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Internet & Digital Media Recent Headlines Google Eyeing Further Display Ad Acquisitions Reuters Google will buy more companies to boost its presence in the booming online display advertising sector in a challenge to Facebook. Said chief Eric Schmidt: "It would be good to have more diversified revenue." He added: "There's not a list of targeted acquisitions." Facebook to Create Pre-IPO Ad Client Council Financial Times Facebook is convening a new advisory board of marketers and agency execs to collect feedback on its advertising strategy. The world's largest social network is boosting its efforts to woo the marketing industry as it prepares for an IPO, expected to be early next year. Hulu Valuation Seen at 50 Times Earnings in Sale Bloomberg Hulu may cost potential buyers from Yahoo to Amazon as much as 50 times earnings for a chance at owning what may be the next Netflix. Hulu's board is considering a sale of the video-streaming service after being approached by a possible acquirer. Harry Potter Series to Be Sold as E-Books Online BBC News The seven "Harry Potter" novels will be sold as e-books for the first time starting in October. Author J.K. Rowling said the series will be available through a new website, Pottermore.com. The site will also feature "new stuff" that didn't make it into the books. Amazon Said to Launch Tablet PCs Within Months DigiTimes Amazon is poised to step into tablet PCs and will launch models as soon as August or September, with targeted global sales of 4 million units for 2011, according to Taiwan-based component makers. The tablets are expected to include streaming movie services. Yahoo to Roll Out Celebrity News Site to Europe Media Week Yahoo plans to launch its celebrity and entertainment news website omg! in Europe next month. Julia White, former deputy editor of U.K. OK! online, will serve as editor, leading an editorial team based in London. The site targets women aged 16 to 34. Apple Said to Enter TV Business Late This Year Daily Tech A former Apple exec has said that that the company's biggest product launch will be one that hasn't been made official -- Apple plans to enter the TV business. The company will "blow Netflix and those other guys away" by bundling Apple TV and iTunes inside TV sets. Yahoo Approaches Hulu About Possible Buy Los Angeles Times Yahoo recently approached Hulu to discuss a possible acquisition of the popular online video service. Although there has been interest in the company, it remains unclear whether its owners -- including News Corp., Disney and Comcast -- have any desire to sell. Google Surpasses Billion Visitors in One Month AFP Figures released by comScore have credited Google with being the first online operation to attract more than a billion visitors in a single month. Slightly more than a billion people went to Google websites in May in what comScore billed as an unprecedented turn-out. Facebook Shuts Down Ebert Page Over Tweet New York Post Facebook yanked Roger Ebert's page for about an hour after his tweet about dead "Jackass" star Ryan Dunn sparked outrage. "Among other things, pages that are hateful, threatening or obscene are not allowed." But when Ebert's fans spoke out, Facebook relented. Apple to Roll Out Faster iPhone in September Bloomberg Apple plans to introduce a new iPhone in September that boasts a stronger chip for processing data and a more advanced camera. The device will include the A5 processor, the more powerful chip that Apple added to the iPad 2 earlier this year. Huffington Post Plans Rollout of Global Editions The Drum Arianna Huffington has confirmed that her eponymous news website will launch a U.K. version on July 6. "We are planning to launch in France after England," Huffington said. "Then we are going to announce the roll-out of other countries; Latin America, Australia, India." Curbed, Eater Blogs Go Offline in Raid by FBI New York Times The FBI has seized web servers in a raid on a data center in Reston, Va., causing several websites, including those run by Curbed Network, to go offline. Curbed blogs cover real estate, restaurants and other topics. "Our servers happened to be in with some naughty servers." Byliner: A Social Network for Readers, Writers AFP Byliner.com, which launched in beta on Tuesday, is building a social network for readers and writers -- and a business -- around magazine articles. The site offers links to more than 32,000 magazine stories from around 750 publications and nearly 3,000 writers. JumpTime: Assigning Value to Online Content Reuters JumpTime, founded by a group of former execs from the likes of MTV Networks and Yahoo, this month is taking the wraps off a software service that affixes a price tag to articles in real time. It also helps determine the future value of those articles. AOL Eyes Paid Content, Global Deals, Job Cuts Bloomberg AOL may introduce subscription-based access to some of its online content and make international acquisitions, said CEO Tim Armstrong. Also, AOL is looking to reduce its roster of about 50 brands to streamline operations, which won't likely involve major layoffs. Facebook to Surpass Yahoo in U.S. Display Ads USA Today If there are lingering doubts about Facebook's IPO prospects, its fortunes in advertising should quell them. The social-networking giant is poised to overtake Yahoo this year for top spot in the U.S. online display-ad market, according to a report by eMarketer. Hulu Adapts iPad App to New Rules by Apple AllThingsD Apple's new subscription rules could have posed a problem for services like Hulu. But when CEO Steve Jobs changed his mind earlier this month, life got a lot easier. All Hulu had to do was strip out the link that sent potential subscribers to its website. Apple iPad 3 Details Leaked to Media Outlets San Jose Business Recent reports have bolstered rumors that Apple plans to launch its new iPad 3 later this year, possibly as early as September, and details of some features have been leaked. The next generation of the iPad tablet will likely feature improved screen resolution. Amazon: Indie Author Joins 'Kindle Million Club' PC Mag Amazon has marked a milestone for its self-publishing platform. John Locke, the author of seven international best-sellers, has secured his status as the first independently published writer to sell more than a million Kindle e-books using Kindle Direct Publishing. Twitter More Civilized Than Fox News, Poll Says Atlantic The daily chatter on Fox News is less civilized than the constant stream of tweets on Twitter, according to a poll asking Americans to assign a degree of incivility to 25 U.S. institutions. The survey was conducted by Weber Shandwich and Powell Tate with KRC Research. Google Buys Digital Recording Outfit SageTV San Jose Business Google has acquired SageTV, an Inglewood, Calif.-based company that produces digital recording software allowing users to create media centers for watching video, listening to music and sharing photos. Its Placeshifter software lets users watch TV on any device. YouTube Eyes Cable Network Model in Redo Variety YouTube plans to spend at least $100 million to secure first-run original movies and original series, hinting at a model that sounds something like a virtual cable service. Sources indicate YouTube is redesigning itself for relaunch as early as the end of the year. Yahoo to Become Like TV Network, Exec Says Financial Times Ross Levinsohn is leading Yahoo's efforts to become more like a media company. The Internet company exec aims to persuade advertisers to think of Yahoo like a television network. Yahoo, he said, plans to "double down" on investments in premium content. Google, British Library in Landmark Search Deal Telegraph The British Library has signed a landmark deal with Google, making one of the largest collections of books in the world available and searchable online for the first time. The arrangement will allow Google to index and produce links to texts dating back to the 18th century. Facebook's Music Plans Involve Spotify, Others GigaOm Facebook and Spotify are said to be getting "a lot closer," with a much tighter integration between the two services. However, Facebook's musical ambitions go beyond Spotify. The social networking giant is said to be reaching out to other online music services. Apple iPad2 Ad Touts Newspapers, Magazines MacRumors Apple has released a new television ad for the iPad 2, illustrating how life is different "now" that we have the device. The ad shows off the Wall Street Journal and Spin magazine, among other media: "Now, we can watch a newspaper; listen to a magazine." Huffington Post Investors Eye Pulse News App Los Angeles Times Pulse, a popular news-reading app, aims to become "the Netflix of the news business." The startup behind Pulse has closed a $9-million round of funding from backers including Alan Patricof and Ken Lerer, who were part of the team that first financed the Huffington Post. AOL Investors Question Arianna Commitment Adweek The Huffington Post may be the engine driving AOL's new content-first comeback strategy, but some investors are wondering how long the news site's founder is going to stick around. "I'm deeply committed," Arianna Huffington said in response to investor questions. Redbox Adding Video Games to DVD Kiosks Fast Company DVD rental giant Redbox has announced that it will expand its offering to include video games at more than 21,000 of its U.S. kiosks. The service will launch Friday, and include titles from the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3, all for roughly $2 per day. Social Media Used by One Third of Millionaires Wall Street Journal According to a survey of millionaires from Fidelity Investments, 85% of respondents use text-messaging and social media. One third use social media professionally, with 28% using LinkedIn. The findings disprove the myth that the rich are obsessed with privacy. LinkedIn, Tumblr Seen Gaining on Facebook NewsFactor Social networking in the United States is now dominated by adults, with users over age 35 making up 47% of all users, according to new research from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Also, rivals like Tumblr and LinkedIn are gaining on Facebook. Facebook Plans Free iPad App in Coming Weeks New York Times Facebook is said to be planning to introduce a free iPad app that has been carefully designed and optimized for the tablet. The app has been in production at Facebook for almost a year, going through several iterations, and is now in the final stages of testing. Apple to Dominate Tablets Amid Wildfire Growth Barron's Tablet computers are going to grow like wildfire, with perhaps 215 million units being sold in 2015, according to an analysis by Sanford Bernstein. Consumer interest is "staggering," and Apple will dominate the tablet market "for the foreseeable future." Amazon Kindle Self-Publishing Hit by Spam Reuters Spam has hit the Kindle, clogging the online bookstore of the top-selling e-reader with material that is far from being book worthy and threatening to undermine Amazon's foray into publishing. Some of the e-books appear to be outright copies of other works. Google Denies It Gave Special Ad Deal to Obama Politico Google has denied that it gave President Obama's re-election campaign special access to a new advertising program, something a sales rep from the search giant had claimed in an email. The new ad program would charge clients for every email address they collect. Apple Sued by Publisher Over Use of 'iBooks' Bloomberg Apple has been sued by New York publisher John Colby in federal court today for trademark infringement over its use of the term "iBooks." Colby owns the assets of New York publisher Byron Preiss, who had published more than 1,000 books under the "iBooks" name. Facebook Said to Develop Photo App for iPhone TechCrunch Facebook is said to be developing an app for the Apple iPhone built around photo sharing. The move to make such an app would make sense for the social networking giant, which is by far the largest photo service on the Internet, with close to 100 billion photos. Demand Media: Google Change Is No Big Deal Reuters Demand Media's shares have jumped up on an upgrade from Goldman Sachs that brushed asides concerns related to changes in Google's search methodology. Goldman said it believes "the stock has negatively overreacted to the impact of Google's algorithm changes." Pandora Prices at $16 Per Share, Above Range Reuters Pandora Media has priced shares in its IPO above an already raised range, the latest company to take advantage of red-hot valuations for Internet upstarts. The online radio company priced its shares at $16 each, according to a source familiar with the deal. Google Speeds Up Internet Searches for Mobiles Reuters Google has unveiled new features to speed up web searches and to make it easier for people to search as they increasingly access the Internet from mobile devices. Google's new Instant Pages feature allows certain web pages to pop-up nearly instantaneously. Facebook Hires Former Clinton Press Secretary Wired Facebook is beefing up its public-relations power as it mulls an IPO that could value the company at over $100 billion. The online social networking giant has hired former Clinton White House press secretary Joe Lockhart as VP for corporate communications. Twitter Enters Partnership with Yahoo Japan TechCrunch Twitter has entered an alliance with Yahoo Japan, which will see tweets integrated into various services on the Japanese site, beginning with real-time results pages. The deal will allow Twitter content "to reach even more users in one of our biggest international markets." Groupon, Tech Firm to Unveil Interactive TV Chicago Tribune Groupon is teaming up with New Jersey tech company icueTV to show off a new form of interactive television that allows viewers to request more information about an advertiser. The two companies are scheduled to give a demonstration Tuesday at the Cable Show in Chicago. Facebook IPO Valuation Could Top $100 Billion CNBC Facebook, the social-networking site that is one of the most closely-watched private companies in the world, is likely to go public by the first quarter of 2012, according to people familiar with the matter, at a valuation that could be pegged at north of $100 billion. Google Buys Admeld; Will Publishers Swoon? InformationWeek Google has confirmed its acquisition of Admeld, a provider of advertising management services. The deal is seen as significant because it represents an olive branch to publishers, who have long complained that Google steals their content and drives down ad prices. AOL Patch Starts Service to Take On Groupon ReadWriteWeb The new digital payment and commerce platform from American Express known as Serve has announced a partnership with Patch, AOL's big bet on hyperlocal news. Serve will power the Patch Deals platform, which will offer Groupon-style users deals and discounts. Groupon, Facebook, Google Pursue Local Ads Wall Street Journal To win in the fast-growing digital-advertising market, web companies such as Groupon, Facebook and Google are increasingly battling over mom-and-pop businesses. The daily-deal business model has given web firms a new shot at the marketing dollars of small local shops. AOL Raids Conde Nast for Editor of Moviefone AllThingsD AOL has named Vanity Fair web boss Michael Hogan as the new editor of the movie ticket portal Moviefone. Hogan will wear multiple hats in his new position, including running AOL TV. But his initial focus will be on the Moviefone service, which he wants to overhaul. Huffington Post Class Action Suit Adds Plaintiffs Forbes Jonathan Tasini, the journalist who filed a $105 million class action suit against the Huffington Post in April, has added four plaintiffs to his cause. "Arianna Huffington is a little like Tom Sawyer — except Sawyer didn't sell the fence after his friends finished painting it for him." Gawker Media: Pageviews Are Up After Redesign WebProNews Gawker Media recently redesigned its web properties in a way that keeps users on the front page. The redesign was met with plenty of user backlash. In early March, traffic was down by nearly 25%. Now, however, founder Nick Denton has tweeted news that pageviews are up. Webby Awards Honor Vogue.com, Angry Birds AFP Humor and online hits blended at the Webby Awards -- the Internet industry's version of the Oscars. Addictive game Angry Birds was among those honored. "Sometimes, geeks can be chic," said Vogue editor Anna Wintour after winning a Webby for best fashion website. Amazon Seen Adding Streaming Video to Kindle Barron's The consumer research group at Detwiler Fenton said it has heard that the rumored color version of Amazon.com's Kindle e-reading device, expected later this year, will include a streaming movie service. The new device is supposedly code-named "Hollywood." Hulu Adds British, U.S. TV Series to Offerings Los Angeles Times The video service Hulu, which offers television shows online, has secured a pair of British imports and a U.S. series to help propel it through the summer doldrums. "Misfits," "Whites" and "The Booth at the End" will have their premieres in the coming weeks. Nielsen: Class of '11 Watch Less Traditional TV Variety The high-school graduating class of 2011 has TV viewing habits that are markedly different from their elders. According to a report from Nielsen, teenagers watch less TV than the general population. Instead, they prefer watching broadband video on mobile devices. Apple Confirms App Shift in Tussle with Media Dow Jones Apple has shifted its app policies in a move that could have profound implications for media as the industry looks to devices as a new way to make money. Apple has loosened the rule requiring media app developers to only offer content for purchase through iTunes. MySpace Takeover Eyed by Investor Group Wall Street Journal An investor group has emerged as a front-runner in talks to take control of MySpace, as owner News Corp. rushes to complete a deal by June 30, the end of its fiscal year. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has been approached about being part of the investor group. Yahoo: We're Still No 1 Despite Image Problem Reuters Ross Levinsohn, Yahoo executive VP of the Americas, has the task of transforming the image of the lumbering Internet giant: "We're bigger than ESPN in sports. We're bigger than the Wall Street Journal, Fox News and Bloomberg combined in finance." Netflix Redesign Greeted with Web Grumbling WebProNews Netflix's redesign has triggered an onslaught of negative user comments, many of which have been posted on the movie service's blog: "Horrible! It's the Gawker or Digg debacles all over again, because you've deliberately made your site more difficult to use." OMG! Text Messages No Longer Seen as 'Cool' Daily Mail Texting could be on the way out after the growth in the number sent has slowed to figures not seen since the 2000s. Wireless operators saw an 8.7% increase in text messages sent last year, a modest rise. Among teenagers, sending an SMS is no longer "cool." YouTube May Help Lessen Burden on Telecoms Bloomberg YouTube said it is in talks with major mobile operators on a deal to pool efforts to reduce the impact of video content on telecom networks. Google's video site is also in discussions with handset manufacturers, whose devices can help optimize the flow of data. Google to Buy AdMeld Platform for Publishers TechCrunch AdMeld, an advertising optimization platform for publishers, has been acquired by Google for around $400 million, according to sources. The company, which launched in 2007, has raised just $30 million in venture capital from investors including Time Warner. Groupon IPO Valuation Questioned by Forrester Reuters Groupon may be worth billions of dollars less than its recent initial public offering filing suggests, according to an estimate by Forrester Research analyst Sucharita Mulpuru. "There is no rational math that could possibly get anyone to the valuation Groupon thinks it deserves." Coupons.com Clips $200 Million from Investors CNN Groupon's stratospheric growth has had a halo effect on the entire discounts-and-deals market. Coupons.com has announced a $200 million financing round from institutional investors. "Frugal is the new black; people are looking for savings more than ever." Twitter Seeks Growth in Retail, Automotive Ads ClickZ News Since rolling out its first advertiser product in April 2010, Twitter has found success in the automotive sector, and hopes to extend that appeal to retail marketers next. Some 12% of Twitter's revenues came solely from auto marketers during the first three months of the year. Microsoft Rumored to Eye Own Branded Tablet DigiTimes Microsoft is reportedly considering to launch an own-brand tablet PC that features Windows 8 by the end of 2012, with cooperation from Texas Instruments and Taiwan-based OEMs/ODMs, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. Microsoft did not confirm the rumor. Apple Backs Down On App Subscription Rules AllThingsD Apple appears to have backed down on a major component of its new in-app subscription rules. The company has scrapped a rule requiring apps that play content like music, movies and books to also sell the same content within the app and share the revenue with Apple. Twitter Builds Up U.S. Sales Force, Eyes Japan ClickZ News Twitter currently works closely with big brand advertisers like Jet Blue but the growing company is gearing up to let small advertisers help themselves. With that comes a ramp up of its sales force, along with plans to move into new markets such as Japan. Facebook Rolls Out Face Recognition Tagging Wired UK Facebook has quietly rolled out face recognition technology to users around the globe, which automatically picks out friends from newly-uploaded photos and recommends suitable name tags. The service became available to some U.S. users earlier this year. AOL After the Honeymoon with Huffington Post Forbes What happens when you mix the ambition of Arianna Huffington with the "desperation" of Tim Armstrong? AOL shareholders could soon find out. Huffington is said to have subverted the wishes of the board in HuffPost's sale to AOL. "Arianna hates to be managed." Microsoft Brings Live TV to Xbox Game Console Reuters Microsoft said it will give users access to live TV programing through the Xbox game console in the United States next year, following live TV services it already offers in Britain, France and Australia. Xbox users will also be able to access Hulu Plus, Netflix and more. Apple Announces 'Digital Hub' for All Content San Jose Mercury News Apple's new iCloud service will allow content to be stored on large servers instead of on personal hard drives. The tech giant's new Newsstand — an app for buying publications — combines all the newspaper and magazine subscriptions a user has purchased. Sony Unveils Next-Gen Portable Device 'Vita' Associated Press Sony has rolled out its next-gen gaming machine, PlayStation Vita, a touch-interface and motion-sensitive handheld device. The Vita will allow gamers to connect with one another over cellphone networks and Wi-Fi hotspots, and use GPS location-tracking technology. Google Chief Backs Lady Gaga Social Network NewsFactor Lady Gaga plans to launch a social network for celebrities called Backplane. Google chairman Eric Schmidt led the fund-raising for Lady Gaga's project through his Tomorrow Ventures firm. Social-media star Lady Gaga is "aware of the power of technology." Google Buys PostRank in Social Media Move PC Magazine Google has acquired PostRank, a web company that measures the effects of social networking on online content. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal appears to be an indication of the effects of social media on Google's long-term strategy, if not its immediate business. Twitter, Facebook Banned from TV in France Digital Trends France's news outlets are banned from saying the words "Facebook" and "Twitter" unless the social networks are part of a story. The ban stems from a decree issued by the French government in 1992, which forbids the promotion of commercial enterprises on news programs. Foursquare Fete Helps Kick Off Internet Week New York Post New York mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to throw a party at Gracie Mansion on Monday night to honor Foursquare, the East Village-based social media site, as part of the festivities for Internet Week New York. The week is dedicated to New York City's rise as a tech hub. Gilt Groupe Aims to Become High-End Amazon Crain's New York Founder Kevin Ryan said he sees a "historic" chance to turn Gilt Groupe into a high-end version of Amazon.com. Recently valued at $1 billion, the shopping website is the biggest homegrown Internet business in New York. The new Gilt Taste property is edited by Ruth Reichl. Apple Completes Music Accords for New Service Bloomberg Apple has reached an agreement with Universal Music, the largest record label, setting the stage for its new service to let users access song libraries on multiple devices. The new music service will be previewed on June 6 by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. YouTube Sets Up Creative Commons Library PC World YouTube has set up a library of videos carrying the Creative Commons license that creators can easily reuse and incorporate into their work. The licenses enable licensors to retain copyright while allowing others to copy, distribute and make some uses of their work. Groupon Files for IPO, Seeks to Raise $750 Million AFP Groupon has announced plans to go public to raise as much as $750 million. But the mixed financial picture painted in the filing by the online daily deals sensation could temper enthusiasm. Groupon reportedly turned down a takeover offer from Google last year. Amazon Develops Its Own Daily Deals Service Digital Trends Amazon is the latest to get on board with daily discounts and will partner with LivingSocial to bring local deals to desktops. The e-tailer is quietly testing its own deal-a-day service, AmazonLocal, in Boise, Idaho, offering coupons redeemable at brick-and-mortar stores. Pandora Media Files Terms for $109.5 Million IPO Reuters Online radio company Pandora Media has filed terms for a $109.5 million IPO, as it moves ahead with an offering that could tap into the recent investor enthusiasm for Internet stocks. Pandora allows users to stream free music based on feedback from the listener. Scripps Networks Closes Sale of Shopzilla, Bizrate Associated Press Scripps Networks Interactive has sold online retailer Shopzilla to Symphony Technology, a private equity company, for $150 million up front plus $15 million in deferred payments. Shopzilla operates online consumer shopping properties, including Bizrate.com. Facebook Seeks Contract, E-Mails in 'Scam' Suit Bloomberg Facebook and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg have asked a court to order Paul Ceglia, the New York man who claims half of Zuckerberg's holdings, to turn over the original contract and e-mails on which he bases his suit, saying the steps will expose "an amateurish forgery." Cisco: Online Video Watching to Double by 2015 Los Angeles Times The number of people watching video on the Internet is expected to nearly double by 2015 to 1.5 billion, according to a forecast released by Cisco Systems. Netflix's video streaming already accounts for more Internet traffic than anything else on the web. Netflix Prepared to Pay More for Movie, TV Deals Reuters Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said he wouldn't be surprised if Netflix had to pay up to $200 million to renew a licensing deal with Liberty Media's Starz network. The original deal, set to expire early next year, was believed to have been struck for around $30 million. 'Angry Birds' Game to Fly Onto Web-Enabled TVs Bloomberg Roku, the television set-top box maker spun off by Netflix, is adding the "Angry Birds" game to its service, marking the first time the popular title played on iPhones and iPads has been available on TVs. "We think casual games are going to be big on TV." Tennessee Passes Web Entertainment Theft Bill Associated Press State lawmakers in country music's capital have passed a measure that would make it a crime to use a friend's login — even with permission — to listen to songs or watch movies from the likes of Netflix or Rhapsody. Industry officials hope other states will follow. Amazon Likely to Become Major Book Publisher Barron's Amazon.com, after disrupting the retail distribution of books, appears to be planning to become a major book publisher. Analysts suspect that the Seattle-based e-tailer will set up a book-publishing operation in New York City. Amazon is "likely to be highly disruptive." Twitter Launches Own Photo-Sharing Service CNET News Twitter is getting its own photo-sharing service, CEO Dick Costolo has announced. It will roll out over the next few weeks. In addition to making photo uploading easier for all users, the move is intended to harmonize content ownership: "Users will own their photos." Groupon, Expedia to Launch Travel Deal Site Reuters Groupon and Expedia have created a website to offer people travel deals and to let travel suppliers expose their brands to shoppers. Groupon Getaways, launching first in the United States and Canada, will include discounts from 135,000 hotels worldwide. Google, Publishers Weigh Options After Ruling Associated Press A judge in New York has agreed to give lawyers for Google and the book industry more time to decide how to proceed after he rejected their deal to create a massive online library. An attorney for the publishers said they needed several weeks to figure out all the issues. Google Shows Off Its 'Groupon Killer' Service AllThingsD Google chief Eric Schmidt has unveiled the company's new mobile wallet and deals strategy that looks and acts a lot like Groupon. Google Wallet will kick off in New York and San Francisco. The company's daily deals service will make its debut in Portland, Ore. Yahoo Plans Push Into Mobile Phones Market Financial Times Yahoo and MediaTek, a leading supplier of microchips for mobile phones, have unveiled a partnership to give traditional mobile phones capabilities similar to those of smartphones. The partnership gives Yahoo a new foothold in the mobile Internet market. Facebook Near 700M Users, $80B Valuation San Jose Business Facebook is said to be continuing to grow at a rapid pace, nearing 700 million users and an $80 billion valuation. Socialbakers, a blog that tracks the social network, said the company's latest membership spurt came primarily in Brazil, Indonesia and India. Twitter, Google Fight Facebook's Like Button Guardian Twitter has announced a "follow" button with 50 sites already plugged in. The button allows readers to start following an account on Twitter with one click. Meanwhile, Google has unveiled a similar +1 button, inviting publishers to add the service to their sites. Hulu to Offer Miramax Films to Its Subscribers Associated Press Hulu will offer hundreds of Miramax films to some of its subscribers and select films through its ad-supported service as part of a multiyear deal between the two companies. The agreement comes on the heels of a deal between Miramax and Hulu rival Netflix. Apple Chief Jobs Set to Unveil iCloud Product Bloomberg Apple CEO Steve Jobs will address an annual conference on June 6 to unveil a service that lets users store content online and tout a new version of the software that runs the iPad and iPhone. Jobs is in the midst of his third medical leave since 2004. Hulu Faces Push to Add More Commercials Advertising Age News Corp., as it negotiates its next contract with Hulu, is pushing for the ability to run a greater number of ads in a portion of the Fox programs available on the video site. The move would be a shift for Hulu, which since its launch has touted light ad loads. YouTube Counting On Former Netflix Exec Los Angeles Times Robert Kyncl negotiated the deals that gave Netflix subscribers access to thousands of movies and TV shows. Now he's hoping to repeat that feat as head of TV and film for YouTube. Kyncl is "sensitive to the various concerns and issues ... from a studio perspective." Activision Videogame to Charge Monthly Free Wall Street Journal Activision plans to launch an online service that will work with the next major edition of the game, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3." The company will charge a monthly subscription fee for the service, which will provide extra content that isn't offered on game discs. Twitter Eyes Photosharing, Keyword Platform TechCrunch Twitter is said to be on the verge on announcing its own built-in Twitpic competitor. Photosharing is "the next logical step" of the company's expansion. Also: Twitter is in talks to acquire keyword bidding platform AdGrok, in a deal valued at less than $10 million. Myspace Sale Drags On as Bid Deadline Looms AllThingsD News Corp. is holding out for a few more bids from those who had expressed initial interest in buying the long-troubled Myspace. News Corp. reportedly would like to complete the deal and get Myspace off its books before end of its fiscal quarter this month. Amazon Propels Lady Gaga Toward Big Debut Bloomberg Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," from Universal Music, is poised to become the biggest album debut since 'N Sync's "Celebrity" in 2001, buoyed by sales for 99 cents at Amazon.com. The album is expected to sell about 1.15 million copies in its first week. Google, Microsoft Vie to Take On Apple's iPad Bloomberg Attempts by Google and Microsoft to loosen Apple's grip on the tablet market will be put to the test this week as PC makers unveil new models at the Computex trade show in Taipei. "Investors want to know when the non-iPad camp is going to get going." Yahoo Loses Its Display Ad Crown to Google San Jose Business Yahoo has lost its long-held No. 1 spot in display advertising to Google, according to a report from IDC. For the first quarter, Google attained 14.7% of the display ad market. At the same time, Yahoo had 12.3% of the market, a drop from the previous quarter. Google Sees Surge in Demand for Video Ads Bloomberg Google said it has doubled the number of video ads that it places on partner sites in the past year, a sign it is making headway in a push to expand display advertising. Spending on video ads may grow 39% in the United States this year, according to EMarketer. PayPal Sues Google Over Mobile Pay Service Associated Press Google has unveiled a service enabling consumers to use their Android smartphones to pay for products at retailers. After the unveiling of the new Google Wallet service, eBay's online payment service PayPal struck back with a lawsuit alleging intellectual theft. Facebook Is Developing Ways to Share Media New York Times Facebook is developing features that will make the sharing of users' favorite music, TV shows and other media as much a part of its site as playing games or posting vacation photos. The company's media moves are seen as part of its ambition to become an Internet hub. Myspace Ex-Exec to Launch Facebook Rival AllThingsD Former Myspace Music CTO Dmitry Shapiro has raised about $1 million from investors — including Myspace founder Tom Anderson — to launch a privacy-conscious alternative to Facebook. Shapiro's social network Altly will give users easy and detailed privacy controls. Twitter CEO Set for Obama Advisory Committee MarketWatch Twitter CEO Dick Costolo is among the tech execs President Obama plans to appoint to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, according to a White House statement. Others include Microsoft's Scott Charney and McAfee's David DeWalt. Apple's Deals May Transform Digital Music Businessweek Apple has reached agreements with three of the four major music labels and is close to reaching terms with the fourth, Universal Music, for its cloud-based music service, which some are calling iCloud. The company could preview its cloud plans as early as June. Amazon Kindle Seen as Top E-Book Reader Associated Press As book publishers wrapped up their annual BookExpo America convention, Amazon's Kindle was seen as the dominant player in the growing e-market; Barnes & Noble's Nook was considered a pleasant surprise and Apple's iPad an underachiever. Media Are the Next 'Social' Frontiers, Zuck Says Bloomberg Music, TV shows and books will be among the next products to become "social" through Facebook, said CEO Mark Zuckerberg. These "media experiences" probably will follow the path of computer games, which have been transformed by the Facebook platform, he said. Facebook to Launch Music Service With Spotify Forbes Facebook is said to have partnered with Spotify on a music-streaming service that could be launched in as little as two weeks. The partnership is seen as another indication of how Facebook is moving towards becoming a hub for media like movies and music. Groupon Founders Invest In Financial News Site Wall Street Journal Two Groupon founders are turning their attention towards a new area: financial news. Lightbank, the seed fund created by Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell, is investing $1.5 million in Benzinga.com, a Michigan-based real-time financial news site. Huffington Post Staffers Exiting 'Desperate' AOL Business Insider Several longtime editorial and tech employees of The Huffington Post are said to be fleeing following the website's merger with AOL. "A lot of people are not happy." AOL has a "weird corporate culture" and "is a company that is desperate and acting like it." Google Boss Clashes with France's Sarkozy Telegraph Google chief Eric Schmidt, appearing at the e-G8, said governments should not try to regulate on privacy and copyright issues, because technology changes too fast. His comments stood in stark contrast to those of French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Napster Guy Sees Web Boom for Music Labels Bloomberg Sean Parker, co-founder of music-download pioneer Napster, said "dramatically undervalued" record companies are well positioned to make money as online jukebox services such as Spotify proliferate. Spotify shows how the music industry can generate income, he said. Google Said to Unveil Mobile-Payment Service Bloomberg Google is said to be planning to unveil a mobile-payment service that will be available on phones from Sprint. The service will let consumers with phones that run on Google's Android operating system pay for goods and redeem coupons with their handsets. Facebook Game-Maker Zynga to File for IPO AllThingsD Zynga is poised to file for an initial public offering, possibly as early as this week. The San Francisco-based online gaming firm behind such Facebook hits as CityVille and FarmVille claims to have 250 million people actively playing its games every month. Barnes & Noble Unveils Cheaper Nook E-Reader USA Today Barnes & Noble has unveiled a Nook touchscreen eInk reader that weighs less than 7.5 ounces, or 35% lighter than the original Nook Wi-Fi device. The latest Nook is priced at $139, which puts it above the $114 Amazon is charging for a Kindle with ads. Amazon Rolls Out Cheaper Kindle 3G With Ads Associated Press Amazon.com has released an ad-laden version of its Kindle 3G e-reader, which has wireless service for downloading books. The new Kindle 3G device costs $164. Last month, Amazon started selling a Wi-Fi-equipped Kindle with ads for $114. Microsoft's Mango Plans Twitter, Text Functions Bloomberg Microsoft will introduce a new version of its Windows Phone software by this fall that includes an enhanced Twitter connection, hands-free messaging and an in-box for multiple e-mail accounts. Code-named Mango, the software has 500 added features. AOL Seeks Heidi Klum's Advice in Content Deal Advertising Age AOL has begun publishing its content partnership with fashion model Heidi Klum, the company's latest celebrity acquisition and a key part of CEO Tim Armstrong's strategy to attract more female readers. Klum is expected to reap a salary close to seven figures. Twitter Acquires TweetDeck to Organize Tweets CNNMoney Twitter has acquired TweetDeck, an app for organizing the display of tweets, for more than $40 million in a mix of cash and stock. TweetDeck has been the subject of deal speculation for several months. Papers finalizing the deal were signed on Monday. Facebook to Deploy Global Team of 'Diplomats' San Jose Mercury News Facebook plans to hire a network of "ambassadors" to represent the U.S. social network with foreign governments and cultures. Facebook's new global policy team will monitor the local political landscape and act as multilingual, TV-friendly communicators. Amazon Servers Overwhelmed by Lady Gaga Associated Press Amazon users have received a busy signal when they tried to download Lady Gaga's latest album, "Born This Way," which the online retailer was selling for 99 cents on its release date. Amazon experienced a high volume of traffic that caused delays. AOL: We're Likely to Make More Acquisitions Business Insider AOL chief Tim Armstrong said he keeps a running list of possible companies to buy. "There's nothing imminent." However, "if there are opportunistic things to do, we would do them." Content sites are growing at twice the pace of other web companies, he added. Google Buys, Shutters Comparison Shopping Site Search Engine Land Google has acquired Sparkbuy, a comparison shopping site focusing on laptops. The site closed as part of the purchase and the three-person team will continue on with Google. Was this a talent acquisition? Google won't comment or provide details on the purchase price. YouTube Hires P&G Veteran for Video Ad Push ClickZ News Google has hired ex-Procter & Gamble digital marketing director Lucas Watson for the new position of VP of YouTube advertising sales and marketing. Watson will be tasked with "working to further drive efforts in the rapidly growing video ad space worldwide." TiVo Adds Hulu Premium to Streaming Options San Francisco Business TV recording and playback business TiVo has made a deal with online video business Hulu to let people with a premium Hulu account watch those videos via TiVo. Now TiVo hopes to become what it calls a "one-box solution" for TV and movie watching. Toyota to Set Up Private Online Social Network Associated Press Toyota plans to launch a social networking service with the help of Microsoft and San Francisco-based Salesforce.com so drivers can interact with their cars in ways similar to Twitter and Facebook. The new Toyota Friend will be a private social network. Twitter, Users Sued by Anonymous Pro Athlete Bloomberg Twitter and some of its users have been sued by an entity known as "CTB" in London. CTB are the initials used by an athlete who won an anonymity order banning the news media from publishing stories about his alleged affair with a reality-TV star. Foursquare, Groupon Planning Distribution Deal AllThingsD Daily deals leader Groupon and social location innovator Foursquare are said to be in partnership talks. The arrangement is likely to see Groupon deals targeted to Foursquare users' check-ins. Social distribution could help Groupon move beyond email lists. Google VP Predicts Surge in Online Display Ads Financial Times Neal Mohan, Google VP for display advertising products, has predicted that spending on online display ads, digital video, mobile and other non-search formats will increase almost tenfold in the next few years, as the Internet nabs more marketing dollars from other media. Nielsen to Acquire Mind-Reading Research Firm MediaPost Nielsen has agreed to acquire NeuroFocus, one of the leading companies applying neuroscience to advertising research. NeuroFocus has unveiled a new technology it claims can literally read people's minds with the use of a lightweight cap that interprets brain signals. Amazon Hires Publishing Veteran for New Imprint Wall Street Journal Amazon.com, in a move that fortifies its ambitious publishing program, has hired Laurence Kirshbaum to head a new general-interest imprint. Kirshbaum will start in early July. The publishing veteran stepped down as CEO of the old Time Warner Book Group in 2005. Apple iPad Factory Blast May Impact Production Forbes Foxconn, the Taiwan-based electronic components manufacturer, was hit with an explosion Friday that killed three workers at one of its factories for producing Apple's best-selling iPad. Going forward, Apple may turn to another subcontractor to produce its products. Tablet Devices Surpass E-Readers as TV Buddies Nielsen Wire Some 70% of tablet owners and 68% of smartphone owners said they use their devices while watching television, compared to only 35% of e-reader owners, according to research by Nielsen. Meanwhile, about 60% of e-reader owners use their device in bed. Barnes & Noble Device Lures Female Magazine Fans New York Times Top sellers on the Barnes & Noble Nook Color are mostly women's magazines, providing publishers with a new surprise outlet. The Nook Color, on the market only since November, has ignited strong sales that in some cases surpass sales on the Apple iPad. The Daily Remains Tight-Lipped About Progress New York Observer The goings-on at The Daily have been kept tightly under wraps since the launch of the News Corp. tablet newspaper three months ago. A recent leaked memo urging reporters to find more unique stories is rumored to have led to the dismissal of one staff journalist. TMZ, Radar Skirt Legalities In Celeb Gossip Wars New York Times U.S. authorities have been investigating the leaks of celebrity health records and other confidential data to websites like TMZ and Radar Online. Celebrity gossip news outlets are estimated to rake in more than $3 billion a year in advertising. Gawker Media to Test 'Sponsored Discussions' MediaPost Having succeeded with "sponsored posts," Gawker Media is now testing "sponsored discussions," according to founder Nick Denton. "I like TV ads more than I like web ads," Denton added. "I want ads of that quality on our site. I'm fine with running 15-second spots." Google Chief Named Media Person of the Year Campaign Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, will be presented with the Media Person of the Year award at the Cannes Lions International Festival this summer. The honor was presented last year to Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Rovio: Angry Birds, The Next Mickey Mouse? Reuters Angry Birds, the most popular paid-for game in the Apple App Store's four-year history, has just passed 200 million downloads. Parent Rovio Mobile is considering expanding the Angry Birds brand into Hollywood and possibly even Disney-style theme parks. Netflix Fuels Deluge of New Network TV Shows Bloomberg CBS, Fox, ABC and NBC are introducing the most TV shows in seven years as subscription services like Netflix make spending on new programs less risky. Web-based services are providing a new market for older shows, vying with local stations and cable outlets. Apple Near Cloud-Music Deals with EMI, Sony CNET Apple is said to have signed a cloud-music licensing agreement with EMI Music and is very near to completing deals with Sony and Universal. Apple has already signed up Warner to its planned music service to rival the unlicensed offerings of rivals Amazon and Google. LinkedIn More Than Doubles on Trading Debut Bloomberg LinkedIn, the largest professional-networking website, more than doubled in the first day of trading after its initial public offering. The stock surged as much as $77.70 to $122.70 on the New York Stock Exchange. At $100 a share, LinkedIn is worth about $9.45 billion. Amazon Says E-Books Now Outsell Paper Books Reuters Amazon.com now sells more e-books than paper books and its recently introduced lower-priced Kindle e-reader is outselling other versions of the device, the company announced. Amazon said it has sold 105 e-books for every 100 print books sold since April 1. Yahoo Debuts Original Newscast on Home Page MediaPost Yahoo has unveiled "Trending Now," an original video program, delivering the day's top headlines and trending stories based on Yahoo search data and social media buzz. The brief newscast will air daily as the first show to be featured on Yahoo's home page. Google Chief Warns Against 'Foolish' Legislation Financial Times Eric Schmidt has warned lawmakers in Europe not to pass "foolish" laws that would make Google's services illegal, as policymakers look to increase regulation of online personal data. Google's executive chairman said he fears "unintended consequences." LinkedIn: Internet's Biggest IPO Since Google Wall Street Journal LinkedIn and its investors are selling $352.8 million worth of stock in its initial public offering, marking the Facebook-for-work as the biggest U.S. Internet IPO since Google. The 2004 IPO of Google ended up raising $1.67 billion, valuing the company at $23 billion. Yahoo to Acquire 5to1 Premium Ad Network ClickZ News Yahoo will acquire 5to1, a premium advertising network consolidating inventory from major media sites, for $28 million. The firm launched in 2009 as a way to ease marketers' concerns about buying unsold inventory. 