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Is Jimmy Wales testing out Bitcoin donations for Wikipedia? He is certainly considering it, according to a thread on Reddit. It first started with a tweet — Wikipedia co-founder set up a personal Coinbase account. Playing with BTC today: I just bought 0.1 bitcoin with @Coinbase! coinbase.com— Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) March 06, 2014 But then, Wales shared his wallet address on Twitter and Reddit. “I’m liking Coinbase and finding the interface pretty straightforward,” he wrote on Reddit. Bitcoin users started voting with their wallets. Many sent small amounts of Bitcoin to show Wales that Bitcoin should become a new payment option on Wikipedia. While people are not donating directly to the Wikimedia Foundation, Wales clearly stated that he will donate everything to his foundation. So far the accidentally viral BTC address I posted yesterday has collected 4.5+ BTC. I will donate all to Wikipedia of course. — Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) March 10, 2014 “I’m planning

A team of engineers, who have asked to not be identified by name, are working to develop a new platform for anonymous posting called Cloaq (pronounced “cloak”). This upcoming web and mobile platform, they tell me, will combine the anonymity of apps like Secret and Whisper, with the ease-of-use of more public platforms for sharing, like Twitter, Medium or WordPress. (Oh, and no, it’s not this Cloaq. It’s a different one.) The team has sent me several lengthy and mysterious emails detailing their project, but I told them that I couldn’t, in good faith, cover them, unless I knew who they were, and why they were qualified to build such a thing. Though I’ll stick by my agreement to not reveal their names, what I can say is that the team at Cloaq are not seasoned startup veterans hailing from the Valley, but rather a group of engineers whose backgrounds include both senior and consulting roles within larger organizations where they couldn’t have fudged their technical capabilities. The

today WhatsApp, Facebook’s new $19 billion messaging darling, has released an update to the Android version of the app. Among a few new privacy-related features, the update also brings with it an interesting new feature that lets users pay for their friends’/families’ subscriptions, regardless of the platform. As it stands now, WhatsApp is free for the first year of use, and then requires a $.99 yearly subscription. By letting users pay for their friends’ subscriptions, Facebook and WhatsApp may be promoting the invitation of new users onto the platform. In terms of WhatsApp monetization, Zuck has been perfectly clear. Right now, there is no plan to release ads onto the WhatsApp platform, and to that point, subscriptions aren’t a huge priority either. What’s important right now is growth, and letting users invite and pay for their friends is a good place to start. In related news, WhatsApp is said to get voice calling in the second quarter of this year.

oday WhatsApp, Facebook’s new $19 billion messaging darling, has released an update to the Android version of the app. Among a few new privacy-related features, the update also brings with it an interesting new feature that lets users pay for their friends’/families’ subscriptions, regardless of the platform. As it stands now, WhatsApp is free for the first year of use, and then requires a $.99 yearly subscription. By letting users pay for their friends’ subscriptions, Facebook and WhatsApp may be promoting the invitation of new users onto the platform. In terms of WhatsApp monetization, Zuck has been perfectly clear. Right now, there is no plan to release ads onto the WhatsApp platform, and to that point, subscriptions aren’t a huge priority either. What’s important right now is growth, and letting users invite and pay for their friends is a good place to start. In related news, WhatsApp is said to get voice calling in the second quarter of this year.

Another day, another record high for Facebook. This morning the social company ticked up around 0.6%, topping an up market, and re-cresting the $72 mark comfortably, a level that it barely tasted yesterday. What’s driving Facebook? The larger markets are also broadly higher, but the company’s day is likely still driven by its positive analyst note yesterday. UBS raised its price target for Facebook to $90 per share, a roughly 25% premium on its current price. Facebook, once beleaguered after a rough IPO, traded as low as $18 per share in the low points of 2012. The company is up nearly 100% since its flotation. Despite slowing growth at Twitter, investors seem confident in Facebook, and by implication, its decision to buy WhatsApp; you don’t bid up shares in a company in the face of coming dilution if you are not in favor of the result of that dilution. In this case, a massive acquisition.

