A man was convicted with online harassment after using her ex-girlfriend’s account to post obscene photos and messages, posting as her. Charges include “unlawful use of encryption,” and “knowingly interrupting an electronic communications service with intent to harass the victim.”

The woman discovered that obscene content and messages have been posted on her MySpace account, including a photo of her wearing a thong. Her ex-boyfriend had her password when they were still together, but said she changed it after breaking up.

The boyfriend, Steven Kucharski, laughed when confronted by the girl, telling her “she deserved it.”

Man convicted for hijacking ex-girlfriend’s Myspace account. (Image: Josecinho (CC) via Flickr)

Investigation by the police revealed that the IP address from where the obscene posts were posted belongs to the father of the boyfriend. It turns out Kucharski, who helped create the woman’s MySpace account, used his email to do so, that’s why he still has access to the page.

A March 29 appeal to an Illinois appellate court overturned Kucharski’s received ruling for encryption, but sustained the harassment conviction. That is because he accessed the MySpace account of his girlfriend without consent, a move that evidently fit the online harassment statute definition.

Encryption was overturned because the court agreed with the arguments of Kucharski that password changing didn’t involve changing the format of data into another.

MySpace Account of ex-Girlfriend Hijacked, Man Convicted with Online Harassment Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

Remember MySpace? It was the most popular social network before Facebook became the overlord of the landscape.

Look at it this way: there was Friendster, then MySpace, then Facebook. You don’t remember Friendster either? It’s the failed social network that’s now a social gaming network which owns some basic patents on social networking owing to them being pioneers in the field.

Anyway, like Friendster, MySpace has declined very rapidly over the years, to put it mildly.

How much has MySpace declined? Well, in 2005, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp purchased MySpace for $580 million.

The social network is now owned by Specific Media LLC and Justin Timberlake, purchased for a relatively measly $35 million in 2011.

It just re-launched with a focus on music and how artists and fans can connect with each other.

Notice the trend here as failed social networking giants of the past re-launch with a narrower focus to try to stay relevant?

For MySpace, it’s music as it has always been a place for bands and other music acts in the past to build up their following.

MySpace could have just as well been renamed MyMusicSpace, MyMusic or MyWayToConnectWithMyFavoriteMusician, or something.

It turns out, though, that a music group is crying foul and accusing MySpace of using music without consent.

In an interview with Mashable, Charles Caldas, CEO of UK-based music agency Merlin, says that the company has a problem with MySpace and its alleged misuse of music the company licenses.

Merlin represents independent record labels.

He told the publication that Merlin takes “issue” with MySpace not getting licenses from them but having their music plastered all over the site.

Caldas says that the site is “launching with hundreds of tracks and offering them free, on demand to consumers” without proper licenses from the people who made these tracks.

In turn, the people who own the rights to these materials are not being paid their due, the CEO insists.

In his interview with The New York Times, Caldas hints at the irony of the site being partly owned by Justin Timberlake who is also a music artist.

He says that it’s actually great that JT is co-owner of the site and is acting as its chief evangelist.

However, MySpace is actually exploiting other music artists “without permission” – is there exploitation that’s permitted? – by not paying them their due for their work.

Nonetheless, MySpace is shifting the blame off its shoulders to its users. It told the Times that the music in question “were likely uploaded by users”.

That’s basically saying: “Hey, don’t blame us, blame the people who use the site.”

Myspace has said, though, that should Merlin request these materials to be removed, they will do so.

So that’s the first big issue MySpace should deal with as it threatens the site’s relationship with independent record labels.

The new MySpace site is sleek though, if that helps.

Image 1 from Edward Kustoff on Flickr (CC)

MySpace Faces First Major Issue From Music Group After Re-Launch Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

When it comes to redesigning, the social network MySpace has not always had a successful track record. Its latest makeover, however, just might work out this time. Although many have predicted that it would be yet another failure, MySpace’s new look is actually very good.

A New Investor

It can be recalled that in September, a new, unexpected investor stepped in to help revive MySpace. Perhaps it was no coincidence that this person is Justin Timberlake, the famous actor-musician who starred in the movie, The Social Network.

Apparently, Timberlake possesses huge amounts of creativity as the new MySpace is simply impressive. It is reported to have Instagram’s photo detail, Pinterest’s layout, and 8track’s playlist customization.

New MySpace layout looks a lot like Instagram; has new investor in Justin Timberlake. (Image: via abcnews.go.com)

A Focus on Music

Rather than trying to be an alternative to Facebook, the new MySpace focuses on music, which has always been its most popular feature. The re-designed network still has a huge music fan following, an area which Facebook has not dominated yet. Hence, it is not surprising that music is what MySpace capitalizes on with its latest look.

