I’ve run websites with millions of monthly visitors, built mobile apps with hundreds of thousands of downloads, created online learning communities with over half a million registered users, and eaten a 24-oz peppercorn steak in one glorious sitting.

I’ve led product management, spoken internationally at conferences all over the world, blogged for over a decade, and built my own CMS. I live in Vancouver, Canada, play ice hockey, and subscribe to the VentureBeat statement of ethics.

FOR PR REPS:
I primarily cover Apple for VentureBeat. In addition, I also cover greentech and marketing technology.

As a PR pro, you’re totally aware that my inbox is totally flooded. If I don’t answer, it’s not because I’m rude, hate you, or just plain evil. At least, generally not. Short is most definitely sweet, and please keep pitches to my beats, unless we know each other.

stories by John Koetsier

Path 3: The leading private social network gets more personal, more human, and more money

Path has always taken a different ... trail. So it's no surprise that the private social network is laying down new tracks in an attempt to make digital communication more human.

‘World first’ internet-enabled his-and-hers virtual love toys shipping March 29

The "world's first internet-enabled sex toy" is shipping at the end of the month. Soon, Zeus and Hera will be able to satisfy and be satisfied, even when continents apart.

Happy birthday to you: Free stuff from Google for your Android phone

Google Play turned one today, and in honor of the birthday, Google is celebrating by giving gifts. Gifts for you, that is, and your Android device.

The vultures are out as Carl Icahn buys about 6% of Dell

Remember what Michael Dell said when he was asked back in 1997 -- when Steve Jobs returned to Apple -- what he'd do if he were Jobs?

"I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."

WordPress.com testing promoted posts with iReach, a PR Newswire company

Automattic, the company behind Wordpress.com and its 3.6 billion monthly pageviews, is testing a new native advertising monetization option with its massive blogging community: promoted posts.

Xbox Kinect’s upcoming midair multitouch is gunning for you, Leap Motion

Microsoft Research is always working on cool new features, and based on a video Microsoft just released, it seems clear that the next version of Kinect will be able to better recognize hands, hand positioning, and hand gestures, effectively letting you control your Xbox -- and your PC -- with just the equipment god gave you, right out of the box.

Suck it up, Marissa: Working from home just grew 35%

The latest U.S. census data says that working from home for at least one day a week grew 34 percent, and this comes just a couple of weeks after CEO Marissa Mayer famously killed Yahoo's telecommuting policy.

The 21 ways Google makes money from mobile (infographic)

Google had its first $50 billion year in 2012. With its massive investments in mobile, someday it might make that much just on the little plastic and metal devices we carry in our pockets. Here's how.

Cell phone unlocking: all of a sudden, every bloody senator wants to pass a law

Someone, somewhere, has gotta be missing a bandwagon.

Facebook: 15 million businesses, companies, and organizations now have a Facebook page

We've known for some time that Facebook has over a billion users. Now the company has announced that it has over 15 million brands, too.

Urban mining: Recovering $21B a year in gold and silver from discarded devices (infographic)

Every year, we toss out 152 million mobile phones, 52 million computers, and 36 million monitors. That's a massive ecological problem -- but it's also a massive revenue opportunity.

New Tumblr mobile monetization plan: pay-per-view (you pay, they view)

With 74 million daily posts, Tumblr is a big haystack to get lost in. Which is why the company is planning to monetize its mobile product the new old-fashioned way: pay-per-view. You pay, that is, and others view.

Sprout Social launches #BePresent to give brands free social media checkups

How is your company doing in social? Are you engaging customers, fans, and potential customers? And are you doing it better than your competitors?

iPadocalypse: ‘iPad shipments collapse’ 50% in January (but there may be a very good reason)

In fact, full-size iPad display shipments seem to have disappeared, dropping by an astounding 80 percent from December to January, even as Android tablet sales have grown.

App developers: need reach, retention, revenue? Scringo doubles time-in-app and recurring sessions

Your app is wonderful, amazing, and awesome, and it's one in a million. Literally.

Sorry, gonzo pollsters: Twitter sucks at reflecting public opinion

Either there are very different people on Twitter than the average Jane Q. Everywoman, or we tend to say very different things in public than we do in private.

Zuckerberg, Gates, Bezos, Page, and Brin (but no women) among world’s top 10 tech billionaires

Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple are not just engines of technological innovation in America ... they're also the path to Forbes' World's Billionaires list. But there is a little catch -- you gotta be a man.

Cellphone unlocking petition: White House says yes

The Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal petition has been heard loud and clear in Washington, and the Obama administration is saying yes.