What did Microsoft learn from its failed Kin endeavor? The importance of a focused product vision, chief exec Steve Ballmer told The Seattle Times in a Q & A this week. "The No. 1 message from Kin is a message of focus," Ballmer said. "You only get so many things you can really talk about, communicate, work on with the consumer. You've got to be bold, you've got to look forward and you've got to stay focused. Kin was neither -- with 20-20 hindsight -- bold enough relative to where the market's going, and it just defocused activity from …

Following the AOL's official agreement to buy TechCrunch, founder Michael Arrington is dishing on all the behind-the-scenes details. According to Arrington, the opportunity first presented itself when he and AOL head Tim Armstrong where chatting backstage at a conference in May. Armstrong asked how Arrington was doing. Arrington said he was fried, and "half retired," to which Armstrong replied: "That's too bad ... we'd love to acquire you, but we'd need to know you would stick around." Said a shocked Arrington: "Wait. What? Yeah I'm great! Lots of energy, I'm having so much fun! Will probably do …

Here's one breaking news story that TechCrunch isn't all over: The top tech blog is reportedly in deep acquisition talks with AOL. "The deal is at a sensitive stage and might fall apart yet, but I don't think so," writes GigaOm's Om Malik blog. "Sources familiar with both entities says that the announcement is likely to come onstage at Disrupt, TechCrunch's flagship conference currently underway in San Francisco." Confirming the talks with a "person familiar with the matter," The Wall Street Journal writes: "A deal would mark a high-profile marriage between …

Verve Wireless, which helps media companies create and monetize mobile apps, has raised $7 million in a round led by BlueRun Ventures. The capital will go toward "the development and expansion of Verve's local ad network and publisher platform," paidContent reports. Additional investors include The Associated Press, which first invested in The San Diego, CA-based startup in July 2008. To date, Verve has raised $9.5 million, a spokesperson tells paidContent. Verve clients include McClatchy, Belo Interactive and The AP. Earlier this year, it partnered with the interactive unit of the Audit Bureau of Circulations to measure the …

Thanks to rapid advances in face-recognition technology, we might soon be looking back at social tagging (and privacy) with wistful nostalgia. One player in the space, Face.com, just raised $4.3 million in a series B round of funding led by previous investor Rhodium and Yandex, Russia's largest search engine. "Considered the 'Google of Russia,' this round of financing marks the first time that Yandex has invested in an Israeli company," reports VatorNews.com. Meanwhile, just last week, Apple bought Swedish facial-recognition startup Polar Rose for a rumored $29 million for use on the Mac and iPhone. Founded in 2007 and …

Blog-born media projects are so 2007. TV networks, for one, have refocused their attention on the short-form, zing-tastic world of Twitter. According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS is developing two new comedies, including a project based off a Twitter feed produced by social-media master Ashton Kutcher. "Following on the successful launch of its Twitter-inspired comedy '$#*! My Dad Says' last week, CBS has made a script deal for 'Shh ... Don't Tell Steve,' based on a Twitter feed by the same name," it reports. "Don't Tell Steve," the Twitter feed, has more than 13,000 followers who can …

Amazon has rolled out Kindle for the Web, which lets users view and share book samples directly through their web browsers. "Amazon is also encouraging bloggers and website owners who are members of Amazon Associates Program to embed samples of Kindle books on their websites and earn referral fees from Amazon 'when customers complete book purchases using the links on their websites,'" writes CNet. Still in beta, Kindle for the Web is similar in some ways to Scribd, which bills itself as the YouTube for documents and a popular destination for viewing and sharing documents and book samples, CNet …

Google has acquired Seattle-based mobile planning startup Plannr, reports TechCrunch, citing multiple sources. Planner only launched about two months ago as an "Outlook for hipsters," according to TechCrunch. Plannr targets groups of friends less than ten people, and is presently trying to tie together geolocation, email, SMS and phone calls in order to create a super scheduling tool. "Basically a social calendar which allows you to group message your friends with plans, Plannr fits in with Google's recent mobile and social acquiring spree ... though I suspect the two person startup is more a Google Me-related talent …

Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are in trouble, or at least in the area of mobile advertising. "Apple may be gaining share in the U.S. mobile advertising market this year at the expense of Google and Microsoft," reports Bloomberg/Businessweek. Apple will end the year with 21% of the market, estimates researcher IDC. Google's share will drop to 21% from 27% year-over-year -- when combined with results from AdMob, the ad network it bought in May. Advertising online is a huge business and the leader of the pack traditionally is Google …

Online textbook rental startup Chegg just raised another $75 million from Asia-based Ace Limited, sources tell BoomTown. One might assume that the online textbook rental business is a niche market, which makes Chegg's over $200 million in total funding all the more remarkable. "Venture firms, such as Kleiner Perkins, Foundation Capital, Insight Venture Partners and others have presumably handed over that money in hopes of big returns," writes BoomTown. "And, of course, the inevitable IPO for the Silicon Valley start-up ... That's because Chegg has become the front-runner in the increasingly competitive online textbook rental space as …