Facebook has just published a detailed roadmap of the features it expects to add to its Platform over the next six months, along with projected launch dates.

While the roadmap is intended largely for developers of applications – both on Facebook and on third-party sites and mobile apps using Facebook Connect – it gives users an idea of how we might interact with these apps in the future.

Some pieces that sound intriguing:

The Open Graph API will allow any page on the web to have all the features of a Facebook Page – users will be able to become a Fan of the page, it will show up on that user’s profile and in search results, and that page will be able to publish stories to the stream of its fans.

Email: Developers will be able to ask users to share their primary email addresses (for example, firstname.lastname@domain.com).

Notifications: Application-to-user and user-to-user notifications will be removed, and instead developers will use stream, Inbox, and Email.

We’re still digesting the roadmap and will update with details, but in the meantime, you can check it out for yourself on Facebook’s developer wiki.

Yesterday, we wrote about a new, free product from Google: Google Maps Navigation. Another free Google perpetual beta product, one might say; nothing to get overly excited about.

Well, the first reviews and reactions are in, and it seems that this is one of those Google products that change the landscape of an entire industry.

GPS turn-by-turn navigation has historically always been something you had to pay for. Creating and maintaining a map of the entire world, together with points of interests and traffic info, plus developing the algorithms that make sure you don’t take a wrong turn, costs millions of dollars. But Google is now offering it for free. The result was devastating for shares of GPS navigation companies: Garmin’s shares fell by 16.4%; TomTom’s by 20.8%. We’re talking billions of dollars of market capitalization, gone in one day, just because Google presented another free product (they release new products on a monthly, if not weekly basis).

This doesn’t necessarily mean that TomTom and Garmin are going out of business. But it means that this entire space has fundamentally changed, and the market reacts to developments like that.

Do they do have something to fear? Absolutely. Google Maps Navigation isn’t some half-baked, crippled free version of GPS turn-by-turn navigation. In most areas, it’s comparable with standalone GPS navigation solutions, and it even brings some novelties to the table, for example Google’s fantastic satellite view and Street View. The folks over at Engadget have tested it out with a Droid, you can check the results in the video below.

Right now, Google Maps Navigation works only on Android 2.0 devices. But as it spreads to other platforms and devices, it’s obvious that everyone will get it. After all, it’s free, so why not? People who used GPS navigation before will get it to see how well it works. People who never cared about it will try it out to see how it’s like. In a matter of months, Google will control a huge, previously untapped portion of the market. From their competitors’ perspective, it’s a nightmare. From the user’s perspective, it’s fantastic: a free alternative for a service that you previously had to pay for. It’ll be interesting to see where Google takes this, but I have a feeling that GPS navigation will get far more exciting in the future.

Connectify.me is a new service we just found out about. They’ve sussed out how to make any Windows 7 computer into a WiFi hotspot. Since we just installed Windows 7 on a spare laptop, we figured it was about time to make Windows do something cool, so we installed the app.

We were quite literally up and running with other devices connected in five minutes. In fact, this post is being published right now on a Connectify.me-powered connection. Windows 7 users have got to try this app. You never know when you’ll get to save the day by letting other users share your Internet connection.

Speaking of which, use cases we can think of right now run the gamut between Sticking It To The Man and Violating My ISP’s TOS; nevertheless, it’s an interesting, fun little hack that should’ve been done long ago.

Installation is simple. Go to the website, click the big, shiny button, run the .exe file, follow the prompt. You’ll then see a Connectify logo in the notification tray. It’s party time! Choose a name, set up a password, and click the big, shiny button. Congratulations. You’re now a software-based wireless router. It took about five very obvious clicks and was truly so easy a caveman could do it.

This is almost as much fun as that MiFi we played with a while ago. The main difference is that the MiFi creates an Internet connection for 3-5 users using cellular networks, and Connectify allows multiple users to piggyback off a single connection. Oh, and the MiFi and similar devices cost a bit – or a lot – to buy and maintain, but Connectify is free to install and run.

Connectify runs on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 r2. Why no other Windows OSes, you ask? “Connectify depends on improvements made in Windows 7 to operate,” reads the site’s FAQ. “Frankly, Windows 7 is such a big improvement that we suggest you’re better off upgrading than waiting for us to get all this working on an older version of Windows.”

Three cheers for Windows for getting their act together on the OS front, and many thanks to Connectify for bringing us all n-for-the-price-of-1 WiFi!

Recently, in addition to giving you suggestions to which friends you might add to your profile, Facebook also started enticing users to reconnect and engage less active users. The campaign has partly backfired, as some of the recommendations were dead people and ex-lovers, but I still think it’s brilliant, and a good sign that Facebook has a clear strategy laid out for the future.

