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How Facebook Could Disrupt Traditional Online Display Advertising (SocialTimes)
Facebook’s advertising revenue dropped slightly in the first quarter of 2013 compared to last quarter, but analysts at Spruce Media say that the company “is poised to disrupt traditional online display advertising by becoming the starting point for all media buys.” Their findings are outlined in Spruce Media’s State of Facebook Advertising Q1 2013 report, in which the analysts explained that “Facebook is laying this foundation through a combination of acquisitions, monumental ad product releases and market strategy.” AdAge Overall, Facebook reported solid revenue of $1.46 billion last quarter, up 38 percent from $1.06 billion a year ago. Ad revenue was $1.25 billion, or 85 percent of the total, while the balance of $213 million came from payments and fees. AllFacebook Facebook’s transition to a mobile-first company continued with great speed during the first quarter of 2013, as the social network reported that 30 percent of its total advertising revenue during the period came from mobile, up from 23 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. Facebook also touted its mobile application install ads, saying that 3,800 developers turned to mobile app install ads during the quarter, resulting in nearly 25 million downloads. The New York Times “What we have seen has made us more confident we can do more with advertising over time,” the company’s chief executive and co-founder, Mark Zuckerberg, told analysts during the earnings call. He said one of his top goals was to build “the best mobile product” — and make money from it. USA Today The downside, however, is that mobile ads fetch lower rates than desktop ones. A report last year by Mary Meeker, a partner with venture-capital behemoth Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, estimates mobile rates at one-third to one-fifth the value of desktop ads. “A key item is: How fast is the user activity switching over to mobile and how is the monetization following?” asks Roger Entner, founder of Recon Analytics.
Twitter Updates its Apps with New Trends Locations, Adds New Android Options and Improves Vine Playback on iOS (The Next Web)
Twitter on Wednesday updated its native Android and iOS apps with a slew of new features and improvements. Less than a month ago, Twitter expanded the number of locations serviced by its Trends product by more than 160 countries and cities, and now the company has brought the feature to its Android and iOS apps. AllTwitter If you’re interested in seeing the trending topics elsewhere in the world, just click the Discover tab, scroll to the top, and you’ll see “Trends.” Click the “Trend” area, and you’ll be given the option to turn off your tailored trends, or pick a new location. VentureBeat Of course, you can’t have a full-on Twitter mobile update without a little love for its micro-video app Vine. Nothing huge here, as Twitter just updated the app Tuesday to give you access to the front-facing camera, but Vine’s video playback has been improved.
Yahoo Acquires To-Do App Astrid (CNET)
Yahoo’s app spending spree continued Wednesday with the acquisition of to-do app Astrid. The to-do-list and task management app “will continue to work as is” for the next 90 days but will not accept new premium subscriptions, Astrid CEO Jon Paris said in a company blog post announcing the acquisition.
How a 24-Year-Old Creator Went from YouTube to Making a Feature Film (AppNewser)
At the Digital Hollywood conference in Los Angeles this week, 24-year-old Smiley filmmaker Michael Gallagher explained how he built a career from YouTube to making a feature film. He had this simple mantra for creators to memorize: “I am open to anything.”
I’m Still Here: Back Online After a Year Without the Internet (The Verge)
I learned to appreciate an idea that can’t be summed up in a blog post, but instead needs a novel-length exposition. By pulling away from the echo chamber of internet culture, I found my ideas branching out in new directions. I felt different, and a little eccentric, and I liked it.
Company’s App Can Now Be Used to Hail Yellow Cabs in City (The New York Times)
After a series of court hearings and false starts, New York City’s yellow taxi riders can now, for the first time, legally hail a cab with a smartphone app. On Tuesday night, a company called Uber, which entered the yellow taxi-hailing market last year before being rebuffed by the city, said that its service was available, one week after a lawsuit challenging the use of such apps was dismissed.
Elevator Pitch: Burn Note Keeps Private Messages Private [Video] (Elevator Pitch)
In the latest episode of “Elevator Pitch,” host Alan Meckler speaks with Jacob Robbins about his startup that lets you send a secure email that disappears after it’s read.
From USC Annenberg to Dodgers Social Media Coordinator (FishbowlLA)
He’s 23-years-old. And now that LA Weekly Dodgers blogger Howard Cole has profiled Josh Tucker, many more fans today know the name of the person pulling the team’s Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram strings.
YouTube Users Now Watch 6 Billion Hours of Videos a Month (GigaOM)
People are now watching more than 6 billion hours of video a month on YouTube, the Google-owned video service announced on its blog Wednesday afternoon. That’s twice as much as just a year ago: In May 2012, YouTube announced that its viewers were watching 3 billion hours of videos a month. In August, that number had grown to 4 billion hours.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
YouTube has partnered with Billboard and Nielsen to add a new element to their “Hot” charts. Now the Hot 100 List, Hot Country Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, R&B Songs, Rap Songs, Hot Latin Songs, Hot Rock Songs and Dance/Electronic Songs lists are going to be factoring in YouTube streaming data when assessing the popularity of an artist, album or song.
Megan O’Neill
Twitter confirmed a 