5to1 works with "more than 20" publishers. Netflix Passes Piracy in U.S. Internet Traffic Wired Netflix streaming movies now fill more of the U.S.'s Internet tubes than any other service, including peer-to-peer file sharing, which long held the top spot. For perhaps the first time in Internet history, the largest percentage of the Internet's traffic is paid-for content. Hulu May Delay Programs to Help Media Owners Wall Street Journal Hulu is said to be close to renewing its deal for TV shows from its media-company owners in a move that could help secure the video site's future. The new pacts may allow the owners to sell their programming elsewhere by delaying their offerings to Hulu. Blip.tv Relaunches as TV Network for the Web PC Magazine Blip.tv, the video site launched in 2005, plans to roll out a complete redesign, which the company said is an important step in becoming more like a TV network for the web-centric age. The new Blip appears to be more in competition with sites like Hulu. Apple, Google Invited to FCC Smartphone Forum Reuters The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has invited Apple, Google and consumer advocates to a forum in June, in its first look at the controversy about location tracking by smartphones. The FCC will study the risks and benefits of location-based services. NYC Enters Social-Media Deals In Digital Push Crain's New York The Bloomberg administration has announced partnerships with Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Tumblr as New York City's new tech maven, Rachel Sterne, unveils her blueprint for the city's digital future. New York aims to become the nation's "leading digital city." Hulu Said to Staff Up for International Launch C21Media Hulu is said to be searching for a new international product manager, raising speculation that the video-on-demand platform's long-awaited launch outside the United States may be imminent. The video site's owners include News Corp., Disney and NBCUniversal. YouTube Channel to Honor Fallen Journalists AFP Google has launched an effort on YouTube to honor fallen journalists, teaming with the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on a Journalists Memorial channel dedicated to the works and lives of those around the world who have died while reporting the news. Facebook Meets with Banks on Plans for IPO CNBC Facebook has been meeting with bank underwriters to discuss a possible initial public offering and other services. Execs with the social networking giant and banks have been discussing the size and time frame for an IPO. The meetings began in April. Google Fuels $64 Billion of U.S. Economic Activity Bloomberg Google said it fueled $64 billion worth of economic activity in the United States last year, an 18% increase. The company calculated the economic activity by estimating that for every $1 a customer spends on AdWords, that business receives about $8 in profit. AOL Grows Local News Network Before Election Reuters AOL plans to expand its local news network, Patch, with the launch of 33 sites in targeted states as the United States gears up for the presidential election. The Patch sites will roll out in communities in key election states New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. Demand Media Hires Leader for Mobile Strategy WebProNews Demand Media has hired Michael Kirby to lead the company's new mobile strategy. "Mobile is an essential component of our business going forward," said CEO Richard Rosenblatt. Kirby has held digital media positions with ESPN, Fox Sports and elsewhere. Google Introduces 'News Near You' for Mobile PC Magazine Google has announced the addition of a new mobile feature called "News near you" that is intended to bring users relevant local news. The feature will enable users to stay up-to-date on the latest news pertaining to their current city and surrounding location. Yahoo 'Quietly Looking' to Replace CEO Bartz Business Insider Yahoo doesn't want to oust CEO Carol Bartz from the struggling company without a replacement on deck, according to an industry source. Thus, Yahoo's board has been quietly reaching out to people to gauge their interest in taking on the CEO job. Facebook PR Campaign Reveals 'Fear' of Google Telegraph Facebook is scared of Google, according to Chris Soghoian, the online privacy and security researcher who uncovered the social network's PR smear campaign against the Internet search leader. "Facebook now believes that Google is a threat to them." Twitter, Facebook Banned in Life-Support Case Bloomberg A U.K. judge overseeing a mother's request to take her daughter off life-support has barred the media from naming the patient on Facebook or Twitter. The order from a London court specified the U.S.-based social-networking websites for the first time. AOL Launches Business Professional Division Reuters AOL is launching a professional division called AOL Industry aimed at government, energy and defense execs. AOL is moving into a crowded space dominated by several types of trade magazines, as well as Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, and Dow Jones. Amazon: Possible Tablet Won't Replace Kindle Consumer Reports Asked about the possibility of Amazon launching a tablet device, CEO Jeff Bezos said to "stay tuned" on the company's plans. Bezos signaled that any such device is more likely to supplement than to supplant the Kindle, Amazon's "purpose-built e-reading device." Apple: 50% of iPad Mag Subscribers Click 'Allow' CNNMoney About 50% of users who subscribe to magazines on iTunes select the "Allow" button. "Publishers' fear that Apple's policies would deny them consumer data was unfounded. To get the customer's email's name and email address, all you have to do is ask." Google Exec: Tablet Ads Might Bring a Windfall CNBC Tablet devices appear to have the same kind of monetization as a desktop computer, according to Google exec Vic Gundotra: "We think the explosion of tablet sales gives us an opportunity that may, from a monetization standpoint, be even bigger than that of smartphones." Google Near Settlement in Drug Ad Crackdown Wall Street Journal Google is close to settling a criminal investigation into charges it made hundreds of millions of dollars by accepting ads from online pharmacies that break U.S. laws. The Internet giant had disclosed that it earmarked $500 million to potentially resolve a case. Netflix Brings TV, Films to Google Android Phones Bloomberg Netflix will offer films and TV shows on five smartphones that use Google's Android operating system. Four phones from HTC and the Nexus S from Samsung are the first Android devices to get the Watch Instantly service. Others will follow as the company tests handsets. Hulu Close to New Deal with TV Network Owners AllThingsD Hulu and its network TV owners are close to a new deal that will keep programs from NBC, Fox and ABC on the web video site. Agreements to extend the content licenses that owners News Corp., Disney and NBCUniversal signed two years ago are expected. YouTube Launches Online Hits Music Video Chart AFP YouTube has begun publishing a chart that tracks top music videos at the Google-owned website. The YouTube 100 chart will be based on the popularity of videos whether works are amateur or professional. The chart "captures YouTube's musical diversity." Myspace Founder DeWolfe Considers a Return Businessweek Chris DeWolfe, co-founder of Myspace, has mulled a possible reunion. "I'd love to work with Myspace again." He added: "Becoming part of News Corp. was exciting, but we had to walk that fine line between hitting revenue marks and optimizing the user experience." Google Sued for $14 Billion by French Publishers AFP Three top French publishers said they are suing Google for scanning nearly 10,000 books without permission to make them available online. Gallimard, Flammarion and Albin Michel lodged a case with a Paris court demanding $14 billion in damages from the Internet giant. Facebook Busted in Clumsy Smear on Google Daily Beast Facebook is said to have secretly hired PR firm Burson-Marsteller to pitch anti-Google stories to newspapers, urging them to investigate claims that Google was invading people's privacy. Burson even offered to help an influential blogger write a Google-bashing op-ed. Google to Launch Chrome Laptops This Summer MarketWatch Google has introduced laptops based on its Chrome operating system that will go on sale this summer, the Internet giant's most significant effort to date to influence the computer hardware market. The laptops, dubbed Chromebooks, will be available to purchase on June 15. Facebook Bosses Clash Over Entry Into China New York Post Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg are said to "fundamentally disagree" on whether the social-networking site should enter China. Zuckerberg is more gung-ho on Facebook's China prospects than Sandberg, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. MySpace Stabilizes as Usage Stats Plummet TechCrunch At MySpace, overall usage continues to disintegrate at an increasing pace, but somehow unique visitors are flat and not decreasing along with the other usage stats. The website appears to have "bought a ton of traffic or engaged in some sort of marketing to users." Google Makes Push Into Entertainment Business Bloomberg Google is making a bigger push into entertainment, adding music storage and movie-rental features to its Android software for phones and tablets. The Internet giant is moving into entertainment to diversify revenue, boost advertising sales and keep users on its sites longer. Apple, Google Answer Mobile Privacy Questions Washington Post Lawmakers pressed reps from Apple and Google to explain their privacy policies, questioning whether the companies' practices ensure that mobile-phone users control their personal data. "Consumers have a fundamental right to know what data is being collected about them." Google Braces to Pay $500 Million in Ad Probe Associated Press Google's lucrative online advertising system is facing a U.S. Justice Department investigation that is expected to cost the Internet search leader at least $500 million. The disclosure was made by Google in a quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Facebook May Have Leaked User Personal Data Reuters Facebook users' profiles, photos and other personal data could have been accidentally leaked to third parties — in particular advertisers — over the past few years, according to security firm Symantec. "As of April 2011, close to 100,000 applications were enabling this leakage." Twitter Not Worth $7 Billion, Top Investor Says CNNMoney Is Twitter worth $7 billion, as some people claim? Its top investor doesn't think so. Union Square Ventures' Fred Wilson called the valuation ridiculous. "It doesn't make any sense." Twitter, viewed as a darling in the startup world, has struggled to transition into a moneymaking business. Wikipedia Founder Touts Fan Community Wikia USA Today Wikipedia, which turned 10 this year, is almost a household name. Now founder Jimmy Wales is trumpeting sister site Wikia, which he set up for fans of TV shows, movies and video games to wax poetically about their faves. "It's where passionate fans come together." FarmVille Game to Debut Songs from Lady Gaga Associated Press Lady Gaga plans to release songs from her new album on a section of the online game "FarmVille" before they can be heard anywhere else. "FarmVille" is one of the most popular games on Facebook, played by about 46 million people each month. "GagaVille" runs until May 26. About.com Gets New Leadership In Shake-Up New York Times The New York Times Co.'s About.com has switched leaders in a shake-up. Martin Nisenholtz, senior VP for digital operations, will assume the role of CEO Cella Irvine. About.com has been underperforming in recent months, helping to drag down the company's overall profit. Microsoft Buys Internet Phone Company Skype Wall Street Journal Microsoft has agreed to buy Internet phone company Skype Technologies for some $8.5 billion in cash — the most aggressive move yet by the software giant to play in the increasingly-converged worlds of communication, information and entertainment. Google Plans Music Storage, Streaming Service Wall Street Journal Google is preparing as early as Tuesday to unveil a new online music service similar to a service recently launched by Amazon.com, a move that escalates the battle to create the next generation of Internet businesses for storing and listening to music. YouTube Adds 3,000 Hollywood Movies for Rent Reuters YouTube is adding more than 3,000 mainstream movies for users to rent, along with the millions of free user-created videos the website is best known for. YouTube signed deals with major studios including Warner Bros., Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures. Facebook Forecast to Take Lead in Display Ads Financial Times Facebook's large user base will make it the world's largest online display advertising company by revenue this year, overtaking the businesses of Google and Yahoo, according to Enders Analysis. Facebook ad revenues are forecast to hit $3.5 billion in 2011. Yahoo Names New Head of News, Finance Sites AllThingsD Yahoo is on a bit of a hiring spree, picking up Robertson Barrett to run its critical and powerful Yahoo News and Finance sites. Barrett has held top positions at Tribune Interactive, Time Inc., ABC News, Primedia's Channel One Interactive and The Feedroom. Groupon, Live Nation Form Ticket Deal Website Associated Press Concert promoter Live Nation and online deal website Groupon are forming a venture to develop a ticketing deal site called GrouponLive. The site, expected to go live before summer, will offer deals on tickets to concerts, sports, theater, arts and other live events. Facebook, MySpace Use Is OK with Parents Reuters The number of U.S. parents who would allow children 10-to-12 years old to have a Facebook or MySpace account has doubled in a year, according to a survey from Liberty Mutual. Also, some 27% did not agree with CEOs tweeting about their company. LinkedIn Valued at $3 Billion In Boost to IPO Bloomberg LinkedIn has increased its planned initial public offering, valuing the largest professional social-networking site at more than $3 billion. The company now plans to sell as much as $316 million in shares, the company said in a new regulatory filing. Google Loses Appeal Over Belgian Newspapers Bloomberg Google has lost an attempt to overturn a Belgian ruling that blocked it from publishing links to local newspapers on its online news service. The Court of Appeal in Brussels upheld a 2007 lower court ruling that forced Google to remove links and snippets of articles. Twitter Feeds by UK Journos May Be Regulated Guardian Reporter and newspaper Twitter feeds are expected to brought under the regulation of Britain's Press Complaints Commission later this year. The regulatory body contends that some postings on Twitter are, in effect, part of a "newspaper's editorial product." Facebook Sending Readers to Big News Sites Associated Press Facebook is a big influencer of what news gets read online, according to a new study by Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. Also, the Drudge Report is a far more significant traffic source for news sites than Twitter, said the Pew study. AOL, Book Publishers to Launch Bookish Site AllThingsD Three big publishers and AOL are set to launch Bookish.com, a "new digital platform for readers." Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group and CBS' Simon & Schuster are backing the new site, which is scheduled to launch this summer. AOL will handle ad sales. Apple Usurps Google as Most Valuable Brand Reuters Apple has overtaken Google as the world's most valuable brand, ending a four-year reign by the Internet search leader, according to a new study by global brands agency Millward Brown. The iPhone and iPad maker's brand is now said to be worth $153 billion. AOL's Patch Seeks HuffPost-Style 'Local Voices' GigaOM AOL plans to expand its Patch.com "hyperlocal" news project with a new venture, called "Local Voices," aimed at doing to local news what The Huffington Post did to national and international news: namely, aggregating and "crowdsourcing" it. Demand Media Seeks Quality After Google Move Reuters Demand Media is shutting down a program that lets anyone publish to its eHow website, and plans to raise the quality of its articles and videos after an algorithm change by Google's search engine caused referrals to drop. "This was a real impact to our business." Hollywood Life's Fuller Said to Commit 'Crimes' TheWrap Bonnie Fuller has committed "crimes against cinema," according to an open letter by a veteran movie publicist. The editor of Mail.com Media's HollywoodLife.com is accused of revealing plot points about the upcoming film "Hick." "I consider her actions to be piracy." Mashable, TechCrunch Writers in Blog Fight WebProNews After Mashable founder Pete Cashmore tweeted that Monday was his site's biggest traffic day, rival AOL tech blog TechCrunch took him to task for posting numerous headlines mentioning the much-searched words "Bin Laden." "Welcome to the sad state of our industry." Netflix CEO Swears He's Not Going to Kill HBO AllThingsD Netflix CEO Reed Hastings: "We compete with HBO like baseball and football compete. We sell to the same person, we deliver some of the same emotion, but it's not direct competition. People subscribe to both. And the people who love us often subscribe to HBO." Facebook CEO Buys $7 Million Palo Alto Home San Jose Mercury News Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has become a first-time homeowner, buying a large house in Palo Alto, Calif., that is a 10-minute drive from what will soon be his company's new corporate campus in Menlo Park. The five-bedroom house was purchased for $7 million. Zynga, Facebook Among 'New Billionaire Class' Wall Street Journal Giant initial public offerings and a surge in mergers and acquisitions are spawning a new generation of billionaires and millionaires. Facebook, Zynga, Twitter and Groupon have all yet to go public, but their combined value from various deals now exceeds $75 billion. Google to Show Users Inside Local Businesses Bloomberg Google has introduced a feature that builds on its mapping services by letting users see what a business looks like from the inside. The feature, part of Google's Places service for local businesses, will let owners showcase 360-degree views of their shops' interiors. Twitter, TV Are Becoming 'Inseparable Partners' WebProNews Twitter has become a global gathering place for communal experiences, the company said on its blog. "Our work with TV partners like ABC, CNN and BBC shows that broadcast prompts like hashtags on-air drive double to ten-fold increase in activity on Twitter." Apple's iPad Ushers In Era of Tablet Computers Los Angeles Times In just over a year, the tablet era ushered in by Apple's iPad has upended the personal computing world. Early adopters say portable keyboards, wireless printing and the wide availability of entertainment over the web will make tablets more appealing to laptop devotees. Google TV Plans New Release for the Holidays AllThingsD Google TV may not have won over many critics or fans with its first season, but the Internet giant still thinks it could be a long-term hit. Google is taking steps to make the service "more approachable" as it prepares for a new release later this year. Facebook, Google Mull Tie-Up Deals with Skype Reuters Facebook and Google are said to be separately considering a tie-up with Skype after the web video conferencing service delayed its initial public offering. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is believed to be interested in buying the Luxembourg-based company. Amazon to Publish Its Own Romance Books Wall Street Journal Amazon.com plans to launch is own line of romance books. An imprint, Montlake Romance, will kick off this fall, publishing digital, physical and audio books. Amazon will eventually publish books in other genres, including thrillers, mysteries and science fiction. AOL Huffington Post to Launch Patch Latino Los Angeles Business AOL Huffington Post plans to expand its Patch network of news websites by launching Spanish-language sites in Southern California. The company is starting the sites "to help meet the tremendous desire for local news among the fast-growing Latino community." Netflix CEO: No Armageddon Battle with Cable Wired Netflix CEO Reed Hastings: "There are fears that if Netflix gets bigger, maybe it moves into the current season [of TV shows], recent movies or sports." Netflix is not inclined to "go there," because such a move could prompt "an Armageddon battle" with the incumbents. AOL, Hearst Team Up to Supersize Online Ads Wall Street Journal Hearst will begin selling a larger type of digital ad that AOL has been pushing the industry to adopt, offering it across the websites of Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping and other brands. Hearst will sell the ads and pay a technology fee to AOL. Apple Seen Leading $3.8 Billion Market for Apps Bloomberg Apple, Google and other makers of smartphone operating systems may generate $3.8 billion this year from sales of downloadable games, organizational tools and other apps, according to researchers at IHS ISuppli. Sales of apps are forecast to rise 78% this year. Foursquare, Conan Among Webby Award Winners Zap2It The Webby Awards, honoring excellence on the Internet, have announced the 2011 winners. The website Funny or Die led with eight honors. Justin Bieber won the fan-voted award for Best Comedy Video. Conan O'Brien's Team Coco website won Best Website. Amazon Said to Prepare Tablet Launch This Year Yahoo News Amazon may be preparing to launch its own tablet, according to a source known for leaking tidbits of news about upcoming gadgets in the works overseas. The source, Taiwan's tech newspaper DigiTimes, claims that Amazon has placed orders for the device. AT&T Takes On Groupon with Daily Deal Site Bloomberg AT&T, aiming to tap the billion-dollar market for online coupons led by Groupon, will introduce its own discount site in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth. The site, on its yellowpages.com unit, is sweetening the deal for consumers who register with a $10 credit. Google Bests Comcast in U.S. Reputation Poll PC Magazine Google has topped a poll by Harris Interactive measuring the reputations of America's top companies. Tech companies Apple, Intel, and Amazon were among those that received the most positive ratings. Comcast, barely escaping the bottom 10, recorded a score of 62.05. Twitter Eyes TweetDeck Buy for $50 Million Reuters Twitter is said to have made an offer to acquire TweetDeck, a popular third-party software app for using Internet social networking services, for up to $50 million. The deal, which could close in less than 10 days, would represent one of Twitter's largest acquisitions to date. Facebook Sued Over Social Ads Using Minors Bloomberg Facebook has been sued for not getting parents' permission before displaying that minors "like" the products of its advertisers. The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of users in New York state under the age of 18 who had "their names or likenesses used." Twitter: Osama Takedown Sets Tweet Record Wired Twitter is said to have had its "CNN moment" Sunday night as the place where the news of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden was first shared. The microblogging service said it saw the highest sustained rate of Tweets ever — an average of 3,000 tweets per second. Yahoo Nabs Editor Singh from AOL's HuffPost AllThingsD Yahoo has grabbed one of Huffington Post's top editors, Jai Singh, to become its editor-in chief. The move "is a big one" in online editorial. Before moving to HuffPost as managing editor in 2009, which is now the key content unit of AOL, Singh ran CNET Networks. Twitter Spreads News of Bin Laden Like Wildfire TechCrunch / Sky News The news of the death of 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden hit Twitter before President Obama's broadcast announcement on Sunday night. Also: An IT consultant in Abbottabad, the town where Osama bin Laden was killed, inadvertently live-tweeted the attack as it started. Royal Wedding Breaks Web Streaming Records USA Today The live streaming of the British royal wedding on Friday had 1.6 million video views, making it the biggest event to be watched on the web, exceeding last summer's World Cup, according to Akamai. It's another sign that the Internet has "become a broadcast medium." YouTube Awards Cash, Schooling to Amateurs Los Angeles Times Even as Google's YouTube works to secure Hollywood films for users to rent, the dominant online video site is cultivating amateur videographers. YouTube has identified 45 users to participate in a pair of programs designed to support original content creation. Google's Schmidt Invests in Web Video Ad Firm Globes Online video advertising company Eyeview Digital has raised $1 million from outgoing Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Eyeview's technology enables advertisers to create targeted video ads in real time, so Internet users will be exposed to different versions of the same video ad. Facebook's Fast Growth Feeds Outlook for IPO Wall Street Journal Facebook's business is growing faster than it forecast several months ago, raising the stakes for an initial public offering as early as spring of next year. Profit is said to be growing at a fast-enough clip to justify a valuation of $100 billion or more when it goes public. Groupon Won't Place NBC 'Apprentice' Site Ads Bloomberg Groupon won't let ads appear on the website for "The Apprentice" after customers complained about the political views of Donald Trump, who stars on the NBC show: "Enough consumers contacted us to warrant ensuring that we don't place ads on 'The Apprentice' home page." Facebook's Value Plateaus as $90B Deal Flops New York Post After driving up valuations for Facebook and other privately held tech companies to astronomical levels, investors may have finally reached their limit. Investors who once scrambled for a piece of Facebook are looking to cash out before the social-networking giant goes public. Google Experiments with News, Adding Social MediaPost Google has been testing a new format for its Google News page. The design has become a little more social by displaying expandable sections with related stories about the subject, highlighting movable modules. It also identifies the articles most cited and shared. AOL News to Officially Fold Into Huffington Post Mediaite AOL News is said to be planning to fold its operations entirely into the Huffington Post. AOL News "will no longer be producing any original content." The move follows the merger of AOL and the Huffington Post, which was announced in January. Hulu Pay Service Coming to Microsoft's Xbox Bloomberg Hulu Plus will become available on Microsoft's web-enabled Xbox 360 video-game consoles, adding a new outlet. The online subscription TV service is expanding the number of consumer electronics companies that offer its $7.99 a month service to reach a larger audience. Redbox to Expand Into Video Games in June Los Angeles Times Redbox plans to expand into video game rentals as its parent company reports improved financial performance for the first quarter. The kiosk DVD rental company said that after testing game rentals, it will begin offering titles on June 17 in more than 21,000 locations. Facebook Investors Seeking to Offload Shares Reuters A group of Facebook shareholders is seeking to offload $1 billion worth of shares, a sale that would value the company at more than $70 billion. The possible move points to a growing wariness among early-stage investors who fear Facebook's growth cannot keep pace. YouTube Founders Buy Delicious From Yahoo Wired Social-bookmarking service Delicious has been purchased by AVOS, the company started by YouTube co-founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen. The duo said they want to use Delicious to "take on the challenge of building the best information discovery service on the web." Facebook Backer Eyes Mobile After Social Media Bloomberg Accel Partners is emerging as the leader in the new rapid-growth area of investing: social media. The venture-capital firm is also targeting entrepreneurs in the mobile and cloud-computing markets, and is looking for startups worldwide through its funds in the United Kingdom, China and India. Vevo Online Music Video Service Launches in UK Guardian Vevo, the U.S. music video website partly owned by Universal Music and Sony Music, has launched a version in the United Kingdom. The company, described by CEO Rio Caraeff as an "integrated MTV," is forecast to become profitable "by this time next year." Sony PlayStation Suffers Massive Data Breach Reuters Sony has suffered a massive breach in its video game online network that led to the theft of names, addresses and possibly credit card data belonging to 77 million user accounts. The breach may be the largest theft of identity data information on record. "This is a huge data breach." Yahoo Former Execs to Launch Daily Deals Site MediaPost Yahoo veterans Nick Weir, Usama Fayyad and Hunter Madsen have formed a daily deals social site called ChoozOn. The site, due to go live in midsummer, will allow consumers to create their own personal deal network with friends, stores, brands and product categories. IAC Reports Quarterly Profit Despite Daily Beast Dow Jones IAC/InterActive Corp. swung to a first-quarter profit as the parent of Ask.com and Match.com saw revenue climb by more than one-fifth. The company improved its bottom line of late, though operating costs have risen in correlation with its Daily Beast unit's acquisition of Newsweek. AOL's Patch Adding 8,000 Bloggers in 'Correction' Forbes Arianna Huffington must not be taking that class action lawsuit against her too seriously. AOL's new content chief is not cutting down on the use of unpaid bloggers. Patch, AOL's network of hyperlocal news sites, is said to be trying to recruit some 8,000 bloggers in the next eight days. Huffington Sets Direction for MapQuest Service Denver Business MapQuest is becoming the technology behind the maps, local business data and location-relevant advertising for AOL's Patch news service. Arianna Huffington said her vision for MapQuest is to make it so relevant that people couldn't imagine going anywhere else online to plan a journey. YouTube to Launch Movie-on-Demand Service TheWrap YouTube is said to be planning to launch a movie-on-demand service charging users to stream movies off the world's largest video sharing site. The service, which will rival Apple's iTunes, may start as early as this week or next, offering films from the major Hollywood studios. Netflix Sees 'Amazing' Milestone in DVD Decline Wall Street Journal Netflix said that for the first time it expects to mail out fewer DVDs in the quarter ending June 30 than it did in the same period last year. CEO Reed Hastings called that event an "amazing milestone." He added: "Consumers are spending more and more time with streaming." Yahoo Buys IntoNow for Sharing TV Show Info Associated Press Yahoo has acquired IntoNow, the maker of mobile software that makes it easier for people to let their friends know what TV shows they're watching. IntoNow also lets viewers identify their favorite commercials, a feature that might help Yahoo sell more ads in online videos. Google Buys TalkBin Local Feedback Platform TechCrunch TalkBin, a feedback platform for local businesses, has been acquired by Google less than five months after the company was founded. The Mountain View, Calif.-based startup allows customers to give immediate feedback to local businesses via mobile apps. Sony Unveils Tablet in Challenge to Apple iPad AFP Sony on Tuesday unveiled its first tablet computers, codenamed S1 and S2, in a direct but belated challenge to Apple's iPad. The "Sony Tablet" S1 has a single screen and the portable S2 has twin screens, with both devices using Google's Android operating system. Barnes & Noble Improves Nook to Take On iPad Reuters Barnes & Noble has introduced new features to its Nook Color e-reader to make the device more competitive with Apple's iPad and to offer more functions that Amazon's Kindle does not. The update includes a store to buy apps, letting users play games such as "Angry Birds." Facebook to Rival Groupon with Deals Program Associated Press Facebook is launching a deals program Tuesday in five U.S. cities, following on the popularity of Groupon and other services that offer deep discounts. The world's largest social network hopes to exploit its existing networks of friends and family when it begins testing offers. Apple: Charlie Sheen Launches a Mobile App Hollywood Reporter Charlie Sheen now has his own mobile app. "The Masheen" -- available on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad via the iTunes store for $2.99 -- offers short videos, a fortune teller and other features. The app was designed in a way that allows Sheen to add new content at his discretion. Twitter Signs Lease for New SF Headquarters San Francisco Chronicle Twitter has made it official and signed a lease Friday to move its San Francisco headquarters from Folsom Street to the historic Market Square building on Market Street. The city approved a plan giving Twitter a six-year break on payroll taxes on new employees. Foursquare Seeks New Funds at $500M Value Wall Street Journal In the latest sign of the Internet gold rush, location-based service Foursquare is said to be looking to raise fresh funds at a price that would value the 3-year-old startup at as much as $500 million. CEO Dennis Crowley would like to raise $20 million to $40 million. Byliner.com: Finally, A Site With a Good Story Crain's New York Business Byliner.com is off to a good start. After it published Jon Krakauer's "Three Cups of Deceit" last week, the 75-page story was downloaded 50,000 times. The site, co-founded by editor Mark Bryant, aims to produce stories that are too long for magazines and too short for books. Abrams' Blog Company Unveils Seventh Site TechCrunch Mogulite, the seventh site in Dan Abrams' media network, goes live today. In the same family as Mediaite, Geekosystem and The Mary Sue, Mogulite will focus on chronicling the lives of moguls of all stripes, ranging from Mark Cuban to Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington and more. Netflix to Become Largest U.S. Subscription Biz Hollywood Reporter Netflix is poised to become the largest subscription entertainment business in the United States when it reports quarterly earnings on Monday, with about 23.7 million subscribers. It will likely show enough growth to propel it ahead of Comcast, at 22.8 million subscribers. Hulu Blocks Access on RIM's PlayBook Tablet Dow Jones Hulu, the online video site owned by several major media companies, has blocked access to its content on BlackBerry maker RIM's new tablet device, the PlayBook. Hulu's move is not surprising, as the site has adopted a strategy of denying consumers free access. Apple to Beat Google on Cloud Music Service Reuters Apple is said to have completed work on an online music storage service and is set to launch it ahead of Google, whose own music efforts have stalled. Apple will allow iTunes customers to store their songs on a remote server, and then access them from any Internet connection. Google Launches Service to Take On Groupon Wall Street Journal Google's rival to daily-deal services such as Groupon and LivingSocial, called Google Offers, has officially launched in New York City, the Bay Area and Portland. Google Offers will alert consumers to local-business deals on things like restaurant meals. Groupon Nabs Global Sales Exec from Google Bloomberg Groupon has named Margo Georgiadis as chief operating officer, hiring her away from Google. Georgiadis, who joined Google in 2009, was the company's vice president of global sales operations. "Margo is a strong leader with a passion for helping small business owners." Apple, Google Smartphones Collect User Data Wall Street Journal Apple's iPhones and Google's Android smartphones transmit their locations back to Apple and Google, intensifying privacy concerns. Google and Apple are gathering location data in their race to build massive databases to pinpoint people's locations. Zynga, Lady Gaga Discuss Promotional Deal Wall Street Journal Zynga and pop star Lady Gaga are said to be in discussions about a partnership to promote the singer's upcoming album to Zynga's huge audience of online game players. There are more than 250 million active monthly players of Zynga's online games on Facebook. Google News Gets Personalization Updates Next Web Google has released an update to Google News, bringing automatic personalization and recommended sections to the service. A new section called "News for You" will recommend stories based on Google's stored news and web browsing history. CNET News Tech Blogger Is Hired by Google TechCrunch Caroline McCarthy, a social media writer at CNET News, announced through her blog that she will soon be joining Google in New York as a member of its incipient "Trends and Insights" team. McCarthy said that the details of her job are still being worked out. Apple Profit Surges 95% on Sales of iPhone Dow Jones Apple's fiscal second-quarter profit jumped 95% as the company posted record iPhone sales, as well as strong sales of its multimedia iPad device and Macintosh computers. A main driver of growth for the quarter was the company's iPhone, which sold 18.7 million units. Amazon: Library E-Books Coming to Kindle Associated Press Owners of the Amazon Kindle will be able to download e-books from 11,000 U.S. libraries later this year. Most U.S. libraries already provide e-books, which work with most e-readers. Amazon is working with OverDrive to make the system compatible with the Kindle. EBay Buys Local-Information Startup Where Boston Globe Where, a company that makes location software for smartphones, has agreed to be purchased by eBay, the online auction site. Where's software, which helps mobile phone users find retail business such as shops and restaurants, will bolster eBay's PayPal unit. Facebook Members: Obama Event 'Not Great' San Francisco Chronicle Despite the promise that President Obama's first Facebook town hall would open a new level of two-way communication, social networking didn't add much to the conversation. Obama answered just eight questions during his visit to Facebook headquarters. Study: Twitter Users Have Short Relationships Today Is someone you know tweeting a great deal? According to a survey by the dating site OKCupid, he or she might be prone to having short relationships. An 18-year-old's average relationship lasts about nine months if he or she is prone to using Twitter, the study said. Huffington Post Doubles Down on Social Media GigaOM The Huffington Post has rolled out new features to take advantage of social media tools. Readers are now allowed to "follow" individual reporters and bloggers. Readers can also follow a specific topic in the news by clicking a button at the top of a news story. Gawker Traffic Numbers Worse Than Expected Atlantic When Gawker launched an aggressive redesign in early February, observers were waiting to see what would happen. How would readers respond? The redesign cut traffic in half almost instantly, but instead of coming back, even more readers left the site behind. Google's Schmidt May Be Forced to Sell Stake CNNMoney Google chief Eric Schmidt is rumored to be on the short-list for the U.S. Commerce Secretary job. But accepting that role is a multi-billion dollar decision. To avoid conflict of interest, Schmidt would likely have to sell off his stake in Google, currently valued at about $5 billion. YouTube to Live Stream British Royal Wedding WebProNews The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton will be streamed live on YouTube. Owner Google is in the midst of turning its video website into not only the biggest web video destination, but a leading platform for live video events. Apple Readies Next-Gen iPhone for September Reuters Apple's next-generation iPhone will have a faster processor and will begin shipping in September, three people with direct knowledge of the company's supply chain said. The iPhone, introduced in 2007, remains the gold standard in the booming smartphone market. Facebook Courts Ad Agencies With New Site Mashable In an attempt to build relationships in the advertising industry, Facebook has unveiled Facebook Studio, a "place to celebrate innovation, creativity and effectiveness" on the platform. Site features include a learning lab, an agency directory and a "what's new" section. Yahoo Delays Moving Ads to Microsoft Platform Dow Jones Yahoo's search alliance with Microsoft has not yet delivered the expected boost in revenue, prompting the companies to delay their plan to migrate Yahoo's search ads to Microsoft's advertising platform. CEO Carol Bartz expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved. Young Adults Favor Internet, Mobiles Over TV World Screen Many Britons aged between 12 and 24 would prefer to live without a TV set than without a mobile phone or Internet access, according to new research from U.K. media regulator Ofcom. The research reports that some 74% of U.K. homes have Internet access. Perez Hilton Lands Cameo Role in Film Thriller Variety Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has landed a cameo in French director Christophe Lenoir's "A * Is Killed," said to be inspired by the mysterious death of Michael Jackson. "In the world of the movie, I had a friendship with the character who passes away," said Hilton. U.S. Seeks to Shut Down Fake News Websites New York Times The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has said it will crack down on fake news websites that are used to advertise açaí berry weight loss pills and supplements. The FTC announced lawsuits against marketers who use sites that include the logos of major news outlets. Microsoft, Verizon May Create 'Virtual' Cable TV Advertising Age Microsoft and Verizon are exploring delivering TV services over the web, a move that could disrupt the economics of cable television and lead to a new generation of "virtual" cable companies that provide TV without owning the pipe into the home. Google: One Pass to Work With News Publishers News & Tech Google said it expects its One Pass subscription management service to help publishers monetize content as the search engine seeks ways to work more closely with the newspaper industry. One Pass will help publishers "determine how and what news to protect." Apple Expected to Remain Big Player in Tablets Reuters The global tablet computer market, born last year with Apple's iPad, will grow to a $49-billion business by 2015, said research firm Strategy Analytics. Apple's iPad is expected to dominate the market for years, with Samsung Electronics a distant second. Twitter to Open London Office to Serve Ad Needs Media Week Twitter plans to launch a U.K. office to service the growing demand for advertising on the U.S.