Husband to Candace. Dad to Payton and Eli. Story teller, Harley rider, saltwater lover, pretty nice guy. Enjoys rumpus.
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Articles by Brad McCarty
Twitter finds a missing child in 3 hours
We Internet folks are a funny bunch. While there’s a lot of venom that gets spewed across the Web, there’s an amazing amount of good that comes from it, too. Chalk this story up to the latter, and expect to see it in a promotional piece for Twitter at some point in the future. Roughly 24 hours ago, 16 year old Faisal Fri went missing from his family’s home in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The news reached Twitter and the #FaisalDH hashtag was born.
Augmented reality for your car with iOnRoad
It’s great to see developers that are working on apps specifically for the Android platform. Sometimes it’s because of Apple’s constraints on iOS, other times (as is the case with Lightbox Photos) these developers just want to create for something other than Apple. iOnRoad is precisely one of those apps that has its sole focus on the robot. It’s an app that will turn your Android phone into an augmented reality display, warning you of impending collisions when you’re driving.
14 creative ways to grow your email list
Find your people If you’ve been in business for more than five minutes, you’ve likely had it drilled into your head that you need to start and grow your email list. After all, if you can get more email subscribers, it’s that much easier to get more income in your business. The question is: How to get email subscribers? If you can relate, you’re in luck because below I’m covering a variety of list building tips you can use to get more people on your email list.
Facebook launches Facebook for Business.
Surely you’ve seen the talk about business profiles on Google+ lately. In fact, our own profile for The Next Web was shut down (unsurprisingly) after Google+ clarified its terms of service to say that only people were allowed to have them. In short, if you want your business’ name to appear in search results on Google+, there’s only one way to do it for now. Facebook has clearly seen the buzz, too.
Android fan? Androidify yourself with the official mobile app.
If you’re wanting to show your true Android colors, there’s really no better way than to create a cartooned, Android version of yourself. A new release from Google lets you customize your own Android avatar, all the way down to the shoes. There’s really not a lot else to say about it. It’s fun and we look forward to seeing an influx of Android avatars across Twitter, Facebook and right here on TNW. So get cracking.
Two reporters, One trip to SXSW, Zero dollars. Can Square keep them alive?
It’s the biggest tech party of the year, and the entire industry is going. SXSWi is simply the place to be in March for tech. Twitter was launched there, Foursquare found its footing (and is coming back this year with an amazing spread) and brands do whatever they can to gather attention during the week of insanity. Of course TNW will be there. But we’re not displaying anything, we’re just there to see what’s on display and find the best of the best stuff. But just going on trips isn’t our style.
Social media nightmares and how to avoid them
While social media may be the pervasive form of communicating online today, it’s not without its inherent flaws and dangers. We’ve seen companies made and ruined, as well as the same happen for personal reputations, all because of the behavior that is relayed via social media. While it’s always infinitely easier to give advice than to take it, sometimes what we have to do is take a step back to examine cases as they have happened in order to learn from them.
Online Advertising and Changing Definitions of Success
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been developing a theory about where online display advertising is today, versus where it needs to be. It seems to me that, for all the harping that goes on about new media versus old media, we’ve reached the point where display ads should be considered old media and therefore are due for a change. I think I have some answers, I know that I’m missing many, but it’s time to put some thoughts down and see where they lead.
"Amazon is a technology company. We just happen to do retail"
When most of us think Amazon, we think books and toilet paper and really fast shipping (which is free if you spend over $25!) but according to Amazon, we’ve got it all wrong. Speaking at the HackFwd Build conference in Berlin, Amazon CTO Werner Vogels says that Amazon has been a technology company since day 1. Oh, and for those who think that Amazon’s cloud business is just about selling off excess technology, think again.
How to easily view a Twitter conversation on a single page
One of the fun parts of Twitter is watching conversations happen and picking up pieces of them as they go by. Sometimes, though, you need more context than what is readily available on Twitter.com or via any third-party application. Here’s a super-simple tool that will show you an entire Twitter conversation with just a couple of clicks: First, you’ll need the ID of a Tweet in the conversation.
9 Product Managers You Should Follow on Twitter
One thing is for sure – we wouldn’t be able to build the products and features that we do if it weren’t for the input of product managers across different industries. While there’s no shortage of lists of great product managers to follow, our spin is going to be a little bit different. It won’t have 150 people and it won’t be voted on by a large group. What it will be is an ever-growing list from verifiably incredible people who get shit done. Have one that we should add? Hit up the comments.
Is LinkedIn Checking Out?
In 2003, the Internet was in  a phase of transition. The dot-com bubble had long since burst and people were looking for more useful ways to put the Internet to work. Since just building a good website no longer meant success, networking became increasingly important. In the view of the “who you know not what you know� mentality, LinkedIn was born.
