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Jeff Gerstmann
Congratulations, Eidos: You're officially off the hook. Responding to rumors that CNET fired GameSpot editorial director Jeff Gerstmann for slamming a game heavily advertised on the site (check out the highlights in the above clip), spokesperson Sarah Cain told Joystiq, "We do not terminate employees based on external pressure from advertisers." We doubted that CNET would toss away its credibility so readily. More »
CNET "stands behind content," hides behind statements
Congratulations, Eidos: You're officially off the hook. Responding to rumors that CNET fired GameSpot editorial director Jeff Gerstmann for slamming a game heavily advertised on the site (check out the highlights in the above clip), spokesperson Sarah Cain told Joystiq, "We do not terminate employees based on external pressure from advertisers." We doubted that CNET would toss away its credibility so readily. More »
Sponsors
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95 percent of editors thank sponsors for not being Scrooge
Mark Zuckerberg may be this year's Grinch, but our sponsors aren't. Thanks go to:
- Ask.com
- Bank of America
- Canon
- Current TV
- Evolve Speakers
- Firefox
- Ford Focus
- Helio
- HP
- Logitech
- Mio
- MyRide.com
- Nokia
- Project Kuros
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- Sony Ericsson
- Sprint
- Toshiba
- Vista
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Recap
Ahh, that feels good right there. I don't think we'll be talking about this week next week. The Facebook pile-on continued. Amazon's Kindle reader suffered a surprise media backlash. I'd hoped for another bank-employee-in-tutu photo to liven things up. Instead we got Gerstmanngate. At least we still have jobs — oh wait, Valleywag party girl Megan "Leggy" McCarthy is heading to Wired. I think I'll go curl up in the tub with my INVISIBLE PUPPY. (Photo by Jason Calacanis)
This week was a wash
Ahh, that feels good right there. I don't think we'll be talking about this week next week. The Facebook pile-on continued. Amazon's Kindle reader suffered a surprise media backlash. I'd hoped for another bank-employee-in-tutu photo to liven things up. Instead we got Gerstmanngate. At least we still have jobs — oh wait, Valleywag party girl Megan "Leggy" McCarthy is heading to Wired. I think I'll go curl up in the tub with my INVISIBLE PUPPY. (Photo by Jason Calacanis)
job descriptions from the future
Google's Director of Other
Unaware of what you want to do in life, but know that you want a director-level job with a splashy company that serves free food? Have we found the spot for you! Google is looking for a "Director of Other" on its corporate job listing page, and the description of the post is just as vague as their flacks' conversations with reporters.As our core business continues to enjoy phenomenal success, our tangential efforts must equally evolve to capitalize on opportunities before us. Under the "Other" umbrella, Google aims to identify and pursue opportunities where technology can revolutionize traditional and more mature industries.
Yaron Polak
Israeli VC convicted on kiddie-porn charges
Yaron Polak, a VC with Israel-based Genesis Partners, was convicted on possession of child pornography for "downloading 1,500 photos and 150 videos of fully or partially nude children onto his home computer. " Ew. Immediately after his conviction, Polak was fired from Genesis Partners and scrubbed from its website, though you can still see the cached version of his profile page. Genesis Partners was in the news a few weeks ago for selling off search startup Yedda to AOL.
Was Jakob Lodwick fired from Vimeo?
We now hear that Jakob Lodwick, the fame-seeking oddball who started Vimeo, didn't quit the IAC-controlled video site — he was fired. And probably not for his views on Web development, either. Anyone know more?
