Hot tub hackathon?

Good things come to those areas blessed with Google Fiber, and so it is with Kansas City. Last summer, GOOG the Beneficent gifted the metropolitan area with its own brand of ultra high-speed Internet. Local startups have already been taking advantage of Google Fiber's 100x speed, but there is more.

So very much more.

TechStars cofounder and Foundry Group managing director Brad Feld has been inspired to perform his own act of generosity. According to VentureBeat, on Monday he closed a deal on a three-bedroom home called the "Feld KC Fiberhouse" where startups can cowork, co-live, and experiment with all that Google Fiber has to offer:

"I’m not going to be living in it. Instead, I’m going to let entrepreneurs live / work in it. Rent free. As part of helping create the Kansas City startup community. And to learn about the dynamics of Google Fiber. And to have some fun."

TechStars kicked off the startup reality show trend that Bravo, MTV, and HBO are now chasing. So it's no surprise that there's a contest and "all-star panel of judges" (including TechStars CEO David Cohen) to win a spot and offer advice. Although if Mr. Feld is really interested in "fun," may we recommend the requisite hot tub and confessional cam?

The project will be run in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and Startup America. But it's hardly the only friendly face in the "fiberhood" (gulp). Hanover Heights is also "quite close" to Homes for Hackers, which offers free housing and Fiber, and the KC Startup Village.

All in all, it sounds like a cheaper, more wholesome version of Silicon Valley's "hacker hostels," which can cost $1,200/month and aren't always up to code. The competition ends March 22 and you can apply for one of the five slots here.

Congratulations, Mr. Feld: You are now the Lou Perlman of Startups!

Few social networks are as adroit at triggering man's aspirational impulse as Pinterest. Of course, different people covet different things. In the case of police departments in fourteen cities--including Pottstown, Penn., Kansas City, Mo. and now Philadelphia--Buzzfeed reports that cops are using Pinterest to advertise what want to catch: criminals.

Their methods have been effective. Commenters are responding with times and dates of last sightings and Pottstown reports that its Pinterest page led to a 57 percent increase in arrests.

Philadelphia Police Department corporal Frank Domizio told Buzzfeed:

“It’s a marketing thing,” said Domizio, who runs the department's social media channels. "People are doing this to sell shampoo, so my question is, 'How do I use it to arrest people?'”

Of course, some of those marketing efforts also benefit the police department's brand, so to speak. Sarah Boyd, a spokesperson for Kansas City, Missouri's police department told Buzzfeed:

“The success is not just in solving specific crimes,” says Boyd. “It makes them trust us more, which makes them more likely to cooperate we us.” In other words, it’s classic community outreach.

That's Pinterest, always try to sell you something.

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Few social networks are as adroit at triggering man's aspirational impulse as Pinterest. Of course, different people covet different things. In the case of police departments in fourteen cities--including Pottstown, Penn., Kansas City, Mo. and now Philadelphia--Buzzfeed reports that cops are using Pinterest to advertise what want to catch: criminals.

Their methods have been effective. Commenters are responding with times and dates of last sightings and Pottstown reports that its Pinterest page led to a 57 percent increase in arrests.

Philadelphia Police Department corporal Frank Domizio told Buzzfeed:

“It’s a marketing thing,” said Domizio, who runs the department's social media channels. "People are doing this to sell shampoo, so my question is, 'How do I use it to arrest people?'”

Of course, some of those marketing efforts also benefit the police department's brand, so to speak. Sarah Boyd, a spokesperson for Kansas City, Missouri's police department told Buzzfeed:

“The success is not just in solving specific crimes,” says Boyd. “It makes them trust us more, which makes them more likely to cooperate we us.” In other words, it’s classic community outreach.

That's Pinterest, always try to sell you something.

]]> http://betabeat.com/2013/01/cops-now-pinning-mugshots-to-pinterest-because-the-police-can-be-aspirational-too/feed/ 0 ntikuobserver Screen Shot 2013-01-11 at 3.17.25 PM http://betabeat.com/2012/07/google-fiber-makes-the-internet-go-down-easier/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:23:28 -0400 http://betabeat.com/2012/07/google-fiber-makes-the-internet-go-down-easier/ Nitasha Tiku http://betabeat.com/?p=56226

(Photo: GoogleFiber.com)

For weeks, Google has been teasing us with a landing page for "Google Fiber." With a name like that, one might picture a roughage-based breakfast (Googl-Os!) or something better left to the laxative aisle in your friendly, neighborhood Duane Reade.

But the moniker actually refers to the company's plans to offer Kansas City residents its own experimental brand of ultra high-speed Internet access. And it's finally here!

In addition to connection speed the company claims is "100 times faster than today's average broadband," it also boasts "Instant downloads. Crystal clear HD. And endless possibilities."

Lucky Kansas City dwellers can get seven years of free Internet with just a $300 installation fee, although that plan is limited to standard 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. As part of the push, Google also launched Google Fiber TV, which Engadget describes as:

"A 'real' TV service with recognizable channels and its own, fully searchable interface that mixes DVR results with Netflix and YouTube. . . Not surprisingly, there's also a major mobile component taking advantage of that 1Gbps fiber link, as users will have the option of browsing, sharing and eventually watching live TV directly from tablet apps."

Fiber TV?? You guys know people think you have problems talking to other humans, right GOOG? BRB, moving to Kansas City.

Unfortunately, we are too distracted by the travesty that is that abysmally bad cover of the Leiber and Stoller classic "Kansas City" to even pay attention to the content. Via AllThingsD: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amuKO83W1c4&feature=player_embedded#!

Excuse us--we're off to breathe into a paper bag for 15 minutes. In the meantime, please enjoy the only acceptable version of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8tZO97uhyE