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rumoralert posts

Filed under: Video, Web services, Google

Rumor Alert: Google to acquire YouTube?

Google + YouTube?TechCrunch's Michael Arrington is reporting on a "completely unsubstantiated" rumor that Google is in the final stages of closing a deal to acquire YouTube for $1.6 billion. He says his source for the rumor is "very good," but that he hasn't been able to get any confirmation. Google certainly has the cash and resources for this kind of transaction, and is probably one of the few companies that isn't scared stupid by the pile of lawsuits that some say loom over YouTube's head, but is YouTube really a fit for Google? Technologically, YouTube doesn't have anything that Google couldn't whip up in a few hours. YouTube does, however, have the social networking savvy that Google has proven itself to be not especially good at. Arrington puts the odds for this rumor at "40% likely to be at least partially true," but my gut says lower--30% or so.

Update: The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Google and YouTube are indeed in talks, but they are in the early stages and could break off. It quotes the same $1.6 billion figure that Arrington cited.

Filed under: Audio, Internet, Macintosh, Apple

Rumor Alert: Mac OS X to get integrated BitTorrent support

BitTorrent for iTunesMac OS Rumors says that according to some of their "oldest and most reliable sources," Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" will be shipping with an integrated BitTorrent system that will be utilized for delivering software updates and iTunes content. For sharing their bandwidth, Leopard users would get rewards like credit at the iTunes Music Store and Apple would save "hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars per year" in bandwidth costs. Head over to Mac OS Rumors for the full story.

Filed under: Web services

Rumor Alert: AOL to attempt MySpace assault

AOLOoh, here's some juicy, unsubstantiated buzz: According to Dave Winer, AOL (this blogger's employer) is planning a new service that will challenge MySpace "head on." The announcement will allegedly be made in two weeks.

[Via my boss Jason Calacanis, who neither confirms nor denies, but is probably tenting his fingers right now.]

Update: Down in the comments we've got comfirmation from Armughan Javaid, Program Manager in AOL Technologies' Open Services group. He says "it will be kick-ass!"

Featured Time Waster

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

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