We now hear that Jakob Lodwick, the fame-seeking oddball who started Vimeo, didn't quit the IAC-controlled video site — he was fired. And probably not for his views on Web development, either. Anyone know more?
online advertising
Google mops Madison Avenue with Yahoo's behind
Only last year, the word on Madison Avenue was that while Google might be getting all the attention, Yahoo's human touch kept it in the game. No longer, with the disgraceful farewell Yahoo bid to star saleswoman Wenda Harris Millard, and its promotion of hapless nonentity Dave Karnstedt. Disgraced stock analyst Henry Blodget "chatted" with a "significant New York-headquartered customer of Google (GOOG) and Yahoo" and came away with numbers to close the case. More »
Jeff Gerstmann
GameSpot editor (?) on fired reviewer
We never know for sure if the commentards are who they claim to be. But one prodigious poster with the new account "gamespot" is telling what reads like a credible insider story — it's written in editor-speak — of what happened to ex-CNET GameSpot reviewer Jeff Gerstmann, supposedly fired for low-scoring an advertiser's new game. "Gamespot"'s posts are in need of a 100-word-versioning, but it's Friday so forgettabout it here's the whole thing pasted in. I've bolded the newsy parts. More »
The Winnies
Here's a little taste of what you'll be missing if you are unable to attend the inaugural Winnies held at Cinespace in Los Angeles tonight: MC Slutsky and her Krew performing "Vlog Deathmatch" live. Sadly, the event will not include any other deathmatches. Like the Special Olympics, everyone is a winner at these vlog awards, hosted by videobloggers Irina Slutsky and Gary Vaynerchuk. Lan Bui, Vu Bui, and Bonny Pierzini of the irreverent Noodle Scar also helped organize the event. Our only disappointment: With no losers in attendance, how can we possibly cover the event?
Don't miss vlogger Irina Slutsky embarrassing herself
Here's a little taste of what you'll be missing if you are unable to attend the inaugural Winnies held at Cinespace in Los Angeles tonight: MC Slutsky and her Krew performing "Vlog Deathmatch" live. Sadly, the event will not include any other deathmatches. Like the Special Olympics, everyone is a winner at these vlog awards, hosted by videobloggers Irina Slutsky and Gary Vaynerchuk. Lan Bui, Vu Bui, and Bonny Pierzini of the irreverent Noodle Scar also helped organize the event. Our only disappointment: With no losers in attendance, how can we possibly cover the event?
Wireless
Cringely's AT&T-iPhone theory -- the 100-word version
Why did AT&T head Randall Stephenson let it slip that a much faster iPhone was coming next year? PBS pundit Robert X. Cringely says — in a roundabout 1,000-word way — that it was no slip. He also reminds us several times that it was he, Cringely, who foretold all of this. All of it. I bolded those parts to make sure he gets the credit. Deservedly. For once, I'm sure the Cringe is right. More »
Danny Sullivan
There are two main differences between Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan and Robert Scoble: ego and talent. Scoble's got the ego, and Sullivan's got the talent. If search-engine optimization is your thing (and God help you if it is), Sullivan is your rock star. Scoble is his own rock star.. But Danny! What's with the Scoble-inspired whiteboard talk? Next thing you know Sullivan will be filming himself in his car, endangering all our lives.
Scoble's whiteboard video plague spreads
There are two main differences between Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan and Robert Scoble: ego and talent. Scoble's got the ego, and Sullivan's got the talent. If search-engine optimization is your thing (and God help you if it is), Sullivan is your rock star. Scoble is his own rock star.. But Danny! What's with the Scoble-inspired whiteboard talk? Next thing you know Sullivan will be filming himself in his car, endangering all our lives.
Vimeo
Jakob Lodwick quits IAC video site
"As of an hour ago, I am no longer affiliated with IAC/InterActiveCorp/Connected Ventures/Vimeo. No hard feelings!" writes Jakob Lodwick on his blog. A shame. Lodwick's work at the Barry Diller-controlled online-video venture was our only excuse for paying attention to him and his can't-stop-watching trainwreck of a relationship with notorious nobody Julia Allison. Aside from your work at Diller's answer to YouTube, what will take the guilty out of our pleasure now, Jakob? Update: Back to guilty-pleasure status with Lodwick. The latest rumor is that he was fired.