Facebook currently has a problem that plagues only the biggest online services out there, but a serious one nevertheless: it’s getting too big. Its growth hasn’t been spectacular in the last couple of months like it once was, but one has to wonder if it’s simply nearing the natural limit for that type of service. Once you’ve conquered a huge portion of domestic (US) users, and international users, where do you turn to?

Existing users. Facebook’s algorithms, while still not perfectly tuned, recognize that some users aren’t using Facebook regularly, and entice their friends to reconnect with them; write on their wall, send them photos, and the like. It’s the perfect campaign. If a company sends you an email that says “hey, you’ve been inactive, but why not give our service another go,” you’ll probably disregard it. But if a friend posts a photo of you or some of your friends, and the only place you can get it is Facebook, you’re far more likely to log in – and get hooked – once again.

I’m an active Facebook user, and this latest strategy is also working well on my end. I see suggestions for friends I already have; I’m interested in why Facebook’s suggesting them; I go check out why they haven’t been active; in the end, I really did reconnect with some of them.

So, instead of simply waiting for someone to utter that dreadful sentence: “Facebook has a lot of users, but how many are active?,” Facebook is working on reengaging their inactive users, recognizing that they’re just as valuable as new users. Smart thinking. If they manage to tweak their algorithms and stop gross errors from happening, that is.

With some help from Intel, Joyent is announcing it is the first cloud computing service to launch in mainland China.

Joyent is working with Intel and the Qinhuangdao Economic and Technology Development Zone (QETDZ) to bring its infrastructure cloud computing service to the Chinese market. The Joyent service is already being promoted with a localized version of its web site.

Joyent is a San Francisco based cloud computing service that launched in 2004. They are one of the pioneers of the cloud computing world. They were one of the first to offer Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) offerings. They now offer all three layers of the Cloud Stack – IaaS, Platform as a Service (PAAS) and Software as a Service (SaaS).

The China deal is a major coup for Joyent, which competes with giants like Amazon Web Services. Joyent prides itself on being a self-funded company.

It is interesting that QETDZ officials decided to embrace a cloud computing service. We are seeing a whole new level of innovation in application development that stems from the availability of cloud computing services. Companies are embracing cloud computing services in North America and elsewhere for its simplicity, scaling and elasticity. With a cloud computing infrastructure, China will be well-positioned to experience significant innovation in its technology development

In today’s announcement, Intel cited Joyent’s infrastructure as a measure for its support. Joyent’s infrastructure is based on the Intel Xeon processor.

The QETDZ is one of China’s first state-level economic and technological development zones. It is heavily focused on technology development. They have coined the name of the region as “Data Valley.”

Joyent is immediately launching its base public cloud product. It plans to expand its product line in China over the next two quarters.

Android 2.0 just got its first killer app: Google Maps Navigation. Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 will be available for free and will be part of the default Google Maps app on Android 2.0 phones. The service offers all the features that users expect from a modern GPS app, including traffic data, 3D view and turn-by-turn voice guidance. Because it’s connected to the Google cloud, the app can also display street view images, satellite imagery and real-time traffic data. Google also implemented a voice recognition feature.

Disrupting the Mapping Industry One App at a Time

Two weeks ago, Google severed its ties with Tele Atlas and started to display its own mapping data instead. Today’s launch of the Maps Navigation app explains why Google decided to do this. Google can now display these maps without having to pay royalties to a third party and without having to negotiate a new contract with Tele Atlas.

By making this a free product, Google is disrupting the mapping and GPS navigation market. Mapping companies like Tele Atlas or NAVTEQ make their money by licensing their data to GPS developers like TomTom or Navigon. Google, on the other hand, can give this product away for free.

For now, the app will only be available on the Droid, but in a press conference earlier this morning, Google also said that these navigation capabilities would eventually come to other phones, including the iPhone.

Susan Payton is the Managing Partner of Egg Marketing & Public Relations, an internet marketing firm specializing in blogger outreach, social media, and PR. She blogs at The Marketing Eggspert Blog, and teaches marketing courses at Marketing EggSchool. Follow her on Twitter @eggmarketing.

Today it seems that no matter what industry you’re in, your competition is stronger than ever. How do you stand out and get that sale when people aren’t as loyal to brands as they used to be? How do you get their attention in an ever growing sea of noise when they’re so often swayed by price rather than quality? One answer is to become recognized as an expert in your industry, someone other people seek out for information.

The most important part to becoming known as an expert, of course, is that you know a lot about whatever it is you do. That could be construction, public relations, HR, dogs – whatever it is, in order to gain the requisite knowledge to be regarded as a thought-leader in your field likely requires years of schooling or real-world practice, or both. In addition, when your goal is to be recognized as an expert you need to always keep learning, and to constantly share that expertise. But first let’s talk about why you might want to be an expert.

Benefits of Being an Expert

Being an expert in your field makes you the go-to person for your industry. There are many people that I trust inherently on different subjects simply because they know their stuff, and they’re not trying to sell me anything. They just want to be helpful in their own space. These are people that I learn from, but also whom I would buy from because I trust their knowledge and expertise.

