Filed under: GAMING | Tags: Browser Based, Casual game, comScore, Games, iPhone, Online game, Personal computer, Video game
Lifetime Networks has signed a deal with game publisher Merscom to create four casual games based on Lifetime shows. The online games will include two hidden-object adventure games, a simulation game for personal computers and an iPhone game. TVWeek.com (2/10)
In a recession, free is always popular. Traffic to free ad-supported gaming sites increased dramatically last year, according to new research from ComScore Media Metrix. The category grew by 27% year-over-year to 86 million U.S. visitors. Total time spent playing online games also increased 42% from a year ago from 3.7% to 4.9% of all time spent online. And despite the challenging display market, the number of display ad views grew by 29% in the gaming category for the year, perhaps boosted by a 17% reduction in ads per page viewed, a measure of ad clutter. (Cynopsis 2/11)
Top Online Gaming Sites Dec. 2008 vs. Dec. 2007
Total Unique Visitors (000)
Dec-2007 Dec-2008 % Change
Total Internet : Total Audience 183,619 190,650 4
Online Gaming 67,457 85,977 27
Yahoo! Games 16,184 19,468 20
EA Online 12,673 15,369 21
Disney Games 11,933 13,458 13
WildTangent Network 7,650 13,306 74
Addictinggames.com 9,706 11,343 17
AOL Games 8,380 10,750 28
MSN Games 9,685 10,263 6
Miniclip.com 7,264 8,636 19
Nick.com Games 6,020 7,092 18
Spil Games 1,821 6,715 269
Source: comScore Media Metrix
Display Advertising Trends in Online Gaming Nov. 2008 vs. Nov. 2007
Online Gaming Nov-2007 Nov-2008 % Change
Total Display Ad Views (MM) 6,659 8,610 29
Advertising Exposed Unique Visitors (000) 52,066 67,834 30
Advertising Exposed Reach % 28.6 35.6 25
Display Ads per Page Viewed 1.00 0.83 -17
Average Frequency 127.9 126.9 -1
GRPs Total Population 2,271 2,913 28
Source: comScore Media Metrix
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Business, Economic, Microsoft, Net income, Personal computer, Seattle, Steve Ballmer, Wall Street Journal
Microsoft announced that the software giant would cut as many as 5,000 jobs amid slowing sales and a reported 11% drop in its fiscal second-quarter net income. The job cuts, to be implemented over the next 18 months, are projected to save the company $1.5 billion. These are the first companywide layoffs in Microsoft’s history. 
ClipSyndicate/Bloomberg (1/22) , Bloomberg (1/22) , The Seattle Times/Microsoft Pri0 blog (1/22) , The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (1/22)
LED-based technologies will see a nearly 3% revenue increase this year, a rare bright spot in an otherwise dreary semiconductor forecast, according to a new study from iSuppli. LED growth can be attributed to their use as a lighting source in some LCD television sets, a category that will account for $163 million in LED revenue in 2009, the report stated. TWICE (1/21) , CEPro.com (1/21)
For audio lovers chained to their computers, Peachtree Audio has introduced the DS4.5, a high-quality set of speakers with a four-inch woofer and silk-dome tweeter that can be hooked up to a PC. The unit, which can be combined with Peachtree’s Decco integrated amplifier, sells for $599 a pair. ElectronicHouse.com (1/21)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Apple, CES, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Personal computer, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
We’re going to be seeing a lot more touchscreen computers. One of the features of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system is that it supports a multitouch user-interface (much like on the iPhone or a Tablet PC). To further the adoption of such touchscreen technology, Microsoft led a $24 million round
in Israeli startup N-trig. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/12/microsoft-leads-24-million-round-in-n-trig-to-bring-multitouch-to-pcs 1/12)
(Below) I got the chance to demo the HD 3D home theatre system last week and was fully blown away. I wasn’t so much a fan of the animation films in the format but sports of any kind comes alive in HD 3 dimensionally. You really need to see this one…
Panasonic introduced at CES its 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System, which is said to be the first-of-its-kind setup that depicts 3-D imagery that the company says is fully true to life. The system involves a 103-inch plasma HDTV from Panasonic and a Panasonic Blu-ray player that, together, deliver full HD images to the left and right eyes. Pocket-lint.co.uk (1/9)
With an eye toward the youth market, AT&T and Dell are selling an Inspiron Mini 9 laptop for $100 until Jan. 31 — including the $350 rebate — a Windows XP device embedded with connectivity to AT&T’s 3G network. Buyers must commit to a two-year service contract that costs $60 a month. RCR Wireless News (1/9)
(Below) I got to check out Eye-Fi at CES. Anything that makes it easier to transfer pictures from my camera to my computer is a very good thing. And with the iPhone application they also demoed at CES, they’re taking it to the next level. Too bad the only people able to have the iPhone app are those who own the Eye-Fi card. Blah….
