Career:
Some great no-nonsense tips from one of my fellow Project Managers on using Linkedin.com and the basics of personal branding.
Economics/Freakonomics/Geekonomics:
We've got a lot of VC-related news, so I'm bundling it here:
- Skype's Co-founders are trying to raise $266 million for SOMETHING. My take is something else-media related. Hmmm, wonder if it could be in the e-book/text space?
- Aortic valve replacement company Sadra raises $30 million – Medicine is a geekonomic business often ignored by geeks (including this one), so let's give it its due here. I'd also note the company is in a good space – health – and that with aging populations there's even more of a future here. Nice amount of cash raised too.
- Exact Target withdraws public offering after getting a $70 million dollar investment – They do email distribution, and work with a lot of major clients. Sounds like they want to extend to social media. Worth watching geekonomically, but also their location – Indianapolis.
Media:
A look at how news writing hasn't changed – and how it may. A bit of a thought-provoker.
Video:
Hulu is at it again: this time with international deals. Most interestingly this will help other companies with THEIR global reach. I'm getting ready to christen Hulu a good career choice at this rate – they're very savvy and doing well. The question is not will they be in front, but how long they'll stay and how competitors will adjust. (And as a side note, what will happen with Youtube . . .)
Social Media:
Companies piggybacking onto Twitter – They just keep growing. Useful to be aware of for personal use, and career-wise . . . well, you take your chances. Again as I've said Twitter will survive in some form, but I confess that with so many Twitter-riders a good chunk of them probably won't make it.
Video Games:
Guitar Hero's overall franchise has netted $2 billion. Activision makes more money. So let's face it . . . you know where to send your resume. Also considering the nature of the game, I figure this milestone means more like it (participatory media tie-ins) are on the way.
Everything old is new again? Pokemon Gold and Silver being remade for DS. Of course remaking old games is de rigeur now (Dragon Quest anyone?). I find it noteworthy as its a big franchise, and the remake trend is one worth following (thought for careerists – remakes may be a good starting point).
-Steven Savage