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Staff Writers, Friday, October 24, 2008, 11:30 AM
Social Media Hits Mainstream Status
Adweek
Does it sometimes feel like everyone you know is on Facebook or MySpace, or possibly both? A new study suggests you're not just imagining it. According to Forrester Research, 75% of Internet users now participate in some form of social networking. That number represents a huge spike in social networking -- up 56% over 2007.
But adoption rates were not even across activities. For example, Forrester found large growth in participation among those reading blogs and writing product reviews, from 48% to 69%. But only 19% use RSS feeds or tag Internet content, up just 12% from a year ago.
Of course, Forrester says such growth will soon plateau "The novelty of today's social technologies will eventually wear off." writes analyst Josh Bernoff. "But consumers will expect marketers to continue the relationship they've formed over time and still listen to what they have to say."
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Dutch Teens Found Guilty Of Stealing Virtual Items
Ars Technica
Odds are you already know someone who is way too serious about his or her virtual life, whether in Second Life or World of Warcraft or some other alternate reality. Well you can now add the Dutch legal system to that group after a court in The Netherlands sentenced two teenagers to community service after stealing virtual items from another child in Runescape.
Never mind that the two teens, a 14- and a 15-year-old, had also physically assaulted their victim (in reality). The case dealt explicitly with the theft of the imaginary items in the game, in this case an amulet and a mask, both of which the court determined had real-world value. "These virtual goods are goods (under Dutch law), so this is theft," said the court.
The older child was sentenced to 200 hours of community service, and the younger 160 hours. On the upside, this might be the most time either has spent interacting with the real world in years.
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Bill Gates Quietly Starts New Company
TechFlash
Just months after officially leaving his day-to-day role with Microsoft, Bill Gates has quietly established a new company with high-tech office space, a cryptic name and even its own trademark. Just what it will do is still anyone's guess.
According to public documents, the new company is called bgC3 LLC, and is some kind of a think tank. According to a Gates insider, it's not a commercial venture but rather a vehicle to coordinate the software mogul's work on his business and philanthropic endeavors. But Gates himself, who established the company under a different name in March before changing it to bgC3 in July, isn't talking.
Some suggest the name could mean "Bill Gates Company 3," meaning the third Gates enterprise after Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But the insider says the "C" stands for "Catalyst," a reference to the role Gates himself will play as he brings together new ideas and people.
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Microsoft Earnings Don't Disappoint
BusinessWeek
Journalists and investors waiting for the Microsoft earnings call to begin this week sat listening to a suggestive piece of music: The theme from the Lone Ranger (more properly known as The William Tell Overture). Was Microsoft about to come to the rescue?
Surprisingly, yes. Microsoft beat analysts' revenue and profit expectations in the period that ended in September, a rare bit of good financial news over these past few months. And while it is still having trouble seeing the future -- like most companies these days -- its forecast for this quarter is assumes that the recession will be mild.
The Redmond, Wash.-based company expects PC sales to grow 10% to 12% this yearend shopping season. "It's important to keep things in perspective," said CFO Chris Liddell. "We still see revenue growth."
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Netflix Woes Could Be Offset By New Tricks
Forbes.com
One could be excused for getting pessimistic about Netflix's future right now. The company recently announced it did not meet its subscriber numbers for the third quarter, and then lowered its subscriber estimates for the fourth quarter.
But Netflix has a few tricks up its sleeve. The company this week notified customers that it will charge an extra $1 per month for the ability to watch Blu-ray videos -- an option they must opt-out of if they don't want to participate. Analysts say that because most subscribers probably won't opt out, the move could generate an extra $25 million in revenues.
Netflix's partnership with Microsoft is also about to bear fruit. Their joint "Watch Instantly" service, which provides movies via streaming video, could help add 1 million new subscribers by the end of 2009.
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Hulu Tops ESPN, CNN Online
Wired
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NYC Bus Ads Get Targeted
MediaBuyerPlanner
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