AdSense for Games

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Google began its gamevertising inititative with its purchase of Adscape earlier this year. At the Casual Connect conference last week, that initiative began to take clearer shape as Google announced its plans to port AdSense into games. Yup, that?s right: no expensive consoles a la Microsoft Xbox, no restrictive portals a la Yahoo Games ? just AdSense for Games.

?I?m going to be very clear right now,? [Google?s Bernie] Stolar said. ?Google is involved in in-game advertising. I?m going to say it one more time, in case there?s any misconceptions here: in-game advertising. This is an area that Google believes will have tremendous growth over the next number of years. ??

?No Gbox, Bernie?? asked Google?s Greg Schaffer, playing along.

Nope, no plans for a console, Stolar said. And no ?Google Live,? no video-game portal, and no video-game search, he said. Later, Stolar reiterated, ?We are not going to be a publisher or a developer or a portal for games, at all. That?s the jobs of everybody here. That?s why we want to partner with you.?

Later, Google product marketing representative Eva Woo said the ads will be both video and text-based. Asked when the system will be rolled out, Schaffer said, ?soon.?

Web games will be the first to get AdSense for Games, with PC and console games to follow. With AdSense efficiently pumping ad revenue into game publishing, expect an explosion of free-to-play games of all sizes

courtesy
emergingearth.com

Microsoft Zune 2.0

With the Zune reaching it's goal of 1 million units sold this week, Microsoft plans to take its digital audio player to the next step by introducing Zune 2.0 and other models.

Microsoft reports that the Zune has officially passed the 1 million unit landmark this week with 1.2 million Zunes officially sold. Not satisfied with leaving the player where its at, Microsoft has confirmed the existence and impending launch of the long rumored Zune 2.0 or 2nd generation Zune.

A Microsoft PR representative had the following to say regarding the release date of Zune 2.0:

"We have seen the rumors floating around, but we haven?t announced specific dates or details for the next generation of the Zune devices or service. That said, Zune follows the cycle of the consumer electronics cycle so you can expect an update later this year prior to the holiday season."

The PR rep continued into vague details about future Zune products. "There are three predictable paths along which we?ll expand Zune."

Microsoft will expand the Zune family with new styles, sizes, and price points. Future Zune products will feature podcasting support and expanded video support. The Zune will also move into other geographic markets when Microsoft feels it has an appealing product to offer those demographics.

Perhaps most importantly of all, the representative mentioned that Microsoft will build on the wireless support. Maybe we'll finally have the freedom of synching our digital audio players via wi-fi.

The rep didn't mention anything specific about Microsoft's rumored answer to the iPod Shuffle. But interesting rumors from sources considered "reliable" point to a very innovative product.

The product is essentially a music playing SD card that will plug into any SD slot. The second part of the player is what makes the SD card usable as a digital audio player. That part is a type of sleeve that'll allow the user to control the music and plug in headphones for putting that music playing goodness to work. The player can't be turned on or off as it is always in the same state.

Sounds like good things are coming to the anti-Apple DAP crowd (which includes me).

courtesy
tech.blorge.com