Yogi Land

This post reflects the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Mashable as a publication.

Hamilton Chan is CEO and founder of Paperlinks. With the free Paperlinks iPhone app, featured previously by Apple as the #1 New & Noteworthy app, consumers can scan and view QR code content with a native app experience. Paperlinks also provides a powerful platform for generating QR codes, hosting content and tracking their performance.

If you raise the subject of QR codes among tech early adopters, you are likely to elicit a passionate response. Some people think QR codes, those scanable black and white squares on everything from billboards to product packaging, are on an unstoppable growth trajectory, while skeptics are quick to dismiss them as a fad.

This reaction is common whenever new technology formats or standards are being decided upon. Pundits want to exhibit their knack for predicting the future and stakeholders (of which I am undeniably one) want to make sure their format wins out. The general public, meanwhile, tends to lay in wait for a particular format to show dominance.

QR codes, in particular, make great fodder for debate because the codes are inherently big and ugly. So far, they have not experienced the same popularity in North America as they have enjoyed abroad, in part because many consumers are still getting used to seeing these codes and figuring out what to do with them.

In my opinion, there is little question that these real-world hyperlinks are increasingly going to be part of our reality and everyday life. Although QR codes won’t be the only technological option for hyperlinking in the real world, I believe they’ll soon be recognized as one of the best-suited options to connect items in the physical world to the Internet.

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Why Real World Hyperlinking Is on the Rise

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If there is one thing that can be counted on in our technological future, it’s that information will continue to become more widespread, available and relevant. The Internet will expand from a network of computers to a network of everything, with interactivity pre-programmed into nearly every object we use.

There’s no doubt that QR code traction in the U.S. is on the rise. Evidence has been shown in a number of recent market reports, including a study by Mobio Technologies Inc., which reported a 9,840% increase in QR code use for the second quarter of 2011 (compared to the same time last year).

Even a recent annual report from Gartner, a market research firm, puts QR codes on the “slope of enlightenment” when it comes to mainstream adoption of the technology. Further adding to the evidence, comScore reported that in June of this year, more than 14 million Americans scanned a QR code, representing more than 6% of the U.S. mobile population.

It may take some time before we switch to scanning objects for information, but this direct relationship between an object’s online persona and the consumer will ultimately make life easier. Run out of razor blades for your shaver? Scan a real world hyperlink on your can of shaving cream and order more blades.

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What Skeptics are Saying

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Despite the mounting evidence that QR codes are here to stay, many skeptics still believe this technology is no more than a shiny new marketing tool with no future. These are the three arguments I’ve seen repeatedly:

• QR Codes are just a transient technology: It’s true that there are many alternatives to QR codes and, as our world increasingly becomes interconnected, there will be a variety of technology options for businesses to choose from. This assumes that one technology will take over the market. It’s more likely that a suite of options will be available to businesses and marketers seeking to leverage the mobile web. Different applications will demand different technologies, and no single hyperlinking technology will be suitable for every marketing application. The main advantages of the QR code are cost, simplicity and ease of implementation. QR codes provide no incremental cost to an agency already printing or selling ads. QR codes, however, deliver greater engagement, quantifiability and potential mobile commerce opportunities. Alternate technology options (such as Near Field Communication chips) are still a ways off from being as widespread and accessible as QR codes.
• More work with little to no payback: Yes, in order to read a QR code, consumers first need to be able to identify what a QR code is and how it works. They then need to download a QR reader app, if they do not already have one, in order to read the code. Once the code is scanned, however, the potential payback for consumers is vast and limited only by one’s imagination. Whether it’s access to exclusive content, deals, promotions or discounts, companies have a number of options to reward their consumers for scanning.
• It doesn’t solve consumer problems: There are two types of technological innovations: Those that solve consumer pain points in an existing market and those that provide an entirely new approach toward everyday life. QR codes are a new approach that ultimately simplifies the way mobile users can get information. While it’s just as simple to look up information on the mobile web, savvy businesses are realizing that one of the main benefits of a QR code campaign is to provide their mobile customers with instantaneous access to something that is unique and can’t be accessed in another way.

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Conclusion

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Whether you are a fan or critic of QR codes, one thing is certain: Real world hyperlinks are here to stay. QR codes are just one of the many linking possibilities, but they are popping up everywhere – across all verticals and businesses of all sizes. The popularity of QR codes will continue to gain momentum. Moving forward, the catalyst for their success will ultimately lie in the creative ways they are implemented.

Marketers have the ability to reach their mobile customer base in a way that wasn’t possible before. They need to reward consumers for helping blaze this new trail. The results will be captivating.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, youngvet

More About: business, Mobile 2.0, Opinion, qr, qr code, Tech

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The weekly roundup is back and, as usual, Mashable has been working hard compiling the latest features and news analysis to fuel your social and techie adventures.

Whet your appetite with a list of Google’s top 10 most expensive acquisitions. Move onto an appetizer of MySpace memories. Have a second helping of back to school iOS apps. Finally, satiate your sweet tooth with a history of online activism. And be sure to come back for seconds next week!