With the new design, MySpace users can post “stories” similar to what statuses are for Facebook. Instead of being displayed in a horizontal manner, however, these are presented in a staggered horizontal design. This is reminiscent of Pinterest’s layout, which is attractive actually.

A Versatile Design

What can MySpace users do in the latest design? For one thing, they can control which texts or photos to show up on their homepages. Secondly, they can customize their playlists, which can be used to accompany their profiles.

This allows users to show to the world who their favorite artists and favorite songs are. Third, it is also possible to link MySpace to a user’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Thus, sharing a tagged Facebook photo or a funny Tweet can be done.

The new MySpace site is not available to everyone yet, but those who are interested can add their names to a waiting list. Luckily, they will soon be asked to join the latest MySpace. This time around, the executives at the network just might have hit the mark!

What other Media  Sources Say

WebProNews said that the new MySpace “focuses heavily on music and discovery.” Furthermore, the news entity adds:

 “It appears that the new MySpace sports some of the best elementes of a streaming music service like Spotify or Pandora, and also adds a vast social networking layer on top of that.”

A lot of media outlets also said that this version is entirely different compared to any other previous version and that the company has really made a lot of steps aimed at completing a total overhaul. In fact, Technorati mentioned the “professional feel” that the new MySpace sports.

Furthermore, Mashable has positive reviews regarding the new Myspace, saying that it has “taken great pains to differentiate” the way it presents feeds as compared to how Twitter and Facebook does it.

The social networking is now music-centric, and while right now the membership is still limited, eventually MySpace said that a wider network will be opened for more users.

MySpace Undergoes a Major Makeover Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

MySpace has been catching attention once again since it was redesigned in September by Specific Media, its new owner, and supported by Justin Timberlake, one of the site’s investors.

Meanwhile, a more recent report says that MySpace will be re-launched as an alternative to Pandora and Spotify, and that it is seeking additional funds amounting to $50 million to do so.

Experts are not so enthusiastic about Myspace’s potential relaunch. (Image: Rodrigo Bertolini (CC) via Flickr)

In reaction to the said report, however, Web experts are not so enthusiastic.

MySpace Hitching its Wagon?

According to CNET’s Greg Sandoval, all this talk about how MySpace will be a rival to Spotify is “silly.”  He explains that the site is just “hitching its wagon” to Spotify and Pandora since these are extremely popular at the moment.  He cautions against reading all they hype about it. 

Not Going to Happen

Likewise, TechCrunch’s Josh Constine thinks that MySpace becoming a rival to Pandora and Spotify will not happen.  While providing affordable music through streaming is okay, he says the plan is not likely to rake in a lot of money.

He also notes that even if MySpace gains by saving on royalty fees through streaming unsigned music, paying for the record labels will not be as easy.  Constine explains that it would take a lot subscribers and a big advertising and sales team to pull it off, which he says makes MySpace’s plan almost “laughable.”

Based on these experts’ remarks, it can be said that the rumored re-launching of MySpace as an alternative to Spotify and Pandora is mere “wishful thinking.”

Experts Cast their Verdict on MySpace’s Re-launch Plan Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

Former social networking star MySpace, which saw its user base dwindle to a whisper of its first years and was sold, again, last year to Specific Media for a mere $35 million, this week announced that it has added over 1 million new users in the last 30 days.

MySpace, a social networking website inspired by Friendster, was considered the world’s biggest social networking website in late 2007, early 2008, having logged its 100^th million member in August 2006. Facebook soon overtook it in the Alexa rankings and MySpace has since then seen its user numbers dwindle.

Developments since June of last year when Specific Media purchased MySpace with an investment from and partnership with pop singer Justin Timberlake.  In August, MySpace announced it would re-launch as a music hub, then in January at the Consumer Electronics Show Panasonic announced it would partner with MySpace to introduce MySpace TV.   This week, MySpace announced it has launched the MySpace Music Player, making it the website that offers the most free streaming music in the world, convincing more users to drop in again.   The MySpace Music Player provides members with unlimited listening on demand, radio mode, recommendation engine, and Facebook integration.

Facebook's MySpace app has helped draw new users

MySpace CEO Tim Vanderhook explained in a statement that the new numbers provide evidence justifying their transformation into a music hub, and other changes, have been on the right track: “The numbers tell an amazing story of strong momentum and dramatic change for MySpace, and the 1-million plus new user accounts we’ve seen in the last 30 days validates our approach.”

MySpace claims it now has a whopping 42 million songs available in its online catalogue which can be listened to for free on its new music player, beating out Spotify which had 15 million songs in its catalogue in July 2011, and Pandora, which had 800,000 in February 2011. Facebook may be responsible, ironically, for bringing some users back on to MySpace, because its MySpace app lets users log onto MySpace with their Facebook credentials, and “mash-up” user data from Facebook. The number of Facebook members using the MySpace music app jumped from 900,000 active monthly users to 1.6 million during the four weeks ending on January 14^th.

