Facebook Jettisons Phony Likes

Facebook is taking steps to ensure that all the "likes" on its site are genuine. Some Facebook users have likes from "malware, fake accounts or bulk purchase services." While some Facebook users may lose likes, this move will make likes a more trustworthy measure of a site's popularity. See Facebook Jettisons Phony Likes.

Mobile Payments: A Question of 'What' and 'When'

Are mobile payments poised to take off? Experts have predicted a break through in mobile payment technology and acceptance on a regular basis over the years.  Both Google and Paypal are pushing their mobile wallets, while security concerns have kept consumers from embracing these systems. See Mobile Payments: A Question of 'What' and 'When'. 

Email Trashing May Cost Samsung More Than $1B

This article describes the appeals process for patent cases and why the Apple v. Samsung case may drag on for years. Of interest is that Samsung apparently failed to preserve emails relevant to the case, which led the judge to order the jury to assume the evidence Samsung destroyed was in Apple's favor.  See Email Trashing May Cost Samsung More Than $1B

Judge jails woman who refused to delete Facebook account

Yet another way Facebook postings can get you in trouble. We have heard about jurors jailed for their Facebook postings during trials and defendants who had their Facebook postings used as evidence against them. In this story, a defendant's posting seems to make light of a car accident she caused that injured four teenagers while she was DUI.  The judge orders her to delete her account. See Judge jails woman who refused to delete Facebook account.

Samsung/Apple Patent Case

Samsung and Apple have been locked in a patent battle, each accusing the other of infringment. Friday's jury verdict favors Apple, leaving Samsung to pay $1.05 billion in damages. The court has not yet decided whether Samsung will have to pull some of its smartphones and tablets from store shelves.  See Samsung ordered to pay Apple $1.05B in patent case. 

Facebook Takes Another Header

Facebook shares have fallen in value since the companies IPO. One issue is that Facebook is having trouble convincing investors of the value of their ads. As second issue is that Facebook hasn't figured out how to show ads to mobile users. See Facebook Takes Another Header.

Starbucks Squares Up

Starbucks announced that it will accept the Squares mobile payment system in its stores. While most users have not adopted phone apps to make payments, the popularity of Starbucks could push these apps forward. See Starbucks Squares Up. You can see a video about the Squares payment app at https://squareup.com/pay-with-square.