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Editors’ Picks

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Social Media

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• 5 Years of YouTube Politics [INFOGRAPHIC]
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• A Brief History of Online Activism
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• Who’s Winning the YouTube Town Hall? [INFOGRAPHIC]
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• MySpace Memories: 14 Stories From the Social Network
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• 4 Ways Non-Profits Can Jump Into Google+
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• What Shows, Teams and Celebrities Are TV Watchers Following? [INFOGRAPHIC]
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• How The Onion Surpassed 3 Million Twitter Followers
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• 3 Tips for Teachers Using Social Media in the Classroom
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• Why Blocking Social Media During Civil Unrest Is Never the Right Choice [OPINION]
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Tech & Mobile

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• 3 New Ways To Create & Consume Media
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• 5 News Personalization Tools Bring You Only The Stories You Want
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• 3 Mobile Apps Poised to Change the Consumer/Brand Relationship
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• Back to School: 42 Digital Resources for Students & Parents
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• 3 Tips for Building a Web App That Can Scale
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• What to Consider When Developing a High-Traffic, Real-Time Web App
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• How Musicians Are Engaging Fans With Location Tech
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• Why Your App Must Comply With Child Privacy Regulations
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• How Connected Devices and Streaming Video Are Changing the Way We Consume Content
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• 17 Web Resources for Improving Your Design Skills
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Business & Marketing

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• 5 Web Tools to Enhance Your Online Sales Strategy
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• PPC Marketing: 10 Killer Tips for Better ROI
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• 4 Traits of Better Business Software
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• Beauty Delivered: How Birchbox Is Disrupting the Cosmetics Industry
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• Why 11 Businesses Launched Online Instead Of With a Storefront
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• 4 Top Customer Service Tips For Small Business
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• 5 Tips for Crowdsourcing Your Next Marketing Campaign
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• HOW TO: Manage Social Media Accounts for Multiple Clients
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For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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Image courtesy of MarcoFolio

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Forget Sharpies and highlighters, the new back to school essentials this fall are apps for your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. While cellphones used to be classroom contraband, the burgeoning market of educational apps means iOS devices are as welcome as loose leaf and pencils.

This school year, free iOS apps can replace your pricey graphing calculator and clunky dictionary. Inexpensive planners will organize your homework, grades and finances.

SEE ALSO: Back to School: 42 Digital Resources for Students & Parents

We’ve rounded up the essentials for the season, so you won’t go back to school unprepared. These 15 apps will keep your academic and extracurricular life on track.

1. Amazon Student

Cost: Free

Supported devices: iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: No one likes to waste money on textbooks -- especially after putting your John Hancock on an increasingly fat tuition check. Amazon Student is here so you can avoid overpaying for your pile of books. Use the app to scan barcodes in the bookstore and compare your campus hub to Amazon.com's prices. Likewise, at the end of the term, exchange your used books, games, movies or gadgets for credit by scanning their barcodes. The icing on the cake? Free two-day shipping for college students.

2. AroundMe

Cost: Free

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch (with limited functions)

Why you need it: If you're headed to a new town to study, AroundMe is a great tool to help you get the lay of the land. The app finds the nearest banks, hospitals, bars, gas stations, hotels, coffee shops, restaurants, taxi companies, theaters and supermarkets. With AroundMe on your iOS device, you'll limit the perpetual U-turns and mistaken directions that come standard with learning a new city.

3. Dictionary & Thesaurus

Cost: $2.99

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Don't consider buying a dictionary for your dorm room with this app on the market. Without an Internet connection, this mobile dictionary and thesaurus gives you access to nearly 2,000,000 words. Turn on the popular Word of the Day notifications to improve your vocabulary.

4. Documents To Go

Cost: $9.99

Supported devices: iPad and iPhone

Why you need it: Create, edit and share Word (.doc, .docx), PowerPoint and PDF files from your iOS device with Documents To Go. Add last minute edits to your papers or takes notes on presentations without lugging around your laptop. The mobile app now includes intricate formatting options, so even work done from your iPhone can look polished.

5. Free Graphing Calculator

Cost: Free

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Don't think about dropping $100 on a ti83 now that this app in on the market. This free calculator includes your standard arithmetic and exponential functions, and can graph up to four color-coded equations at once. An added bonus is a bank of equations stored in its reference section. The only downside is we can't guarantee your professors will let you have your mobile device out during an exam.

6. Grades 2

Cost: Free

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Are you the type that likes to know exactly where your grade-to-date stands? Grades 2 is designed to compute those pesky calculations for you, assuring you know what scores you'll need on each assignment to achieve your sought after A. You can personalize the app with each of your courses' syllabi. The app also works as a personal organizer, reminding you about deadlines and upcoming exams.

7. iHomework

Cost: $1.99

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Before you invest in a leather-bound planner, vowing to religiously log all your to-dos, consider iHomework instead. The app will keep your schedule and workflow streamlined, alerting you with all your deadlines and assignments. If a friend sleeps though class (the app alerts you for class so you'll never be the one sleeping late) you can share missed assignments though email. Log your grades so you know what your report card will look like in advance.

8. iStudiez Pro

Cost: $2.99

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Organize even the most complicated course schedule with iStudiez. Visualize your classes, activities and assignments on this well designed color-coded calendar. Like many of the other organization apps, you can set reminders for major events and track your grades and GPA.

9. Mint.com Personal Finance

Cost: Free

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Many students are first-timers when it comes to money management. This app helps you establish and stick to a budget, factoring expenses from bar tabs to laundry change. The app can house your checking, credit, savings and retirement account information. Worried about what could happen to your personal finance information should you lose your phone? The app gives you a four-digit pin code to access the Mint.com website and block access to your app should something happen to your device.

10. Papers

Cost: $14.99

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: You'll never need to do a mass printout again with Papers, the app that digitizes your academic library. The PDF viewer is designed for easy reading, especially on the iPad. Papers comes with eight academic search engines -- ACM, NASA-ADS, arXiv, Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, JSTOR, Pubmed and Web of Science -- so you have many resources for finding articles.

11. Penultimate

Cost: $1.99

Supported devices: iPad

Why you need it: If you are a die-hard believer in writing notes by hand, try Penultimate, a notebook simulator allowing you scribble notes into your iPad. This app is great if you're a science or math student, using symbols that are difficult to input into a word processor. Some of Penultimate's fancy features include different colored gel pen style tips, importable paper styles and a true to life eraser. You can organize your notes into different notebooks, making your iPad a seamless replacement to paper note taking.

