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In 2007, housing and dollar crumbled, but oil and Web 2.0 soared
New app helps publishers track content across Web
Get real: People will want to connect in 2008
Should web giants let startups use the information they have about you?
Tips for small-business owners making New Year’s resolutions
Google in search to sell its advertising to newspapers
Start-up whiz takes on new challenge
Originally posted on December 31, 2007 @ 6:51 am
A British Judge, in the trial of three men accused of inciting terrorism through the Internet, admitted that he “was struggling to cope with the basic terms like “web site.” Here’s a quote from the Reuters report:
“Judge Peter Openshaw broke into the questioning of a witness about a Web forum used by alleged Islamist radicals. “The trouble is I don’t understand the language. I don’t really understand what a Web site is”. he told a London court during the trial of three men charged under anti-terrorism laws. Prosecutor Mark Ellison briefly set aside his questioning to explain the terms “Web site” and “forum.” An exchange followed in which the 59-year-old judge acknowledged: “I haven’t quite grasped the concepts.”
Originally posted on May 17, 2007 @ 7:38 am
Wallstrip, the web show with a pop culture take on the stock market, have been bought by CBS News according to Jossip. The blog claims that the price tag where around $5 million, which should boost the wallets of investors Fred Wilson and Howard Lindzon I’m sure.
This is interesting of course, since it appears that Wallstrip is making no or little money. TechCrunch’s Duncan Riley (former blogger here at 901am) confirms the story and I’ll add my own belief to his: that CBS is looking for an Amanda Congdon 2.0 in Wallstrip host Lindsay Campbell.
Nothing is said about the deal on the Wallstrip site yet, by the way. Also, the price tag will probably render us a whole bunch of web show so beware of impending video garbage…
Update! It seems that Jossip and TechCrunch have gotten Fred Wilson’s involvement a bit wrong. He hasn’t negotiated any sale whatsoever, according to this blog post, and Union Square Ventures isn’t involved either. Fred is merely a curious angel investor as it were. I’m guessing his wallet isn’t going to be that thick after all, at least not from the Wallstrip sale anyway…
Originally posted on May 14, 2007 @ 3:07 am
Reopening Pandora’s Music Box
Pandora, one of the best online music recommendation engines out there, recently had to cut off their international users, leaving access only to the US, Canada and the UK. But there are still ways to access Pandora, using proxy servers. Proxies also anonymize your net surfing. Frantic Industries and Digital shows you how to get Pandora. [via Lifehacker].
Pandora Alternatives
Digital Alchemist also offers some suggestions for listening to Pandora outside the coverage area, and offers some Pandora alternatives. Last.fm is on the list, but there are rumors of them being bought out by Viacom. This might actually save Last.fm, since the capital for royalty payments will be available. Of course, the independent radio station always has a mighty struggle, whether over the airwaves or online.
Audio and Video Are Hot
No kidding, I’m stating the obvious. paidContent reports that VideoEgg received US$3.5M and iAmplify received US$6M. Thing is, with such cheap hosting services available, if you have a rich media website idea, get it implemented now, before the new tech bubble bursts like some people are saying (namely me – between 2009-2011).
Originally posted on May 7, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Last.fm Music Popularity Graphic
Lee Byron has created some fascinating infographics based on comprehensive Last.fm user data. He uses algorithms to generate the graphics, then produces posters as tall as 6′ 3″. [via Information Aesthetics] If Viacom buys Last.fm, they should buy some of these posters for the lobby of their headquarters, hopefully to remind them to keep Last.fm grassroots.
More Newspaper Layoffs
Editor and Publisher has at least four posts talking about layoffs in the publishing biz. That’s just this week alone.
Public Domain Sounds
Need ringtones for your cell phone or VoIP software? Check out Public Domain Sounds. [via 21Talks] I haven’t listened to any of these, but it seems that you can probably use them for audio or video podcasts as well. They have an interesting presentation and even use a tag cloud to show what categories hold the most samples. If you like what’s there, you can subscribe to any of several RSS feeds.
Time’s Top 100 Influential People
Don’t know how you feel, but there are some scary people in the Leaders & Revolutionaries section of Time’s Top 100 list. Apparently, though, the list is based on public voting, so go figure. But man am I happy that SNL’s Tina Fey is on the list. Intelligence is sexy, and so is that fine-line scar on her cheek. If you want to see a compact list, check Editor and Publisher. Stephen Colbert didn’t make it this year, but there are a few web celebrities on the list. [NOTE: I had this written last night, but Minic beat me to posting with his Time 100 roundup.]
Related post: Borat, Justin, Rosie, 93 others more influential than Bush
Originally posted on May 4, 2007 @ 10:17 am