-based site. Recruitment ads for jobs in the U.K. office have already been posted, with vacancies for a sales account manager, sales exec and other positions. Facebook: Winklevoss Twins Ask for New Hearing New York Times Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss are not giving up. The brothers, who claim that they came up with the idea for Facebook, are asking a federal appeals court in San Francisco to rehear their request that a 2008 settlement between them and Facebook be nullified. Wal-Mart Acquires Kosmix in Push Into Social Media Barron's Wal-Mart has announced that it will buy the social media firm Kosmix for an undisclosed sum. The retailing giant will presumably use Kosmix's ability to group content by topic as it pushes into social media. Kosmix will become part of the new @WalmartLabs. Groupon Buys Pelago for 'Serendipitous Discovery' ClickZ Groupon has acquired Pelago, maker of the location-based service Whrrl, in the latest sign that daily deals and geo-social are converging marketing niches. Pelago's "obsession with real-world serendipitous discovery, or anti-search, is core to Groupon's mission." Zillow Real-Estate Website Files for $52 Million IPO ClickZ Real-estate site Zillow.com filed for a $51.75 million initial public offering on Monday. The Seattle-based company, founded in 2004, provides a database of more than 100 million U.S. homes for sale or rent, as well as homes not currently on the market. Twitter in Talks to Buy TweetDeck for $50 Million Wall Street Journal Twitter is taking steps to broaden the appeal of the messaging service and is in talks to buy TweetDeck for about $50 million. Twitter wants to show how the service works to first-time users by highlighting tweets from people in their geographic regions. Yahoo Ramps Up for TV's Upfront Ad Dollars Adweek Yahoo plans to boost its original video output this year and capture TV dollars. The beleaguered Internet portal is looking to build a slate of programming that will define Yahoo around a central demographic or theme, along the lines of NBC's Must-See TV. Facebook Branches Out Into Streaming Video San Francisco Chronicle The list of guests who have appeared on Facebook Live, the social network's Internet TV channel, reads like a roster of celebrities from any mainstream talk show. And Wednesday's episode may be especially historic - President Obama is scheduled to visit. Google Rumored to Develop 'Flipboard Killer' TechCrunch Rumors are circulating that engineers at Google are building a "Flipboard killer." According to Mike McCue, CEO of the social media reading app provider, hearing about "this desire to kill us" is unsettling and does add "a little concern about the unknown." Facebook Wins Investment from T. Rowe Price Wall Street Journal Mutual-fund company T. Rowe Price has invested in Facebook, according to recently released filings, underscoring traditional investment vehicles' growing interest in hot technology companies. T. Rowe invested a total of $190.5 million in the social-networking giant. Google Book 'In the Plex' Probes Internet Giant San Francisco Chronicle Steven Levy writes about the inner workings of Google in his new book, "In the Plex." The book details the recent history of the search giant, "a critical time when Google's halo lost some of its glow," according to Levy, a senior writer at Wired magazine. LivingSocial Is Next Bet for AOL's Steve Case Bloomberg America Online co-founder Steve Case, recasting himself as a venture capitalist, pledged to invest $200 million in fast-growing companies in 2005. LivingSocial, the online-coupon service taking on market leader Groupon, is the next shot at profit for Case's fund. New York Tech Funding Holds Amid Optimism Crain's New York Nearly 70 companies in the New York area received $580 million in funding in the first quarter, according to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. "There's a lot of optimism surrounding New York right now." YouTube Invests in Content Creators to Lure Ads Bloomberg YouTube is offering as much as $720,000 plus training to help Europeans develop higher quality content for the video-sharing site and attract high-paying advertisers. YouTube said it wants to encourage people to "participate and become business partners." Google CEO's Cost Surge Unnerves Wall Street Reuters Google's stunning 54% spending surge spooked investors already worried that new CEO Larry Page may take his eye off the bottom line to chase revenue growth. Page is expected to keep spending to push into areas such as social networking and mobile. AOL Reorganizes Ad Sales After HuffPost Buy ClickZ AOL has revamped its ad sales team following the acquisition of the Huffington Post, as well as four quarters of double-digit declines. The team has been organized into seven discreet practices: health, travel, auto, finance, entertainment, tech and retail. Facebook to 'Friend' Journalists with New Hire CNN Facebook is hiring Mashable's Vadim Lavrusik as the social network's journalist program manager, aiming to build relationships with reporters and news organizations. The new hire also will help organize journalism-focused events, the first of which will take place this month. Foursquare Day Announced by Real-Life 'Mayors' ClickZ New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg visited Foursquare's New York headquarters to declare Saturday as "Foursquare Day." Some 14 municipalities will honor the online service April 16 with various activities, as Foursquare is embraced by real-life "mayors." Groupon to Pick Goldman, Morgan Stanley for IPO Wall Street Journal Groupon is expected to pick Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley as its two lead underwriters for a planned public offering. The IPO, expected to value the online deal company at between $15 billion and $20 billion, is currently planned for the second half of 2011. Video Game Sales Drop as Consumers Go Digital Los Angeles Times Sales of video and computer games fell a steep 16% last month, to $735.4 million, according to market research firm NPD Group. Consumers may be shifting their spending toward buying apps, playing online social games or buying games they can download. E-Books Overtake U.S. Paperbacks for First Time Financial Times Trouble at bricks-and-mortar book retailers has combined with booming sales of e-readers and tablet computers to make e-books the biggest-selling category of the U.S. publishing industry for the first time, according to the Association of American Publishers. Flipboard Valued at $200 Million in New Funding AllThingsD Flipboard, the social media reading app for the Apple iPad, has confirmed a new $50 million funding round at an eye-popping $200 million valuation. "It confirms our focus that people want a beautifully designed way to interact with content," said CEO Mike McCue. Twitter in Trouble as Growth Stalls, Execs Fight Fortune Just two years ago Twitter was the hottest thing on the web. But in the past year U.S. traffic at has leveled off. Nearly half the people who have Twitter accounts are no longer active. Co-founder Jack Dorsey's return as product chief is said to be "short-term." Myspace Sued for Giving Away Data on Members Bloomberg Myspace has been accused in a lawsuit of giving data to aggregators that are used to associate members with their Internet browsing history without their consent. Myspace "profits handsomely" from giving "intimate details" to aggregators who sell the data to advertisers. Facebook Nabs Google Exec for Creative Director Business Insider Ji Lee, the designer who headed up Google's creative marketing, has left to become Facebook's first creative director. Lee worked in the Google Creative Lab, where he helped create advertisements like the Parisian Love TV ad that appeared during the 2010 Super Bowl. Hulu Tops All Websites for Viewing Video Ads CNET News Internet users spent a total of 1.9 billion minutes watching video ads last month, according to ComScore. Out of those, Hulu was the top property, delivering 520 million minutes of video ad viewing. Video ads accounted for 12.7% of all ads viewed online in March. Google is 'Disgusted' with Major Record Labels Music Void The latest rumor to emerge from Google is that the company's much anticipated music service is near "the end of its rope" with the major labels. Google is said to be considering following Amazon's lead and launching its music cloud service without label licenses. Amazon, Music Labels to Meet for Locker Talks Reuters Amazon.com is due to meet with music label execs to hash out deals over the online retailer's controversial cloud-based media locker service. The major music labels are furious that Amazon has not paid for licensing rights to stream music to consumers. Spotify Mulls Plan to Cut Back on Free Music CNET News Spotify is considering a plan to limit the amount of free music it offers to users and is expected to impose new limits perhaps as soon as this week. The online music service has attracted some 10 million users in Europe in part by offering free access to songs. GeekChicDaily Newsletter Plans Local Editions Variety GeekChicDaily plans to go local, launching local editions of the online newsletter for fanboys that covers all areas of pop culture. Editions are set for Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Seattle. Its followers include Hollywood bigwigs like Joe Roth and Bob Pittman. Craigslist Founder Launches Community Site WebProNews Craigslist founder Craig Newmark has announced the launch of a website called LikeMinded, which aims to serve as a source for community involvement. People can use the site to find resources for getting their own community project off the ground. Google Vague on Hollywood Plans for YouTube TheWrap Google, which has been taking meetings in Hollywood, remains vague about what it plans to do. "There are things coming, but we can't talk about them yet." But: "Imagine if you had a video store on YouTube, where you could buy the movie without being sent elsewhere." Apple Said to Plan Video-Focused Cloud Service Forbes Apple "is about to launch a new video-focused cloud-based service," Jefferies analyst Peter Misek asserted in a research note. He thinks that Apple will offer a subscription-based service, adding that the company's push into the living room "is likely to include a new device." Myspace Expected to Lose $165 Million This Year TechCrunch Myspace revenue for fiscal 2011, ending June 30, 2011, is expected to be a mere $109 million, according to the confidential pitch book that owner News Corp. has distributed to potential buyers. The figure is a far cry from the $900 million in revenue it racked up in 2008. AOL's Huffington to Add News Staff in Revamp Bloomberg AOL, seeking to revive sales growth after buying the Huffington Post, plans to hire as many as 800 full-time employees at its Patch local-news operations while reducing its use of freelancers. HuffPost and AOL have been sued over claims their writers weren't paid. PopSugar Parent Wins $15 Million in Funding AllThingsD Sugar Inc., the women-focused network of content sites, has raised $15 million in late-stage venture funding. The owner of PopSugar.com plans to use the funds for "brand extensions, acquisitions and international growth." The firm broke off ties with NBC Universal in 2009. Webby Awards: Bieber, Streep Among Nominees Reuters Pop star Justin Bieber, actress Meryl Streep and the Angry Birds mobile game are among the nominees for the Webby Awards, the leading honor for web content. Organizers said the eclectic nominee mix showed how the Internet has become a driving force in pop culture. Google's Schmidt to Give MacTaggart Lecture BBC News Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, will give the prestigious MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in August. Schmidt will discuss the impact of the Internet revolution and how the TV industry can engage with new technologies. AOL, Huffington Hit with Class Action Lawsuit Forbes Many Huffington Post bloggers think they ought to get paid for their volunteer writing. Today, a group of bloggers led by union organizer and journalist Jonathan Tasini plan to file a class-action suit against the Huffington Post, founder Arianna Huffington, and AOL. Apple iPad to Dominate Tablets Through 2015 Bloomberg Apple's iPad device will continue to dominate the market for tablet computers, controlling more than three-fifths of the market next year, predicts research firm Gartner. The only other tablet operating system forecast by Gartner to come close is Google's Android. Amazon to Sell Cheaper Kindle Featuring Ads Associated Press Amazon will drop the price on its Kindle e-reader, but the change comes with a trade-off: On-screen ads. The new Kindle with Special Offers will cost $114 — $25 less than the current Kindle — and include advertisements on the bottom of the device's home page and on screen savers. Facebook Claimant to Prove 50% Ownership Bloomberg Emails allegedly written by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg are cited in a new court filing by Paul Ceglia as proof of his claim that he is entitled to 50% of the company under a 2003 contract. Facebook responded: "This is a fraudulent lawsuit by a convicted felon." Facebook Bests Winklevoss Twins in Legal War Reuters Mark Zuckerberg has won the latest battle against Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who accuse him of stealing their idea for Facebook, a feud made famous on the silver screen. The twins must accept a settlement valued at $65 million, a U.S. appeals court has ruled. Google New CEO Page Reshuffles Exec Team Associated Press Google CEO Larry Page has promoted at least seven execs to head key parts of the company in one of his first big moves since he took over the Internet giant. The reshuffle is an attempt at streamlining a bureaucracy that has sometimes bogged down the company. Apple CEO Authorized Biography Due from CBS Bloomberg Apple co-founder Steve Jobs's biography, drawn from three years of interviews with the exec, will be published early next year, according to CBS's Simon & Schuster. The book, called "iSteve: The Book of Jobs," will be based on interviews with author Walter Isaacson. Facebook to Set Up Standalone Service in China Bloomberg Facebook has signed an agreement with Baidu to set up a social-networking website in China, according to a report on Sohu.com. The China website won't be integrated with Facebook's international service, and the start date is not confirmed, according to the report. Myspace May Cut More Employees for Sale Deal Wall Street Journal Myspace might lay off more employees in conjunction with a deal to sell the social media and entertainment site. Owner News Corp. has had talks with Chinese Internet company Tencent Holding, online music video network Vevo, and Myspace founder Chris DeWolfe, among others. Groupon Expected to Go Public Sometime in 2011 Chicago Tribune With Groupon perched as the dominant player in social commerce, industry observers say the likelihood of the company going public this year is high, making the biggest question one of timing. Groupon has said that it would make its decision about an IPO in 2011. YouTube Adding Live Events to Woo TV Viewers AFP YouTube on Friday added a stage for live events as the world's leading video-sharing website continued its effort to lure viewers away from TV programming. YouTube Live lets people subscribe to watch shows or events streamed by the Google-owned operation's partners. Tablet Devices: Games Surpass Reading News Guardian A survey of more than U.S. 1,400 tablet owners by Google's AdMob subsidiary has found that gaming is the most popular use for the devices, considerably ahead of music, video and ebooks. Some 38% of respondents spend more than two hours a day using their tablets. Blinkx to Buy Burst Media for Online TV Push Reuters Online video search firm Blinkx is to acquire the online ad company Burst Media for $30 million to help it build online TV channels that would be appealing to advertisers. Blinkx said the deal would give it access to Burst's audience of more than 130 million unique users. Facebook Looks to Boost Media Relationship Associated Press Facebook wants to strengthen its relationship with the news media and has already helped boost traffic to news websites, COO Sheryl Sandberg told the American Society of News Editors at its annual convention. "We want news to be a big part" of Facebook. Social Media Company Values Jump 377% New York Post The combined values of the top privately held social media companies like Facebook, Zynga and Groupon jumped 377% in the past year, according to a report by secondary market advisory firm NYPPEX. Facebook's value was up 57% to $65 billion. Google Ties Staff Bonuses to Social Strategy Business Insider Google CEO Larry Page is said to have sent a memo to employees detailing how 25% of their annual bonuses will now be tied to how well the company pushes out its social strategy this year. "This is a joint effort so it's important that we all get behind it." AOL Chief Armstrong's Pay Drops 40 Percent Associated Press AOL CEO Tim Armstrong's pay package decreased 40% in 2010 to $15.3 million, according to an analysis of a regulatory filing, as the struggling Internet company attempted to turn itself around. AOL reported a 2010 loss of $782.5 million on revenue of $2.42 billion. Google to Open Entertainment Division Office Hollywood Reporter Google has inked a deal to open a 13,465-square-foot office in Beverly Hills for its entertainment division. The 11-year lease is valued at $6.3 million. Google has made several recent moves that signal its desire to get deeper into the entertainment business. YouTube to Organize Site Around 'Channels' Wall Street Journal Google is working on a major overhaul of its YouTube video site to organize its content around premium "channels" and spending as much as $100 million to commission original content. YouTube is "looking to compete with broadcast and cable TV." Apple Captures Teen Spirit with iPhone, iPad USA Today Apple's iPhone and iPad are forming the hottest clique at U.S. high schools. Owning the trendy devices runs high on the list of wants for teenagers, according to an analyst report. The teen demo "is a critical component of long-term growth in the mobile market." Motorola's New Xoom Tablet Dwarfed by iPad New York Post The Motorola Xoom, the first tablet running Google software, hit the market about six weeks ago and has since sold about 100,000 pads. Apple has sold nearly 3 million iPad 2s since it went on sale less than a month ago. "At this point, it's still a one-horse race." Microsoft, Toyota Team Up on Digital Network Reuters Microsoft and Toyota have unveiled a plan to work together on bringing Internet-connected services to cars manufactured by the world's biggest automaker. Toyota customers across the world will have access to digital services such as GPS and multimedia. AOL Seeks Remake in Editor Huffington's Image Wall Street Journal Arianna Huffington is plunging into her campaign to rescue AOL, installing her employees and gutting aspects of the company's existing content system. Whether the moves will be enough to transform the struggling Internet icon remain to be seen. Netflix to Stream 'Mad Men' in Lions Gate Deal Wall Street Journal Lions Gate, producer of the TV series "Mad Men," has struck a deal with Netflix to stream all seven seasons of the hit show. The agreement, said to be worth between $75 million and $100 million, is the latest deal that Netflix has entered with a film and TV studio. Gawker Traffic Declines Following Redesign Business Insider How much longer will Gawker Media chief Nick Denton hang on to the redesign of his properties? He shows no signs of backing down, even though a quick look at Quantcast shows a pretty appreciable decline in unique visitors to his stable of websites. Apple Courts Ad Agencies with iAd Information New York Post Apple CEO Steve Jobs is drawing on a treasure trove of data about consumers' media habits to court Madison Avenue and build up his own mobile-ad business. Through its iAd platform, Apple can insert ads into apps for iPhones, iPads and other devices. Twitter May Offer Brands Facebook-Style Pages Marketing Twitter is considering creating Facebook-style branded pages, through which advertisers could deliver tailored messages, as part of its drive to increase its revenue from ads. CEO Dick Costolo and revenue head Adam Bain are said to be leading the push. Facebook HQ to Host Obama Town Hall Meeting TechCrunch A day after his 2012 re-election campaign kicked off a Facebook-heavy voter awareness push, President Barack Obama announced via the social network that he will hold a town hall meeting at Facebook headquarters with CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Google Shares Drop as FTC Mulls Investigation Barron's What is going on with Google? The Internet giant's shares dropped almost 3% Tuesday in an otherwise up market. The decline may be due to a possible U.S. Federal Trade Commission anti-trust investigation, as well as the loss of top exec Jonathan Rosenberg. AOL Asks Fired Freelancers to Contribute for Free BetaBeat Freelance writers for AOL properties Moviefone and Cinematical have been sent an email stating that while their services "will no longer be required," they are encouraged to contribute as part of the company's non-paid blogger system. "We value your voices." Google Eyed for Possible FTC Antitrust Probe Bloomberg The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is said to be considering an antitrust investigation of Google's dominance in Internet search. The investigation "could be on par" with the scope of the Justice Department's probe of Microsoft a decade ago. Pandora Targeted in Smartphone Privacy Probe CNN Internet radio service Pandora has been served a subpoena as part of a federal grand-jury investigation into the information being gathered and shared by popular iPhone and Android smartphone apps. The disclosure comes as Pandora prepares for its IPO. LivingSocial Coupon Site Raises $400 Million Wall Street Journal LivingSocial, the No. 2 player in the burgeoning daily coupon website market, is said to have raised $400 million to help fuel its expansion and keep up with rival Groupon. The investment round values the three-year old company at around $3 billion. MySpace 'Bake Off' Starts with No Lead Bidder AllThingsD The tire-kicking for News Corp.'s MySpace starts Wednesday. About a dozen interested parties will finally get a walk-through of the books by management and the serious talks begin. No deal for the long-troubled site is believed to be imminent. AOL Fires Freelancers in HuffPost Transition Business Insider The Huffington Post transition team has eliminated most AOL freelancers and contractors, according to one insider. "But we have been invited to continue contributing for free." Some will be replaced with "young, new (read cheap) writers who have yet to be hired." Hulu Plus to Exceed 1 Million Subscribers Wall Street Journal Hulu's subscription video service will surpass 1 million subscribers in 2011, CEO Jason Kilar has said in a blog post, the first time the company has released stats about its new Hulu Plus service. Hulu is on track to approach $500 million in revenue in 2011. Google Product Chief Rosenberg to Leave San Jose Business Jonathan Rosenberg, Google's top product exec, has decided to leave the company, reportedly because he wasn't willing to give a long-term commitment to returning CEO Larry Page. The news came on Page's official first day back as CEO on Monday. Amazon.com Makes Push Into Book Publishing Crain's New York Amazon.com participated in the auction for best-selling novelist Amanda Hocking, making its most aggressive move yet into traditional publishing territory. St. Martin's Press ended up winning the auction after Amazon insisted on exclusivity for the e-book edition. Engadget Staffers Leaving AOL for SB Nation New York Times Engadget editor Joshua Topolsky and as many as eight of the more prominent staff members at the tech blog are leaving AOL. The group plans to build a new gadget site for former AOL exec Jim Bankoff, who now runs a group of sports sites called SB Nation. Google Co-Founder Page Takes Over as CEO San Francisco Chronicle Google co-founder Larry Page steps into the CEO role on Monday. Tackling the company's public perception challenges should sit high on his "to do" list, according to tech observers. However, Page still has "a deep aversion to dealing with the news media." Yahoo to Evolve Into Media Company with App San Francisco Chronicle Yahoo hopes that Livestand, its new reading app due to be released by June, will drive readers of its news, sports and finance websites to tablets. The app is said to represent a new step in Yahoo's evolution from a web portal to a media company. Apple in Bid to Become Print Media Gatekeeper San Jose Mercury News Apple's foray into digital publishing could make it the online gatekeeper for newspaper and magazine content, warn media observers. Apple could become the go-to digital newsstand, mirroring the way its iPod came to dominate the sales of online music. Sony Supplies Camera Parts for Apple Devices Wall Street Journal Sony is supplying camera components for Apple devices, revealed CEO Howard Stringer, speaking at a Wall Street Journal event. It "always puzzles me," he said. "Why would I make Apple the best camera?" It is unclear what devices he was talking about. Netflix Expands with 'Sons of Anarchy,' 'Glee' San Jose Business Netflix has expanded a distribution deal with Twentieth Century Fox which will make "Sons of Anarchy" and "Glee" available to watch instantly. Previously, the streaming deal with Fox made shows available that included "24" and "Arrested Development." Sony Online to Cut 205 Jobs, Shutter Studios Bloomberg Sony Online Entertainment, the unit that makes online role-playing games, will cut 205 jobs and close three studios in a cost-cutting move. The San Diego-based producer of multiplayer online games such as "EverQuest" will consolidate there and in Austin, Texas. Amazon Said to Explore Mobile-Payment Service Bloomberg Amazon aims to parlay its dominance in Internet retailing into mobile commerce. The company is said to be considering the introduction of a service that would let consumers pay for goods in brick-and-mortar stores using their mobile phones. Google Making App to Identify People's Faces CNN Google is working on a mobile app that would allow users to snap pictures of people's faces in order to access their personal information. Google has not said what personal data might be displayed. "We recognize that Google has to be extra careful." Apple iPad: Nearly 100% of Tablet Revenues Beta News Gartner has revealed that spending on media tablets was $9.6 billion last year. Based on Apple financial releases, the iPad generated $9.566 billion in revenue in 2010. By that reckoning, the other media tablets generated just $34 million in revenue. Google to Undergo Privacy Audits for 20 Years New Media Age Google will be subject to privacy audits by the Federal Trade Commission for the next 20 years, following charges that it violated its own privacy promises on its Buzz social messaging platform. Google responded: "We don't always get everything right." Microsoft Supports EU Google Investigation Associated Press Microsoft has thrown its weight behind an existing probe by European Union authorities into whether rival Google is unfairly thwarting competition in online search. Microsoft is filing its own complaint against Google with the European Commission. Google +1: A Fresh Move Against Facebook Financial Times Google has mounted a fresh attempt to counter Facebook's soaring popularity on the web by unveiling its own version of the social network's "Like" buttons. By clicking on Google's new "+1" buttons, users will be able to signal their personal preferences. Twitter Ex-CEO Williams is 'Not Disappearing' Los Angeles Times Evan Williams is spending less time at Twitter, the company he co-founded and once ran as CEO. But Williams isn't gone from Twitter altogether: "I'm not disappearing. I remain on the board and will frequently meet with folks there to help in any way I can." Amazon Faces Backlash Over 'Music Locker' Reuters A new Amazon.com service that lets customers store songs and play them on a variety of devices is facing a backlash from the music industry that could ignite a legal battle. Music labels were "stunned" by Amazon's move to launch without new licenses for music streaming. Microsoft Plans Mobile Payments for Phones Bloomberg Microsoft is said to be working on a version of its Windows Phone software that will let users buy merchandise with a flick of the handset at a checkout counter. The development is seen as part of an effort to help narrow Google's lead in handset software. EBay Former CEO May Join Kleiner Perkins Fortune Meg Whitman, the former eBay CEO and former California gubernatorial candidate, may join venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Her expertise could be useful given Kleiner's "leanings toward bets" on the likes of Twitter, Groupon and Spotify. Twitter Creator Wants More Mainstream Website Reuters Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, who returned this week to the company after a two-year absence, wants to make the microblogging site more approachable to the masses, he said. Twitter remains "something that people can't immediately get their head around." MySpace: New Aim is 'Social Entertainment' Business Insider MySpace is not a competitor to Facebook, according to CEO Mike Jones. The News Corp. website might best be compared to Tumblr – or even Huffington Post. "When people come to MySpace, we want them to connect with their favorite bands, their favorite celebrities." Google's YouTube Eyes Cable Channel Model Fortune YouTube is working to make deals with Hollywood producers for content and creating niche channels. While specialized channels — devoted to, for example, vegan cooking or surfing — would make no economic sense on cable, they might on the Internet. Yahoo Plans Acquisitions for 2011, Exec Says Wall Street Journal Yahoo is "gearing up for a very big year" of acquisitions, according to Steven Mitzenmacher, senior director of corporate development. "We've come out now ... guns blazing," he said, adding that executives around the Internet company "want to do more." Twitter Creator Returns Amid Facebook Fight Bloomberg Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, will become executive chairman and head of product development as the company aims to narrow Facebook's lead in advertising and get users to be more active. "Twitter is recognizing that it might have a product problem." EBay Buys GSI Commerce to Take On Amazon Reuters EBay moved to bolster its ability to take on No. 1 online retailer Amazon.com with a $1.96 billion takeover bid for e-commerce service provider GSI Commerce. The online auction site would gain expertise in helping fill orders and building relationships with retailers. Newsy Rounds Up $1.5 Million for Mobile News TechCrunch Newsy, the Columbia, Mo.-based video news service that analyzes the world's news coverage, has raised $1.5 million in new funding from a St. Louis private equity firm. The funding will be used to grow the company's editorial, marketing and sales teams. Apple Said to Develop Prototype for 'Smart TV' Apple Insider Apple is building a prototype for a "Smart TV," offering features like television, gaming and a DVR in one product, in a strategy similar to the iPad, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty. The rumored Smart TV could be "the next new product category." Google Plans Hollywood Makeover for YouTube Financial Times Google has been making the rounds of Hollywood talent agencies, seeking to enlist top stars to supply original content for YouTube. The video site plans to create a network of channels based around specific themes or niches, such as fashion, food and video games. Facebook May Hire Former Obama Aide Gibbs New York Times Facebook is in talks to hire Robert Gibbs, President Obama's former White House press secretary, for a senior role in helping to manage the company's communications. Facebook is seeking out Gibbs ahead of an initial public offering planned for early 2012. Twitter Under Investor Pressure to Make Money CNNMoney Twitter's transition from "cultural force" to "moneymaking business" isn't going smoothly. The venture capitalists backing Twitter are ramping up pressure to flesh out a business model. Co-founder Evan Williams is rarely seen in Twitter's offices these days. Buffett Says Social-Networking Sites Overpriced Bloomberg Warren Buffett, the billionaire stock picker and takeover specialist, said investors should be wary of valuations for social networking websites as some of the industry's biggest startups prepare for initial share sales. "Most of them will be overpriced." Netflix Near Over $100 Million Deal with Miramax Reuters Netflix is said to be close to an agreement with Miramax to stream the studio's library in a deal that would be worth "well north of" $100 million over five years. Miramax's more than 700 titles include hits such as "Pulp Fiction" and "Good Will Hunting." Google Working On Mobile Payment Technology Wall Street Journal Google has teamed with MasterCard and Citigroup to embed technology in Android mobile devices to let consumers make purchases by waving their smartphones in front of a small reader at checkout counters. The initiative aims to boost Google's advertising business. AOL Chiefs to Invest Their Own Money in Company Telegraph CEO Tim Armstrong said he has invested $20 million of his own money in AOL. Within 10 years, AOL will be a "multi-billion dollar media company." Partner Arianna Huffington also said she plans to "invest more" in AOL. Both execs vow AOL will be their "last gig." Amazon Eyes Launch of Media Locker Service CNET News Amazon has spoken with some of the major Hollywood film studios and record companies about creating a digital locker service for their film and music libraries. Users would be allowed to store their music, film and book collections on Amazon's servers. Media Content Drives Purchases of Tablet Devices eMarketer Research from Boston Consulting Group has confirmed that tablet computer and e-reader purchase intentions are high. Most respondents agreed that the ability to purchase and use a variety of media content would be key to driving usage of the devices. Apple iPad 2 Hits Overseas Stores After U.S. Sellout Reuters Apple plans to roll out the new iPad 2 on Friday to 25 markets including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Germany, and Spain. Hundreds of customers lined up outside Apple stores in Australia and New Zealand on Friday for the international launch. Study: One in Five Men Read Their iPad on the Toilet Media Week Some 21% of male iPad users, and 12% of women users, will spend time using their device in the bathroom, according to a survey by digital agency Seven. Also, over half of those polled said they preferred reading magazines on the iPad than in print form. Google Seeks Media Ad Dollars with New Video Ads TechCrunch Google has launched a new "Media Ads" format for video ads on Google.com. The ads appear as small thumbnails with a play button. When a user clicks on the thumbnail, the ad will expand and take over the Google search page, playing the video ad in a larger player. Twitter's 'Crude' Ad Product to Test Geo-Targeting AllThingsD Twitter has begun letting some marketers segment some of their purchases by location. The move means that a Twitter user in, say, the United Kingdom may now see a different advertisement than one in the United States. Twitter's ad product is "still very crude." AOL Hopes for Silicon Valley Cred with New Offices BusinessWeek AOL has opened its sleek new Palo Alto, Calif., offices to Valley Silicon startups, hoping some of the creativity and entrepreneurial energy will rub off. AOL also hopes it could get the inside track on investing in or acquiring one of these fledgling companies. Apple Mulls Adding Streaming Video to AirPlay Bloomberg Apple is weighing an expansion of its AirPlay audio service to include streaming video from an iPhone or iPad to TV sets. Apple may license AirPlay to consumer-electronics makers that could use it in devices for streaming movies, TV shows and other video. Hulu Eyes Options for International Expansion Bloomberg Hulu is pursuing options to expand in Europe, Latin America and Asia, according to Johannes Larcher, the company's international head. The big challenge for the web-TV service owned by three of the largest U.S. broadcast networks is "access to content." Google Hosts Gaga, Posts Interview on YouTube Fast Company Lady Gaga stopped by Google headquarters for an interview hosted by top exec Marissa Mayer. The Internet giant solicited questions from the pop star's fans, and posted a video of the session on YouTube. Said Gaga: "We experience music through the Internet now." YouTube Helps Users Create Their Own Videos TechCrunch YouTube has launched an area on its website where users can design, create and edit their own video clips using third-party apps GoAnimate, Stupeflix and Xtranormal. YouTube said its goal is to help "give everyone a chance to participate on the site." Yahoo Puts Its Spin on Real-Time Search Results Associated Press Yahoo plans to update its search engine with a feature that attempts to answer web surfers' questions before they even finish typing. Search Direct, which is still in "beta" test mode, is Yahoo's answer to a similar Google feature called Instant Search. Apple Ex-Exec Plans Phone-Based Social Network Reuters Bill Nguyen, who sold the online music startup Lala to Apple in 2009, plans to launch Colors, a free, cellphone-based social network that will let people share photos, videos and text to multiple phones. "The transition to post-PC world is going to be a fundamental shift." Facebook Mines Conversations for Ad Targeting Advertising Age Facebook, for the first time, has started to mine real-time conversations to target advertising. For example: Users who update their status with "Mmm, I could go for some pizza tonight," could get an ad or a coupon from Domino's, Papa John's or Pizza Hut. MySpace Decline Accelerates Amid Sale Process TechCrunch Between January and February, worldwide unique visitors to MySpace declined from 73 million visitors to 63 million visitors — about half of the audience it had a year ago. The accelerating decline comes as owner News Corp. is in the middle of a sale process. Twitter Creator May Return to Company Full Time Business Insider Twitter is said to be in talks to bring creator Jack Dorsey back into the company full time. The CEO title has been discussed, but it is more likely Dorsey would become something like a chief product officer. Current CEO Dick Costolo will stay with the company. Apple Removes 'Gay Cure' App Amid Controversy WebProNews Apple, under pressure from gay-rights groups, has pulled the controversial Exodus International app that promised to "cure" gays from its app store. "Watch out," warned Exodus head Alan Chambers, in response to the move. "It could happen to you." Google Launches Online Magazine (Without Ads) Search Engline Land Google has published the first edition of Think Quarterly, a 64-page online magazine produced by the Internet giant's U.K. & Ireland offices. The first issue, dedicated to "data," includes articles written by guest authors and Google employees. Apple's Jobs Ordered to Answer iTunes Questions Reuters Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who is out on medical leave, has been ordered to answer questions from lawyers for a group of consumers accusing the company of creating a music-download monopoly. The ruling comes amid intense questions about Jobs' health. Google Deal with Book Industry Nixed by Judge Associated Press A judge has rejected a deal between Google and the book industry that would have put millions of volumes online, citing anti-trust concerns. The creation of a universal library would "simply go too far." Still, he left the door open for an eventual deal. Groupon President Steps Down Amid Talk of IPO AllThingsD Groupon said its president and COO, former Yahoo exec Rob Solomon, is stepping down from his job. The reasons for Solomon's departure are unclear. The move seems unusual given the fast-track trajectory of the social buying site, which is considering an IPO. AOL Folds 30 Brands, Including Politics Daily Forbes AOL has notified its staffers of a major consolidation of its portfolio of content websites, undertaken as part of its merger with the Huffington Post. All told, some 30 brands will be "integrated" into other properties seen as stronger by editor Arianna Huffington. Apple Sues Amazon Over App Store Trademark Reuters Apple has sued Amazon.com in a bid to stop the online retailer from improperly using its App Store trademark, according to a court filing. The lawsuit said Amazon has improperly used Apple's App Store mark to solicit software developers throughout the United States. Microsoft Sues Barnes & Noble Over E-Reader Associated Press Microsoft broadened its attack on Google's Android software, filing patent infringement lawsuits against Barnes & Noble and two manufacturers over the Android-based Nook e-reader. Microsoft is claiming willful patent infringement of five patents. Google Fined Record $142,000 for Street View Bloomberg Google has been fined a record $142,000 for violations of French privacy rules over its Street View service. The infractions included collecting passwords and emails wirelessly. France's regulator cited "the economic advantages Google gained from these violations." YouTube Revenues Forecast to Pass $1 Billion TechCrunch Citi analyst Mark Mahaney has broken down some of Google's opportunities for billion-dollar businesses in a research report. According to his estimates, YouTube's gross revenues hit $825 million in 2010, and will reach $1.3 billion in 2011 and $1.7 billion in 2012. AOL Site Cleaning Begins in HuffPost Integration AllThingsD AOL plans to begin overhauling its panoply of content websites as early as today, a key part of its integration with the Huffington Post. The company will close down dozens of its sites while others will be integrated with existing HuffPost sites. HuffPost Poaches More Journos from NY Times WWD The Huffington Post has poached yet another New York Times journalist, the third in six months to leave the Gray Lady for the Internet. T: The New York Times Style Magazine travel editor Maura Egan will become the site's deputy entertainment and culture editor. Apple Under Fire for App to 'Cure' Homosexuality Daily Mail Apple has approved an app for the iPhone and iPad claiming to "cure" gay people. Its Christian makers claim the app will bring "freedom from homosexuality through Jesus." Apple is facing pressure from gay groups seeking to remove the app from iTunes. Netflix Confirms Deal to Provide Original Content Los Angeles Times Netflix has confirmed reports that it had acquired the rights to be the first home for "House of Cards," a new political drama series starring Kevin Spacey. The streaming service insists that the move is not a shift in strategy. Netflix is "licensing the series." Groupon Sells 190,000 Tickets to 'Lincoln Lawyer' Los Angeles Times "The Lincoln Lawyer" has attracted about 190,000 clients through the discount e-mail service Groupon. Lionsgate is said to have sold that many tickets to the Matthew McConaughey thriller in its special 48-hour, $6 admission promotion. AT&T to Buy T-Mobile USA, Creating Mobile Giant Bloomberg AT&T has agreed to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom in a transaction valued at about $39 billion, a combination that would create America's largest mobile-phone company. If completed, the deal would allow AT&T to add 34 million wireless customers. 'Angry Birds' Mobile Game Developer Seeks IPO Reuters Rovio, the developer of "Angry Birds" — a pop culture phenomenon and one of the hottest mobile games — plans a U.S. initial public offering in the next five years. The move could give investors a chance to tap into the fastest growing segment of the video game industry. Facebook Buys App Maker Snaptu in Mobile Push CNET News Facebook has agreed to acquire Snaptu, an Israeli startup that makes apps for feature phones, for an estimated $70 million. Snaptu will allow the social networking giant to "deliver an even better Facebook mobile experience on feature phones more quickly." Twitter Eyes Former Facebook Digs for NY Home BetaBeat Twitter, which turns 5 years old today, is said to be planning to sublease Facebook's former digs at 340 Madison Avenue for its New York offices. Facebook recently relocated down the street to 335 Madison. Twitter has occupied a loft in Soho since November. Digg Founder Scales Back Duties at News Site CNET News Digg co-founder Kevin Rose has said he plans to focus his efforts in a new direction. Following a report that said he had resigned from the user-submitted news website, Rose confirmed via Twitter that he was at work on a new project, but would "continue advising Digg." Huffington Post Rebuffs Union Call for Boycott AFP The Huffington Post has rebuffed a newspaper union boycott call over its practice of using unpaid bloggers, saying most of them are "thrilled to contribute" despite not being paid. "We make a distinction between our newsroom staffers and our group bloggers." Thrillist Among Media Mingling Content, Commerce New York Times Thrillist, the website and daily email aimed at young males, started a daily deal site in December. "This is the beginning of what a new media company looks like," said CEO Ben Lerer. More media companies, including some of the old guard, are selling products. Groupon IPO Valuation Seen Nearing $25 Billion Bloomberg Groupon is said to have held talks with banks about an initial public offering that would value the online-coupon company at as much as $25 billion. The startup's IPO may happen this year and is unlikely to assign Groupon a valuation of less than $15 billion. Yahoo Near Sale of Delicious Bookmarking Site Business Insider Yahoo is said to be near a deal to sell the social bookmarking site Delicious for about $2 million. The acquirer is described as a strategic partner. Delicious has "zero monetization," but remains one of the most highly regarded products at Yahoo. AOL to Launch B2B Division Serving Publishers BtoB AOL plans to launch a b2b division that will market its advertising network and other products to online publishers and marketers. The yet-to-be-named division, which will include assets such as Advertising.com, is due to launch in about three months. Glam Media Grows with Acquisition in Canada Bloomberg Glam Media, a provider of Internet-advertising services targeting women, has acquired Canadian ad company BBS Media, expanding its business into new international markets. Glam is paying $10 million to $20 million, according to people with knowledge of the deal. Mobile Devices Creating Niche for News Delivery Ars Technica Smartphones aren't displacing traditional media sources for most news consumers — instead, they're creating their own niche, according to a study by Ohio State University. Smartphones are only used to deliver news "when TV or newspapers aren't available." YouTube Is Hosting an $875,000 Talent Show Atlantic Wire YouTube has announced a contest that gives up to 25 contestants $35,000 each. The initiative aims to give users the funds to launch a YouTube-based career. "Partners are the heart of our platform, and we want to see even more of them take the next step." Vevo to Launch UK Music Video Site 'Imminently' Telegraph Vevo, the online music-video service backed by major record labels and YouTube, could launch in Britain by April, said CEO Rio Caraeff. "Our metrics, our engagement, our audience, our revenue, our number of advertisers are all significantly growing." Google Teams with Lady Gaga for Fan Interview MTV Lady Gaga has posted a video message on YouTube inviting fans to ask her questions in an upcoming Google interview. "I'll be doing an exclusive Google interview using one of their tools called the moderator, which allows you to ask me all the questions you want." Yahoo Eyeing Buy of Rotten Tomatoes Owner AllThingsD Flixster, the social movie service whose brands include the Rotten Tomatoes premium reviews site, is said to be in early acquisition talks with several suitors, including Yahoo. The price being discussed for the start-up is between $60 million and $90 million. Twitter Seeks Tax Break to Keep Offices in SF San Francisco Examiner Twitter has said it would keep its headquarters in San Francisco if the city board approved a tax break on new hires. If the payroll tax is approved, Twitter would be "committed to signing a lease that will keep the company in San Francisco for six years." Netflix May Outbid HBO for Original TV Series Deadline Netflix may outbid HBO and other cable networks to distribute a new TV series, "House of Cards," directed by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey. The deal, believed to be worth some $100 million, could change the way people consume TV shows. Facebook Live Streams Major League Baseball AllThingsD Facebook announced a deal last week to rent Warner Bros. movies. Today, the social network is allowing users to watch live pro baseball on its Major League Baseball page. The temporary free games are intended to test Facebook's promotional power. YouTube Buys Video Tech Firm Green Parrot Reuters YouTube has bought video technology company Green Parrot Pictures for an undisclosed sum. The Dublin, Ireland-based firm specializes in providing intellectual licensing and picture manipulation technology. Its technology has been used in several movies. Groupon Offers Deal for New Lions Gate Movie Wall Street Journal Groupon plans to unveil a promotional tie-up with Lions Gate to offer half-price, or $6, tickets to its new suspense thriller "The Lincoln Lawyer," opening Friday. For Lions Gate, the deal is an opportunity to both sell tickets and drum up buzz around the film. LivingSocial Value at $2 Billion in New Funding Bloomberg LivingSocial, the second-biggest website for daily coupons, is said to be close to raising $400 million in funding that would value the company at more than $2 billion. LivingSocial would use the funding in its effort to narrow Groupon's lead in the local-deal market. Twitter Mobile Use Grows by 182% in Past Year New Media Age Twitter mobile use has increased by 182% over the past year, according to the microblogging site. Last weekend it celebrated its fifth birthday, and has released its latest numbers to show growth over that time. Users now send more than a billion tweets every week. Yahoo Taps Time Inc Exec, Creates Editor Job Reuters Yahoo has hired Ken Fuchs, an exec at Time Inc, to oversee its sports, games and entertainment online properties. Also, Yahoo News head Mark Walker will be leaving the company as the Internet portal plans to create a new editor-in-chief role. AOL Siblings TechCrunch, Moviefone in Fracas TechCrunch TechCrunch called out AOL sibling company Moviefone after the movie listing service asked the tech news website to "tone down the snark," in response to negative feedback to a post by film studio Summit Entertainment. Moviefone's editor "should be fired." Google to Test Payment System for Mobiles Bloomberg Google is said to be planning to test a mobile-payment service at stores in New York and San Francisco within four months, letting shoppers use their phones to ring up purchases. The company will pay for installation of special cash registers to accept mobile payments. Facebook Nabs Google's Zoufonoun for M&A Reuters Facebook has hired Amin Zoufonoun, a director of corporate development at Google, to lead its fledgling merger and acquisition efforts, as the world's No. 1 Internet social network shows an increasing appetite for deals. Zoufonoun will join Facebook next week. Microsoft to Scrap Zune, Surrender to iPod Bloomberg Microsoft is said to be stopping the introduction of new versions of the Zune music and video player because of tepid demand. Zune, introduced in 2006, never managed to break the iPod's grip on the music-player industry and became the brunt of late-night talk-show jokes. Mobile Users Won't Pay for Local News Apps Ars Technica Just 10% of adults who use mobile apps to get local news pay for these services — 1% of all adults, according to a study co-sponsored by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. And most of them say they are not interested in paying much more. IAC's Diller Talks NewsBeast, The Daily, iPad WebProNews Barry Diller, head of IAC/InterActiveCorp, said at SXSW that he "got into the Internet very early" and was "very lucky." Regarding the Newsweek/Daily Beast partnership, he admitted he doesn't know if it will succeed. "We'll see in six or eight months." Apple May Help in Creation of iPad Magazines Fast Company Apple has been rumored to be building code hooks and developer guidelines into a future version of the software suite that lets coders create apps for the iPhone and iPad. The move could aid the construction of iPad-friendly digital magazines. Tablet Users Increasing Content Consumption BtoB Users of iPads and other tablet devices are increasing their content consumption at a greater rate than individuals who don't own the devices, according to a survey by L.E.K. Consulting. Some 29% of tablet owners increased their use of magazines in the last year. Google Said to Develop Major Social Network AllThingsD Google has reportedly built a social network called Google Circles, allowing users to share photos, videos and status messages. O'Reilly Media head Tim O'Reilly tweeted: "I've seen Google Circles, and it looks awesome." Google has denied that a launch was imminent. Facebook to Introduce Competitor to Groupon Bloomberg Facebook plans to test a service that will let people share discounted offers with their friends. The service will make its debut in five U.S. cities. Facebook is seeking to expand in the growing market for daily online coupons made popular by sites such as Groupon. YouTube Debuts First Made-for-Internet Movie AFP YouTube has begun showing what it said was the first feature-length movie created for the Internet. "Girl Walks Into a Bar," directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, features stars including Zachary Quinto, Rosario Dawson and Danny DeVito. The film is sponsored by Lexus. Twitter Premieres Trailer from Viacom Studio CNET News Paramount Pictures has premiered the trailer for its upcoming summer motion picture, "Super 8," directed by J.J. Abrams, on Twitter. The launch marks the first time the microblogging service has been the original home to the first run of a theatrical preview. Hulu to Unveil Major Integration with Facebook Adweek Hulu is said to be planning a major push into original content, looking to expand beyond its present audience. In addition, the online video hub is close to unveiling an integration with Facebook, aimed at encouraging more people to share their Hulu viewing with friends. Yahoo Said to Sell Bookmarking Site Delicious Next Web Yahoo has sold its social bookmarking site Delicious in a deal valued at more than $5 million, according to a "reliable and proven source." The service was put up for sale in December. In response to the report, Yahoo said: "We don't comment on rumor or speculation." AOL to Push Volunteerism with Twitter Guy AllThingsD AOL, a week after its massive layoffs, plans to announce a campaign to encourage volunteerism. Content head Arianna Huffington has signed on Twitter co-founder Biz Stone as a "strategic advisor for social impact." Stone will get some AOL equity as part of the deal. Microsoft, AOL Crash Start-Up Party at SXSW USA Today The South by Southwest Interactive festival in Austin used to be the showcase for tech start-ups. But the show increasingly has become the land of the tech titans. Microsoft, AOL, eBay and Skype are among this year's attendees, hoping to reinvent themselves. Apple May Have Sold 500,000 iPad 2 Tablets Bloomberg Apple may have sold as many as 500,000 iPad 2 computers after retail outlets ran out of the tablet-style device on its debut weekend, said Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. "iPads are sold out across virtually all channels. We were unable to find any availability." HuffPost to Hire Newspaper Veteran Montorio TechCrunch John Montorio has been named culture and entertainment editor for AOL's Huffington Post content division. The hiring of Montorio, a 30-year veteran of the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, is seen as a dramatic shift in favor of real journalism within AOL. Engadget Tech News Site Loses Top Editors AllThingsD Josh Topolsky, editor-in-chief of Engadget, is leaving the AOL property, which is one of the largest tech news sites. Also departing is managing editor Nilay Patel. Said Topolsky: "I've got a few fantasy projects in mind that hopefully you'll be hearing about soon." Mediaite Founder: Women Are Superior to Men Adweek Dan Abrams, the Mediaite founder, TV legal analyst and man about town, has been out plugging his new book, "Man Down," which lays out a case for women's superiority to men. "You'll hear Joy Behar asking me on 'The View' if I did it to get laid," he quipped. Google CEO Eyed for U.S. Commerce Secretary Bloomberg Google CEO Eric Schmidt and former Pfizer CEO Jeffrey Kindler are said to be among the candidates to be named the next U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Schmidt, due to step down as Google CEO in April, has consulted with President Obama on economic matters. Apple Poised to Sell 600,000 iPad 2s in Debut Bloomberg Analysts expect Apple to sell about 600,000 of the second version of the iPad when it debuts this weekend, extending the device's lead in a crowding market. The iPad 2 goes on sale on Apple's website at 4 a.m. New York time, then appears in U.S. stores at 5 p.m. Netflix Not Threatened by Warner Bros-Facebook Bloomberg Netflix doesn't view Warner Bros.' plan to offer $3 film rentals on Facebook as a great threat, said chief content officer Ted Sarandos. "Nobody goes to Facebook to watch movies." Netflix shares fell the day Warner Bros. announced its deal with Facebook. Hulu Board May Lose Disney, News Corp Execs Wall Street Journal Hulu plans to shrink its board, according to people familiar with the matter, shaking up the web-video venture's governance as it hashes out its future within the media business. Disney CEO Bob Iger and News Corp. COO Chase Carey may give up their board seats. YouTube to Boost Staff by 30 Percent in 2011 Reuters YouTube said it plans to add 200 jobs, boosting its staff by more than 30% in its biggest hiring year. In a blog posting, the company also said more than 35 hours of video are uploaded to its site every minute, with videos viewed over 2 billion times a day. AOL-HuffPost Cut 900 Jobs Including Journos Wired AOL plans to cut as many as 900 jobs, CEO Tim Armstrong has announced, including as many as 200 editorial staffers in the United States. The layoffs, which were expected, are part of a companywide reorganization following AOL's purchase of Huffington Post. LinkedIn Launches News Aggregation Service CNET News LinkedIn has launched LinkedIn Today, a news aggregation service that uses the interests and reading activities of people in users' networks as the curation mechanism. A new news-like front page shows the stories that LinkedIn's algorithms think will be most relevant. Twitter Fade? Report Says Growth is Slowing Radio Ink Although the awareness of Twitter is nearly universal, growth in usage has slowed, according to a report from Edison Research. "One cannot escape the fact that usage growth appears to be slowing, even before Twitter's long-awaited revenue model has found a foothold." Yahoo Hires Time Inc Exec in Ad Staff Shuffle AllThingsD Time Inc. corporate sales and marketing exec Liz Ritzcovan is joining Yahoo as VP of marketing solutions, among other moves and appointments at the Internet company. Yahoo is making several personnel changes to help strengthen its sales organization. Apple iPad Success May Trigger Tablet Bubble New York Post JPMorgan analyst Mark Moskowitz said he sees the "risk of a bubble burst" following the huge success of Apple's iPad. "The technical and [design] improvements of the iPad 2 stand to make it tougher for the first generation of competitive offerings to play catch-up." Twitter, Facebook Eyed by Young TV Viewers New Media Age The majority of under-25-year-olds in Britain chat to friends on social networks via their mobile devices while watching TV, according to a study by marketing agency Digital Clarity. The report pinpointed Twitter and Facebook as the most-used social networks. LivingSocial, Groupon Shift to Upscale Deals Bloomberg LivingSocial heralded a new era last month when it offered a $10,000 coupon for a penthouse-suite package at San Francisco's Fairmont hotel: Daily-deal sites are going upscale. LivingSocial and its larger rival Groupon are adding travel deals and luxury goods. Google Helps Fund Marketing Startup HubSpot San Jose Mercury News Google, Salesforce.com and Silicon Valley venture firm Sequoia Capital are providing $32 million in funding for HubSpot, a Cambridge, Mass., software developer. HubSpot helps businesses market themselves through search engines and social media. AOL: HuffPost-Enabled Layoffs Are Expected Forbes Employees of AOL are in limbo this week as they await the inevitable: a wave of layoffs prompted by the $315 million acquisition of the Huffington Post. That deal officially went through on Monday, and the word inside AOL is the layoffs will be executed no later than Friday. Facebook to Rent, Sell Movies from Warner Bros CNET Warner Bros. has announced that it will begin testing a program to offer movies for sale or rental for a brief period through its fan pages on Facebook. Users of the social network can use Facebook Credits to rent "The Dark Knight" through the movie's fan page. Google Buys British Comparison Shopping Site BBC News Google has bought the U.K. price comparison website BeatThatQuote for $61 million. The deal will give the Internet giant access to software that allows consumers to compare the price of products in areas including personal finance, insurance and legal services. YouTube Buys Video Firm Next New Networks New York Times YouTube has acquired Next New Networks, a web video production company, in its biggest leap yet into creating its own programming. The deal is said to be less than $50 million. Next New Networks also helps video creators distribute their films and make money. Hulu: Lionsgate Launches New Web Series Wall Street Journal Lionsgate Digital has debuted its first original content web series exclusively on Hulu. Entitled "Trailer Trash," the comedic show is initially launching with a series of 16 shorts, effectively rolling out two episodes a week over a two month period. Viacom Former Exec Joins Google's YouTube AllThingsD Alex Carloss, the former head of digital distribution at Viacom's Paramount, has joined Google, working on the content acquisition team for YouTube. Carloss is joining Robert Kyncl, the Netflix veteran Google hired last year to work with Hollywood. Google Cranks Up M&A, Pursues Web Start-Ups Wall Street Journal Google's head of mergers and acquisitions said he plans to be aggressive this year, despite failing to buy Groupon and facing challenges including soaring valuations for some start-ups. According to David Lawee: "These are exciting times" for entrepreneurs. Twitter Auction Suggests $7.7 Billion Valuation Reuters A recent auction of Twitter shares on the secondary market suggests investors value the company at $7.7 billion. Valuations of private web firms have surged as investors scramble to buy stakes in companies that many hope could turn out to be the next Google. Facebook, Skype Mull Video-Calling Partnership Bloomberg Facebook is said to be in talks with Skype about offering web video calls to its 500 million users. Video calling between friends on Facebook was first discussed by the two companies last year. Bringing video calls to Facebook could ramp up competition with Apple. Apple Refunds $100 to Recent Old iPad Buyers Associated Press Apple will give $100 back to shoppers who bought a first-generation iPad at one of its retail stores or through its online store in the past two weeks. Apple unveiled a new version of its tablet computer, the iPad 2, last week and cut prices for old iPads by $100. AOL-HuffPost Deal Closes with Editorial Hires TechCrunch AOL has closed its acquisition of the Huffington Post almost exactly a month after the announcement of the deal. Along with the closing, AOL has poached a number of new writers, from Yahoo, the New York Times, the New York Daily News, the Daily and elsewhere. Ustream Presents Charlie Sheen Live Webcast ABC News Charlie Sheen launched his own web show on the live-stream site Ustream on Saturday night. At its peak, "Sheen's Korner" attracted 150,000 viewers, along with tweets from Piers Morgan and Perez Hilton. Sheen described HDNet as among his show's "sponsors." YouTube Eyes Cable TV-Like Niche Channels San Jose Mercury News YouTube aims to reorganize its videos around topics -- much like niche television channels -- rather than individual videos. Google's video site hopes to be as revolutionary as cable TV. Said CEO Salar Kamangar: "We want to enable the next-gen MTV, the next-gen CNNs." Google: Web Video Rivalry Sparks U.S. Probe Wall Street Journal The Justice Department is looking into whether a group representing top tech firms is unfairly trying to smother a rival technology for delivering online video, called VP8, which is backed by Google. Possibly at stake: who will have clout "in the world after television." Apple Seeks Unlimited iTunes Music Downloads Bloomberg Apple is said to be in talks with record companies to give iTunes customers easier access to music they've purchased across multiple devices. The service would allow downloads to iPad, iPod and iPhone devices linked to the same iTunes account. Facebook Valued at $65 Billion in Investment CNBC General Atlantic is investing in Facebook, valuing the social network at $65 billion, representing a 30% boost from its last big investment in January. The investment firm is purchasing roughly 2.5 million shares from former Facebook employees. Twitter Creator's Wealth Exceeds $300 Million Vanity Fair Jack Dorsey was devastated to be ejected as Twitter CEO in 2008, he said in a new Vanity Fair profile. It felt "like being punched in the stomach." Still, the Twitter inventor's personal wealth may well exceed $300 million. Twitter "is the future of communications." AOL to Announce Acquisition of Outside.In Business Insider AOL is expected to announce that it has acquired "hyper-local" blog aggregator startup Outside.In. The deal is likely to be valued at less than $10 million. Outside.in's technology is likely to be integrated into AOL's Patch network of local news blogs. Google Android Devices Top Apple, Blackberry San Jose Business Smartphones powered by Google's Android operating system have pulled ahead of Apple's and Blackberry in U.S. market share. Unlike Apple and Blackberry maker Research in Motion, Google licenses its operating system to other device makers. Apple iPad, Tablets to Slow Global PC Growth Bloomberg Personal-computer shipments will grow at a slower pace than previously forecast, as consumers reach for Apple's iPad and other tablet devices, according to research firm Gartner. Consumers who used laptops for e-mail and web searching are turning to tablets. AOL Enters Content Deal with Queen Latifah Digital Trends AOL is continuing in its march to become a destination portal for digital content, announcing that it has inked a new partnership with Queen Latifah to executive produce and star in several original web video series to run across its network of sites. Apple CEO Unveils Thinner, Faster iPad 2 San Francisco Chronicle Apple CEO Steve Jobs took a break from his medical leave to unveil a sequel to the company's best-selling iPad -- one that is thinner, faster and able to shoot photos and video using a pair of cameras. "We think 2011 is clearly going to be the year of iPad 2." Microsoft Considers Facebook Legal Action AllThingsD Microsoft is said to be furious over a recent talent grab of top advertising exec Carolyn Everson by Facebook and is considering a wide range of options, including legal action to block the move. Lawyers at both companies have been in back-and-forth talks. Facebook Co-Founder Mulls Big Share Sale New York Post While investors from New York to Beijing are clamoring to buy a piece of Facebook, news that one of the four co-founders of the social networking giant is shopping around up to 10 million shares is raising eyebrows on Wall Street. The sale could raise $300 million. Twitter Co-Founder: Sale Talks Are Rumors Associated Press Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said his company wants to remain independent despite what he called "rumors" it could be acquired. "I believe there is a lot of room for another Internet giant to succeed. So our goal with Twitter is to remain independent." Huffington Post Backer to Raise New Fund Wall Street Journal Huffington Post backer Lerer Ventures, an early stage venture-capital fund, is said to be raising its second investment fund with a target of at least $25 million. The fund will allow Lerer to invest in a new class of start-ups and invest additional money in companies it already backs. Huffington Post Contributors Go on Strike TheWrap Visual Art Source (aka ArtScene), which has been contributing content to the Huffington Post for free, has declared a "strike" and refuses to furnish the website with further material. It is calling on other contributors who provide free material to join in the protest. Amazon to Open App Store to Rival Google's Bloomberg Amazon is opening a store to sell software for the Android mobile-operating system, stepping up its rivalry with Google. The online retailing giant will keep 30% of the revenue generated by the sale of apps, while developers will receive 70%. Google Invests in Latin America, Opens Offices Bloomberg Google is opening new offices in Latin America and boosting staffing levels by 50% to capitalize on its fastest-growing region. The Internet giant is seeking new growth areas to offset a maturing U.S. market and a diminished presence in China. Yahoo in Talks to Exit Japanese Joint Venture Reuters Yahoo is in advanced discussions to leave its Japanese joint venture in an effort to sort out its dysfunctional Asian partnerships and free up as much as $8 billion to help fight Google and Facebook. The Internet company is expected to turn its attention to China. Facebook to Pass Yahoo in U.S. Display Ads TheStreet Facebook is set to surpass Yahoo for the first time ever this year in the U.S. display advertising market, according to a new report from eMarketer. Facebook's share of the $10.1 billion online display ad sector is expected to top $2.2 billion this year. Twitter Seeks Growth in Small Business Ads Wall Street Journal Twitter is working to woo small businesses to buy ads as the company tries to live up to its multi-billion dollar valuation. A self-service system will launch later this year that will let more small businesses buy ads on Twitter, much like Google's AdWords. AOL Exec Exits in HuffPo Ad Sales Integration ClickZ News The Huffington Post's advertising sales staff will be integrated into AOL's regional teams over the next 90 days, following AOL's deal to acquire HuffPo earlier this month. Mark Ellis, AOL's top North American sales exec, will leave amid the changes. WikiLeaks Set for Motion Picture by DreamWorks Deadline DreamWorks has acquired the rights to two books by pivotal players in the WikiLeaks drama to turn the story of Julian Assange and his website into a feature film. A template for the movie is said to be "The Social Network," about the formation of Facebook. Hulu Set for $500 Million Ad Revenue in 2011 Adweek Hulu is on pace to haul in half a billion dollars in ad revenue in 2011, according to CEO Jason Kilar. That would represent nearly a 100% increase from the $263 million the company -- a joint venture between NBC Universal, Disney and News Corp. -- made last year. Twitter on Oscar Night: Over 1.2 Million Tweets TechCrunch More than 20 Oscar-related terms were tracked during Sunday's live broadcast of the Academy Awards, resulting in some 1.2 million tweets and 388,717 users tweeting. A humorous tweet by @TheOnion about "Toy Story 3" was the most retweeted, at 2,963 retweets. Google Helps Back Weather Insurance Startup San Francisco Business Google Ventures and Khosla Ventures have floated a $42 million second round of funding to WeatherBill, a San Francisco company founded by two ex-Googlers that sells farmers insurance against weather-related damages. WeatherBill's technology simulates weather. Apple to Unveil New Version of iPad Wednesday Wall Street Journal Apple is expected to unveil a new version of its iPad tablet computer on Wednesday. The next version of the iPad is expected to be thinner, lighter and more powerful than the original. It will also have at least one camera on the front of the device. Random House Agrees to Apple E-Sale Model Associated Press Random House has agreed to use the "agency model" required to sell books through Apple's iBookstore. Users of iPads and other Apple devices have only been able to purchase Random House books through an app for Amazon.com's Kindle or for other e-devices. AT&T Stores to Sell Amazon's Kindle E-Reader Bloomberg AT&T will begin selling Amazon's Kindle electronic reader in its 2,200 stores starting March 6, aiming to boost revenue by luring more users to its wireless network. As the exclusive U.S. provider of wireless service for the Kindle, AT&T will offer the device for $189. Apps to Explode to $38 Billion Market by 2015 Fast Company The app market will explode to a $38 billion industry by 2015, according to a new report by Forrester Research, riding the huge growth in popularity of mobile devices from smartphones to tablets. In 2010, apps on these devices pulled in $1.7 billion globally. Google: Mobile Growing Faster Than Predicted ClickZ News Mobile is taking off faster than predicted, said Google CEO Eric Schmidt, keynote speaker at the Interactive Advertising Bureau's annual leadership meeting. Google has seen mobile usage soar in all sorts of activities. "This is the future and everyone will adapt." Twitter: JPMorgan Fund Seeks Minority Stake Financial Times JPMorgan Chase's new fund for investing in social media is said to be in talks to acquire a 10% stake in Twitter for $450 million, valuing the microblogging service at $4.5 billion. JPMorgan also hopes to invest another web company -- possibly Zynga or Skype. YouTube Pays Big Bucks for Video Sensations New York Post Google's success in wringing more ad revenue from YouTube is creating a new class of dot-com millionaires. Hundreds of YouTube stars are making more than six figures, and hundreds more are making more than $40,000 a year -- roughly the median U.S. salary. Groupon Launches Coupon Website in China Associated Press Groupon, the daily deals website, has launched a website in China, hoping to capitalize on the world's most populous Internet market. Groupon's site, Gaopeng.com, will offer discounts on eating, shopping and entertainment in Beijing and Shanghai. Media, Tablets to Face Battle Over Profit Sharing Financial Times A battle is brewing between media companies and tablet computer makers over how to share revenues, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group. Apple's iPad and other tablets may not become mass market devices unless prices fall sharply. Google Mulls Launch of YouTube Movie Service New York Post YouTube is said to be eager to launch a subscription movie streaming service similar to Netflix and Amazon and is considering starting it overseas to cut down on the competition. The service may launch first in Europe before expanding to the United States. AOL Media Chief to Leave After HuffPost Buy AllThingsD David Eun, the former Google exec who came to AOL a year ago to run its media business, is leaving the company amid a shuffling of execs triggered by the $315 million acquisition of the Huffington Post. Arianna Huffington will now oversee all AOL media properties. MySpace Music Chief Exits Amid Sale Talks Bloomberg MySpace Music head Courtney Holt plans to step down from his management role at the website ahead of a possible sale of all or part of the operation by News Corp. About 20 companies, including financial firms, are said to have expressed interest in MySpace. Twitter Near Deal to Keep HQ in San Francisco San Francisco Chronicle Twitter is "very close" to an agreement to stay in San Francisco, according to mayor Ed Lee. Twitter execs intimated last week that a deal to move from its current digs on Folsom Street into the San Francisco Mart building should be just "weeks away, maybe shorter." Foursquare Eyes Content, Automatic Check-Ins Advertising Age Foursquare is working on ways to integrate content -- historical events or factoids -- that users can discover while using the service, said CEO Dennis Crowley. The startup is also looking into technology to let users "check-in" just by touching their phones to a physical object. Google Update Declares War on Content Farms Mashable Google has announced a major algorithmic change to its search engine, one that should dramatically improve the quality of search results. The move targets content farms -- websites whose main goal is to attract search traffic by piling up low-quality content. Glam Media Talks to Banks, Prepares for IPO Business Insider Glam Media is said to be listening to the sales pitches of about 14 Wall Street banks in preparation for an initial public offering. The lifestyle website and blog publisher generated about $75 million of gross revenue last year and is growing at about 30% a year. Apple Shareholders Nix Succession Disclosure San Jose Mercury News Apple shareholders have rejected a proposal that called for the company to disclose a succession plan for CEO Steve Jobs. The rejection came a month after Jobs went on an indefinite medical leave for unspecified problems. Jobs did not attend Wednesday's meeting. Google Awards $2.7M Digital Journalism Grant PC Mag Google has awarded a $2.7 million grant to the International Press Institute, which will dole out funds to those working on digital journalism initiatives. A contest held by the Vienna-based IPI "seeks to find and fund breakthrough ideas that will have a lasting impact." YouTube in Talks to Show NBA, NHL Games Bloomberg YouTube is in talks with the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League to broadcast live games. Adding live sports broadcasts may help Google's video site expand revenue by keeping viewers around longer to woo more advertisers. Amazon Begins Streaming Movies, TV Shows Associated Press Amazon.com premium membership subscribers will now be able to watch movies over the Internet, just as they can through Netflix. The Prime membership, which costs $79 per year, now allows subscribers to watch roughly 5,000 movies and television shows. Demand Media Makes Money for the First Time Associated Press Demand Media, often derided as a "content farm," made money for the first time in the fourth quarter, a breakthrough that follows an initial public offering that investors have quickly embraced. The company said it earned $1 million in the final three months of 2010. Apple Expected to Unveil New iPad in March AllThingsD Apple plans to hold an event on March 2, where the tech giant appears poised to unveil a new version of its hugely successful iPad. Analysts expect the iPad 2 to be thinner than its predecessor and feature an improved display, as well as front-facing camera. Facebook Threatens to Sue U.K. Newspaper Guardian Facebook has threatened legal action against the U.K.'s Daily Mail amid a dispute over a front page story: "How many more victims of Facebook sex gang?" Facebook said there was no evidence to support the charge that it was used to facilitate the exploitation of children. WikiLeaks to Sell Branded Mugs, T-Shirts Online Wall Street Journal WikiLeaks has opened an online shop hawking coffee mugs, bumper stickers and T-shirts emblazoned with the image of Julian Assange. The founder of the document-leaking site hopes to harness his celebrity to raise funds for both his site and his legal-defense fund. Google, Sony, TiVo in Alliance Against Big Cable Ars Technica Google, Sony, TiVo and other companies starting a new group, aiming to defend the Federal Communications Commission's proposal for a standard to make it easier for consumers to watch both pay television and video from home broadband on the same screen. Apple CEO Scrutinized After Dinner with Obama Daily Mail The White House decided not to release a photo of Steve Jobs with President Obama at a high-tech summit in California last week, fuelling speculation about the Apple CEO's health. The White House released a picture of Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg with Obama. Spotify Nears $1 Billion Value in New Funding Financial Times Spotify, the Anglo-Swedish digital jukebox service, is close to raising a new round of funding at a $1 billion valuation, led by Digital Sky Technologies Global. The transaction is likely to include input from other investors to raise about $100 million in total. Twitter, LinkedIn IPOs Could Alter VC Landscape San Jose Mercury News The half-dozen social-networking companies expected to go public in the coming year -- likely candidates include Twitter, LinkedIn, Groupon and Facebook -- could be silver-winged angels. Some venture capital investors stand to make a killing from these IPOs. Facebook 'Friends' Cause User Stress, Anxiety San Jose Business The more "friends" people have on Facebook the more likely they are to be stressed and anxious, according to a study from Edinburgh Napier University. "Like gambling, Facebook keeps users in a neurotic limbo." Users fear "missing out on something good." Groupon Gears Up for Expansion Into China Wall Street Journal Groupon appears to be making preparations to start operations in China. The company is conducting interviews for sales and marketing positions for a site with ties to the deal-of-the day giant. China boasts of some 450 million Internet users, more than any other country. AOL Loses Top Editors at Engadget Website WebProNews Engadget editor Paul Miller announced his resignation last week from the AOL-owned publication, blaming "The AOL Way." Days later, Engadget lost another editor, Ross Miller. "I worry about the long-term viability of what I foresee is the future business model," he wrote. Zagat Relaunches Website with Free Content TechCrunch Zagat, best known for its surveys of restaurant reviews, has kept most of its online content behind a paywall. But now, Zagat is adding more free content to its website. Plus, users will be allowed to upload photos of dishes and view photos submitted by others. Apple Subscription Rules Eyed by Regulators Wall Street Journal U.S. antitrust enforcers have begun looking at the terms Apple set this week for media companies who want to sell their content on the iPad and other devices. Regulators are interested in whether the company's new digital-subscription rules could stifle competition. Tablets: 'Epic Glut, Pricing Bloodbath' Coming Forbes With up to 100 new tablet devices to rival the Apple iPad said to be in development, the makers will be building too much inventory based upon optimistic forecasts, says the High-Tech Strategist newsletter. The result will be "an epic glut and then a pricing bloodbath." Netflix, Twitter, Facebook CEOs Dine with Obama San Jose Mercury News President Obama met Thursday night with Silicon Valley bigwigs to sound them out on his economic policies. Talking tech with the likes of Steve Jobs and Eric Schmidt is seen as good for Obama's image. "Americans don't blame Google and Facebook for losing their homes." Apple to Build Biggest Store Yet in Grand Central Cult of Mac Apple plans to build a massive store in New York's Grand Central Terminal. The outlet, slated to open this fall, will be tech giant's largest retail space in the world. Grand Central sees some 700,000 visitors a day. Apple "will certainly pull out all the stops." Disney Interactive Seeks to Turn Profit by 2013 Los Angeles Times The new co-presidents of Disney's digital media group used the platform of the company's investor conference in Anaheim on Thursday to say what Wall Street has been longing to hear: that the money-losing division will achieve profitability in 2013. YouTube in Push for Celebrity-Created Content New York Google's YouTube, in a massive bid to attract Hollywood talent, is said to be making name-brand Hollywood types an entrepreneurial offer: In exchange for creating a celebrity-branded YouTube channel, the celeb would get to retain ownership of the channel's content. Gawker's Big Redesign is Driving People Away TechCrunch The recent redesign of Gawker Media's network of websites has met with plenty of jeers from users. According to Quantcast, Gawker's U.S. daily unique visitors have been cut in half, from a high of 561,000 to 257,000. Gizmodo dropped from 746,000 to 420,000. Apple, Google, Facebook CEOs to Meet Obama ABC News President Obama is slated to meet with Apple's Steve Jobs, Google's Eric Schmidt, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and other business leaders in San Francisco on Thursday evening. Obama will discuss his "goal of promoting American innovation." Google Elbows Apple with Subscription Service Wall Street Journal Google has opened a payment system for digital content that will let publishers keep a bigger share of revenues than a service launched by Apple this week. Google will charge publishers 10% of revenue from sales through its new One Pass service. Yahoo Unveils Personalized Magazine for Tablets CNNMoney Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz has unveiled Livestand, a magazine platform for publishers to deliver personalized content to tablets including the iPad. The app allows users to digest articles and ads that are relevant to them, based on their search and viewing history. Apple iPads Replacing Restaurant Menus, Staff USA Today The new fast-casual restaurant chain Stacked, opening its first outlets in California this May, will have Apple iPads on every table that customers will use to design and order their meals. "Menus will fade as iPads -- and other devices -- replace them." Twitter Ads to Become More Visible, Intrusive AllThingsD Twitter plans to start running its "promoted tweet" advertisements in users' regular Twitter streams by the end of March, in an effort to make them more visible. "Negative user feedback" is expected from a "marginal percentage" of Twitter users. AOL, HuffPost Tap Booz for Integration Help Wall Street Journal As AOL and the Huffington Post plan their marriage, the companies are said to have tapped Booz & Co. for help. The consultants are sitting in on planning meetings over how to unite the editorial, product and sales staffs of the two organizations. Apple Subscription Plan Could Dent Netflix, Hulu Reuters Apple has launched its long-awaited subscription service for magazines, newspapers, videos and music -- a move that could dent the fortunes of Netflix and Hulu. Customers who sign up for Netflix through their iPhone or iPad would cost the company 30% its fees. Vevo Now Second Largest Video Site in the U.S. Mediaweek In just over a year in business, music-video hub Vevo has soared to become the second largest U.S. video property on the web, according to comScore. Vevo is now twice as large as Hulu. But Hulu still serves more video advertising than anybody else. Microsoft Global Ad Chief Jumps to Facebook AllThingsD Facebook has recruited Microsoft's global advertising head Carolyn Everson as one of its top sales execs. Everson will be VP of global sales and is expected to be located in New York. She was only hired at Microsoft last June after a long search. Google CEO Sees Payments as a Big Business New York Times Google CEO Eric Schmidt said he thinks wireless transactions, enabled by the coming wave of Android smartphones outfitted with near-field communication technology, could turn into a serious business. Google could work with advertisers to "extend offers to phones." Groupon Eyes Hulu's Kilar for Global Expansion Bloomberg Groupon is ramping up hiring of managers who can help spearhead expansion abroad. The daily deals website is said to have approached candidates including Hulu CEO Jason Kilar to gauge interest in becoming head of worldwide operations. Facebook CEO Dismisses Branded Mobile Phone BBC News Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has responded to rumors that the company is planning to launch its own mobile phone. He told delegates at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to expect multiple devices built around the social networking giant. Apple Unveils Publisher Subscription Plan TechCrunch Apple has officially announced a new subscription service for magazines, newspapers, video, music and more on the App Store. Apple earns a 30% share when it brings a new subscriber to an app; publishers keep 100% when they bring in a new app subscriber. Tablets Will Be 'Much Bigger Than You Think' Barron's People don't appreciate how big tablet computing will get, says a report from Morgan Stanley. Tablets are set to be taken up by two thirds of corporations in 2011; shipments of more than 100 million are expected by 2012. "The international survey data surprised us." Facebook Valued at $52 Billion with Kleiner Wall Street Journal Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has taken a small stake in Facebook by buying as much as $38 million of stock from other shareholders at a valuation of $52 billion. Kleiner recently muscled its way into two other social Internet stars, Groupon and Twitter. Yahoo to 'Friend' Facebook Amid Struggles Wall Street Journal Yahoo has installed tools such as Facebook's "Like" and "Share" buttons on its news and sports websites in order to help its users share articles with their contacts on the social network. "'Frenemy' -- part friend, part enemy -- is where Yahoo finds itself with Facebook." Twitter: No Comment on Talks with Facebook Reuters Reports that Google has held takeover talks with Twitter that value the microblogging site at $10 billion are "just a rumor," according to Twitter CEO Dick Costolo. But he declined to comment on Facebook, which has also been reported to have held takeover talks. Netflix Growing Faster Than YouTube, Hulu Dow Jones New online video usage data for January shows Netflix building substantial momentum with its paid streaming video service. Netflix has become the only paid video service to be a top-ten video site on the web, according to new figures from Nielsen. AOL CEO Armstrong Doubles Company Stake Reuters AOL chief Tim Armstrong has doubled his investment in the company and now holds about $20 million in AOL shares. Armstrong has been attempting to reshape the troubled AOL into an online media and entertainment powerhouse attractive to advertisers. Google Seeks Help to Fight 'Content Farms' Fast Company Google is at war with content farms, websites with "shallow or low-quality content" that clutter user searches. The Internet giant has released a Chrome extension that enables users to send "blocked site information" to Google, which will use the data for search results. Big Media Dominate Conversation on Twitter VentureBeat Mainstream media outfits like CNN and the New York Times tend to play the biggest role in the top "trending" topics on Twitter, according to a study by Hewlett-Packard. Twitter users mostly act as amplifiers for the trends written about by mainstream news media. Google CEO Sees Signs of New Internet Bubble Reuters There are clear signs of a new Internet bubble in corporate valuations, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said in an interview with the Swiss magazine Bilanz. "But valuations are what they are. People believe that these companies will achieve huge sales in the future." Zynga Social Gaming Firm Eyes $9 Billion Value Wall Street Journal Zynga, the social-gaming company, is holding discussions with potential investors about raising new funding in a deal could value the start-up at between $7 billion and $9 billion. The talks are the latest sign of the investor frenzy growing around web start-ups. JPMorgan to Start Fund for Social, New Media New York Times JPMorgan Chase plans to start a new fund to invest in Internet and new media companies, hoping to seize upon investor excitement over social-networking companies like Facebook. The proposed fund seeks to raise between $500 million and $750 million. Pandora Media Internet-Music Firm Files for IPO MarketWatch Pandora Media, which provides an online service to match music lovers with new options to match their tastes, on Friday filed to raise as much as $100 million in an initial public offering. Pandora, which has yet to see a profit, said it has "pioneered a new form of radio." Google Talks to Acquire Ad Firm Break Down Business Insider Google is said to have looked into buying New York-based advertising start-up Admeld, but talks broke down over price. The Internet giant reportedly was willing to spend up to $200 million, but that price was too low. Admeld raised $15 million in funding in August. Twitter Plans Price Hike for Promoted Trends AllThingsD Twitter's "promoted trends" ads may be the company's most consistent source of revenue. Now the micro-blogging service wants to wring more money out of them: It has told buyers to expect a significant price bump for the ads in the next few months. Social Media, Twitter Contribute to 'Info Glut' Telegraph Every day the average person produces six newspapers worth of information -- through email, text messages, Twitter and social networks -- compared with just two and a half pages 24 years ago. So says a new study from the University of Southern California. Sony Ericsson Unveils PlayStation Smartphone Reuters Sony Ericsson unveiled on Sunday its long-awaited PlayStation smartphone. Sony's PlayStation, on the new Xperia Live phone, will take on Microsoft's Xbox Live, available on Windows Phone 7. "Console wars are moving to the mobile platform." Google Launches Weddings Website for Brides TechCrunch Google is making a big push into the wedding-planning scene, launching a full-fledged planning portal for brides to be. The new Google Weddings website is a destination that houses wedding-specific templates for save-the-dates, planning materials and more. Ashley Madison Website Profits from Adultery BusinessWeek Ashley Madison, the premier "dating" website for aspiring adulterers, is quite profitable. Its owner is expected to generate $60 million in revenue this year and $20 million in profit. According to CEO Noel Biderman: "Monogamy, in my opinion, is a failed experiment." Yahoo to Open Tablet Newsstand to Lure Ads Associated Press Yahoo is culling material from its website to create a mix of digital publications for computer tablets and other mobile devices, in its latest attempt to lure advertisers. The service, called Livestand, will be open to other publishers looking to reach tablet owners. Facebook Valued at $60 Billion in Employee Offer AllThingsD Facebook is said to be exploring permitting a tender offer up to $1 billion of its employee shares, after being approached by a number of big institutional investors about investing in the company. The new approximate valuation? An eye-popping $60 billion. Google in Talks to Acquire Next New Networks Wall Street Journal Google is said to be in talks to acquire video website Next New Networks. A deal, which could be unveiled in the coming week, would put Google's YouTube into the business of overseeing content creators in addition to aggregating videos created by others. Apple to Work on Cheaper, More Versatile iPhone Bloomberg Apple is said to be working on new versions of the iPhone that are aimed at slowing the advance of rivals based on Google's Android software. One version would be cheaper and smaller than the current iPhone. Apple has considered selling the new iPhone for $200. Groupon Adds Starbucks CEO Schultz to Board Associated Press Groupon has elected Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks Coffee, to its board amid news reports that the online coupon company is preparing for an initial public offering this spring. Also, Schultz's Seattle-based venture capital firm has invested in Groupon. Google, Big Cable at War Over Future of TV Ars Technica A quiet war is being waged over the future of television. