Facebook's Future...

...But what are the alternatives to Facebook? Twitter has been on a roll over the past year but its functions remain very limited compared to Facebook. This could be an advantage, though, as its limitations mean it is harder to humiliate yourself in a short tweet than in a Facebook wall posting. LinkedIn is popular for business contacts but is otherwise dry. Several start-ups are hoping to exploit the lingering suspicion about Facebook's attitude to privacy. Diaspora is an open source effort led by students at New York University to create a social network with much higher privacy standards, which also makes it simple for users to move their personal data to other networks, not easy with Facebook.

It may be a small venture which usurps Facebook, perhaps a retailing site which starts with a shopping social network then moves outward. More likely it will be Google, which fears that Facebook will soon create a map of the internet, based on user data, to rival its own search engine...

from ThisIsLondon

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Comment: Or how about a social retailing site (Cheep!) combined with Google? Because one thing's for sure - Google TV's adoption of Blinkx Beat has put to bed the myth that Google would never deal with the likes of Blinkx because they'd just do it themselves. So how about the power of Google's search with the social ecommerce of Cheep? Combine Google's volume of search with Cheep's monetisation (assuming it works as planned, of course), and you have an absolute goldmine...

Wild speculation on my part, of course, but then again much stranger things have happened...

Galaxy Tab v iPad as Samsung goes to war on the high street

The Galaxy Tab media player and mini PC has a seven-inch touch screen compared with the Apple gadget's at 9.7inches , and runs Google's Android software.

"You really can put this into a jacket pocket," said a Samsung spokesman.

Users can download thousands of apps from Google's online store, together with their contacts and diary from Google's online services.

Samsung has also developed several of its own apps for the Tab, including a newsreader and a film download service. Swype software is included, which allows text to be entered by swiping your finger over a keypad rather than hitting individual keys. Although several other firms have launched rival gadgets running Google software in recent weeks, experts say Samsung's is the first to rival the iPad. "Apple is well ahead in the market but the Samsung Tab is the first real competitor it has seen," said Anthony Cox, of industry analyst Juniper Research...

from The Standard

Google search on YouView?

[click image for larger version]

Such talk doesn't sound too promising for Blinkx video search...? On the other hand, the open platform and anyone being free to create apps bodes well for apps like Blinkx Beat...

from New Media Age 28 October 2010 edition

Blinkx Launches Google TV Application

By : Chris Tribbey | Posted: 29 Oct 2010
ctribbey@questex.com


Online video search engine Blinkx has touched up its viral video channel for Google TV.

Blinkx Beat, the San Francisco-based company’s viral video website, has been upgraded for owners of Google TV-enabled devices, accessible at beat.blinkx.com/googletv. The site serves as a full-screen playlist of the latest and most popular user-generated Internet videos.

“Blinkx Beat was designed and built to be watched like television," said Suranga Chandratillake, founder and CEO of Blinkx. “It’s an addictive channel of snackable videos which offers an ideal sit-back and surf experience and we’re thrilled to make it available through Google TV.”

HDTVs and a Blu-ray Disc player from Sony Electronics and a set-top box from Logitech currently carry Google TV, which marries a full Web browser to connected consumer electronics.

from Home Media Magazine

Moneyweek tips Blinkx as a BUY at 89p...

MoneyWeek 29th October 2010 Pg 52

Blinkx tipped today as a BUY

"This firms online video search software is proving to be the key to its success; it's just announced deals with Google, Apple and Microsoft".

Tipped at 89p

blinkx Launches blinkx Beat for Google TV

SAN FRANCISCO, October 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

- blinkx's Popular Web Channel Now Optimized for Next-Generation Televisions

blinkx, the world's largest and most advanced video search engine, today announced the launch of blinkx Beat for Google TV. blinkx Beat, blinkx's popular Web channel of viral videos, has been polished and perfected for the big-screen, lean-back experience of television.

blinkx Beat is a riveting playlist of the latest and greatest online videos-hilarious bloopers, amazing stunts, ridiculous pranks and cute animals-and it will be available in full-screen, with single button control, at http://beat.blinkx.com/googletv. You can replay videos that you like, share them with your friends, or simply sit back and enjoy!

"blinkx Beat was designed and built to be watched like television," said Suranga Chandratillake, founder and CEO of blinkx. "It's an addictive channel of snackable videos which offers an ideal sit-back and surf experience and we're thrilled to make it available through Google TV."

About blinkx

blinkx plc (LSE AIM: BLNX) is the world's largest and most advanced video search engine. Today, blinkx has indexed more than 35 million hours of audio, video, viral and TV content, and made it fully searchable and available on demand. blinkx's founders set out to solve a significant challenge - as TV and user-generated content on the Web explode, keyword-based search technologies only scratch the surface. blinkx's patented search technologies listen to - and even see - the Web, helping users enjoy a breadth and accuracy of search results not available elsewhere. In addition, blinkx powers the video search for many of the world's most frequented sites. blinkx is based in San Francisco and London. More information is available at http://www.blinkx.com.

Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of blinkx

from PRNewswire

blinkx launches blinkx Beat for Google TV

Video search engine blinkx is launching its web channel blink Beat for Google TV.

It said blinkx Beat has been polished and perfected for the big-screen, lean-back experience of television.

blinkx Beat has a playlist of "the latest and greatest online videos - hilarious bloopers, amazing stunts, ridiculous pranks and cute animals".

It will be available in full-screen, with single button control, at http://beat.blinkx.com/googletv.

blinkx founder and CEO Suranga Chandratillake said: "blinkx Beat was designed and built to be watched like television.

"It's an addictive channel of snackable videos which offers an ideal sit-back and surf experience and we're thrilled to make it available through Google TV."

from IBTimes