Friend Lists system

Social networking giant Facebook has unveiled its new friends list system that would allow users to categorize groups of friends more easily.

According to the BBC, Facebook's updated 'Friend Lists system', is seen as a reaction to the Circles feature on Google+.
Users would now have better control over how their connections are grouped, with some lists, such as work and family, created automatically.
According to the report, the new Smart Lists feature will create categories based on the relationship between a user and their friends.
Now, new "close friends" and "acquaintances" lists would allow users to filter who they see updates from.
The changes appear to be aimed at users who are attracted by the ability to create groups using Google Circles.
Presently, Facebook remains the world's most popular social network, but Google+ is expected to hit 100 million users this year.

Vita Japan sale

Sony's upgraded portable video game machine PlayStation Vita is going on sale in Japan on Dec. 17 with 26-game software going on sale on the same date, but it's still not available overseas until next year.

The competition in portable gaming is almost certain to intensify in Japan, ahead of the rest of the world, during the year-end shopping season.
The launch of the PlayStation Vita coincides with Japanese rival Nintendo Co. going on the offensive with new game titles for its portable 3DS, which did not go on sale in time for last year's holidays.
Sony has already said the Vita won't be ready in the U.S. or Europe until next year. The company did not give overseas sales dates, and said such details were undecided.
Hiroshi Kawano, head of Sony Corp.'s gaming unit, Sony Computer Entertainment, announced a Japan tie-up with major mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo for the PlayStation Vita, including a prepaid data reception plan of a 100 hours at 4,980 yen ($65).
In an effort to woo buyers, Kawano said 100 hours of free playing on the 3G mobile network will be offered with the first 500,000 purchase of Vita machines.
During his nearly two hour presentation at a Tokyo event hall, Kawano repeatedly stressed Sony was serious about pushing the Vita, which he said was targeting casual gamers playing on cellphones as well as hard-core fans who own PlayStation 3 home consoles.
He acknowledged a view in the gaming industry that energy was running low, but he said he was determined to make Vita a chance for growth.
"I believe the gaming industry can help bring a revival," he said, referring to the lagging overall Japanese economy.
In the past, Nintendo, which makes Super Mario and Pokemon games, has beaten Sony offerings in portables.
Nintendo has sold nearly 150 million DS handheld machines, outpacing the Sony PlayStation Portable at 71 million. Both machines went on sale in 2004.
But Nintendo's latest offering, the 3DS, which features glasses-free 3-D imagery, has gotten off to a relatively slow start, at 4.32 million sold so far around the world.
Appearing at a presentation Tuesday for the 3DS, the usually boastful Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said the company needs to do more to attract women to the 3DS, as that hasn't happened as it has with the DS and Wii home console.
Nintendo has already slashed the price of its 3DS. Starting last month, it cost 15,000 yen in Japan, down from 25,000. In the U.S., the price dropped to $169.99 from $249.99.
The PlayStation Vita will cost $249 in the U.S., and 24,980 yen in Japan, for a Wi-Fi only version, and $299 and 29,980 yen for a version that will also have a cellphone service.

Blackberry Messenger

Social networking site Facebook has launched its own mobile messaging service to challenge the marketing space occupied by the Blackberry Messenger (BBM).

The app, called 'Facebook Messenger', launched in the US only, allows members of the social networking site send instant messages on their mobile for free to anyone in their 'friends' list.
In a direct bid to rival BBM, the new Facebook app, also allows people to send messages to friends on their mobile contacts list and push out group messages too, the Telegraph reports.
The free Facebook Messenger app is available on both Android and iOS devices, but there are no dates revealed for when it would be made available outside the US.
Facebook engineer Lucy Zhang wrote a blog post explaining the new service.
"More and more of us rely on our phones to send and receive messages. But it isn't always easy to know the best way to reach someone on their phone. Should you send an email or text? Which will they check first? Did they even get your last message?" Zhang wrote.
"We think messaging should be easier than that. You should be able to write a message, click 'Send' and know that you will reach the person right away," he added.
BBM is understood to have over 45 million users around the world.
Facebook, having over 750 million users worldwide, might be able to steal away some of it market share in the growing mobile instant messenger market, the paper said.