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New Media News Every Morning

Userplane provides Webrecorder to online publishers for free

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webrecorder.jpgUserplane, the application platform for online communities and a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL, announced an upgrade to its Webrecorder, providing the application to online publishers as a free, ad-supported tool for the first time.

With Userplane Webrecorder, websites can enable their users to easily record and play back audio/video messages. Working seamlessly on any website and requiring only the highly accessible Flash plug-in, Userplane Webrecorder instantly recognizes any webcam and microphone without complicated configuration. Deployments include: users recording their own audio and video profile, sending and receiving audio and video mail, posting audio and video comments on blogs and profile pages, and 1-2-3 administration of site-wide audio and video help, announcements and news.

This recent upgrade to Webrecorder lets webmasters and publishers implement the tool with zero fees, thanks to the unobtrusive ads that accompany the application. Userplane takes care of the advertising, while website operators integrate the app with their websites via an XML API.

Originally posted on September 25, 2007 @ 7:11 pm

Mayor Bloomberg announces NYC TV On-Demand Player

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nyctv.jpgMayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the creation of the NYC TV On-Demand player, offering hundreds of high-quality video clips from NYC TV’s Emmy Award-winning shows. With a user-friendly interface, a high-speed search engine across neighborhoods and topics, and the ability to e-mail clips to friends, the On-Demand player is NYC TV’s next step in using technology and critically acclaimed content to connect New Yorkers and people around the world to the City.

Currently, NYC TV On-Demand has nearly 500 clips culled from NYC TV’s library of award-winning original programming. With dozens of clips slated to be added every week after the launch, the player will be the single largest source of online video about New York City lifestyle, culture, neighborhoods and entertainment. NYC TV will continue to enhance the player after today’s launch by offering mapping technologies to allow viewers to quickly locate businesses or events in a given clip.

The NYC TV On-Demand player cost roughly $100,000 to create and operate for one year, and was developed with Brightcove, an Internet TV service for broadband media distribution.

Originally posted on September 26, 2007 @ 8:03 am

CNN.com relaunches with Avenue A | Razorfish

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cnnlaunch.jpg

Avenue A | Razorfish recently held a reception for guests at the W Hotel in Times Square, Manhattan, to celebrate the re-launch of CNN.com. CNN.com is now easier to navigate and has new video components that allow CNN.com users to browse video by all types of topics and categories. Since the re-launch, Nielsen has ranked CNN.com #1 in Share/Online News, and #1 in Gross Usage Minutes. The website was designed by the 400-person New York office of Avenue A | Razorfish, one of the largest interactive marketing and technology services agencies in the world.

In photo (L-R) José Martinez – Vice President and Client Partner, Avenue A | Razorfish; Bob Lord – President of the East Region, Avenue A | Razorfish; David Payne – Senior Vice President and General Manager, CNN.com; and Jim Warner – Executive Vice President and General Manager for New York, Avenue A | Razorfish

Originally posted on September 25, 2007 @ 12:02 pm

Microsoft buying a stake in Facebook? NY Attorney General investigates on Facebook’s security

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welcome_31.gifThe Associated Press reports that Microsoft may buy a stake in Facebook that would give Mark Zuckerberg’s social network at $10 billion. The stake is expected within the range of $300 to $500 million in exchange for 5 percent stake. Both parties are branding it as rumor.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that the New York attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo, is investigating whether Facebook, the online social networking site, is misleading users by promoting itself as a place where high school students and younger children are safe from adult sexual predators.

Originally posted on September 25, 2007 @ 9:45 am

Audible.com launches The Chopin Manuscript

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chopin.jpgAudible, Inc. today launched a groundbreaking, episodic novel called The Chopin Manuscript. This new novel, a collaborative creation by the world’s top thriller writers, is available only as serialized downloadable audio from audible.com.

Created by 15 of the most recognized thriller writers (including New York Times best-selling writers Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, Joseph Finder, and Lisa Scottoline), this collaboration began when Jeffery Deaver wrote the opening chapter of the work and handed it off to fellow best-selling writer, David Hewson, who wrote chapter two. This process continued, with each successive chapter written by 13 different authors. The intense thriller-in-progress finally returned to Jeffery Deaver, who wrote the final two chapters before the work was narrated by noted actor Alfred Molina.

Starting today, Audible customers can receive the novel serially. Two to three chapters will be automatically delivered each week for eight weeks.

Many of the participating authors are well-known to observers of The New York Times best seller list. Lee Child’s Bad Luck and Trouble hit #2 on the list; Joseph Finder’s Power Play debuted at #7: and Jeffery Deaver’s latest book, The Sleeping Doll, hit #15. Lisa Scottoline, David Hewson, and other contributors to The Chopin Manuscript are also well known for their large and avid followings.

All the writers are members of International Thriller Writers, which partnered with Audible on the creation of The Chopin Manuscript.

Originally posted on September 25, 2007 @ 9:54 am