Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

A year ago Facebook had super growth around the world, but U.S. growth was flat and we pondered the real value of all these worldwide users. At that time it would have taken Facebook more than four years to catch up to MySpace in the U.S. In January we re-ran the numbers and the trend suggested January 2010. Today that has all dramatically changed – MySpace has 70 million monthly U.S. uniques (Comscore, March 2009), less than they did a year ago. Meanwhile, Facebook has surged to 61 million U.S. users and are adding a few million more every month. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/18/myspace-is-in-real-trouble-if-these-page-view-declines-dont-reverse/ 5/18)

Twitter is developing add-on tools for businesses and professionals, which could create a revenue stream for the microblogging service, says co-founder Biz Stone. Twitter doesn’t plan to pursue advertising, he adds, because it could end up annoying users. (Iwantmedia 5/19, http://www.reuters.com/article/GlobalTechnology09/idUSTRE54H5CP20090518 5/18)

Facebook’s recent redesign makes the social network closely resemble Twitter, according to Twitter creator Jack Dorsey. “We’re definitely flattered because it is moving more into our direction,” he says. “They may get more and more close to what we’re doing.” (Iwantmedia 5/19, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/05/twitter-jack-dorsey-nielsen.html 5/18)

Napster has announced its latest relaunch plan, the company’s first since being bought by Best Buy last year. Under the new plan, customers will pay $5 a month for unlimited streaming music and 5 MP3 downloads per month. VentureBeat (5/18) , Reuters (5/18)

If newspapers want to get their online revenue growing, according to media buyers, they need to tie ad rates more closely to results, charge less for ads and provide Web content that readers can’t get at news aggregators. “CPMs have got to be in line with the online marketplace.” (Iwantmedia 5/19, http://www.marketwatch.com/story/newspapers-pressured-to-change-online-ad-approach 5/18)

Disney is opening DisneyStore.com, a new site offering merchandise from its theme parks, as the entertainment group seeks new revenue sources. The site will sell Mickey Mouse ears and other items that were previously only available at Disney parks and resorts. (Iwantmedia 5/19, http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE54I0L320090519 5/19)

(Below)  That’s like the CEO of Chrysler telling people to not use their cars.  Is this the Bugs Bunny technique?

Google CEO Eric Schmidt, speaking at the University of Pennsylvania’s commencement ceremony in Philadelphia, recommends college graduates to turn off their computers and discover the humanity around them. Economic downturns can be a time for innovation, he says. (Iwantmedia 5/19, http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090518/ap_on_hi_te/pa_google_penn 5/18)