WIDGNET
Advertising.com’s WIDGNET to let widget developers make ad revenue. Advertisers, in turn, will have access to Facebook’s almost 10,000 available widgets. http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=72145&Nid=37020&p=910435
Fun TV Stats!
3 out of 4 TV users make use of their Interactive Programming Guides, with 50% of people who see ads embedded into their IPGs taking action.
http://www.centerformediaresearch.com/cfmr_brief.cfm?fnl=071206
Fun Video Stats!
61% of Internet users download online video content at least once a week and 86% do so on a monthly basis. 13% of Internet users who watch TV shows online say they watch them directly online, and not on regular TV.
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=72223&Nid=37064&p=910435
High-Def Hulu
NBC announced it will offer HD content on its video site Hulu.
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=72143&Nid=37020&p=910435
Nielson Watermarks
Nielson is planning to unveil a new digital rights management system called Digital Media Manager, which will watermark videos. Because everybody loves DRM, right, guys! Guys?
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=72148&Nid=37020&p=910435
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=72183
Not-So-Free Ringtones
An attorney in Florida is going after web sites that publish “Free Ringtone” ads that direct users to sites requiring a paid subscription. Can it be? A well-intentioned lawyer?!
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=72148&Nid=37020&p=910435
Nokia Sees The Future
A new study by Nokia says that by 2012, 25% of all media will be user created on social networks.
http://mobilecrunch.com/2007/12/03/you-will-control-25-of-entertainment-by-2012/
Zuckerberg Apologizes
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologized for Facebook’s Beacon fiasco by adding a “I really apologize” option to the Facebook widget SuperPoke! In other Facebook news, I am a Corsican pirate.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/05/zuckerberg-saves-face-apologies-for-beacon/
Virtual Insanity
Coca-Cola launches new virtual region called “CC Metro” in the virtual world of There.com. In other virtual world news, Estonia has established an embassy in Second Life.
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=72214&Nid=37064&p=910435
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/05/youre-not-in-the-ussr-any-more-estonia-opens-an-embassy-in-second-life/
Verizon Leery of Mobile Ads
A top Verizon Wireless executive has voiced concern that customers may simply not want to see advertisements invade their cell phones. Others think Verizon and AT&T are simply afraid of losing control of the mobile market.
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=72217&Nid=37064&p=910435
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=agvMgRqzArFg&refer=technology
http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=122311
http://www.cio-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=0120016HBU1O&nl=5
F- for McDonald’s
McDonald’s is advertising on students’ report cards, but will probably have detention tomorrow.
http://adage.com/article?article_id=122421
Google and AIM
Google Talk and AIM can now talk to each other.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/a-year-later-chat-on-aim-through-gmail/index.html?ref=technology
Google’s Top Searches
Google released its top searches for 2007: The iPhone was the top Google search, followed by Webkinz, TMZ, Transformers toys, YouTube, Club Penguin, Heroes, Facebook, and Anna Nicole Smith.
http://www.news.com/iPhone-tops-list-of-2007-Google-searches/2100-1032_3-6221532.html?tag=nefd.top