901am

New Media News Every Morning

ClipBlast unveils Playbox video distribution

By

ClipBlast! unveiled ClipBlast! Playbox, a detached, cross-platform viewer frame that can play video from sources across the web. ClipBlast!’s patent-pending Playbox technology gives viewers a universal way to search, discover, watch and interact with video, while offering video content providers new audiences and new revenue opportunities.

Playbox can be launched from a web page by clicking on text and image links. When launched, Playbox “floats” on top of the page, and can be dragged and positioned as the viewer chooses. As Playbox is launched, users can watch, save and send videos; expand to full screen; see other video recommendations; and continue to scroll through web page content while the video plays – without ever leaving the site.

For web site publishers, Playbox provides the freedom and flexibility to deliver video on-site, without being constrained by video players or formats. Publishers of social networks, blogs and message boards can provide a video experience that increases visitor engagement and improves monetization. For content providers, Playbox – in combination with ClipBlast!’s Intelligent Index – provides a seamless platform from which to distribute and syndicate video throughout the web.

Major television producers like CBS, ESPN, BBC, HBO, Comedy Central, AMC, PBS, Turner Classic Movies, IFC and National Geographic stand to benefit from Playbox by gaining broader distribution of their programming, as do video hosting platforms such as YouTube, Blip.tv, Metacafe, Veoh, Daily Motion and ClipSyndicate. These and thousands of other video content providers are automatically Playbox-compliant.

Originally posted on April 28, 2008 @ 10:24 am

Microsoft completes tender offer for FAST Search & Transfer

By

fast.pngMicrosoft Corp. has completed settlement of its tender offer for Fast Search & Transfer ASA, provider of enterprise search solutions. Microsoft’s plans to acquire FAST were originally announced in January. FAST will operate as a Microsoft subsidiary, with a dedicated enterprise search research and development center in Oslo, Norway, and offices throughout the world.

John Markus Lervik will transition from his role as FAST CEO to become Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Enterprise Search, reporting to Teper. Under Lervik’s leadership, the group’s charter will include the development of a comprehensive portfolio of enterprise search offerings, including Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express, search for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and FAST ESP, and future delivery of a single enterprise search platform.

Originally posted on April 25, 2008 @ 9:49 am

PropertyMaps.com adds another online real estate search tool

By

PropertyMaps.com announced the addition of a new online real estate search tool: Google Street View. Now, users can take virtual ‘strolls’ through local neighborhoods when looking at homes listed for sale in the MLS.

PropertyMaps.com is a user-friendly, one-stop-shop web site that allows consumers to quickly search the actual Multiple Listing Service (MLS) databases used by Realtors nationwide by using popular mapping tools such as Google Maps, Google Earth, and Microsoft Virtual Earth. PropertyMaps currently has 1.3 million listings and expects to reach 2.2 million by the end of June.

At PropertyMaps.com, visitors can also see the exact lot size for any property listed in the Digital Map Products database, which currently covers more than 500 U.S. counties. The service is expected to grow to encompass 1,000 counties and more than 100 million parcels.

Originally posted on April 23, 2008 @ 9:58 pm

CNET Networks and Yahoo! announce content, advertising, and search partnership

By

CNET Networks, Inc. announced with Yahoo! Inc., a broad, three-year strategic partnership that includes content, advertising, and search marketing components. This partnership creates unparalleled value for users and marketers alike. CNET, as the leader in technology media, provides category expertise and trusted, engaging content destinations for consumers, while Yahoo! brings scale and a broad advertising platform to increase revenue and distribution for its partners.

Originally posted on April 24, 2008 @ 11:55 pm

GoMoInfo.com launches free 411 live data mobile search

By

GoMoInfo.com has launched a free Live Data Mobile Search engine. The service provides a free business directory search and a click-to-call feature to reach local and national businesses. Live Data Search retrieves data as a user types. Each keystroke returns narrowed search results thus minimizing the time spent typing.

Business owners should submit their company contact information for a free listing in the directory by registering. Additionally, a business signing up for a pay-per-call account receives the full range of features.

Businesses can now reach a nationwide audience and receive calls from customers searching for their specific service or product. A more focused local search is also available, using an advanced search option such as zip codes.

Originally posted on April 23, 2008 @ 9:53 pm