Mediaboss Marketing

Current Caller ID, a new, free app that launched Wednesday for Android phones, applies social media and analytics to traditional phone calls.

For example, if a person or business calls you and they aren't in your address book, Current will check the Web for a matching phone number and display the name on your phone's screen. Sometimes the data didn't display before I picked up the call, but the app updated it afterward -- the search for a match must have taken longer than it did for me to pick up the phone.

When you link your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn accounts to the app, it will display callers' latest status updatse or Twitter messages when they ring you. I found that feature worked pretty consistently.

If you're interested in analyzing your calling and texting habits with friends, click on the "stats" tab in the app and it will tell you how you communicate, displaying a pie chart of incoming and outgoing calls and texts. You can access the statistics for any of your recent calls.

The stats will also tell you when it's best to text or call your contact based on your interaction. I found it interesting to see which friends I text and call more and vice versa, but this information won't be essential for most users.

I did run into one problem that I found distracting. When I returned back to my smartphone after being away, Current Caller ID would alert me that I missed 26 -- or some other large number -- of calls. It wasn't an error, because I had missed a number of calls over a period of time, but not that many since I had last checked my phone. The app should only have told me how many calls I missed since I last used my phone, rather than all of the calls I had missed in a few weeks time.

Current Caller ID won't replace your smartphone's default telephone application or address book. You still need to use your phone's default app to dial out, but Current will override it for incoming calls. Tighter integration into the smartphone's default telephone application would make Current Caller ID more valuable, but overall it was a welcome addition to my phone and one that I won't delete.

Nick Barber covers general technology news in both text and video for IDG News Service. E-mail him at Nick_Barber@idg.com and follow him on Twitter at @nickjb.

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Android App Combines Social Networking, Phone Calls, Analytics

Manila is still at risk for more flooding, but recovery efforts are underway, and many are turning to social networking sites to update and get updates on the situation.

The sprawling Philippines capital of Manila is edging into recovery mode after monsoon rains killed at least 19 people and left much of the city of 15 million under waist and chest high water.

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The Philippine government today said people should return to work as soon as possible, as rains eased off early Wednesday. But more rain later hit the city, 60 percent of which is under water, according to national disaster agency head Benito Ramos.

Many are turning to social networking sites to update and get updates on the situation. But even as recovery work kicks into gear, the capital remains vulnerable.

If we have more rains we will really be in serious trouble, says Mon Casiple, director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform (IPER).

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim declared a state of calamity in the capital earlier Wednesday. Aurela Calica, journalist with the Philippine Star, says that she is stuck inside the Malacaang Palace Compound in Manila this evening local time. When I came here the roads were still passable but when I was about to leave before 7 p.m. the streets were already flooded, she says.

Ms. Calica was corresponding with fellow journalists via Twitter and Twitter's direct message system, highlighting how social networking and cellphones have become a vital link in the rescue and relief chain. People stranded on rooftops have been SMSing for help, while many Filipinos have taken to Facebook and Twitter to post updates and supplement government and media coverage of the floods and rescue work.

According to a July World Bank report titled Information and Communications for Development: Maximizing Mobile, there were 101 mobile cellular subscriptions for every 100 people in the Philippines in 2011, up from 41 subscriptions for every 100 people 6 years previously.

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Social networks help Filipinos deal with Manila floods

07-08-2012 15:45 Apple says the next version of its software for the iPhone and iPad won't come with a pre-installed YouTube application. (Aug. 7)

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Apple to Ditch YouTube App in iOS 6 - Video

Summary: Nearly 15 years after founding SuperGroups.com, Mark Weinstein is back with Sgrouples and says its time privacy becomes the hallmark of social networking.

scruple nounskr-pl A feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action

The name of an emerging social networking site says it all - Sgrouples.

I am greatly offended by the notion that privacy is dead, says Mark Weinstein, founder and CEO of Sgrouples. The social sharing site, which is in live beta, is all about privacy.

