The final 13 contestants on American Idol’s season 13 celebrate becoming finalists.Image: Jordan Strauss/Associated Press Fox’s singing competition American Idol is joining forces with search behemoth Google to give viewers a new way to vote for their favorite contestants, starting on Wednesday. Looking up “American Idol” or “Idol” via Google Search on desktop or mobile during voting time periods now allows users to vote for multiple finalists as frequently as 50 times. Image: Fox Broadcasting/Mashable Composite Viewers already could vote by phone call, text message or American Idol app as well as on Idol‘s website using a Facebook account — a method Fox added in 2011 for season 10. Rival shows The Voice and X Factor have also toyed with fresh social media-driven voting methods. In 2011, for example, The Voice became the first televised singing competition in the U.S. to allow iTunes sales to count as votes. Meanwhile, X Factor began allowing votes to come in from direct messages on Twitter in 2011. Also new to Idol‘s season 13 is Harry Connick Jr., who is Idol‘s eleventh judge since the show debuted in 2002. This year, Fox also brought back former judge Jennifer Lopez, who was on the panel for seasons 10 and 11. The network replaced Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj to join the only returning judge from season 12’s panel, Keith Urban. Randy Jackson, who had been on the judges’ panel for seasons 1 through 12, returned as a behind-the-scenes mentor. BONUS: 20 Songs Turning 20 in 2014 20 Songs Turning 20 in 2014 1. “Buddy Holly” by Weezer Video: YouTube, WeezerVEVO 2. “I Swear” by All 4 One Video: YouTube, VIETNAMESEPORKROLLS 3. “Gin & Juice” by Snoop Doggy Dogg Video: YouTube, hemoglobian 4. “Crazy” by Aerosmith Video: YouTube, AerosmithVEVO 5. “Come Out and Play” by The Offspring Video: YouTube, EpitaphRecords 6. “I Wanna Be Down” by Brandy Video: YouTube, Atlantic Records 7. “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow Video: YouTube, Matias 8. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men Video: YouTube, BoyzIIMenVEVO 9. “Sabotage” by Beastie Boys Video: YouTube, turboEF 10. “Back & Forth” by Aaliyah Video: YouTube, Aaliyah Shakur 11. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John Video: YouTube, WaItDisneyWorId 12. “Zombie” by The Cranberries Video: YouTube, TheCranberriesVEVO 13. “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden Video: YouTube, SoundgardenVEVO 14. “Basket Case” by Green Day Video: YouTube, greenday 15. “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan Video: YouTube, GloriaEstefanVEVO 16. “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb Video: YouTube, LLOnline 17. “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders Video: YouTube, Javipy3 18. “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge Video: YouTube, melissaetheridge1988 19. “Hold My Hand” by Hootie and the Blowfish Video: YouTube, Atlantic Records 20. “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex Video: YouTube, RednexVEVO Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/02/26/american-idol-google-search-voting/
Verizon Wireless just passed 3 million fans on Facebook, beating out competitors like AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile to that milestone. To celebrate, Verizon has released a special video thanking its fans that features a Rube Goldberg machine. For those who don’t know, a Rube Goldberg machine is one that uses an unnecessarily complicated series of steps to accomplish a very simple task. In this particular video, the end goal is to switch on a tablet that displays a thank you message to the company’s fans. In recent months, we’ve seen several brands come up with clever ways to celebrate reaching Facebook fan milestones. Bonobos released a video parody of The Golden Girls when it reached 100,000 fans on Facebook and The Walking Dead put out an awesome poster when it reached 100,000 fans. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/13/verizon-facebook-fans-video/
Thanksgiving is here and you’re in a hurry to get the house looking spotless before friends and family come over for a hearty turkey feast. But whatever you do, don’t mistake this thing in the middle of the floor for a mop! Just wait until you see what it really is. Too funny! That funny-looking creature is a rare white puli, a breed of Hungarian sheepdog that usually has black fur. These mid-sized canines are very smart and agile, capable of guiding and herding sheep, goats, and even chickens. Oh, and they’re obviously super cute! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/the-mop/
A lighthearted texting conversation comes to a grim end in Honda’s PSA for Distracted Driving Month. The ad dispenses with the typical scare tactics associated with such advertising but delivers an equally sobering message via sound effects. Honda is also launching “#thumbsup,” a Twitter hashtag campaign, to get the message out to the target millennial audience. Honda launched the campaign, which also includes two Spanish-language ads, to support the National Safety Council’s designation of April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month effort, which features a carload of teens perishing in a texting-and-driving accident, is now up to 1.7 million views on YouTube. YouTube’s Most-Shared Ads of March 1. Wren Clothing: First Kiss Shares: 1.44 million The viral video that spawned a thousand sequels racked up nearly 2.5 million views on YouTube in the first 24 hours. It became even more buzzworthy when it was revealed to be a viral marketing stunt featuring actors and models — people experienced in the art of kissing strangers and making it look good. Video: YouTube, Tatia PIlieva 2. Save The Children: Most Shocking Second a Day Shares: 866, 365 This