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Attention! The Internet is no longer just a supplement for old media. In the past few years, we have witnessed the rise of the first generation of legitimate Internet superstars. These are not old media icons that translated their fame into digital success. Rather, they utilize technology as their primary medium because they were raised with it. They are as comfortable with digital distribution as the average Boomer is watching television or reading a book.

Stars like Jonathan Coulton, The Gregory Brothers, Rhett and Link and The Lonely Island have surpassed simple cult status and rocketed into the mainstream of American consciousness. If these names don’t sound familiar to you, it’s not because you aren’t acquainted with their work. The Lonely Island is a comedy troupe composed of Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone and Andy Samberg, whose work you have no doubt seen on “Saturday Night Live.” You have likely heard Jonathan Coulton on NPR’s “All Things Considered” or in the hit video game Portal. Coulton makes his songs available under a licensing agreement that allows fans to create their own music videos or alter the compositions in strange and unique ways. These fan mashups help to spread Coulton’s work far and wide and make it almost impossible to calculate his current reach.

The Gregory Brothers broke out in 2010 with the “Bed Intruder Song,” which to date has been viewed over 75 million times (plus another 20 million on their iTunes extended version).

Comedy duo Rhett and Link, who call themselves “Intertainers,” turned their successful YouTube video “T-Shirt War!!” into an opportunity to re-create the short as a 30-second commercial for McDonald’s and Coca-Cola.

This April, some of these successful YouTube musicians are taking their talents on the road for the first YouTube concert tour. Catch acts like the aforementioned Gregory Brothers and Mystery Guitar Man along with Dave Days, Destorm and Ricky Ficarelli on a 27-city tour starting in April. Dubbed the Digatour, this lineup is composed solely of YouTube stars and looks to increase the exposure of the channel as a primary vehicle for success.

And, of course, how could I write an article about Internet celebrities without mentioning Justin Bieber, who was discovered when a talent manager happened across his YouTube videos. Beiber is a force unto himself right now, and there is no telling how high his star will rise. Whether you are a fan or a hater, let’s face it, “Bieber Fever” has gripped the nation, and he is enjoying megastar success like other teen idols before him. The one difference, it all started with a YouTube video.

It’s time to come to terms with the fact that Internet entertainment is not just a platform for LOL Cats and YouTube isn’t just a place to post funny videos of cute kids. Reality is starting to set in, and that reality tells us that more and more young talent is choosing to distribute their work online where they have greater control over the way the content is delivered. Also, it’s worth noting that the types of media that can be uploaded, streamed, linked and viewed online are raising the bar for all forms of information consumption. Digital distribution has invaded your computer, your car, your phone, your television and any other device powered by a chip. Unlike what television did to radio before it, the Internet is not looking to surpass old media. It’s looking to completely replace it.

Code Monkey by Jonathan Coulton: Anything by Coulton is gold, but this one deserves a special place of honor in nerd lore. Who among us hasn’t tried to have a conversation with a pretty girl only to achieve all-time epic failure in the attempt. If only those conversations went as well in real life as they do in our heads.

Hug a Developer Today: What makes it so funny is how true it really is.

Pixels By Patrick Jean: This is great fun for all of us that grew up during the 80′s. I especially love seeing Donkey Kong on top of the Empire State Building. I remember thinking that graphics just couldn’t get any better…I mean we had 8 bits, what else did we need?

Windows 7 Party Time (Censored): One of the great things about viral videos is the way the public edits and modifies them to make something even better than the original. Microsoft’s lame video was funny by itself, but this version takes it up a notch and let’s your imagination make funny, funny for you.

All Your Base Are Belong To Us: Okay, this is an oldie but a goodie. It was one of the original viral videos to win our hearts and deservedly so. I don’t know why, but I always find myself coming back to All Your Base Are Belong To Us. It’s just a classic.

UPDATE

Office 2010 The Movie: Microsoft strikes again with this fake movie trailer for Office 2010. My favorite part is the tombstone to his dead partner Clippy!

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Your taste in art can tell Hunch what kind of shoes you might like.

Hunch also provides some interesting tools to display the power of its algorithms. A “Twitter Predictor” game answers questions about users simply based on information gained by entering in your Twitter user name. After answering 50 questions the predictor was 94% accurate based on my username @esoterictechie. Services that collect large amounts of data from its users will always face privacy concerns and Hunch is no different. According to its privacy policy “your answers remain confidential and may not be viewed by other Hunch users, unless you specifically choose to share your answers.” Hunch says all the right things, but as Facebook is finding out now, saying the right thing and being seen as doing the right thing are not always the same. The fact is that the information Hunch is collecting and the seeming accuracy of its algorithms is a valuable commodity. Marketers begin to salivate when faced with such juicy data with which to target their advertising. Hunch will do well to remember that this information flows only as long as its users trust the service to be a good steward of their online identities.