12. Snoozerr

Cost: $0.99

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Even the sharpest students' minds can wander during a lecture. With Snoozerr you can record your lectures to revisit points of a class you missed the first time around. The app includes a time-stamped photo function, so you can take pictures of a graph or diagram on the board which corresponds to class notes.

13. Stanza

Cost: Free

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Book lovers and literature students alike should make room for Stanza on their iOS devices. The app includes 50,000 free classic titles as well as another 50,000 contemporary titles from partner stores. Add your favorite books to personalize your digital library. If you're someone who rapidly breezes through books, hopefully Stanza's vast collection will satiate your reading bug for a while.

14. USB Disk

Cost: Free

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Why you need it: Eliminate your tiny, easily misplaced USB drive with the USB Disk app. Store and view all your documents and PDFs from your mobile device. USB Disk is also a great way to back up photos and videos from your computer, so you can always have your essential files at your fingertips.

15. VocabPlus Lite

Cost: Free

Supported devices: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch

Why you need it: If you're preparing for a dreaded standardized test this year, use VocabPlus Lite to integrate new words into your vocabulary. The app teaches 1,500 words through digital flashcards. Once you've mastered a word, the app removes the card from your regular drills, so you an focus on new information.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, skodonnell

More About: education, iOS apps, ipad apps, iphone apps

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Google, by way of Google Offers and Google Wallet, has long shown an interest in winning the daily deal poker match against current market leader and one-time acquisition target Groupon. Tuesday, Google is going all in with a deals-focused update to Google Shopper for iPhone.

The Google Shopper for iPhone application [iTunes link], once focused around comparison shopping, now includes nearby offers and has become a near clone of Groupon’s first-to-market Groupon Now application for location-based deal discovery.

The Shopper application’s navigation has been reworked and now includes an “Offers” tab sandwiched between the “Shop” and “My Offers” options.

“The Offers tab displays a list, or map view, of nearby offers which businesses have submitted through Google Places,” Google Shopper Product Manager Richard Hung explains. “If Google Offers are available in your city, you’ll be able to view and redeem your purchased offers on the My Offers tab.”

Google Offers launched in Portland in April. Earlier this month, Google expanded Offers into two new markets: San Francisco and New York. Nearby offers were previously made available to Google Shopper for Android users.

More About: daily deals, Google Offers, Google Shopper, Groupon Now

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Whew! This week was awash with news. So, we transformed that news into advice, tips and how-to’s that you can reference for years to come.

Take Facebook’s video chat launch — we’ll guide you in setting it up. Or the space shuttle launch — we provide the Twitter accounts for dozens of astronauts and space experts. And Google+ has been on the minds of millions — we present its pros and cons. Mashable not only releases breaking news, we help you learn how to apply it to your business, your interests and your personal life.

If spare time for reading didn’t exactly factor into your busy week, here’s a roundup of resources that appeared on Mashable.

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Social Media

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• Google+: The Pros & Cons
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• Top 10 Twitter Trends This Week [CHART]
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• 3 New Apps For Self Improvement
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• Mashable Picks: Our 11 Favorite Tumblr Themes
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• The History of America, As Told by Facebook [PIC]
  In honor of Independence Day, The New York Times published an op-art depicting America’s would-be Facebook profile, entitled “Like It or Unfriend It?”
• HOW TO: Import Your Facebook Contacts on Google+
  A new Google Chrome extension makes extracting Facebook contacts a lot easier, helping new Google+ users more easily reconstruct their respective social graphs.
• 10 Accessories to Cheer Up Your Office Break Room [PICS]
  If your company staff room’s highlights are a handful of tattered magazines, a tired vending machine and a half-dead plant, then take a look at these creative ideas.
• The Connected States of America [INFOGRAPHIC]
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• HOW TO: Get Your Own Google+ Vanity URL
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• HOW TO: Launch Facebook Skype Video Chat [PICS]
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• The 20 Most-Shared Video Ads This Month
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• 10 Top Google+ Users Weigh In on the Web’s Newest Social Network
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• 4 Fresh Ways To Share Video on Twitter
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• Which TV Shows Were the Most Social in June? [INFOGRAPHIC]
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• 4 Ways Colleges Can Take Their Social Media Presence to the Next Level
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• Space Tweets: 23 Must-Follow Twitter Accounts for Astronomy Lovers
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Tech & Mobile

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• Texting Teens: Typing Replaces Talking [INFOGRAPHIC]
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• 7 Great JavaScript Resources
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• 10 Fascinating Facts About Phone Numbers
  You probably dial a few of them every day, but do you ever stop and think about what’s behind a phone number? When the first numbers were introduced? How you ended up with the area code you did?
• The Future of Mobile Payments [INFOGRAPHIC]
  We know that mobile payments are redefining commerce, but will our phones soon replace our wallets?

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Business & Marketing

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• HOW TO: Leverage Location for Better Ad Campaigns
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• Zynga’s Journey From Founding to IPO [INFOGRAPHIC]
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• 5 DIY Ecommerce Solutions for Small Business
  For the small retailer who wants to start selling quickly, there are several great options available in the form of hosted services and subscription-based web applications.
• HOW TO: Land a Job at Airbnb
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• Convertible Debt vs. Equity: Which Is Right for Your Startup?
  Investors and entrepreneurs butt heads on whether convertible debt is better than equity. Here, we review the pros and cons of each.
• 7 Twitter Marketing Campaigns to Learn From
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• HOW TO: Use CoTweet as a Marketing Tool
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• 7 Winning Examples of Game Mechanics in Action
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• Find a Job in Social Media, Communications or Design
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• Why Facebook Relies on Third-Party Agencies to Scale Its Ad Platform
  To buy ads on Facebook, you often have to go through 22 firms with access to Facebook’s Ads API. Why are such companies necessary?
• 10 Top Tech Entrepreneurs Share Their Favorite Food Trucks
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• 7 Easy Ways to Do Good Online Beyond Donations
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• How the Private Space Race Has Taken Off
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For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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Image courtesy of Webtreats

More About: business, List, Lists, MARKETING, Mobile 2.0, social media, tech, technology

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You probably dial a few of them every day, but do you ever stop and think about the history behind a phone number? When were the first numbers introduced? How did you end up with a particular area code?

