Social Networking

Ever feel clueless about what to buy someone as a gift? Or perhaps you just want to make sure you stay on top of the books and movies your acquaintances like, so you'll have something to talk about to break the ice the next time you get together? Amazon has tapped into a new way of getting that information for you: Facebook.

If you're one of the many people who don't have a Google mail account, Google is fine with that—but they'd still like you to create an account for their other services. Web apps like Google Docs, Google Reader, and Google Calendar all require a Google account to identify you and keep track of your settings, even if it's linked to someone else's email service.  Now, Google is making it even easier to set up an account with them, and keep your e-mail where you want it. 

The last time I went to the front page of the iTunes Store, I was shocked to discover that I didn't recognize a single one of the bands. Uh-oh. Have I aged out of the popular music business? It sure feels like a vast wasteland. I'm going to need some help. To find music I like, I need to find lots of like-minded friends of a certain age who enjoy the same kind of music I do. The newly-released iTunes 10 promises to finally make that happen with Ping. It's like Facebook and Twitter, but with music.

The definition of "classroom" has changed significantly in the last decade, especially at major universities that have embraced online courses as part of their curriculum. If pushing your kids out the door to school has awakened in you a hunger for learning,  if you want to refresh your knowledge in a certain subject, or even if you're considering going back to school to help improve your career prospects,  going back to school can be as easy as a click of the mouse.