Internet Advertising up 26% to almost $5bn in Q1

Revenue from online advertising grew sharply in the first quarter of this year, according to data released Wednesday by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Internet advertising revenue rose to $4.9 billion in the quarter, a 26% increase over the first quarter of 2006. The IAB and PricewaterhouseCoopers' survey covered advertising on Web sites, email, and other online services, the IAB said in a statement posted online.

Source: IAB.net

Microsoft Surface

I guess Microsoft really are innovative after all - check this out:

The launch of Microsoft Surface marks the beginning of a new technology category and a user-interface revolution. Surface, Microsoft’s first surface computer, provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural hand gestures, touch and physical objects. Surface computing breaks down traditional barriers between people and technology, changing the way people interact with all kinds of everyday information — from photos to maps to menus.

More info from:
www.microsoft.com/surface/

Internet ad revenue up 35% to $16.9 billion

The online ad segment last year soared 35% to set a record $16.9 billion in revenue, according to the Internet Advertising Bureau. Strong fourth-quarter sales of $4.8 billion helped to push 2006 over the top, the IAB said.

You can read more on the SmartBrief site .

What is the name of that song ...

We have probably all tried it - got this song in your head but don't know the name of it. Now, for the first time, you can use your voice to instantly connect to your favorite music, and to a community of people that share your musical interests. You can also listen to voices, see pictures, rate singers, send messages, buy music, and more.

Try it out at http://www.midomi.com/ - you don't even have to be any good at singing for Midomi to recognize the song.

Microsoft only sold 244 copies of genuine Windows Vista in China

Microsoft spent millions of dollars advertising its next generation OS 'Windows Vista' in China, in fact the IT juggernaut threw up the biggest Vista Ad on the 421 meter high Jin Mao tower in Shanghai China.

However after 2 weeks (Jan 19 to Feb 2) from launch Microsoft managed to sell a mere 244 copies of Windows Vista. Software piracy is rampant in the middle kingdom and a pirated version of Vista sells for a mere $1 on the streets. The following numbers are quoted by Windows Vista chief distributor in Beijing.

- They could at least have spelled "Ultimate" correctly on the right-hand side!

Source: Newlaunches.com

Google to acquire Doubleclick with $3.1bn

Google announced on Friday that it is buying online advertising firm DoubleClick for 3.1 billion dollars.

The Mountain View, California-based Internet search colossus will combine DoubleClick's technology with its proven advertising platform.

Google and DoubleClick, which is based in New York City, will provide an efficient way to manage both search and display ads online, according to Google chief executive Eric Schmidt.

"We've come to an agreement to purchase DoubleClick," Schmidt said in a conference call from Argentina, where Google is opening a new office.

"It is something we have thought about for a very long time."

Source: AFP

DRM-Free Music on the iTunes Store

Apple has announced that EMI Music’s entire digital catalog of music will be available for purchase DRM-free (without digital rights management) from the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com) worldwide in May. DRM-free tracks from EMI will be offered at higher quality 256 kbps AAC encoding, resulting in audio quality indistinguishable from the original recording, for just $1.29 per song.

In addition, iTunes customers will be able to easily upgrade their entire library of all previously purchased EMI content to the higher quality DRM-free versions for just 30 cents a song. iTunes will continue to offer its entire catalog, currently over five million songs, in the same versions as today—128 kbps AAC encoding with DRM—at the same price of 99 cents per song, alongside DRM-free higher quality versions when available.

More at source