We’ve got the answers to these quandaries and more in our collection of 10 fascinating facts that you might not know about the common phone number.

Take a look through the gallery and let us know which facts you found interesting (as well as any gems we may not have included) in the comments below.

1. How Phone Numbers Were Invented

In the early days of phone service, you'd call the operator and ask to be patched through to a particular line. This system was first questioned in 1879 by Alexander Graham Bell's friend, Dr. Moses Greeley Parker of Lowell, MA. The town was suffering from an epidemic of measles and the doctor quite sensibly suggested that if the town's phone operators fell ill, replacement operators would struggle to run the system. Numbers instead of names was seen as a better solution which, as you all know, is the system we still use today.

2. The First U.S. Area Codes

Conceived in the late Forties, area codes were not established until the introduction of New Jersey's 201 area code in 1951. The area codes we use today are an evolution of the original "North American Numbering Plan."

Initially there were under 90 codes. Codes were dished out based on population. The areas with the largest populations received codes that were quick to dial on a rotary phone. New York was given 212, Los Angeles 213 and Chicago 312 while more rural areas like Texas and Kansas got 915 and 913.

3. All About Emergency Numbers

Emergency numbers differ from country to country. While 911 was eventually adopted as the standard number in the United States and Canada, in Europe you'll need to dial 112, although 999 also works in the UK, where there's been an emergency number system since the 1930s.

In contrast, 911 was not official until the late '60s, when it was first known as "nine-eleven," and then later changed to "nine-one-one" to avoid confusion with people wasting precious time looking for the "11" button.

Prior to the one-number system, you'd call the operator to summon the correct emergency service, although in the States some fire departments could be reached by dialling "3-4-7-3" -- which spells "FIRE."

4. The Most Expensive Phone Number

The most expensive number sold was cell phone number 666-6666, auctioned off for charity in Qatar. It sold for a dizzy $2.7 million, far and away surpassing the previous record holder. The Chinese number 8888-8888 sold for $280,000.

5. Woz Owned 888-8888

Legend has it that Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak (who was really into repeating digits, hence pricing the Apple I at $666.66) once owned the phone number 888-8888.

The only problem with such a cool number was that it earned over a hundred prank calls a day. Although not malicious in nature, being dialed repeatedly by mischievous children must have taken its toll.

6. Fictional Numbers Are Set Aside For Films

The "Klondike" or "KL" phone exchange was first used to generate fictional phone numbers in American TV and films. This later evolved to the current "555" prefix, some of which have been set aside purely for fictional purposes. In the UK, 01632 is the fictional area code recommended by Ofcom, although it does also provide non-working suggestions for major cities, as well as fictional cell, freephone and premium rate numbers.

7. However, Some Films Ignore the Convention

Some have bucked the 555 trend. Universal Studios owns (212) 664-7665, which has appeared in The Adjustment Bureau, Definitely Maybe and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. If you call the number, it just rings and rings. Fight Club uses the 288 area code, which is not yet in use, and Bruce Almighty caused controversy for using a real phone number supposedly belonging to God. After complaints, the original "776-2323" was changed to the more traditional 555-0123 in the DVD release.

8. Famous Phone Numbers in Music

Phone numbers famously appear in songs as well, perhaps the most memorable being Glenn Miller's Pennsylvania 6-5000. Today the number still exists as (212) 736-5000 ("73" replaces the "PE" of the old number) and will get you through to the Hotel Pennsylvania of the song title. The hotel happily claims that it's the "New York phone number in longest continuous use."

Other numbers to have appeared in song (much to the annoyance of folks who own that number in various area codes) include Tommy Tutone's 867-5309/Jenny. More recently, Alicia Keys mentioned that 489-4608 was her number in the song Diary, after which excited fans attempted to call her.

9. How to Find Your Personalized Phonewords

Thanks to services like PhoneSpell, you can find out if any of your phone numbers offer interesting "phonewords." Enter your digits and the site will generate a list of interesting combinations. If you've lucked out, it may provide a better way to remember your number in future.

10. Finally, a Neat Phone Number Magic Trick

There's a neat phone number-related trick you can impress your friends with, thanks to the magic of math.

Take a seven-digit phone number, for example, 941-7990. Multiply the first three digits by 80. Add one. Multiply by 250. Add the last four digits of the original phone number. Add the last four digits again. Subtract 250 and divide by two.

Cool, huh?

Images courtesy of Billy Brown, Nate Steiner, raindog808, Collin Allen, Chris Dlugosz, Saxon, Orin Zebest, flattop341, reibai, Clare Bell, Kevin Spencer

More About: facts, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, phone numbers

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The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Each weekend, Mashable handpicks a few startups that we think are building interesting, unique or niche products.

This time we’ve curated a collection of applications that should come in handy the next time you’re planning a hotel stay, interested in promoting your digital prowess or looking to list your events calendar in a social way.

We like Infostripe as a simple way to create a mobile-friendly microsite that represents our web presences, and FYi Fly is a nifty interactive calendar app for the social butterflies among us. Then there’s Bedmap, a hotel search engine that makes mapping out future road trips a breeze.

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Infostripe: Mobile-Friendly Personal Landing Pages

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Quick Pitch: Create customizable infostripes to show off your tweets, blog posts, Facebook updates, YouTube videos and more.

Genius Idea: Simple, mobile-friendly personal splash pages..

