Is Facebook Going to Launch its Own Web Browser?

This week, Yahoo launched Axis, its own web browser. Considering Yahoo's eroding reputation, and the fact that many sleek and popular web browsers like Chrome and Firefox are already well established, it will be a steep uphill climb for Axis.

But Axis may not be alone in attempting to enter this fragmented, oversaturated space: Facebook is now rumoured to be in talks with Opera over a potential acquisition that would see the social network repolish the web browser into its own - not unlike how it bought Instagram, then launched a mobile app called Facebook Camera.

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Instagram Clone: Facebook Launches Mobile Photo App for iPhone

With all the negative news swirling regarding Facebook's IPO and their inability to monetize mobile, the multi-millionaire Facebook developers have kept on working.

Today Facebook launched Camera, a new iOS app that enhances the Facebook photos mobile experience. With Camera, users can now view just photos from their friends in one feed, share multiple photos at once, and customize pictures with captions and filters before posting.

Considering Facebook's recent billion dollar purchase of Instagram, today's launch may come as a surprise.

Camera is an independent photo application with a few features extremely similar to what users of Instagram are already used to using. However with Camera users will not be able to share within the app only (as Instagram can do) or to other social networks all at once.

Camera is all about Facebook.

Camera will be available for the iPhone starting today and can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

Communitech's HYPERDRIVE Joins FounderFuel and JOLT in TechStars Canadian Network

Last month Techvibes reported that Toronto's JOLT had become a member of the Global Accelerator Network (formerly TechStars network).

The Global Accelerator Network (GAN) is an alliance championed by TechStars and originally created as part of the White House’s Startup America Initiative. JOLT was not the first Canadian accelerator to become part of the GAN - Montreal's FounderFuel has also leveraged the TechStars brand north of the border.

Today Communitech's new tech accelerator, HYPERDRIVE, announced it will become the third Canadian member of the GAN.

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HP to Lay Off 27,000 Employees, Impact on 28 Canadian Offices Unclear

Palo Alto headquarterd Hewlett-Packard announced today plans to lay off 27,000 employees as part of its long-term restructuring plan.

The company will shed about 8% of its workforce through a combination of layoffs and retirement offers that started last October and will continue through the end of its 2014 fiscal year.

Employee reduction plans vary by country. While HP operates 28 offices across Canada, it is not clear what impact the layoffs would have in Canada yet.

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Calgary Plugs into Accelerator Craze with Big Silicon Valley Partner

Calgary's Boast Capital announced today a partnership with Saeed Amidi and the Plug and Play Tech Center to launch Startup Camp Canada.

The hybrid accelerator program will provide Canadian startups acceleration time in both Calgary and Silicon Valley and access to over 180 Silicon Valley venture capital firms and angel investors such as Accel Partners and Sand Hill Angels, world class entrepreneurs from companies such as YouTube and Skype, and a community of leading universities and corporate partners.

Startup Camp Canada will be launched in two phases.

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GROWtalks: a hands-on playbook for creating startup success

The organizers of the GROW Conference have announced something new for 2012.

Day one of the three-day conference has now been labelled GROWtalks and will be focused on how startups can create simple, actionable metrics, and use them to make better product and marketing decisions for long-term growth.

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These 20 Companies are About to Break into Silicon Valley

2011 BC Angel of the Year Boris Wertz says being Canadian might just be the best way to break into Silicon Valley and 19 Canadian startups are about to find out if he's right.

The C100 announced the lucky startups to participate in the upcoming 48 Hours in the Valley event from June 25-27 and the companies selected span from coast-to-coast.

Hit the link to find out who is representing from your home province.

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ESL Explorer: A Better Way to Study English Abroad

ESL Explorer recently emerged from stealth mode, and the Vancouver-based startup is already making waves in the ESL education market.

The ESL market is worth over $4 billion annually, with over 25% of that spend currently going to agencies who place students in schools.

ESL Explorer wants to bring a healthy dose of the Internet into an industry that operates like the travel-agency industry did 15 years ago.

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Kobo welcomes Pinterest to the Rakuten family

Rakuten Inc. announced today that it is leading a $100 million investment in Pinterest, with participation from existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, and FirstMark Capital, as well as a number of angel investors.

Last November Rakuten bought Canadian-made Kobofor a total of $315 million in cash. At the time Mikitani called the company "entrepreneurial, fast, and strong" and said the two companies have a "shared vision.

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