Facebook has updated its Messenger app for iOS and Android devices, giving users the ability to record and send 15-second video messages. Version 6.0 of the app also adds a feature called “Big Likes” — when you really like something, press and hold to send an even bigger “thumbs up” sign. The new version of Messenger

Facebook is addressing the ick factor related to targeted advertising with a new feature that lets you discover why the company is showing you the ads you’re seeing. There is also a mechanism to opt out of such targeting. The company in 2012 introduced ads that were served up based on the sites you visited.

Pinterest is expanding its first major ad offering, Promoted Pins, to all businesses in hopes of capturing ad dollars from small and medium size businesses. San Francisco-based Pinterest announced on Thursday that all businesses will soon be able to pay to promote their content in search and category feeds on the service. Pinterest first rolled

Photo filters are now just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to editing images on Instagram. The photo-sharing service announced 10 new editing tools on Tuesday for both iOS and Android. In addition to new adjustments like contrast, brightness and saturation, Instagram’s filters have also been tweaked; users can now adjust the filter’s intensity

Becoming a successful entrepreneur takes more than a great idea and important connections (although both do help). Making the shift from the steady life of a full-time employee to the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship requires a shift in mindset that many overlook. In fact, some of the work habits you so carefully honed as a

The lineup of Apple products hasn’t changed all that much from when Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO nearly three years ago. Sure, there’s a plastic iPhone model, a tinier tablet and a new desktop that looks like a little black garbage can, but for the most part, Apple remains a smartphone company that also

The hacker who cofounded the shadowy LulzSec group, but who then helped the U.S. government disrupt at least 300 cyberattacks while working as an FBI informant, is now a free man. A Manhattan federal district court judge granted Hector Xavier Monsegur, better known by his hacker moniker “Sabu,” a sentence of time served and one

Apple is planning to introduce a smart home concept at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, according to a report. The Financial Times says the company is planning to showcase a system that lets users control their lights, appliances and security systems with their iPhones when the conference kicks off June 2. The rumored introduction comes

Facebook on Thursday reversed a 5-year-old decision to make the default sharing setting for new members public. From now on, those who join the social network will find their postings automatically set to “friends.” First-time posters will see a reminder to choose an audience for their first post. If they don’t pick one, it will

As most professionals and job seekers know, networking plays a huge role in helping you achieve your career goals. But strong industry connections can be beneficial to entrepreneurs, too: According to a recent survey by Dell and small business community Manta, one in five small business owners made networking their top priority when they first