For the second year in a row, Eye-Fi claimed the prize in the ninth annual Last Gadget Standing SuperSession sponsored by NetShelter, as determined by the crowd’s reception on Saturday. This year Eye-Fi demoed the new Eye-Fi Video Card, which allows users to wirelessly upload videos and share videos in real time, over the internet. The emWave Personal Stress Reliever, a portable biofeedback tool from HeartMath that helps users “reduce stress, balance emotions and increase performance,” won in an online vote at the Last Gadget Standing site. (Cynopsis 1/12)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Apple, MacMini, Men In Black: The Album, Michael Jackson, NPD Group, Personal computer, Sony, Steve Jobs
TECHNOLOGY
Steve Jobs is not going to deliver this year’s Macworld keynote. We suspected this was coming. But there’s more: Apple has confirmed that this is their last Macworld ever. (http://gizmodo.com/5111773/apple-announces-last-year-at-macworld-no-steve-jobs-keynote 12/16)
A new report out from NPD Group shows that PC sales for Apple were flat in November. However, sales of the company’s notebook computers rose 22% in the U.S., the retail-focused research firm reported. 
ClipSyndicate/Bloomberg (12/15) , Reuters (12/16) , The New York Times/Computerworld/IDG News Service (12/15)
Dell, once a virtually untouchable force in the personal-computing business, now, according to this report, finds itself beset by competitors and working to play catch-up in a devastated economy. “It appears they are boxed in on all sides,” said analyst Ashok Kumar of Collins Stewart. “I don’t know how they can possibly extricate themselves from the hole they are in.” The New York Times (12/15)
Sony announced plans Monday to sell movies and music on USB drives, including a special edition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album for $19.99 and movies “The Da Vinci Code” and “Men in Black” for $29.99 each. But, according to this analysis, there may be some concerns about the company’s chosen delivery platform. CNET (12/15)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Apple, BusinessWeek, Dell, Hardware, Hewlett-Packard, HP, Laptop, Personal computer
TECHNOLOGY
Hewlett-Packard today is expected to debut the tx2, a notebook PC that is multitouch-enabled, beating rival Apple to the punch. The tx2 allows users to perform a number of tasks by placing two fingers on the screen, including dragging files around and changing the size and orientation of graphical elements. BusinessWeek (11/19)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Dell, Hardware, Hewlett-Packard Company, HP, Laptop, Personal computer, Touchscreen, Wall Street Journal
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TECHNOLOGY
HP said it would introduce a laptop computer featuring touch-screen technology by year-end. HP, which like other computer companies, is doing what it can to boost sales in a bad economy with a potentially soft holiday sales season looming. The Wall Street Journal (10/16)
Gateway has rolled out a pair of new desktop computers equipped with quad-core processors that, according to the company, are priced to sell, especially to gamers and digital-media lovers. The FX6710 and LX6200 both feature 750GB of storage, at least 6GB of RAM, fast graphics processing, Vista Premium, similar 15-in-1 card readers and 18x DVD±RW burners. Digital Trends (10/16)
Sales of notebook computers will continue to grow this year and into next, according to marketing-forecast firm DisplaySearch. The newfound popularity of notebooks, as well as mini-notebooks that are typically low on frills as well as price, will lead to 153 million units, notebooks and mini-notebooks combined, being shipped this year, DisplaySearch predicts. Electronista (10/16)
MiTAC International has introduced its Mio Moov 380, which the company says is the first in-car GPS system to feature a built-in SIM card for wireless Internet searches while on the go. MiTAC Vice President Samuel Wang said the device offered a variety of location-oriented services, such as positioning, navigation, tracing and leisure-entertainment searches. China Economic News Service (Taiwan) (10/17)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Apple, MacBook Pro, Office, Personal computer, Sling Media, Slingbox, Television, Wall Street Journal
TECHNOLOGY
SlingCatcher, the Sling Media device that hooks directly from the PC to the TV and allows people to view broadcast TV, online video and personal content, now is available for just shy of $300. The set-top box, when attached to a Slingbox device, also can access content from a DVR or another set-top that supplies cable or satellite programming. CED Magazine (10/2008)
Apple’s media invitation to an event Tuesday provides strong evidence that the company will introduce new laptop computers, and published reports indicate that at least one model, at under $1,000, will cost less than any MacBook to date. The company is expected to show new versions of its MacBook and MacBook Pro lines, with aggressive new pricing aimed at making them more competitive with rivals. The Wall Street Journal (10/10) , MarketWatch (10/9)
Revenue from LCD-TV sets will outpace that of all other consumer-product sectors by 2012, according to new research from iSuppli Corp. The company reported that global LCD-TV sales, which accounted for $61 billion in 2007, will nearly double by 2012, to $111 billion. Electronista (10/9) , TMCnet.com (10/9)
Carmakers are adding support for Apple’s iPod at such a quick clip that most 2009 vehicles will carry the feature as an option, according to a report from iSuppli. But drivers are looking for connectivity beyond the popular digital-music player: ISuppli said carmakers would also offer USB interfaces on about one-third of all vehicles, double the number from 2008. TWICE (10/8)
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