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News, insight and tips from the social web.
The Hoop blog covers the evolving digital landscape, social media, mobile communications, content marketing and also includes 5 top finds and Fish on Friday. Feel free to make comments.
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5 top finds #15 »
After a month's hiatus, 5 top finds is back to give you a heads up on what we've had our eyes on. This week we've got a bit of love for Google+, the amazing power of the hive mind, what London looks like from a social perspective, a wonderful photo of the Atlantis space shuttle and a rather amusing video of Rebekah Brooks and Rupert Murdoch.
1. Google+
[Image by Leon Håland]
Google's latest foray into social media has seemingly been a success so far. If you need proof; check the above graphic. It took Facebook 852 days to reach 10,000,000 users. It took Twitter 780 days.
It took Google+ just 16 days -and that was whilst the platform was on closed beta. Today, the Wall Street Journal announced that Google+ has now reached 20 million users. In 21 days. That's an extra 10 million sign ups in five days.
If that's not enough proof, Google CEO Larry Page recently revealed that the G+ users had already shared over 1 billion items on the social network. We're yet to see if the product is a serious contender against Facebook's dominant social presence, but it seems we're not the only ones starting to get a bit worried for Twitter.
2. The power of the social network
If you ever need convincing about the power (for good) of social networks and the hive mind they create; this is a story for you.
3. London, socially
It's not often we get excited by lots of dots, but Eric Fischer's map of Twitter (blue dots) and flickr (orange) uploads (white dots signify uploads to both platforms) across the city of London did just that.
You can download the hi-res version from Eric's flickr account - where you can also see the images he's done for other cities. Absolutely beautiful!
4. Atlantis, we'll miss you
This unprecedented view of the space shuttle Atlantis, appearing like a bean sprout against clouds and city lights, on its way home, was photographed by the Expedition 28 crew of the International Space Station. Airglow over Earth can be seen in the background.
Two weeks ago today, Hoop gathered to watched space shuttle Atlantis' launch for the last time. Yesterday, NASA posted the above photo, taken by the crew on the ISS, of Atlantis re-entering the earth's atmosphere. It's a truly amazing sight that will be sorely missed.
5. News International covers Rebecca Black
We've been avidly watching the Murdoch empire do its best to collapse over the past few days with a mix of revulsion and delight. If you've missed any of what's happened, this may help...
It's Friday, which can only mean one of two things.
- 1) It's almost the weekend and;
- 2) Someone, somewhere, will be watching Rebecca Black's "hit" single on YouTube.
Luckily, we'll spare you that horror and instead we'd like to draw your attention to this fantastic News International cover. Yes, you read that right.
Happy Friday!
Categories: 5 top finds
Tags: Atlantis, facebook, flickr, Google+, Rebecca Black, Twitter
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5 top finds on the interwebs this week. »
We've compiled some of our favourite (video) finds from around the web over the past week.
1. Dot - the world's smallest stop motion animation character.
Aardman, creators of the wonderful Wallace & Gromit and other fantastic animations, joined forces with Nokia for this record breaking and award winning stop motion animated video. Dot is just 9mm tall, was animated using tweezers and was filmed using a Nokia phone and a microscope - but you have to see the video and its 'Making Of' to truly understand the magic.
Watch 'Dot. The world's smallest stop-motion animation character shot on a Nokia N8' here.
2. Hoop's video for the Carbon Trust.
The Carbon Trust help UK businesses adapt and succeed in a low carbon economy. They wanted a short and inspirational video that highlighted the economic opportunity for the UK in the global green market. 'Green Growth – the big opportunity' makes the case powerfully and is the Carbon Trust's most viewed video on their YouTube channel to date!
Watch 'Green Growth - the big opportunity' here.
3. 'Giant Steps' by synesthetic Michal Levy.
Synesthesia is a neurological condition where the stimulation of one sensory pathway triggers an experience in another (like 'seeing' music or 'hearing' colour). Israeli born artist Michal Levy both sees music and hears colour and her animation to John Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' is her attempt to convey these experiences.
Watch 'Giant Steps' here.
4. "This thing went to space".
More phone magic with this next video; one that shows if you put your mind to something you can achieve pretty much anything. Luke Geissbuhler and his son Max constructed a special container (made from a take away box) for an iPhone and attached it to a helium balloon. The balloon and container made it to 100,000ft with the iPhone filming the entire trip. Amazing stuff.
Watch the 'Space Balloon - Stratosphere Spacecraft Launched From Newburgh, NY' video here.
5. Nobody Beats the Drum - Grindin'
Our final video this week is courtesy of Rob, who'd like to draw your attention to this fantastic music video to Dutch electro group Nobody Beats the Drum. Their visual artist sequenced 4,085 photos of coloured blocks that he moved by hand to create this sensational stop motion animation.
Watch the video for Grindin' here.
Categories: 5 top finds
