Amazon.com has announced its third annual Amazon Web Services Start-Up Challenge, a contest for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
The winner of the contest will receive $50,000 in cash, $50,000 in Amazon Web Services (AWS) credits, mentoring sessions, and premium gold support for one year. The winner may also receive an investment from Amazon.
All finalists will receive $5,000 in AWS credits and all qualified participants will receive $25 in AWS credits.
Craigslist Folds On Erotic Services Debate
After a series of murders perpetrated by the now famed “craigslist killer” and significant pressure from state attorneys general and law enforcement across the country, Craigslist is shutting down its “erotic services” category.
Sheriff Seeks Craigslist Erotic Services Ban
An Illinois sheriff wants Craigslist to stop making it so easy to catch prostitutes. Apparently it just gives him a lot more work than he can handle.
Mobile Services To Drive Advertising Revenue In Emerging Markets
As market penetration rates for mobile services continue to increase in emerging markets, advertisers are expected to significantly increase their spending on third-screen ad campaigns targeted towards users of mobile data services, according to a new report by Pyramid Research.
The report examined mobile advertising and revenue potential in the emerging markets of Brazil, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Romania, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey.
Is Yahoo Looking to Offer SEO Services?
A patent application filed by Yahoo is causing a bit of a stir within the SEO community. The patent is for an "Automated System to Improve Search Engine Optimization on Web Pages." The abstract for the patent reads as follows:
Google Shuts Down Services, Cuts Jobs
Google has decided to shut down some of its services, as well as trim some recruiting jobs, and consolidate engineering offices. Services that Google is shutting down include:
Microsoft Hires New Head Of Online Services Group
Given all that’s gone on at Microsoft lately, it’s hard to believe that the company has been running around without anyone in charge of its Online Services Group. That period is coming to an end, though, as Dr. Qi Lu, a former Yahoo exec, has gotten the job.
Cloud Computing Services To Reach $42 Billion
Over the next five years spending on IT cloud services is expected to grow nearly threefold, reaching $42 billion by 2012 and accounting for 9 percent of revenues in five key market segments, according to a survey from IDC.Spending on cloud computing is on track to accelerate during the forecast period, capturing 25 percent of IT spending growth in 2012 and close to a third in 2013.
Google Blocks Services in Some Countries
Google is reportedly blocking use of it’s Chrome browser (among other applications like Google Talk and Gmail Notifier) in some countries with which the United States has economic sanctions and export controls with. "We are unable to permit the download of Google Chrome in Cuba, Syria, North Korea, Iran, and Sudan," says a Google Spokesperson.
More Twitter Services Emerge
You have Twellow as sort of a "Yellow Pages" for Twitter. Now today Robert Balousek has released Twintro, a new tool for finding "interesting" Twitterers. From the sounds of it, you just get to read tweets from someone that Twintro deems interesting. Balousek describes it on his blog: