• Will iPad Bump Google For Bing?
    Despite rumors to the contrary, Apple is unlikely to dump Google as the default search engine for the iPad, says Barclays Capital analyst Douglas Anmuth. "Overall, we believe there is a better than 50% probability that Google remains the default on Apple mobile devices -- if nothing more because Apple is extremely focused on the user experience and Google's 65%+ search market share speaks for itself," Anmuth writes in a research note. "As a result, Apple may not want to risk disrupting the iPad or iPhone user experience with a shift to Bing." Anmuth notes that Microsoft …
  • YouTube Redesigns Video Page
    YouTube on Wednesday plans to roll out a complete redesign of its video pages. In an email sent to publishing partners, the Google unit called it "one of the biggest redesigns in YouTube history." Among other changes, a new "see more videos" area will now reside atop of playing videos, which should make it possible to load a horizontal grid of every video uploaded by a particular user. This feature will rely on Ajax technology, so user won't have to reload pages to browse through additional videos. "The redesign will also put more emphasis on channel subscriptions …
  • Yahoo Beefs Up Real News Gatherers
    As AOL pursues its strategy of automated news gathering, Yahoo is taking a more traditional approach to news. The portal has recruited nearly a dozen journalists from traditional and online media outlets, and consequently opened a Washington bureau. "The move mirrors a successful push by Yahoo into original sports coverage some three years ago, with the hiring of sports journalists and the acquisition of Rivals.com," reports The New York Times. "Yahoo began that push after a more costly and ambitious effort to create original television-style programming faltered." New hires include Michael Calderone, most recently a media writer …
  • Study: Developers Cooling On iPad
    If ever so slightly, developer enthusiasm over the iPad appears to be waning, according to two comparable studies conducted by Appcelerator, a maker of cross-platform development tools. In a survey of more than 1,000 developers conducted earlier this month, 80% of the respondents said that they are very interested in building an application for the Apple tablet in the next year. In a similar study conducted two months ago, meanwhile, 90% of the respondents said they were very interested in building an iPad app. Appcelerator attributes the decline to a realization on the part of developers that …
  • Microsoft, Google Vie To Manage Your Energy
    Challenging Google in, of all areas, energy management, Microsoft has struck a deal with Ford to manage applications for the carmaker's electric vehicles. This represents Microsoft's first major client win for its Hohm energy management application, "which today sort of resembles a Quicken for those homeowners that want to track energy usage," according to ZDNet's Between The Lines. Now, "Microsoft via its various tentacles -- the PC, set-top box and game system and potentially your home -- has all the parts to be a life operating system so to speak." Google is itself experimenting with helping homeowners …
  • Twitter Continues Homepage Twiddling
    In lieu of a major monetization strategy, Twitter has relaunched its homepage, which -- with more user-friendly and dynamic features -- repositions the platform as more than a mere feed for status updates. This marks the second time that Twitter has redesigned its home page in less than a year, notes paidContent, which describes the company as "still trying to do a better job of making itself accessible to the new Tweeter." Seconds ReadWriteWeb: "Given that Twitter has always had a hard time converting new users to regular users, this new …
  • Analysts: Amazon Could Thrive In Apple World
    Even if the iPad achieves iPhone-like success, Amazon and its Kindle e-reader will continue to thrive, according to analysts at JP Morgan. "Despite (a) Apple's 4-year head start in MP3 sales and (b) Apple's dominance in devices, we estimate Amazon had ~10% of the digital music market by the end of '09," the investment banks writes in a research note. "We estimate that, even if Amazon's eBooks market share dips to 30%, it could still drive ~$900M in incremental revenue as eBook penetration grows ... Note that Amazon (a) has enjoyed a head start with the Kindle store, (b) …
  • Coalition Seeks Updated Online Privacy Laws
    In an effort to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, a coalition of interest groups, non-profits and private companies have come together, including Microsoft, Google, AOL, and the ACLU. Originally enacted in 1986, most agree that the statute is now insufficient for the age of the Internet. The principles aim to upgrade and enhance privacy protection for individuals using the internet, sending email and storing data in the cloud, according to Search Engine Land's Greg Sterling. "Basically these principles seek to apply the probable cause standard and require a judge-issued warrant before law enforcement officials can gain …
  • Yellow Pages Buying Canadian Directory
    Yellow Pages Group's Yellow Media is set to acquire a Canadian local search and directories publisher named Canadian Phone Directories Holdings, but commonly known as Canpages. TechCrunch reports that Yellow Media is paying a consortium of investors -- led by PE firm HM Capital Partners -- about $225 million for the company. The purchase price will likely be comprised of $75 million payable in cash at closing to settle third party debt obligations, along with the issuance of $150 million of Mandatory Exchangeable Promissory Notes of Yellow Media. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canpages publishes 84 directories for a …
  • The Great Google Lobby
    Five years after Google opened its Washington office, CNNMoney.com catches up with the search giant and its various efforts to influence public policy, including "everything from patent reform to foreign policy." Google reportedly lobbied 13 government agencies last year, which set it back about $6 million. Tech giants like Microsoft, IBM, and Oracle all spent more -- but not much more, according to CNN Money. Meanwhile, Google employs 30 staffers in Washington, and regularly relies on top-tier lobbying groups like the Podesta Group, Dutko Worldwide and McBee Strategic Consulting. In 2009, some 16 bills that Google lobbied …
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