Google Steps on eBay’s Toes

Google has set up a system to provide content recommendations and random site navigation based on information contained within a user’s search history and preferences, which would seem to be a step onto StumbleUpon’s turf. If the eBay purchase of StubmleUpon goes through, we could have a classic confrontation.

Mochila’s AdMatch Player Opens Up Online Media

Traditionally, these have been the barriers to media entrance: cost, content, audience. Broadband has weakened those barriers in terms of cost and audience, but content, as always, drives the final bargain. But when under-the-radar Mochila officially launches its AdMatch Player next week at Ad:Tech, the final barrier is effectively breached.    

Culture Shock on Madison Avenue

Last week’s announcement that the Interpublic Group acquired Reprise Media set off a round of self-congratulatory praise up and down Madison Avenue.  It was as though they stopped hitting the snooze button and finally addressed the importance of search in any advertising campaign.  But take a close look beyond the buzzwords like “integration” and “broad marcom mix,” because the acquisitions and partnerships merely put a…

Amazon Unveils New Indie Store

Amazon evidently wants you to “Go Indie”; a new music store of that name has been launched, and it features some tempting price cuts over regular items. Amazon got 30 different music companies to work with it on this project.  To be honest, I didn’t recognize any of them (guess I’m not indie enough), but some of the more interesting names are Alligator Records, Bloodshot…