The Guardian view on social media’s metaverse: it may remain science fiction | Editorial

The online virtual reality experience that almost every tech giant today wishes to commercially exploit may not catch onIn the 1992 sci-fi dystopia Snow Crash, the author Neal Stephenson imagined a bleak 21st century where the collapse of the global economy had seen governments fall and their power replaced by a few giant businesses. The book is notable for prescience, anticipating the adoption of what was then seen as outlandish technologies like the wireless internet, cryptocurrencies and smartphones, as well as the rise of the gig economy. But it is the book’s prophetic vision of “the metaverse” that has revived interest in the work.That is because Stephenson described the online virtual reality experience that almost every tech giant today wishes to commercially exploit. Last October, Microsoft announced that users of its Teams online meetings app would be able to turn themselves into avatars – the term Stephenson popularised in Snow Crash – to encourage users into virtual interaction. Days later Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder, rebranded his company as Meta, with a focus on the potential for virtual worlds. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2022-02-07 19:11:48 UTC ]
News tagged with: #global economy #wireless internet #gig economy #microsoft announced #mark zuckerberg #virtual worlds #science fiction

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Google Analytics Adds Social Engagement Tracking

On the heels of Google's two social media announcements—its +1 buttons and more recent Google+—the company has just announced the ability to track social engagement and activity in its Analytics package. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sound + Vision Uses Digital Edition to Expand Editorial

Though many magazines are now in the tablet game, Bonnier’s Sound + Vision is using this opportunity to strengthen content in a way not possible on the printed page. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder: The Question 'Who Is Herman Cain?' Soon To Be A Book

The Republican candidate has sold his memoir to the conservative imprint of Simon @ Schuster. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder: Using E-Books to Sell More Print Versions

The publisher Algonquin is offering digital books at a discount or free to customers who buy certain trade paperback or hardback books. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Writing young-adult fiction: Better than going to the prom.

Young-adult books are being sold to an audience that can't vote, yet they're being written by people commonly referred to on the Internet as "the olds." We should know. We're two of them. Both of us have made our living writing. One of us in journalism (Grady) and the other in literary fiction... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2011-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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American Media, Inc. Buys OK! Magazine

After a month of speculation and reports of bids from Time Inc., American Media, Inc. announces it has purchased the U.S. edition of OK! Magazine from Northern & Shell. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Social enterprise group buys Garforth indie

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Wed, 22/06/2011 - 09:14 A social enterprise group has bought a struggling bookshop in a bid to support community spirit and help prevent loneliness. The Baraka Foundation runs two coffee shops and recently bought Garforth Bookshop in Garforth, near... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fiction Rules E-Books

Fiction is the leading sales driver of ebooks, and just how dominant that segment has been is clearly seen in a new market study just released by Bowker. According to "2010–2011 U.S. Book Consumer Demographics & Buying Behaviors Annual Review," fiction accounted for 61% of unit sales in 2010... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tesco non-food growth remains "negative"

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Northstar Travel Media Buys PhoCus Wright Inc.

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Surprise! Apple Has Also Built Social Contact Integration With Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn and Myspace Into iOS 5

Apple's contact information page in the iOS 5 address book has a field not just for Twitter, but also offers space to add friends' handles on Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn and Myspace. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2011-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Widespread media for Tony Blair paperback

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Guardian to sponsor Edinburgh Book Festival

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 08/06/2011 - 14:53 The Edinburgh International Book Festival is to be sponsored by Guardian News & Media, in a newly-penned two-year deal. The sponsorship deal will include coverage in the Guardian, the Observer and its books website of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The end: Borders to close remaining stores

The last nine Borders stores in Australia will close after no buyers could be found for the bookseller chain, the administrator said today. Continue reading at The Sydney Morning Herald

[ The Sydney Morning Herald | 2011-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Borders closes remaining Australian stores

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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B-to-B Publishers Say E-Media, Sales Expenses To Increase the Most in 2011

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brightcove Strikes Video Syndication Deal with AOL’s 5min Media

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Conde Nast Targets Non-Media Budgets with Ideactive Unit

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Liberty Media Bids for Barnes & Noble [Voices]

Barnes & Noble Inc. said that Liberty Media Corp. has offered to buy the bookseller in a deal valuing it at about $1 billion. Barnes & Noble shares were up 20 percent in after-hours trading Thursday on the news, matching the $17-a-share offer price from John Malone's media empire. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2011-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Liberty Media makes offer for Barnes & Noble

Written By: Philip Jones Publication Date: Fri, 20/05/2011 - 10:11 US bookseller Barnes & Noble has received an offer for the company from Liberty Media, a private investment group. The deal values the business at about $1bn, but Liberty said it expected to spend $500m on the acquisition... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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