The more you teach Hunch the better the suggestions.

Providing recommendations is a serious business. It’s one that e-commerce giant Amazon.com has buttered its bread with for over a decade. Hunch reaches beyond commercial products to provide these recommendations for every aspect of a users life. What breed of dog should I choose? What podcasts would I enjoy listening to? What color should I paint the bedroom? These are only a few of the choices Hunch provides help with. The internet is vast and ever expanding. Some estimates have 3-4 new websites being published every second. With this sea of information it could be very helpful to have an accurate aggregator that knows your tastes and reduces the noise. Hunch aspires to be that service. Initially, I am impressed with their attempt.

Photo by cliff1066™

Social Networking has changed everything. Anyone who is still not convinced of this truth either has been hiding under a very large rock for the last 5 years…or they’re disagreeing with you just to be contrary. People communicate today in ways like never before. If the internet was the most important shift in communication since the printing press then social networking is the digital age’s equivalent of the first newspaper. It is difficult to understand exactly what the communication landscape is going to look like once all of the dust settles, but I think it’s safe to say that it will be vastly different than the static one-way communications of the twentieth century.

The things that tend to change the world are usually misunderstood or even taken for granted at the time. Social media is no different. The brilliance of Facebook and Twitter isn’t their complex nature, quite the opposite. The simplicity is what takes people by surprise. People don’t comprehend Twitter when they first sign up. “What’s the point” is the question I get most from friends registering for the microblogging service. These are intelligent people who simply don’t understand. I can’t blame them. I didn’t get it at first either. To be honest, I’d be lying if I told you I completely understand it now.

It’s okay not to fully recognize what social media means for the future. The common Virginia militiaman could not fathom how his actions and those of his countrymen would change the world in 1776. He was probably just mad at the redcoats for burning his crops and looking for a little payback. Only a handful of visionaries in Philadelphia had a glimmer of recognition.

Okay, okay…maybe Facebook and Twitter aren’t as important as the founding of a democracy that has survived for 200 years as a beacon of hope to the world (cue patriotic music), but it is undeniable that they have triggered a fundamental change in the way people interact with each other. History has a funny habit of changing things in ways we don’t expect.

Gowalla is a fun, location-based social networking game for your iPhone or other mobile device. With Gowalla, users can check in at each location they visit. This lets friends know where you are and also earns points towards pins which you can earn for both shear volume of check-ins or for visiting specific locations. The service can be connected to both Twitter and Facebook accounts. Whenever users check in they can also post status updates to their social networking service. Gowalla offers a limited number of developer created “trips” or pre-picked locations to visit. Some examples of “trips” you can take in Gowalla are the Fort Worth Zoo Safari or the Nashville Honkytonk Stomp. Another fun piece of the game is the ability to pick up items other people have dropped in any given location by swapping with something in your own pack. This adds a level of interactivity that is lacking in other location-based games lack.

Gowalla was launched on the heals of another location-based game called Foursquare, but it sure looks like Gowalla is gearing up for a showdown with their location-based big brother. In December the development house responsible for Gowalla, Alamofire, announced that Gowalla had raised $8.4 million in a round of venture capital funding. Unlike Foursquare that opens it’s application city by city, Gowalla crowdsources location information allowing users to create locations when none exist. This gives them the distinct advantage of being able to penetrate markets early as long as there are committed Gowalla users in the vicinity. Also, for you iPhone users, the Gowalla application provides a slicker interface. After using both of these applications I definitely prefer Gowalla, but it will be interesting to see how the battle plays out.

In an increasingly connected age, we live our lives in public. Location-based games are a logical step that adds a level of fun to the equation. Concerns may exist about sharing exact locations publicly. While this can be worrisome for those that value their privacy, an easy solution presents itself. Simply wait until leaving a location to check in. This way users can still share their location without sweating that stalker that’s been trailing you.  With more people carrying smartphones with GPS technology, Gowalla and Foursquare are gaining in popularity. These games allow users to express themselves by sharing their favorite hangouts. It also adds a new layer to social networking that is intriguing to say the least.

