MySpace loses 10m users

Former social networking darling MySpace has seen its monthly unique visitor number fall by 10 million between January and February 2011, a 14% reduction that puts its net headcount to 63 million, notes IT ProPortal.

Comscore's latest Media Metrix table shows the Web site has lost a staggering 50 million users since last February 2010, despite numerous attempts by its owner, News Corp, to add features that would stem the flood of visitors moving to its rivals like Facebook or Twitter.

MySpace has been credited with launching the careers of many music heavyweights, including Arctic Monkeys, Kate Nash and Lily Allen. The sale of the site in 2005 to Rupert Murdoch's content media empire was seen by many as proof that social networking had gone mainstream.

Scottish researchers have helped to create a device which improves memory storage for technology including MP3s, smartphones and cameras, reports the BBC.

The device uses a tiny mechanical arm to translate data into electrical signals. This allows faster operation and uses less energy compared with conventional memory storage products.

The device records data by measuring the current passing through a carbon nanotube, and the binary value of the data is determined by an electrode that controls the flow of current.

More cars are hitting the information superhighway thanks to new automotive WiFi technology that allows vehicles to become rolling “hot spots”, states AFP.

Analysts say consumers are warming to the notion of more connectivity in their cars, with “apps” for information and entertainment just as they have with their smartphones or tablet computers.

"Initially, putting Internet access in the car sounds like a distraction and frivolous, but - as time passes - it will become a part of our lives and we will feel uncomfortable not having access," said Jeff Kagan, an independent telecoms analyst.

Microsoft has added several social features to its Bing search engine in an effort to close the gap on market leader Google in the highly competitive search market, reveals V3.co.uk.

The firm is now allowing real-time social data to be displayed in news results. "Now alongside the latest headlines on Bing News, you will find a real-time feed with the latest updates from Twitter highlighting hot news topics,” wrote Bing senior program manager Betsy Aoki.

“Search for a news item and immediately see what people are tweeting on the topic. Bing News now lets you compare and assess authoritative news analysis, alongside real-time citizen journalists so you can decide which content sources you want to use."