All of this data on the new and improved MySpace has this user convinced – I have logged on to MySpace with my Facebook credentials, although whether this process will complete is uncertain because 15 minutes later a message from MySpace displayed on a blank grey screen with my Facebook profile picture: “Just a sec David. We’re pulling your interests from Facebook and matching them up on MySpace.”

MySpace, Facebook Mashup, but do you really want to let another app "post to Facebook as me"?

CEO Tim Vanderhook says the data shows there is a resurgence in interest in the social media world, in what MySpace is doing: “MySpace is building meaningful social entertainment experience around content, where consumers can share and discover the music they love. Consumers are getting excited about MySpace again, a testament to a great music product.”

MySpace Makes Surprising Gains Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

NewsCorp chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch conceded in a tweet yesterday that it badly bungled its ownership and management of former social networking star Myspace.

Murdoch, who opened his first Twitter account on January 1 of this year, apparently made the admission because he is one of the 140,000 people attending the Consumer Electronics Show CES in Las Vegas and he was asked a lot of questions about Myspace during the event.  CES, the world’s biggest annual technology show ran from this past Tuesday until Friday the 13^th, and featured 2,700 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services.  It was the first time Murdoch spoke about Myspace on Twitter.

Murdoch tweets about Myspace

Mr. Murdoch tweeted a number of times about CES during the week, first on the 9^th that it was about to start and ”[I] expect to see amazing new technical developments like last year”, then on Thursday about the ‘amazing gizmos” noting Google is “extremely active”, and on Friday: “CES again. Big Three, Apple, Google, and Amazon and maybe Facebook dominant now and growing. Plenty of others good but not in same league.”

Finally on Friday Murdoch tweeted this about Newscorp’s handling of Myspace, causing a modest buzz in the Twitterverse: “Many questions and jokes about My Space.simple answer – we screwed up in every way possible, learned lots of expensive valuable lessons.”

NewsCorp purchased Myspace for $580m in 2005 but the website saw revenues and its active users dwindle over the years, and it sold it to Specific Media last year for just $35 million.

Murdoch on Myspace: “We screwed up” Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

Pop star Justin Timberlake, who bought a stake of former social networking star Myspace last year, announced a new evolution for the website, and TV, at the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas.

The new Myspace TV offering comes as the result of a partnership with consumer electronics company Panasonic, aims to integrate Panasonic TVs into user’s daily social life, and provide a much needed boost for Myspace, which has seen revenues and membership numbers dwindle out over the past few years.  Mr. Timberlake, who got his start in show business as a cast member of the Micky Mouse Club, then became famous as a member of another group – the boy band N’Sync, said Myspace TV is the  “evolution of one our greatest inventions, the television.”

NewsCorp acquired Myspace for $580 million in 2005, and after years of struggling, unsuccessfully, to emerge from the shadow of Facebook and other social networking web sites, was purchased by Specific Media in 2011.  Myspace’s new chief executive Chris Vanderhook talked up the new MySpace TV at the consumer electronics show: “Myspace TV is an over-the-top social television service that brings an entirely new dimension to the TV experience you’re familiar with today.”

Myspace launches Myspace TV

Users of Myspace TV will be able chat with their friends while watching live TV on their laptop, computer tablet, or television screen, find videos and then play them on their TV using the Myspace Companion App. Panasonic showed a video of young African Americans watching a hip-hop show in different locations, then sharing it, and another with male sports fans watching a football game in separate locations, and jumping up excitedly when their team scored a touchdown.

Panasonic is a huge company and so its endorsement in Myspace will give it powerful leverage as it tries gain traction in this new social TV space.  All Panasonic TVs will have Myspace, but the company aims to bring it to other devices as well.

Myspace chief operating officer Chris Vanderhook noted the importance of its partnership with Panasonic: “Panasonic is a massive company. They handpicked Myspace to deliver this product. It’s a great testament. They’ve seen the product and they believe in what we can bring to the TV experience.”

Timberlake, acknowledging the challenges Myspace faces as it works to transform itself into a media service available on many devices, said: “To the millions of Myspace users, we want to thank you for sticking with us in this shift.”

Timberlake Talks Up New Myspace TV Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

Former social networking star MySpace fell out of the top ten most used social networking websites in the UK, data compiled by internet research firm Experian Hitwise shows.

Website discovery site Stumble Upon surged past MySpace in web traffic for November to take the 10^th place pushing MySpace down to 11^th position for the most popular social networking websites in November.  The other social networking websites to make the top ten list in November maintained the same position they had in October, although YouTube increased its percent of visits by .67pc.

MySpace falls out of top ten list for most popular social networking site in the U.K.