It seems there is no end to Twitter integration applications. As such,?Twalkin should come as little surprise. Twalkin allows users to schedule and moderate ?Twalks? or Twitter integrated teleconferencing. Complete with an iPhone application and an Android version soon to come, Twalkin has several practical uses.

1.Host a private Twalk: This allows you to have chats with only a select few users. It’s a neat feature, but I can’t see what advantages it might have over a typical conference call.

2.Host a public Twalk: This is the real social networking aspect of the app. This feature presents potential for voice forums or large scale crowd-sourcing. Since users are identified by there twitter user names it is possible for a moderator to follow tweets and unmute contributors as they tweet intriguing ideas.

3.Broadcast Twalk: Broadcast is perhaps the most interesting aspect of Twalkin. With broadcast it is possible to only allow a select few speakers while the rest of the public audience can join in listen-only mode. This feature is almost like a live telecast. Companies could use it for announcements that don’t warrant a press conference, but still need a human voice.

Leo Laporte and Amber MacArthur on?Net @ Night successfully tested the technology as a call-in solution for live podcasting. Obviously the technology has practical applications and great potential. As is the case with most social based software it is largely dependent on user adoption. Twalkin has done it’s part to ensure acceptance. The web application’s user interface is friendly, and the iPhone app is absolutely intuitive.

One day our phone book, email contacts and social network “friends” are going to be one in the same. That is one of many convergences that only lack timing and technology to be a reality. What is left to be seen is if Twalkin is a step in that direction or just a fun piece of technology that crosses over from social networking to telephony.

What is Twalkin? from Twalkin on Vimeo.

Don't let the cute graphics fool you!

Lately my Facebook news feed seems to be choked with status updates. Most of the time I use these updates to keep up with my friends and what’s going on in their lives. But that has become increasingly difficult because of a plague that is ravaging the social media community. Yes, I’m talking about Facebook games. First it was just the occasional Mafia Wars update that I would casually ignore, but now I’m inundated with updates from Restaurant City, Know-It-All Trivia, Zynga Poker, Bejeweled Blitz, YoVille, Fish World and the worst culprit of them all FarmVille.

FarmVille is the gateway drug of the Facebook gaming world. I’ve seen many friends, good people, slide down that slippery slope. It always starts innocently enough. They are online, chatting with a buddy or uploading photos. Then it happens. They receive a status update from a trusted friend, maybe someone they’ve known all their life.

Kristy just completed level 2 of Pumpkin mastery in FarmVille. Kristy earned a huge reward for being such a dedicated farmer and wants to share their success with you.

At this point curiosity sets in. What could the huge reward be? They wonder this thought to themselves as they move the mouse cursor ever closer to the link. Little do they realize that they have reached the tipping point of the Facebook gaming scourge. Once they click that status update, once they let curiosity get the best of them, then it’s too late. Soon their once rich, full lives are consumed with artichoke harvests, pig herding and beet farming. Too dazed to realize their own hysteria, they begin to set their alarm for 3:00 am so they can be up in time to check on their radish crop. Without even realizing it, these once sane people hand over real money for a larger fake farm. It’s no longer just a game; it’s an addiction.

In one of his latest podcasts, entitled Escape From FarmVille, technology expert Leo Laporte recounts his harrowing battle with this disease. A compulsion so terrifying it had him checking FarmVille 10 times a day. “I finally deleted it. At one point I got enough self-worth into me” He sighs, remembering the emotional strain,”I said I don’t need FarmVille and I deleted it.” Let this be a lesson to all of us. If it can happen to Leo, it can happen to anyone. None are safe from the menace of Facebook gaming.

Few of us are unaffected. Even if you’ve never experimented with Facebook games, chances are you have a friend or loved one who has. The afflicted should not be mocked, but pitied. Even now support groups such as FAA (FarmVille Addicts Anonymous) are gaining traction. These people need our support. So please, write your Congressmen, start a victims group, but whatever you do just get involved. Together, we can bring this dreadful blight to an end.

Photo by stevendepolo / CC BY 2.0

On September 23^rd, 2009 Google released an update to Google toolbar, which can be installed as a plug-in for you browser. Part of that update was a new feature called Sidewiki, which allows users to post comments and feedback on a small tab that is attached to individual websites. It displays as a small arrow tab on the left side of the browser and once clicked expands to reveal comments left by other users of the Google Toolbar and presents the user with a form field to enter comments of their own. Moreover, the site owner has little to no control over the comments that are posted on the Sidewiki. Google will use special ranking algorithms to sort out comment relevancy. One criteria that will be considered is what other users think as they have the ability to vote comments up or down.