Weinstein posts on the homepage a link to his Privacy Bill of Rights, a list of 10 credos including policies on sharing, control, and ownership. The list also includes a no ads option to a strategy that lets users go looking for advertisers, not the other way around.

The site also supports Do Not Track.

There is no cookie, says Weinstein. Your personal information is private. We dont track, we dont profile, what you do is not discoverable by a search engine. We are not going to suggest who your friends are, we are not going to use facial recognition. You own your content, you can delete your account.

Weinstein wont say how many users are on the site now, but he calls his subscriber list healthy and growing at 10% to 15% per week.

His attitude is that users of sites such as Facebook and Google+ are growing fatigued with the amount of personal data that leaks out the back door and then comes back around in the form of advertising or other targeted offers, bites them in the butt on a job interview or invites stalkers into their worlds.

Weinstein says his mission is to ensure Sgrouples doesnt have the same leakage problem.

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Will Sgrouples end social networking’s attack on privacy?

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire -08/07/12)- Ozoshare, the first social networking platform dedicated to the green world driven solely by the green interests of its members, marked its public launch today. The new site is the first and only private, secure, user friendly social network dedicated to the green community where members connect and share in an increasingly eco-focused world.

"People are realizing that the world 'going green' is no longer a choice but our responsibility," said Thomas Smith, partner, Ozoshare. "Going green is our responsibility for a healthy future and social networking is the current means of mass communication. Ozoshare is the ideal combination of both, it is one step ahead and is the vehicle where people and companies participating in the green world share and connect with others in an interactive, member-driven social media platform. It's the first social network of its kind for green community members at every level and category from personal interests to technologies and organizations."

Prior to official launch, grassroots promotions and people's green passions have built the Ozoshare site to over 3,000 members and growing daily. The site is ideal for green entities such as businesses, groups, organizations, federations, charities, institutions, websites, schools, universities as well as green individuals as they work to raise funds, gain support for green movements, buy and sell green products, educate on green topics and create green related partnerships.

Members share their green messages and missions while staying up to date with current green issues with the members they are "partners" (friends) with. Rather than complicating the experience with other social dimensions, such as the members' gender, parties or friends, Ozoshare provides a platform specifically for members via their green interests they designated on their Ozoshare bio (profile). Members can have a business page and/or a personal page and an unlimited number of "partners." Members can also create custom pages with personalized tabs that include their website, donation page, newsletter, mission statement, blog and more. Other Ozoshare members "approve" the pages they agree with and all can see the "approves" tally up, just like "liking" a page on Facebook.

Features include:

Julie Benz, known for her work on Dexter and Desperate Housewives and also a green/eco advocate, expressed support for the new green community.

"Ozoshare helps me learn how to live more eco-friendly and green. It makes me feel like a part of the green community and I can now share what I learn with others. Plus it's really simple to use. I really believe it's only a matter of time before other celebrities, organizations, and consumers find out about this exciting resource. Go green!"

According to Seth Leitman, green living expert at GreenLivingGuy.com and provider of information and tips on Green Living; as well as the editor of McGraw-Hill's Green Guru Guides, "The green steamroller is increasing in momentum with individuals and companies accelerating the movement."

"Ozoshare provides a platform for the green world that allows for collaboration, discussions and activities in a way that really differentiates them from other social networks," said Leitman. "The ability to have multiple accounts under a single login with simple tabbing that really simplifies management. There is no limit to the number of partners (friends) that personal or business page owners can follow, removing the limits to collaboration. The biggest advantage of Ozoshare is that it is driven by green interests which link members to the people and organizations they want to connect with. This results in greater conversion for organizations and a more satisfying experience for individuals."

Ozoshare members using the "Ozo Seal" on their websites or marketing materials identify themselves as active in the green movement. While serving to increase a member's partner network with like-minded individuals it also serves as a brand of integrity and conscience. The "Ozo Seal," when clicked, directs the user to the bio page of the member on Ozoshare.

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Ozoshare Launches as First Social Networking Platform for the Green World