News and Analysis

Career:
Record unemplyoment in several states – Still an unpretty picture, except . . .

The creative class is doing somewhat better employment-wise depending on profession – The graph provided is actually very informative – you can clearly see the impact of the dot-bomb.

Media and Publishing:
Google's Schmidt thinks the WSJ pay-plan won't work – Old versus new? It's interesting to see Google inserting itself into the pay-for-news issues so blatantly. Of course if it somehow WORKS, then this has repercussions for Google . . . and maybe another move in the seemingly endless-expanding Everything Wars? I don't know if the WSJ paywall can work (if anyone can pull it off, they can), but if it succeeds it changes the rules of information commerce. If it fails . . . I think the idea will be all but permanently discounted.

And on that subject, Google has some deal to print books with on-demand printer Expresso. Sounds like Google is obviously moving to printing – but also some branding. That doesnt change much for you as a writer directly, but I think it raises the profile of on-demand printing and publishing (which may be an area to look at career-wise)

Plus more in publishing tech (a lot today!) – Medallion has a Virtual Book Signing. Here's something I can buy will work – easier to attend, broader audience, everyone wins. So far not many have signed up for it, but let's watch what happens. If you're a writer, an event like this might work – you could practacally do one yourself with today's technology.

Technology:
Apparently Apple DID reject the Google Voice App – Which flys in the face of what Apple says. Again, more Everything Wars – and another blow to Apple who seems to be having some cracks in its image regarding the App Store. Google, I suspect, will keep pushing this for obvious reasons.

OK did I miss something here? Lawsuits over confidential information involving Skype Founders, Joost, JoltId – Just a lot of ugliness (with two companies that don't need it). Dare I say don't be sending any resumes to any of these companies for awhile? There seems to be a lot of legal activity flying around the technosphere as of late – not sure if it's me, or if there's some trend (or chance).

Video Games:
Playfish COO discusses friend-based distribution of games – And saving marketing money. A few things worth thinking about if you're in gaming, marketing, or social media. Hey they just opened a new studio in San Francisco so they must be onto something.

And a bit of fun for the end of the week a look at startups and Buzzword Bingo

– Steve

Career:
Is your resume too long? A few thoughts from an experienced recruiter. I wonder if he has a poaint – and if the 'laundry-list' culture of job hunting encourages this.

Economics/Geekonomics/Freakonomics:
Median income has declined in the last decade, but it hasn't been even across states. A little more thought for relocation.

Publishing:
Two Hollywood trade mags aiming to have most online content pay-to-read . (possible with some single-subscription models). Not surprising, but I feel we've been down this path before. If they succeed it will be a blow for paywalls, but I'm not counting on it. The WSJ is prepared to charge starting next week.

GateHouse Media downgraded by Moody's – Suggests it may seek bankrupcy.

Social Media:
Twitter raises a ton of money, valued at 1 billion. The investor is Insight Venture Partners. Venture Partners seems to be a late-game investor, so I think this means Twitter is close to going public or being sold (my guess is within the next 18 months). Public OR sold, that's a huge social media shift coming so watch out if you're in tech, use the tech, or are in a social-media heavy area (like marketing)

Video Games:
Phone games everywhere – Real Networks' Federation of Studios will push games to a huge amount of phone platforms. Apparently Real takes the phone market very seriously (perhaps the recent Apple announcements helped). A boost to game companies and a welcome ally.

Beatles Rock Band sales beating expectations – Included for historical reference, and because the Beatles' are cool.

Lawsuits. Are. Go! A holding company files lawsuit against multiple MMO companies. As they had a successful lawsuit over patent infringement before, this isn't a throwaway case. What's interesting to me is how the company might regard free-to-play MMOs and those with odd billing models.

-Steven Savage