unforgettable video by the UK arm of Save The Children gives the “one second in a day” video trope a terrifying twist. It depicts a young British girl whose life transforms from family gatherings and innocent playtime to a harrowing struggle to survive. The message of the video: “Just because it isn’t happening here, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.” Video: YouTube, SaveTheChildrenUK 3. CoorDown: Dear Future Mom Shares: 718,900 CoorDown, an Italian advocacy group for children with Down syndrome, released this touching video in honor of World Down Syndrome Day, in which 15 children comfort a mom-to-be who learns her child will have Down syndrome. Video: YouTube, CoorDown 4. Pepsi Max With Jeff Gordon: Test Drive 2 Shares: 423,204 When a reporter questioned the veracity of Pepsi’s original test drive stunt, the brand — and NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon — decided to put him in his place. Video: YouTube, Pepsi 5. Samsung: Galaxy S5 Official Hands-on Shares: 384,551 Samsung fans were clearly raring for a first look at the new Galaxy S5, as evidenced by the 3.1 million YouTube views this hands-on demo received… Video: YouTube, Samsung Mobile 6. Samsung: Galaxy S5 Official Introduction Shares: 342,962 …not to mention the 23 million views racked up by the official product introduction. Video: YouTube, Samsung Mobile 7. Failte Ireland: St. Patrick’s Day 2014 — #IrelandInspires Shares: 224,495 There’s more to Ireland than St. Patrick’s Day. That’s the message behind “Ireland Inspires,” a tourism video created by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, which showcases the nation’s countryside, history and industry, set to an Irish folk artist’s cover of “Higher Love.” Video: YouTube, FailteIrelandTV 8. Chanel: Coco Mademoiselle — She’s Not There Shares: 214,089 This video for Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle fragrance stars Keira Knightley as an elusive, fashionable woman who turns […]
Prince Harry look-a-like Matthew Hicks will trick women into thinking he’s part of a royal family on Fox’s upcoming I Wanna Marry Harry.Image: Daniel Smith/Fox We’ll never be royals, as Lorde reminded us in her breakout single. And neither will any of the 12 American women participating in I Wanna Marry Harry, Fox‘s new dating show that tricked the singles into thinking they’re fighting over Prince Harry. Yes, that Harry — the royal brother of Prince William, son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The Harry lookalike is Matthew Hicks, described by Fox as “an average English bloke,” who will pull out all of the romantic stops worthy of a fairytale ending — not that his dates are likely to get one. How long did fake Prince Harry keep his true identity secret? We’ll find out when the dating show debuts May 27 at 8 p.m. ET. We’re guessing there’ll be no faked equivalent of the Prince Harry nude photo scandal. BONUS: 12 Comedian Quotes to Help You Laugh Through Relationship Hiccups Comedians on Love 1. Will Ferrell Image: Mark Mainz/Getty Images 2. Amy Poehler Image: Larry Busacca/Getty Images 3. Louis C.K. Image: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images 4. Chelsea Peretti Image: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AmeriCares 5. Rob Delaney Image: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images 6. Mindy Kaling Image: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for Hilarity for Charity 7. Lucille Ball Image: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 8. Jerry Seinfeld Image: Evan Agostini/Getty Images For Mohegan Sun 9. Chris Rock Image: Jemal Countess/Getty Images 10. Tina Fey Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images 11. George Burns Image: Harold Clements/Express/Getty Images 12. Rob Delaney Image: Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/03/28/i-wanna-marry-harry-fox-show/
Halloween used to be so simple. You could cut a couple of eye holes into a white sheet and PRESTO, you were a ghost! Getting free candy on Halloween used to be simple. These days, people spend more time creating the most elaborate and functional costumes ever made. What we found goes way beyond anything you’ve seen for Halloween. After this man’s recreation of a powerful (and usable) superhero weapon in his backyard, we’re pretty sure any other costumes don’t stand a chance this Halloween. (The military might want to take notice of it, too. Maybe Ironman can be a real thing.) Youtube To see how he made it, check out the entire video below. It’s Marvel-ous! (via io9) Study this video carefully. If you want to make your own Ironman costume, you should probably ensure you don’t end up setting your arm (or house) on fire. Read more: http://viralnova.com/ironman-halloween/
“I only need eight bits to know that this is it,” a lovestruck Luigi croons to Princess Peach in this nerd-tastic ballad that instantly went viral on the social web upon hitting YouTube earlier Wednesday. The green-clad, mustachioed Luigi always seemed to be more a wingman to partner in-crime-Mario — who sported a more passionate red outfit — in the Super Mario Bros. video game franchise. But it seems Luigi was really just the shy, sensitive type and actually had dreams of his own all along. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/08/22/lovestruck-luigi-pines-for-princess-peach-ballad/
