LinkedIn Hits 300 Million Users Amid Mobile Push

LinkedIn proudly broadcasted its increasing mobile traffic last week, but that's not the only growth the company is experiencing.
LinkedIn announced Friday it has reached 300 million registered users, a jump from 277 million members at the beginning of the year. LinkedIn announced the 200 million user milestone in January 2013, which means the company has added an average of 6.6 million new users per month over the past 15 months.

Was Windows 8 a Mistake? Microsoft Seems to Think So

Microsoft showed off the future of Windows this week at its 2014 Build developer conference, and it looks pretty retro. In fact, it looks a lot like Windows 7.
During a tease of some possible new features in a future update, Microsoft's executive vice-president of operating systems Terry Myerson revealed a tool that users will recognize from previous versions of Windows: a Start menu. He also showed that users would soon be able to run Modern — aka "Metro" — apps (those apps you buy in the Windows Store with touch-oriented full-screen interfaces) within individual windows on the desktop.
In other words, it's exactly how Windows used to work.

Facebook Launches 'Nearby Friends' Location Feature for Meet-Ups IRL

 Facebook has always encouraged you to share with your friends — your favorite movies, pictures, and life updates. Now Facebook wants you sharing your location, too.
The social network on Thursday announced Nearby Friends, a new feature built into Facebook's mobile app that allows you to see which of your friends are close by, and even share your exact location with others.

Report: Amazon considering free streaming service

Amazon might be taking a page from television broadcasters as it expands its streaming TV service and commissions more original shows.

 

Emphasis on the word "might."  

The company is planning a free streaming service that could complement the $99-a-year Amazon Prime product that it already has, according to The Wall Street Journal.
A few hours after the report surfaced, though, Amazon seemed to dispute it, telling reporters that "we have no plans to offer a free streaming media service."
The back-and-forth stoked yet more curiosity about Amazon's multimedia plans.
Related: Apple eyes partnership in bid to reinvent TV
Currently Amazon Prime has three main features: free two-day shipping, a streaming selection of TV shows and movies, and an e-book lending library. There's no way to access Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500)'s original TV shows, like "Alpha House" and "Betas," without a Prime subscription.
The free service Amazon is considering could change that. As described by The Journal, it would resemble Hulu, the online video site jointly owned by the parent companies of broadcasters ABC, NBC and Fox. Most visitors to Hulu only use its free, ad-supported version, but about five million subscribe to its paid version, called Hulu Plus.
Hulu Plus costs $8 a month, or $96 a year, roughly equivalent to Amazon Prime (but without the free shipping or other perks).
Related: Sony orders first original TV series for PlayStation
The free version of Hulu features many TV shows, including some that are exclusive to the website. But because of the various limitations and delays imposed on the free version, some visitors are persuaded to pay for Hulu Plus.
Amazon might be eyeing a similar two-tiered business model, especially as it prepares to sell a streaming video device of its own.
On Thursday, hours before the Journal report, the company invited reporters to an April 2 event where the device is expected to be announced. The long-rumored device -- which has been likened to Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) TV and Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) Chromecast in press reports -- will help users watch Internet content, including Amazon Prime TV shows, on big-screen TV sets.
Amazon may also want to delve deeper into the advertising sales business. Selling ads before and after TV episodes (and other forms of content, like music videos) would take another page from the broadcasters' long-established playbook.
On Thursday evening, an Amazon spokeswoman said, "We have a video advertising business that currently offers programs like First Episode Free and ads associated with movie and game trailers, and we're often experimenting with new things, but we have no plans to offer a free streaming media service."

Facebook looks to drones, lasers and satellites for Internet access

Facebook is experimenting with new ways to bring the Internet to remote areas using drones, satellites and lasers.

(CNN) -- Two thirds of the world population does not have Internet access. Facebook already has more than a billion users on its service, but before it can sign up the rest of world it needs to get them online.

The social media company announced a new step in its ambitious plan to bring affordable, basic Internet access to "every person in the world." Facebook's new Connectivity Lab will research and test experimental technology including drones, satellites and lasers to spread the reach of the Internet to isolated locations that currently do not have Internet.