Friday's Afternoon Update
National housing outlook dims
A spate of new economic reports shows that a speedier recovery of the national housing market does not appear in the cards this year. Housing experts are dialing back rosier projections in favor of another ho-hum year, where home sales are flat and prices climb to make ownership less affordable. More at McClatchy and Bloomberg.
Gainesville-created app packs a lot of musical punch
A musical app created by Gainesville-based company Psicada was named one of Apple's best new apps after its launch in March. The Earhoof app is meant to be played as a standalone, virtual instrument on an iPad. More at the Gainesville Sun.
Retailers get creative with Pinterest
Retailers increasingly are using Pinterest, a social media site that allows users to create collections of photos, articles, recipes, videos and other images that are called "pins," to draw business to their own sites. More at the AP.
Collier County wants oil company's permit revoked
Collier County wants the state to revoke a permit for a Texas oil company recently fined for an unauthorized operation. County commissioners voted to ask the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to revoke the permit allowing the Dan A. Hughes Co. to drill on an island surrounded by a sanctuary. More at the AP.
A real-life version of Kickstarter is drawing crowds and cash to Jacksonville
Part fundraiser, part pitch contest, and part real-life Kickstarter campaign, the One Spark festival is picking up steam. Earlier this month, the company hosted its second ever crowdfunding extravaganza, which drew a crowd of 260,000 attendees who funneled $363,000 into more than 600 projects. More at Fortune.