Heads turned when Facebook forked out $19 billion for messaging service WhatsApp in February, and eyes popped when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it was probably worth even more. Now, analysts over at Crédit Lyonnais Securities Asia have taken up the baton on outsized messaging app valuations: it says that WeChat, a Chinese competitor owned by Tencent, is worth “at least $60 billion,” because of the fact that it has more active revenues streams incorporated into its service than WhatsApp does. CLSA ranges the valuation between $35 billion and $64 billion this year. In a bullish research note published today on Tencent (subtitle: “Building an empire”), analysts Elinor Leung and Terry Chen make the case for how WeChat should be worth at least two to three times the value of WhatsApp, which they had previously valued at $35 billion. Although it looks like WeChat has less users — around 300 million today to WhatsApp’s 465 million — it has more revenue streams. “WhatsApp only ge

Heads turned when Facebook forked out $19 billion for messaging service WhatsApp in February, and eyes popped when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it was probably worth even more. Now, analysts over at Crédit Lyonnais Securities Asia have taken up the baton on outsized messaging app valuations: it says that WeChat, a Chinese competitor owned by Tencent, is worth “at least $60 billion,” because of the fact that it has more active revenues streams incorporated into its service than WhatsApp does. CLSA ranges the valuation between $35 billion and $64 billion this year. In a bullish research note published today on Tencent (subtitle: “Building an empire”), analysts Elinor Leung and Terry Chen make the case for how WeChat should be worth at least two to three times the value of WhatsApp, which they had previously valued at $35 billion. Although it looks like WeChat has less users — around 300 million today to WhatsApp’s 465 million — it has more revenue streams. “WhatsApp only ge

Instagram has launched version 5.1 of its app on Google Play today, with a redesign that makes for a much speedier, resource-light experience. Your profile should load in half the time, according to an official blog post announcing the news, and the whole app is half as large after the update. Screen Shot 2014-03-11 at 1.09.14 PM The app also has a new look, with “simplified visuals” across the experience that makes it easier for users to engage. Overall it looks like a flattened UI, which is more in keeping with what Android in general is doing, as well as with many of the changes made by OEMs to their own software. The redesign isn’t only meant to keep things looking good and running better – it’s also meant to make Instagram accessible and pleasant to use on a wider range of hardware, including low-end smartphones and Android-powered “feature phones,” according to Instagram, as well as on larger-screened devices like the phablets every OEM under the sun seems to be making.

“SUPER SMS” is another first in Africa tailored to suit smart phone users on the Glo network. All you need to do is text “supersms” to the short code 7767 a link will be pushed to your phone immediately. Download the application to start enjoying the service. It is an application that can help you customize SMS by adding Voice Template Background Emoticons Flash light and vibration You can even take your own picture, customize it and send it via SMS to your friend. Application download costs N100. Each SuperSMS will be charged at normal SMS rate depending on the tariff plan of the subscriber. The application supports all smart phones

After WhatsApp exited to Zuck, the service, perhaps the best known ‘over-the-top’ (OTT) message service announced that it will add voice capabilities in the second quarter of the year. That move makes WhatsApp an even closer replacement for the traditional services provided by carriers, namely phone calls and SMS messages. Nexmo, a provider of telephony services, recently added full voice capabilities to its suite of tools, after previously offering a more limited ‘text-to-speech’ feature. Nexmo competes with firms like Twilio to vend digital telecom services to applications and companies that need them. The company recently raised $18 million in new capital. Its previous voice tools generated 7.5% of monthly revenue, a fair percentage, but a quite minor one. Following the launch of full speech, that share for Nexmo spiked to 15% of its total revenue in under a month, according to its CEO. So, around one sixth of its top line comes from a similar effort to what WhatsApp recently ro

Earlier this week forbes released an update on the list of the richest perons in the world. Topping this list is the chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates with a net worth of $76 B. It is said that the Microsoft company is one of his sources of wealth. However, it is also said that he is a self made man. Other Technology giants that made the first 25 include; Larry Ellison of Oracle with net worth $48 B ranked 5th, Larry Page of Google with net worth of $32.3 B ranked 17th, Jeff Bezos of Amazon net worth of $32 B ranked 18th, and following closely is Sergey Brin of Google with net worth of $31.8 B while the 21st is Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook with $28.5 B.

Facebook Messenger is now available on the Windows OS. Facebook Messenger for Windows Phone lets you send stickers and photos as well as share your location in your messages, and group messaging is also supported. Not all features are there yet, though; for example, voice messaging is not supported in this release. Some of these features are already built into the Windows Phone platform, but with this release, Microsoft will replace that functionality with the Facebook Messenger app. We're likely to see those changes in the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 update, which should be arriving in April 2014.

