There used to be a time where you could play video games for video games and use the computer for computer related things. These days it is all different. Microsoft's game console, the Xbox 360, has announced that it will be officially rolling out its latest Dashboard update, which includes Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm. The PS3 has also announced it will be officially rolling out its latest Dashboard update, which includes Facebook. Social networking… Welcome to the new and highly integrated gaming world.

This is something very new and very exciting for many console users.  This will allow you to play some of your favorite video games and have the ability to check Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm all through your console.

Here is an excerpt about the integration with Facebook and the PS3:

“By linking your PlayStation Network account to your Facebook account, you will have the option for the PS3 to automatically update your Facebook News Feed with Trophy and PlayStation Store activity," writes PSN director Eric Lempel. "This update also enables developers to set specific criteria in their titles to publish additional game information to your News Feed. You can then check out your updates, and those of your friends, on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media favorites through the PS3’s built-in web browser.” Availability? “Soon.” @game_on

One downside of the integration is unless you have a USB keyboard, or an Xbox 360 keypad, you'll have to input text by tapping buttons and pulling triggers with your gamepad.

With social networking now leaving the computer and moving to mobile and game consoles, where does this put us? Will people adjust and use game consoles more for their social networking or will they stick to the traditional mobile/computer devices. What do you think?

Article by: Zach Reed // Firebelly Designer (Follow me @bluetidepro)

Libel lawsuit hits social media

It has been a long-winded discussion in the communications law world: How much control should the government have over the Internet? People argue many of the following: It’s supposed to be the free medium. It’s impossible to control. Even if laws are made, how will they be enforced on such a vast, virtual medium?

The feds have been trying to answer these questions since the Internet hit it big. But they have a straight answer concerning libel and defamation claims because those laws are fairly universal across any medium.

What is libel? In its most basic form, libel is written defamation of character (as opposed to spoken defamation, which is slander). The greatest defense against a libel claim is truth. The judge will say to you what many people say when you make a claim, PROVE IT! Journalists tend to go by the practice of, if you don’t have three sources confirming the statement’s truth, one of them on paper, don’t print it.

Journalists know all about libel. It’s impounded into their brains in college. But for non-journalistic folk, many of whom are now blogging and Tweeting on the Internet, these laws may not be known. This can cause major trouble.

Case in point: Courtney Love vs. fashion designer. The known party girl and rock chick allegedly slammed the designer via a Tweet, triggering a libel lawsuit that would have been unheard of just a few years ago. According to CNN, the suit claims that after a disagreement over what Love should pay the designer, Dawn Simorangkir, for the clothes she designed, Love took to Twitter with her anger. She posted allegedly insulting and false comments about the designer, i.e. that she had a “history of dealing cocaine.” (Love’s Twitter account is now disabled.)

The CNN article cites several other similar cases that don’t involve celebrities but do involve social media. Read the article in full to learn more.

As a college-educated journalist who has taken intense communications law classes, I know the designer will have to prove a few things to win her case, including that Love’s statements are, in fact, false and that they caused damage to her reputation and/or business.

But should Tweets, status updates and statements made in Youtube videos or blogs be liable for a libel or slander lawsuit? I think everyone—journalist, public figure or otherwise—is responsible for the statements he or she makes. If you make a potentially damaging statement in a public way, you better be able to prove it’s true. Otherwise, like Love, you may be swimming in court fees and by-the-hour law firm bills.

Thoughts? Hit me with them!

Alyson (Follow me @alyandthecity) Social Media Marketing

Twitter users are using Twitter terms. Tweet is a popular
verb. Twitter is a common noun. They’re used in their Tweets but also in
everyday speak. But just because a Twit is using the lingo doesn’t mean he or
she is using it correctly.

I’ve created a collection of Twitter words and their
definitions to help make the Twitter lingo illiterate more able to walk the
walk and talk the talk.

