In advance of the iPad's April debut, Apple is racing to secure partnership with various media and content companies, sources tell The Wall Street Journal. And, if these sources are correct, "hundreds of thousands" of iPads have been pre-ordered in less than a week. Still, despite its likely popularity, "lining up TV programming, digital newspapers and other content ahead of the iPad's April 3 release has proven difficult for Apple as some potential collaborators weigh the advantages of working with the company against the potential threats to their current sources of revenue." As a result, Apple is …

The Washington Post examines the cultural implications of Google pulling out of China. While many citizens tell the paper they support the search giant's decision to challenge the Chinese government on the issue of censorship, "they also said its departure would make them feel even more marginalized to the borders of Chinese society, stuck between a state committed to controlling information and a freer outside world." Still, it does "appear certain" that Google is following through with its threat to close at least its Google.cn search engine, reports WaPo. It cites The Chinese Business News newspaper, which …

Sure, the iPad will let you read Updike and watch Cassavetes, but games are going to dominate the device if developers have their way. Indeed, a clear majority of applications being created for the tablet PC are game-related, according to new data from app measurement firm Flurry. In all, games make up 44% of all apps being tested on the iPad. Entertainment, which Apple generally defines as videos and "novelties" like lava lamp apps -- takes a distant second with 14% of the pie. Meanwhile, social networking programs made up 7% of the total, followed by sports, …

The long-running court battle between Viacom and Google is heating up again now that Viacom has released its summary judgment motion, arguing why Google-owned YouTube deserves to be hung and quartered for hosting user-uploaded videos that infringe copyrights. "YouTube has proclaimed a 'safe harbor' from liability under USC 512(c) thanks to efforts to respond dutifully to takedown requests," writes The Hollywood Reporter. "But Viacom goes out of its way to present the case that YouTube was founded upon and continues to exist as the result of intentional copyright abuse." Indeed, "Viacom ... …

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Google was quietly testing a TV search service in partnership with satellite TV provider Dish Network. Blurring the line between TV and online content even further, The New York Times says to look out for a "Google TV" platform, which the search giant plans to launch with the help of Intel, Sony and Logitech. "The move is an effort by Google and Intel to extend their dominance of computing to television, an arena where they have little sway," surmises The Times. The Google service will run on Intel's Atom-powered set-top boxes, …

High-level sources tell The New York Times that Amazon is threatening to stop directly selling the books of certain publishers online unless they consent to a list of concessions regarding the sale of e-books. Amazon, says The Times, "is trying to use its clout to hold on to its early lead in the e-book market," adding that, "the last time it went down that path, it was widely accused of abusing its position." Less than two months ago, Amazon removed the "buy" buttons from its site for thousands of printed books from Macmillan due to a dispute over pricing. Soon …

By the end of this year, there will be more more mobile Internet users in China than the entire population of the US, according to eMarketer. The 2010 estimate of the size of the United States population stands at roughly 310 million people, according to Wikipedia. Notes TechCrunch: "That's a shitload of people browsing the Web from their phones right there." Also, according to the report, the number of mobile Internet users in China will grow to reach a jaw-dropping 957 million by 2014. Of course, those mobile Internet users don't presently "monetize" as well as Western audiences, i.e., mobile …

With all the buzz surrounding video chat service Chatroulette, it was inevitable that entrepreneurs would want in. Hoping to achieve similar traction with a potentially less X-Rated experience, RandomDorm randomly pairs site visitors to its video chat rooms, but only those with a college email address. "We hope to emulate [Chatroulette's] simplicity and ensure a degree of community and security," Josh Weinstein, creator of RandomDorm, tells The New York Times' Bits blog. Likewise, users can sign in using Facebook as long as the primary email address tied to their account ends with an .edu. "Tying the users to a specific …

Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes has soft-launched a new Web site for charitable organizations named Jumo. Slated for a more official debut in the fall, the site will aim to help people find out about new organizations and other issues, as well as donate money and skills. Hughes, who also served as a director of online organizing for Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, says he hopes the free site will be particularly useful to organizations that aren't large enough to hire new media staff of their own. "We are trying to re-imagine how individuals connect to organizations that are working the change …

Addressing the continued threat of online predators and pedophiles, Facebook says it just might give users access to a "panic button." The UK's Home Secretary Alan Johnson said Thursday that Facebook executives told him they had "no objection in principle" to installing such a safety precaution. The move came amid calls for Facebook to add a link to Ceop, or the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre. Furthermore, a Facebook spokesperson tells The BBC that the top social network is "exploring ways to improve safety," which includes adding links to more organizations -- including Ceop and anti-bullying site Beatbullying -- …