Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA by Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Comcast has now jumped into the downloadable video content game with the Fancast Store. It’s a lot like many other video download stores in that you can either rent or buy movies and TV shows, it requires you to install proprietary media management software in order to download and view your content, and it’s not Mac compatible (you can, however, order content from a Mac and download it on a PC later). (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/03/comcast%e2%80%99s-fancast-offers-downloads-for-a-price 9/3)

The dust hasn’t even settled on Chrome’s release and already Mozilla is feeling the pressure. The company today released a series of benchmarks showing Firefox 3.1 will be faster than anything Google can muster with Chrome. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/03/mozilla-fights-back-with-new-firefox-benchmarks 9/3)

When competing with someone, it seems lame to claim that you’ve got (to be released by the end of the year) that’s better.  All that really matters is what’s running in the current market.  Firefox 3.1 may be faster but we’ll have to check in on that claim towards the end of ’08.

Microsoft has announced that its Office Live Workspace Beta has reached its one millionth user. The service, which serves as both an extension to Office and a direct competitor to Google Docs and startups like Zoho, was announced last winter and opened in public beta last March. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/03/microsofts-answer-to-google-docs-hits-1-million-users 9/3)

Amazon.com is launching a Wikipedia-style site, SoundUnwound.com, dedicated to music and bands. The site features information from Amazon’s retail site and from its Internet Movie Database. SoundUnwound offers direct links to Amazon allowing users to purchase music. (Iwantmedia 9/3, http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/09/02/amazon-launches-social-music-site 9/2)

A large swath of Viacom’s programming now is available via CreateSpace, an Amazon.com-owned service by which consumers can place online DVD orders for their favorite shows. Nets involved include Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1. Home Media Magazine (9/2)

During Fashion Week next week Conde Nast’s Brides.com will feature guest blogs from Oscar De La Renta this year. The famous designer will provide readers with advice on bridal dress styles and fine jewelry as well as ideas for city, country and island weddings. Oscar himself is getting into the digital swing of things, redesigning his personal website in July to include e-commerce capabilities. (Cynopsis 9/3)

Facebook’s virtual gift store is estimated to rake in about $35 million this year. The more Facebook users are willing to pay $1 to send digital birthday or holiday greetings, the more the online social network is able to collect users’ credit card data and create “digital wallets.” (Iwantmedia 9/3, http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10364606?nclick_check=1 9/2)

Major League Baseball hopes to launch local online streaming of live games next season after it failed to come to an agreement with Comcast on a potential test of Chicago Cubs and White Sox games earlier this year, marking the latest entry in a divisive issue within baseball. (Iwantmedia 9/3, http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/59884 9/1)

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