PlayStation Store Stepping Up Its Game

The PlayStation Online Store and mainly its navigation (or lack there of) has taken a lot of hits compared to its rival XBOX Live. Word on the street is that that the Playstation Store is getting ready to launch an upgrade that will help bolster its online offering.

Reports this morning surfaced that Sony’s PlayStation Store would be getting a revamp in Europe. As it turns out, the digital storefront will be overhauled here in the U.S. as well, Sony Computer Entertainment America confirmed today. When it launches in mid-April (via a firmware update), the new PlayStation Store is expected to offer a “more dynamic look and improved navigation.”

Now with more reasons to check out PlayStation Online (see: BluRay), is Sony gearing up for a brawl come Holiday 2009?

via GameDaily.com

Dugg Analyzer

Web analytics is of immeasurable importance to anyone who works in any Internet based profession, but it could also be something fun for any Internet user to play with and understand.

So whenever I find a new web analytics tool, I am all over it…

And recently I just came across a website that analyzes data from one of my most visited sites on the web, Digg.com, so now I’m really excited!

The site is quite robust and features a lot of useful and interesting information, as well as all sorts of options for sorting and displaying the statistical data on Digg and its Dugg sites.

The website is called Dugg Analyzer, so check it out.

Also, post any interesting/useful information you may find regarding Digg as comments to this post.

Who are Wikipedia Authors?

Soon enough we will know a little more on who is editing pages on the most popular open content encyclopedia, Wikipeida, thanks to its operator The Wikimedia foundation, who plans on surveying its contributors.

The main goal of the survey strategy will be to uncover the identities and posting habits of Wikipedia authors.

The real interesting information will come in the form of discovering how many professionals/experts are actually editing pages and how many are simply individuals unqualified to write such entries in an encyclopedia.

As we all know, many Wikipedia contributors have hidden agendas, and therefore will not freely disclose any personal information. But this may be a way to pick out many of the unqualified authors, since qualified author with real information should have no reason to hide.

Though as with any survey, we know all the information will not be perfect. Still, any information collected will be information that gives us a peak into the mysterious back-end world of Wikipeida entries, so it will be useful.

Some information collected will be released at Wikimania this July and the rest will be out by the end of the year.

Can’t wait!

Google Checkout User Statistics

Many of us know and love Google Trends as the great tool for collecting information on keywords being used in Google searches throughout the world. But very few people know that the service is sometimes also available to other Google services besides search.

One of the services to receive the Google Trends treatment in the past was Google Reader, which currently allows you to see information on RSS feeds.

And now Google as added the service to Google Checkout, allowing a peak into what people are buying and selling online.

I find the tool to be just as interesting and useful as its counterparts, and I look forward to seeing the Google Trends service adapted into other Google services as well.

Social Networking Growth

I just recently came across some interesting information that I thought I’d share with everyone.

According to the Internet research and trend analysis website, eMarketer.com, ad spending on social networking sites is anticipated to grow 75% next year and ad revenue for niche communities is expected to grow to 10% from 8.2% in 2007.

This is good news for social networking as a whole since it continues to build on the fact that social networking communities are here to stay and aren’t simply Internet fads or “bubbles” that is building to burst.

And since several advertisers are still to see social networks as a platform for advertising, it’s good to see growth in this area and hopefully this will prompt others to see the valuable in having a presence in such communities and also test the waters.

Face Applications with Caution – FaceBook Applications that is!

It has just come to my attention that a very shady FaceBook application has been going around that can cause some real damage to your computer.

This may not seem like anything new, since there are many FaceBook applications with hidden agendas that perform devious actions.

Except, according to security solutions provider, Fortinet, this application called “Secret Crush” has the ability to download and install the Zango spyware software on your computer.

Check out this page for more information on the shady application.

My tips to anyone using FaceBook is to really pay attention and to do some research on any and all applications you are thinking of installing; it’s a bad idea to just install something simply on the fact that a friend has it.

And if in fact you find a questionable application make sure to report it to FaceBook by going to the applications main page, so we can keep FaceBook good, clean, and fun.

