Facebook Working on Introducing the Hashtag

  Facebook is taking its business rivalry with Twitter into the realm of symbols: #Feud

Although the hashtag labelling system orignated in early social media such as the IRC, it was Twitter that led to a prominent rise in the use of it for labelling, as well as classification. Over the past few years, its use and spread have spread so far that it was awarded "Word of the Year 2012" by the American Dialect Society on Jan 4, 2013. Now, according to a a report on Wall Street Journal, Facebook is experimenting on incorporating this feature.

For those unaware (seriously people, have you been living on the planet for the past 5 years?), hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the "#" symbol. It is a method to collate numerous tweets about a single news/event.

According to the report on WSJ, Facebook is testing thee feature, which will allow users to click on a hashtag to pull up all stories about the news/event. It will also allow quick indexing of conversations around "Trending Topics" and build those conversations up. It is important to note that Instagram, the image sharing site that Facebook acquired last year, already uses hashtags. With Facebook allowing this feature, it may lead to a much closer integration between the two.

Facebook must also be interested in the new opportunities this provides for advertisers. Advertisers could promote particular hashtags as the current promotion of likes on fan pages. Through this they, may manage to get longer presence on Facebook's news feed.

Facebook maybe working on it, but I dont expect it to hit the common user any time soon. As far as the view on it's usefulness, I will reserve it for the launch.

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Source: WSJ

Age of Empires II HD Launching on April 9

One of the favorite strategy game for millions of people around the globe (including myself) is all set for a comeback in HD, as Age of Empires II HD Edition! Microsoft recently announced that it would be launching Age of Empires II HD Edition, a reimagining of the 1999 real-time strategy game. With Ensemble Studios being closed down, all the work on the remastered version is being done by Hidden Path, the studio that brought us Counter Strike: Global Offensive.

Age of Empires II HD Edition is all set to launch on April 9 exclusively through Steam across the world at a price of $19.99. Gamers won't need to wait that long to play, however, as those who pre-purchase will be able to get it on April 5 along with a 10% discount.

Age of Empires II HD Edition includes every single-player campaign from the Age of Kings original and the Conquerors expansion, making it a grand total of 18. In addition, in the new online multiplayer mode, gamers can challenge other Steam players through the game's online mode.

According to Microsoft, Age of Empires II HD Edition has been remastered for high-resolution displays at 1080p. It also includes an "enhanced visual engine" sporting improved textures for terrain, water and fire, and ambient lighting effects. It also has support for multiple monitor.

Steamworks features for Age of Empires II HD Edition include achievements, leaderboards, matchmaking, and cloud support. In addition, gamers can share user created content through the Steam Workshop.

Minimum System Requirements:

1. Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 Pro

2. Steam Software Platform

3. 900x600 minimum display resolution

4. Direct X 9 Capable GPU

5. 1.2GHz CPU

6. 1GB RAM

7. 2GB HDD

  

Although private developer’s (like the ones behind Age of Empires II: Forgotten Empires), have already brought out many of the features of Age of Empires II HD Edition, its great to see Microsoft Studios spend its resources in re-building a classic game. A demand/wish/hope a lot of gamers had with this game. Looking forward to hours of gaming in HD!  

Amazing Game of Thrones Dragon Ad in The New York Times

Work of a Genius! Simply Mesmerizing... I just do not have the words to describe this awesome ad by HBO, for the upcoming return of Game of Thrones.

The full-page ad, was located in the Monday, February 25th edition of the New York Times. It is definitely custom-designed to light up fantasy fans’ pleasure centers. The clever Game of Thrones ad features what looks unmistakably like the shadow of one of Khaleesi’s dragons, cast across a series of dummy articles, with headlines like “Lost Film Returns.”

The show will return on 31 March, 2013.

Much more than the brilliant concept here, to me this is an AD FOR PRINT! There is no way to create this experience digitally that would have the same effect.

Watch the Game of Thrones Season 3 Trailer (below)

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