News and Analysis

Career:
Long commutes can be bad for your health – I'd also note they're just annoying and time-wasting too.

Economics/Geekonomics:
Surprise, some big backs don't have as much capital as you'd hope. Author notes that a double-dip recession, in these conditions, could end up with a depression. I'm not sure he's right there, but I think this condition could mean a double-dip lasts a bloody long time.

Anime and Manga:
Funimation's latest hire hints at more co-productions in the future – With some helpful list of other distributors who did co-productions. If Funimation is making moves in this direction, I get the impression their current business models are safe enough for a bit of experimenting – or that co-productions and the like look feasible.

Media:
Lots of shake-ups at Disney – Hint at an aggressive series of changes, new marketing attempts, and in general, lots of changes that may not all go over well. As Disney goes so goes the world – and as Disney fails, so do people avoid doing similar things.

MediaBistro launches a site to connect freelancers – You KNOW what to do.

Movies:
The Success of New Moon an indicator of the power of the female filmgoer from our friends at EconomPicData. New Moon cleaned up at the box office, with distinctive gender demographics. I wonder if this information is going into people's calculations when assessing audiences . . .

Social Media:
No, Twitter is not for sale – Look we're back to the Twitter-is-in-trouble side of news coverage . . .

Writing:
A few tips on getting organized.

Video Games:
Zynga's Farmville also has a standalone site – So try and Keep up, the social game company's games now have one that runs standalone on a site (which is good business sense). This gives them many more opportunities for establishing presence, synergy, and other cross-game things (like currency). I wonder if they may keep 'working backwards' to separate apps . . . also remember they're hiring – here in Silicon Valley they're announcing it on BILLBOARDS.

– Steven Savage

Economics/Geekonomics:
Unemployment went up in 29 US States in October – A reminder we've got plenty of problems.

Remember our past link on metro areas and jobs-to-seeker ratio? Here's a breakdown of how it seemed to work.

Geek Law:
Zynga and Facebook face class action suits over ads – I think we need to hear more about this, but it's one to pay attention to as it involved two big social media companies.

Publishing:
Barnes and Noble is out of the Nook already – I expect this story will make the rounds, but it's hard to take much meaning from it. However it may call more attention to the Nook (and if this is strategic under-manufacturing, I'm not sure it's a good call as a sales trick for e-book readers. They're not videogame consoles.)

Social Media:
Animation made collaboratively via Facebook – Presented for curiosity's sake.

Technology:
Gameloft gives a pass on the Android platform – A very public statement, really. A bit of an Android backlash brewing?

And of course, Chrome? It may be the end of the Hard Drive but some think it's a shot to destroy Windows.

-Steven Savage

Quick note today was a rumor-heavy day about many things. A lot were unverified so I held off posting them.

Career:
How a blogger turned a blog into a job after going viral.

Publishing:
How Wireless E-readers stack up. For your drooling/research pleasure. Remember when we didn't have so many to compare . . .

Heads up on the startup, former Rodale Books VP Cindy Ratzlaff is starting an e-book and video publishing company called Supreme Social Media. Sounds like they're starting small, focusing on social media, and building up slowly. Ratzlaff has a LOT of publishing experience. and the other partners are equal. Watch this one to see what they do, there's a lot of brainpower and experience that could give you models to emulate (or a potential publisher or employer). The company is here.

Social Media:
It's official. Facebook will integrate with PS3. Sounds like it integrates with game trophies and more – which is neat with the appropriate opt-out options and soforth. Facebook and Netflix and more? Good move for Sony. It also is another example of how one can cleverly integrate social media beyond allowing posting (remember when that was called Lifestreaming before it became normal?).

Not to be outdone, there's new social tech for the XBox, including Zune (which may steal a bit of Netflix's thunder). OK Wii, where are you in all of this . . .

Social App company Rock You raises Another $50 million. OK they've got cash, a good name, and are located in Redwood shores (where everyone apparently is). What are you waiting for, job seekers?

Technology:
Some developers apparently fed up with the App Store – I'm not sure how widespread this is, but talk of discontent certainly is. I do think the issue of customer relations is an important one. Will Apple adapt, or will this leave them vulnerable?

Video Games:
EA is merging Pandemic into it's LA Branch as well as getting a high-powered new hire. A bit more news to keep you up on the latest traumas in gaming . . .

Funcom took a big hit in sales in Q3 – They have hope for their upcoming releases, but it's not pretty.

For you marketing and gaming geeks. Those expensive collectors editions? They pay off. Something to consider if you're in – or want to be in – the gaming industry.

– Steven Savage