lookout for as you go through your SXSW Interactive experience.

    These trends will be brought to life with statistical data from our partner bing – plus a series of short talks with innovators. Hosted by PSFK’s Piers Fawkes, the speakers include: gaming guru Jane McGonigal, Reece Pacheco of Shelby.TV, Eric Garland of LiveNation, David Jones of Shazam, John Zimmer of Zimride, Daniel Hengelveld of Neighborgoods and David Polinchock of AT&T AdWorks.

    Finally, on March11, Bing is teaming up with I Can Has Cheezburger on an event called Keep Calm and Internet. It’s simply described as “a night of memes, music, and Internet magic.” It also promises “super special guests”.

  • Matt Cutts Won’t Be At SXSW

    For the search crowd, the SXSW session to take place on Saturday called “Dear Google & Bing: Help Me Rank Better!” is no doubt on the list of those to attend. It was supposed to have Google’s head of web spam Matt Cutts, Bing Sr. Product Manager Duane Forrester (who has kind of become known as Bing’s Matt Cutts) and Search Engine Land Editor in Chief Danny Sullivan, who has established him as one of the leading voices in the search industry.

    View our SXSW coverage here.

    Matt Cutts announced, however, that due to his wife having surgery, he will be unable to attend. He tweeted early this morning:

    @mattcutts
    Matt Cutts    My wife has foot surgery tomorrow, so I won’t be able to make it to SXSW in person: http://t.co/CRRAulpC I’ll try to Skype in for the panel. 15 hours ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    He actually wrote about the news on his blog a few days ago, but at that point thought he would still be able to do the panel:

    Every so often real life catches up with you in ways you didn’t expect. My wife broke her foot a few days ago. She took a unfortunate spill off a stepstool, but she’s telling everyone it was a ninja fight. Those ninjas pack a wallop: she’ll wear a cast for up to 6-8 weeks, and the doctor said she can’t drive with her current cast. Overall, the broken foot has been a good reminder that having your bike stolen, while annoying, isn’t too horrible in the grand scheme of things.

    One wrinkle is that my wife and I were going to spend about a week together at South by Southwest, and I was scheduled to participate on a panel. She’s not going now for obvious reasons (ninja fight). I’ve rejiggered my travel so I’m only away from my wife for a day but I believe I can still do the panel.

    That now has an update on it, reflecting what he said in the tweet.

    Fans will no doubt be disappointed. I’ve seen this guy walk the halls at conferences, constantly being surrounded by people who want to talk to him. Just like a rock star. The Twitterverse is understanding, however.

    @toniCarr
    Toni Carreiro    @mattcutts You are a great husband. Our philosophy is family first. Best of luck to your wife (and you too!) 🙂 15 hours ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @SusannaSpeier
    Susanna Speier    @mattcutts sounds painful. Hope she feels better. Please send her my best. 15 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Here’s the official description for the session:

    If you build it, they might not come, if you haven’t thought about how search engines view your web site. Forget testing for Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari. Search engines are the common browser that everyone uses. The good news is that search engine optimization (SEO) doesn’t mean terrible design or some type of black-magic trickery. Rather, there are good, sensible things that everyone should do that pleases both search engines and human visitors. In this session, representatives from Google and Bing provide this type of advice. They’ll even get you up to speed on the impact that social media is playing on search results. Even better, it’s all Q&A. Bring your top questions about how they rank sites and get answers directly from the source.

    Cutts, Forrester and Sullivan all put together a session together at last year’s SXSW as well. Here’s our coverage of that. It could give you an idea of the kinds of things to expect, though a lot has certainly happened in search in a year’s time. I’m sure Search Plus Your World, for example will be a topic of discussion this year.

    You can find plenty of advice from Matt Cutts on various topics here.