Being an expert helps you:

- Establish yourself as an industry leader
- Help others
- Become a trusted resource
- Get interviews and media coverage
- Gain access (via conference/speaking invites, etc.)
- Convert followers to sales

Keep Up-to-Date

Only a fool assumes he knows everything and can’t learn any more. No matter how much you know, content and ideas are changing, especially if you work in a fast-moving industry like social media. News happens, ideas shift, people try new things. It’s important for you to stay on top of the latest updates.

Though this list is by no means complete, here are some places you can turn to stay up to date on the most recent news, trends, and ideas in your industry.

Blogs & News – Blogs in your industry are a great place to find out the latest tools and news. If you’re not already reading blogs, do a web search for [your industry + blogs] (like Chiropractic Blogs, for example) to locate some blogs that cover your business niche. Find ones that you like and subscribe to them by RSS so you won’t forget to read them.

You can also use Technorati or PostRank to find blogs in your industry. PostRank can be used to weed out the best post from the blogs you follow, as well.

It’s not a bad idea to set up a Google Alert to search for news about your industry. Paying attention to news headlines is a great way to stay abreast of changes in your field.

Online Education – There’s no reason you have to enroll in college (again) to keep learning. There are a variety of online resources at which you can take free or cheap webinars or e-courses to keep the wheels churning.

If you’re looking for generic business information, the US Small Business Administration has free online courses for small business owners, for example, or if you want great advice on internet marketing, look to HubSpot. Search the web and pay attention to the blogs you read to keep abreast of opportunities for online learning.

Social Networks – Increasingly, social networks like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Digg, and Delicious are where people are sharing news and information that matters to them. By following the already established experts in your niche, you’ll gain access to the information they possess, which will in turn increase your knowledge.

Conferences & Events – Every industry has conferences, trade shows, and other events, at which other experts in the industry gather to share their knowledge. Attending these meetings can help you in your quest to continually learn new information. You can find out about conferences by reading industry blogs, searching events sites like Upcoming.org, or finding local user groups on Meetup.

Imparting Your Wisdom

By sharing your knowledge with others, you’ll quickly become known for your expertise. This can translate into sales, job offers, gigs, or other opportunities, as you build your personal brand as an expert. Here are some ways you can share what you know.

Blogs – The easiest way to start sharing is by creating a blog. Blogs are fantastic if you’ve got a ton of information in your head and need a place to dump it. The bonus is: you can help others through that information. Blog about what you know. Share news, offer advice, give your opinion, and make yourself the go-to resource for what you do. The key to successful blogging is to consistently put out good, original, and useful content that encourages readers to engage with you and with each other.

Social Media – Social media sites are designed for experts! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a question about something, tweeted it, and gotten free advice back, later, the people who provided me with expert advice are the people I buy from when I need their services. By providing free advice on Twitter or Facebook, you will build a base of fans that both trust you and look to you for expert advice. These fans will seek you out and recommend you to others seeking advice and information – in other words, by sharing your knowledge and gaining trust, your network will grow on its own.

Among the ways you can share your expertise using social media, are creating a lens on Squidoo that is home to all the great knowledge you’ve gleaned over the years, bookmarking blog posts and articles that relate to what you do on Delicious, and sharing those links on Twitter, Facebook, Digg, or Reddit, and responding to queries on Yahoo! Answers or LinkedIn Answers.

Create Online Courses – The benefits to teaching online are many, says "http://www.twitter.com/mvolpe">Mike Volpe of HubSpot. “Leveraging inbound marketing with educational content is more efficient and a lower cost per lead than outbound advertising. Our inbound marketing programs are 5-10 times more efficient lead gen and sales channels than our outbound marketing programs.”

One way to offer an online course is through recently launched, Prfessor.com, which offers software that makes it possible for anyone to host an online school where they sell (or give away for free) courses on virtually any topic.

Video – Don’t underestimate the power of video. For those who do well in front of a camera, sharing free how-to videos on sites like YouTube or Vimeo can lead to increased awareness. It also demonstrates to television producers how well you do on camera, which means online expert videos can lead to television appearances.

Speaking Up – You should already be attending industry conferences, trade shows, and user group meetings, and you should make sure to assert yourself as a knowledgeable voice in the community while at those events. Whether that means lining up formal speaking engagements – which will be easier to do the more you grow your personal brand as an expert – or just networking and sharing your expertise with other attendees, speaking up is helpful in building your expert brand.

Consulting – Offering consulting services can do two things: first, it can make you a little money, and second, it can help you establish yourself among industry insiders as someone who knows their stuff. One consulting gig can lead to many based on referrals and having a list of business owners willing to give you a recommendation can be invaluable. If you plan to offer consulting services, put information about your services on your blog and in your social profiles, and consider offering phone consultations through Ether.com.