What does all this mean to website authors? It?s another step in the progressive openness of the web. Brands and content providers have less and less control over what people say about them online. Imagine if Wal-Mart had a large white board affixed to the front of every store where customers could write whatever they want. Or think about a LED ticker outside the GM offices that anyone could update. Companies now have even less control over public perception. In the past a brand could sometimes get away with poor service or shoddy products as long as they had a firm command of the spin. Those days are officially over. Corporate America, consider yourself on notice. If you cannot provide adequate goods and services you will not survive.

In his book What Would Google Do, author Jeff Jarvis provides a brief case study that demonstrates how life for brands work in a post-Google world. Companies must no longer sit on the sidelines but instead be active participants in the conversation. His example focused on the impact of blogging on customer service at Dell. Since that time Twitter and the social media revolution has made this information even easier to spread and search. Sidewiki is the next logical step. Now, users don?t even need to leave the brand?s website to find out what consumers think, just pop open the Sidewiki and read away. Fortunately, Google has allowed for web site owners to ?claim? their site on Sidewiki. This feature allows the site?s owner to place a comment that will appear above all other comments. Detailed instructions on how to claim your website can be found here.

It is essential that brands pay attention to this new space. Joining the conversation and reacting quickly to negative feedback is imperative. It remains to be seen if Google will support this new technology. Often times Google will release products such as Sidewiki and then grow tired of them like a child playing with last year?s toys. However, if the public responds favorably this could very well be the most important conversation you have about your brand online. While it might not have the sex appeal of Twitter, this is permanent graffiti attached to your home page. Ignore it at your own peril.

The Sidewiki can be accessed via a tab on the left or a button placed in the toolbar.

Twitter is a blog:

The first thing you need to know is that Twitter is not Facebook. While technically a social network, Twitter is stripped down to its most basic form. Twitter is a blog in miniature. If you?ve ever wanted your own blog but don?t have the time to craft full-length posts then Twitter is for you. Twitter can be updated from multiple sources, including your phone, simply by texting your updates to 40404, this makes it perfect for people on the go (learn how to set up your Twitter account for texting here). Unlike Facebook or MySpace you don?t need access to the web to update your status. The posts must be kept under 140 characters. This was initially due to the limitations of SMS text messaging, but the happy side effect is that posts are concise and to the point.

Twitter is social:

Once you?ve set up your account you can follow whoever you want. Unlike other social networks, Twitter pages are generally public property. If you want to follow Shaquille O?Neal (@THE_REAL_SHAQ) then you can; you don?t have to wait for him to approve your friend request. Also, you can message him by using the @ symbol in front of his user name. Shaq is a great example of the community nature of Twitter. During the NBA season he will often tweet his location and give free game tickets to the first Twitter user that finds him.

Twitter is real time:

You can follow news organizations on Twitter; @cnnbreak posts breaking news from CNN so you can stay up to date on what?s going on in the world. If the story interests you then click the link and read more. Also, you can follow what people are talking about by viewing the trends located in the right hand column of your Twitter page. Often real people will tweet about news before it?s even picked up by one of the big news services. A great example of this was when the U.S. Airways flight crashed into the Hudson. The first news came from actual people on the plane and in the rescue boats posting updates as the event unfolded.

Twitter is mass information:

I admit, when I first joined Twitter I was overwhelmed.? I immediately started following a dozen or so people and couldn?t keep up with the shear volume of information. Without some kind of aggregation tool Twitter is almost impossible to navigate. Trying to keep up with all the posts you receive is kind of like trying to drink out of a fire hose. This is where a good desktop application can make all the difference. Right now I?m using a client called Nambu, a Mac application, but I also like TweetDeck which is available for all operating systems. What?s great about both of these applications is that they allow you to place your contacts into groups. For example I have a group for friends, one for news, one for tech, etc. In the end, I can?t over-emphasize the value of a good desktop application. I doubt anyone can get the most out of Twitter without something to filter out all the noise.

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That?s it?that?s all there is to it. Well, that?s not true. I?ve really only scratched the surface when it comes to how Twitter can be used. But hopefully I?ve given you a good head start on understanding what Twitter is and some of the basic ground rules for how best to utilize it. When it comes right down to it, the success of any social networking platform is dependent on it’s users. If you don?t know anyone on Twitter it?s going to be hard to find it helpful, even with all these tips.? Tell your friends to sign up and start using it. If you do,? you will start to see all of the advantages beyond simple social networking. Let?s get started. So?What are you doing?