Google Wants A Free Pass On Search Discrimination
Over the past couple of weeks you’ve certainly heard about the Google and Verizon proposal for Net Neutrality. So much has been written about it, in fact, that it’s hard to believe that there’s a sentence of the document that hasn’t yet been picked to bits. However, in ten words, Google has attempted to carve itself an exemption to the entire argument: Do you see that part, after the first comma? “but would not have any authority over Internet software applications�.
Social media is just fine. You're the one screwing up.
Surely, by now, you’ve heard about the Leo Laporte rant over his missing Google Buzz activity. It’s just the latest in a long line of similar stories, but it brings up some deeper issues that I can’t seem to find addressed elsewhere. That said, I’ll be today’s soapbox star and we’ll see how this turns out. You see, there seem to be a few major complaints about social media outlets, but they all boil down to a simple fact: Social media is the tofu of the Internet.
It's 1989. The Simpsons creator Matt Groening is drawing for Apple Computer.
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SoundCloud's mobile apps now let you publish audio to your Tumblr
When two great things come together, it’s rarely anything but cool. The news that we’ve just gotten from Tumblr and SoundCloud is exactly one of these situations. As of today’s update to the SoundCloud mobile apps for iOS and Android, you’ll now be able to post recordings directly to your Tumblr. But that’s not all. The integration actually goes pretty deep: There are some more details in the Tumblr of Alexander Ljung, CEO of SoundCloud. We’ll be giving the apps a run and let you know our thoughts.
FullContact APIs Without the Code
The suite of FullContact APIs is incredibly powerful when it comes to finding out more about people. We know that a lot of you would love to use our APIs, but you don’t have the experience or resources necessary to code an application. Today the entire suite of FullContact APIs is available to everyone because of a company called Blockspring. Blockspring bills itself as a way to “program without writing a line of code”.
Keep Multiple Google Accounts in Sync with FullContact
Ever since we started getting feedback on FullContact, our most-requested feature has been the ability to sync the contacts in two Google accounts together, to make them identical. Today we’re excited to bring that feature to life, easing the pain that so many of you have dealt with for entirely too long. In the past, if you wanted to keep identical address books in two different Google accounts, the process was tedious and risky at best.
The Rebuilding of FullContact
Today at FullContact we are proud to launch FullContact for iOS. The truth is, it’s been a significant challenge to get here. Roughly a year ago, we ran into a pretty common scenario in our industry. We had a platform that was holding us back.
Discrimination is Technology's Dirty Little Secret
Over the past few weeks we’ve seen some blatant episodes of sexism and discrimination within technology get called out quite publicly. Sexism in business and technology has been rampant for years, but now the public, verbal backlash has begun. Finally. It’s high time to put an end to booth babes and muscle boys, and to focus on what really matters. Some things have to be said and my post-SXSW disgust is still strong.
FullContact Card Reader
Stitch is Powerful Mobile Email that Salespeople Will Love Marketers: Are You Being “That Guy” on Twitter Flounder Helps Your Company Be a Better Listener on Twitter
With WhatsApp, Facebook Just Bought Its Way Into Your Address Book
Yesterday's announcement that Facebook has acquired messaging service WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock has left a lot of people grasping at straws as to the reasoning behind the deal.
Challenging Stereotypes about Diesel with the BMW 535d & 328d
Let’s talk cars for a minute. More specifically, let’s talk diesel cars. It’s not uncommon for Europeans to be familiar with diesel-driven engines, and the technology behind them. However, for those in the US, diesel has a stigma attached to it. It’s a stigma of poor cold-weather starting, stinky black exhaust and lower performance than their gasoline-firing counterparts.
Nokia Promises Updates for Lumia Owners on WP 7.8
Use your (arrow) keys to browse more stories On the stage from Microsoft’s Windows Phone Summit, Nokia’s Senior VP Kevin Shields is announcing some new features for current Lumia owners. The additions seem like a bone being thrown to people who might have recently bought a Lumia 800 or 900, only to have it confirmed today that they won’t get Windows Phone 8.
TNW Academy announces its WebRTC-powered platform, built by LiveNinja
Ever since the inception of TNW Academy, it’s been our goal to provide a product that is above and beyond anything else that you’ll find in online education. While gathering world-class instructors is the first step to fulfilling that goal, making the presentation from and the interaction with those instructors has to be the next step. It’s with that in mind that we are thrilled to announce TNW Academy’s new platform, in conjunction with Miami-based LiveNinja.
So long TNW, hello FullContact.
There are times in life when you truly learn the meaning of the word bittersweet. Today is one of those times for me. After 3 ½ years at The Next Web, it’s time to move on to the next set of challenges. I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I will be joining FullContact effective August 1st. While we haven’t figured out a title yet, I’ll be focused on helping FullContact grow its marketing efforts. I joined TNW as a part-time news writer while I was looking for a new job as a nurse.