Stumble Upon’s share of visits in the UK were .36pc followed by Moshi Monsters (.41pc), Money Saving Expert (.41pc), Tumblr (.79pc), LinkedIn (.95pc), GumTree (1.02pc), Yahoo!Answers (2.13pc),  Twitter (3.12pc) YouTube (23.61pc), and Facebook  (52.63pc).

“MySpace traffic has been on the decline for at least three years now, but this is the first time the social network has fallen out of the top ten” said James Murray, Experian Hitwise market research analyst. Murray noted that brands that wish to stay in the market and increase market share need to be aware of trends as the social media landscape changes.

Experian research on November search traffic in the UK shows that Google continues to dominate, increasing its share of visits by .05pc to 91.07pc, followed by Microsoft at a very distant second with 3.84pc of visits, a -.01 pc decline, then Yahoo!Sites at 2.81pc, AskSites (1.86pc) and Other (.42pc).

MySpace Drops Out of UK Top Ten Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

Foodily, the website that aggregates recipes from a wide range of sources across the net, this week launched its Facebook app, marking another important step in its integration with the social networking website.

Foodily launches its Facebook app

Foodily, a recipe website that was started by former Yahoo employees Andrea Cutright and Hillary Mickell distinguishes itself from the many other websites in the crowded recipe search engine space, by displaying recipes collected from different websites, side by side making, it easy to compare. Each recipe shows the website source and ingredients and in the bottom pane Foodily provides a nutrition breakdown.

Foodily also distinguishes itself from other recipe websites with its deep Facebook integration which it started in February, 2011 when it let members connect their profile.   Many other recipe websites, like Cooks.com, Nibbledish, and Bakespace all encourage comments from users, but Foodily’s social focus and in depth integration with social networks is unique.

Foods “liked” will show up in a Facebook user’s news feed and foods “liked” by friends will show up in the users Foodily recipe search. Facebook/Foodily members can also create invitations for events including a menu so friends can see what meals are being planned. Users can post additional dishes they would like to see at the event, and make comments about the menu.

The Facebook app launched on Tuesday lets Facebook members use Foodily from within the Facebook interface, providing a more social experience and a streamlined way to share recipes with their friends.  Andrea Cutright, CEO and co-founder of Foodily said that Foodily fills a void for sharing recipes in Facebook because previously, when recipes were shared, they would quickly disappear in the user’s increasingly busy Facebook wall.  Cutright says when a friend posts a recipe – “I see them maybe for a minute. I can’t hang onto them.”

Now, with Foodily’s Facebook integration, recipe sharing is done within ones social graph, but members can also get recipe ideas from across the web, and share them with their friends.  Cutright explained: People are already sharing recipes, recipe ideas, and comments about what they’re eating. This way recipes don’t have to disappear on the wall.”

Foodily Facebook app launches Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media

Former social networking star MySpace will have a new focus and ambition when its new owners, Specific Media and Justin Timberlake, relaunch it this year: to be the premier music destination on the internet.

MySpace aims to become the premier music destination on the internet

MySpace was purchased by advertizing network Specific Media at the end of June, and pop music star Justin Timberlake took a stake in and will help shape its future.  NewsCorp purchased the social networking website for $580 million in 2005 when its popularity was still on the rise.

MySpace will be targeting competitors Spotify, Vevo, and iTunes as it works towards becoming a full fledged music hub.

Spotify, which launched in the fall of 2008, uses a light software application to let its users listen to entire albums or single tracks with no delay or buffering.  Spotify is currently available in Finland, France, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Vevo is a premier music video and entertainment website that launched in December 2009 through a partnership between Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment (SME), and Abu Dhabi Media Company.  VEVO has over 1.4 billion worldwide streams and boasts 50 million unique visitors from the U.S. and Canada every month.

And iTunes, of course is Apple’s digital music player, introduced in 2001, that lets users play and organize their digital music, video, and podcast files.

MySpace’s new vice-president for Global Marketing, Al DeJewski, compared MySpace’s first eight year run to the life-cycle of a young adult man who discovered he liked to express himself with music but then became sidetracked, fattened up and bogged down after adding to many other tangential activities like horoscopes and classified ads.

Mr. Dejewski said this young adult males needs to be put on a diet, clean out its system, and get back to its foundation, which Specific Media believes is music. “No other music destination online today can claim the breadth of partnership we have with the four major music labels in addition to the tens of millions of independent artists and the library of their songs.”

Mr. Dejewski, who was with Pepsi-Cola for ten years and most recently was VP of Marketing and Promotions for Turner Broadcasting, will use two branding agencies to try to get celebrities and partners from the automotive, packaged good, and quick service restaurant space help build MySpace’s new branding identity.

MySpace to re-launch as music hub under Specific Media Social Barrel - The Latest on Social Media