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association is trying to set limits on how easy it will be for Google TV to access pay-TV content and reassemble it to reconfigure both TV and the Internet. Facebook, Google Mull Takeover of Twitter Wall Street Journal Facebook, Google and other companies have held low-level talks with Twitter in recent months to explore the prospect of an acquisition. The talks, which have so far gone nowhere, are said to have attached to Twitter a value of $8 billion to $10 billion. Twitter Attracts $80 Million from Venture Firm AllThingsD Andreessen Horowitz, the Silicon Valley venture firm, has invested more than $80 million in Twitter via purchasing stock in private secondary markets. Twitter does not get this money -- the funds go to early investors and employees able to sell their privately held Twitter shares. Yahoo Director Hippeau to Step Down in April Dow Jones Eric Hippeau has resigned from Yahoo's board of directors after serving for 15 years. He will be replaced by Akamai president David Kenny. The announcement comes just two days after the Huffington Post said Hippeau would step down as the company's CEO. HuffPost Unlikely to Start Paying Contributors Businessweek The Huffington Post, bought by AOL for $315 million, has prospered with an army of unpaid bloggers. Some now want a piece of the action. But, according to HuffPost founding editor Roy Sekoff: "If people want to express their opinions, they do so on the site for free." Google Grows Boutiques.com with Analytics WWD Google's Boutiques.com will use proprietary analytics to provide customized data to its designer partners and users. The virtual fashion portal, launched in November as a vehicle to drive sales to retailers and brands, has set its sights on expanding. Apple Offers Compromise on iPad Subscriptions TechCrunch Apple is said to be seeking to finesse the problem of negotiations over periodical subscriptions on the iPad by offering publishers a compromise: The pubs can take subscribers to their own websites, but they must offer users the option of buying through iTunes. AOL Sees Video Future for Huffington Post CBS News Now that AOL has acquired the Huffington Post, the next big step for the new team appears to be toward video. "If you can imagine the Huffington Post's success applied to video across our distribution network, it could be very powerful," said AOL CEO Tim Armstrong. Huffington Deal Fires Hopes of Web Rivals Reuters AOL's acquisition of the Huffington Post has sparked chatter about other content websites and blogs that might next be for sale. Gawker Media, Glam Media and the Business Insider sites are seen as potential targets. But it is unclear who might spend so richly on other blogs. Reddit Hires to Boost Site Ad Sales, Uptime VentureBeat Conde Nast's Reddit, the news aggregator website, has hired new employees to keep it up and running after a large number of complaints about the service going down. The site also named two "power users" in the community to manage customer service complaints. Nikki Finke in Dispute with Murdoch's Daily TheWrap Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke is said to be in a war of attrition with News Corp. over a photo of herself taken for the Daily, the just-launched iPad publication. Finke "reacted strongly; lawyers calls ensued." Publication of the photo has been suspended. Apple Starts Production on a 'Faster' iPad Wall Street Journal Apple is said to have started manufacturing a new version of its iPad tablet computer with a built-in camera and faster processor. The new iPad, expected to debut in the next couple of months, is also likely to be thinner and lighter than the first model. Facebook to Open Sales Office in Hong Kong Reuters Facebook will open a sales office in Hong Kong, in a move to tap the region's booming Internet scene. The Hong Kong office will service brands, companies and agencies in the region that want to advertise or launch marketing campaigns on the social network. Huffington Seen Big Winner in Media Merger Washington Post Arianna Huffington's personal cut of the AOL-Huffington Post deal is said to be $100 million, virtually all of it in cash. The deal also puts her in charge of AOL's collection of websites, ranging from TechCrunch to Moviefone. "In effect, Huffington is taking over AOL." AOL Drained of Cash by HuffPost Takeover CNNMoney AOL's purchase of the Huffington Post is likely to be the Internet company's last big acquisition for a while. AOL unloaded $300 million in cash, plus another $30 million in cash to cover expenses -- more than 40% of the $802 million in cash it had on hand. Gawker Redesign, Outage Stirs Web Readers Wall Street Journal Gawker Media's new look might have been controversial enough to those who care about web design, but its debut was marred by an outage across its network. One user tweeted: "Can't work out if the redesigned Gawker sites are broken or just really, really bad." Facebook CEO Files Papers Fearing Stalker TMZ Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is said to have obtained a restraining order against 31-year-old Pradeep Manukonda. Zuckerberg claimed the man tried to "follow, surveil and contact" him "using language threatening his personal safety." Microsoft Plans Reshuffling of Management Bloomberg Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is said to be planning to extend a management shake-up aimed at adding senior product executives with an engineering background. The move would expand on an effort to help Microsoft catch up with Apple and Google. Twitter Moms Set for Academy Awards Show Reuters Academy Awards organizers are inviting the nominees' mothers to tweet on Hollywood's big night. The mothers of the nominated stars will appear on camera and share stories of the celebrities as real people. "The first thing they are going to be doing is tweeting." Hulu Bests TV Network Websites in Viewers TechCrunch The U.S. online audience watched 19.4 billion minutes of video on Hulu in the fourth quarter -- which was twice as much as the how much viewers watched on the websites of the five major television networks combined. Still, the individual network sites are growing faster. Netflix Tops Survey of Favorite U.S. Brands MediaPost Media brands were among the strongest in the 2011 edition of the highly regarded survey of American consumer brand loyalty by Brand Keys. Netflix and Apple ranked as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Netflix delivered the best overall attributes of any brand. Microsoft Eyed Conan O'Brien for Xbox Live Gamesutra Before TBS came calling, Microsoft did its best to entice Conan O'Brien to bring his show to Xbox Live, in an effort to help launch an original content channel on the console. The company and the performer have never addressed the reports of the conversation. News Corp Seeks Sale, Merger for MySpace Wall Street Journal News Corp. has hired Allen & Co. to advise on "opportunities" for MySpace. The media giant's early talks to sell the struggling website have focused on deals in which News Corp. would retain a stake. MySpace could be "combined with another site." AOL to Buy Huffington Post for $315 Million New York Times The Huffington Post has been acquired by AOL for $315 million, in a deal that will allow AOL to greatly expand its news gathering and content creation. Arianna Huffington will take control of all AOL editorial content, making her a public face of the company. Yahoo to Move Toward Personalized Content New York Times Yahoo plans to announce that it is developing a publishing platform for apps that would let users get personalized content on their mobile devices. The company also plans to work with outside publishers, like Hearst, to create third-party apps. Google: Online TV is 'Additive' to Traditional Wall Street Journal Is online television viewing cannibalizing the old-fashioned way? Patterns in TV-related web searches don't suggest it, argues Google. In a report to be released this week, Google finds that new platforms like Netflix are "additive" to traditional viewing. Gawker: One Story to Dominate Home Page Gawker Gawker, the gossip website, is unveiling a new look. The front page is now dominated by one big story, with a list of headlines appearing in a column down the right side of the page. Commenters will have "much more space" for posting pictures and videos. Drudge Finally Establishes Presence on Twitter Daily Caller Matt Drudge, whose Drudge Report website has long been a dominate source of online news aggregation, joined Twitter on Saturday. His late arrival to the social site was explained in one of his first tweets: "Took time to find name I could use, all were taken." Google CEO Invests In Social Payments Startup Atlanta Business Eric Schmidt, Google's soon-to-be-former CEO, has made an investment in Twitpay, an Atlanta-based social media payments startup. Twitpay offers a social management platform and a mobile payments tool using Twitter's prevalence as a mobile network. Facebook to Announce Plan for Office Campus Bloomberg Facebook plans to develop a new headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., according to a city official. The world's biggest social-networking company said earlier it will hold a press conference on Feb. 8 in Menlo Park to discuss a new corporate campus. Apple CEO Succession Plan Gaining Support CNET Institutional Shareholder Services has added its support to an Apple shareholder proposal that calls on the company to disclose a succession plan for CEO Steve Jobs. Concerns have grown since Jobs announced plans to take an indefinite medical leave. Media Tablet Shipments to Surge Twelvefold Dow Jones Global shipments of tablet computers are expected to rise to 242.3 million units in 2015, a twelvefold improvement from researcher iSuppli's 2010 figure. The iPad will lead tablet shipments through 2012, but Apple "will lose some market share to rivals." Apple's Upgraded iPad Expected Out Shortly New York Post In the coming months, if not weeks, Apple is expected to unveil an upgraded iPad. Consumers should expect, at the very least, a faster and lighter device. This approach mimics what Apple has done with other product upgrades such as iPhones and iPods. TMZ Names New General Manager for Web, TV Los Angeles Times Brett Bouttier, VP of digital for Warner Bros. Television Group, has been named general manager of TMZ, which besides its web operations is home to a daily syndicated gossip show. Pam Russo, who held the TMZ general manager post for two years, has exited. TheStreet Founder Steps Down as Chairman TheStreet Christopher P. "Woody" Marshall has been elected chairman of TheStreet. He replaces founder Jim Cramer, who assumed the position in 2008 to help steer the financial media company through a transition period. Cramer will remain on the board. Craigslist Lawsuit Against EBay Set to Proceed San Francisco Chronicle EBay must face a lawsuit claiming it fraudulently hid its intention to start a competing classified advertising website during negotiations to buy a stake in Craigslist, a judge tentatively ruled. EBay had sought to have Craigslist's lawsuit dismissed. AOL Revenue Declines Amid 2011 'Comeback' Reuters AOL suffered sharp declines in quarterly advertising sales, driving overall revenue down 26% and showing the struggling Internet company has yet to turn the corner. CEO Tim Armstrong declared that 2011 would be "the year we start working on the comeback." IAC's Match.com Buys Rival for $50 Million Associated Press Match.com, the online dating site owned by Barry Diller's Internet company IAC, has bought rival OKCupid for $50 million in a bid to reach a younger demo. Match.com will also pay OKCupid an unspecified bonus if it meets certain performance milestones. Murdoch Unveils 'Pioneering' iPad-Only Daily NewsCore Rupert Murdoch has officially unveiled The Daily, News Corp.'s iPad-only publication designed to revitalize the journalism business, for "14 cents a day." The Daily promises "innovations unthinkable in print and television," with "no paper, no presses, no trucks." Apple's New iPad Seen at Murdoch Unveiling Reuters A prototype of Apple's newest iPad was spotted at Rupert Murdoch's splashy digital newspaper launch in New York on Wednesday. The model featured a front-facing camera at the top of the screen. The new iPad is expected to be announced in the next few months. Google Plays Catch-Up with Apple in Tablets Reuters Google showcased on Wednesday the first version of its Android software designed to run on tablets with larger screens and greater computing horsepower, allowing for a sleeker and theoretically faster interface with built-in video conferencing. WikiLeaks Among Nominees for Nobel Prize Reuters WikiLeaks has been nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. The anti-secrecy website was described as "one of the most important contributors to freedom of speech and transparency" in the 21st century. WikiLeaks "is a natural contender" for the honor. News Corp Puts Ailing MySpace on the Block AFP News Corp. said it was exploring a sale or other "strategic options" for MySpace, the ailing social network which has been eclipsed by Facebook. "It could be a sale. It could be a new investor coming into it." News Corp. has received "a lot of interest." Amazon Developing Service to Stream Movies Financial Times Amazon is working on a film streaming service that would compete with Netflix in a move that could have a big impact on the fortunes of Hollywood studios struggling with declines in DVD sales. "Amazon is switching focus in favor of the subscription model." AOL 'Master Plan' Pushes Content Creation Business Insider Two years into his tenure as AOL CEO, Tim Armstrong is stepping on the gas. By April, he wants AOL editorial to increase its stories per month from 33,000 to 55,000, per a reported leaked memo on "The AOL Way." Some AOL employees "aren't happy." Google, Facebook Aim to Ease Info Overload USA Today A raft of online communications tools — e-mail, chat, instant messages and tweets — is forcing consumers to prioritize what they use to avoid communications overload. Facebook, Google, Yahoo and others are revamping their services to ease the cacophony. Yahoo Former Execs Launch Food Website USA Today Foodily, a secretive start-up headed by former Yahoo execs, is taking the lid off what it claims is the most comprehensive website for food lovers. Few social networks focus on food, says Andrea Cutright, a former Yahoo marketing exec who is CEO of Foodily. Envisional: Piracy Dominates Internet Traffic CNBC A new stat on copyright infringement released by web monitor Envisional is shocking: 23.8% of all global Internet traffic involves digital theft. Also, more than 17% of U.S. Internet traffic infringes on copyrights, with BitTorrent responsible for 9% of that traffic. Netflix Shares Jolted Amid Amazon Rumors New York Post Netflix, the No. 1 video-streaming service, is seeing its shares take a hit amid rumors that e-retailer Amazon is about to start a rival service. Netflix may be vulnerable, analysts say. "To have someone with deep pockets chasing after you, it certainly is ominous." AOL, Burnett to Make Comedic Online Videos Wall Street Journal Reality-show producer Mark Burnett is teaming up with AOL to make comedic videos based on CliffsNotes, the slim yellow reading guides. The ad-supported shorts, based on CliffsNotes to classics such as "The Odyssey" and "Hamlet," will debut this fall. Google to Offer Web-Free Tweeting in Egypt AFP Google, in response to the Internet blockade in Egypt, is creating a way to post messages to Twitter by making telephone calls. Google is working with Twitter to make it possible for anyone to "tweet" by leaving a message at any of three telephone numbers. Facebook's Next Big Media Move: Comments CNET Facebook plans to launch a third-party commenting system, which could make the social network the engine behind the comments on many high-profile digital publications and blogs. The company is actively seeking media companies as partners for the launch. Amazon, Author Godin Elbow Aside Middleman Wall Street Journal Delivering on his promise to try a new publishing model, business-book author Seth Godin is releasing his first new title since leaving his long-time publishing house Penguin last summer. Amazon is with him, under an arrangement announced in December. YouTube-Like Sites Killing Adult Film Business New York After YouTube launched in 2005, equivalents in adult content began popping up. Such "tube sites" are repositories of content that is often free and pirated. "Tubes are going to destroy our industry," says one adult-film performer. "We can't make a living." Google CEO Schmidt to Search for Book Deal Crain's New York Eric Schmidt, Google's soon-to-be ex-CEO, plans to collaborate on a book, "Empire of the Mind: The Dawn of the Techno-Political Age," devoted to policy issues. The book, which could fetch a seven-figure advance, is expected to be auctioned this week. Facebook $83 Billion Value Trails Only Google Bloomberg Facebook's valuation at $82.9 billion on secondary exchange SharesPost surpasses Amazon.com's, leaving the social network behind only Google among U.S. Internet companies. Investor demand for Facebook is soaring on the private markets. Twitter: The Next Facebook -- Or MySpace? Los Angeles Times Twitter is at a crossroads, where it finally has to answer the question: Can it make money? CEO Dick Costolo's push into advertising will help determine whether Twitter becomes the next major Internet company like Facebook or the next flameout like MySpace. Google Searching for Experts in Mobile Apps Wall Street Journal Google plans to hire dozens of software developers to create apps for mobile devices, a new strategy aimed partly at helping the Internet search leader counter Apple. World-wide, revenue from mobile apps is expected to hit $15.1 billion this year. Apple iPad Lead Narrowed by Google Android Bloomberg Google's Android is boosting its share of tablet computers almost 10-fold, narrowing the lead of Apple's iPad, says market researcher Strategy Analytics. The iPad is facing increasing competition from new tablets powered by Google's free Android software. Facebook Founder Makes NBC 'SNL' Cameo Wall Street Journal Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a brief appearance in a comedy skit on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," with guest host actor Jesse Eisenberg, who portrays him in "The Social Network." Zuckerberg says he thought the Facebook movie was "interesting." Facebook Overvalued at $50 Billion, Poll Says Bloomberg Facebook isn't worth $50 billion, according to a Bloomberg poll of global investors that shows skepticism about Goldman Sachs's recent estimate of the largest social-networking site's value and concern that a bubble may be forming in the technology sector. LinkedIn Seeks $175 Million in Initial Share Sale Bloomberg LinkedIn, the largest professional-networking website, plans to raise as much as $175 million in what is likely to be the first IPO for a major U.S. social network. LinkedIn is "growing quickly, it has multiple revenue streams and there's global potential here." TheStreet Unveils 'No-Nonsense' New Logo Fast Company TheStreet, the digital financial media company, is taking the wraps off a new logo, courtesy of the digital design firm Pentagram. The logo incorporates a triple-dash graphic mark, inspired by street markings. "It's a perfect analogy to who they are." Google's Fflick to Make YouTube More Social Brand Republic Google's acquisition of social-media analytics company Fflick is expected to boost YouTube's social capabilities. Fflick analyzes social-media data to discover content and the discussions around it. It currently offers a Twitter movie-recommendation service. Netflix to Become More Personalized, Social San Jose Business Netflix is about to get more personal. The DVD-by-mail and online video company is working to more fully integrate its services with Facebook, opening the possibility of users posting their likes and dislikes about videos and movies they watch. WikiLeaks Founder to Appear on '60 Minutes' CBC News WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is giving a lengthy interview to Steve Kroft for a segment to be broadcast on "60 Minutes" this Sunday. Kroft spent two days with Assange on the grounds of the private residence in England where he is under house arrest. Amazon Sells More E-Books Than Paperbacks CNNMoney Kindle e-books are overtaking paperback books as the bestselling type of content in Amazon's bookstore. "This milestone has come even sooner than we expected -- and it's on top of continued growth in paperback sales," says CEO Jeff Bezos. Apple iPads, Social Networks Popular at Davos Reuters Tablet computers and smartphones such as Apple's iPads and iPhones are popular among the attendees of this year's World Economic Forum in Davos. Low-cost tablets and free social networks like Facebook are taking center stage at the gathering of world elite. Amazon Launches Kindle 'Singles' E-Books VentureBeat Kindle users on the lookout for quick and cheap reads can now purchase Kindle Singles, Amazon's short-format e-books. Each Single is "intended to allow a single killer idea — well researched, well argued and well illustrated — to be expressed at its natural length." Google Drops Real-Estate Listings Service WebProNews Google says it plans to discontinue the real-estate listings feature within its Google Maps service, citing low usage and the proliferation of property-search tools on other real-estate websites. Sites such as Realtor.com "can breathe a sigh of relief." Facebook Transforms User 'Likes' Into Ads San Jose Business Facebook is unveiling a new advertising program called "Sponsored Stories," which can turn "like" and other actions by its 600 million members into ads. The social networking giant already has 13 sponsors signed up, including Coca-Cola. AOL, Heidi Klum Team Up to Target Women Hollywood Reporter AOL is teaming up with model and "Project Runway" star Heidi Klum to create exclusive original online programming focused on fashion, beauty, parenting, relationships and lifestyle. Klum will help create videos, blogs and other content aimed at women. Netflix Now No 2 Video Subscription Service Los Angeles Times Netflix is reporting strong revenue growth, surpassing 20 million subscribers. The DVD-by-mail and online video firm is now the No. 2 U.S. video subscription company, behind only cable giant Comcast. Based on current trends, it should surpass Comcast by mid-2011. Google's Schmidt Denies Report of TV Move Bloomberg Google's Eric Schmidt says he has no plans to leave the Internet giant, dismissing reports and speculation that he is considering a move into television hosting or politics. Schmidt is "committed to Google" and will stay with the company "as long as it's exciting." Yahoo Lays Off Employees as Google Hires Reuters Yahoo warns that revenue will again slide this quarter as it bleeds traffic to Google and Facebook. The company is making its second round of layoffs in six weeks, of about 1% of its workforce. In contrast, Google is preparing its biggest year of hiring ever. Twitter: Russia's Main News Source in Attack Haaretz Twitter turned into Russia's main news agency after the Moscow airport bombing, not only in terms of getting out reports from the event, but also in delivering information from officials. Russian TV stations "gave up all pretext" of being the main news source. Facebook Buys Startup to Boost Mobile Ads AllThingsD Facebook is acquiring mobile advertising start-up Rel8tion to improve hyper-local ad targeting to its 200 million-plus mobile subscribers. Rel8tion, a 9-month-old Seattle-based start-up, connects people to ads based on their location and demographic. Google to Acquire Social Movie Review Website TechCrunch Google is near a deal to acquire fflick, a service that harnesses Twitter to power a movie sentiment and recommendation engine. Founded by four former Digg employees, fflick launched last summer. The acquisition is said to be for about $10 million. Apple to Offer iPhone, iPad Payment Systems Bloomberg Apple is said to be planning to introduce a service to let customers use their iPhones and iPads to make purchases. The service may be able to tap into user information already on file, including credit-card numbers, iTunes gift-card balance and bank data. Groupon Less Than '100% Committed' to IPO Bloomberg Groupon, which last month rejected a $6 billion takeover offer from Google, isn't convinced it will sell shares in an IPO anytime soon, says CEO Andrew Mason. The daily deal website's commitment to proceeding with an IPO this year is "less than 100%." AOL Launching Late-Night Comedian Block Hollywood Reporter AOL is launching a late-night video block featuring highlights from podcasts by director Kevin Smith and comedians Adam Carolla and Kevin Pollak. "We want to tap into their audiences and create video content that is consumable in one- to five-minute chunks." Google CEO Schmidt Mulls Career Move in TV New York Post Google honcho Eric Schmidt is said to be eyeing a career in television. Schmidt, who is stepping down as CEO of the Internet giant with a $100 million payout, is reportedly consulting with a CNN producer about developing a show featuring himself as host. New York City Names Sterne as Digital Officer ClickZ News After a search begun last May, the City of New York is finally naming its first chief digital officer. Rachel Sterne, social media entrepreneur and founder of GroundReport, will be charged with helping New York strengthen its presence in digital media. Facebook Valued at $50 Billion in New Funding Associated Press Facebook says it has raised $1 billion from non-U.S. investors, which combined with an infusion from Goldman Sachs and Russia's Digital Sky Technologies in December, brings the haul from its latest funding to $1.5 billion. Facebook is now valued at $50 billion. Foursquare Valued at More Than $250 Million Bloomberg Foursquare, the New York-based wireless service that lets users broadcast their whereabouts to friends, is valued at more than $250 million and will probably hold another round of financing later this year, according to co-founder Naveen Selvadurai. Twitter Ad Revenue May Triple to $150 Million Bloomberg Twitter will probably more than triple its advertising revenue to $150 million this year, according to EMarketer. Ad sales for Twitter, which introduced its ad program in April, may reach $250 million in 2012. "The company is definitely attracting brand advertisers." AOL in Talks to Buy News Aggregator Outside.In Business Insider AOL is said to be talking to local news aggregator Outside.in about a possible acquisition. Outside.in was founded in 2006 by author Steven Johnson. Investors include Union Square Ventures, Marc Andreessen, John Borthwick, Esther Dyson and CNN. Google: Why is Eric Schmidt Stepping Down? New Yorker Was Eric Schmidt pushed or did he jump? Both, according to "Googled" author Ken Auletta. Google's CEO, he says, was upset a year ago when co-founder Larry Page sided with his founding partner, Sergey Brin, to withdraw censored searches from China. YouTube Revenue Doubles as Ads Increase GigaOM Revenue at Google's YouTube more than doubled during 2010, the company says. The online video site, which serves more than 2 billion videos a day, aggressively ramped up advertising over the past year. Nonetheless, YouTube still isn't in the black. Vevo Video Site UK Launch Planned for 2011 Telegraph Vevo is set to launch in the United Kingdom and other countries in 2011, according to a Sony Music exec. The music video site, which is jointly owned by Universal Music, Sony Music and Abu Dhabi Media, was expected to launch in the U.K. during 2010. Google Develops Service to Rival Groupon Mashable Google is preparing to launch Google Offers, the search giant's competitor to Groupon. According to a confidential fact sheet, Google Offers is a "new product to help potential customers and clientele find great deals in their area through a daily email." LinkedIn Valued at Nearly $3 Billion Before IPO Bloomberg LinkedIn shares are being sold in an auction by secondary exchange SharesPost for $30 apiece, valuing the professional-networking website at almost $3 billion. LinkedIn is hiring banks including Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase to advise on an IPO. Google Co-Founder Page to Take Over as CEO San Jose Mercury News Announcing a shift in leadership, Google co-founder Larry Page will take charge of company operations as CEO, replacing Eric Schmidt, who will focus on strategic projects as executive chairman. Says Schmidt: "In my clear opinion, Larry is ready to lead." Facebook Numbers Draw Google Comparison MarketWatch Is Facebook the next Google? Financial data disclosed to potential investors suggest that it could be. The social networking service is already said to be remarkably profitable. "Where else are you going to advertise if you want to tap the social grid?" Huffington Post Adds African-American Section Associated Press The Huffington Post and BET co-founder Sheila Johnson are launching a HuffPost section devoted to African-Americans. "HuffPost GlobalBlack" is due in March. "Our goal is to cover more stories of importance to the black community," says co-founder Arianna Huffington. Amazon Buys Web Film-Rental Rival to Netflix BBC News Amazon is buying control of the London-based online movie rental service Lovefilm. The online retailer says Lovefilm has a "productive and innovative" future. The move is seen as a defensive ploy against a planned international expansion by Netflix. AOL to Launch 'Editions' Magazine for iPad Business Insider AOL is preparing to launch its own iPad magazine called Editions. The tag line is "The Magazine That Reads You." Editions, described as "a perfect daily reader," appears to be an app similar to Flipboard, using readers' interests to figure out what they like. Spotify Signs Sony to U.S. Distribution Deal AllThingsD European music service Spotify is signing with Sony for a U.S. distribution deal. The terms call for a certain number of hours per month of free streaming music, with the ability to pay for an ad-free version, or a more popular one that lets users listen on mobile devices. TheWrap Buys Online Database ItsontheGrid TheWrap TheWrap is acquiring ItsontheGrid.com, a web-based subscription service that provides an up-to-date snapshot of the movie industry. The website aggregates data from industry insiders combined with real-time data from a variety of public sources. Huffington Post to Relocate Offices to Chelsea New York Observer The Huffington Post plans to set up new digs in one of Chelsea's most desirable buildings. Staffers are being been told that the high-end aggregator is moving to 675 Sixth Avenue, the Mattel Building. HuffPost is currently located at 560 Broadway in SoHo. Craigslist Drops Ads for Controversial Drink New York Daily News Craigslist is yanking ads from the classified site for Four Loko and other banned caffeinated alcoholic drinks. New York Sen. Jeff Klein applauds the move: "Their decision to remove ads for these dangerous drinks goes a long way in helping save our teens." IAC's Electus Acquires Engine Entertainment MediaPost Ben Silverman's multimedia entertainment company Electus is acquiring Engine Entertainment and forming an in-house global distribution arm. The new Electus/Engine Distribution will handle sales for Electus' television, motion picture and digital content. Google, Microsoft to Battle Ad-Tech Startups TechCrunch As Google and Microsoft add new technologies and see themselves as a one-stop shop for advertising agencies, a group of ad-tech startups aims to create a counterweight by establishing a consortium for sharing data and agreeing on standard ways to interoperate. Apple Revenue Surges on Brisk Sale of iPads Associated Press Apple's shining holiday-quarter results diverted Wall Street's attention from news that CEO Steve Jobs is taking another medical leave of absence. Investors focused on Apple's success in boosting production of iPads, which happened faster than analysts predicted. Hulu Unveils 'Morning After' TV Recap Show AllThingsD Hulu is launching a highlights show, "The Morning After," offering a five-minute survey of last night's television. The show is the first one the video website has commissioned for itself. Hulu says it would like to "develop and evolve the show with your input." Netflix Drops 'Add to DVD Queue' Feature Home Media Netflix, seeking to further cement itself as a streaming company, is dropping the ability for subscribers to add titles to their disc queue from devices. Subscribers will only be able to manage their DVD and Blu-ray disc rental queues from the company's website. Redbox, Kiosks Now Outpace Video Stores CNET NPD Group says that for the first time, movie rentals from kiosks have a larger market share in the United States than those from brick-and-mortar stores. Netflix and other subscription services comprised 41% of video rentals in the third quarter of 2010. Apple's Jobs Takes Leave Amid Weight Loss Bloomberg Apple CEO Steve Jobs is taking a leave of absence as a rare form of cancer he has been battling since 2004 and a more recent liver transplant worsened his health, a source says. Jobs is reportedly unable to keep on weight as he undergoes treatment. Apple's Jobs Takes Medical Leave of Absence TechCrunch Apple CEO Steve Jobs plans to take a medical leave of absence, according to a release issued by the company. "I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions," he says in a memo. "My family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy." HuffPost Staffs Up in Ad, Marketing Execs ClickZ The Huffington Post is hiring 12 new advertising sales, operations, and marketing staff away from firms including Yahoo, MySpace and the New York Times. Among them are social marketing execs, tasked with guiding advertisers on using the site's sponsored content. MySpace May Be Sold -- Perhaps to Google NewsFactor Google is one name that is being thrown around in possible talks to acquire the ailing MySpace. The Internet giant is said to have expressed interest before, but balked at the price tag. "But there might be a fire sale now. The brand has been damaged." AOL: Can CEO Armstrong Save the Company? New Yorker AOL relies more on technology than traditional news-gathering outlets, writes Ken Auletta. "The writing is often designed to appeal more to search engines." CEO Tim Armstrong predicts that the company's health will improve in 2011, but "there are few signs of that happening." Google Travel-Software Buy May Face Block Wall Street Journal The U.S. Justice Department is mulling a potential court challenge to Google's acquisition of ITA Software, a travel-software company that powers airline-ticket booking websites, fearing the Internet giant could gain too much sway over the online travel industry. Groupon IPO to Value Company at $15 Billion New York Times Groupon, the social buying site that spurned a $6 billion offer from Google, is pushing ahead with plans for its initial public offering, a debut that could value the company at $15 billion or more. The company is expected to make its debut in the spring. AOL Layoffs Loom After New Content Deals Forbes AOL is entering deals to obtain health, sports and real-estate content from three outside companies: Sporting News, Everyday Health and Move Inc. CEO Tim Armstrong vows that website shutterings and staff layoffs will be minimal. AOL's strategy "hasn't changed." Bebo to Unveil Redesign Focusing on Video New Media Age Bebo, the struggling social network sold by AOL last summer, hopes to win back users by focusing on mobile, gaming and video. A new redesign will allow users to search, watch and share videos, and eventually create their own video channels. AOL Teams with Endemol USA for Web TV AllThingsD AOL is partnering with Endemol USA, the producer of television shows such as "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," to develop new web programming initially aimed at its growing female audience. AOL is also said to be working on other content deals. YouTube Brings Ads to Music Video Clips AllThingsD YouTube will start running "pre-roll" ads in front of several thousand video clips, including a new set of music videos from Vevo, its "Hulu for music" joint venture. The music clips will only run on Google's Android handsets, and not on Apple's iPhone or other rival phones. Hulu to Air Web Series Starring Sutherland Entertainment Weekly Kiefer Sutherland plans to follow up his run on Fox's "24" with a web series premiering on Hulu in March. Dubbed "The Confession," the 10 five-to-seven-minute webisodes will feature Sutherland as a hitman who has theological discussions with a priest. Google Acquires E-Book Technology Outfit TechCrunch Google is entering a deal to acquire eBook Technologies, a company that licenses technologies enabling automated publishing and control over content distribution. Google says it hopes to "deliver richer reading experiences" on tablets and other devices. Twitter Mulls Moving HQ Out of San Francisco San Francisco Chronicle Twitter is quickly outgrowing its San Francisco headquarters and considering moving out of the city. But San Francisco officials are making keeping Twitter in town a top priority and proposing payroll tax breaks and other incentives. "We love Twitter." Facebook Angel Accel Opens New York Office New York Post Accel Partners, the Silicon Valley investment firm that caught fire with its early bet on Facebook, is opening an office in New York. "Over the next couple of years we plan to invest tens of millions if not hundreds of millions in New York tech companies." Wikipedia Targets India, Brazil for Expansion Reuters Wikipedia is targeting India and possibly Brazil to reach its goal of 1 billion users. The San Francisco-based online encyclopedia, which turns 10 years old on Saturday, also vows to reach that goal in the next five years while maintaining its non-profit status. WikiLeaks Has 'Insurance' Files on Murdoch Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange claims to have "insurance" files on News Corp. and chief Rupert Murdoch. Assange is threatening to release the files if "something happens" to him. Says Assange: "If I can be indicted, other journalists can, too." Apple iPad Helps Time Shift Real-Time News ReadWriteWeb Users of Apple iPhones, iPads and similar devices are shifting their reading times to the most comfortable time of the day, such as during breakfast or the morning commute, according to Read It Later. "Consuming content is no longer on our own schedule." Demand Media Preps for IPO by Month End CNBC Demand Media is on its way to trade on the New York Stock Exchange by the end of January. The online content firm plans to sell up to 8.65 million shares priced from $14 to $16, which would raise $138 million and give it a valuation of about $1.3 billion. Twitter on Par with the Web, Creator Says TechCrunch Twitter "spans at the intersection of every single media," says Jack Dorsey, the creator of the microblogging service, on "The Charlie Rose Show." "It's a great way to point to video, to images, to text, to websites. I put it on the same league as the web." Yahoo Sports to Publish Online Magazine New York Times Yahoo's sports division and SportsFanLive.com, a social networking and blogging site, will start producing ThePostGame.com. The new daily "magazine" will publish lengthy reports on athlete style, sports technology, travel, fitness and betting lines. Huffington Post Founder in Plane Phone Flap New York Post Arianna Huffington was removed from a United Airlines flight over the weekend for defying the pilot's command for passengers to turn off their electronic devices. She was released without being charged. "I may have turned my BlackBerry on too early," she says. Netflix 'Killer App' for Tablets, Analyst Says Barron's Shares of Netflix are rising, likely helped by a bullish report from Goldman Sachs analyst Ingrid Chung. Netflix, in her opinion, is a "killer app" for tablet computers. "The growing tablet market should drive strong subscriber growth for Netflix in 2011." Yahoo Hires Rosen to Oversee Media Network AllThingsD Yahoo is hiring former News Corp. and Disney online exec Mickie Rosen to run the Yahoo Media Network, which includes the Internet company's content sites. Rosen will report to Ross Levinsohn, who worked with her before, at both News Corp. and Fuse Capital. Google: EU Wants Limit on Digitized Works New York Times Companies like Google that digitize content from public bodies should allow others to commercialize those materials after seven years, according to experts advising the European Commission. "There is a lot of opportunity for new players to confront Google." Facebook Seeks Finality in Battle with Twins Bloomberg Facebook will ask a court today to enforce a $65 million settlement resolving claims that founder Mark Zuckerberg stole the idea for the social network from Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. The twins insist the settlement is now worth $168.5 million. MySpace Braces for Mass Worldwide Layoffs Telegraph MySpace employees around the world are bracing themselves today for a major round of layoffs, which will see 500 U.S. jobs go and the majority of its international operation shut down. "MySpace isn't making money and News Corp. needs to cut more costs." Foursquare to Check In with Examiner.com Examiner Foursquare, the leading social city guide, will begin displaying tips from Philip Anschutz's Examiner.com, the insider local news source, on its website and mobile apps. The collaboration aims to provide Foursquare users with more local information. News Corp, Apple Chiefs to Unveil iPad Paper Yahoo News Rupert Murdoch is said to be planning to unveil News Corp.'s much-anticipated iPad newspaper onstage with Apple CEO Steve Jobs. The two media moguls will appear together at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, with a launch date expected Jan. 19. Apple: No iPad Killer at Electronics Show Reuters Tech rivals determined to prevent Apple from dominating the tablet-computer market the way it did with digital music players unleashed a tidal wave of touchscreen devices at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. But none rose to iPad-killer status, analysts say. Verizon Finally Lands the Apple iPhone Wall Street Journal The Apple iPhone is finally coming to Verizon Wireless. The largest U.S. wireless carrier is expected to make the long-awaited announcement at an event Tuesday in New York. The phone will make its way to Verizon Wireless stores around the end of January. Facebook Dismisses Rumor of Shutdown New York Daily News Rumors of an impending Facebook shutdown sparked a panic among the social network's users Saturday. The rumor was triggered by an online report claiming Facebook would shutter in March because founder Mark Zuckerberg was getting "too stressed out." Twitter: Our Business Model is Advertising AllThingsD Twitter is "a technology company that's in the media business," says CEO Dick Costolo. "Our business model is an advertising model. And we really don't have to do anything else. We want to be a standalone company. It's my sincere hope." WikiLeaks' Twitter Account Info Demanded Associated Press The U.S. government is requesting information from the Twitter account activity of Julian Assange and other people involved with WikiLeaks. The move is part of the criminal case Washington is trying to build against those who leaked classified U.S. documents. MySpace Sale to Yahoo Eyed by News Corp AllThingsD MySpace, which is struggling to revitalize, is expected to lay off 550 to 600 of its staff of just over 1,000 on Tuesday. Owner News Corp. is said to be shopping MySpace to private equity. One intriguing possibility is to try to sell MySpace to Yahoo. YouTube Introduces a Weekly Talk Show New York Times If most television networks can have talk shows featuring celebrities, why not YouTube? The new "Partners Project" is being positioned as the talk show of YouTube. The series is hosted by Shira Lazar, a longtime video blogger who contributes to CBS News. Google to Take On Apple iPad in Tablet War Telegraph Google is launching its first tablet computer, marking the opening skirmishes in its battle with Apple's iPad. The Motorola Xoom is the first device to feature the new operating system, known as "Honeycomb," that Google has designed for tablets. MySpace to Shutter Most of Global Operation Telegraph MySpace, the beleaguered News Corp. social site, is set to announce a major restructuring that will see its international workforce reduced to a skeleton staff, ahead of an expected sale. "Everybody is expecting some kind of announcement next week." Facebook Seen Ready to Go Public Next Year Wall Street Journal Facebook is giving the clearest sign yet that it is preparing to take itself public sometime in 2012, as it reveals new details in a 100-page document sent to select potential investors. Facebook is poised to cross the 500 shareholder mark this year. Google's Android Surpasses Apple iPhone San Francisco Chronicle For the first time, Google's Android phones are coming in second, surpassing Apple's iPhone, for the most users, according to the latest figures from comScore. RIM's Blackberry remains No. 1, though it continues to lose share of the market. Huffington Post Former Chief Joins Glenn Beck New York Times Glenn Beck, the talk-show host, is hiring former Huffington Post CEO Betsy Morgan to lead his new website, the Blaze. Morgan will become president of the Blaze, a four-month-old site intended to curate news and opinion pieces of interest to Beck's audience. Microsoft Links Up with ARM in New Tablet Drive Reuters Microsoft is taking its biggest step away from a long-standing alliance with Intel, teaming up with Britain's ARM Holdings to take on Apple in the tablet and smartphone arena. Microsoft plans to design a Windows operating system compatible with chips designed by ARM. LinkedIn to Go Public, Aiming to Beat Facebook Reuters LinkedIn, the social networking site for professionals, is said to be planning to go public in 2011, aiming to beat rival social network Facebook to an IPO. "If Facebook went public before Linkedin, do you think anyone would pay that much attention to Linkedin?" AOL Goes to Town in Reorg, Shuttering Sites Forbes AOL is consolidating its many content websites into a new configuration. Two of the sites, the men's site Asylum and the women's site Lemondrop, are disappearing. AOL is collecting the remaining sites into "Towns" -- properties and people based on subject affinity. Google: We Aren't Helping to Kill Newspapers Australian Krishna Bharat, the inventor and head of Google News, does not believe that the Internet giant is helping to kill the newspaper industry. He points out that Google is working with news groups to help them cash in on their online content. "The fact is news is online for free." Yahoo Teams With CBS, HSN for Interactive TV Bloomberg Yahoo is staking a claim in interactive advertising, a market projected to boom as televisions and set-top boxes offer web connections. The company is working with CBS and HSN to add interactive features to live broadcasts aired on sets with Yahoo's Connected TV software. Pew: Internet Gains on TV as News Source CBS News A report released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center shows that the Internet is closing in on television as the main source of national and international news for Americans. Forty-one percent of Americans say they get their news from the Internet. Google, Hearst Invest in Social TV App Miso VentureBeat Bazaar Labs, the startup that created television check-in app Miso, just announced that it has raised $1.5 million in its first institutional round of funding. The round was led by Google Ventures, with participation from Hearst Interactive Media. Facebook's Goldman Deal Spurs SEC Inquiry Wall Street Journal The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has begun examining whether disclosure rules for privately held firms need to be rewritten as a result of recent deals allowing investors to buy shares in Internet companies such as Facebook and Twitter. Forrester: Tablet Sales to Explode Through 2015 CNET Forrester Research has more than doubled its sales forecast for tablets to reflect consumer demand. About 10.3 million tablets were sold in the United States last year, the researcher estimates. It expects sales to more than double this year to 24.1 million units. Barclays: Apple's iPad Will Dominate Tablets Barron's Barclays Capital analyst Ben Reitzes expects the tablet wars to play out similar to Apple's iPod market -- meaning, he expects just about everyone to have a hard time pushing Apple's iPad aside. "Many tablets will not meet bullish sales expectations." Facebook Nabs News Corp's Online Gaming Head AllThingsD Sean Ryan, who arrived at News Corp. in mid-year 2010 to set up a new online gaming unit, is moving to Facebook to head partnerships at its key gaming platform. Ryan and Facebook are said to have been talking about a job before he joined News Corp. Google Mulls Creation of Mobile Payment Service BusinessWeek Google is said to be considering building a payment and advertising service that would let users buy milk and bread by tapping or waving their mobile phones against a register at checkout. The service may "eventually replace credit cards," says CEO Eric Schmidt. Apple: World's Second Most Valuable Company Forbes Apple is still a long way from overtaking Exxon Mobile for the title of the world's most valuable company, but it passed a major milestone Monday. Apple shares rose $7.47, propelling the valuation of the iPad tablet-maker above $300 billion for the first time. StumbleUpon Passes Facebook in Social