Startup Stories: Cloudability
Startup Stories is a series of short documentaries about Techstars companies hosted exclusively by The Next Web. This is the second episode of a series of short docs exploring the key moments, struggles and passions in building a company. We think startup stories are fascinating and want to help share these amazing stories following the adventures entrepreneurs go through on their mission to build a startup.
Erika Napoletano Comes to TNW Academy
Once in a while, as time permits, I get the privilege of working with companies to help them with the messages that they’re trying to send out to the world. I fully believe, however, that understanding that I don’t know all of the answers is probably the most valuable piece of knowledge that I can bring. It’s with that fact in mind that I was incredibly excited when Erika Napoletano agreed to do a class for TNW Academy because I knew that it would give me the chance to learn more.
TNW Academy Class Videos Now Available
One of our goals, since the first days of TNW Academy, was to bring the amazing instructors to your desktop no matter where in the world you are. At present, this means that we’re trying to balance our class timing between North America, Europe, Asia and the rest of the world, and that means that many of you aren’t able to attend the classes that you want to.
Bluelounge MiniDock Gets a Lightning Connector
Bluelounge has become a favorite around TNW for coming up with the handiest things while keeping design at the forefront. When the company introduced its MiniDock, it was a buy-on-sight for me. The MiniDock is a USB docking station for your iPhone that plugs directly into your stock wall adapter, relieving the need for cords. Today, Bluelounge has updated the MiniDock to include a lightning connector for the iPhone 5.
Digital Storm Bolt Review
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the switch happened, but a few years ago there was a shift in computers that moved away from the massive towers in which you could fit the kitchen sink and more toward sleek, stylish systems that looked every bit at home in your entertainment center as your DVR or Xbox 360. For the past 11 years or so, Digital Storm has been making a name for itself by creating ultra-fast, high-end gaming computers that look every bit as amazing as they perform.
TNW Academy is Hiring an Intern
One of the best ways to get your foot in the door here at The Next Web is by interning with us. Not only does it give you the chance to see behind the scenes, but we’ll even pay you for your time while you’re gaining valuable job experience with an international publishing brand. Right now, the opportunity has come knocking again and we’re looking for an intern (or maybe even two!) for TNW Academy.
Facebook Targets The Press With ‘Best Practices' Guide
Facebook has published a beginner’s guide today designed to entice journalists and companies within the media industry to use the social network as a platform for sharing original news and content. The benefits of using Facebook to attract new readers, distribute content and stimulate debate has been clear for some time now. The social network, due to the sheer size of its international userbase, offers unprecedented potential for growing the brand of both an individual and publication.
A Charming New iPhone App for Telling Your Life Story
Wander, a rather secretive startup which graduated from TechStars NY’s third class last year, is launching something you’ll want to use every day — or, that’s the gamble CEO Jeremy Fisher is taking. Built as a tool for chronicling your life, Days is a free, just-launched iPhone app with a mission to become your visual diary. The app fits somewhere in-between Instagram’s role as a spontaneous sharing utility and Backspaces‘ niche as a storytelling network.
Amazon's Kindle Faces Challenges in China
After years of speculation about the Kindle’s arrival in China, a wide-spread rumor that Amazon was going to open Kindle pre-orders on April 16 sounded credible, building on the US firm introduced its Kindle apps and e-bookstore in China just four months prior. That launch was believed to be a clear signal that the firm planned to launch its Kindle in China, however, the rumor turned out to be just that — a rumor.
Welcome to the World of Whirled
“Cracking the 100 million barrier reveals to us the power in tapping human emotion,” explains Scott T. Chan, founder and creative director of video production agency Whirled. “The opportunity to create work that has touched millions and created keystone moments for brands has been a dream come true and a practice we will continue to build on for years to come.” Chances are, you’ve not heard of Whirled before. But there’s every chance you’ve watched one of the California-based company’s video skits.
NYC's Livery Car Groups May Have Blocked The E-Hail Pilot Program
Not so fast, New York City. It appears that the implementation of the city’s e-hail app pilot program has been blocked, at least temporarily. Bloomberg is reporting that New York’s livery car groups have succeeded in preventing the city from testing out a new plan to allow people to hail and pay for a ride in one of the city’s taxi cabs using a service like Uber. Last Friday, the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission gave final approval to private car service Uber to begin participating in the program.
Assessing the Historic Alibaba-Sina Deal
Alibaba, China’s e-commerce giant, last week announced that it had purchased an 18 percent stake in Sina Weibo, arguably the nation’s most important social networking platform. The move had been heavily speculated for some time, but the size and influence of both firms made the news was a hot topic among industry analysts and China watchers: in western terms, it is akin to eBay partnering with Twitter.
