MySpace about to lose out to Facebook in U.S.?

The team at Pingdom, a firm that focuses primarily on uptime and performance, has posted a new blog entry estimating that Facebook will overtake MySpace as the top social network in the U.S. within a month or two. That’s largely because, according to the same numbers, Facebook has doubled in size in the past year.

Several months ago, traffic firm ComScore noted that Facebook–a year ago far smaller than the News Corp.-owned MySpace–was starting to pass its rival in worldwide traffic. But in the U.S., which still has the big ad dollars, MySpace remained bigger.

There’s something to note, though: Pingdom used Google Trends to make its assessment. Google Trends traffic data is one of only many sources of statistics out there, and it’s collected primarily from people who have installed the Google toolbar. Numbers from Compete.com, for example, show that MySpace is still ahead.

Even according to Pingdom’s numbers, MySpace doesn’t appear to be shrinking. The performance firm thinks that could be due to a number of factors: that MySpace is continuing to recruit new users to replace those who may have left for Facebook, that people are using both social networks, or that Facebook is recruiting members who haven’t been prior users of either site.

source: cnet News

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1.02.05

Page Rage for Facebook

Page Rage layouts for Facebook are made possible because of a new application called Yontoo Layers. Yontoo Layers creates a virtual layer over your browser window. PageRage is what’s called a Layer App that works on Yontoo Layers. It enables users to add content over their Facebook page that appears to have been added directly to the page.

First, install Yontoo Layers. Next, brows through the available layouts to find the one you want to load onto your Facebook page. Click the select button on the desired layout and enter your Facebook login credentials. Please note that your credentials are transmitted securely and will not be retained by PageRage for any reason without the user’s consent. Once you’ve provided your credentials, click the Apply button and your layout will be added to your Facebook page. Please remember that to see your new layout your friends will need to have Yontoo Layers installed so let them know through our Tell A Friend page.

If you would like to remove the layout from your Facebook page, simply click on the Remove Layout link at the bottom of any layout page on the PageRage website.

For more information on Yontoo Layers or additional Layer Apps for Yontoo, visit www.yontoo.com.

source: PageRage.com

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1.02.05

Adobe exec confirms Flash for iPhone, says Apple will decide when

Our friend Jens Chr Brynildsen, a Flash expert who maintains a number of resources for the standard including Flash Magazine, has reportedly confirmed with Adobe Systems’ senior director of engineering, Paul Betlem, that Flash is coming to the iPhone. However, Betlem says that “Apple calls the shots as to when it’ll be available.”

Brynildsen got the confirmation at an Adobe Town Hall meeting session. He reports:

“Upon a direct question from the audience, Paul Betlem for the first time publicly confirmed that Adobe is actively developing a Flash Player for Apple’s popular phone. He said [not direct quote] ‘My team is working on Flash on the iPhone, but it’s a closed platform.’ He noted that Apple makes all the decisions, so in other words, the ball is in Apple’s yard at this time. If Apple says yes, Adobe will have the player available in a very short time.”In mid-June, Adobe’s CEO said that company already has Flash running on an iPhone emulator [presumably the same emulator included with Apple’s iPhone SDK].

As we’ve pointed out several times, Flash performance and usage is abysmal on current mobile devices that support playback. Mobile device processors–including the iPhone’s–simply aren’t fast enough to handle most Flash-laden sites. Flash Lite, the scaled-down standard designed specifically for mobile devices, is even too much for most devices, and isn’t widely used.

source: cnet News

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1.02.05

Starbucks unveils “signature hot chocolate”

Starbucks’ new hot chocolate is more chocolaty and less milky than the company’s original hot chocolate, which will still be sold. The signature drink, already available in Europe and Asia, is being rolled out in North America as part of an effort to find new revenue streams. read more…

source: Seattle Post

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1.02.05

9.30.08

So, today when I get to Starbucks we are out of sleeves.

Now, I didn’t realize until today, and running out of sleeves made me aware of this little known fact, that the sleeve on the Starbucks cup is not merely functional, it is a STATUS SYMBOL!

Yes for some drinks, in my humble opinion, the sleeve is absolutely necessary! Take for instance the brewed coffee– VERY HOT- def requires a sleeve. However, the espresso based drinks– lattes, mochas, etc., they are not really that hot and the sleeve can be optional.

So why do I say the sleeve is a status symbol and iconic in its very being?

He’s how the morning proved this: We are out of sleeves, we hand the customer his or her drink, to which they immidiately reply, “Can I have one of those things?” …motioning to the cup at the point where the sleeve would normally sit… To which I reply, “I’m sorry, we are out of sleeves. Would you like me to double cup it for you?” To which 99.9% of the customers replied, “No thanks, that’s OK.” Which proves my pint that the Starbucks sleeve is not merely functional, and not in all cases even necessary– it IS a STATUS SYMBOL, an ICON of the times that screams, “LOOK AT ME, I CAN PAY $5.78 FOR A LATTE!”

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1.02.05

Tea Tastings

I started working on my Starbucks Tea Passport last week and so far have tasted five teas. The first three are Green Teas, the last two Black Teas.

1. Zen – This tea just might convince me to become a “tea drinker” instead of a “coffee drinker”. I really enjoyed the refreshing blend of lemongrass and spearmint.
2. China Green Tips – This is a traditional Chinese Green Tea with a delicate, fresh taste. It’s harvested in the Spring and has a sweet, slightly vegetative smooth finish– “Earthy” would be a word I would use to describe it.
3. Green Ginger – Has a slightly fruity, ginger taste. Would go well with ginger and pear.
4. Earl Grey – Bergamot: a citrus fruit for Italy. A slightly citrus and aromatic flavor.
5. Tazo Chi – EXTREME Spicyness! An Indian, exotic, full-bodied tea with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, anise, black pepper and cardamon. Didn’t really care for this too much.

I’m done with the Green Teas and have one more Black Tea to taste – Awake, will do that tomorrow. After that I will get into the Herbal Infused Teas; there are five of those and then I’ll be done. Done = more BLING, a Tea Passport pin for my green apron 🙂

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1.02.05

Starbucks Coffee Ad

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1.02.05