While some are hoping for better software to reduce the need for data scientists, WibiData’s Omer Trajman thinks we need more of them. Better software, he argues, is actually just a tool to make it easier for data scientists to do world-changing work. Read more »
Across all kinds of verticals, it’s never been easier to use apps and services to instantly find things that might match my interests. But what do we lose if we don’t put in the time to actually develop taste? Read more »
A newly-launched startup called Foundd is taking the algorithmic approach, while its Berlin neighbour Tweek.tv is going for the social angle. But why has no winner emerged in this space already? Read more »
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if the top two teams in the Netflix Prize competition united and put their predictive analytics skills to work together, you’ll soon find out. On Tuesday, big data service provider Opera Solutions acquired Austrian predictive analytics specialist Commendo. Read more »
If you’re like many of us, you’re already thinking over some New Year’s resolutions that will make you a better “you” in 2012. But how are the tech industries’ thought leaders approaching the new year? We asked 12 of them for their resolutions. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Google announced it has bought Clever Sense, maker of the smart local recommendations app Alfred. The deal arms Google with another tool to attack the local market, as it seeks to scoop up more ad dollars and be the go-to resource for all things local. Read more »
A new Facebook app launching in the U.K., called Gruvi.tv, wants to help users find the right movie to see this weekend Gruvi.tv’s personalized recommendation system for movies currently in theaters uses Facebook activity, and that of your friends. Read more »
This is cool: Forage.com generates YouTube music video playlists based on the people you follow on Twitter. The site is a mashup cooked up by Chris Dixon, the co-founder of Hunch, and it demonstrates how Hunch uses its own data sets to predict new taste preferences. Read more »
Rovi is looking to expand its ability to help clients create more personalized recommendation systems, and to do so it quietly acquired media recommendation firm MediaUnbound for an undisclosed amount. The purchase, which closed Friday, March 12, could bolster Rovi’s data business by providing recommendation information […] Read more »
Is it time for a Last.fm for TV shows and movies? That’s the question a new online video platform called Whiwa.net is raising. Whiwa is a video community based on scrobbling –- the act of automatically tracking your media consumption habits and sharing them with the […] Read more »
