Facebook and MySpace to be new best buds?

If there was ever a pairing between two long time rivals that eventually kissed and made up, the rivalry between Facebook and MySpace would definitely not be near the top of my list list. But pigs are going to soon sprout wings and hell will in fact start freezing over (I can feel my feet getting cold as we speak) as Owen Van Natta, MySpace CEO has been officially quoted saying that they are “in talks” with Facebook exec’s. Similarly, Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg stated: “we would like to have MySpace’s content”.

Essentially, there are two paths two dueling companies can take when a winner and loser come forth. The losing company can take the legal route and start suing the winning company away. Or, the losing company can be bought/adopted/partner with the winning company. Thankfully for the sanity of consumers and to much delight from the poor judge who would have to oversee such a lawsuit, MySpace’s talking with Facebook could actually be an awesome thing for both companies and networks.

While MySpace has been losing on the general social networking front more noticeably in the last year, it isn’t necessarily solely because they stalled on the innovation front which in turn caused visitor numbers to plummet. Instead a “vision change” of sorts has been in the making. MySpace now is as they call it a media hub — a place for musicians and artists to showcase their talent with music and video taking a much larger presence than before. So MySpace would again enjoy huge visitor numbers and media spotlight in partnering with Facebook. So what exactly would Facebook gain?

Multimedia. Sure Facebook is the social networking champ with it’s main intentions being to communicate between people. Games have recently come into the fray though aren’t the bread and butter of FB. A partnership with MySpace would bring in (through Facebook connect I assume) a channel for a vast library of music and video that so far Facebook has been lacking in.

In the end, you have Facebook enjoying the spoils of victory, being the social networking champ with MySpace enjoying “being different” now. They don’t have to compete with Facebook anymore. Now MySpace can really focus on their strong points which as mentioned many times before are audio and video. It really is a win-win for everyone. Happy happy harmony for all. Of course, none of this is official with the comments of partnerships from both Facebook and MySpace exec’s all “off the record”. Still, the fact that they’re even hinting at such things has to mean something right?

Would you enjoy such a partnership?

Cnet

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Microsoft declares Windows 7 Family Guy episode “unfit for the Windows brand”. Golden girls unavailable for comment.

The Windows 7 Family Guy episode while a complete disaster for Family Guy, would have been a high point in Microsoft marketing. Even though the Windows 7 verbiage was blatant and lacked any kind of flow, having Microsoft even mentioned inside something with the coolness of Family Guy would certainly have earned them at least a point in the consumer space. Whatever points may or may not have been awarded will forever be unknown as those at Microsoft responsible for this whole get together in the first place apparently never watched a single episode of the epic comedy. After a few senior executives from Microsoft saw the early preview of the episode, they became “quickly aware” (read: Oh hell, we’re not this cool) that Family Guy and Microsoft/Windows 7 weren’t a compatible duo. Those eager to see the fail that Microsoft hath wrought can still do so on November 8th as the episode is still scheduled to air with Windows 7 cracks included, albeit with a new sponsor. Who is going to sponsor such an episode? Well, that little morsel of information is still unknown. If you had the money, would you want to?

Engadget

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Apple extending full-time health benefits to part timers

Well color me impressed. Apple, like any other businesses in the world, has a goal to make money first and foremost with all other priorities falling somewhere in behind. Whatever priority number 2 was is uncertain. But I can tell you that employee health and well being now occupies that spot. Starting in January 2010, Apple will offer health benefits to not just their full-time staff, but part-timers as well. Such a move is fairly uncommon in the States, though a very welcome one to say the least. With costs consumers are stuck paying rising across the board, getting a break from the digital fruit giant will no doubt take a load of many employee’s shoulders.

Under the new policy change, approximately 9,900 part time employees will be affected by the change and added to the group of roughly 16,500 full-time employees already receiving benefits. I wish more companies in this country could have just a tad more compassion and follow in Apple’s footsteps. If one thing could be highlighted as still needing improvement, it would be the amount of coverage offered. After Apple’s new part-time benefit packages go in effect this January, health insurance costs paid by Apple will level out at 65% — about 8% below the national average of 73%. So while more people are getting access to health coverage, those people are paying more under health insurance than most. Still, paying more with health insurance is a hell of a lot less than paying for medical bills out of pocket without health insurance. You know how it is. Every little bit helps.

Apple, you just earned a nice gold star for the day.

Mac Daily News > ifoAppleStore

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Porsche USB drive looks fast. But is it really?

Enjoy driving mommy and daddy’s Porsche or simply dream of purchasing your own and wished with all you might you could have a Porsche branded USB drive to improve your image? Now you can! Often times, high end branded devices in the electronic/gadget realm often suffer from two main problems. They’re (1) over priced as you’re paying for the brand/image and (2) under powered/under perform. With the Porsche branding you would expect this flash drive to haul 1′s and 0′s like a speed demon. I don’t have on, and the exact transfer speed it operates at aren’t mentioned. So it looks like you’ll have to take the plunge and actually buy before you try with this one. Anyone feeling lucky? $49 and it’s yours.

TechFresh > Newlaunches

Twist on Twist off: “Switch” an eco-friendly, universal electrical outlet. [Green Tech]

Think electrical outlets are about as technologically advanced as they can get? I hope not because the standard electrical outlet as we know it is about as old as dirt. Though this new concept simply titled “Switch” is a green, universal electrical outlet that gets my geek radar all kinds of giddy. Who knew an electrical outlet could be cool? As the diagram illustrates above, the device stays plugged in 24/7, but isn’t always on. On/off operation is controlled via turning the plug like a dial. Ingenious I know. Again, another moment in life I find myself kicking my own being for not thinking of such an idea. It’s always the smallest things….

Yenko Design

Goldeneye 2010 making a return debut on the Nintendo Wii?

The greatest first person shooter of all time is about to make a comeback! I know I’ve reminisced about the best James Bond game ever, GoldenEye (N64) before, but another rumor fresh out of the mill has my senses piqued and inner child remembering days past. The man with the message is Craig Peck. Mr. Peck apparently spent all of July – September working on scene layout and camera animation for the upcoming “GoldenEye 2010″, a remade, souped up version of the original. Shooters aren’t everyone’s favorite game. In fact, they’re not mine either. I’m more of a Forza 3 kinda guy. But GoldenEye 64 was different. It was the FPS to emulate in the late 90′s and to some degree even today. After his three month jaunt on this secretive GoldenEye project, Mr. Peck claims to have moved on to working on LA Noire, an upcoming title from Rockstar. All I can say is I sure hope something materializes from this rumor. I don’t currently own a Wii, but a GoldenEye part 2 may just break me. Anyone else super stoked?

ElectricPig > CVG

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Halloween animal costumes for the technologically obsessed.

We geeky humans can get quite into Halloween with all kinds of geeky costumes. But why should we be the only species to have all of the fun? Many electronic gurus also own some form of animal. It only makes sense that we pass our affinity for all things gadget on to our animals. The USS Enterprise Woof and Vadar Dog are just two of several fine examples of animal geekery that Dvice has whipped up. If you’re looking for a small mid-morning laugh, stop on over and give the 7 other costumes a looksie. It may be too late to trick out your pooch this year, but there’s always next year…

9 Geeky animal costumes showcased by Dvice