Facebook Messenger is now available on the Windows OS. Facebook Messenger for Windows Phone lets you send stickers and photos as well as share your location in your messages, and group messaging is also supported. Not all features are there yet, though; for example, voice messaging is not supported in this release. Some of these features are already built into the Windows Phone platform, but with this release, Microsoft will replace that functionality with the Facebook Messenger app. We're likely to see those changes in the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 update, which should be arriving in April 2014.

By now you probably have several cards (credit, debit, gift) you use for different transactions depending on funds availability. Perhaps, sometimes you are even confused on which has more funds, other times you are worried about misplacing any of it or taking one instead of another.Well, have you ever thought about the idea of all of these cards turning into one single card and then you can get to use anywhere? Here is an electronic card called Coin. Coin is a connected device that can hold all the cards you already carry. Coin works with your debit cards, credit cards, gift cards, loyalty cards and membership cards. So, instead of carrying several cards you carry only one. It holds multiple accounts and information in one place. It works with a mobile app that allows you to add, manage and sync your cards that you choose to shop.

Rockstar Games, developer of the wildly popular Grand Theft Auto video game series, will be presented with a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Fellowship at this year’s British Academy Games Awards. Awarded annually, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by the Academy in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games. Fellowships previously bestowed for groundbreaking work in games include Valve founder Gabe Newell, British video game designer Peter Molyneux, Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and Maxis founder Will Wright.

According to a report by Chitika, more than one out of two people browsing the web in North America on an Android device do so on a Samsung. This report also highlighted that HTC and Motorola usage share declined. Based on web usage data, mobile ad network Chitika says Samsung accounts for 55 percent of web traffic on Android devices in the U.S. and Canada; a jump of 8 percent since the last such study in July 2013. HTC, which is hoping for a hit with its new HTC One later this month, lost 3.5 percent share and Motorola followed by losing 2.5 percent of its share since last July.

Several interesting and groundbreaking online solutions has really increased in recent times. Have you ever thought about how you can host all your social media fans (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube) all on one platform online? Well, Flawk might just be the answer. Flawk is yet another online solution that allows you to host all your social media fans just on one platform. Flawk employs a one-to-many communication model that lets fans do more than just look at content, wade through Reddit or expand Twitter conversations. It puts both sides in the same online "event," as if everyone were in the same room. Organisations and celebrities can easily talk to fans without setting aside time to pick and choose questions, and fans get the real-time engagement they want.

f course, there is an old comic story about a Miracle Machine but that is fictitious. However, don't be surprised that it now exist. This time it is a wine-making device. The device helps you create your own wine at home in only a couple of days. All you need is the gadget and a smartphone. Simply power up the Miracle Machine's iPhone app and select the type and style of wine you'd like to make. The app then tells you which ingredients to put into the wine-making device and connects to it via Bluetooth. The app monitors the progress of your wine as it matures, and in three days or so, your wine should be ready for consumption. For example, you could choose to create a Cabernet Sauvignon with a "lively" character, and the app will generate your recipe.

Are you an App Developer? This will really interest you. Reports from TechCrunch reveals that Google now features over 750 services. Wow! thats some good numbers right? Moving forward, Google is expanding this program by creating a formal Technology track in its partner program for vendors who “build complementary business apps and tools.” The new program, Google says, will run alongside its existing Reseller Program, which currently includes more than 10,000 partners. The Reseller track focuses on the resellers who bring Google Apps to other businesses (ranging from small stores to enterprises). The new track is meant for partners who have integrated their products with the Google Apps Services APIs. These range from companies that build anything from workflow tools and analytics dashboards to business intelligence and expense management tools. Some of the companies in the Marketplace today include the likes of DocuSign, Uberconference and SmartSheet. Read more »

Spotify's acquisition of the Echo Nest (a leading music intelligence company, providing developers with the deepest understanding of music content and music fans) signals the growing importance of data in the music business as context becomes king in a world of virtually unlimited content. The Swedish on-demand music streaming service has plenty of content, about 20 million tracks, and is adding 20,000 new tracks a day. And Spotify, which has raised $538 million in funding since its founding in 2006, according to CrunchBase, by purchasing Echo Nest (which itself raised more than $25 million in funding), puts investors on notice that the company is consolidating its data play while increasing assets and putting itself ahead of rivals in preparation for what many assume will be an eventual IPO. Read more »

It's no longer news that the Samsung S5 is an awesome device from Samsung. However, did you know it is a heart-rate sensor? Yes, this feature is built into the phone next to the camera flash, the sensor can read a person's heart rate when he holds his finger up to it for a few seconds. The technology used isn't exactly new, but it's the first time we get to see it in a smartphone. It works by shining the phone's LED light on your fingertip, letting the sensor detect the blood flow beneath the skin. Amazing isn't it? Leave your comments.

