Game-Changer: A Real-Time Social Media News Magazine

"Check out Flipboard, an elegant new iPad app that aggregates content that your Facebook and Twitter friends are reading and linking to. Adding something to the stream is easy with one click "like" buttons. The app also recommends content from various prominent sites and genres on the web. The Palo Alto start-up also announced that it has acquired web intelligence company Ellerdale to help improve its recommendation engine. Ellerdale indexes data from the social web to the tune of 70 million messages/day to determine relevancy."

Google aquires Metaweb to Improve Search

Over the course of the last few years, search engines have been moving to provide users with more relevant results by adopting third party data. This week, Google aquired "semantic web and real world database company Metaweb, a move the company says will help them improve search and make the web richer and more meaningful for everyone."

See below for an interesting clip that breaks down how Metaweb will change the way you search:

Thoughts and resources:

• Another third party may be entering the search space - Foursquare in talks with major search engines: http://bit.ly/cLC2aN

Digital Couponing- Key to Starbucks Online Success

Starbucks has surpassed 10 million fans on Facebook, notes Mediapost - passing Coke as the most popular corporate brand on the social network. The coffee chain has added scores of followers by launching promotions such as coupons for free pastries that can be redeemed at local stores.

-Cynthia Turner

BP Damage Control Team Buying Search Terms

BP has purchased sponsored listings at the top of Google, Yahoo and MSFT Bing search results. Search for the terms "Oil Spill", "Oil Cleanup" or "Oil Leak" and you should find BP's oil disaster response website serving in the top position.

This is not uncommon. Many companies buy search terms in an attempt to control a message. What this means is that people searching for information about the spill have a good chance of seeing BP's site at the top of their search results. This practice is often considered unethical. Should we allow BP to control the message in the case of the biggest environmental disaster in US history? BP's ad:

BP Response

Learn About BP's Progress On The

Gulf Of Mexico Responce Effort.

www.BP.com/GulfOfMexicoResponse

And who is in the second position, you ask?

BP Gulf Oil Spill Lawsuit

Did you Suffer Damages From The

Gulf Oil Spill? Call 1-800-544-9922

www.OilSpillCleanUpLawsuit.com

MUST SEE: A Race Across the Internet

Google Chrome strikes again with this incredibly creative, interactive viral video/trivia game/Rube Goldberg machine/Google service showcase.. Honestly, there aren't enough slashes or adjectives for me to really describe it. You must experience this for yourself:

• http://bit.ly/Googly1

Thoughts and resources:

• As with any type of advertising, i suppose, we are trained to wear blinders. When I came across A Race Across the Internet, my eyes lit up. Chrome's ad is so brilliant because is engages by allowing users to participate in the storyline, while at the same time spurring our competitive human nature to help deliver the brands message.
• This ad was created by BBH: http://www.bartleboglehegarty.com/
• I have a prize for the first person that's beats my time of 2:21 on their first try! Email me with a screen shot! UPDATE: Congrats to Betsy King in the Cleveland office, killing it with a time of 1:46!