Douglas Rushkoff - Users for Sale: Has Digital Illiteracy Turned Us Into Social Commodities?

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Mashable have a great interview with the always-thought-provoking Douglas Rushkoff in which he dismantles the idea that the "users" of social media are its customers, pointing out that we are, in fact the product being sold:

"The easiest way to figure out who the customer is in an online space is to figure out who is paying for the thing. Usually, the people paying are the customers. So on Facebook, the people paying are marketers. That makes them the customers. And it means we are the product being delivered to those customers."

Facebook have (very quietly) enabled their facial recognition technology for all accounts

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Facebook have turned on their new facial recognition feature for all accounts (it's been active in the United States since last year). This means that when you upload a new picture to Facebook, it is automatically scanned by Facebook's facial recognition software to try and match and faces in the picture with people already tagged in existing pictures on Facebook. If it thinks it finds a match, it will prompt the user uploading the picture to tag it accordingly. The feature is 'on' by default. To find out more, including how to turn off the feature, check out this article at The Register.

Apple confirm iCloud is on its way at next week's WWDC

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image by amber rae

In addition to previewing Mac OS X Lion and iOS 5 (the next versions of the Mac and iPhone/iPad/iPod touch operating systems) at next Monday's Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC), an Apple press release issued yesterday also confirmed that Apple would also be announcing iCloud, their upcoming "cloud services offering"... It's unusual for Apple to give a tip-off before a WWDC announcement, especially when the announcement is a major new service, which has already led to much speculation in Mac circles as to what other announcements Apple may have up their sleeves for Monday.

Photojojo - Because your iPhone NEEDS a telephoto lens...

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"Like having a 500mm Sigma for your phone!"

OK, first of all, this is a real product - an 8X telephoto lens that fits on your iPhone 4 (an iPhone 3 version is also available for the same price) via a custom case that ships with the lens. You also get a mini table-tripod and cleaning cloth thrown in, and all for only $35... I want!

For more information or to order, check out the Photojojo website.


Akai SynthStation 49 - the new iPad dock that features a full-sized 49-key, velocity-sensitive keyboard controller!

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OK, so this is hardly your run-of-the-mill iPad dock!  The Akai SynthStation 49 designed for musicians who want to integrate their iPad fully in their recording or performance set-up:

"SynthStation49 is the only full-featured, professional keyboard controller allowing direct MIDI performance recording onto an iPad. Bridging Akai Professional’s popular MPK controllers with the previously released SynthStation25, SynthStation49 provides immense software control with forty-nine, full-size velocity-sensitive keys, nine backlit MPC-style drum pads and full transport buttons. An adjustable-angled dock for iPad allows the user to easily slide their tablet into the SynthStation49’s cradle and position the screen to their preference."

More information on the Akai website.

Chan Fang Buddha Machine 3 out now!

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After a number of small delays, the third generation Chan Fang Buddha Machine has finally arrived.

"Crystal-clear melody. Four extended-play loops. Retro translucent styling."

Available in the UK now from Boomkat - mine shipped today (red - thanks for asking!)

USA distribution is through Forced Exposure and Japanese distribution through p*dis.