Microsoft, Facebook Seal Search And Ad Deal
Not happy with Facebook’s search and advertising system? Well, Microsoft’s going to try its hand at improving things. A new deal between the two companies should bring Live Search aboard before winter begins.
Google Knol Launches
Google went live with Knol, a platform to read and write articles on all kinds of subjects. Knol was being tested privately since some time and had been pre-announced back in 2007. The address is knol.google.com, but notably not knol.com or knol.org or even googleknol.com. This project is somewhat reminiscent of Wikipedia, though there are many differences as well.
TrueAnthem Next Nail In Music Label Coffins
Widgets, advertising, and a couple of prominent music acts listed among the early participants in TrueAnthem’s efforts show us why the music world doesn’t end at the labels’ doorsteps.
Yahoo Music Is Shutting Its Doors
There had to be a better way. It’s no surprise that Yahoo! Music is shutting down its download store and pointing customers to Rhapsody. But did they have to pull a Microsoft and stop supporting the retrieval of license keys or authorize playback on additional computers? Here’s the email that came last night:
Amid Economic Woes, Microsoft Pushes Into Your Home
More money spent on gas and groceries means less for luxuries. In the past that meant more people going to the movies and picking up used musical instruments. Now, Microsoft wants to be an entertainment outlet, serving games, videos, and oh yes, advertising.
Home fiber, city fiber, where's my fiber?
Who should own the last mile of fiber to your place? It’s been the telcos for years, but what if it were the cities or even you who owned that important bit of connectivity?
British Man Wins Facebook Libel Case
A UK businessman has won a libel case and $44,000 in damages at London’s High Court after false allegations were made about him on Facebook.Mathew Firsht sued a former friend for creating a bogus profile on the site that featured personal information about him and untrue claims about his sexual orientation.
Twitter Bug Torches Follower Lists
A slew of Twitter users posted this morning the disappearance of significant portions of followers and followees from their accounts. Has Twitter lost swaths of user data? Or is it the side effect of ousting "aggressive followers," who Twitter equates with spammers? Are followers worth much?
Full RSS Feeds Won’t Get You Banned
Toads cause warts; new clothes on Easter bring good luck; and Google penalizes sites for having full RSS feeds. MentalFloss.com issued a "never mind" on that last superstition after Matt Cutts dropped a little science. Pay any attention at all in this industry and you’ll find desperate Web marketers and publishers grasping at any explanation of why their site has suddenly been delisted from Google’s search rankings. As all of us know, that’s the Power of the Goog.
Web Site Warns Drivers About Speed Traps
Njection.com is a Web site that provides drivers information on the location of red light cameras and speed traps by allowing users to upload locations of such places which are then displayed on a mapDrivers in the U.S. can download information directly to their in- car GPS device for $40 a year and have access to continually updated files pointing out the locations of speed traps and red light cameras. Access to information about speed traps on the site is free.