NBA dunk contest gets assist from social media

Tweets, apps and status updates will join the usual barrage of dunks, three-pointers and no-look passes more than ever this weekend at the NBA’s annual All-Star event.

For the first time, fans will be the sole dunk contest judges via Twitter, SMS and website-based voting. The league is also partnering with the social app Shaker to create a one-stop forum for fans to interact, chat and watch exclusive content.

“All-Star Weekend has really become a celebration of basketball, attracting a global audience and bringing together the best players from around the league,” Melissa Rosenthal Brenner, the NBA’s vice president of marketing, told Mashable. “Given the global nature of social media, it’s the perfect time to ramp up our efforts in the social space.”

(And if you want to see a video of a wicked dunk, click on the above picture of everyone’s favorite breakout star, Jeremy Lin.)

Courtesy of Mashable.com

Lady Gaga: Facebook wants you

Taking a cue from Twitter, Facebook will be rolling out “verified accounts” for its most popular users — presumably hoping to encourage the Lady Gagas of the world to get active on the site.

Starting Thursday, the site began testing a system that lets people with a large number of subscribers submit a government ID to prove they really are who they say they are.

“This update makes it even easier for subscribers to find and keep up with journalists, celebrities and other public figures they want to connect to,” a Facebook spokesman said in an e-mail.

Once verified, a user will be able to “more prominently display an alternate name (nickname, maiden name, byline, etc.) on their timelines in addition to their real name.”

So, now presumably Stefani Germanotta can be Lady Gaga on Facebook, Declan McManus can be Elvis Costello, and Madonna Louise Ciccone can share photos of her Super Bowl performance using just her first name.

Courtesy of CNN.com

Myspace is…back?

Maybe Justin Timberlake and friends weren’t so crazy after all.

Myspace, the once dominant social-networking site that faded into obscurity during Facebook’s rise to dominance, added 1 million new users over the past month, according to the company.

The new owners, most notably pop star/actor Timberlake, have effectively stopped trying to compete with Facebook and other social sites, instead focusing on Myspace’s superior platform for posting and listening to music.

Check out the full story on the CNN website.

Bdot’s favorite Super Bowl commercial

In case you didn’t see the “Dr Seuss” trailer during last night’s Super Bowl, we’ve got it for you.

Oh yeah: Blockdot built the official mobile game for the movie!

Organic Valley app: tasty AND wholesome!

Organic Valley’s tasty mobile app is a wholesome addition to your iPhone, iPad, or & iPod Touch. The Organic Valley app is a place for moms and kids to engage with organic food and have fun!

Farm-fresh features of the app include:

• Where Food Comes From – A dollop of gaming goodness that will entertain and educate your kids!

• Sound Board – Play the game to unlock sounds the kids would hear down on the farm. Almost as good as being there!

• Scan & Shop – Scan the bar codes of your favorite Organic Valley foods and learn more about them.

• Who’s Your Farmer – Enter your zip to find the Organic Valley farms closest to your home. With farms across the country, our mission to save family farms through organic agriculture is working.

You can download the app – and remember now, it’s FREE! – from the iTunes Store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/organic-valley/id498347646?mt=8.

HTML5 vs Adobe Flash: tale of the tape

Courtesy of Venturebeat.com.

For all us Dr. Seuss fans…

Match what you see. One. Two. Three.
Truffula Shuffula, the official game for the movie “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” (coming to theaters March 2) is now available on the iTunes Store and in the Android Market!

In the game, you’ll help the Lorax create colorful clusters of 3 or more matching objects. The more clusters you create, the more points you earn!

Should you get stuck with no things to match…
Hit the Shuffula button – or shake your device – and you’ll be set in a dash.

Once you’ve played and had time to relax…
Go to the movies, and see “The Lorax.”

Download the game (and hey, it’s FREE!) for your iPhone or iPad http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id494666268?ls=1&mt=8

And Android users: this free, fun game is ready for you, too https://market.android.com/details?id=com.blockdot.universal.truffulaShuffula

About the movie:
From the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the 3D-CG feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, an adaptation of the classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of 12 year old Ted as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.