We’re back! In today’s Signal, the United Nations supports Internet freedom of expression; Facebook and Yahoo settle a feud and reaffirm an ad partnership; WPP puts its ad money where its mouth is; the main problem with Microsoft’s Do Not Track browser; and more (including a bit of Higg’s Boson…)
To the links…
A Victory for the Internet (NYT) On Thursday, the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed a resolution affirming that freedom of expression applies fully to the Internet. The resolution also recognized the immense value the Internet has for global development and called on all states to facilitate and improve global access to it. Time now to put action behind these words.
late bloomer, not a loser. (I hope) (Dave McClure) For those who might worry they’ve not done enough, listen to a fellow who put those fears into words.
Louis C.K. and the Decent Net, or How Louis won the Internet (David Weinberger) We’ve always enjoyed Weinberger’s writing, and this one is a gem.
Facebook, Yahoo Settle Patent Feud, Announce New Ad Partnership (MercuryNews) The FB/Yahoo ad deal provides for promoting and distributing some digital media content — and potentially showing more users’ “likes” or recommendations — across both companies’ websites. Analysts say that the partnership could benefit each of these tech giants if it lives up to the glowing terms that they used to describe the arrangement.
WPP’s Sorrell: Still Doubting Facebook (Digiday) Sir Martin Sorrell, chief of WPP, a company that spends about $65B a year on behalf of its clients, says that Facebook is a great branding mechanism but not really an “advertising medium.” As a result, WPP will spend “only” $400M on FB this year, compared to the $2B it will spend on Google.
Why Microsoft’s Do Not Track Browser Won’t Work for Consumers (AdAge) No company is legally required to honor the DNT signal, and Microsoft, unless it buys, licenses or develops a script-blocking technology, can’t actually stop the tracking.
Nexus 7, Google’s New Tablet, Seriously Challenges the iPad (NYT) The Times’ David Pogue calls the Google’s tablet “a ground-shaking arrival,” claiming that its hardware and software rival Apple’s and “its luxury humiliates the Kindle Fire.”
Marketers Challenged to Keep Pace with Mobile, Social (eMarketer) Marketers are playing catch-up in a big way. The continued fracturing of the media landscape has made it increasingly difficult to reach customers in large numbers. So, to stay in front of the audience, they’re jumping into mobile and will push hard in the next 12 months.
The Higgs Boson Explained by PhD Comics (FlowingData) In a video created a couple of months ago, particle physicist Daniel Whiteson talks about what Higgs Boson is, and the process behind trying to “The God Particle.”
###
If it suits your information consumption goals, sign up for Signal’s email newsletter or RSS feed on the Signal home page (upper right box).
