TechCrunch

LiveUniverse Buys Another Loser: Peerflix
Jason Kincaid Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:01:21 -0000
We're getting reports that Peerflix, the tumultuous company that switched from acting as a DVD-swapping service to an ad network, has been acquired by Brad Greenspan's LiveUniverse for an undisclosed amount (though we're guessing it's pretty low). We've asked LiveUniverse to comment. Peerflix was founded in 2004 as a "peer-to-peer Netflix", helping users to swap DVDs they owned for a dollar. The site abandoned the flat fixed pricing scheme for a demand-based model in 2006, but that didn't work well either: in November 2007 it decided to launch a media network that had nothing to do with its original DVD swapping service. Peerflix finally canned the DVD trading business earlier this year, so Live Universe is acquiring it solely for its ad network.
Shasta Ventures Expands Team
Michael Arrington Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:18:23 -0000
Shasta Ventures, a venture fund managing $460 million and investments in startups like Mint, Flock and Turn, has promoted Jason Pressman to Managing Director and added a new associate, Evan Liang, to the team.
SideTaker: Crowdsourcing Your Private Disputes, With Hilarious Results
Jason Kincaid Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:45:19 -0000
Every couple has its ups and downs, but most people try to keep their dirty laundry to themselves. But what about those times when you just can't come to an agreement with your significant other? Today sees the launch of SideTaker a site that asks couples to upload both sides of their arguments and let the crowd settle their debates. SideTaker members can vote on which side they agree with, or leave comments to ask for further details or voice their opinions. The site is hilarious. Disputes range from cheating spouses to toilet flushing, oftentimes filled with more detail than anyone would want to know.
MyAWOL Becomes LP33.TV, Launches IMDB For Musicians
Jason Kincaid Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:35:19 -0000
Last July I wrote about MyAWOL, a web-centric music label looking to compete with traditional labels, which are becoming increasingly less relevant as artists turn to digital distribution methods to gain exposure. While the site has the potential to break some new ground in the online music world, it has run into a major snag during its buildup to launch: its name sounds almost exactly like My.AOL when spoken aloud. In light of this, the company has decided to rename the site to LP33.TV, which should hopefully be less confusing. LP33 is more memorable, but I think the company should consider dropping the .TV extension entirely since they already own the .com. Along with the name change, LP33.TV is also launching its database for music industry professionals, TheMIDB, which hopes to fulfill the same role as the movie and television industry's popular IMDB. The derivative name will probably confuse just about everyone, but at least it makes the site's purpose clear.
Tatango Opens Their Group SMS Service To The Public
Greg Kumparak Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:35:06 -0000
Tatango, the ad-supported group SMS service previously known as networkText, spent the last few months in a private beta following a functional and visual overhaul and a round of funding by Bellingham Angel Organization. Now everyone is free to get in on the group texting good times; they’ve opened the doors to the public. The service is dead simple to use, as it should be. I made the jump from accountless bum to en masse messaging mogul in all of about 2 minutes.
Google’s Picasa Moves Onto Flickr’s Turf: Adds Ways To Explore Interesting Public Photos
Erick Schonfeld Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:21:40 -0000
On the heels of a major upgrade earlier this week that added facial recognition and video-editing features to its Picasa photo management service, Google added a new Explore page today that shows off the most popular public photos uploaded by members. In addition to the featured photos, shown in a 3 X 4 grid, the Explore page also shows the most recent photos uploaded in a slide-show widget. Below, it offers a list of the most popular tags. For instance, here are pictures tagged "New York." The Picasa Explore page also has a Where In The World? game that is mashup opf geotagged photos and Google Maps. It shows you a photo and you have to guess where it was taken. If you guess wrong, it tells you how far off you are in kilometers. This is fun for outdoor photos, but when people upload geotagged photos of a generic apartment of a plate of food, it can become tricky.

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