Reasons to Use Bing for Reference?
Microsoft says that reference search sessions average over 9 minutes in length and over 6 queries per session before the user finds what they are looking for. With that in mind, the company is highlighting how Bing handles reference material.
There is clearly great emphasis placed on Wikipedia results, and I have to admit that as I began to read Microsoft’s explanation, I was starting to think, "Why not just cut out the middle man and search Wikipedia?"
The company says things like:
The News Goes 3D on YouTube
Last week, we took a look at YouTube’s testing of 3D videos after a thread was spotted in the YouTube Help Center where an employee was discussing the concept. This was part of his "20%" time.
Twitter Phasing Out The Term Updates In Favor Of Tweets
Twitter has changed the word "updates" to "tweets" on user profiles. Though the change seems insignificant, it’s the first time the famed microblogging site has used the term "tweet" on their site.
Google Analytics Gets Event Tracking Advanced Segments
Google announced today that users tracking events on their site using Google Analytics can now define advanced segments to isolate event-related sites. The company points to an example of looking at how visits with events compares to visits overall.
YouTube Letting Partners Serve Their Own Ads
Today YouTube announced that some partners who sell their own ads will be able to serve the ads directly into their videos, as YouTube is trying out FreeWheel, which manages video ad inventory. In the past, ads sold by partners were still served by YouTube.
IAC Taps Silverman For New Media Venture
Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, is leaving the company in the fall to start a new venture with Barry Diller’s media and Internet company, IAC.
NBC has named Jeff Gaspin, chief operating officer of Universal Television Group, as chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment.
Terrell Owens Asks for Michael Vick Support Via Twitter
UPDATE: Michael Vick has been conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Vick will be able to participate in preseason practices, meetings and workouts. A full reinstatement will be looked at for Week 6 of the regular season.
USA Today Launching Digital Edition
Gannett has announced it will launch an e- edition of its USA Today newspaper.
The e-edition will launch Monday August 3 and will be a replica of the print version of USA Today but will feature additional interactive content.
The e-edition will also include a Saturday-Sunday version called USA Today Extra, the first ever-regular weekend product from USA Today.
Twitter Documentary in the Works
You’ve probably heard that there is a Facebook movie in the works, but now it appears that there is a one on the way for Twitter as well. However, where the Facebook film will be a mainstream hollywood-type movie with actors, the Twitter movie will be a documentary, and will be available for free to watch online under a creative commons license.
Twitter Blocked In White House
Twitter may not have as many friends in high places as its fans imagined. Robert Gibbs recently let slip that Twitter is blocked on White House computers.
This news seems a bit odd, considering that the BarackObama Twitter account was used so much prior to the election, and that it still gets the occasional update. There’s an official whitehouse account that sees a fair amount of action, as well.