TechCrunch have launched discussion forums to further build a relationship with its readers. For now it’s just a forum for TechCrunch, but other sites in Mike Arrington’s network will follow.

This is a good place to pitch your new startup or product if it hasn’t been featured yet on TechCrunch (or even if it has), share tips with the community, spread rumors, or endlessly debate the definition (or existence) of Web 2.0. When interesting conversations spring up, we’ll link to them from the main TechCrunch blog.

I guess they got tired of the flood of e-mail the TechCrunch crew no doubt is receiving, with more or less interesting startup pitches. This is a good way to handle it, and it will also kick people into actually participating on the forums. Good call, Mike.

Originally posted on January 5, 2007 @ 6:00 am

Huge online world Second Life goes open source, with the client being released under the GNU GPL version 2.

Stepping up the development of the Second Life Grid to everyone interested, I am proud to announce the availability of the Second Life client source code for you to download, inspect, compile, modify, and use within the guidelines of the GNU GPL version 2.

Over at the official Linden blog, there are comparisons with the open sourcing of Netscape Communicator, which lead to Firefox, Thunderbird and other projects under the Mozilla banner.

What will this do to Second Life, an economy on its own already? I have no idea, but it can only be glorious days ahead for Linden Labs.

Originally posted on January 8, 2007 @ 12:30 pm

Google Adsense isn’t the only advertising network that toys with video ads. Adbrite has a beta up on some publisher’s sites, and you can actually sign up as an advertiser already.

Features:

Fully customizable video player, easy-to-use, and 100% free

Brand your videos with your own custom logo “watermark”

“Split-screen” ads engage users without interrupting viewing experience

Sharing features promote your site when your videos get “viral”

Earn money from your videos, even when they’re embedded into other peoples’ Web sites

Check out their page on the matter if you’re interested.

Originally posted on January 4, 2007 @ 3:59 am

NewTeeVee have learned that Wallstrip, the somewhat pop-ish stock show, have secured a little more than half a million dollars in funding. Howard Lindzon is the source, although both his blog and the Wallstrip site are lacking any more information.

With the funding, Wallstrip plans to create five more original shows on the topics of finance and venture capital. Lindzon says, whereas Wallstrip is keeping things upbeat and happy with the all-time-high theme, “not mucking around with companies like Dell,” at least one of the other shows will tackle the fact that stocks don’t always go up.

Congratulations to the Wallstrip team. Some of us are still wondering how you’ll monetize but that could be a later problem I guess, as Howard said in the interview over at Bloggertalks, the Revver ads in the end of the show doesn’t pay any bills.

Originally posted on January 6, 2007 @ 3:34 am