We're already thinking about Philly Tech Week 2013. Sign-up for updates.

Archive for 'Friday Links'

Fred Wilson: we invested in DuckDuckGo for the ‘Internet anarchists’ [LINKS]


Read more

RJ Metrics analysis of Google+ finds waning activity, engagement [LINKS]

  • Exclusive: New Google+ Study Reveals Minimal Social Activity, Weak User Engagement [Fast Company] “Larry Page recently called Google+ the company’s “social spine.” If that’s the case, then Google‘s backbone might be much weaker than Page has been letting on, at least according to a new report from RJ Metrics. This week, the data analytics firm provided Fast Company with exclusive new insights on Google+. The findings paint a very poor picture of the search giant’s social network–a picture of waning interest, weak user engagement, and minimal social activity. Google calls the study flawed–we’ll explain why in a second–and has boasted that more than 170 million people have “upgraded” to the network. RJ Metrics’ report, on the other hand, is yet another indicator that Google+ might indeed just be a “virtual ghost town,” as some have argued.”
  • Piercing insight: Man wears future on his wrist [Daily News] “When did technology go too far? Was it the Flowbee that pushed the edge? Did George Lucas invent some 5-D laser beam that replaced our memories with “Star Wars”? Or was it the guy from Gloucester County, N.J., who punched a few holes in his wrist last month and inserted some magnets so that he could hold his iPod Nano without some ugly-looking strap getting in the way? Yes, Earth, Dave Hurban did that to himself and it worked, and he has sharp metal objects and more elaborate plans in the works.”


Read more

UPenn, Academy of Natural Sciences win $2M in grants from the National Science Foundation [LINKS]


Read more

Josh Kopelman is country’s sixth most valued tech investor [LINKS]


Read more

Philly Tech Week 2012 coverage [LINKS]

It’s the tail-end of the second annual Philly Tech Week presented by AT&T, so why not take a look at some of the wider coverage of 10 days celebrating innovation, creativity and craft in the region? If we missed any, please let us know.

Legacy Media


Read more

Dueling apps: CityHall app rivals Philly311, CityEats challenges OpenTable [LINKS]


Read more

‘City leaders still tinkering at the edges’ of tax reform [Links]

  • DN Editorial: STILL TINKERING: Despite 2 commission reports on taxes, no coherent policy [Philly.com] “The clear message was that comprehensive and strategic revision of the entire tax structure should win out over piecemeal tax amendments. So, why are city leaders still tinkering at the edges?”
  • Growth spurt: City’s population rising, census shows  [Daily News] “Philadelphia has continued to grow since the 2010 census count, according to new data being released Thursday. The Census Bureau estimates that the city’s population on July 1 was 1,536,471, an increase of 10,465 or a 0.7 percent jump from the official census count taken two years ago. The new estimates show that the city’s growth spurt from April 2010 to July 2011 was mainly due to an increase in births.”
  • Tech Life: Connect Philly’s aim is to do just that [Inquirer] “How hard is it to find a public-access computer in Philadelphia, or a place that offers free computer training, or WiFi access for the disabled? A lot easier than before, thanks to the launch of a new service, Connect Philly, that identifies more than 200 such sites throughout the city.”
  • Tackling quality of life issues in Philadelphia [Newsworks] “Holly Otterbein and Juliana Reyes discuss vacant properties, stray animals, litter and other issues that are bothering citizens. They also talk about what folks can do when the city refuses to address neighborhood problems — and how apps might make a difference in those circumstances.”

One out of four in poverty: is Philadelphia really a city in decline? [LINKS]

Philly has 9th most social media savvy City Hall [Links]

  • The 10 most social media savvy City Halls in America [PR Daily] Philadelphia ranks 9th, tied with Long Beach, CA. “A new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago ranked the 75 largest cities in America by their government’s social media acumen.”
  • Fresh food and “connectivity” coming soon to Front and Norris [Plan Philly] “A small grocery store and cafe with free wi-fi, take-out or eat-in American and Middle Eastern dishes and free community space is set to soon open at the corner of Front and Norris streets, beneath the Market-Frankford El. Mike Ahmad and Walid Mustafa will open the doors of their 5,000 square-foot establishment, called Liberty Choice, in early-April.”
  • InstaMed another Phila. tech firm on the upswing [Philadelphia Business Journal] “Marvin said InstaMed is looking to add 10 people to its staff of 85.”
  • New advertising software automates ad-buying – and cuts out workers [Joe DiStefano/Philadelphia Inquirer] “Jeremy Bloom – former Olympic skier, Philadelphia Eagle, and nonprofit-foundation boss – has been raising millions for his next career: replacing corporate ad-purchase professionals with automatic ad-view and spend-tracking software.”


Read more

Philadelphia one of only two major U.S. cities with Chief Innovation Officer [LINKS]

  • The Dawn of the Municipal Chief Innovation Officer [Atlantic Cities] “There are, by our count, just two major cities in the U.S. that currently have someone sitting in this role, and they’ve both settled in within the past six months. Adel Ebeid stepped into the job in Philadelphia after working as the chief information officer for the state of New Jersey.”
  • Lose Your Phone? It’s Probably in a Coffee Shop in Philadelphia [Mashable]
  • Mr. Mayor, Seal This Building [HiddenCity Philadelphia] “There was a small fire at the former Divine Lorrraine Hotel last night and we can’t say we’re surprised–people have been entering the building with ease for the last two to three months, maybe more.” Mayor Nutter pledged to move forward on the renovation of the  Divine at Chamber at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce annual mayoral luncheon that Technically Philly covered in February.
  • Sunoco’s new CEO on a charm offensive [Inquirer] “Brian P. MacDonald, who was promoted March 1 from chief financial officer to chief executive, has maintained a full schedule of meetings with public officials and community leaders to explain Sunoco’s move to close or sell its Philadelphia and Marcus Hook refineries.”
  • Small businesses, big challenges [Inquirer] “Into that pressure cooker Gregg Prescott and Steve Brodack plunged in 1997, leaving more secure lives as, first, employees of a big company, Motorola Corp., and then as owners of a distributorship for Motorola communications equipment. It was through the latter experience that the two South Jersey men got the inspiration for the small business they have co-owned for 15 years: Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems of the Delaware Valley.”
  • Perzel sentenced to up to 5 years for Computergate [Inquirer] “The mastermind of a scheme to steal millions in taxpayer money for his own political benefit stood in a courtroom Wednesday and, in a low voice stripped of its old bravado, offered an apology.”


Read more