Bebo to shut down in Australia - report
By PAUL MCINTYRE - SMH
The Facebook juggernaut has claimed the scalp of rival Bebo, with the social media site tipped to close its Australian operation before Christmas'Unfriend' named word of the year
Stuff.co.nz
The Oxford American Dictionary has named "unfriend" as its 2009 word of the year.Facebook, Twitter on Xbox
From today, New Zealand Xbox 360 owners will be able to use social networking applications Twitter and Facebook on their console, and watch movies on demand.
Policing in the internet age
By JOHN SILVESTER - The Age
Australian police are now dealing with the crime backwash generated from surfing the web, and many detectives believe the internet is eroding community standards.Visiobibliophobia - The fear of Facebook
I was at a party recently, taking photos with my DSLR as I usually do at parties, when I was approached by a guy who asked me where he could see the shots.
"No worries mate, just add me on Facebook!" I replied. An anxious glance around later, he murmured, "I'm not on Facebook."
"You're what now?"
He quietly explained that he considered Facebook time-wasting, and didn't want to be one of "those people".
You don't want to (re)connect with many of your friends and family? Share your photos? Talk to people from primary school in a whole new context? Play Mafia Wars? (just kidding - I really hate those apps).
"Oh, right, uhh, fair enough."
I couldn't help but wonder, had he even tried it to know he didn't like it?
Facebook alibi: charges dropped thanks to status update
SMH
A 19-year old man in search of some pancakes has Facebook to thank for criminal charges being dropped against him.Twitter your way to sales
Reuters
This will be one very social Christmas. From Facebook to Twitter to YouTube, retailers and food chains plan to use social media this holiday season.Facebook gets $711 million damages in anti-spam case
Reuters
Social networking website Facebook was awarded $711.2 million in damages relating to an anti-spam case against Internet marketer Sanford Wallace, court documents show.Facebook page supports rape accused
By JANAE HOUGHTON - The Age
More than 700 people have joined a Facebook page supporting two Australian footballers who were charged with raping a girl last month.
Kiwi cop a YouTube hit
A deadpan joke about the safety of eating overheated meat pies has catapulted a Kiwi police officer into internet super-stardom.
Facebook tweaks homepage
AP
Worried about missing a birth announcement, or details on what your portly uncle had for lunch?Online exhibition poses questions of identity
AAP
Ever wondered what the online version of you really looks like? Head to the virtual world and you can find out.The Facebook/Twitter Xbox update
Thanks to Microsoft, I've been lucky enough to get my hands on the next Xbox Live update, which is coming in November and it's the one that will let gamers access their Facebook and Twitter accounts using their Xbox 360, as well as watch movies using the video marketplace.
After downloading the small update and installing the applications, and having a wee play, the service that appeals to me most is the movie download service, which offers movies for rent in several categories.
Flicking through the service last night, movies on offer, in a variety of categories (sci fi/fantasy; family; top rental; horror; action; documentary), included titles such as V for Vendetta, Beverly Hills Cop 1 and 2, Troy, The Last Samurai, some Harry Potter films, The Iron Giant, Goodfellas, Mad Max, Superman, Interview with the Vampire, Full Metal Jacket, Jimmy Neutron, Beetlejuice, Mars Attacks! and The Fugitive.
There is a brief preview of each movie that starts up a few seconds after clicking a "Preview" tab. You watch the movies as they stream, so you don't have to wait for it to download before you can watch it. I'll download some movies over the next few days and tell you what I think.
You can rent movies for about 360 Microsoft Points (aound $6) for a standard-definition movie or 420 Microsoft Points (around $7) for the high definition version, if it's available. I didn't see an option to buy movies yet but I'm assuming that will come at some stage. Not that I'd probably use this feature, but you can watch a selected movie with up to seven of your Xbox Live Friends, using the Party mode.
Students to apologise for Nazi regalia stunt
Auckland Grammar School students will apologise to staff at the Auckland War Memorial Museum for bowing and saluting before Nazi symbols.
Auschwitz joins Facebook
AP
The memorial museum at former Nazi death camp Auschwitz has started a Facebook page, hoping it will help reach young people around the globe.Fugitive busted after Facebook folly
If you're on the run, it's probably best not to brag about it on Facebook.
Facebook court comments under spotlight
NZPA
The Crown Law Office is conducting a review of internet publication, after recent cases raised questions over contempt of court and suppression order breaches.MySpace Music comes to NZ
By CLAIRE MCENTEE - The Dominion Post
Kiwis on MySpace can now stream more than 30 million songs from four of the world's biggest music labels when they visit the site.Stop wasting time online
By PATTIE PEGLER - The Press
With all the distractions online, it's no wonder many of us are left wondering where the working day goes.Med students busted on YouTube, Facebook
AP
From Facebook to YouTube to personal blogs, future doctors are crossing the line — and getting in trouble.Facebook ends user tracking programme
Reuters
Facebook is shutting down its much-maligned Beacon marketing programme, which created a storm of privacy complaints.Aussies fight to bag boss on Facebook
By ARJUN RAMACHANDRAN AND ASHER MOSES - SMH
Six Australian prison workers must wait until next week to find out if they will be sacked for criticising their bosses on Facebook.Facebook tops 300m users
Facebook is making enough money to cover its costs and now has 300 million users.
