Google’s Music Strategy: Past, Present And Future
The door is wide open for Google to poach iTunes users with a cloud-based music service, argues Wired’s Eliot Van Buskirk. Among the ways that Google can rise to unseat the digital music incumbent: align itself with consumer electronics manufacturers to bring the service into living rooms, and continue leveraging its music search functionality. By Wired
Is Google Preparing To Challenge iTunes In The Cloud?
As the four biggest record companies wait to hear more about a proposed iTunes cloud music service, word comes now that Google has kicked the tires on a start-up specializing in cloud media. Google has showed interest in possibly acquiring Los Angeles-based Catch Media, a company that intends to help make it simple for consumers to enjoy their digital movies, music, and books across numerous different hardware and service platforms, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. By CNET
Google Expands Into Social Networking With ‘Buzz’
Google’s new Buzz service will compete with sites like Facebook and Twitter, which are capturing an increasing percentage of the time people spend online. By The New York Times
As Google Readies First Phone, Apple Passes 3 Billion App Downloads
Google is set to announce today its Nexus One smartphone, promising new competition for Apple’s iPhone in the mobile entertainment space. Coincidentally enough, Apple announced this morning that its app store had surpassed three billion downloads — only some three months after it topped the two-billion mark. By All Things Digital
Suddenly, Google Focusing Music Search Results On MySpace
Google was hardly thrilled to find its marquee music search partner, Lala, acquired by Apple. But now, Google appears to be shifting its music-related search priorities away from Lala. Instead, a large percentage of first-choice streams are being served by MySpace (and iLike), a development sure to fan the speculative flames. By paidContent
Microsoft Drops Idea Of Paid Bing Exclusives
Microsoft’s top search technology executive has all but dismissed the likelihood that the company would pay newspaper owners and other publishers for removing their content from Google and listing with Microsoft’s search engine, Bing. By the Financial Times (registration required)
Google To Measure TV Ad Impressions With TiVo Data
Google will now be able to draw on anonymous, second-by-second DVR viewing data from TiVo subscribers, to enhance the measurement and accountability of ad impressions for inventory sold through the auction-based Google TV Ads system. The deal shores up the position of the digital TV pioneer, which posted another quarterly subscriber loss earlier this week. By Digital Media Wire
Would Search Engines Pay To Index Exclusive Content?
Seeking to bolster its Bing search engine, Microsoft has held talks with News Corp. for the media company to “de-index” its news websites from Google. By the Financial Times
Court Sets February Hearing For Google Books Settlement
Opponents of Google’s settlement with groups representing authors and publishers will have a comment period in which to file objections, and books rights holders who want to preserve their abilty to sue Google for scanning their books will have an opt-out deadline. The final hearing is set for February 18 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. By CNET
Google To Include Music Players In Song Search Results
Pages for music-related queries at Google.com will now include pop-up players from online music store Lala or social networking site MySpace (which acquired music recommendation site iLike in the last month) that will allow listeners to view album art and hear entire songs once for free. MySpace’s player also links to musicvideos and tour information. Though Google’s feature does not allow users to buy music directly through the search site, Lala and MySpace supply links for the legal purchase of songs. By Variety
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