Build On Your Expertise

It takes a while, but you will see a snowball effect as you build your brand as an expert. More people will come to you for advice or consulting, and more media types will reach out to you for interviews. Learn to leverage your knowledge and convert it to sales. Speaking at conferences, teaching courses or seminars – both online and off, and consulting for businesses will help you grow your personal brand.

What other advice do you have for would-be web experts? Let us know in the comments.

More business resources from Mashable:

- HOW TO: Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn
– Top 5 Business Blogging Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
– 4 Ways Social Media is Changing Business
– HOW TO: Build Your Personal Brand on Twitter
– 3 New Facebook Strategies for Building Your Personal Brand

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, firebrandphotography

San Francisco’s famous Bay Bridge is being shut down by the California Highway Patrol in both directions. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “pieces of the cantilever section section fell during the late-afternoon commute.”

Interestingly enough, Twitter was first on the scene, as the commuter Joe Marshall (@larfo) snapped this Twitpic of the Bay Bridge debris. The image, taken about two hours ago, clearly depicts the San Francisco Bay Bridge with what appears to be cables down and bridge mass spewed everywhere.

The Chronicle reports:

“A chunk of steel lay in the middle of the far left lane of the upper deck and an object that appeared to be a cable was on a Ryder truck dangling from the side of the span.

Authorities have not said how long the closure will last.”

While this is certainly not the first time that a Twitter user tweeted breaking news before mainstream media outlets – there’s plenty of incidents like the Jakarta bombings and Hudson plane crash to reference – it certainly serves as another telling example of the power of Twitter as a communication platform.

Image from wallyg on Flickr

Recently, in addition to giving you suggestions to which friends you might add to your profile, Facebook also started enticing users to reconnect and engage less active users. The campaign has partly backfired, as some of the recommendations were dead people and ex-lovers, but I still think it’s brilliant, and a good sign that Facebook has a clear strategy laid out for the future.

Facebook currently has a problem that plagues only the biggest online services out there, but a serious one nevertheless: it’s getting too big. Its growth hasn’t been spectacular in the last couple of months like it once was, but one has to wonder if it’s simply nearing the natural limit for that type of service. Once you’ve conquered a huge portion of domestic (US) users, and international users, where do you turn to?

Existing users. Facebook’s algorithms, while still not perfectly tuned, recognize that some users aren’t using Facebook regularly, and entice their friends to reconnect with them; write on their wall, send them photos, and the like. It’s the perfect campaign. If a company sends you an email that says “hey, you’ve been inactive, but why not give our service another go,” you’ll probably disregard it. But if a friend posts a photo of you or some of your friends, and the only place you can get it is Facebook, you’re far more likely to log in – and get hooked – once again.

I’m an active Facebook user, and this latest strategy is also working well on my end. I see suggestions for friends I already have; I’m interested in why Facebook’s suggesting them; I go check out why they haven’t been active; in the end, I really did reconnect with some of them.

So, instead of simply waiting for someone to utter that dreadful sentence: “Facebook has a lot of users, but how many are active?,” Facebook is working on reengaging their inactive users, recognizing that they’re just as valuable as new users. Smart thinking. If they manage to tweak their algorithms and stop gross errors from happening, that is.

Launching in beta today is MyCE, a community-driven network that aims to cross swords with the CNETs and GDGTs of this world when it comes to building places on the Web people gather to share news, reviews and knowledge about consumer electronics and gadgets. The site is a new venture from Amsterdam, The Netherlands-based RankOne Media.

Actually, it’s not entirely new. MyCE is in fact the rebranded version of CDFreaks.com, an online community founded in 2007 focused solely on optical storage devices. The existing community, which the company claims currently amounts to about 3.5 million unique monthly visitors, will be integrated and rolled over to the new platform it is debuting today.

Much like the recently launched gdgt, MyCE lets you create a user profile that includes lists of products you own and wish you owned. You can go to the site to discuss news about certain electronics and gadgetry, argue about what certain products lack and what they rule at, compare pricing and write reviews, but also to set up or join conversations centered around support and troubleshooting.

The site supports OpenID, so you can sign up with your Windows Live ID or Google, Yahoo, Facebook account (among others). Members can cross-post reviews to Twitter, Facebook, etc.

The content on MyCE.com is nearly 100% user-generated, the company says, and mostly consists of in-depth product reviews written by 70+ voluntary community members located all over the globe. The database is currently about 100,000 products strong, and the site will kick off with 450,000+ registered members it’s transferring from the former CDFreaks.com community. About 60% of its traffic comes from the U.S., and the rest is evenly split between the UK and Continental Europe.

MyCE is an entirely bootstrapped initiative and its parent company will continue to generate revenue through advertising and affiliate partnerships with online retailers.