Mashable’s Take: Infostripe is a slightly different interpretation of a personal landing page tool, similar in nature to About.me or Flavors. Where Infostripe differs is in its focus on simplicity and mobile.

“The founding motivation for Infostripe was to create a unique mobile-ready and shareable website that anyone could set up regardless of their skill level,” creator Harold Fudge tells Mashable.

You can use your Infostripe to represent your entire presence on the web by including linked icons for as many as 200 social sites, or by featuring your recent status updates, videos and photos.

You can also optionally include contact information and turn your Infostripe into a digital business card, or choose to collect web content on any subject matter in a notebook-like fashion.

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Bedmap: Map-Based Hotel Search

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Quick Pitch: Bedmap is a map-based search tool for finding hotels.

Genius Idea: Making finding hotels for road trips more manageable.

Mashable’s Take: Many hotel sites tack maps on to their search result pages to highlight hotel locations, but Bedmap makes the map the focus of its site.

Bedmap offers users a simple, fast and elegant map-based interface — with appropriate filters for desired amenities — for viewing hotels and rates by destination. Because of its map-centric approach, Bedmap could prove especially useful for those in search of road-side hotels on their summer road trips.

The Toronto-based startup was founded in January and gets its listings and reviews from global hotel database partners Hotels.com and TripAdvisor.

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FYi Fly: Facebook-Infused Social Calendar for Your Site

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Quick Pitch: FYi Fly is a social event listing site and calendar widget for your site with Facebook integration.

Genius Idea: A slick social calendar for your website or blog.

Mashable’s Take: FYi Fly is a convenient little calendar application designed for event organizers and attendees alike.

Use the tool to build out your social calendar, customize the size and look of the widget and then grab the embed code to list your upcoming events on your site.

Visitors who mark that they’re attending your events via the widget will also post their attendance to their Facebook walls, further promoting your events. You can even encourage event attendees to add their own photos and comments to your events.

Altogether, FYi Fly is as pretty and functional as anything we’ve seen in the social events startup category.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, fotoVoyager

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Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark

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The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.

More About: Bedmap, bizspark, FYi Fly, infostripe, spark-of-genius, Startup Weekend Roundup

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In 2010, Google estimated the number of unique books published in the whole of recorded history at just under 130 million. Josh Koppel, the founder of New York’s ScrollMotion, would love for every one of those volumes to be republished on the new digital platforms made possible by the iPad and other tablets. And that’s just books — for Koppel there are also magazines, newspapers, websites, journals and even financial reports and baseball cards that could use the tablet treatment.

Koppel’s desire to see the world’s information repackaged on mobile platforms isn’t one borne from greed, but rather for a deep respect for the printed word and a passion for preserving it. The iPad was a game changer in publishing, Koppel once told Mashable, because it was the first electronic reading device that legitimately felt additive, rather than reductive. Koppel’s work shows deference to the established art and culture of print, even while transitioning books and magazines to new digital formats that can enhance the way readers engage with content.

We had the to chance to sit down with Koppel following his presentation at Mashable Connect 2011, to discuss the transition of print media to digital and the future of publishing.

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Q&A with Josh Koppel, Founder & CEO of ScrollMotion

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Smartphones and tablets have challenged our notions of what printed “content” is and how it behaves. Yet, part of your goal at ScrollMotion is to preserve the culture of print even while pushing new digital boundaries. What’s the secret to finding a balance between adding value by taking advantage of available new tools and adversely affecting the integrity of the content?

We believe that the book is an art form and the essential medium to tell the story of human history. Everything we do must the serve the book first. Just like special effects can’t make a movie, the most important thing we can do is create a reading experience that is at its core, reading. All of the “stuff” — interactions, social media, RSS feeds, etc. — are all there to enhance the reading experience. If the book is overshadowed by the bells and whistles, it defeats the purpose.

One of the most important aspects of the ScrollMotion platform is that it’s not confined to just a single device. The ease in which you are able to repurpose content across multiple channels is due in large part to your decision to use HTML5. What are the advantages to that approach? How does it help you scale?

We see HTML as the only archival format. I can’t tell you what the next great feature of the iPad will be, but I’m pretty sure it will have a web browser. HTML5 allows publishers to put their content into open formats that are less likely to get marginalized. Who would have thought five years ago that proprietary formats like Flash would get pushed out of the workflow? But it has. And since our apps can support thousands of documents across a wide variety of content types, we make it very easy for brands that work with different types of media to produce a single solution across all of media.

During your presentation at Mashable Connect 2011, you mentioned the upcoming release of web-based publisher tools that would allow anyone to develop media-rich, interactive, multi-platform experiences. That strikes me as a potentially game changing development. How do you think such a drastically lowered barrier to entry might shake up the media and publishing industries?

ScrollMotion was founded on the idea that all of the print content in the world is going to be sold one more time. In a lot of cases, the publishers we work with ask for input on how to design a print-oriented interactive experience. But while we offer the tools to transform print to digital, we really feel that publishers need to own the creative process. They need to have a “Chinese menu” of interactions, features and tools, and be able to customize them in the way that they want, to best suit the needs of their customers. Otherwise it’s just moving content from one venue to another, and what we want to do is create a truly interactive and engaged reading experience.

ScrollMotion has been able to consistently innovate in a rapidly transforming media industry. What inspires you? What drives you to keep looking for the next big thing?

The fact that the technology keeps changing and media models are shifting means that we’re constantly being challenged to find new ways to bring content to life. The more new tablets introduced into the market, the more consumers buy, and the more opportunities we have to expand what we do. And, as more businesses and enterprise customers adopt tablets, which they are starting to do, the broader the playing field gets. There’s an incalculable amount of printed material out there that has still yet to be transformed into digital, and that what’s exciting to us.