Traffic Forbes Web discovery service StumbleUpon has overtaken Facebook as the No. 1 source for U.S. social media traffic, according to Statcounter. StumbleUpon accounted for about 43% of the U.S. social media traffic on Jan. 1, while Facebook accounted for about 38%. Digg Founder Launches Subscription E-Newsletter AFP Kevin Rose, founder of the social news website Digg, is launching an email newsletter called Foundation, promising video interviews, product reviews, "rants" and early peeks at new Internet offerings. Subscriptions to Foundation go for $3.99 a month. Facebook Worth More Than Time Warner in Deal New York Times Facebook, the popular social networking site, is said to have raised $500 million from Goldman Sachs and a Russian investor in a deal that values the company at $50 billion. The deal makes Facebook worth more than companies like eBay, Yahoo and Time Warner. Google Digital Newsstand to Muscle In on Apple Wall Street Journal Google is reported to be trying to drum up publisher support for a new digital newsstand for users of devices that run its Android software. The Internet giant is said to have discussed its intentions with a range of publishers, including Time Inc., Conde Nast and Hearst. Apple iPad Rivals Top Theme at Electronics Show Investor's Business Daily Tablet computers are expected to be a major story at this week's annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Consumer Electronics Association, which produces CES, expects some 80 tablets to debut. "Everybody and their mother is announcing tablets." Intel Chip Gives Hollywood Security for Downloads Bloomberg Intel, aiming to alleviate Hollywood's concerns about piracy, is building security into a new chip design that will let studios sell high-definition movies online. Warner Bros. will use the technology as part of a plan to make more than 300 titles available in February. Wikipedia Raises $16 Million in Holiday Donations CNET Wikipedia is ringing in the New Year with $16 million in donations collected this holiday season. Founder Jimmy Wales said in a post that the fundraiser was the most successful in the history of the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, parent of Wikipedia. Amazon Near Purchase of Online Film-Rental Firm Bloomberg Amazon.com is said to be close to buying Lovefilm in a transaction that would value the U.K. DVD and online film-rental company at nearly $312 million. The online retailer is examining Lovefilm's books for a possible takeover within the next few months. Facebook Tops Google as Most Visited U.S. Site Reuters Facebook is surpassing Google for the first time as the most visited website in the United States for most of 2010. However, when all of Google's properties are considered -- such as YouTube and email, for instance -- Google still reigns as the most visited site. Myspace Mulls Layoffs as Potential Sale Looms AllThingsD Myspace is said to be in the midst of planning that could soon result in significant layoffs -- as much as 50% of its 1,100 employees. Owner News Corp. is believed to be exploring a sale of the long-troubled social networking site turned social entertainment hub. Groupon Raises $500 Million in New Funding Wall Street Journal Groupon, the daily online coupon service, is raising $500 million of a nearly $1 billion round of new funding, according to a regulatory filing. Earlier this month, Groupon walked away from a takeover offer from Google reportedly valued at as much as $6 billion. Microsoft Co-Founder Relaunches Patent Suit Reuters Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is relaunching a wide-ranging patent lawsuit against Apple, Google, Facebook and others with specific allegations that the companies are illegally using his technology related to the way web data is sorted and presented. Google Targets Small Businesses With AdWords TechCrunch Google is going after local businesses in a big way. Small businesses that sign up to the Internet giant's marketing promotion by Dec. 31 have until mid-February to spend $100 on AdWords, after which they will be given another $100 credit. AOL, Yelp Partner to Fight Google for Local Ads Wall Street Journal Some of the top locally oriented websites, such as AOL's MapQuest and Yelp, are testing out new technology developed by New York-based start-up Yext to attract advertising dollars from local businesses, ranging from veterinary clinics to gyms to restaurants. Skype Brings Free Video Calls to Apple Devices San Francisco Chronicle Skype, the Internet calling company, will enable free video calling on its popular app for iPhone and iPod Touch. Video calling, which officials say is the app's most-requested feature by far, will become available via a free update in the iTunes Store. Apple Said to Prepare Three Versions of iPad 2 DigiTimes Apple is expected to release three versions of the next-gen iPad, supporting Wi-Fi, UMTS and CDMA, for 2011, say industry sources. Apple is also working on strengthening the new iPad's anti-reflective treatments in order to compete against the Kindle. Mobile Media Time Rising as TV, Print Decline eMarketer Consumer time spent with mobile devices is rising faster than all other media, says eMarketer. Time spent on the Internet is showing steady gains. All other major media are seeing declines: Television lost 1.1% in 2010, while magazines and newspapers lost 9.1% each. Apple, Google TV May Face Malware Attacks eWeek Cyber-criminals will target Apple products, Google TV, geo-location services such as Foursquare and Gowalla, and other social media sites in 2011, predict researchers at McAfee Labs. The threat is not limited to just the iPad and iPhone, but to "all mobile devices." Groupon Web Coupons May Raise $950 Million Reuters Groupon, the fast-growing online coupon seller, is being authorized to raise up to $950 million in what would be the biggest round of equity financing by any company since Pixar in 1995. Groupon is described by some as the fastest-growing Internet start-up in history. Netflix Said to Be Considering Global Expansion Adweek Netflix, the online video and DVD distributor, is said to be talking with advertising agencies about potential international assignments. CEO Reed Hastings recently said that Europe, Latin America and Asia are markets the company would consider entering. Sears, K-Mart Take On Netflix With Movie Service Fast Company Retail giant Sears is launching an online movie service to provide its and K-Mart's customers with digital movies the same day as they are released on DVD. Unlike Netflix, the new non-subscription service does not have to wait 28 days before offering new releases. Google Calls TV Delay Report 'Rumor, Speculation' UPI Media reports that Google has halted production of set-top boxes for Google TV are "rumors and speculation," according to a company spokeswoman. "Our long-term goal is to collaborate with a broad community of consumer electronics manufacturers." Twitter, Facebook Stock Trading Draws Scrutiny New York Times The Securities and Exchange Commission is said to have sent information requests to several participants in the buying and selling of stock in Facebook, Twitter, Zynga and LinkedIn. The interest comes as new exchanges are popping up to facilitate trades. Facebook Passes Yahoo to Become No 3 Website PC Magazine New metrics from comScore indicate that Facebook has finally passed Yahoo to become the "third largest website ever," pulling in 648 million unique visitors for November 2010. Only Microsoft and Google stand in Facebook's way at this point. Social Media Jobs Mean Opportunity for Job Seekers U.S. News Three times as many jobs with "social media" in the title were indexed in November by Indeed.com compared with a year ago. That represents nearly 1,220 job openings last month. Social media is "becoming a vital part of what companies do." Google Pushes Educational Software to Schools Bloomberg Google is talking with software companies to build a marketplace for online learning programs, an industry whose value may reach $5 billion this year. Programs in the apps marketplace can be operated inside private web domains schools have set up with Google. Apple Sued Over Apps Giving Data to Advertisers Bloomberg Apple is accused in a lawsuit of allowing apps for the iPhone and iPad to transmit user personal information to advertising networks without consent. "Some apps are selling user location, age, gender, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation and political views." Microsoft Tablet to Rival iPad Faces Long Odds Bloomberg Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, said to unveil new software for tablets at the Consumer Electronics Show next week, will face skeptics who say his company won't soon narrow Apple's iPad lead. "By the time Microsoft gets it figured out everybody will already own an iPad." Amazon Says Kindle is Best Selling Product Ever InformationWeek Amazon.com is once again claiming a sales milestone for the Kindle without releasing numbers that would place the e-reader's success in context. Amazon says the latest Kindle is the bestselling product in the 15 years the online retailer has been open for business. Google Woos Local Advertisers via Phone Calls Wall Street Journal Google is quietly turning to an old-fashioned tool — phone calls — to compete for local business advertising. The Internet giant is hiring several hundred sales reps to call U.S. businesses such as spas, restaurants and hotels to promote new ad initiatives. Twitter Has a Lot to Prove in 2011, Analyst Says San Francisco Chronicle Twitter next year will need to increase its user base dramatically and prove to marketers that its advertising works, according to Debra Aho Williamson, an analyst with eMarketer. Right now, the advertising on the microblogging service is "mostly experimental." WikiLeaks Guy to Write Autobio for $1.3 Million Mashable WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is entering deals to write an autobiography, which should net him around $1.3 million. The book will be published in both the United States, by Random House unit Alfred A. Knopf, and the United Kingdom, by Canongate Books. Demand Media IPO Plagued by Accounting Issues CNET Demand Media, the online content company that filed for an initial public offering in August, is modifying its filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission amid reports that the IPO has been delayed over questions about accounting practices. Facebook CEO Visit to China Fuels Speculation Wall Street Journal Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is meeting with some of China's top tech execs on a visit to Beijing this week that is billed as a vacation. The visit is fueling speculation about Facebook's ambitions to enter a market where it is blocked by censors. YouTube Giving $500,000 to Video Website Stars Fast Company Google's YouTube is sending $1,000 to 500 of the video site's most popular stars. The idea is to encourage higher quality media from recipients such as MysteryGuitarMan or EmilyNoel83. The move is another sign that Google is becoming more interested in content creation. Google Takes $500 Million Loan to Buy Building Crain's New York Google is closing on its $1.9 billion deal to buy the mammoth building at 111 Eighth Avenue for its New York offices. Despite oodles of cash on hand, the search giant is taking a $500 million loan on the property and will keep the existing mortgage in place. WikiLeaks Joins Forces With Russian Newspaper Bloomberg Novaya Gazeta, the Moscow newspaper controlled by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and billionaire Alexander Lebedev, plans to join forces with WikiLeaks to expose corruption in Russia. Russians "will soon find out a lot about their country." Apple Next-Gen iPad Said to Get iPod Features Apple Insider The second-generation iPad may have a flat back panel and a wide-range speaker, according to an unverified report by the Japanese Mac blog MacOtakara. Apple will reportedly change the back of the new iPad to be "flat like an iPod touch." Diller's IAC Launches 'Content Farm' Company Advertising Age Barry Diller appears to be cultivating his very own "content farm." Pronto, a company of Diller-founded IAC, is quietly launching an outfit called The Writers Network that looks for people willing to write short-length, how-to articles, much like Demand Media. Apple iPad Readers Favor Ads That Play Video eMarketer A study of Apple iPad usage by UM and Time Inc. finds that more than nine in 10 iPad owners who read magazines are at least somewhat likely to subscribe to those magazines on the device. Users also have the greatest desire to see ads that play video. Amazon Said to Exceed Kindle Sales Estimates Bloomberg Amazon.com is likely to sell 8 million Kindle electronic-book readers this year, at least 60% more than analysts predicted. Last year, Amazon sold about 2.4 million Kindles. CEO Jeff Bezos cut prices and added features to defend the device against a threat from Apple. Microsoft to Unveil Windows for Tablet Devices Bloomberg Microsoft is said to be planning to unveil a version of its Windows computer operating system tailored for battery-powered devices, such as tablet computers and other handhelds. The new product is expected to debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. MySpace Revamp Gets Mixed Review from WSJ Wall Street Journal The revamped MySpace has an interface that is "cleaner than the old version," writes Katherine Boehret, a writer at News Corp. sibling Wall Street Journal. "But I can't definitely say I like it enough to add it to my list of social networks." Facebook "may be more valuable." Twitter 'Acquires' Personnel from Q&A Startup CNET Twitter says that it has "acquired" the four engineers and a designer from a Q&A startup called Fluther. The Fluther product itself is not being acquired. The former Fluther staffers will be involved in content discovery technology on Twitter. "We were impressed by their talent." FCC Gives Government Power Over Web Traffic Washington Post The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is approving its first-ever Internet access regulation, which ensures unimpeded access to any legal web content. The new rules do not extend to the fast-growing market for smartphones and tablet computers. Poll: People Can't Live Without High-Speed Internet Reuters High-speed Internet has had the greatest technological impact on society in the past decade and is the technology most people say they cannot live without, says a poll by Zogby International. High-speed Internet has a "greater impact" than both Facebook and Google. Apple iPad Sales Boom During Holiday Season NewsFactor The Apple iPad is leading an online boom for computer hardware, with e-purchases up 25% during this year's holiday shopping season, comScore says. Industry observers see the iPad boom as a harbinger of strong tablet sales for years to come. Google Eyes Smaller Players After Groupon New York Post Google is said to be in talks with smaller players in online coupons after Groupon turned down the Internet giant's $6 billion buyout offer. Groupon smaller rivals LivingSocial and BuyWithMe may now be on Google's radar after Groupon's deal fell through. AOL Buys About.me to Help Users Link Online Associated Press AOL is acquiring tech startup about.me, a website that gives people a cohesive way of viewing their online lives on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It also lets users track who views their profiles and which social networks they go to next. Hulu Mulls More Pay Plans Instead of IPO Wall Street Journal Online video site Hulu is said to be taking off the table the idea of going public, at least for now, and may consider other financing options. Hulu also is mulling new subscription plans that could broaden its pay-video offerings beyond the recently introduced Hulu Plus. WikiLeaks Guy to Write for Random House AOL News WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to write a memoir. The book will be published in the United States by Knopf, a division of Random House. Interest in Assange is at fever pitch since WikiLeaks began disseminating diplomatic cables in last month. Google Growing in Aggressive Buying Spree San Jose Mercury News In the past 16 months, Google has been on the most aggressive buying spree in the Internet giant's history. The deals suggest ambitions to expand into markets where Google has little presence now. When buying early-stage startups, "you're buying people." Facebook Plans More Acquisitions Next Year Bloomberg Facebook says it plans to make about 15 acquisitions next year as the social-networking leader seeks more people to develop features on the site. "They will be a mix of talent acquisitions, where we're looking for people to run important parts of our product." Yahoo Backs Off Killing Social Site Delicious PC World Yahoo's move to "sunset" several services is prompting the Internet company to post a statement about the popular social-bookmarking site Delicious: "We are not shutting down Delicious. We're in the process of exploring a variety of options and talking to companies." Facebook's Zuckerberg Starts Visit to China Associated Press Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is kicking off a visit to China with a tour of the offices of Baidu, the country's top search engine. Curiosity is high about Zuckerberg's visit and any possible business angles. Zuck "has had a long personal interest in China." EBay to Buy German Online Shopping Club Reuters Web commerce company eBay plans to buy brands4friends, Germany's largest online shopping club, for about $200 million to strengthen its position in Europe. Brands4friends sells goods from fashion and lifestyle brands including Buffalo, Calvin Klein and Diesel. Gawker Hack Brings Action to Twitter, LinkedIn Associated Press After the Gawker Media hacking attack exposed data on 1.4 million people, other online companies -- Twitter, LinkedIn, Google and Yahoo -- froze some accounts and forced users to reset passwords. "It shows one of the fundamental problems with passwords." WikiLeaks Founder May Face Charges in U.S. USA Today The U.S. Justice Department is looking at possible charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, according to vice president Joe Biden. "This guy has done things that have put in jeopardy the lives and occupations of people in other parts of the world." Google Drive for TV Dominance Threatened Bloomberg The four major networks are blocking Google TV from shows that consumers readily see on the web out of fear they will lose ads, re-run revenue and fees from pay TV. The networks are mindful of losses the music and newspaper industries sustained online. News Corp, Google to Renew MySpace Pact Dow Jones News Corp. and Google are agreeing to a multi-year renewal of their MySpace search and advertising partnership. Chances for reaching a new deal came into question when MySpace began falling short of web traffic and other milestones laid out in the Google contract. Vevo Eyes iPad, Other Mobile Possibilities USA Today Vevo, the music video website, is launching an iPad app, bringing videos from Universal Music, Sony, EMI and independent labels to Apple's tablet for the first time. The news caps a year of growth that catapulted Vevo to No. 4 among the most popular video sites. Yahoo May Shutter Delicious, Other Services Associated Press The content-sharing site Delicious may not be on Yahoo's shrinking menu of online services much longer. Delicious is on a list of services that Yahoo is planning to close after shedding 600 employees, or about 4% of its work force, earlier this week. AOL to Acquire Digital Ad Company Pictela Wall Street Journal AOL is acquiring digital advertising firm Pictela to bolster its efforts to attract more ad dollars from big brands by selling larger, glitzier formats. Pictela creates ads that include high-resolution video, photos, coupons and other interactive components. Google Offers Tool for Digitized Book Search Los Angeles Times Google is unveiling a tool for exploring the 5.2 million books it has digitized. The tool, called the Ngram Viewer, goes through the 500 billion words in those books to show trends in word usage. It can determine how often words, or phrases, show up in a given year. WikiLeaks 'Fundamentally Different' From Media Wired The U.S. Justice Department would have no problem distinguishing WikiLeaks from traditional media outlets, if it decides to charge WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with violating the Espionage Act, according to former federal prosecutor Ken Wainstein. Apple May Announce Next-Gen iPad Next Month eWeek Apple's production of its next-gen iPad is expected to exceed that of the current tablet, due to the device's sales success. Many analysts believe that Apple will announce a new iPad in January. The next iPad will face much more competition than its predecessor. Amazon Kindle App Sells Newspapers, Mags Pocket-lint The Amazon Kindle app for Android is receiving its first major upgrade. Users will be able to buy more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, Newsweek and The Atlantic. Kindle for Android is Amazon's fastest-growing app. WikiLeaks Founder Assange is Granted Bail Guardian Britain's high court is granting bail to Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who is wanted in Sweden for questioning over allegations of rape. Assange had been held in solitary confinement, released from his cell for only one hour a day, according to his supporters. Mobile Phone Use Surpasses Print Periodicals IntoMobile People spend as much time on their mobile phone as they do reading a newspaper and magazine combined, says a survey from eMarketer. The average user spends 50 minutes a day using a mobile phone, 30 minutes with a newspaper and 20 minutes with a magazine. Internet Use: Old Are Catching Up to Young AFP Older folks are closing ground on youngsters quick to leap on hot Internet trends such as social networking and online shopping, according to a Pew Research Center study. Older Internet users were also taking increasingly to getting news online. YouTube in Talks to Buy Web Video Company New York Times Google's YouTube is said to be in talks to acquire Next New Networks, the web production company behind online television shows such as "Barely Political" and "Indy Mogul." The acquisition would be YouTube's first major foray into producing original content. Twitter Valued at $3.7 Billion in New Funding AllThingsD Twitter is raising $200 million in new funding, led by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. The micro-blogging service is also adding two new board members: Flipboard CEO Mike McCue and former DoubleClick head David Rosenblatt. Facebook Revenue Likely to Reach $2 Billion Bloomberg Facebook is likely to generate 2010 revenue of about $2 billion, a larger sum than projected earlier, sources say. Sales will more than double from 2009. The world's most popular social-networking service had $700 million to $800 million in sales last year. Groupon Seeks Funding After Google Rebuff Bloomberg Groupon, owner of a daily coupon website, is said to be seeking funds after rejecting a takeover offer from Google. The website is looking to raise several hundred million dollars. The increased financing would place a value on Groupon of less than $6 billion. Apple Expands Ad Network to iPad Tablet Bloomberg Apple, which introduced a mobile-advertising network in July, is expanding the system to the iPad with a campaign for the Disney movie "Tron: Legacy." The ad, featured inside some apps, will be a preview of a broader rollout of the ad network on the iPad next year. Microsoft to Unveil 'iPad Killer' Next Month New York Times Microsoft plans to introduce several tablets powered by its Windows 7 operating system at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The software maker is under pressure to produce a slate to rival Apple's iPad and devices powered by Google's Android OS. Facebook Boy Is Time's Person of the Year Time Time magazine is naming Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg the 2010 Person of the Year, "for changing how we all live our lives in ways that are innovative and even optimistic." Zuckerberg was also a contender for I Want Media's 2010 Media Person of the Year. Yahoo Confirms Lay Off of 600 Employees San Francisco Chronicle Yahoo is cutting 600 workers, the latest in a series of layoffs as the web pioneer continues to struggle to find its niche in the modern online world. The move, which amounts to a 4% workforce reduction, comes amid soft advertising growth and declining user engagement. Google Eyed for Ad Violations in France France24 France's competition regulator says that Google occupies a strongly dominant position in the online advertising market and possibly violated competition law. The regulator sees "possible conduct intended to discourage, delay or eliminate competitors." YouTube to Give Away 100 Television Sets Los Angeles Times YouTube is asking viewers to submit videos on why they are "pumped up" about Google TV. Winners of the contest with the most entertaining and technically adept videos will be in the running for a prize pool of 100 Sony Internet televisions powered by Google TV. Yahoo Prepares to Cut 650 Jobs Amid Struggles Dow Jones Yahoo is believed to be preparing to cut as many as 650 jobs, or almost 5% of its work force. The cuts will be targeted at Yahoo's products group, which builds web properties like the company's popular news, sports and finance pages, as well as its widely used email service. AOL Employees Jump to Townsquare Media Reuters Former AOL Media president Bill Wilson is snagging 10 of his former colleagues from his old company to join Townsquare Media, a venture that develops websites for local radio stations. Recent departures raise the specter that something might be afoot at AOL. Facebook Seen 'Killing Off' Christmas Cards Chicago Tribune Sales of Christmas cards are declining as the practice of sending such holiday messages fades. Social media is changing the way friends and family stay in touch. "People are up to date all the time on Facebook. That doesn't bode well for the future of holiday cards." Americans Spend Equal Time With Online, TV PCWorld For the first time, U.S. residents are devoting as much time to online activities as they are to watching television, says a new Forrester Research study. "Where is all this available time coming from? Some is being drawn from the decreased use of print media." Media Tablets Will Replace One in Three PCs InformationWeek Tablet computers will cannibalize sales of personal computers much faster than previously expected, according to new research from Goldman Sachs that paints a challenging future for Microsoft and Intel if they fail to respond to the threat of new form factors. Apple Names Top iPad, iPhone Apps of Year USA Today Apple is releasing its year-end chart of top apps for the iPhone and iPad a few weeks shy of the end of 2010. In the category of free news apps, USA Today is the top app, followed by the Fluent News Reader, BBC, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Microsoft, Twitter CEO Breakfast Stirs Rumors Forbes Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had breakfast last week with Twitter's Dick Costolo, who recently took over the top dog spot from co-founder Evan Williams. Could this mean Microsoft is interested in doing some sort of deal with, or even buying, Twitter? AOL Abandons Yahoo Linkup, Eyes Reinvention Crain's New York Two months after reports first appeared that AOL was looking to merge with Yahoo in a bold bid to speed up its turnaround, the web veteran is said to have abandoned its quest. "Yahoo didn't bite, and AOL didn't have its ducks lined up to be a buyer." Google Growth Spreads Fear Among Web Rivals Washington Post As Google gobbles up more companies, it is making new enemies who fear that the tech giant is stepping onto their turf. These critics are pushing antitrust officials to block some of Google's mergers or build a blockbuster case against the search behemoth. Drudge Report Sued for Copyright Infringement Las Vegas Review-Journal Drudge Report owner Matt Drudge is being sued for copyright infringement for using a photo from the Denver Post, a MediaNews newspaper. The lawsuit is being brought by Righthaven, a firm that files claims related to articles on newspaper websites. Gawker Says User Database Was Compromised Associated Press Gawker Media is urging subscribers to change their passwords because someone has managed to hack into the blog company's user database. The company says that the commenting passwords used on the sites could be vulnerable to attacks by hackers. Apple iPad 'Killing' Newspapers, Study Says Adweek Newspaper subscribers who are heavy iPad users are "very likely" to cancel their print subscriptions, says a survey by the University of Missouri's Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute. Also, many respondents say they are likely to use newspapers' apps. Microsoft's Xbox Leads U.S. Video-Game Sales Bloomberg Microsoft's Xbox 360, helped by its Kinect motion-capture controller, is the best-selling video-game console in the U.S. for the sixth consecutive month, the company says. Microsoft sold 1.37 million Xbox consoles in November, citing statistics from researcher NPD. YouTube Ends Time Limits as Tech Improves San Jose Business YouTube is ending the time limits on the video website's original videos, citing advances it has made in its content ID system. Videos had been limited to about 15 minutes. "As long as it's your original content," YouTube says in a blog post, "it's fair game." MySpace Initiative Lets Celebrities 'Hijack' Site WebProNews MySpace is introducing "MySpace Hijacks," a feature in which the website's curation of featured content is taken over by celebrities, as if they had "hijacked" the site to bombard users with stuff they like. The initiative is kicking off with the Black Eyed Peas. Flipboard Honored as App of the Year by Apple San Jose Business Apple is naming Flipboard as iPad app of the year. The startup's free app gives users a way to see content that is being linked to by friends on Facebook and people they follow on Twitter. It presents them in a dynamic magazine format with pages that "flip." Hulu May Redo Business Plan After Netflix Deal New York Post Netflix's new muscle-flexing deal with Disney is said to be forcing rival Hulu to reconfigure its business plan. Jason Kilar, CEO of the video website, must either step up and acquire additional distribution rights or drop the site's fee and focus on free offerings. Facebook Founder Vows to Give Away Fortune CNNMoney Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is among 17 wealthy Americans joining a promise to donate the bulk of their fortunes to charity. The Giving Pledge group was founded by billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife. Apple 'Rock Star' Jobs Named CEO of Decade MarketWatch MarketWatch is naming Apple's Steve Jobs CEO of the Decade for "leading a triumphant surge to the top of the tech world." Jobs, who has attained "rock-star status" for creating the iPad, is also among the contenders for I Want Media's Media Person of the Year. Google, Apple Asked to Pay Up Amid Data Flood Bloomberg Google, Apple and Facebook need to pitch in to help pay for the billions of dollars of network investments needed for their bandwidth-hogging services, European phone operators say. "Service providers are flooding networks with no incentive" to cut costs. Twitter Use Greatest Among Young Urban Adults eWeek Twitter is used by 8% of American adults who use the Internet, with the greatest use among young urban adults and minorities, according to the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Twitter currently claims to have about 180 million users. WikiLeaks Founder Seen as 'Common Enemy' Guardian The outcry against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is intensifying, drawing a rare consensus from U.S. politicians and pundits who collectively cast him in the role of a common enemy. Calls for action against Assange are growing louder and more shrill. Twitter Brings More Media to Revamped Site CNET Twitter is announcing five new content partners to bring more multimedia into its recently overhauled website, furthering the company's move away from just streams of 140-character messages. The partners include Blip.tv, Instagram, Rdio, Slideshare and Dipdive. MySpace: 'No Discussions' of Sale, Merger Bloomberg MySpace isn't currently in talks over a possible sale or merger, says CEO Mike Jones. Owner News Corp. will give MySpace "enough time" for a makeover. He adds that the success of the newly redesigned website will become clear in January or February. Yahoo: Facebook is Bigger Rival Than Google Bloomberg Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz says social networking leader Facebook has emerged as a bigger rival than web search giant Google. "Our greatest competitor probably is Facebook, more so than Google. They're a hot site, but there's room for more than one." Google Unveils Notebooks, Opens Web Store San Jose Mercury News Google is unveiling a laptop that runs its Chrome operating system, providing an alternative to computer software from Microsoft and Apple. Notebook computers running Chrome OS will be ready for consumers by the middle of next year, says CEO Eric Schmidt. Apple iPad Ranks No 1 on Holiday Wish Lists Broadcasting & Cable When asked what consumers want as a holiday gift if cost were not an issue, an Apple iPad 3G with unlimited music and apps beat out items like a Netflix lifetime membership and an Amazon Kindle preloaded with 2,000 books, according to CNET's annual survey. Google Opens E-Book Store to Rival Amazon San Jose Mercury News After years of planning and months of delays, Google started its e-book venture Monday, creating a potentially robust competitor in the digital book market to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple. Google execs described the e-bookstore as an "open ecosystem." Apple Said to Ship New iPad Tablet in February DigiTimes The iPad 2 will ship as soon as the end of February in 2011, according to one of Apple's main component makers in China. Apple had planned to start mass production in January, but because the device is currently in testing, the schedule has been postponed. Facebook Co-Founder Predicts IPO 'Will Happen' Bloomberg Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes says he would like to see the social-networking site sell shares to the public. "Having a public offering to enable a diverse group of shareholders to have a chunk of the company is a good thing. I'm sure an IPO will happen." WikiLeaks Founder Assange Arrested in London BBC News Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been arrested by police in London. Assange is accused by Swedish authorities of one count of rape, one of unlawful coercion and two counts of sexual molestation, alleged to have been committed in August 2010. Google Unveils Boundary-Nudging Smart Phone San Francisco Chronicle Google unveiled its latest boundary-nudging smart phone and a souped-up version of its handset operating system Monday, as the Internet giant continues to wage a battle for mobile supremacy against Apple. The Nexus S is manufactured by Samsung Electronics. Internet Forecast to Drive Worldwide Ad Growth Bloomberg Online advertising will overtake newspapers as the world's second-largest ad medium behind television by 2013, according to researcher Magna Global. Web spending will rise to 18% of the market in 2013, fueled by video and social media, per ZenithOptimedia. Google Courts Media with Widevine Acquisition Financial Times Google is stepping up its efforts to persuade media companies to provide content to its video services with the purchase of Widevine Technologies, a company that protects streaming of digital media. The deal comes as Viacom revives its YouTube lawsuit. Groupon Rejects Google Offer, Eyes Facebook Bloomberg Groupon, which rejected a Google takeover offer of as much as $6 billion late last week, is said to be betting it can keep increasing its valuation after walking away from the deep-pocketed suitor, something Facebook pulled off and Yahoo failed to do. AOL Mulls Breakup That May Lead to Yahoo Merger Reuters AOL, undergoing a radical transformation into the king of content on the Internet, is actively exploring a breakup of the company involving a complicated series of transactions that may lead to a merger with Yahoo. The plans are still in the exploratory stage. Facebook Rolls Out Redesigned Profile Pages Computer World Facebook on Sunday introduced a redesign of its user pages in advance of an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" where CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the redesign. The changes include a clustered listing of biographical data at the top of the page. Yahoo Video Plans Include New Business Show Beet.TV Yahoo plans to significantly increase its original video offerings in 2011 with a new business show, scripted entertainment programming and news video in a number of vertical areas. The business show, still unnamed, will be updated with several updates daily. WikiLeaks to Release 'Doomsday File' If Blocked New York Post WikiLeaks has circulated across the Internet an encrypted "poison pill" cache of documents suspected to include files on BP and Guantanamo Bay. Any government that tries to curtail WikiLeaks risks triggering a new deluge of state and commercial secrets. Netflix May See Rival Service from Amazon.com Wall Street Journal Netflix has expanded its mail-order DVD rental service to delivering video online, creating a potential threat to pay-TV services. Amazon.com is said to be developing its own Netflix-like subscription service that would offer TV shows and movies. New Media, Old Media 'Neck in Neck' in Value VentureBeat New media companies from Google to Gawker Media are now collectively worth $289 billion — nearly as much as the total market value of media giants like Time Warner and News Corp., according to Henry Blodget. "Content plus distribution is king." Google Vows More Piracy Fighting with Search CNET Google plans to step up its antipiracy efforts, the Internet giant says in the blog post. "We'll act on reliable copyright take-down requests within 24 hours." The move comes as Google faces more pressure to thwart illegal file sharing and piracy. Facebook Seeks New 'Friends' in Washington Bloomberg Facebook is expanding its Washington office as lawmakers question how well the social-networking giant protects the personal information of its users. The company is looking for a public-policy expert and a deputy press spokesman. Yahoo's M&A Head is Departing the Company AllThingsD Andrew Siegel, Yahoo's head of corporate development, who is in charge of mergers and acquisitions, is said to be leaving the company. Siegel's exit is part of a long line of departures of top talent under the leadership of CEO Carol Bartz. Twitter Value Soars Past $5 Billion, Web Rivals New York Post Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers are said to be vying to provide Twitter with new funding. Valuations for Twitter have soared toward the $5 billion range, which would make the micro-blogging service worth about two AOLs. Google in Deal to Buy New York Office Building New York Post Google is buying the building that houses its New York City offices at 111 Eighth Avenue, in a deal that values the city-blockwide Chelsea property at $1.8 billion. The deal is the largest U.S. commercial real estate purchase by a tenant ever. Foursquare in Deal to Create Its Own TV Series Associated Press Foursquare is working with production company Endemol USA to create a television series in which the social media startup will be "meaningfully integrated." Endemol produces shows including "Deal or No Deal" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Nikki Finke Sues Deadline Hollyweird Website Hollywood Reporter Mail.com Media, the parent of Nikki Finke's Hollywood news website Deadline, is filing a trademark infringement lawsuit against the operator of a site called Deadline Hollyweird. One problem: Finke and her lawyers have no idea who is running the Hollyweird site. Gawker Pays $12,000 for Nude Favre Photos Business Insider Gawker Media paid $12,000 for the pictures Brett Favre allegedly took of his naked crotch and sent to New York Jets employee, according to blog boss Nick Denton. The move, Denton says, increased the value of his Deadspin blog by millions. IAC's Diller: 'NewsBeast' Won't Be Big Money TheWrap As a result of buying out Liberty Media's stake in IAC, chief Barry Diller's personal and family holdings rose to 40% of the company. The new Newsweek-Daily Beast venture, he adds, won't be a significant source of revenue. "It's hardly big money." Amazon Invests $175M in Groupon Competitor Associated Press Amazon.com is investing $175 million in LivingSocial, a social coupon service that lets users sign up for daily discounts. The investment comes as Google is said to be close to buying Groupon, which kickstarted the market for group discounts online. Apple Won't Rule Media World, Analyst Says CNNMoney Apple is dominating the tablet computer market, but the company "won't be the gatekeeper" to the media world, predicts Gene Munster, a senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray. Apple will lose its market share in tablets as competitors release iPad rivals. Media Dinosaurs Adapt to iPad via Flipboard Businessweek Flipboard, which makes a news aggregator app for the Apple iPad, is striking partnerships with media outlets ranging from ABC News to the Washington Post. "It's an experiment," admits a Post editor. "It isn't like we have a clear, established road map." IAC's Diller Steps Down, Malone Swaps Stake Reuters Barry Diller is stepping down as chief executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp, as the Internet company buys out one of its largest shareholders, John Malone's Liberty Media. Former Match.com CEO Greg Blatt will become IAC's new chief executive. Netflix Offers $100,000 for Current TV Episodes New York Post Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is offering studios up to $100,000 for current episodes of popular television shows such as "Glee" to bolster his rapidly growing web streaming service. The company's current offerings are mostly episodes from previous seasons. Apple iPad Poised to Knock Out Amazon Kindle Wired The Apple iPad is rapidly catching up to the Kindle in the e-book reader market, according to a survey by research firm ChangeWave. Some 42% of survey respondents say they are likely to buy an iPad, while 33% say they choose to buy a Kindle. Facebook Founder to Appear on CBS '60 Minutes' Forbes Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg will appear on CBS' "60 Minutes" this Sunday, his first television interview since "The Social Network." Zuckerberg talks about "the movie, the direction he's taking his company, and more." WikiLeaks Founder, Website Chased by Authorities Associated Press The U.S. government is chasing WikiLeaks from its host at Amazon.com, temporarily stopping the leak of embarrassing diplomatic documents. But within hours, the website reemerged online, publishing from a fortified bunker in Sweden. Hulu Open to New Investors for Global Expansion Wall Street Journal Hulu wants to expand its online video service internationally and is willing to take on new investors to help it do so. CEO Jason Kilar is said to have expressed interest in rolling out the service in Japan. Currently, Hulu is available only in the United States. YouTube Officially Launches Ads You Can Skip TechCrunch YouTube is officially launching TrueView, a new advertising format that lets users skip over ads they aren't interested in. YouTube says advertisers like the format because they only pay if the user doesn't hit the "skip" button. Not all ads on YouTube will be in the new format. Google Opening E-Book Store, Taking On Amazon Bloomberg Google, stepping up competition with Amazon, is expected to open an online store for electronic versions of books this year and internationally in 2011. The Internet giant is working with book publishers to sell hundreds of thousands of e-books. Amazon Charging Kindle Users For Free Books PC World Amazon's self-publishing platform has the company in hot water for taking free books from Project Gutenberg and collecting cash for them at the online store for its Kindle e-reader. The Internet's largest bookseller is taking a cut of the proceeds from the sales. Yahoo Expected to See Mass Layoffs, Outsourcing AllThingsD Yahoo is said to be expected to make layoffs in about two weeks, around Dec. 13. The cuts in staff will total about 10%, which would mean layoffs of about 650. In addition, the layoffs might result in the outsourcing of some functions at the company. Twitter Near $4 Billion Valuation in New Funding TechCrunch Twitter is said to be near a new round of funding from Kleiner Perkins at a valuation approaching $4 billion. Kleiner investor John Doerr is reportedly leading the charge. "Doerr wants to own part of Twitter, and Doerr generally gets what he wants." Microsoft, Rodale Launch Health & Fitness Site AllThingsD MSN is launching a new health and fitness site called Fitbie, in partnership with Rodale. Fitbie will be powered by MSN, which will sell advertising for it. Rodale will provide both original content and material from its magazines, such as Men's Health. Google Probed by EU Over Online Ads, Search Bloomberg Google is being investigated by European Union regulators for allegedly discriminating against competing services in its search results and for stopping some sites accepting rival ads. The EW will check whether Google "imposes exclusivity obligations." Google Said to Offer $5.3 Billion for Groupon AllThingsD Google is said to have offered $5.3 billion for Groupon, in what would be its largest acquisition yet. The deal for the social buying site could catapult the search giant to the top spot in local commerce online and give it huge troves of consumer data. Twitter Hires Exec for Entertainment Business AllThingsD Twitter is hiring its first official liaison to the stars: Creative Artists Agency veteran Omid Ashtari. His assignment is entertainment business development, leading efforts to help actors, musicians and athletes get the most out of the microblogging service. Facebook Founder Interviews Bush Live Online Washington Post Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is conducting a live-stream interview with former U.S. president George Bush. Zuckerberg likens the president's unpopularity to his own maligned decisions, which he says aimed to help people "connect in different ways." WikiLeaks Founder Could Be Charged by Feds Washington Post U.S. authorities are investigating whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange violated laws in the group's release of government documents, including possible espionage charges. The FBI is said to be examining everyone who came into possession of the documents. Google Said to Acquire Groupon for $2.5 Billion VatorNews Google is acquiring Groupon, the local deal-of-the-day website, in a deal valued at $2.5 billion, according to an unnamed insider. Neither Google nor Groupon could be reached for comment to confirm the report, but the source is said to be reliable. Microsoft in Talks for New TV Service for Xbox Reuters Microsoft is said to be in talks with media companies to license TV networks for a new online pay-television subscription service for the Xbox. The possible push comes as Google, Apple and Netflix jostle for a seat at the table of television's future. IAC's Electus Luring Top TV Stars to Web Video Mediaweek Ben Silverman's Electus is seen as a deal-making juggernaut in the online video arena. The IAC-owned studio is said to be developing a scripted series featuring "well-known TV stars" that will incorporate social and community elements. Hulu: Broadcast Partners Grapple with Ad Sales Variety Hulu's success in getting viewers to watch full-length television episodes on the Internet is leading to strained relationships with the video website's network partners. NBC is now exercising its option to sell some ad spots on Hulu itself. YouTube, French Authors, Filmmakers in Deal Associated Press YouTube and top associations of French authors, filmmakers and other creative artists are entering a deal to put more television shows and movies online. The deal paves the way for creators to get paid when their work are put on YouTube. Vevo Online Music Service Targets Global Growth New York Post Vevo, the online music-video venture owned by Universal Music, Sony and Abu Dhabi Media, is recruiting staff and planning to expand its service worldwide next year. Vevo will be introduced in countries such as France and the United Kingdom. U.S. Shuts Down Websites in Piracy Crackdown New York Times The web addresses several sites that facilitate illegal file-sharing are being seized by a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. However, several torrent users are already discussing new websites that have popped up to replace them. WikiLeaks Releases Trove of U.S. Documents CNN WikiLeaks, the online whistle-blower site, is publishing some 250,000 diplomatic cables from U.S. embassies around the world, spawning sharp condemnation from the White House. Documents will be released in stages "over the next few months." Twitter Lacks Clear Long Term Vision, CEO Says Telegraph Dick Costolo, Twitter's new CEO, admits that the microblogging company lacks a clear long term vision. "I am currently trying to define what Twitter's purpose is in the long term. We will be able to be more specific on that answer in the near future." Apple iPad May Lead Tablet Disruption of PCs Apple Insider Reports from a variety of analysts predict a huge swell in tablet computer sales next year, ranging from 35 to 100 million units in total, with Apple's iPad accounting for the largest number sold by far. Growth will likely come at the expense of PCs. AOL Sees Video as Future of Content on Web WebProNews AOL is launching a video division, which the company says will aggregate its online video library assets under one umbrella. Says AOL exec David Eun: "We have no doubt that video is the future of content on the web. AOL's goal is to be the market leader." Google Digital Music Service Hit With Delays New York Post Google is said to be having trouble getting its planned digital music service off the ground in time for the crucial holiday shopping season. The major music labels are reluctant to wade into untested waters surrounding a "digital locker" service. Apple Sells 2 Million Beatles Songs So Far Associated Press Apple says people snapped up more than 450,000 copies of Beatles albums plus 2 million individual songs during the Fab Four's first week on sale through iTunes. The Beatles' music became available for sale online for the first time on Nov. 16. Facebook Shares Get Sliced as Value Surges Bloomberg Facebook's soaring valuation is spurring shareholders to slice and dice their stock, giving investors everywhere a chance to bet on the company. According to SharesPost, Facebook has more than tripled in value since March to $40.7 billion. Twitter Founder Hopes to Create News Network Reuters Twitter co-founder Biz Stone says he eager to harness the "news wire"-like power of the microblogging service to create a news network. Such a service would likely be in partnership with several existing news organizations, and would be open. Amazon Offers $89 Kindle in Black Friday Deal CNET Amazon is offering to sell its Kindle 2 e-reading device for $89 in a special Black Friday deal. "Our previous generation Kindle uses the old E Ink technology," the online retailer says in an announcement of the deal on its Facebook page. Apple iPad Faces New Rival Tablets from Acer Fast Company Acer, the world's second-largest computer maker, is unveiling a lineup of three tablet devices in a bid to challenge Apple's iPad. One of the devices, the Iconia, is "a twin-14-inch-touchscreen leviathan of a computer, half-laptop and half-tablet." Apple May Introduce iPad News Subscriptions Apple Insider Apple may hold a press event as soon as Dec. 9 with a number of print execs -- including Rupert Murdoch -- to unveil a new subscription billing option for newspapers and magazines on the iPad. Murdoch and Apple are said to be working together. Google Eyes Miramax Films Deal for YouTube New York Post Google is said to be in talks with Filmyard Holdings, the soon-to-be owner of film studio Miramax, about a potential deal to gain digital rights to films such as "Pulp Fiction," in an effort to turn YouTube into a web destination for longer form content. Netflix Offers Video Streaming to Rival Hulu Associated Press Netflix is preparing for the day when getting DVDs by mail is as old-fashioned as going to the video store. The company is unveiling an inexpensive plan that offers movies and old TV episodes through online streaming for $8 per month. Facebook Seeks Homepages in Google Battle Dow Jones Facebook is getting set to take its rivalry with Google to a new level by asking users to make the social network their default homepage, a move that could boost the site's traffic. "This is part of the larger battle for online digital supremacy," analysts say. Apple, Facebook Seen as 'Enemies of the Web' Reuters The open and democratic structure of the web is being threatened by the likes of Apple and Facebook, according to Tim Berners-Lee, often called "the father of the web." Such companies are "walling off information" with their websites and services, he says. 