Gmail Integrates with AIM

The other day on the Gmail and Google blog it was announced that the planned Gmail chat and AIM integration we have all been waiting for is finally here.

We can now finally talk to both our Gtalk friends and AIM friends by signing on to both networks right from one site and one browser window.

Enabling the ability to chat with friends across both networks simultaneously AND having access to Gmail will be very beneficial for people who can’t access the AIM client for whatever reason.

And, even though web-based integration between different IM networks has been done by services such as Meebo.com, none give you access to your Gmail as well.

For more information on how it all works check out the post at the Gmail blog located here.

Battle of the Bands

With last week’s release of Rock Band from Harmonix (the original developer of Guitar Hero), two unlikely competitors hit the ring. Guitar Hero III, published by Activision, takes on Rock Band, published by MTV Games (distributed by Electronic Arts). While both games let users live out their rock and roll fantasies (and also continue to grow the casual gaming market), it is likely that Guitar Hero III will lead in the immediate head-to-head sales numbers. Keep in mind, the same folks who created Guitar Hero now develop for the competitor and the competitor (MTV) has its own multi-channel network to organically market its Rock Band product. This is an interesting battle between a ‘traditional’ video game maker and an entertainment brand who specializes in music and culture. All said, this line blurring of entertainment, music and games continues to get more blurry. We expect Rock Band to catch on as the property works out some issues. In the end, better Wifi capabilities will allow you to conduct band practice (even if your guitarist is living in Shanghai). As for the battle of the bands, MTV vs. Activision, well, get your ear plugs out because things are just heating up.

Photo: via The New York Times

Google Talk Integrates with AOL’s AIM

It seems as if Google Talk will finally be integrated with AOL’s AIM client.

This upgrade to Google Talk and AIM couldn’t have happened any later!

It has been two years since Google bought 5% of AOL and announced, amongst other things, that the integration of the two clients would occur as long as certain conditions were met.

As to how the integration will work or what all the conditions may be, that is still largely unknown, but it is safe to bet it has something to do with Google serving ads through AIM.

Given that Google has been strategically partnering with and acquiring many companies that it now uses to serve ads through. It seems like the most logical step for Google is to now desire to serve ads through AIM, the most popular instant messaging on the web.

If my predictions become a reality, Google will take on step forward to becoming the one stop shop for anyone looking to buy ads in RSS feeds, search engines, in many popular web destinations, and a many other, now unforeseen, locations- basically almost the whole internet.

Feed M8 – Your Site Mobile, Distributed and with Rev. Share [FM8810-28]

Was introduced to FeedM8 through Mobile Marketing Magazine – I’m intrigued. Through FeedM8, you can “mobilize and monetize” your feed or blog. FeedM8 will make the conversion for you so that your content comes out looking pretty good on a mobile browser and screen. In addition, they will share revenue with you from the ads that they place on your mobile site. Here’s an example of what this site looks like after being distributed through FeedM8 (colors and presentation are also customizable – this is the default version):

Once you’ve set up your feed and created your login/account, you can add more feeds and check analytics. Naturally, before you begin “earning money” you’ll have to verify that it is actually your feed that you’re laying claim to. You do that by inserting a code into your next blog post. Once it’s verified by FeedM8 you can remove it….then just select how you want to get paid and voila! (On our mobile version of Overroll the ad at the top of the page is for a mobile version of Wikipedia on your phone….not a bad partner, I’d say. At least it’s not for local dating or concert tickets.)

From Mobile Marketing Magazine we see that many people have signed up including Mashable, ESPN, Engadget, GigaOM and on… I’d have to say that it’s a pretty nifty little way to quickly get up and mobile without worrying about too much, and quick comparison on your mobile browser of www.overroll.com versus www.FeedM8.com/overroll reveals that the latter is much easier on the eye (at least on my LG CU5000 – no iPhone here just yet).

We’ll keep you posted on revenue earnings. After all, it will take at least a few business days for them to mail me my check…