Tech Thursday: "The Social Network"

This week's post will be a bit different; Vanity Fair just posted a great piece on Sean Parker, one of the co-founders of both Napster and Facebook. I really can't add much to the piece, other than that it's fascinating that a single man can be at the center of so much change. Parker definitely is right about technology (not business or government) being "the real driving force behind large-scale societal shifts." Is anyone out there interested in watching the movie? Does this 'character' piece make you sway one way or the other?

Image via.

Tech Thursday: Facebook Privacy

Comic from Joy of Tech, by Nitrozac & Snaggy

Short but sweet Tech Thursday this week, filling in for the vacationing Scottie. I want to talk about privacy on Facebook.

The Wild Wild Tech

Network World posted a report today outlining the 10 toughest rivals Google will meet in the coming years. Being a part of the mobile industry has given me great exposure to the Smartphone battle that has been shaping up since the iPhone burst onto the scene back in 2007 (Google launched the Nexus One yesterday as it's latest foray into the tech world). Network World's article is a fascinating look into how unique and rapid Google's rise in the otts has led them to have a rather odd list of key rivals.

Find a quick rundown and some thoughts after the jump...

The sale of Mint.com

Last week the personal finances website Mint.com was sold for $170 million to Intuit. The company was started by Aaron Patzer, age 25 at the time, who discusses his entrepreneurship in an interview with YoungEntrepreneur.com. Patzer and Mint.com remind me of the entrepreneurship of Facebook which we just discussed. But unlike Facebook, Mint.com sold its business after two years where as FB appears to be angling to be "the next Google" - a supergiant, hands-in-everything internet platform.

Facebook Was Losing Money?

I just read in BW that Facebook hit a milestone - it made more money than it spent during the last quarter. Zuckerberg's exact quote is "cash-flow positive" for Facebook. I infer from this that during its five years of dominating social networking online it hasn't been profitable? How is that possible?