Facebook has begun to roll out its two-step payments system that it originally announced during this year’s Mobile World Congress. The system allows users to pay for Web apps by charging the price to their carrier; no typing is required, so it may be best to make sure your kids don’t get their hands on your phone if they have a craving for some Facebook gaming goodness.
[Source: Facebook]
Hackers who infiltrated Google’s network several years ago gained access to a database with information on US surveillance targets, the Washington Post reports. The purpose appears to have been finding out which Chinese intelligence operatives in the US may have been under surveillance by US law enforcement agencies. [Source: Washington Post]
The Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based startup, which aims to make it easier for businesses to find affordable Internet providers, was awarded the loan from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The money will go to site updates. [Source: Silicon Prairie News]
The latest victim of the pro-Assad SEA is British newspaper the Daily Telegraph. According to reports, the Telegraph’s twitter handle began tweeting pro-regime messages. [Source: Business Insider]
Sensopia, the makers of the augmented reality software MagicPlan, has closed its latest round of funding at $1.2 million. In addition the company released a development kit today. [Source: VentureBeat]
Apple today released the text to Tim Cook’s upcoming senate testimony regarding the company’s tax practices. In the statement, Cook denies avoiding any taxes. [Source: The Verge]
Square has revealed a new product called Square Cash. While details about it are still nebulous, Cash will supposedly provide a platform for individuals to pay other individuals cash via email. [Source: TechCrunch]
In an attempt to build out its locations database, Facebook is now allowing users to submit and suggest photos for unadministered place pages. [Source: InsideFacebook]
Buyout firm Vista Equity Partners has acquired anti cyber and data theft software maker Websense. The deal came to about $1 billion. [Source: AllThingsD]
The latest update to Google Hangouts has removed the ability to make outbound calls. Users, however, are able to receive inbound calls. [Source: CNET]
After Google Hangout’s mobile launch, AT&T Android customers were unable to use its video chatting capabilities. Now AT&T has issued a statement saying it will be able to support any video chatting app by the end of the year. [Source: The Verge]
Doximity, the “Facebook for doctors”, is introducing a new model into the mix. In a collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic, the site will now offer online medical education. [Source: VentureBeat]
“Compared to other products, we’re much more long-term. Most of the stuff that people look at on Quora today was not written in the last month. You write something really good, and maybe it’s the definitive answer on the Internet for the next 10 years. Maybe it’s only a year, but not like a tweet, where it’s only relevant for a day or a week”
Dell is changing its public cloud strategy, and no longer plans to use OpenStack as its basis. Instead, it has decided to rely on third parties, making its recent acquisition Enstratius a new spotlight of the company’s cloud strategy. [Source: GigaOm]
News discover startup Newsle has raised $1.65 million in its first round of funding. Funding was led by American City Business Journals. [Source: AllThingsD]
After a successful IPO last week, Tableau’s shares continue to grow. Right now, Monday morning’s trading shows the shares are up more than 13%. [Source: GeekWire]
Google and Motorola’s upcoming unit the “X” Phone is slated to support AT&T’s LTE and HSPA+ networks. Now a leak makes reference to a possible CDMA model in the works, making it available to both Sprint and Verizon. [Source: BGR]
Haven’t heard enough news about Tumblr today? Today it unveiled an updated iOS app, with a brand new “path-like” interface. [Source: TechCrunch]
How many Tumblr pages contain porn? According to an analysis by web measurement firm Similar Group, out of the 200,000 most-visited domains on Tumblr 22,775 of them are considered “adult”. So now you know. [Source: TechCrunch]
Luke Wroblewski is the first recorded case of person losing his/her Google Glass. To make matters worse, Wroblewski was using it to develop Glassware and had many accounts synced to the piece of hardware. [Source: VentureBeat]
Fast Company reports that Not Another Bill, a subscription e-commerce service that, like so many others, promises to “bring a bit of magic back to the postal service,” has launched. So if you have yet to find joy in getting the mail from Dollar Shave Club, or Birchbox, or any other “you subscribe, we ship” service, well, your options have just expanded.
[Source: Fast Company]
“Commerce has become marketing and marketing has become commerce”
Lessons from a rare $2 billion LA tech win: “I was competing with both hands tied behind my back”
Skift’s approach to building a new media company: It’s as much about data as it is about news
RelayRides suspends New York service after cease and desist
The future of search: Answer, converse, anticipate
US authorities launch their first attack on bitcoin
Google is keeping iCloud’s promises
For startups with university roots, an exit is priority number one
Give me that old bitcoin religion
Chartbeat crosses the Chinese wall with ad sales tools, focusing on quality over clicks
IPO candidate Plex Systems grabs Eloqua CMO Heidi Melin to grow its cloud ERP platform
Vessel launches its “command center” to help mobile developers kill faulty software
Ticketfly adds Fanbase customer analytics platform to help venue owners pack events
With Thirst’s Droplet, the vision for news on Google Glass becomes a little clearer
For Chris Dixon the next big thing might be bitcoin
The center of tech is shifting from Silicon Valley to “application towns” like New York and LA
Chris Dixon: The consumer Web has gotten too good, enterprise companies are cutthroat
Portland startup launches transit mobile ticketing service. Is this the future?
We are real people trying to do real things
With 2 million users, “secrets app” Whisper launches on Android
As venture capital becomes a commodity, it’s all about community
What CEOs could learn from comedians
How Microsoft, Google, and Square use hardware to market their software and services
A federal shield law for journalists would be virtually useless
San Francisco: Get your ticket to see John Doerr at PandoMonthly now!
Scroll down: The future of online media is in the cards
Marqeta now powers Facebook Card loyalty and payments tech, announces $14M Series B round
Berg Cloud Sandbox: A tool to unite connected devices and the companies that make them
Two years of stealth and $11M in VC later, EdgeSpring launches a data analytics platform for the average man
Bitcoin is legal, but mainstream adoption will mandate playing by the rules
For the Internet of things, will it be verticals or horizontals?
A bitcoin bubble could be good for everyone
New Zealand-based Vend raises $8M without turning to the Valley
Hotseat: Gravity’s Amit Kapur defends the integrity of the MySpace mafia
PandoHouse Rock: A history of 3D printing, from prototypes to pistols
With the bleeding stopped, ShoeDazzle is in the market for a strategic acquisition or investment
Bitcoin’s consumerization continues with Perk, a rewards platform and Web browser for normal people
How to become a VC without leaving home
Gliph joins Boost.vc, launches bitcoin messaging and payments app
Zinio’s new subscription product only solves half a problem
Facebook ponders its place in the Internet of Things
The Apathy Epidemic: Why your startup will suck you dry
