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Blackboard launches Blackboard Sync on Facebook

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A free application from Blackboard now allows millions of students to access their social and learning networks in one place.

The company announced the launch of Blackboard Sync, a safe and secure application on the Facebook Platform to enable students to be better engaged in their academic lives by delivering course updates and other information through Facebook. Students who elect to use Blackboard Sync can receive information on new assignments, discussion board postings, course materials, and even new grades while logged on to their Facebook accounts.

In addition, Blackboard Sync enables students to learn more about their classmates through their profiles and to leverage their Facebook accounts to create and join online and offline networks and groups to collaborate and study together.

Originally posted on May 14, 2008 @ 3:38 pm

Facebook Embraces Data Portability

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Facebook has launched Facebook Connect, a system that enables members to connect their profile data and authentication credentials to external Web sites. You can expect the technology to be available over the next few weeks.

Now you can take your Facebook identity with you as you cruise the Web, sharing photos, profile information and friend data.

After the Beacon advertising debacle, Facebook will be extra cautious with security, ensuring that their members’ stuff stays safe.

According to Dave Morin, Facebook developer:

“These are just a few steps Facebook is taking to make the vision of data portability a reality for users worldwide.  We believe the next evolution of data portability is about much more than data. It’s about giving users the ability to take their identity and friends with them around the Web, while being able to trust that their information is always up to date and always protected by their privacy settings.”

No word yet on who will partner with Facebook, but some believe Digg will be part of the effort out of the gate.

Read more here.

Originally posted on May 12, 2008 @ 6:51 am

TrafficLand releases live traffic camera application on Facebook Platform

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trafficland.pngTrafficLand, an authorized aggregator of live traffic video, announced the release of the TrafficLand Facebook application. Users of the popular social networking web site can use the application’s features to share live images from the TrafficLand camera network. The application allows Facebook users to attach camera images to their profile pages, messages sent to other users and to postings on a friend’s Wall.

The application provides links that allow users to view live video from their selected camera as well as view any of the more than 6,000 traffic cameras in over 60 markets worldwide currently available on TrafficLand.

The images update to show live views from the selected traffic cameras whenever Facebook users open a page containing the TrafficLand application. Users can view all of their friend’s cameras on the TrafficLand application page, as well as the top 10 most watched TrafficLand network cameras by selected city and worldwide.

Originally posted on April 16, 2008 @ 10:40 am

My Military Experience Facebook application released

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Electronic Allies LLC, operators of the military career advice community SmartSoldier.com, announced the release of the My Military Experience Facebook application.

The application allows Facebook users with military experience to display details of their military service within a seamlessly integrated box on their Facebook profile. Over 4,000 users installed the application during the initial testing phase and the developer forecasts over 25,000 users will be displaying their military experience on their profiles by the end of April.

Users can add their branch, duty status and the time spent at specific duty stations. In addition, the application enables users to search for other members of the U.S. Armed Services using the same criteria.

The My Military Experience Facebook application is free and readily available to Facebook users serving in or connected to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. Individuals can add the application by searching for “Military Experience” in the Facebook application directory.

Originally posted on April 2, 2008 @ 10:11 pm

Vringo merges social networking with Facebook application

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Vringo has announced a new Facebook application that lets Vringo users import their Facebook friends’ profile photos to their mobile phones, automatically matching them to friends’ phone numbers. When Facebook friends call one another, their friend’s photos will appear on their phone screens as a type of visual caller ID.

The Vringo application enables Facebook users to update the photos on their devices through Facebook when friends change their profile pictures. Facebook users who add the application can also invite friends to become Vringo users.

The application initially will be offered free on a global basis. Vringo for Facebook is available for BlackBerry smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM) and devices operating on the Windows Mobile platform. The application will also be available for additional mobile devices in the near future.

Originally posted on March 31, 2008 @ 10:09 am