Facebook victim thought scam was real
By JOSEPH SAPIENZA - BusinessDay.com.au
When a distressed friend asked for help after, an Australian man was only too willing to pitch in.Facebook Lite now in NZ too
Stuff.co.nz
Facebook has released a slimmed-down version of its social networking website.Facebook Lite launches in US
Stuff.co.nz
Facebook has released a slimmed-down version of its social networking website, according to a US technology blog.New Facebook feature lets you tag friends
AP
Facebook is launching a feature that will let users "tag" their friends in their posts, similar to how they already can with photos.Barack Obama warns of Facebook perils
Reuters
US president Barack Obama has warned teenagers of the dangers of putting too much personal information on Facebook and other websites.Robbed on Facebook - one victim's story
By ASHER MOSES - SMH
Natasha Cann was left helpless when hackers broke into her Facebook account and scammed her closest friends.Sick of Facebook? You're not alone
The Press
Are you on Facebook? Here are five reasons you shouldn't be.More big businesses hire tweeters
By HEATHER LALLEY - AP
Multinational corporations are beginning to use social media to interact with customers.Justin Timberlake set to star in Facebook film
By ASHER MOSES - SMH
Justin Timberlake is reportedly set to star in a film charting the rise of Facebook.Not enough Facebook friends? Buy them
Reuters
Who says you can't buy friends? An Australian online marketing company is selling friends and fans to Facebook members.Woman conned on Facebook
AP
A woman has lost $5900 after receiving fake messages from a friend on Facebook.The accidental chick magnet
By ASHER MOSES - SMH
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed as a back-stabbing genius with a fetish for Asian women in a new book.Facebook plans tighter privacy rules
AP
Facebook has agreed to give users more control over the information they share with third-party applications like games and quizzes.Hackers sex up Christian Facebook pages
By ASHER MOSES - SMH
A malicious hacking attack on a Christian dating site has been used to break into Facebook accounts and post obscene and racist comments.Diddy seeks stars of Facebook generation
Reuters
Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs wants you - a music star of the Facebook generation.Amy Winehouse's bizarre Facebook antics
Bang! Showbiz
Amy Winehouse is posing as her cat to send secret messages to Blake Fielder-Civil.How Facebook can kill your relationship
AP
All this friending, poking and picture-posting on Facebook can get you in trouble with your significant other.Rulebook for web surfing at work
By CLAIRE McENTEE - The Dominion Post
Help is at hand for small businesses trying to curb staff surfing Facebook and Trade Me during working hours.Hackers target Twitter, Facebook
Reuters
Twitter and Facebook said they suffered service problems from hacker attacks.Hacker attacks silence Twitter, slow Facebook
The hacking of Twitter and Facebook has raised fears of a coordinated campaign against the most popular social networks.
US soldiers banned from Facebook
AP
The US Marine Corps is banning its troops from going onto Facebook, MySpace and other social network sites, citing a possible security risk.Facebook's reach grows
It seems every gadget wants to be able to hook you us up to Facebook these days.
Microsoft has already announced that soon we'll all be able to connect to Facebook and Twitter with our Xbox 360 and enlighten our friends with whatever we're doing right now, (that's me saying that, not Microsoft) and now, thanks to an email from Nintendo, we can upload photos we've taken with our Nintendo DSi to our Facebook account.
The new feature is one of the updates in the latest firmware patch for the Nintendo handheld, which upgrades the software to version 1.4.
Nintendo says the Facebook integration with the DSi lets you send photos directly to your Facebook stream, "where they will be shared with friends and stored in an album on your profile. A Facebook logo will then appear in the album section of the camera, and a Facebook icon will now be present above your picture".
What's your take on social networking migrating to home consoles? Can you see yourself sitting in front of your console, Twittering and Facebooking to your heart's content?
Teen back in school after 'abusive' Facebook quiz
NZPA
A Queenstown teen is back in school after making an "abusive and derogatory" online quiz about his teachers on Facebook.Facebook gets first shop
AP
In a first, but likely not last for Facebook, a retailer is setting up shop inside the popular social-networking site.Bill Gates quits Facebook
Bill Gates says he abandoned Facebook after too many people wanted to be his friend.
Aussie privacy watchdog puts bite on Facebook
By ASHER MOSES - SMH
The Australian Privacy Commissioner says Facebook could be breaching Australian privacy laws.China cracks down on social websites
AP
Two more websites dedicated to social networking went offline in China amid tightening controls that have blocked Facebook, Twitter and other popular sites that offered many Chinese a rare taste of free expression.All Blacks beat England in dour test
Police dob in drink driver to Air NZ
Wallabies humiliated by Scotland
Teacher has baby with 17-year-old student
Shyla's a purr-fect little mum
Concern over missing South Auckland teen and baby
Griffin's moves biscuits to Fiji
$450,000 march is political manipulation
Cyclists gone but their trash lingers
Mall campaign pays for 'protesters'
Playing chicken with the markets
What's your top game of the year?