'Hulu of Casting' Website to Launch by Abdul Hollywood Reporter Former "American Idol" star Paula Abdul is co-founding AuditionBooth.com, which aims to be the "Hulu of casting" by connecting aspiring talents with casting directors, producers and managers. The free website also offers a paid upgrade service. Barnes & Noble: 'Sex' Star to Plug E-Readers Adweek Barnes & Noble is enlisting "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker to read all about its NookColor eReader in a new television commercial targeting women. The actress provides a voiceover for the spot, showcasing the tablet's color display. Google: Social Media 'One Part' of Our Strategy AFP Google CFO Patrick Pichette says social media is "absolutely" part of the company's strategy and will be embedded in "many of our products," but plays down a rivalry with Facebook. Many Google products have "phenomenal trajectories." Facebook Sees 'Phenomenal' Web Traffic Growth Mashable Facebook now accounts for one out of every four page views in the United States. According to data from analysis firm Hitwise, in the past week Facebook.com saw 3% more web visits and almost five times more page views than Google.com. Groupon Eyed by Google for $3 Billion Takeover AllThingsD Google is said to be in talks to buy Groupon, the local deal-of-the-day website, in a deal valued at more than $3 billion. The discussions might not result in a sale. Yahoo reportedly offered to buy Groupon earlier this year for $2 billion to $3 billion. Amazon to Allow Gifting of Kindle's E-Books Associated Press Amazon.com is beginning to allow customers to give its Kindle e-books to others. Previously, customers could only give gift certificates to cover the cost of an e-book. To receive a Kindle e-book gift, the recipient only needs to have an e-mail address. Apple Developing Next-Generation 'World iPad' AllThingsD Apple is developing a "World iPad" that will run on multiple networks, according to Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair. These next-generation iPads, due out next year, will be thinner than the current model and have a front-facing camera. Google TV Now Blocked by Viacom Properties GTVHub Viacom is said to be blocking Google TV devices from streaming full episodes across the company's properties, including Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and Nickelodeon. Given Viacom's rocky history with Google's YouTube, the move is not surprising. News Corp's MySpace, Facebook to 'Mash Up' Bloomberg MySpace subscribers may now coordinate accounts using Facebook "Mash Up," a service that lets Facebook users export their preferences. Analysts say the new relationship may help owner News Corp. stabilize MySpace and prepare the website for a sale. Big Media Support Bill Against Piracy Websites Reuters U.S. officials will get new powers to go after foreign "rogue" websites that sell pirated music, movies and books under a bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The measure has the backing of companies including Disney and Time Warner. Google: More Than 2,000 Wanted In Hiring Spree Reuters Google plans to hire more than 2,000 people around the globe, bumping up its workforce as it expands into new markets and battles for talent with faster-growing rivals. The Internet giant has job openings listed for 2,076 positions on its website. Apple iPad to Lose Sales to Android Tablets Reuters Tablet computers using Google's Android-based system will steal sales from Apple's iPad and take 15.2% of the market in 2011, says IMS Research. More than 15 suppliers will sell Android-based tablets by mid-2011, including Samsung and Dell. Google, Hachette in Landmark Book Deal Financial Times France's Hachette and Google are entering a deal allowing the publisher to decide which of its out-of-print books it wants the Internet giant to scan and whether the titles should be available for sale or search. The deal gives Hachette more control. Yahoo: Former News Corp President Eyed AllThingsD Peter Chernin, the former News Corp. president, is being contacted by a number of private-equity firms and other investors about his interest in becoming involved in the future of Yahoo. Chernin is said to have "expressed a definite interest." Facebook, MySpace to Make Announcement Mashable Onetime rivals Facebook and MySpace are set to make an unprecedented joint announcement Thursday at 12 p.m. PT, according to an invitation sent to news media. MySpace is expected to begin using Facebook Platform or Facebook Connect. Twitter Is Still Exploring Business Models VentureBeat Twitter appears to have finally found a business model -- advertising. But co-founder Ev Williams says that the company isn't settling on ads. "There's a million ways to make money with Twitter." The company is now testing an analytics service. Hulu Bashed for Failing to Protect Children Associated Press Mainstream online video destinations don't do enough to keep explicit content from youngsters, says a report from the Parents Television Council. Video sites including Hulu, Fancast, Slashcontrol, and U-verse received no better grade than a D. Amazon Enters Movie Biz with New Website Los Angeles Times Amazon.com is launching Amazon Studios, a new website that lets users upload scripts and sample movies and then use community tools to evaluate each others' work. The best work will be brought to Warner Bros, where Amazon has a first-look deal. Google, Amazon Vied for Beatles Back Catalog New York Post Apple CEO Steve Jobs wasn't the only one looking to broker a deal for the digital rights to the Beatles back catalog. Google and Amazon were also pitching to secure the Beatles rights for their own digital music stores. But Apple offered the best deal. Google Tests Mobile Picture-Search Marketing Dow Jones Google is working with several companies in a web-marketing experiment related to its picture-searching app, Google Goggles. When a user takes a photo of a Goggles-enabled ad, their phone will take them directly to the website for the brand. Yahoo Teams with Groupon to Dangle Deals Associated Press Yahoo is hopping on the bargain-hunting bandwagon with Groupon, the Internet's hottest discount broker, and more than a dozen other similar services. The partnerships are part of an effort to keep people on Yahoo's website for longer periods. Hulu Slashes Price of Paid Service by 20% Bloomberg Hulu, the video website owned by three of the biggest U.S. broadcast networks, is reducing the price of its paid service by 20% after an initial trial period, stepping up competition with Netflix. The Hulu Plus monthly subscription now costs $7.99. MySpace Founder Hit With Restraining Order RadarOnline MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe and wife Lorraine are reported to be battling in divorce court with their file sealed from all parties, gagged by a judge's order. DeWolfe's wife is said to have obtained a restraining order against the Internet pioneer. Google to Open Fashion-Dedicated Website Guardian Google is preparing to enter the fashion business with a website called Boutiques.com. The site will direct customers to fashion retailers and designers' sites. Also, Google is asking celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker to set up personalized shops. Morgan Stanley's Net 'Queen' Eyes Mobile Bloomberg Mary Meeker will predict a $50 billion online advertising boom in an address at the Web 2.0 Summit today. The Morgan Stanley analyst and so-called "Queen of the Net" will say that mobile commerce may gain market share faster than traditional online retailing. Google Software May Replace Credit Cards Reuters Google's next version of its Android smartphone software will support a technology that lets people use their handsets to pay for goods at restaurants and stores. "One way to think about it is, this could replace your credit card," says CEO Eric Schmidt. Apple iTunes to Offer Music by the Beatles Wall Street Journal Apple is preparing to disclose that iTunes will soon start carrying music by the Beatles, a move that would fill a glaring gap in the collection of the world's largest music retailer. Apple is posting a notice promising "an exciting announcement." Facebook Unveils Next-Gen E-Mail System San Francisco Chronicle Facebook is introducing what CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls a next-generation "modern messaging system" that incorporates e-mail, instant messages and text messaging. E-mail won't be "the primary way" people will use the new service, Zuckerberg says. AOL, Electus Launch Online Morning Show Hollywood Reporter AOL is launching morning video show, called AOL Daybreak, on its home page in partnership with Ben Silverman's multimedia studio Electus. The morning news roundup, hosted by Lindsay Campbell, offers "a lighthearted take on recent headlines." Yahoo to Launch Network of Exclusive News USA Today Yahoo is launching the Yahoo Contributor Network, harnessing 400,000 freelance writers, photographers and videographers from Associated Content, a firm it bought in May. Yahoo expects to post 2,000 stories a day. Some contributors won't be paid. YouTube Eclipses TV Networks In Content NewsFactor YouTube exec Hunter Walk: "If three of the major U.S. networks were broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for the last 60 years, they still wouldn't have broadcast as much content as is uploaded to YouTube every 30 days." Google, Facebook Rivalry Takes Center Stage Reuters Google and Facebook will lay out their competing visions to create a new generation of web services at this week's Web. 2.0 Summit. Facebook is expected to introduce a new version of its messaging technology that could challenge Google's Gmail. AOL Drops Ads from Redo of E-Mail Service Associated Press AOL is redesigning its e-mail service from the ground up to be faster and easier to use. The new design, code-named Project Phoenix, will display thumbnails of recent photo attachments. Advertising, which "isn't very user-friendly," will be absent in the new format. Facebook Valued as No 3 Internet Company Bloomberg Facebook's estimated worth, at about $41 billion, is now bigger than EBay's valuation, at $39.3 billion, making it the third-largest U.S. Internet business and underscoring the growing allure of social media. Facebook only trails Amazon and Google. MySpace: We're No Longer a Social Network Telegraph MySpace "is a not a social network anymore," says CEO Mike Jones. "It is now a social entertainment destination." The troubled website is pinning its hopes of renewed success with a focus on content. "There is no timeline to shut down MySpace." Pope: Internet Use May 'Numb' Young People AFP Pope Benedict XVI warns that the Internet does not make people more humane but instead risks increasing a "sense of solitude and disorientation" among "numbed" young people. The technology, he says, is creating an "educational emergency." Apple iPad Is Not Yet a Must-Have Product Bloomberg Apple's iPad and other tablet computers may not sell as well as expected as consumers cut back spending, say analysts at Rodman & Renshaw. Tablets are still a "tweener" niche with limited capabilities. "Is it a must-have product? I don't think so." Bookstores: Half Are Predicted to Shut Down Lexington Herald-Leader Half of the bookstores in the United States will close down within the next three to five years, predicts Neil Van Uum, president of Joseph-Beth Booksellers, a retailer declaring bankruptcy. He cites the tattered economy and increasing Internet sales. Yahoo to Expand Blogs Into Politics, Media CNN Yahoo plans to add three blogs to its growing family. The new properties will live under the brand of Yahoo's 7-month-old blog The Upshot. But each blog will have its own name -- The Ticket for politics, The Lookout for national affairs, and The Cutline for media. Obama to Seek Internet Privacy Protections Wall Street Journal The Obama administration is preparing a stepped-up approach to policing Internet privacy that calls for new laws and the creation of a new position to oversee the effort. The initiative, to be unveiled in coming weeks, could mark a turning point in Internet policy. Yahoo Eyes Major Restructuring, Mass Layoffs TechCrunch Yahoo is said to be preparing to lay off 20% of total staff. The news comes just days after Google announced a 10% pay raise and $1,000 bonuses for its employees. Yahoo denies the report, describing a 20% workforce cut as "misleading and inaccurate." IAC's Daily Beast, Newsweek to Merge, Cut Jobs Wall Street Journal Newsweek and Barry Diller's Daily Beast website are agreeing to a merger. "It's a wonderful new opportunity," says Tina Brown, who will be editor of the combined operation. The two entities will share the same website. "Modest" job cuts are expected. Twitter Links Users to Apple's Social Network Reuters Twitter will link its service with Apple's new Ping music-oriented social network. Twitter's 175 million users can now connect their accounts to Ping, allowing them to put song previews and links to buy music from the iTunes store directly in their tweets. Digg Adding Editors to Break News Faster ReadWriteWeb Digg is adding an editorial layer to some parts of the social news website. A new breaking news/interesting stories module will be managed by Digg's community team. This team will aggregate stories that they think should be on the site's front page. Google to Fuse High Tech with High Fashion WWD Google may be taking a page from eBay's recent foray into designer clothing collections, if a fashion tweeter is to be believed: "Google is launching an ecommerce site with major designers." Google responds: "We don't have further details to share." Apple iPad Users More Likely to Drop Cable TV Fast Company Apple iPad users are more likely than regular adult broadband users to downgrade or cancel their pay-TV services, according to a study from the Diffusion Group. A third of iPad owners are "likely" to cancel their pay-TV service in the next six months. Google: We're Not Building a Facebook Rival Reuters Google is not building a social network to compete with Facebook, says company exec Hugo Barra, despite an intensifying rivalry between the two leading Internet groups. "We do think that social is an ingredient for success for any app going forward." IAC's Diller Surrenders to Google 'Juggernaut' Bloomberg Ask.com, the search engine that media mogul Barry Diller acquired for $1.85 billion to compete with Google, is cutting 130 engineering jobs and conceding much of its search business to competitors. Google has become "this huge juggernaut of a company." Google Gives Staff $1,000 Bonus, 10% Raise Business Insider Google is giving all of its employees $1,000 cash holiday bonuses and 2011 salary increases of at least 10%, for helping make the company "a place where magic happens." Says CEO Eric Schmidt: "We believe we have the best employees in the world. Period." Microsoft's Bing Steals Search, Ads from MSN New York Post CEO Steve Ballmer's bid to grow Microsoft's upstart Bing search engine is coming at the expense of sibling MSN. Searches initiated on MSN are landing surfers on Bing results pages. The move comes while MSN's unique users are growing. AOL, Eisner's Studio Pair Up for Web Series New York Times Former Disney chief Michael Eisner's Internet studio, Vuguru, will produce half a dozen scripted web video series for AOL. "Story-telling series" are coming to the fore on the web, Eisner says. "These are shows that, in another form, could be on cable." FCC Opens Inquiry Into Google Data Collection Associated Press The Federal Communications Commission is investigating whether Google broke the law by inadvertently collecting e-mails, passwords and other online activities over Wi-Fi networks while photographing neighborhoods for its Street View mapping feature. Google Fires Employee Behind Leaked Memo CNNMoney Google is known to hire the best that Silicon Valley has to offer, but hanging onto that talent can be a struggle. Google's bold move to boost morale -- a 10% across-the-board pay raise -- has already cost it one worker: the employee who leaked the news. Yahoo Taps Time Inc Exec to Run Ad Sales AllThingsD Yahoo, in a quick move after the hiring of U.S. head Ross Levinsohn, will bring in Wayne Powers, the president of Time Inc.'s media group, to run North American advertising sales. As a longtime magazine exec, Powers is seen as a known quantity. Hulu Video Website to Double Annual Revenue NewTeeVee Hulu will make more than $240 million in revenue in 2010, says CEO Jason Kilar. The video website generated $108 million in revenue in 2009. "The leading source of revenue is through advertising." Also, Hulu is not an enabler of "cord cutting," Kilar insists. YouTube Founder Quits for Fashion Company Daily Beast Chad Hurley resigned last week as YouTube's CEO to focus on running his own clothing brand, Hlaska, a company he co-founded six years ago. Hlaska is a functional, no-frills clothing line "perfect for the casual but professional Silicon Valley boardroom." Samsung Device a Worthy Rival to Apple iPad USA Today Samsung this week is rolling out its Galaxy Tab media tablet, the latest rival to take on the Apple iPad. A key difference: One-handed operation is impractical on the larger iPad, which has a 10-inch screen compared with the 7-inch display on the Galaxy. Amazon Under Fire for Sale of Pedophile Book AFP Amazon.com is facing criticism for selling a self-published digital book called "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure" for its Kindle e-reader. Amazon says: "We support the right of every individual to make their own purchasing decisions." Apple iPad to Lead Media Tablet 1,000% Growth Gizmag Gartner Group is forecasting the media tablet market to grow more than 1,000% in the next four years. "Media tablets have much more in common with a smartphone than a PC. The usage model is closer to what consumers do with a smartphone while on the go." RIM Plans Tablet Computer for Less Than $500 Bloomberg Research In Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, will begin selling a tablet computer in North America in the first quarter for "under" $500 as it takes on Apple's iPad. "The product will be very competitively priced." The iPad starts at $499. Facebook Files Complaint Against 'Old Media' Bloomberg Facebook is filing a complaint in Boston federal court against the owner of the Boston Phoenix newspaper and radio station WFNX. The social network claims Phoenix Media/Communications is infringing two patents related to ways to manage information online. Yahoo Circled by Private-Equity Giant KKR New York Post KKR & Co. is said to be interested in either taking Yahoo private or helping finance a deal if the struggling Internet pioneer decides to go that route. "The Valley is convinced Yahoo will be sold," says one insider. "The blood is in the water. Yahoo is in play." AOL Taps Investment Banks for Yahoo Deal Reuters AOL is asking Bank of America to explore strategic options including a potential merger with Yahoo. Allen & Co., a New York-based media investment bank, is also advising AOL. A possible AOL-Yahoo tie-up is still considered in the early stages. Google Offers Free In-Flight Wi-Fi for Holidays CNNMoney Google is partnering with U.S. airlines AirTran, Delta and Virgin America to offer free wireless Internet access on domestic flights from Nov. 20 to Jan. 2. The free service will be available on some 700 planes. "Once people try WiFi at 35,000 feet they rarely go back." IAC Electus Studio Head to Marry In December New York Post Ben Silverman, the boss of IAC multimedia studio Electus, is said to be planning to marry Jennifer Cuoco in Jerusalem in mid-December. The former NBC Entertainment co-chair is to wed at a five-star hotel in front of 75 guests, including pal Ryan Seacrest. Amazon: Publishers to Get 70% of Kindle Sales Associated Press Amazon.com will start paying publishers more when they sell magazines and newspapers on its Kindle electronic reader. The company will pay publishers 70% of the retail price, after subtracting delivery costs, for each magazine or newspaper sold. Google Plans to Make More Big Acquisitions Bloomberg Google is likely to buy more companies about the size of YouTube and DoubleClick, its two largest deals, to help offer more online services, says company VP David Lawee. Absorbing more startups could provide fresh ways to sell ads and compete with Facebook. Facebook Blocked from Google Amid Rivalry Reuters Google will begin blocking Facebook and other web services from accessing its users' information, highlighting an intensifying rivalry. Google will no longer let other services automatically import its users' email contact data for their own purposes. Microsoft CEO Sells $1.3 Billion of Shares Associated Press Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is selling about $1.3 billion worth of his company shares, saying the sale is to diversify his investments and aid his year-end tax planning. "I want to be clear about this to avoid any confusion. I remain fully committed to Microsoft and its success." AOL Hires Advisers, Eyes Tie-Up With Yahoo Wall Street Journal AOL is hiring financial advisers to explore various strategic options for the company, one of which is said to include a possible tie-up with bigger rival Yahoo. Analysts say a Yahoo-AOL merger could create a strong competitor in online display advertising. Yahoo Offers Weekend Edition News Package Mediaweek Yahoo, as part of a partnership with sponsor Buick, is rolling out Weekend Edition on Yahoo News, a lifestyle-focused content package featuring a mix of original video and content aggregated from websites such as Time, LiveScience and the Daily Beast. Amazon to Buy Diapers.com for $540 Million Fortune Amazon.com is expected to announce a deal to acquire Quidsi, the parent company of websites like Diapers.com and Soap.com, for $540 million in cash. A source says the company also received a presumably lower buyout offer from Wal Mart. Hulu Premium Service Opens to U.S. Residents Ars Technica Hulu Plus, the $9.99 per month subscription TV service offered by the video streaming company, has been in a limited public preview since June. The service is now becoming available to all U.S. residents. "We want to open to a larger subscriber base." Internet Video 'Arrives' with Streep Performance Deadline Meryl Streep, the Academy Award-winning actress, is making a guest appearance on Lisa Kudrow's comedy web series "Web Therapy" in November. In "Web Therapy," Kudrow portrays a therapist of unspecified credentials who treats people via web cam. Google to Facilitate Buying Video, Mobile Ads New York Times Google and Publicis Groupe's VivaKi are to announce a renewal of their 2008 partnership that will incorporate a new platform for buying video and mobile display ads. The platform will allow companies to bid on ad space in real time on ad exchanges. Hulu Is Destroying the TV Industry, Exec Says GigaOM Hulu users would wait a lot longer to catch up on their favorite shows, if Dish Network VP Bruce Eisen had his way. "If I can watch 'Glee' tomorrow morning and I don't have to pay a pay-TV service –- that's bad," he says at a panel about cord cutting. YouTube Yanks Cleric's Jihad Sermon Videos New York Times YouTube, under pressure from American and British officials, is removing hundreds of videos featuring calls to jihad by Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born, Yemen-based cleric who is playing an increasingly public role in inspiring violence directed at the West. Facebook Unveils 'Foursquare-Killer' Services CNET Facebook, which once tried to buy the mobile check-in service Foursquare, is launching of a suite of mobile features that includes enhancements to its Facebook Places service that let businesses easily automate "deals" for when users check in. MySpace Future at News Corp Appears In Doubt AllThingsD MySpace revenue is down $70 million compared to the same quarter a year ago, says News Corp. COO Chase Carey. Traffic numbers are "still not going in the right direction." Which means that its "current losses are not acceptable or sustainable." AOL Revenue In Decline on Slumping Ad Sales Reuters AOL is reporting a 26% decline in quarterly revenue amid declines in search and display advertising, as well as subscription sales. The steep revenue decline suggests that the company still needs to attract advertisers willing to spend big on the website. Google TV: Broadcasters Don't Understand Us Associated Press Attempts by broadcasters to seek payment for allowing their online video to be viewed through Google's new web-connected TV platform represents a "misunderstanding" of what it is, says Google exec Rishi Chandra. "Google TV itself is just a platform." YouTube, CBS Team to Stream Election News WebProNews CBS News partnered with YouTube to live stream Tuesday's election results and highlight election trends. "Examining web trends is a model that news organizations can use for any major event or milestone," says YouTube exec Ramya Raghavan. HuffPost, Facebook In Obama Online Ad Push Fast Company The Democratic National Committee made a last-minute $2.5 million advertising buy prior to Tuesday's election, described as "the largest online ad buy" of this election cycle. The buy included ads on Hulu, Facebook, YouTube and Huffington Post. Federated Media Buys Online Parenting Groups AllThingsD Advertising network Federated Media is acquiring BigTent, a platform hosting 15,000 communities, mostly made up of parenting groups. Says CEO John Battelle: "People might look at us as a school of fish, but suddenly realize we are a shark." YouTube Reposts Videos After Ban In Turkey Bloomberg YouTube is reposting videos that led to a 30-month ban on accessing the site from Turkey. The videos alleged by Turkey to be offensive were removed in the past week. YouTube found after an investigation that the videos did not violate its copyright policies. Google Sues U.S. Agency for Favoring Microsoft Dow Jones Google is suing the U.S. Department of the Interior, alleging the agency wrote procurement requirements for a messaging contract to favor rival Microsoft. The lawsuit turns the table on the U.S. government, which has stepped up scrutiny of the Internet giant. Facebook Developers Sold User IDs to Broker San Jose Business Facebook is placing some of its developers on a six-month suspension because they sold identifying user information to a broker. "While we determined that no private user data was sold, this violation of our policy is something we take seriously." Twitter Begins Publishing Ads in User Streams Advertising Age Twitter will begin dropping advertising into individual users' streams. Longstanding Twitter advertisers Virgin, Starbucks and Red Bull are buying into the new service. The move marks a significant change, as some users may see it as an intrusion. LinkedIn Starts Feature to Review Companies CNNMoney LinkedIn is introducing a feature that allows its users to review products and services offered by a host of big businesses. The new feature, called Company Pages, is designed to give companies exposure to LinkedIn's more than 80 million members. IAC's Citysearch Drops Most of Editorial Staff Venture Beat Barry Diller's online business directory Citysearch is laying off most of its editorial staff and switching to a freelance system. The company declines to provide the specific number of people being laid off, but says that the move reflects an "evolution" of the site. Glam Media Poised to Overtake AOL in Visitors ReadWriteWeb Glam Media had 91 million uniques in September -- only 13 million less than AOL, according to comScore. Glam Media is a network of websites focused on lifestyle content, connected to a massive advertising platform. The flagship is Glam.com, a website for women. Apple Dominates Tablet Computer Marketplace Bloomberg Apple increased its market share in tablet computers to 95% in the third quarter, while Google's Android operating system slipped, says researcher Strategy Analytics. "The tablet wars are up and running." Other platforms "are trailing in Apple's wake." Reddit Chief Leaves Conde Nast After Turmoil CNET Christopher Slowe, the head of Conde Nast's social-news website Reddit, is leaving to join the new travel search site Hipmunk. While Reddit's frosty relations with Conde Nast have been painfully visible, he insists his parting is "nothing but amicable." AOL's Video-Centric Relaunch Features Obama Financial Times President Obama will appear on AOL on Tuesday, part of his get out the vote effort on election day, and a relaunch of the beleaguered website. AOL is hoping that its new "You've Got" video feature will become "the morning television of the web." Google AdMob CEO Leaves After $750M Buy TechCrunch Last November, Google announced that it had acquired leading mobile advertising network AdMob for a whopping $750 million. Less than a year after the deal closed, AdMob founder and CEO Omar Hamoui is said to be leaving Google for personal reasons. Facebook Holding 'Mobile Event' Wednesday CNET Facebook is inviting the news media to a "mobile event" at the social networking giant's Palo Alto, Calif., headquarters this Wednesday. Back in September, rumors began swirling that the company was developing a Facebook-branded phone. Facebook, Twitter: Social Will Be New Normal Reuters The social networking phenomenon has nowhere to go but up as computer use becomes more mobile, according to leading figures behind the development of Facebook and Twitter. Says Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes: "It will all be social." Google Yearns to Make YouTube a TV Network New York Post Google is pitching YouTube not only as a popular online destination, but as a content channel to have a place in the living room alongside TV networks like ABC, CBS and NBC. "The best content doesn't have to be created in a studio," says a Google source. YouTube CEO to Step Down for Advisory Role TechCrunch YouTube co-founder and CEO Chad Hurley says he is moving to an advisory role at the Google unit and will soon focus most of his attention on other projects. Google exec Salar Kamangar is already handling most of YouTube's operations, he adds. AOL Sets New Home Page Design Next Week Wall Street Journal AOL plans to unveil another redesign of its home page, in the face of steep declines in advertising revenue and traffic to its sites. The new design, which some users will start seeing Monday, will prominently feature more original news and entertainment. MySpace Likely to Be Sold Barring Turnaround BusinessWeek MySpace's newly unveiled redesign is a last-ditch effort to keep News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch from selling off the floundering social network, which he is likely to do barring a major turnaround, analysts say. News Corp. was "naive not to sell it sooner." Apple CEO Aims to Crush Music Upstart Spotify Daily Beast Sean Parker's new digital music upstart, Spotify, is a hit in Europe. A U.S. launch is now in the works. But Apple CEO Steve Jobs, whose company dominates digital music, is telling industry execs that Spotify will bring more pain to their business. Redbox Making Plans for Transition to Digital Los Angeles Times Redbox is unveiling plans for a web-based service that will expand the number of movies offered to consumers directly in their homes. The company, known for its $1-per-night DVD kiosks, hopes the move will set the stage for longer-term growth. Google Relocates TV Effort Amid Media Heat San Francisco Chronicle Google is shifting its new Google TV initiative to YouTube amid negative reaction to the service among major media companies. "Google hasn't done a good job of explaining it," says one network exec. "We don't know if there's a viable business model." Yahoo Hires Ex-News Corp Exec to Fill Void Associated Press Ross Levinsohn is joining Yahoo as executive VP in charge the company's advertising sales, media division and partnerships in North America, Central America and South America. Levinsohn is best known for leading an Internet expansion at News Corp. Vevo CEO: We're Not Trying to Be MTV Fast Company Contrary to some media reports, Vevo is not trying to be MTV, says Rio Caraeff, CEO of the music-video website. Vevo will continue to live on the Internet and only be accessible via Web-connected TVs. "Jersey Shore" is "not what we want to do." Google Probe Dropped by FTC After Promise Bloomberg The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is ending its investigation of Google's collection of data over unsecured wireless networks after the company said it will improve privacy safeguards in its Street View mapping project. Google is also apologizing. MySpace Reboots With Focus on Hollywood Los Angeles Times News Corp.'s MySpace is unveiling a fresh look and refined focus as an entertainment destination for Generation Y. CEO Mike Jones hails the restart as an "exciting turning point." The revamped social network puts entertainment content front and center. Google Near $2B Buy of New York Building New York Post Google appears close to buying 111 Eighth Avenue, one of the largest buildings in Manhattan, in a deal close to $2 billion. Google has made no secret of its growth plans for the Big Apple and already rents some 550,000 square feet in the 18-story Chelsea giant. Twitter Mulls Move to New HQ Amid Growth VentureBeat Twitter is growing at a booming pace, hiring its 300th full-time employee as it continues a staffing spree. The company appears to be outgrowing its current San Francisco office space. A spokeswoman says: "We're going to have to look at other options." Yahoo Courts Former News Corp Digital Exec AllThingsD Ross Levinsohn, former president of Fox Interactive Media, is said to be near a deal to replace Hilary Schneider as Yahoo's U.S. head. Levinsohn, who bought MySpace for News Corp., currently oversees Fuse Capital, which funds digital media start-ups. Facebook Ad Sales Head to Leave Company Dow Jones Mike Murphy, head of advertising sales at Facebook, is stepping down, leaving a vacancy in one of the social networking giant's most important positions. The resignation comes as Facebook continues to grow rapidly and looks for new ways to generate revenue. IAC Sees Growth In Search, Media Businesses Associated Press IAC/InterActiveCorp, the Internet company run by Barry Diller, says its third-quarter revenue jumped 25% due to growth in its search business. IAC is also seeing growth in its media businesses, due to the inclusion of revenue from its new Electus studio. Google Donates $5M to Journalism Non-Profits Google Blog Google is donating $5 million in grants to non-profits that are "working to develop new approaches to journalism in the digital age." Some $2 million will go to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. "We're eager to do even more," Google says. "Stay tuned." Apple iPad: Hollywood's Must-Carry Accessory New York Times Apple's iPad is emerging as "the must-carry accessory" on Hollywood sound stages, visible behind the scenes of television and film shoots and in business meetings. The use of iPads inevitably ends up inspiring story lines that millions of people will see. MySpace Develops 'Jerk All-Stars' Dance Series Hollywood Reporter News Corp.'s MySpace and Ben Silverman's Electus, housed at Barry Diller's IAC, are teaming up for an original series, "Jerk All-Stars," set to debut on the social network. The series will spotlight the urban dance movement known as Jerk, or Jerkin'. Google Faces Fine for 'Gross Invasion' of Privacy Independent Google faces being the first company to incur heavy fines under privacy laws in Britain, after admitting to downloading personal data. Cars in Google's Street View project "mistakenly" collected emails and passwords from private computers. Amazon Says Kindle E-Book Sales Double Print AFP Amazon customers are buying Kindle digital versions of the top 10 best-selling books more than twice as often as print copies, the online retail giant says. "This is remarkable when you consider that we've been selling Kindle books for just 36 months." Facebook Investor Seeks Nearly $900M In IPO Bloomberg Mail.ru, a Russian Internet company with stakes in Facebook and Zynga, is seeking as much as $876 million in an initial public offering in London. The company will use proceeds to help fund a new stake in Russian social network service vKontakte. Twitter Mulls $200M Funding Amid New Ad Push AllThingsD Twitter, which has raised $160 million in its four-year history, is said to be mulling yet another funding round that could see it raise more than $200 million. The company may need more money for operations, as it begins a serious push into advertising. AOL Loses Key Journalists Amid Content Boasts Reuters AOL is losing a number of top writers and editors, including AOL News head Mike Nizza, who is decamping for News Corp. Several former AOL execs complain that management is still casting about for a content strategy, shifting priorities and resources. Google to Launch Online Music Service In India Wall Street Journal Google is partnering with three digital music providers to launch a music service in India that will help users search for legal online streams and downloads. The move is aimed at combating the rampant digital piracy that has held back India's music industry. Apple iPad Users Will Pay for Content, Study Says GigaOm Most users of the Apple iPad are willing to pay for content on the tablet, says a new Nielsen study on connected devices. Books and video are the two most popular forms of media users choose to consume on the iPad, with magazines a close third. Google, Apple Execs Meet with President Obama CNET President Obama met with ascendant Silicon Valley powers on Thursday: Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Google VP Marissa Mayer. Obama discussed U.S. competitiveness and education with Jobs and attended a $30,000-a-plate fund-raising dinner with Mayer. Facebook, Amazon Backing Social Internet Ideas AFP Facebook, Amazon and Zynga are teaming with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers to create a $250 million fund for entrepreneurs working to make the Internet more social. "There's never been a better time than now to start a new social venture." Google TV Blocked by Major Broadcast Networks Wall Street Journal ABC, CBS and NBC are blocking TV programming on their websites from being viewable on Google's new Web-TV service, exposing a rift between the tech giant and some of the media companies it wants to supply content for its new products. Yahoo Users Migrating to Google, Facebook Bloomberg Yahoo is predicting sales that fall short of analyst estimates after users shifted to social-networking sites and Google. One analyst says: "Yahoo looks like a 1.0 property in a 2.0 world." CEO Carol Bartz admits: "We have a lot more work to do." AOL Attracts Fewers Ads Than Newspapers Reuters AOL's new content-focused strategy is eliciting critical response from some analysts: "Within a matter of months AOL will be eliminated from the Internet. It's not adding any value whatsoever." AOL's ad sales are even underperforming newspapers. Google to Bring Dead Sea Scrolls to Internet Jerusalem Post The Israel Antiquities Authority is entering a $3.5 million partnership with Google to digitize the entire Dead Sea Scrolls collection for viewing by the public online. The "historic effort" means "there will be no need to expose the scrolls anymore." Starbucks Rolls Out In-Store Media Network MSNBC Starbucks is using its free in-store Wi-Fi to give away premium content via the new Starbucks Digital Network, now launching at the coffee chain's outlets, with Yahoo. Content providers include the Wall Street Journal, Nickelodeon and Apple's iTunes. Yahoo Board Firmly Committed to CEO Bartz Dow Jones Yahoo's board of directors is said to be firmly supporting beleaguered CEO Carol Bartz and remains fully committed to fulfilling her contract. Questions about Bartz's leadership have emerged amid recent reports that Yahoo could be broken up or sold. Apple Blasts Rivals as iPad Sales Disappoint Reuters Apple CEO Steve Jobs is on the offensive after a rare disappointment in sales by the iPad maker sent its shares tumbling. But his even biting words failed to reverse market sentiment. "The current crop of 7-inch tablets will be dead on arrival." YouTube Launches Leanback as Google TV Bows Mashable YouTube is preparing itself for the big rollout of Google TV with a launch of its own: the full release of YouTube Leanback, its made-for-TV experience. Leanback is a core component of Google's strategy to bring online video to the living room screen. Yahoo to Offer Log-In Links to Media Websites Wall Street Journal Yahoo is said to be planning to mimic a strategy used by rival Facebook to help attract traffic. The company soon will roll out a feature called Y Connect to allow media publishers and web developers to integrate elements of their services with Yahoo. Facebook In Privacy Breach Over User Information Wall Street Journal Many of the most popular apps on Facebook are providing access to people's names and, in some cases, their friends' names, to dozens of advertising and Internet tracking companies. The issue affects tens of millions of Facebook app users. Microsoft Plans Big Marketing Push for Xbox Device New York Post Microsoft is planning a half-billion-dollar marketing push to launch a new controller-free device for the Xbox called Kinect in time for the holidays. Kinect will be advertised with outlets as varied as YouTube, Nickelodeon, and People and InStyle magazines. Apple iPad to Boost Global Sales of Media Tablets CNET Apple's iPad will help sales of media tablets around the world hit 19.5 million units this year, according to a forecast by Gartner. Hot consumer demand is projected to prompt sales of media tablet sales to jump 181% to some 54.8 million units next year. Google Announces $1B in Mobile Revenue Apple Insider Google reveals