News and Analysis – Page 17

Link Roundup 10/16/2013

October 16, 2013 by Steven Savage

Oyster wants to be a Netflix for books. Color me as having no idea if it’ll work or not, but we might as well pay attention. Jeez, between this and Kindle Worlds someday we may be renting fanfic.
eBay is not expecting a good winter. So if you’ve been sending in your resume . . . be warned. Actually if you work there or are a contract, be warned.
For that matter, being at Amazon is pretty tough too.
Mattel expects to make a ton of money this year. So if Hasbro rejected you . . .
Goldie Blox, the game to promote engineering for girls has a sequel coming! Now come on let’s get an animated web series and comic!

– Steven “Rental Fanfic” Savage

October 15, 2013 by Steven Savage

Pinterest Drives More Traffic to Publishers Than Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit Combined – There’s a new social media lesson for all of us that will now be pummeled into the ground in the news.
A look at how Blockbusters are driving media – and prediction it’s not going to stop. Some good points of of the “superstar” type effects and foreign market distort media plans – but also predictions it won’t stop. Something to keep in mind because I still feel that this can’t last forever, and a meltdown may just get BIGGER if not restrained.
Ironically there’s a lot of work to keep scripts hidden and secret despite Hollywood’s unoriginality that we complain about. Amusing but also telling.
How games as service can change everything. Well they already have, so it’s more change MORE.
A technology lab helping teach the homeless. Very important because technical literacy and access is indespensible in our society. This guy is really something and more of us could follow in his footsteps.
Finally if you want to understand the US Government shutdown, here’s a quick guide in ten sentences.

– Steven “Waiting for the Meltdown” Savage

October 14, 2013 by Steven Savage

Fukushima Corp (nothing to do with the nuke plant) releases a mascot clearly not thought out for world consumption. How many times have we emphasized cultural awareness here (and the edges geeks have).
Fox’s crazy pile-of-stuff theater show “Sleepy Hollow” has a massive rating boost in DVR. The show is popular and DVR is a strong part of a strong audience. The numbers we’re used to following aren’t what they used to be.
Anthony Hopkins wrote a fan letter to Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad.” So I guess that show must be kinda good or something . . . this probably raised Cranston’s stock even further in the world of acting. If it’s true he’s being courted by DC for a role as Lex Luthor . . . that just added even more of a draw. Let me also humbly suggest Ras Al Ghul done by Anthony Hopkins.
Promote women in science with these T-shirts.
Activision Blizzard has spun off from Vivendi. Watch this space.
Alternate blogging platform Ghost is available. Not sure I can comment on it, but it’s interesting to see a new platform evolve anew.

– Steven “Shattering Sinful” Savage