(list compiled with assistance from Twittonary and Twictionary)

• co-twitterer:
  a partner that tweets on your Twitter account

• dweet:
  tweet sent while intoxicated

• mistweet:
  a tweet in which one later regrets

• politweet:
  a political tweet

• twaffic:
  Twitter traffic

• twalking:
  walking while twittering via text

• twead:
  to read a tweet from a fellow twitterer

• tweeple:
  Twitter people, Twitter members, Twitter users

• tweeps:
  Twitter people that follow each other from one social media/network to
  another

• tweetaholic:
  someone addicted to Twitter, so much so that it may be an actual problem

• tweeter:
  a user of Twitter

• tweeterboxes:
  twitterers who tweet too much

• tweetheart:
  that special tweeter who makes your heart skip a beat

• tweet(ing):
  the act of posting to Twitter

• tweets:
  posts on Twitter by twitterers

• tweetup:
  a Twitter meet-up

• twiking:
  biking while twittering via text

• twinkedIn:
  inviting friends made on Twitter to connect with you on LinkedIn

• twis:
  to diss a fellow twitterer; twitter burn

• twitosphere:
  community of twitterers

• twittastic:
  fantastic, wonderful, superb

• twittcrastination:
  procrastinating on Twitter

• twittectomy:
  an unfollowing of friends

• twitter
  stream: a collection of tweets

• twitosphere:
  the community of tweeple

• twitterati:
  celebrity twitterers

• twitterness:
  a person’s contribution to the twitosphere

• twitterlooing:
  twittering from a bathroom

• twitterage:
  rage at a twitter post.

• twitterrhea:
  the act of sending too many Twitter messages

Next time you hear a Twitterer use a Twitter term
incorrectly, hand them this list to aid in the twiteracy (Twitter literacy) of
the tweeple in the growing twitosphere. 
If we’re all on the same page, it reduces the risk of getting lost in
Twitlation.

Alyson (follow me @alyandthecity)

Social Media Marketing

Tweetie 2 is the successor to the popular original Tweetie iPhone app by atebits. It is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, now! It is rewritten from the ground up with a fast and powerful new core, Tweetie 2 offers the most polished mobile Twitter experience around. Tweetie 2 is so far ahead of every other iPhone Twitter app, it's astounding. It’s got a cleaner look, a few extra features, and most importantly, it’s much faster.

*Writing a new tweet*

The greatest feature in Tweetie 2 is its offline powers. They're great. Not only does it cache tweets to read offline, but you have other Twitter capabilities, like adding favorites, which are synced up the next time you go back online. A basic drafts manager lets you store and edit tweets to send later.

*Twitter stream*

Key Features Listed:

• Persistence  
• New message indicators
• Scroll up to reload
• More third-party service support
• Live-filtering search
• New tweet options
• “Nearby” button
• Draft manager  
• New tweet stream options  
• Notifications  
• Create iPhone contacts from Twitter profiles  
• Saved searches  
• Landscape
• More threaded conversations
• Video support

3 Flaws:

• No real syncing with desktop app
• No real push notifications
• Costs: $2.99 (BUT WORTH IT)

If you've never paid for a Twitter app or even if you have, Tweetie 2 is well worth the three bucks that it costs. It's fast, it's got full offline powers. It's not perfect, but it's the closest yet. Buy the app today and tell us what you think!

Article by: Zach Reed // Firebelly Designer (Follow me @bluetidepro)

Social Media Marketing

For real, you love them coz they're yours. Share those pics in person or on facebook – its right, its nice, its got more capabilities for comment chains, and more. Twitter just ain't the place. One is enough. Tamagotchi may be a bit harsh, but that is hilarious all the same!

We'd love you to call out tweets that fit this category! If you're a deep diver and want to see the full top 10 list – click here. BTW Thank you Matthew Inman, you're a funny funny man!

Duncan Alney Facebook | Twitter | Naymz | Blip.fm | Social Media Marketing

Remember Narcissus. He dashed all his suitors – male and female aside – to fall in love with his own reflection. While twitterholics or people who base their entire social media marketing communication strategy on Twitter (nice redundancy Duncan) will disagree, the great conversation on there is a shadow of itself. Perhaps, you can thank Oprah and Ashton Kutchner for that – I personally will not thank Ashton for anything and find him as substantial and interesting as a baked potato chip, but thats another story. If we've seen one photo of you on twitter, that is probably good. But really you've hardly changed since yesterday. And believe me, no one buys that you're thinner since yesterday. I'm definitely a leaner when it comes to photos (only to satisfy my own silly insecurities) but at least I don't burden all my associates with it. Keep those photos on Flickr, keep them on Facebook, keep them in your wallet, keep them in a box that you can bury for future generations to find – just keep them off my twitter feed. Out.

We'd love you to call out tweets that fit this category! If you're a deep diver and want to see the full top 10 list – click here. BTW Thank you Matthew Inman, you're a funny funny man!

Duncan Alney Facebook | Twitter | Naymz | Blip.fm | Social Media Marketing

Oh yeah, and I'm dedicating this song by an American icon to you. Only she didn't write it about you