Fred Wilson
Why startups fail -- the 100-word version
Sick of picking on the little guys, VC blogger Fred Wilson took it upon himself today to explain "why early stage venture investments fail." Here are his two primary reasons, culled from a post far too long for your Friday afternoon. More »
ChaCha
ChaCha, the Hoosier-powered search engine which uses conscripted human guides who work for former ChaCha board members at a public university, has struggled to distinguish itself as anything more than an object of prank callers. So how does the little search engine from Indiana plan to boost user numbers? By boldly going where no man has gone before! ChaCha is courting the Trekkie set by using some of the $10 million it got in a recent financing round to fund the production of the fan-produced Star Trek: New Voyages. More »
Boldly searching where no man has searched before
ChaCha, the Hoosier-powered search engine which uses conscripted human guides who work for former ChaCha board members at a public university, has struggled to distinguish itself as anything more than an object of prank callers. So how does the little search engine from Indiana plan to boost user numbers? By boldly going where no man has gone before! ChaCha is courting the Trekkie set by using some of the $10 million it got in a recent financing round to fund the production of the fan-produced Star Trek: New Voyages. More »
Acquisitions
No startup too small for Microsoft monster
There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Microsoft executive Mark Wolfram told a breakfast table full of VCs this week that no startup is too small to acquire if its founders are "smart technical leaders" and it has "key intellectual property," according to Beyond Binary. If there's a sweet spot, Wolfram said, it's a company with 50 to 100 employees worth around $50 million. More »
Everyone's a winner!
Tonight, celebrate Wikipedia, replicants, and videobloggers in an orgy of self-congratulation.
Tonight, celebrate Wikipedia, replicants, and videobloggers in an orgy of self-congratulation.
Great Moments In Pr
"Freaked-out" Eidos ducks CNET firing rumor
Videogamers have been accusing CNET of shredding its editorial credibility by firing GameSpot editorial director Jeff Gerstmann after Eidos allegedly threatened to pull "hundreds of thousands of dollars in future advertising." That, of course, is conspiracy theory entirely typical of the blogosphere. Has anyone thought that Eidos has as much to lose as CNET here, with customers turning against the games studio over claims it muscled out a popular reviewer? We hear Eidos is "freaking out" over l'affaire Gerstmann; top management there, an insider says, sincerely believes they didn't prompt CNET to fire Gerstmann, but fears they'll get the blame anyway. Michelle Curran, Eidos's director of public relations, says, "Yeah, we're not commenting on that right now." That's all right, Michelle. If we were you, we wouldn't comment, either.
Search
Now it's even easier to find useless Facebook apps
Maybe Facebook applications weren't spammy enough for you already? Don't lose sleep over it. GigaOm's Om Malik reports that third-party developers will soon be able to let search engines index their applications' pages. What does that mean? A whole lot more useless links and ugly clutter, and even more people inviting you to become a zombie. It's also a reason to give enthusiasts of Google's OpenSocial platform pause. There's less reason to build an app for OpenSocial if Google's own search results will help developers find new users.
Jeff Gerstmann
Jeff Gerstmann, the former CNET GameSpot reviewer whom the rumor mill claims was fired by CNET for angering an advertiser with a negative writeup about one of their games, responded to my Facebook poke. Besides being a journalistic first for me, Jeff's message made me laugh.
Fired CNET editor speaks
Jeff Gerstmann, the former CNET GameSpot reviewer whom the rumor mill claims was fired by CNET for angering an advertiser with a negative writeup about one of their games, responded to my Facebook poke. Besides being a journalistic first for me, Jeff's message made me laugh.
rumormonger
CNET editor fired for "unprofessional" reviews, not "Kane & Lynch"
Here's a new wrinkle on the controversial firing of CNET editor Jeff Gerstmann, which came shortly after he posted a negative review of CNET advertiser Eidos's Kane & Lynch. An individual claiming to work in CNET ad sales — specifically on the Eidos ad campaign — claims that while Eidos was upset over the review, that conflict was settled over two weeks ago. He says, "I'd heard a few people tell that [Gerstmann had] already been skating on thin ice for 'unprofessional reviews and review practices.'"
