• Google bought visual search engine like.com: http://ht.ly/2tsI3 #
• Today is @jeffross’s first day on the @photobucket team. Looking forward to working together! #
• “Google Realtime Search Gets New Name, Its Own URL, And Kick In The Pants” (from @techcrunch) http://ht.ly/2vqYW #

This year, there’s a new event taking center stage at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on September 13-14: APPNATION: Show me the money conference.

As you might guess, this show is all about apps and monetization – mobile apps, social apps, TV apps – you name it.  The speaker list reads like a ‘who’s who’ of mobile, web, media and agencies – well worth checking out.  SocializeMobilize.com readers will get 25% off the full conference pass by using the code MHFC25 during registration.

There’s also great opportunity for developers to show off their skills, gain some cross-industry exposure, and potentially win cash through the “Pimp My App Contest”.  Here’s the scoop:

One Great Contest — Two Cool Partners. We are calling on all developers to show off your skills by Pimping The App for Fox’s television show “Fringe”, The City of San Francisco’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau or both. Enter as many individual apps as you like for either or both of our partners. There are separate grand prizes so, who knows, maybe you’ll hack your way to victory for both contests. Sort of like winning both showcases on the Price is Right!. So, start hacking as you have until September 3rd to submit your entries.

• Just read @techcrunch article on Twitter photo sharing & am trying them all. http://tcrn.ch/cYS4n1. 1st, twitpic: http://twitpic.com/2fzixe #
• Now testing yfrog: http://yfrog.com/neulbj #
• Testing Tweetphoto http://tweetphoto.com/39866570 #
• “The iPhone gets third party apps for third party hardware, but the proprietary SDKs make the future sad” from @engadget http://ht.ly/2sE8j #
• Share Bookmarklet | dev.twitter.com http://t.co/6crTEt5 #

• I just added the Facebook “Like” button to SocializeMobilize.com. If you like the blog, tell your friends: http://ht.ly/2ncoA #
• It’s not too late to register for Mobile Monday in San Francisco tonight: http://fb.me/GpszGGdQ #
• Ian McDonald from #rim just mentioned @mob4hire (co I advise) at #momosv as a way for #developers to get feedback on apps b4 they launch. # (more…)

I just added the Facebook “Like” button to the right banner on SocializeMobilize.com. If you enjoy reading this blog, please “like” it on Facebook by clicking the “like” button to the right.

• Disappointed to see Apple stopped using @skyhook in new iphones. Skyhook = pioneer in wi-fi location & great team. http://ht.ly/2jOrL #
• RIM Launches its First Slider Phone: Blackberry Torch with Touch Screen + QWERTY: http://ht.ly/2kqWp #mobile #rim #in #blackberry #
• Spotted: Mountain View cops pulling over Google employees for riding G-Bikes on the sidewalk?! Can’t. Stop. Laughing. http://ow.ly/i/2ZMg #
• RT @FoneFrenzy: Apple submits CDMA chipset orders to Qualcomm; iPhone 4 headed to Verizon http://bit.ly/dfKyqG #

Today, RIM launched its first touch screen smartphone with a slide out QWERTY keyboard, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 on AT&T.  The Torch is the first RIM device to run the Blackberry 6 operating system, and it is the first RIM device with the Blackberry App World (app store) pre-installed (supporting Carrier billing on AT&T). (more…)

• Looking forward to seeing the new, cheaper Amazon Kindle that's coming out next month: http://ht.ly/2io6Y #

• I'm taking a poll for my blog: Who is the best mobile business development / carrier sales person you know & why? http://ht.ly/2dITT #in #
• The @palm #pre plus I won at #mb2010 just arrived! I love getting new mobile gadgets. #
• @planzi interesting perspective. Based on my experience, carriers hold most of the cards when it comes to preload decisions. in reply to planzi #

With millions of mobile apps out there, and (it seems) a decreasing number of mobile pre-load opportunities, it’s getting increasingly difficult for independent software vendors (ISVs) and web companies to gain traction with mobile operators and OEMs.  Beyond putting your on the app store and investing in adequate marketing to attract users to your app online, if you’re a serious mobile development company, one of the best ways to gain traction for your mobile application is to hire a well-connected, heavy hitting mobile business developer who can navigate the complex mobile ecosystem – driving distribution deals with mobile operators, OEMs, and other partners. (more…)