What are the biggest challenges facing the publishing industry as it transitions to digital? How will ScrollMotion help meet those challenges?

Publishers are still figuring out how to transition their print businesses in a way that is both economical and efficient. Beyond just the technological revolution led by the iPad, it has also created a new sense of urgency among publishers to transform their printed pages into pixels.

I think that the more publishers recognize that digital publishing and digital books are here to stay, the more likely they’ll want to engage audiences in new and unique ways. But, they need to realize that digital publishing and digital books can’t just be about migrating printed content to tablets and smartphones. People aren’t going to pay for that. What publishers will have to do is enhance the user experience, which is where we come in.

You’ve been ahead of the curve in your industry for the past decade. As publishers start to explore producing content specifically for digital mediums, what will the media landscape look like? What’s coming next?

ScrollMotion is a company that was founded on the belief that all of the content in the world will be sold one more time on mobile devices. Our job is to help publishers make this transformation. I think you’ll start to see, very soon, more original content that’s evolving from printed content on digital devices – whether it’s self published or through an established player in the media industry.

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More About: interview, ipad, Mobile 2.0, publishing, scrollmotion, tablets

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Mashable has finally returned from Disney World (also known as the happiest place on earth) with the conclusion of Connect. Since returning, we’ve have no time to slump, turning out another great week of tools and resources for your social media pleasure.

Read on for some great stories about how to use Gmail Labs to boost your productivity, 13 alternative ways to get your news online, and a ton of resource roundups for developers, designers, and small businesses alike.

Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.

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Editors’ Picks

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• How 5 Non-Profits Are Innovating With Mobile
  Non-profits large and small are using mobile to educate, activate and engage their audiences. Here are 5 impressive examples.
• 10 Creative Social Media Resumes To Learn From
  Want to stand out from the crowd of social media applicants? Check out these 10 impressive resumes for inspiration.
• How HTML5 Will Transform the Online Video Landscape
  While HTML5 holds immense promise for the future of web video, the stakes are complex. Here’s a breakdown of where the industry stands in terms of browsers, video services and content providers.
• 9 Outstanding Websites for Design Inspiration
  Sometimes seeing a great site is all it takes to get the creative juices flowing. We spoke to top designers about which web designs inspire them.
• Why the Success of the Smart Energy Grid Requires a Multipronged Approach
  Energy use and efficiency are more important than ever. What are the right conversations companies and consumers should be having around energy tech?

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Social Media

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• This Week in Politics & Digital: 2012 Strategies, Crowdsourced Cuts
  Last week in politics, Newt Gingrich announced his presidential bid, Obama hired his 2012 Digital Director, and the GOP asked the public for help with spending cuts.
• 17 Twitter Tips from Mashable Connect Attendees
  A few of the world’s leaders in digital answer one simple question: “What one tip do you have for best using Twitter?”
• 20+ Easy Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk [VIDEOS]
  From simple stretches to help circulation to more complex maneuvers, here are more than 20 exercises you can do at your desk during a sedentary day at the office.
• Skype’s Rollercoaster History [INFOGRAPHIC]
  In 2007, Skype lost almost $1 billion and was valued at $2.7 billion — but the company was just bought by Microsoft for $8.5 billion.
• What Does the Social Good Ecosystem Look Like? [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Blackbaud, a fundraising software company, has put together an infographic that tries to answer the question: “What good is social good?”
• 13 Alternative Ways to Consume Your News
  People get their news from all manner of sources. Here, we’ve collected 13 new ways to get your current events fix online and via mobile.
• Anonymous or Transparent: Which Side Are You On? [INFOGRAPHIC]
  How you represent yourself online boils down to a core belief. Which is more important to you: your privacy or your authenticity?
• 8 Gmail Labs Features To Boost Your Productivity
  We’re highlighting eight great Labs options that will speed up your Gmail experience.
• HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Google Reader
  While social news is all the rage, RSS is still a great way to consume large quantities of online content. Here’s how to optimize the web’s most popular feed reader.
• How Digital Tech Can Help You Become a More Socially Responsible Consumer
  We can change our spending or consumption habits, but digital technology allows the average consumer to take his support for a cause to a whole new level.

For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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Tech & Mobile

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• Take a Seat: 5 Office Chair Alternatives
  This just in: Sitting down will kill you, so we’ve taken a look at alternatives to the traditional office chair.
• 33 Essential Resources for Developers & Designers
  Web developers and designers have flocked to Mashable to learn from and share our how-to guides, analyses, videos, lists, videos and galleries. Here are 33 of those great resources.
• 3 Apps For Pleasure & Productivity This Weekend
  Each weekend, Mashable handpicks a few startups we think are building interesting, unique or niche products.
• 10 Stylish iPad Cases Made From Recycled Materials [PICS]
  From billboards to clothing via vinyl records, our gallery shows off how great creativity and imagination can result in “upcycling” everyday materials into brand new, useful items.
• Review: iPhone Case Has Detachable Piggyback Battery [PICS]
  Need an iPhone case with a little more juice? Check out this review to find out if this one’s right for you.
• Can’t Afford A Stand-Up Desk? Try Standing Clock App [PICS]
  Since sitting is apparently killing us all slowly, here’s a web app to keep track of how much time you spend standing.
• 6 Reasons Tablets Are Ready for the Classroom
  If tablets have penetrated mainstream consumer markets, what’s preventing them from widespread use in schools?
• 15 Mesmerizing iPhone Photos of Cloudscapes
  Whether cirriform, cumuliform or convective, we’ve got a variety of cloud photos for your viewing pleasure, snapped by iPhotographers from all over the globe.
• HOW TO: Optimize Marketing Materials for Mobile Devices
  People consume a lot of content while they’re on the go. Here are tips to make sure your site is mobile-friendly for numerous devices.
• The Case For Making Online Textbooks Open Source [INFOGRAPHIC]
  As companies compete to digitize the textbook market, open source textbook proponents believe online educational tomes should be free.
• 5 Unique Ways to Transform Your iPhone Into an Alarm Clock [PICS]
  We’ve found five fabulous devices that will turn your iPhone into a cool alarm clock, ranging from a seriously analogue option to some high-tech docks that come with free apps.
• HOW TO: Build an SMS App Quickly & Easily
  Ready to get down and dirty with SMS? This new API makes SMS apps a lot easier than you might think.
• Canon & Nikon Cameras Square Off [INFOGRAPHIC]
  In an infographic that’s likely to ignite a powderkeg of controversy, Nikon and Canon cameras are compared in a photographer’s equivalent of a Mac-versus-PC cage match.