If you are conversant with attending conferences on Google Hangout on your laptop or PC, you might find it difficult at times to join, especially when you need to join a conference meeting online and you are not just in a conducive environment to use your laptop. Well, no sweat, Uberconference gets you in the meeting from your phone. Uberconference is an app that makes it easy to receive calls from Google Hangout. Lets create a scenario for further clarification. You have a conference meeting with your friends or colleague and then you forgot doing some other thing. Others can easily call your mobile phone to get you on as long as you have the Uberconference app of course on your smartphone. With Uberconference, you can start and schedule conference calls on the go. Create instant calls with a click and schedule calls by simply selecting contacts and picking a meeting time. During the call, you'll see your conference in action, who's there and who's talking, just like

Your wrist is a hotly contested new battleground, with a small fry like Pebble doing battle with giants including Samsung, and activity trackers like the Jawbone UP and Nike+ FuelBand fighting it out, too. A new Kickstarter project also wants to be a contender, with the Carbon wearable solar charger. The project debuted a couple of weeks ago, with a blank-faced wrist-mounted charger that had a simple solar panel and could collect sunlight and generate around three hours of extra talk time for smartphones with its onboard 800 mAh battery and USB output. But the device, while cool and definitely handy if you’re in need of a bit of emergency juice, wasn’t super practical as a wristborne tool, if only because it originally lacked the ability to tell time. A new update to the project adds a watchface to the Carbon, however, after EnergyBionics gathered feedback from their supporters and found that this could be a way to increase interest in the wearable. The design of the gadget is alre

Are you a lover of music? Do you feel sad each time you miss that very important music concert? Cheer up, because this is for you!Launched last year, is a Seattle-based music technology company that partners with artists to record and quickly deliver live shows to fans in high-quality audio and video. Content is purchased and downloaded in the app moments after the show. So, you can put your phones down and your hands up. Lively takes advantage of technology to preserve live shows and concerts. Concerts should be experienced live, shared and remembered, this is exactly what Lively tried to achieve. Lively gives both artists and fans what they want, without compromising the live performance. The free Lively app is available on Android (http://bit.ly/100Pfjb) iOS (http://bit.ly/ZpOlYH) and Windows (http://bit.ly/12wSVJn) platforms. With Lively the show must go on!

Recently WeChat seem to be really gaining ground, and really I just installed it on my "plasa" few days ago. Please don't laugh :-) With the messaging app space suddenly running hot after the Facebook acquisition of WhatsApp, you can bet the other big messaging platforms are playing close attention to their products. And sure enough, WeChat has just done a major upgrade for both iOS and Android. Version 5.2.0.17 now includes: - Real-time location sharing with walkie talkie - Universal search including chat history search - Receive a special notification if you’re mentioned in a group chat - Share sticker sets with friends - “Better image browsing in chats” - Calls “connect more reliably and video and audio quality is improved” The Android version has also had a facelift with some UI improvements and a new Friend Radar feature similar to the older Look Around feature which connects you with people using WeChat nearby. Like the iOS version, its also has the real-time loc

Washington - When a US jury convicted Michael Dunn of attempted murder, but not actual murder, in the shooting death of a black teenager, the hash tag #dangerousblackchildren popped up on Twitter. Users posted photos of black babies and toddlers, making fun of the fear that Dunn testified he felt before opening fire on a car full of teens at a convenience store. That hash tag was the calling card of Black Twitter, a small corner of the social media giant where an unabashedly black spin on life gets served up in 140-character instalments. Black Twitter shares opinions on everything from US President Barack Obama to the latest TV reality show. But Black Twitter can also turn activist quickly. "Black Twitter brings the fullness of black humanity into the social network, and that is why it has become so fascinating," said Kimberly C Ellis, who has a doctorate in American and Africana Studies, tweets as @drgoddess and is studying Black Twitter for her upcoming book, The Bomba