Is Social TV the next big thing?

Is Social TV poised to transform television?

The buzz over at Ad Age certainly suggests it is. Ask serial media entrepreneur Robert F. X. Sillerman, the time for Social TV has come. Mr. Sillerman bought Gateway Industries last February (renamed it Function(x)) and this month released their first TV loyalty product called Viggle.

With big brands like Verizon, Pepsi, and Burger King, on board as strategic launch partners (speaks volumes of Mr. Sillerman’s clout), all that remains is how nimble Viggle can be keeping viewers engaged. The risk being Viggle going the way of Groupon. Of course we’re not talking about getting 75% off from a local hardware store. There is a reason why consumer brands spend big bucks keeping their names top of mind.

But for now you can get free make-up from Sephora or free movie tickets from Fandango just for checking into Viggle when your favorite shows are on. One thing is for sure, Social TV is something to watch.

Want some more insight? Read Ad Age’s interview with Viggle’s president Chris Stephenson.

Let Me Google That For You is “hailed by many as a life changing experience” or at least according to the site’s BuySellAds page. Actually, it is basically a URL Shortener for Google search queries.

Let’s see what’s up with Chuck.

In protest of Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) legislation currently before Congress, many websites are “going dark” today (such as Wikipedia, Reddit, and WordPress). The protest is apparently making an impact. As of this writing, the House has delayed bringing SOPA to the floor, the President has promised to veto it, and some members of Congress have reversed their support.

Though protecting the creative works of artists from piracy is a noble effort, if you take a moment to read the wording of these proposals, it becomes clear they are overreaching (to put it mildly). Brad Plumer of The Washington Post does a nice write up explaining the proposals. You can also watch this video below. If you want to get involved, visit Fight For the Future website.

Bing pays tribute to the man of peace with this interactive image of the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial at the National Mall (unveiled exactly 3 months ago today).

Martin Luther King, Jr. remains one of the most indelible voices in American history not just for the American Civil Rights Movement but for all social injustice throughout the world. His words and his impact are worth remembering regardless of race. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change is an organization founded by Coretta Scott King after her husband’s assassination in 1968. The website was relaunched today after a significant overhauled by C&G Partners and Palantir which includes an extensive Digital Archive (nice work all around).

Not too long ago I posted this post about URL shorteners and the potential hazards they may hide.

Today, I stumbled upon this handy reverse URL site entitled plainly Where Does This Link Go.

Created by open-source programmer Robert Greiner who gives away the source code at github. A handy little tool if you want to verify what that bit.ly URL really links to before clicking it. With regard to his minimalist style, Robert cites he was inspired by Down For Everyone Or Just Me.

I know this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (where we all vicariously get a glimpse of the latest tech products straight from the bleeding edge) will be adequately covered by others but thought I’d list a few of the more reliable ones (actually at the show) so I can easily get my geek on.

• Mashable at CES 2012
• c|net at CES 2012
• Engadget at CES 2012

Of course, I can keep up with what’s trending on Twitter here or here.

So when asked: Did you see LG’s groundbreaking 55-inch OLED HDTV?

I can say: Yes. Yes I have. Thank you.

Hey, it’s Charles “Chas” Addams’ 100th birthday today! Thanks for the reminder, Google. If you had missed the works of the celebrated New Yorker cartoonist and creator of The Addams Family at MoMA, you can find them here.

I’ve been looking for an accessory to carry all my (tech) accessories in (namely my iPad). Something stylish but practical. I found it in the iPag by Bone Collection (FruitShop International). Made of light-weight nylon or microfiber material with a soft lining that protects the tablet from scratches. It comes with an adjustable strap big enough to wear over the shoulder and a smaller inside pocket big enough to store a cell phone. Currently available in black, lime green, and hot pink. Retails around $70.