in its third-quarter earnings call that the search giant is on track to bring in $1 billion this year in mobile revenue and expects continued strong growth in the mobile market. Says exec Jonathan Rosenberg: Mobile "is the future of search in the Internet." Facebook, Skype Announce Video Calls Deal Telegraph Skype users will now be able to sync their Facebook profile with their account with the Internet telephone service, providing one-click video calling to "friends." Facebook users, however, will not be able to use Skype to make Internet phone calls. Twitter Severs Ties to Celebrity-Tracking Site Los Angeles Times JustSpotted, slated to launch next week, plans to use Twitter feeds to show where Hollywood stars are around the world, raising privacy concerns. The site "is not the product we licensed, and we have terminated their agreement," Twitter says. Apple iPad for Sale at AT&T, Verizon Stores San Jose Business All three Apple iPad models will be available at AT&T and Verizon stores later this month. Says Apple COO Tim Cook: "We look forward to expanding the reach of iPad, allowing even more customers to experience the magic of for themselves." Twitter Investor Backs Celebrity-Tracking Website Hollywood Reporter A new website called JustSpotted informs users where each of the 7,000 celebrities that make up its database have been seen last, anywhere in the world, based largely on their tweets. Early Twitter investor Ron Conway is among the site's backers. AOL Revives City's Best Voter-Driven City Guide Associated Press AOL, pinning much of its resurrection hopes on local web content, is bringing out of retirement City's Best, a city guide that lets people vote for favorite local businesses. The guide is relaunching in 25 major U.S. markets, including New York and Los Angeles. Google, Publishers In Talks to Monetize Content Bloomberg Google is in talks with several magazine and newspaper publishers as a "technology partner" to help monetize content via micro-payments and apps, according to company exec Philipp Schindler. "The solutions may be very publisher-specific." Yahoo Buy Mulled by AOL, Private-Equity Firms Wall Street Journal AOL and private-equity firms including Silver Lake Partners and Blackstone Group are said to be exploring making an offer to buy Yahoo, aiming to marry two challenged Internet brands. Yahoo-AOL would have greater scale to compete against Google. Microsoft, Facebook Team Up on Social Search Associated Press Microsoft is unveiling a new feature incorporating what your friends do on Facebook right into its Bing search engine. If you use Bing to search for a news topic, articles that friends have shared on Facebook might appear, along with their names and profiles. Google Moves 'Star General' to Geo-Local Role Fast Company Google is moving top exec Marissa Mayer, one of the company's "star generals," into a new role focusing on "geo-local" services. The Internet giant is tight-lipped about the move, saying only that geo-local will be "crucial to our users and the future of Google." YouTube Dominates U.S. Online Video Rankings Dow Jones Google's websites, led by YouTube, continue to dominate U.S. online-video viewing statistics, according to comScore. Yahoo ranks a distant second, just ahead of Facebook and Microsoft. Google remains under pressure to boost revenue from YouTube. Facebook Image Effected by 'The Social Network' CNET News Young adults' opinions of Facebook have gone markedly up since the Oct. 1 release of the film "The Social Network," but in the 50+ demographic it remains quite tepid, according to a "brand perception" study by market research firm YouGov. Apple Shares Near Record Peak Thanks to iPad Associated Press Apple's stock flirted with $300 on Tuesday as investors high on the potential of the iPad pushed shares to a record peak. Analysts see few reasons to believe shares will stop there: "Clearly the iPad proved to be a hit beyond Apple's wildest dreams." Amazon Kindle to Offer Mini E-Books 'Singles' AllThingsD Amazon is making room on its digital shelves for "Singles" -- essentially, mini e-books for its Kindle platform. Prices for Singles will be less than a typical book, the company says. Also, Amazon expects to work with writers themselves to publish Singles. Traditional Media Worldwide Losing to Online AFP A study by research firm TNS reveals a global shift away from traditional media, with 61% of online users using the Internet daily against 54% for television, 36% for radio and 32% for newspapers. Also, China and the Middle East are "leading the digital age." Apple Apps Rivaling Reach of Prime Time TV Information Age Social gaming apps on the Apple iPhone have garnered an audience that rivals hit shows on broadcast television, says mobile analytics firm Flurry. The apps are merely "4 million viewers shy from beating" TV's No. 1 show, "American Idol," on Fox. Google CEO Meets Former Sony Exec for Music New York Post Former Sony Music exec Lisa Ellis is meeting with Google CEO Eric Schmidt as part of his hunt for a president of the Internet giant's new digital music store. Google is prepping to launch the tentatively titled Google Music as early as the end of this year. Yahoo CEO Tops List of Most Overpaid Execs Bloomberg Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz tops a list of execs who are paid too much for running underperforming companies, according to proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis & Co. Bartz received $39 million last year -- the highest pay among execs at 25 "overpaying" companies. Twitter Eyes 1 Billion Users, Targeting Facebook Bloomberg Twitter co-founder Evan Williams says the world's third-largest social-networking platform aims to get 1 billion followers, which may help the micro-blogging site compete with Facebook in attracting advertisements. "Twitter will get to a billion members." Apple iPad Coming to Wal-Mart Stores on Friday Barron's Wal-Mart will start selling the Apple iPad on Friday at hundreds of its U.S. stores, as rumored. The iPad is already selling at both Best Buy and Target stores. Wal-Mart says it plans to offer the iPad in more than 2,300 stores by mid-November. Microsoft to Shutter Massive In-Game Ad Unit Mediaweek Microsoft is said to be planning to shutter Massive, its in-game advertising unit, before the end of this month. The software giant acquired Massive in 2006. Since then, however, Xbox Live has emerged as a "much more attractive" ad option. Yahoo: Patience With CEO May Be Running Out Los Angeles Times Carol Bartz, with 18 months left on her four-year contract as CEO, is yet to deliver on promises to boost Yahoo's languishing stock price. Some investors say their patience is wearing thin. In the meantime, private equity firms are pushing for a merger with AOL. Huffington Post Eyed as Acquisition by Yahoo TheWrap The Huffington Post was in talks to be acquired by Yahoo in the spring, but discussions broke off after the two sides could not agree on a valuation. HuffPost "is not for sale," co-founder Arianna Huffington said at an I Want Media panel discussion in June. Google Testing Cars That Drive Themselves New York Times Google is road-testing cars that are driven by artificial intelligence software, not humans. The idea is to "prevent traffic accidents, free up people's time and reduce carbon emissions." How the Internet giant plans to profit from the venture remains unclear. Facebook Founders Back Pro-Marijuana Measure Associated Press California's ballot measure to legalize marijuana has a new friend: Facebook co-founder Sean Parker has given $100,000 to back the proposal. Also, Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz has made two donations totaling $70,000, including $50,000 last month. MySpace's New Logo to Let Users Fill In Blank TechCrunch MySpace is unveiling a new logo for the social networking site. The word "my" appears in Helvetica, along with a symbol delineating a blank space. "MySpace is a platform for people to be whatever they want, so we've decided to give them the space to do it." Apple iPad Coming to Wal-Mart, Report Says MacRumors Photos of alleged notices sent to Wal-Mart store managers suggest the retail giant could begin carrying the Apple iPad as early as next week. The iPad will roll out to 1,000 stores "by the end of October, with more stores being added in November." AP-MTV Poll: Tech Brings Connection, Stress Associated Press Technology has become so entwined with college students' lives that most say they would be frazzled without it, says a poll from the Associated Press and MTV's mtvU network. Some 25% of students say life without computers and cell phones would be "a relief." Twitter Integration In Test With Google News Search Engine Land Google is testing a new feature that will allow users to connect their Twitter accounts to Google News. Users will see a list of updates containing news articles shared by the people they follow. Links that aren't "Google News-worthy" won't be shown. Apple Developing Subscription Music Service New York Post Apple is said to be talking with record labels about a subscription music service that would give customers unlimited access to songs for a monthly fee. The service could have tiered pricing ranging from $10 to $15. The labels are "supportive of the idea." Microsoft, Adobe Discuss Apple, Acquisition New York Times Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer is said to have recently held a "secret meeting" with Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, focusing on Apple and its control of the mobile phone market. A possible acquisition of Adobe by Microsoft is said to have been discussed. AOL Seeking Reinvention via Content Buys CNNMoney AOL is approaching its first birthday as an independent company, aiming to reinvent itself by becoming a "content company." But one analyst warns: "If you don't move fast, you're the eighth site providing gadget reviews -- and no one wants to be No. 8." Amazon Plans App Store to Rival Google Bloomberg Amazon.com is said to be planning an online store to sell software and compete with a marketplace backed by Google. A store could help Amazon benefit from the rising demand for games, entertainment and workplace tools for handheld devices. Google: Former FTC Staffer Files Complaint Wall Street Journal Chris Soghoian, a former U.S. Federal Trade Commission employee, is filing a complaint with the agency accusing Google of not adequately protecting the privacy of consumers' search queries. The complaint calls on the FTC to investigate the Internet giant. AOL May Buy More Media - Even Newspapers PC World AOL may buy more online media and even traditional newspapers in its bid to boost its original content offerings, according to chief technology officer Alexander Gounares. "It is a possibility." AOL already operates the Patch network of local community websites. WebMD Founder to Launch Social Health Site Dow Jones WebMD.com founder Jeff Arnold plans to launch a new social media health site called Sharecare.com. The site aims to help people interact with medical experts, store personal medical records and eventually provide online consultations with doctors. Facebook Unveils New Way to Organize Friends San Francisco Chronicle Facebook is launching a new way for its 500 million members to organize their "friends." The new Groups feature will enable users to communicate about topics that pertain to a particular group and, potentially, make them comfortable with sharing even more online. Study: Most 2-Year-Olds Have Online Presence CNET Some 92% of U.S. children have some type of online presence by the time they are 2 years old, says a study from security company AVG. A third of U.S. mothers post pictures of newborns, and 34% of U.S. moms post sonograms of their as-yet unborn children. Apple Readies Verizon iPhone for Early 2011 Wall Street Journal Apple is said to be making a version of its iPhone that Verizon Wireless will sell early next year, ending an exclusive deal with AT&T and sharpening the competition with Google-based phones. Apple plans to release the new iPhone in early 2011. Google CEO Vows to Not Cross 'Creepy Line' Atlantic Google CEO Eric Schmidt says that the Internet giant's policy "is to get right up to the creepy line and not cross it." With the permission of users, "we know where you are; we know where you've been; we can more or less know what you're thinking about." Twitter Not for Sale, Despite New CEO's Past Telegraph Dick Costolo, the new CEO of Twitter, says he has no plans to sell the company, despite his record of selling startups. "We view Twitter as this global real-time information platform." He adds that country-specific advertising through promoted tweets is coming. Google's Android Bests IPhone, BlackBerry Bloomberg Google's Android software has become the most popular operating system among new U.S. smartphone buyers, passing the Apple iPhone and Research In Motion's BlackBerry platforms, Nielsen says. Android has surged in popularity because the software is free. Yahoo Buys Dapper to Spruce Up Online Ads Associated Press Yahoo aims to spruce up its online advertising service by buying a startup called Dapper. The 4-year-old outfit offers tools that help advertisers create Internet campaigns that connect with the people most likely to be interested in their products or services. Microsoft Promises Slate Device by Christmas Reuters A Microsoft slate to counter Apple's popular iPad tablet computer will be seen by the Christmas holiday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says. The software giant has been slow to respond to the iPad, and has also made little headway in mobile phones. Device Owners Consume More Print, Less TV Los Angeles Times People who own digital reading devices such as the Apple iPad spend more time with newspapers and magazines than folks without those gadgets, says a poll by the Harrison Group. They also watch less television and spend less time surfing the web. Google TV Partners Don't Include Broadcasters New York Times Google is announcing its first content partners for Google TV, its effort to marry the Internet and television. The partners include HBO, CNBC, Twitter, Netflix and Amazon. The major television networks ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC aren't participating, at least for the moment. Twitter: New CEO for Second Time In Two Years San Francisco Chronicle Twitter is promoting COO Dick Costolo, a former Google exec, to replace co-founder Evan Williams as CEO. The move comes as Twitter takes steps to better profit from its hugely popular service. Williams served as CEO since 2008, when he replaced fellow co-founder Jack Dorsey. Weblogs Inc Founder Mulls TechCrunch Rival Guardian Jason Calacanis, upset that Mike Arrington froze him out of the TechCrunch 50 event, is retaliating by creating his own startup editorial project, called Launch, and companion event. "I'm going for something that doesn't exist in the market," the Weblogs Inc. founder says. Apple iPad Has 'Overwhelming' Lead on Rivals Fortune Apple's lead in the computer tablet market will "prove difficult to close" by the onslaught of competing products in the pipeline, according to an analysis by Deutsche Bank. Rival tablets will be "troubled" by Apple's "growing scale advantages and leverage with the supply chain." Facebook's Zuckerberg Appears on 'Simpsons' San Jose Business A week after appearing on Oprah Winfrey's TV show to talk about a $100 million donation to Newark, N.J., schools, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is appearing as a character on "The Simpsons," along with Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Virgin founder Richard Branson. Ad Groups: Consumers May Block Web Tracking Bloomberg Groups representing 5,000 advertisers say they will offer U.S. consumers more control over how their Internet browsing is used to target marketing. Web users will be allowed to bar companies from sending them ad messages based on tracking of their previous online searches. Perez Hilton Grows Empire with Fitness Website Associated Press After dropping more than 60 pounds over the past three years, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is launching a fitness-focused website called FitPerez.com. "It's an organic next step for me." The new site will feature recipes, celebrity workout tips and photos of stars. Entertainment Weekly Scribe Exits for Website Deadline Entertainment Weekly journalist Michael Ausiello will be leaving the magazine to launch a consumer television-focused website with Mail.com Media, the parent of Nikki Finke's Deadline. The yet-to-be-named site, debuting in January 2011, plans to hire more reporters. Dr Phil's Son to Launch Anti-Gossip Website New York Post Jay McGraw, son of TV's Dr. Phil, plans to launch Rumor Fix, an "anti-gossip" website. "Our tagline is that it's the anti-tabloid." The site will be edited by Richard Ayoub, a refugee from the gossip site Radar. This week's debut is a soft launch, with a more robust site still months away. Facebook Splits Stock 5-For-1, Eyes 2010 IPO TheStreet Facebook is enacting a 5-for-1 split of its shares in order to bring the value "back down into the range of other private companies." The world's most popular online social network won't be interested in selling shares to the public until late 2012, board member Peter Thiel says. Microsoft: Motorola Phones Violate Patents Associated Press Microsoft is filing a lawsuit against Motorola for infringing on its smartphone patents. Motorola phones that use Google's Android software step on Microsoft technology, the company claims. The functions in question include synchronizing e-mail, calendars and contacts. Google, Apple Battle for Future of Mobile Newsweek Newsweek cover story: Google envisions a day when there are 1 billion Android-powered phones in the world. If the Internet giant could get just $10 from each user per year, it could be a $10 billion business. One of Google's "top priorities" is to catch up with the Apple iPhone. Apple iPad: 20% of Use Takes Place In Bed Atlantic Almost 80% of early adopters are "very satisfied" with their Apple iPad, according to a study of users by research firm NPD. And since 20% of users' time with the iPad is spent with it in bed, "it is obvious that the iPad form factor makes people feel warm and cuddly." Facebook Surpasses Yahoo In Video Viewing San Jose Business Google sites, driven by YouTube, again ranked as the top online video content property in August, while Facebook jumped a position to take the No. 2 spot, comScore says. Yahoo sites ranked third, followed by Vevo. Americans viewed 3.8 billion video ads in August. Yahoo CEO Urges 'Calm' After Exodus of Execs Reuters Yahoo is confirming the exit of three senior execs, including U.S. head Hilary Schneider, the latest in a string of high-level departures at the Internet company. CEO Carol Bartz urges employees to "stay calm," in a memo. "I'm more fired up than ever and can roll with the punches." Apple Takes Share From Google in Mobile Ads BusinessWeek By the end of this year, Apple's new iAd mobile network will pull even with Google and account for 21% of the U.S. mobile advertising market, according to a forecast by IDC. The researcher says that Google, the current market leader, will see its share drop from 27% to 21%. Microsoft to Launch Smartphones with AT&T Reuters Microsoft will offer a series of smartphones using the revamped version of its mobile operating system on Oct. 11. AT&T will start offering these phones four weeks after the launch, which is expected to be centered in New York, with additional events in other cities. Google Is 'Chicken,' Times Square Billboard Says San Jose Business Consumer Watchdog is placing a digital advertisement in Times Square calling Google a "chicken." The public interest group is irked that the Internet giant declines to accept its challenge to debate online privacy issues. The ad is running during New York's Advertising Week. Yahoo In 'Meltdown' as Three Top Execs Depart AllThingsD The executive turmoil at the top of Yahoo continues, with the company poised to announce the resignations of top execs U.S. head Hilary Schneider, U.S. audience head David Ko and VP of media Jimmy Pitaro. The exodus calls into question the tenure of CEO Carol Bartz. LinkedIn to Rival Facebook, Twitter In Revamp Daily Beast LinkedIn is unveiling a dramatic revamp that transforms it from a dry resume service into a serious competitor of Facebook and Twitter. A new feature, called Signal, will link to articles, statements of opinions about business, or whatever else someone posts on their profile. Twitter Declines to Accept Political Ads, For Now ClickZ Twitter isn't accepting political advertising, at least during the midterm election season. A "limited group of brands" is currently testing the platform, a spokesman says. Nonetheless, a lack of targeting capabilities could prevent campaigns from flocking to Twitter ads. Facebook, Skype In Talks to Hook Up Services Dow Jones Facebook and Skype are said to be in talks to mesh their communications services more closely together. Under the partnership, users of the social network will be able to text message, voice chat and video chat with their Facebook friends from within the Internet telephone service. Google Whacks Telcos With New Phone Service San Francisco Chronicle Google is allowing users of its Gmail service to able to call telephones directly from their email, putting it in direct competition with Internet calling outfit Skype and more traditional phone operators. "Google just took a big whack at the telcos by releasing voice for free." YouTube Opens Channel for Fall TV Previews ReadWriteWeb YouTube, in partnership with Time Inc.'s Entertainment Weekly magazine, is launching a Fall TV Preview channel offering a sneak peek at the new television season, including "bite-sized previews of programs." The channel arrives ahead of EW's popular Fall TV print issue. Facebook $33.7B Valuation Bests eBay, Yahoo Financial Times Facebook is now worth as much as $33.7 billion, based on secondary market transactions, giving the company an implied valuation greater than the market caps of eBay and Yahoo. A Facebook initial public offering could be the biggest tech IPO since Google's in 2004. Apple's Major TV Push Lures News Corp, Disney Financial Times Apple is expected to drop the price of its stalled set-top television box by about two-thirds and offer 99 cent TV show rentals from ABC and Fox. Content owners including CBS and pay-TV networks such as Time Warner's Turner are resisting the show-rental plan. Apple Schedules a Music-Focused Media Event Ars Technica Apple is sending out invitations for an event to be held at 10 a.m. PT on Sept. 1. The company is not specifying exactly what will be discussed at the news media-only occasion. But the image on the invitation -- a guitar bearing the Apple logo -- suggests a focus on music. Pandora Media Stake Eyed by Elevation Partners TechCrunch Private equity firm Elevation Partners is said to be planning to acquire a $100 million stake in Internet outfit Pandora Media. Pandora allows users to listen to music and create "stations." Elevation Partners' portfolio companies include Forbes, Facebook and Yelp. Apple Preps 99-Cent TV Show Rental Service Bloomberg Apple is said to be in advanced talks with News Corp. to let iTunes users rent television shows from the Fox network for 99 cents. Apple is believed to be in discussions with Disney, NBC and CBS about similar deals. Viewers would be able to rent the programs for 48 hours. Microsoft Finally Fuels Yahoo's Search Engine Associated Press Microsoft is now processing all searches on Yahoo's website in the U.S. and Canada, completing a long-awaited leap that creates a more formidable challenger to Google in the online advertising market. Microsoft eventually will fuel Yahoo's search engine worldwide. Facebook Brand Untarnished by 'Social Network' USA Today "The Social Network," the new movie about the founding of Facebook, is unlikely to have much impact on the online social network itself, say branding experts. "Some may think CEO Mark Zuckerberg is a bit of a jerk, but at the end of the day, they're more focused on the product." MySpace Acquires Assets of Threadbox Service Dow Jones MySpace is said to be buying certain assets of Threadbox, a company whose workgroup communications platform went through several iterations, two names and $1.5 million from investors. Threadbox had enabled small groups to share email, documents and other items. Forrester: Apple iPad Kicks Off 'Tablet Mania' CNET A report from Forrester credits the iPad with kicking off what it calls "tablet mania." Numerous iPad competitors are in the works, following the success of the Apple device. "The iPad has become a major consumer electronics product category within one single quarter." Google Plans Art Exhibit to Attract YouTube Ads BusinessWeek Google, in an effort to woo skittish advertisers to YouTube, will fill the atrium of New York's Guggenheim Museum with video installations in a special exhibition set for October. Teaming with a premier art institution may help make YouTube's brand more upscale, analysts say. Apple's iTV Set to 'Destroy' Cable, Satellite TV San Jose Business Apple reportedly is set to launch a new version of Apple TV it will call iTV next month. Digg founder Kevin Rose reports on his blog that Apple will integrate iAds in the product, which he says will "eventually destroy the television side of the cable and satellite industry." News Corp Digital Ad Exec Jumps to Twitter AllThingsD Adam Bain, the exec who runs News Corp.'s Fox Audience Network (FAN), is leaving to join to Twitter to head up the microblogging service's new advertising revenue efforts. News Corp. will integrate FAN into MySpace to play a part of the site's re-launch later this year. AOL Top Media Exec to Depart Amid Tensions AllThingsD One of AOL's longtime media execs, Marty Moe, is leaving the long-struggling company. The reasons are said to be personal and Moe is not currently taking another job. Nonetheless, the media group is reportedly facing tensions amid changes in management and strategy. Google Acquires Visual Searcher Like.com CNET Google is acquiring the startup Like.com, as the Internet giant puts its product-shopping search strategy on the front burner. "We were the first to bring visual search to shopping," says Like CEO Munjal Shah. "We see joining Google as a way to supersize our vision." Yahoo May Buy 'Considerable' Stake in Hulu Bloomberg Yahoo may buy a "considerable" stake in Hulu if the video website pursues an initial public offering, according to an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus & Co. A stake would allow Yahoo's sales force to "cross-sell Hulu inventory with parts of Yahoo’s own content initiative." Facebook Execs Alter 'Social Network' Movie New York Times Facebook execs requested changes to the upcoming film "The Social Network," some of which were granted. Producer Scott Rudin admits that "tweaks" were made. Nonetheless, the movie is expected to give an unflattering portrait of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg. Federated Media Buys Semantic Search Firm VentureBeat Federated Media, which helps online publishers sell advertising, is acquiring a semantic tech startup called TextDigger. Federated CEO John Battelle says the deal should help the media company strengthen its tech side. TextDigger was founded by former employees of CNET. Digg Founder: New CEO, Website Coming Bloomberg Digg, the website that lets people rate news stories, is about a week away from hiring a new CEO and will soon overhaul its site to make the content more relevant to users, says founder Kevin Rose. Digg has narrowed the CEO search down to three candidates, he adds. WikiLeaks Founder in Rape-Claim Controversy AFP WikiLeaks' Julian Assange says he believes the Pentagon could be behind a rape charge against him that was swiftly dropped by Swedish authorities. The founder of the whistleblowing website is in a row with Washington over the publication of secret Afghan war documents. 'Googled' Book by Media Scribe Set for Movie Deadline The film rights to the book "Googled," by Ken Auletta, the media columnist for the New Yorker, are being acquired by Michael London's Groundswell Productions, with producer John Morris. "The heart of the movie is their wonderful edict, don't be evil," London says. Google Shares Falter on Debut Anniversary MarketWatch Shares of Google fell nearly 3% Thursday, the sixth anniversary of their public debut on the Nasdaq, continuing a slide that began early this year. Some of the Internet giant's internally developed projects have been scuttled in recent months. Also: Is the party over for Google? Apple to Shut Quattro Wireless Ad Network Wall Street Journal Apple will shut down the Quattro Wireless advertising network it acquired this year and will support its new iAd network exclusively as of Sept. 30. The move was widely expected because the Quattro Wireless team had been key in helping to develop iAd, which launched in July. RIM Seeking to Acquire Mobile Ad Network Wall Street Journal Under pressure in the increasingly competitive wireless market, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is said to be shopping for a mobile advertising network. In recent months, the device maker has held talks with Baltimore-based mobile ad network Millennial Media. Google to Unveil Tablet to Rival Apple iPad Download Squad Google is rumored to be planning to unveil a tablet computer in partnership with Verizon in late November. The Chrome OS tablet is expected to be "substantially cheaper" than the Apple iPad. Google and Verizon recently teamed up on a proposal for net neutrality. Facebook Launches Location-Sharing Service San Jose Mercury News Facebook is unveiling a feature called Places, its much-anticipated location-sharing service, raising prospects that the social networking leader could become a new tool for shops and restaurants to cultivate business. Its partners include Foursquare, Gowalla and Yelp. Verizon Eyes Live TV for iPad, Other Tablets Reuters Verizon is developing an app that will allow customers to watch live television shows and movies on Apple's iPad, part of an effort to take its FiOS TV service beyond the living room. Verizon is banking on the new app as a way to lure away viewers from cable TV rivals. Gawker Redesigns Blogs as Destination Sites TheWrap Gawker Media is undergoing a redesign that will render its blogs as retooled destination sites. The new look will highlight "the big story" of the day, rather than a stream of reverse chronological posts. Interior pages will feature bigger images, which appear better on iPads. Google, YouTube Asked to Unmask Heckler Associated Press A New York City business consultant wants a court to force YouTube and owner Google to unmask a cyber cipher who posted what she says are unauthorized videos and comments that hurt her reputation. Google says it has "a track record of advocating on behalf of our users." AOL to Become Largest Hirer of Journalists San Jose Business AOL's plan to expand its Patch.com hyper-local news websites to more than 500 neighborhoods by the end of the year will result in the hiring of 500 journalists to serve as local editors. Patch will be the largest U.S. hirer of full-time journalists this year, AOL says. Google TV Plan Causes Jitters in Hollywood Los Angeles Times Google is touting an ambitious new technology, called Google TV, which will marry the Internet with traditional television. But the prospect of Google entering TV frightens many in Hollywood. Some say the Internet giant's moves will "destroy the legacy business model." Yahoo Battles Disney to Acquire CafeMom AllThingsD Yahoo is said to be eager to close a $100 million deal to acquire CafeMom, a social-networking and community site aimed at mothers, in a move aimed at turbocharging the Internet company's strategy in the women's space. Other interested buyers reportedly include Disney. Digital Media M&A Activity on the Upswing BtoB Mergers and acquisitions transactions in digital media increased to 564 in the first half of the year, a 14% jump compared with the year-earlier period, says Peachtree Media Advisors. In the same time frame, the value of the deals increased by 117% to $9.0 billion. Facebook Ready to Unveil Location Service Bloomberg Facebook may unveil location services at a press conference this afternoon at its Palo Alto headquarters, taking a page from fast-growing startup Foursquare, analysts say. Facebook has said for months that it is working on a location feature, without providing details. Social Network Ads Set to Reach $4.26 Billion San Jose Business Global spending on advertising on social networking sites will grow to $4.26 billion next year from an estimated $3.3 billion this year, according to eMarketer. Facebook will account for half of all social network U.S. ad spending as MySpace "fades in importance." Apple Said to Launch 7-Inch iPad by Christmas PC World Apple is readying another tablet computer similar to the iPad but with a 7-inch touchscreen for launch as early as the end of this year, according to a report in Taiwan's Economic Daily News newspaper. The manufacturers named in the report are declining to comment. BermanBraun In $100 Million Online Ad Deal AllThingsD BermanBraun is said to have signed a $100 million advertising deal with Starcom MediaVest, the media agency unit of advertising giant Publicis Groupe. Starcom gets a "first look" at the online properties created by the production firm run by Lloyd Braun and Gail Berman. Facebook Ownership 'Proven' by $3,000 Check Bloomberg Paul Ceglia, who is suing over claims he owns 84% of Facebook, has a copy of a $3,000 cashier's check his lawyer says is proof of a contract with CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The 2003 check, Ceglia says, entitles him to control of the world's biggest social networking website. AOL CEO Aims for 500 Local-News Websites Bloomberg AOL is betting on the success of CEO Tim Armstrong's vision for community news and advertising as it plans to start 400 more news websites by year end. AOL's investment of $50 million+ is jumpstarting the expansion of Patch.com's local news sites from 100 today. Apple TV Revamp Expected In Google Fight USA Today Apple is expected to revamp its under-performing Apple TV gadget, which plugs into a TV so users can watch movies and shows via iTunes, in order to take on the new Google TV service when it launches this fall. Apple is likely to cut the price of Apple TV to $99 from $229. Google's YouTube Dominates In Online Video Dow Jones Google's YouTube continues to dominate U.S. online-video viewing, while Yahoo ranks a distant second, according to new data from comScore. Facebook is moving up to the No. 3 spot. Vevo is dropping to fifth place, with Microsoft also passing the music-focused site. Hulu Seen Facing Hurdles to Stock Offering New York Post Hulu's plan to go public has some in the industry wondering if the online television hub is really ready for such a move. The venture is still figuring out the best way to profit from TV shows online. "It just doesn't make sense," says one Internet exec. "What's their story?" Apple's iPad to Face Flood of Wannabees Fortune The iPad is a suddenly-hot product -- and Apple pretty much has the category all to itself. But starting later this year, the tablet device will be confronted by an army of other touchscreen machines from the likes of Sony and RIM. At least 32 wannabees are in the works. Hulu Online Video Hub Seen Ready for IPO New York Times Hulu execs are said to be talking to investment banks about pursuing an initial public offering that could value the company at more than $2 billion. The video hub, founded as a joint venture of News Corp., Disney and NBC Universal, could go public as soon as this fall. Google to Buy Visual Search Site Like.com TechCrunch Google is said to be in the final stages of acquiring Like.com, in a deal reportedly worth $100 million. Like.com allows users to search for products based on a visual cue. Users are able to highlight a product in an image, then Like.com searches for similar products. Facebook Buys Content-Focused Chai Labs AllThingsD Facebook is said to be acquiring Chai Labs, a content-focused startup, for around $10 million. The Mountain View, Calif.-based firm, which was founded by a former Google AdSense exec, offers a tech platform that enables publishers to launch "search-friendly sites." MySpace Ex-CEO Resurfaces at 'FarmVille' Associated Press Zynga, the maker of popular social networking game "FarmVille," is hiring former MySpace CEO Owen Van Natta as its executive VP of business operations. Van Natta left MySpace in February after conflicting with parent News Corp.'s chief digital officer Jon Miller. Twitter Button Embraced by News Websites Journalism.co.uk Twitter's new "tweet" button, which lets readers share links to articles and web content via the microblogging service without leaving the page, is being embraced by newspapers and news websites. Earlier users include USA Today and many regional newspapers. Starbucks Plans Hyper-Local News Service Los Angeles Times Starbucks, hoping to leverage its move to offer free Wi-Fi at its stores, is working with Yahoo to create a news service with content providers such as USA Today. "Because we know what store you're in, we can give you hyper-local news," says Starbucks exec Adam Brotman. Demand Media Faces Harsh Spotlight in IPO GigaOm Demand Media is seeing its weaknesses exposed under the glare of the public spotlight, as the "content farm" prepares for an initial stock offering expected to be in the $1.5 billion range. Questions are being raised about traffic, which appears to have dropped sharply. Google's Android Outsells the Apple iPhone BizJournal Google's Android platform is the most popular software for smartphones, overtaking Apple's iPhone and Research In Motion's BlackBerry, according to Gartner. Also: Oracle is filing a complaint for patent and copyright infringement against Google over Android IP. News Corp's MySpace to Push Music Videos Associated Press MySpace is further defining itself as more than a catchall social network as it launches Romeo, an app that plays random music videos to match users' moods, including "chill," "naughty" and "studying." MySpace plans to roll out several mobile apps in the coming months. Facebook Global Ad Sales to Hit $1.2 Billion Advertising Age Facebook will book $1.285 billion in advertising this year -- almost double the $665 million the social network made in 2009, according to a new estimate by eMarketer. Facebook's self-serve ad platform is said to account for 50% of the company's ad revenue. Twitter Offers 'Tweet' Button to Publishers Wall Street Journal Twitter, borrowing a page from Facebook, is allowing online publishers to embed a "tweet" button on their websites. The goal is to make it easier for Twitter users to share tweets. Large sites including CNN.com, Huffington Post and YouTube are adding the button. Starbucks Adds Rodale to Digital Network Puget Sound Business Rodale is among the partners Starbucks is to its digital network launching this fall in partnership with Yahoo. Previously announced content providers include AOL's Patch and the New York Times. The network will be free for customers using Starbucks' in-store Wi-Fi. Digital Media Poised to Overtake Print in 2014 USA Today Consumers will spend more on digital media than they will on print by 2014, according to the new forecast from Veronis Suhler Stevenson. The average person will spend $159.59 in 2014 for Internet and mobile services, while spending $158.88 on print media. Google Steps Up Acquisitions in Growth Push Bloomberg Google is doubling its pace of acquisitions this year and expects to maintain that rate after some internal projects have failed to spur growth. "We can afford it," says CEO Eric Schmidt. The company is snapping up startups in social networking, mobile technology and advertising. Facebook, AOL Quietly Talk Online Ad Hookup New York Post Facebook and AOL are said to be quietly discussing a partnership aimed at boosting their online advertising businesses. AOL CEO Tim Armstrong's background in Internet sales makes him an attractive ally to Facebook. "Put them together, you get context, contact and content." MySpace Loses Another Exec Amid Struggles Hollywood Reporter The revolving door at MySpace is spinning again: Jason Kirk, VP of video and entertainment, is leaving the News Corp. property. Kirk, who is joining Ustream, is the latest defection to hit the social network. In June, MySpace was rocked by the exit of boss Jason Hirschhorn. Twitter Relevance Criticized by Site's Creator Fast Company Twitter's biggest challenge is "figuring out real time relevant ways" to filter information, says creator Jack Dorsey. "We have all this information flying through the network -- like planes landing in the Hudson -- but how do we immediately tell that that one tweet is important?" Plastic Logic Pulls Plug on E-Reader Device San Jose Business Plastic Logic is canceling its Que e-reader, saying the market has "dramatically changed." The product debuted in January and was expected to ship this year. The company says it will "take the necessary time needed to re-enter the market as we refocus, redesign and retool." Google, Verizon Seek 'Path to Open Internet' Washington Post Google and Verizon are announcing a proposal on net neutrality that could allow Verizon, for example, to block Microsoft's Bing from subscribers' mobile phones. CEOs Eric Schmidt and Ivan Seidenberg claim the proposal "ensures the robust growth of the open Internet." Twitter Hires First Ad Sales Execs for Growth ClickZ Twitter is hiring its first two advertising sales execs. "We're putting together a top-flight sales team as we open our 'promoted suite' of products to more companies," says COO Dick Costolo. The execs, Dan Coughlin and Amanda Levy, will be building ad-sales teams. Google to Acquire Social Gold Payment Product TechCrunch Google is said to be acquiring online payment firm Jambool to help form the backbone of its social strategy for the Internet giant's upcoming war with Facebook. Jambool's Social Gold payment product gives app developers the ability to build payments into games. Yahoo Launches 'Infinite Browse' for News PC Magazine Yahoo News is testing an "infinite browse" feature, which adds a small window of search results at the end of a news story. The goal is to encourage users to continue searching and consuming content within the Yahoo network. Search "complements the work of editors." Starbucks Plans Digital Network with Yahoo Puget Sound Business Starbucks plans to launch its own "digital network" this fall, in partnership with Yahoo. The network, available free to customers using the coffee chain's Wi-Fi, will include news from partners including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today and AOL's Patch. Facebook in 'Lockdown' Over Google Battle VentureBeat Mark Zuckerberg is said to have declared that Facebook is on "lockdown" for 60 days as it works to revamp operations in advance of Google's rumored launch of a competing social-networking service. The CEO even has a sign saying "Lockdown" on his office door. Google, Apple Prepare for Mobile Ad Fight Guardian Google and Apple are gearing up to launch ads on their apps, a strategy that could change the advertising landscape forever. Apple's model, like Google's, reduces media owners' involvement to a minimum. Apple's approach turns media owners into "developers." Apple iPad is Just the Beginning of Tablets CNET The media pad market is brand new. And it's not going to be stuck at the Apple iPad's current 9.7-inch diagonal. Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Dell and other firms are planning to release media tablets in a variety of shapes and sizes with offerings including better multitasking. Google Backs Away from Support for Open Web New York Post Google and Verizon are said to be in talks to reach a deal over net neutrality. Under one possible scenario, Internet service providers like Verizon would be allowed to push YouTube videos to Web browsers faster than other videos if YouTube owner Google pays a fee. Google Books Tallies Number of World's Books TechCrunch The Google Books blog is posting an item about the way in which the project calculates what is believed to be an accurate count of every book in the world. The current number is 129,864,880. Google Books searches the full text of books for storage in a digital database. Google to Pass Apple in Smart Phones by 2012 San Jose Business Google's Android will surpass Apple's iOS as the No. 1 smart phone operating system by 2012, according to a study by iSuppli. "The proprietary nature of the iOS and Apple's closed system business model will limit the number of smart phones with the operating system." Google Acquires Slide in Social-Gaming Push TechCrunch Google is said to be acquiring Slide, a personal media-sharing service for online social networks, for $182 million. The move appears to be part of an effort to create a social gaming and apps strategy. Also: CEO Eric Schmidt says: "I doubt that we'll get into significant gaming." Google, Verizon in Deal on Web Traffic Rules Bloomberg Verizon and Google are said to have reached a deal on how to handle Internet traffic, striking their own accord on policy being weighed by U.S. officials. Their deal would restrict Verizon from slowing Internet content over its wires, but wouldn't apply to Internet use on mobile phones. Google Phasing Out 'Google Wave' Service MarketWatch Google plans to shut down its Google Wave messaging and social-networking service due to lack of user interest. Google Wave, unveiled just last year, was designed to aggregate users' communication in a central location open to a number of participants. Motorola, Verizon Team to Launch TV Tablet Financial Times Motorola is teaming up with Verizon Wireless to develop a digital tablet device to rival Apple's iPad. The product, operating on Google's Android software, will allow users to watch television and is expected to tie closely to Verizon's FiOS digital pay TV service. RIM Unveils New BlackBerry to Rival iPhone Reuters Research In Motion is releasing a new BlackBerry device, the BlackBerry Torch, aimed at wooing consumers away from Apple's iPhone. But analysts say the handset won't blow away the competition. "RIM is playing catch-up. Not a lot here is super exciting." Google May Seek 'Secret Deal' with Regulators Bloomberg Google, AT&T and Verizon execs held a rare, private meeting over the weekend with Federal Communications Commission officials in efforts to resolve a dispute over U.S. Internet regulation. Critics fear the FCC may be negotiating a "secret deal" on net-neutrality rules. AOL Sees $1 Billion Loss, Ad Revenue Drop Associated Press AOL says a $1.4 billion accounting charge pushed the company to a $1 billion-plus net loss in the second quarter. AOL is in the midst of a turnaround effort under CEO Tim Armstrong. But since splitting from Time Warner, the company is seeing few signs of progress. Facebook Advertisers Boost Spending 10-Fold Bloomberg Facebook's biggest advertisers are said to have boosted spending by at least 10-fold in the past year as the social network grows. "You can't ignore the reach." Also, the company plans to make more acquisitions in areas such as virtual currencies and mobile social networking. Barnes & Noble for Sale Amid Digital Rivalry New York Times Barnes & Noble is putting itself up for sale, a move that is alarming book publishers, who are watching their business increasingly shift to online retailers and e-book sales. The largest U.S. book chain is facing stiff competition from the likes of Amazon and Apple. Google Surpasses Apple for Smartphones