Housekeeping
Megan McCarthy, who since October 2006 has covered the Silicon Valley party circuit for Valleywag and become bizarrely famous in Germany along the way, starts at Wired in two weeks. Instead of drinking startup founders under the table, she'll be fetching doppio venti extra-hot raspberry white soy milk mochas for Epicenter blog editor Dylan Tweney, who himself once wrote for Valleywag — we're all dizzy now. Megan (pronounced meh-gan around here) will continue posting for us until she makes the switch. Please, please please send her out with a big scoop. (Photo by Mike Calore)
Valleywag "party girl" lands job at Wired
Megan McCarthy, who since October 2006 has covered the Silicon Valley party circuit for Valleywag and become bizarrely famous in Germany along the way, starts at Wired in two weeks. Instead of drinking startup founders under the table, she'll be fetching doppio venti extra-hot raspberry white soy milk mochas for Epicenter blog editor Dylan Tweney, who himself once wrote for Valleywag — we're all dizzy now. Megan (pronounced meh-gan around here) will continue posting for us until she makes the switch. Please, please please send her out with a big scoop. (Photo by Mike Calore)
online advertising
Advertisers threatened Facebook -- and one acted
MoveOn.org, the activist group, takes credit for Facebook revising its privacy policy. The company itself says it was just listening to user feedback. But you know better: Money talks. The New York Times reports that prior to Facebook's announcement last night, at least one advertiser, Overstock.com, told Zuckerberg & Co. it would discontinue its participation in Facebook's Beacon ads until it became an opt-in-only program, where users have to actively consent to have their purchases broadcasted to friends on the social network. It's not clear if Facebook's latest changes have appeased the online retailer.
Clips
Whether you believe CNET editor Jeff Gerstmann was canned for a critical review of an advertiser's product or other causes, this much is clear: Someone took offense at his video review of Kane & Lynch, a release by CNET advertiser Eidos, and the clip was yanked offline. One insider alleges that the review was deemed "unprofessional." We've watched it and just don't see it, but the clip is above and you can judge for yourself. More »
CNET editor's farewell video
Whether you believe CNET editor Jeff Gerstmann was canned for a critical review of an advertiser's product or other causes, this much is clear: Someone took offense at his video review of Kane & Lynch, a release by CNET advertiser Eidos, and the clip was yanked offline. One insider alleges that the review was deemed "unprofessional." We've watched it and just don't see it, but the clip is above and you can judge for yourself. More »
Bubble 0.0
Ladies' Home Journal, the very first tech pub
This, according to Blogoscoped, is a screenshot from Ladies' Home Journal in 1900. Or whatever they called screenshots back then. The text in the detail predicts that in the future "man will see around around the world" through cameras connected around the world through a "giant telephone apparatus transmitting each incidental sound in its appropriate place." After the article's publication, millions of investor dollars poured into founder Alexander Graham Bell's startup. Of course, not long after the market tanked, and the article's author John Elfreth Watkins — acused of pumping and dumping stocks — went on to live the rest of his life as an impoverished blogger, or whatever they called them back then. More »
Social Networks
Riding the momentum of her hit single, "Fuck Ya Man," MySpace's most popular member, Tila Tequila has a new hit on her hands. MTV's A Shot At Love, which pits 16 lesbians against 16 men in a contest for Tequila's affections, is now the No. 1 show for its time slot among people ages 18 to 34, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. More »
Tila Tequila explains why MySpace is still more popular than Facebook
Riding the momentum of her hit single, "Fuck Ya Man," MySpace's most popular member, Tila Tequila has a new hit on her hands. MTV's A Shot At Love, which pits 16 lesbians against 16 men in a contest for Tequila's affections, is now the No. 1 show for its time slot among people ages 18 to 34, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. More »
Hackers
