Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Something big is brewing between Google and Ebay’s Skype, we’ve heard from multiple sources. Actually, for weeks now there have been low level rumors of the two companies talking, but nailing down any details was difficult. New information, however, suggests that they are in current talks and that a partnership or outright acquisition may be announced in the near future. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/01/googleskype-acquisition-or-partnership-imminent 4/1)

Shares in Expedia jumped more than 10% in Tuesday trading, after rumors swirled that the online travel agency was a takeover target by Google. The Bellevue, Wash., company’s shares rose $2.20 to close at $24.09 Tuesday, after speculation about “unsubstantiated rumors.” (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/03/31/daily14.html?jst=b_ln_hl 4/1)

Google will announce layoffs Wednesday at DoubleClick’s New York City and San Francisco offices, sources say. Supposedly, the cuts will be focused on middle management, not sales staff. Google’s press office says the company doesn’t “comment on rumors or market speculation.” (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://venturebeat.com/2008/04/01/doublclick-layoff-announcements-coming-tomorrow 4/1)

Radiohead is using the Internet for another initiative built around its chart-topping album, “In Rainbows.” The rock act is allowing fans to remix the new single “Nude” by buying separate tracks from the recording — bass, voice, guitar, strings/effects and drums — from iTunes Plus. ((Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003783599 4/1)

Head to the site to listen to the top-rated remix. It’s been on repeat on my iTunes deck all day.

The Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held an invite-only hearing about virtual worlds yesterday which was simultaneously broadcast in Linden Labs’ Second Life, the leading virtual community with about 6 million registered users. The subcommittee, led by Net Neutrality advocate Ed Markey, wanted to explore some of the issues involved in virtual worlds such as, Can they be used to launder money? or Are the safe for children? So they figured, why not meet as avatars virtually? Rep. Markey also made headlines last December when he sent his chiseled avatar to attend a United Nations conference on global warming in Bali. But hey – at least it’s a way to save on jet fuel. (Cynopsis 4/2)

CBS Radio placed a giant web 2.0 foot forward announcing a deal to stream its stations to Last.fm listeners through a new online player coming out later this Spring. The deal follows CBS Radio’s recent agreement to offer live streaming on AOL and is similar to the Last.fm partnership struck with the BBC’s digital radio stations. (Cynopsis 4/2)

Sony Pictures Television joined the crowded comedic video space with C-Spot, an ad supported web comedy channel that will distribute short form sketches on Sony’s Crackle, YouTube, Hulu, AOL Video and Verizon Wireless’ VCast, (not to mention directly to Sony Bravia TVs via the Bravia Video Internet link.) C-Spot will try to tickle the funny bone with an initial 6 series, each of which will run for 13-weeks and debut a new episode a different day of the week: Hot, Hot Los Angeles, The Writers Room, Gaytown, The Roadents, Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show, and Best of Penn Says. (Cynopsis 4/2)

Online video search company Blinkx plans to launch its own peer-to-peer Internet television service. Blinkx Broadband TV will initially offer independent films and news free of charge, delivered over the Internet but with picture quality on a par with ordinary TV. (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d6ee25a8-001a-11dd-825a-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1 4/1)

Blinkx Broadband TV

Eh. . .so so selection of content and definitely not picture quality on par with TV. Mediocre quality at best in my very minimal usage.

A week after dozens of people ransacked an Oregon home in response to a Craigslist ad offering its contents for free, police have arrested a couple for orchestrating the hoax. After subpoenaing Craigslist records, investigators traced the online posting to the alleged perpetrators. (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0401081horse1.html 4/1)

Dissident shareholders led by investment fund Jana Partners are belittling CNET Networks’s leadership as incompetent in their latest effort to steer the slumping tech news company in a new direction. Jana says it wants to deploy “better tools to sell more advertising.” (Iwantmedia.com 4/2, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080401/ap_on_hi_te/cnet_investor_rebellion 4/1)

Music and video content streamed over the Web, IPTV networks and mobile handsets will generate $70 billion in total revenue between this year and 2013, according to a report from Insight Research. (InformationWeek 4/1)