A mosaic made from raw images from Cassini, taken on December 21, 2010, shows a detailed look at the south pole of Enceladus. Image: NASA / JPL / SSI / J. Major Finding liquid water on a celestial body within the solar system is exciting. The only thing that is probably more exciting is finding an ocean full of it. Today such news comes via Cassini, which has made measurements that show that Saturn’s moon Enceladus has a hidden ocean beneath its icy surface. While orbiting Saturn in 2005, Cassini found jets of salty water spewing from the south polar region of Enceladus. According to Luciano Iess of Sapienza University of Rome, lead author of the new study published in Science, “The discovery of the jets was unexpected.” Geysers require liquid water, and we wouldn’t expect Enceladus to have any. It is too far from the Sun to absorb much energy and too small (just 500km in diameter) to have trapped enough internal energy to keep its core molten. The answer to how the water got there might lie in the details of the moon’s internal structure. Water beneath an icy crust The data to understand Enceladus’s internal structure came from by measuring changes in Cassini’s speed as it flew close to the moon. When passing the denser parts of the moon, it sped up by a few extra thousandths of a meter per second. That minute change was tracked through recordings of the radio signals Cassini was sending to NASA’s Deep Space Network station. In making such tiny measurements, scientists had to filter out other factors that could influence Cassini’s speed. These include pressure on the spacecraft from sunlight, the nudge from heat radiating from its nuclear-powered electrical generator, and the drag of the particles it strikes as it passes through the south polar plumes. Iess and his colleagues have produced a model of the internal structure of Enceladus using the measurements. They conclude that there is a core that is roughly 200km in diameter; above that lies a 10km-thick layer of liquid water, which is followed by 40km of ice crust. The water layer may extend all the way to the north pole, but its thickest part lies at the south pole. This diagram illustrates the possible interior of Saturn’s moon Enceladus based on a gravity investigation by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft and NASA’s Deep Space Network, reported in April 2014. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech It is possible that Saturn’s powerful gravity is responsible for the liquid water under Enceladus’s surface. Its pull could heat up the interior through a process called tidal kneading, which involves the slow compression and expansion of the core as the moon rotates through Saturn’s gravity well. After the initial discovery of the plumes, Cassini’s minders put a lot of effort into determining Enceladus’s internal structure, but it still took nearly ten years to do so. This is because the time the spacecraft spends around Saturn is very valuable, and there are lots of other things […]
Though we’ve made countless attempts over the years, my siblings and I have never been able to finish a game of Monopoly. One of us always ends up flipping the board and sending all of the pieces flying across the room because we simply can’t last the many hours it takes to trudge through it. The same is true for plenty of board games. One game that’s recently grown in popularity, however, is Pie Face, which requires far less skill and time than many of its competitors. In fact, it’s so easy a dog could do it…sort of. Whether this pooch was sick of its humans playing or just craving a treat, it doesn’t really matter. Either way, the dog’s method for ending their fun is pretty hilarious. “Don’t mind if I do.” Read More: These Baby Quails Could Have Been In Big Trouble, But This Pup Is A Gentle Giant That’s definitely one happy pup! Be sure to SHARE this story with all your dog-loving friends to give them a few laughs. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/pie-face-dog/
YouTube videos exist so they can be shared. And the Internet, as it always does, delivers plenty — but which ones are the best viral videos? Our new pop culture debate show, Monumental, is all about figuring that out (among other things.) Every Tuesday, we’ll sit down with a group of panelists and determine the top four — a.k.a. “Mount Rushmore” — of a familiar pop culture topic. The panelists will be given eight top contenders to choose from, and through rigorous, totally serious debate, they’ll decide who — or what — should be on the final list. In our first episode, above, YouTube legends Shane Dawson and Roman Atwood sit down with host Elliott Morgan to debate which viral videos are the viral-ist(?) of all time. Here are the eight contenders: 1. Gangnam Style Psy’s dance-heavy classic, released over the summer of 2012, became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views in December 2012. “Gangnam fever” soon followed, with notable figures like Barack Obama, David Cameron and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon offering their own interpretations of the dance. 2. Chocolate Rain 3. Rick Astley: “Never Gonna Give You Up” You’ve heard of this one. More appropriately, you’ve fallen victim to this one. English singer-songwriter Rick Astley released the love ballad, “Never Gonna Give You Up,” in 1987. In the early 2000s, it quickly spread as a prank meme: victims would open up a link, supposedly about something completely unrelated, and be surprised with Astley’s video. At least it’s catchy. 4. Sneezing Baby Panda 5. Evolution of Dance Comedian Juddson Laiply (perfectly) performs 12 different popular dances in a row. Enough. Said. 6. Grape Lady Falls 7. Charlie Bit My Finger Maybe it’s their perfect, English-accented diction. Or maybe it’s just because they’re freaking adorable. “Charlie Bit My Finger” hit the web in 2007. At 56 seconds, it’s the most bare-boned video of the bunch — but, come on, it’s a cute kid playfully biting the finger of another cute kid over cute, British-y dialogue. It wins. 8. Leroy Jenkins These are just our top picks. Any you think should have made the cut? Let us know in the comments! Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/08/19/monumental-viral-videos/