Facebook Lets Developers Push Ads Based On Users’ App Purchases
Facebook has introduced a new way for developers and marketers to target users with specific adverts based on their existing app purchases and microtransactions. Developers speaking at Mobile DevCon 2013 in London yesterday unveiled a new targeting field buried in the latest SDK for a feature called Custom Audiences, which will result in more relevant adverts being displayed on both its website and native apps. What does that mean for you, the user?
Jolla appoints new CEO, shifts Marc Dillon to Head of Software ahead of Sailfish launch later this year
Jolla, the Finnish company that is rebuilding Nokia’s discontinued Meego operating system from its ashes, has advanced its plan to shake-up the smartphone industry after appointing Tomi Pienimäki as its new CEO. Pienimäki begins his tenure on Monday, joining from logistics firm Itella where he was CIO.
Inside Instagram's Brand New Cleaner, More Professional Logo
To the non-design obsessed, a logo may seem like a relatively small detail, but in reality it represents the personality and identity of a product. This is the case for Instagram, and the Facebook-owned photo sharing service has released a new logo today, built heavily atop its previous script logotype. Here’s the new design, followed by the previous look. Yes it is a subtle change, and no the icon doesn’t appear to have been touched.
Google Fiber Coming to Shawnee, Kansas
Google on Thursday announced that Shawnee, Kansas will receive the company’s Fiber Internet service. Shawnee is located just south-west of Kansas City, meaning the technology will be easier to extend than previous Fiber city announcements, but Google currently claims it doesn’t have an estimate for when the service will be available. The company says it has “a lot of planning and engineering work to do” before bringing Fiber to Shawnee.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Gets Approval From the Pentagon
Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S4 has received security approval from the US Department of Defense (DoD), making it the company’s first device to gain US government certification. The endorsement clears it to be used by Pentagon employees, as Korea’s Yonhap News reports, as part of a new policy on devices used by US government staff.
Windows 8 Developers Report Terrible Ad Fill Rates on Windows 8
Over the past several weeks, developers who have built applications for the Windows 8 platform have vocally complained that ad-fill rates in their apps have dropped precipitously. This is no small issue: if advertising revenue via Microsoft’s pubCenter network is scarcer than water in the southwestern United States, it will materially harm developers building for the platform.
Add Google Calendar Events Directly from Gmail
Google on Thursday announced a small Gmail update that lets you create Google Calendar events directly from your email. The new feature is rolling out to everyone with the English (US) language in their account starting today and continuing “over the next week,” so don’t be surprised if you don’t have it just yet. Here’s how it works. Once you get the feature, dates and times within emails will be lightly underlined.
Instagram now lets you tag people in photos, adds 'Photos of You' section
Today Instagram released version 3.5 of its iOS and Android applications. Key to the release is a new feature dubbed ‘Photos Of You’ that tracks the pictures that you have been snapped in; it’s a running compendium of images that you are featured in. Facebook, of course, has done this for years, helping people keep track of not just their own photos, but also the photos of others.
97 Awesome Sites For Design Inspiration
Creativity will never be an exact science. Sometimes the juices flow, but other times it’s easy to feel all dried up. And while changing your workspace and rethinking your process are simple ways to see things differently, sometimes all you need to do is see great work to get inspired. For those situations, here’s our growing list of places to visit when you hit a dry spell.
Apple Begins Countdown to 50B App Downloads
Apple has begun its ritual countdown to the next big App Store milestone with a special section in iTunes and a list of prizes, reports Macstories. The biggest of those is a $10,000 gift card which will be awarded to the customer who downloads the 50 billionth app, with a trailing set of 50 $500 gift cards to the next few folks. The main store page displays a rolling counter of the apps downloaded, which is currently at 49,206, 600,00 as of publishing.
New Kinect Hack Turns Your Face Into A Mouse
It’s all but time for the market to receive a new Kinect, but that isn’t stopping hackers, developers, and companies alike from whacking around on the first version of motion-capture gadget, creating new use cases for its core technology. To that end, the following: The FaceMouse. Thomas Temme of Germany created the app, using Kinect for Windows, the PC-based version of the gadget; Kinect, as you will recall, launched first for the Xbox 360. It really is a mouse replacement.
Pancake Labs Founder Answers Questions via Video
Got a question for Jim? Use the chat feature below to get it answered live. Jim Belosic is the co-founder and CEO of Pancake Labs, a software company based in Reno, Nev. The company is best known for its flagship product, ShortStack, software that’s designed to help small business owners and designers create custom apps that harness the power of social media. ShortStack recently celebrated its second birthday; Pancake Labs has several new software products slated for release in 2013.
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