For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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Business & Marketing

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• How Brands Can Work With Startups
  Brand marketers and startups may have little in common, but they have a lot to gain by working together.
• 73 Essential Social Media & Tech Resources for Small Businesses
  Here are 73 resources to help small business owners stay on top of social media, marketing, tech and mobile trends.
• 5 Best Practices for Fashion Retailers on Facebook
  Leaders in fashion marketing and ecommerce offer advice for optimizing retailers’ Facebook Pages.
• 8 Tips for Nailing Your Next Startup Job Interview
  Dozens of smaller-stage companies have emerged and are hiring everyone from programmers to interns. Snag a gig with help from these tips.
• Why Gift Cards Will Lead the Transition From Plastic to Digital
  It wasn’t so long ago that credit cards replaced cash as the dominant form of payment. Now, digital payments are primed to take over, and gift cards are leading the charge.
• 5 Tips for Building Vibrant Branded Online Communities
  What engagement strategies can we take away from the most successful online network of all time?
• 7 Resources for Startup Investment Opportunities
  The Internet has changed the flow of venture capital. If you’re looking to find (and invest in) the web’s next big ideas, check out these sites and networks.
• HOW TO: Hire (or Be Hired as) a Team of Devs
  Need a tech team fast? Here’s how you can find and hire a pre-assembled group of devs — or market your own team as a group.
• 6 Important Tips for First-Time Startup Investors
  Welcome to the startup Wild West. Angel investing is both exciting and lucrative. What do you need to get started? Read on to find out.
• 5 Strategies for Maximizing Your Website’s Conversion Rate
  With all the fuss made over the power of social networks, it’s easy to forget the power and marketing potential of your own website. Here are ways to optimize.

For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Image courtesy of Dawghouse Design Studio

More About: business, facebook, Features Week In Review, gadgets, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, social good, social media, tech, technology, twitter

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The news cycle this week has been unstoppable, with major events from international politics to British royalty dominating the conversation.

This week saw the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton, U.S. tornadoes, the death of Osama Bin Laden, and of course, this weekend’s big event: Mother’s Day.

With all the hubbub, we understand if you missed a story or two from Mashable’s trove of tools and resources published over the past week or so. This week, we have resources on bin Laden as well as our regular social media-focused tools such as PR tips for Facebook, business and marketing case studies, and the evolution of Twitter.

Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.

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Editors’ Picks

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• Seven Ways to Help Tornado Victims
  The death toll from the catastrophic tornadoes in the South has climbed to more than 340, with thousands injured, homeless, without power or clean water. How can we harness the power of social media to help?
• Timeline: How News of Osama Bin Laden’s Death Unfolded on Twitter
  At 11:35 p.m. ET, the White House’s Twitter feed posted a quote from President Barack Obama that confirmed Osama Bin Laden’s death. Click through this gallery for a chronological look at how things transpired on Twitter.
• White House Releases Situation Room Images From Bin Laden Raid [PICS]
  An inside look at the President’s involvement during the Bin Laden compound raid.
• 6 Mother’s Day Gifts You Can Make [VIDEOS]
  Whether you’re looking for simple craft ideas to create with your kids or just something homemade to surprise your mom on Sunday, we’ve got some great video tutorials to help.
• 7 Ways to Show Mom You Love Her & Support Social Good
  Amidst all that mother lovin’, there are a bunch of ways you can help celebrate Mother’s Day and also give back to good causes. How’s that for two birds with one stone?
• How Barbie & Ken Were Reunited by Social Media
  Take a look behind the scenes at how Mattel reunited its iconic doll couple with a marketing campaign that heavily utilized social media.
• How Converse Became the Biggest Little Sneaker Brand on Facebook
  We spoke with Geoff Cottrill, CMO of Converse, about how the brand found success on social media platforms and stays true to its roots.

