News Of The Day 3/31/2011

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Didn't see the layoff coming at SOE, or the Microsoft/Google Lawsuit in the EU . . it's a surprising day today!

Geek Law:
Microsoft brings an antitrust suit against Google in the EU. Now I have some potential issues with Google, but this smacks of pure desperation on Microsoft's part – not to mention it makes them look bad.

Anime and Manga:
Forgot this – Kodansha brings back Love Hina and Tokyo Mew Mew. I stand by my theory they – and others – plan to leverage their backlog.

Movies:
If this wasn't a Johnny Depp vehicle I'd be more annoyed, but the Fifth Pirates of the Caribbean script is in the works. Starting to see a lot of pre-emptive scripting aren't we? As much as I enjoy Depp's work (in many things), this feels like another cases of the Unoriginality we're all complaining about.

Movie attendance is down 20% since last year. OK I could get snarky, but I feel bad for people operating the theaters. But between the bad films, other options, and the remakes, what are they left with. Maybe it's time to consider the Theater idea has had its time.

Music:
A look at Amazon's Cloud Music release, which is really getting an odd reception (from "meh" to "cool" to "lawsuit"). I agree this'll lead to legal clashes – but the cloud IS the future, and Amazon is backing it.

Technology:
Google joins the NFC forum – the Near Field Communications forum, you know the people into mobile-swipe communications. Certainly gives you an idea they want a piece of the action – or feel they need to catch up. I think they want to just be in on it in case – just like anything else. Might be some oppos at Google around NFC . . .

Foxconn loses a lot of money this year. This is the largest assembler of technology in the world (and no stranger to controversy). Not sure what this means – but it's big enough I want you to know about it.

Television:
I forgot that MTV has a somewhat Twlight-esque Teen Wolf Remake. No really. How did I miss this? Did I repress something?

Video:
We might need a chart for this one. Fox tells Time Warner to stop streaming channels on Time Warner's iPad App. So basically Time Warner lets subscribers see stuff on another device – an iPad – and Fox (and also Scripps) don't like it. Time Warner is also fighting – and it will affect the future of similar apps. Watch this space for what happens when it comes to content distribution and rights – and to watch assorted companies people are annoyed with annoy each other.

Video Games:
Sony Online cuts 3 studios and 200 jobs – They've had some trouble (The Agency), and it's a tough market. But that's a big cut – and it seems to be dedicated to focusing on existing properties. May want to watch yourself if you want to work at Sony Online (or are there now and survived the cuts). Also a reminder gaming is still having its issues.

HEADS UP: GameSalad gets $6 million in VC and they want to enable people to make games – even make them socially. Now these are 2D games, so it's no Unity engine, but they do seem to have an idea of how people want to be empowered to make games. I'm not sure of their long-term prospects (I see them as a company that's bought, buys, or folds into others), but I like what I see – as does Disney's Steamboat Ventures. May be worth a resume – and also worth watching to see if "apps everywhere" mean more tools like this.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Is Microsoft's Google lawsuit going to backfire on them at all – and is it a sign of desperation?

– Steven Savage

Site Update 3/30/2011

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Been awhile since an update, hasn't it!  We've been busy here at Fan To Pro!

First off, the new Geek Scanner is launching soon!  That's going to be our monthly newsletter focusing on Geekonomic trends, tracking them, and theorizing on them!  Go to the link to sign up – or sign up on the blog!

Secondly, in the next few days you'll get the launch of both Convention Career Connection and the second best-of book, Inhuman Resources!  These should come in pretty much every format under the sun – PDF, ePub, print, Kindle.  I'm waiting for one more test run before I launch.

Third, you can check out the second half of my interview at Geeky Manifestos!

That's about it for now – and as always, we're looking for guest contributors!

– Steven Savage

News Of The Day 3/30/2011

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Lots of movie news, a catfight in gaming, Zipcar may go public, and Salesforce . . . well keeps being awesome. On with the news!

Japan:
A helpful infographic on Japan's Power Grid to gie you an idea of what's going on.

Economics:
No growth in business establishments since 2007 – in short, there hasn't been growth in places to DO business in some time. There may be many reasons for that, but it's an interesting trend.

California appears to be having an employment recovery, at least in Silicon Valley and San Diego. Of course the state government is still pretty paralyzed, but it's nice to see some progress.

Demographics:
I'd really not put Florida on your relo list. It's basically got legal bribery set up for state legislators. I mean, seriously, the heck?

Automotive:
Yes, I had to add automotive today – because Zipcar may be filing for a public offering. What is Zipcar you ask? It's a car-sharing company that uses a variety of technologies – and common sense – to create a sort of pick-and-go car rental company. I think they'll do quite well, they have a smart business idea that will only get more appealing over time.

Comics:
It's better, but still not buying the new Wonder Woman costume, though it does work better in action. My theory, below, is that DC may be wanting to use a Justice League movie as a kind of reboot, and that may explain why this product seems so oddball.

Mobile:
Looks like that deal with Microsoft didn't help. Nokia's rating was cut for the first time ever by the S&P. I'm not sure how they're going to fare in the future, but nothing I see looks promising.

Movies:
Here we go again, more sequels and spinoffs – but of good stuff. The Penguins of Madagascar get a film which isn't surprising except it took this long – and I wonder if the magic is gone. There's also a kind of Monsters, Inc. prequel in the works.

Is Sucker Punch causing problems for Zach Snyder?. I'd say not yet, but there are rumblings, which may mean he finds Warner/DC leaning on him further on the film. On the other hand, I do approve of his casting, it has a pleasantly experimental feel.

Adding onto the Snyderdom – apparently his Superman won't be the one in the Justice League film. At this rate the Justice League film feels like it's own reboot anyway. Is that the plan? Use the JL film to sort of restart everything . . . again? No idea here.

Science:
Pfenex launches an e-commerce site to buy proteins. That's just plain neat, and clever. And hey, they're in San Diego, so if you want to work for a neat and clever science company that's thinking ahead . . . Also, will other companies follow suit? Is there a chance for creating science-based e-good sites?

Social Media:
Google introduces the +1 Button, basically their version of Facebook's 'Like' button. However this is going to plug into their search, friends, and even into ads. It's a seemingly small choice, but think of the synergy it has – all without taking on Facebook directly. Get ready to get that button on your sites . . .

Perinneal (and personal) Crush Object Salesforce buys web monitoring company Radian6 for $340 million. Radian will make it easier for people to monitor social news interactions about their companies and products, which is another sign of Salesforce's continual move to provide more services. It's also a sign they can throw around 1/3 a billion dollars.

Technology:
Roku to be on shelves at Best Buy.

Video Games:
Nintendo says the 3D launch was it's best handheld debut ever. We still need to see numbers, of course.

Signs that the Ultima franchise may be revived. That property has a well-regarded legacy overall (even if there are some past questions on the MMO). A restart of it could be profitable – but also sounds a tad cynical.

A Rovio dev fires back at Nintendo comments on cheap games. Included to illustrate the inevitable catfight.

Writing:
Self-Published author's outburst over review goes viral. Remember going viral is NOT always a good thing . . .

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Is the Justice League movie a chance to reboot for DC?

– Steven Savage