MySpace

MySpace Intros Developer Platform
Techtree News Staff
Software developers across the globe now have a chance to integrate their developments into MySpace with the launch of a new developer platform.

MySpace has premiered the Developer Platform Site, created as a "sandbox", in which software wizards worldwide can craft mini-applications, called widgets, for MySpace member profile pages.
The site (http://developer.myspace.com) has open standards for building, testing, and deploying mini-applications called widgets for MySpace.

According to Chris DeWolfe, chief executive officer and co-founder of MySpace, "The future of the global social Web will leverage the creativity of the masses to produce meaningful and diverse social experiences, pushing the industry to be more innovative and progressive."

The new Developer Platform Site includes three sets of APIs: OpenSocial with MySpace extensions to enable javascript and html; action scripts to allow Flash to speak directly to the APIs; and REST to enable server-to-server communication (speeding-up applications).

The developer site will also host a developer team Blog where developers can discuss product updates, platform news, insights and commentary, and interact with the MySpace Developer Team. The Blog url is: http://developer.myspace.com/Community/blogs/devteam/default.aspx.

For a one-month application development period, applications developed will not be visible to the MySpace community so as to enable developers to install, iterate, and test the security of their applications in a live environment.

The developer's platform will be rolled out to users in March. The new applications will be available in an application gallery, and MySpace members will be able to add these applications to both their personal user home and profile pages.

On the security front, Aber Whitcomb, chief technology officer of MySpace, claimed, "Applications will be governed by the same privacy controls that are in place for members. An application will never have access to information that cannot be found on any member's profile page."

Interestingly, MySpace has followed in the footsteps of Facebook in offering a developer platform site. Early last year, Facebook opened its platform for developers to make mini-applications for its members.
Incidentally, those applications have proved a boon for Facebook, in turn making it more popular than ever before. But it still ranks second after MySpace.
topic from " http://www.techtree.com/India/News/MySpace_Intros_Developer_Platform/551-86605-643.html "

Disney

The Mouse Will Host "Disney World Idol"

By Anders Bylund (TMF Zahrim) February 8, 2008

Two major Hollywood studios are working together on one of the hottest properties in the biz. Who slipped hallucinogens in my coffee again?

Just as the audition shows wind down on News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) Fox network, "American Idol" pops up in a new venue. This time, Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) is turning television's biggest show into a Walt Disney World attraction, complete with tie-ins to the Fox property itself. After auditioning in a video booth, selected park visitors will get to perform in front of a roomful of mouse-eared tourists plus three judges, and daily winners get ushered to the front of a real audition line when that time comes.

The premise of the deal is understandable: tap into the "Idol" cachet to draw more visitors to the recently renamed and always underrated Hollywood Studios park. Financial terms have not been disclosed, but the numbers hardly matter anyway. It's the execution that comes as a surprise. Of course, it turns out that Fox never had a say in the matter. My coffee is clean this time.

Disney negotiated the property directly with 19 Entertainment and Fremantle Media, from which Fox simply holds a license to run the show. It's a side deal worthy of comparisons to David Letterman's interim writers contract, and a potentially shrewd marketing move. Now, when Fox promotes its golden goose, a squeaky rival also stands to profit from those marketing dollars.

Fremantle doesn't seem to worry about how bewitched, bothered, and bewildered its broadcasting partner might be over this state of affairs.

"It is owned by us, so we can extend the brand in the off-air space in the ways that we want to," a Fremantle spokesman told the AP. "We don't see this in any way as a News Corp. vs. Disney debate. That's never been part of the discussion, and it's not something that's relevant to us. It's just part of 'American Idol.'"

It remains to be seen whether Disney will divert traffic from rival theme park operators like Cedar Fair (NYSE: FUN) and Six Flags (NYSE: SIX) with visions of a Simon Cowell tongue-lashing. Either way, the deal is signed, sealed, delivered, and auditions will start later this year.

topic from " http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/02/08/the-mouse-will-host-disney-world-idol.aspx "

yahoo ,Microsoft and Google

, M

By Daisuke Wakabayashi

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it may borrow money for the first time in its history to fund a portion of its $44.6 billion unsolicited offer for Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O: Quote, Profile, Research).

Microsoft also said it expects Yahoo's board to agree to the deal quickly, but Yahoo said over the weekend that it expects to take "quite a bit of time" to weigh all of its strategic options including remaining independent.

A source familiar with Yahoo's strategy said it is considering a business alliance with Google Inc (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) to fend off Microsoft's offer.

Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell said the software company may take on some debt to finance the cash portion of its 50-50 stock and cash offer for Yahoo, instead of drawing down its entire $21 billion cash pile.

"It's likely we're actually going to borrow for the first time," said Liddell in an annual strategy meeting with analysts. "It's going to be a mixture of the cash we have on hand plus debt."

Liddell declined to say whether Microsoft was already buying Yahoo stock on the open market. He also did not give any information on what form of debt Microsoft will seek in the capital markets.

Microsoft made public on Friday its offer to pay Yahoo shareholders either $31 in cash or 0.9509 of a share of Microsoft common stock. The deal aims to create a formidable number two to challenge Google Inc's (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) dominance in Web search and digital advertising.

Analysts applauded Microsoft's decision to take on debt.

topic from : " http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSWNAS894220080204 "