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Social Media

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• Top 10 Royal Wedding Twitter Trends [CHART]
  Stats about who and what was being talked about on Twitter during the Royal Wedding.
• Comic: Sony’s Apology for PlayStation Network Takes a Surprising Turn
  How will Sony handle the ill will from the PlayStation Network fiasco? Here’s a humorous possibility: a very special kind of “apology”.
• Royal Wedding Snapshot: Who Got the Most Buzz? [INFOGRAPHIC]
  The Royal Wedding participants have all put away their tiaras, swords and spurs, and now it’s time to see who created and received the most social media buzz.
• 4 Lessons for Parents in a Constantly Connected World
  Today’s parents struggle to manage their kids’ online time as well as their own connected lives. Here are a few tips for judging when to engage, and when to unplug.
• The World Responds to Osama Bin Laden’s Death
  People around the world have taken to social media channels to share the news and their feelings about Bin Laden’s death.
• Name Fail: The Media’s Most Embarrassing Obama/Osama Gaffes
  The U.S. president was prematurely reported dead and otherwise mixed up with the terrorist that he had ordered killed late Sunday evening.
• How the Social Web Reflected on Bin Laden’s Death
  We found out on Twitter, then turned to Facebook, Foursquare & Instagram to share news and express our joy, our outrage, & even our doubt.
• Too Soon? Osama Bin Laden Memes Abound
  Meme-makers have been on a tear, pumping out graphics depicting Osama Bin Laden’s death and U.S. President Barack Obama’s hand in it.
• HOW TO: Sustain a Social Movement After Initial Success
  It’s one thing to get a cause campaign off the ground with social media. It’s entirely another to achieve your long-term goals. Here are some tips for keeping a social movement on track.
• Does Twitter Drive TV Viewership? [VIDEO]
  Twitter opines that engagement on Twitter drives TV viewership.
• The Osama Bin Laden Takedown, Tweet By Tweet [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Here’s an interesting infographic showing confirmed facts of the raid that ended the life of Osama Bin Laden.
• Explore Twitter’s Evolution: 2006 to Present
  Check out this comprehensive timeline of some of the most memorable moments in Twitter’s eventful five years on the web.
• Google’s Plan To Win Location & Social
  Google VP Marissa Mayer laid out the company’s vision and strategy for winning in local and in social in a keynote and Q&A Thursday at the Social-Loco conference in San Francisco.
• 10 Historic Tweets That Captivated the World
  Here are 10 tweets that changed the world, or showed us how much the world has been changed by social media.
• Stand-Up Web Developers [COMIC]
  Some humor is just too niche for prime time.

For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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Tech & Mobile

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• How Web Security Will Change With HTML5
  As browsers implement more and more HTML5 functionality, security fixes for current issues will become baked into the web. Here’s an overview of HTML5′s potential.
• The Daily Deals Bandwagon Dissected [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Here’s a cheat sheet for how four of the most popular deals services work — and how much money each one is making.
• Review: Rugged Android Smartphone Takes a Licking [VIDEO]
  The hardened Casio G’zOne Commando Android smartphone is so tough, the company says it can withstand 30 minutes under three feet of water. We’ll see about that.
• Why Location-Based Services Will be the Killer App of the 2012 Elections
  Location-based services will be the killer app of the 2012 presidential election and will change the landscape of all elections to come.
• Review: Pogoplug Software Creates a Personal Computing Cloud
  Pogoplug is now available in a software version, letting you share pictures, music, videos and data with any of your devices or with anyone else.
• HOW TO: Document Your Life Using Photo Apps
  An abundance of apps have launched recently to complement the possibilities of always having a camera on hand. It’s now easier to take, tweak, share and display photos than it ever was in a non-app world. These are some of our favorites.
• HOW TO: Get More From Your iTunes Playlists
  How hard could it be to set up an iTunes playlist, right? We’ve found some tricks you may not have thought of.
• Top 10 Free Android Photo Apps [PICS]
  There’s no need to envy our iPhone-toting brethren. The Android Market is filled with fantastic free photo apps. Here are our favorites.
• Why Mobile Users Aren’t Checking In [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Those who use social location-based apps such as Foursquare or Facebook Places represent just 17% of the mobile population, according to a study commissioned by digital agency Beyond.
• 4 Ways Mobile Tech Is Improving Education
  With Internet in the palm of our hands, educators are looking to mobile as the next big tool for schools.
• How You Can Help Find Alien Life
  The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has launched a contest with Gamify to find ways to get the general public involved in the search for alien signals.
• The Past, Present & Future of Email [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Our reliance on social media, instant messaging, texting and especially email is growing at a rapid rate, according to a new study.
• HOW TO: Build a Mobile App for Better Customer Support
  Most digital natives would rather fire up an app than get on the phone with customer care. Here’s why you should be investing your support dollars into mobile solutions.
• Flip Alternatives: 5 Great Pocket Video Cameras
  It’s a strange twist that the Flip would flop in the market it helped create, but it’s given rise to some seriously capable rivals.

For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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Business & Marketing

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• HOW TO: Create a Group Tumblr Blog
  Want to create a multi-user Tumblr blog? Here’s a step-by-step guide.
• How 3 Companies Took Content Marketing to the Next Level
  Five years ago your business needed to have a website in order to exist, but soon your company’s survival may depend on your ability to be an effective publisher.
• HOW TO: Ask For an Online Recommendation
  When you’re looking for a job, you want to get a few job recommendations on sites like LinkedIn. Here are tips on whom and how to ask for one.
• 5 Valuable Online Communities for Freelancers
  When you’re a freelancer, it can be hard to find job leads and tips about how to sell yourself and get more clients. Here are 5 communities to make it easier.
• 5 Best Practices for Travel & Tourism Brands on Facebook
  Here are some tips for hotels and airlines that are looking to spruce up their Facebook Pages and drive more sales.
• Big Data: How New Technology Is Helping Marketers Create Better Consumer Experiences
  Just like consumers, marketers are facing information overload. The big question is: How can we use this data to produce better, more relevant customer experiences?
• 3 Traits of the Most Compelling Internet Companies
  Can success be predicted? Here are three characteristics that many successful Internet products share.
• HOW TO: Get Your Employees On Board With Your Social Media Policy
  If your employees represent your company, where’s the line between their personal accounts and their responsibility to your brand?
• Why 5 Big Brand Marketing Campaigns Are Betting Big on Social Gaming
  There are more than 60 million social gamers in the U.S., and big brands are spending big money to target them. Here are five good examples.
• HOW TO: Sign Up Users Even Before You Launch Your Startup
  How do startups break through the consumer-pitching chaos? Here are four tricks smart brands have employed to get the word out before the company is even off the ground.
• The PR Pro’s Guide to Facebook
  Here are tips of the trade for starting and managing a client’s Facebook Page.
• Why Small Risks May Yield Bigger Returns for Startups
  Has the Internet fundamentally changed the way companies think about risk? Author Peter Sims discusses the concept of “Little Bets” in his new book.

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