The New York Times reports that Microsoft appears to be top among the list of those seeking a big stake in America Online, according to two inside sources, who noted that coordinating a deal for the Time Warner unit has been difficult despite interest from major companies. The sources said that Bill Gates was singularly motivated by an interest in stemming Google's growth. In a meeting with the Times, Bill Gates added that Microsoft's interest in AOL is about playing a greater role in the future of online advertising, which is currently dominated by Google and Yahoo! According to comScore …

Advertising Age argues that people--and the media--are taking Google conspiracy theories out of control. According to the article, while Google is slowly but surely redefining the advertising industry--and may take a few jobs with it--the search giant won't be putting every agency, publisher, and cable TV and Internet provider out of business. Google's appeal may in fact stem more from how unappealing major media companies have made themselves recently. CNBC Wall Street guru Jim Cramer also weighs in, saying that big media companies generally don't have a strong enough understanding of their Internet media rivals. He adds that Google's stock …

The Wall Street Journal reports that Yahoo! and Google are taking advantage of the advanced networks of wireless phone providers to develop applications that make cell phones more like multi-functional, personalized remote controls. Yahoo! is partnering with SBC Communications to develop cell phones that link to users' Yahoo! services, interacting with their personalized music, photo, e-mail, and address book accounts. Google is also making its suite of satellite mapping services available for download via wireless phone networks. Other companies have made recent overtures into the wireless applications market. Last week, Sprint Nextel reached agreements with three cable providers to provide …

Adam Curry, the former MTV VJ who brought podcasting to the masses, is now pioneering a way to turn the mp3-compatible talk shows into a money-making industry. He is building a podcast network of 30 to 50 shows that will split advertising revenues, reports Business Week. Two Silicon Valley venture capital firms like the idea so much they've pumped 9.8 million into the project. Curry's group plans to offer advertisers a host of sponsorship opportunities, from on-air spots to whole shows devoted to a product or service. Many podcasters already devote the first 15-30 seconds of shows to product sponsorships, …

Marketers are not just buying ads on podcasts, some are actually producing podcasts featuring their products and services, notes Business Week. Whirlpool, a manufacturer of home appliances, has recently started producing podcasts of interviews with families about the issues affecting them. The company notes that the effort is more about connecting with consumers and providing information than merely pushing products. Pet food maker Purina also has converted a radio show featuring interviews with veterinarians and pet owners into a podcast. Virgin Atlantic Airways has started producing a travel guide about the 20 destinations it flies to, and Simon & Schuster …

TiVo, whose digital video recorder business has been somewhat stymied of late by similar offerings from satellite and cable providers, announced a deal with Yahoo! Monday that will let its users remotely program their DVRs from Yahoo!'s site. Users can now go to Yahoo! TV and click on a "record to TiVo" icon directly on the program listings page. As part of the deal, users will soon be able to access traffic, weather, and photos stored on Yahoo! from their TiVo devices. Increased competition means that TiVo has to do something to stand out; the company still has about 43 …

According to a Reuters report, News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch said the company is looking to enter the U.S. high-speed Internet market. "We may be forming a company with partners to build something out here that would give you broadband," Murdoch said. News Corp. owns satellite provider DirectTV, but does not own a phone or cable company. Murdoch added that in the near future, consumers will want more two-way bandwidth, so devices like high definition home-cameras can easily communicate with the Web.

Contrary to earlier reports, Google has not yet resumed its plan to scan the books of four major universities as well as the New York Public Library, according to a Cnet report. The company said it would resume scanning on Tuesday, but Google spokesperson Nate Tyler confirmed that the company had yet to do so. Tyler declined to be specific, saying only "It's an operational thing." He did say Google would scan older sections of the libraries first, which usually include public domain and out-of-print books--presumably, to avoid further conflict with copyright holders. Five major publishers sued Google last month …

On the same day Google started offering book content online, Amazon.com said it will launch a new book service that allows customers to buy whole books or even portions of one book, the company said Thursday in an Associated Press report. Another new program allows customers who buy traditional texts to access them online. In stark contrast to Google Print's sticky legal situation, the services, called Amazon Pages and Amazon Upgrade, respectively, come with the blessing of trade organizations and major publishers like Random House. The difference? Amazon is letting copyright holders call the shots and will be sharing revenue …

It's a phenomenon that's been discussed for almost a decade, which the new media community has been implementing for several years now, but when the chairman and CEO of the largest media company in the world says that convergence is upon us, we know it's for real. Time Warner Chief Richard D. Parsons told an New York gathering of politicians and media people that convergence is the wave of the future, but his company was just way too early, acknowledging the "abysmal" timing of the AOL-Time Warner merger. He said companies like Viacom and News Corp. are making the right …