Steven Savage

A new Avatar: The Last Airbender changes the world of Four Nations, Google Editions changes print and bookstores, and the housing market . . . changes for the worse. Change is good, so let's see what's shaking in must-know geek job news!

Economics/Geekonomics:
Guess what? Expect home prices to keep getting lower.

Media:
Avatar the Last Airbender TV Series gets a sequel/spinoff. My guess is this was qued up before the movie fiasco hit, but they're probably accelerating it due to the dismal performance. Either way, this sounds like the Avatar property is full steam ahead, with a sequel set 70 years in the future, which promises steampunk, social conflict, and more. I'm quite pumped and feel the Four Nations World has a lot more tales to tell – and I wonder if this will spawn a larger media empire (that may need you . . .)

Movies:
Disney to make less films and focus to make sure large-budget films are globally merchandisable. Some of this sounds actually reasonable, some of it sounds like Disney got burned a bit as of late. Something to remember in your media career plans.

Publishing:
Here comes Google Editions – It's an eBookstore – but one that has social networking aspects and lets small bookstores craft their own eBookstores. It sounds more universal and focused on the idea that the book is cloud-stored. More competition is good, of course . . . but now we writers have something ELSE to keep track of technically.

Social Media:
Here comes Flipboard for iPad – A social media integrator that uses the magazine metaphor to make your use of Social Media (currently Facebook and Twitter) easier. It looks pretty impressive – and I like the idea of a different social media metaphor. Watch this one – it seems Google wants to support smaller bookstores, which could rally people to them.

Technology:
The hell? Some Dell motherboards have malware? That's just bizarre, and scary.

Apple Profits are awesome. No one surprised. However despite their current performance – and I suspect good future performance, Apple's position in the market has changed rapidly. They'll need to adapt – and adapt to what appears to be changing media narratives. Still they're doing awesome, and if I dare say so, deserve the praise.

Video:
Netflix wants to stream more TV shows. Sure, not surprising – but they sound very aggressive and have a STRONG user base. Could shift the balance of power out there in video land. Needless to say, Netflix is a crush object here.

Video Games:
HeyZap to make it easier to put games on any sites. Simple and slick bits of coding, let's see how this plays out.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What do you think of Google Editions – is it one of many strategies, or a deliberate long-term change in business models for Google?

– Steven Savage

The Android Invasion is here – only it's OSes, not humanoid machines. Plus, why you want to be in the business of consumer electronic doodads. If it's weird geeky career news, it's here!

Career:
Do people really know how to use Social Media to evaluate job candidates?

What Eggnog taught one person about getting hired.

Economics/Geekonomics:
China and control of world resources – a paper. The presentation (and title) is sensationalistic. However the analysis is more sober – China's attempts to access and control resources gives them power while opening access.

Publishing:
A roundup of information on the growing e-book market. A good read and some good links – and it helps you get a grasp of how e-publishing is taking off.

How will the Fashion Mag Industry survive? Shopping, localization, and more. A nice review of what they're likely to be doing and doing now – which sounds like turning into a media/shopping fusion.

Technology:
Here come the Android Tablets: Lenovo developing an Android Tablet for late 2010, and Asus' Eee Pad in early 2010. The Asus move, away from Windows CE, though not unexpected is significant, since it's another blow to Microsoft. It appears Android's place is becoming assured – and it always seems to be a counter to Apple, doesn't it? Android is even more important for you developers out there, so get learning.

Skinit raises $60 million. What do they do? They make vinyl skins for laptops, phones, etc., often with branding. So all those cute cell phone covers and laptop skins and the like? One of the companies behind them just raised tons of money. There's a market I never thought of – and one apparently you may want to consider – technology doodads.

Is your career helping Defend the US against cyberattacks? This story has been making the rounds, about how the US isn't up to snuff.

Video Games:
Game streaming service Gaikai raises undisclosed amount of cash. Also a bit more on their strategy – which is more business-to-business and portal support.

Capcom and Namco to make crossover fighters? Sounds like money in the bank to me if done right. And it sounds like several games, which sounds like some opportunities for people in gaming . . .

Social Games to be a $1.5 billion market in 2014.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Who else do you think is going to come out with an Android Tablet?

– Steven Savage