News of the Day, November 12, 2009

Job Market

Weekly Unemployment Claims Down: Not by that much - from 514,000 to 512,000 - but still, a drop is a drop. We'll call it more cause for cautious optimism.

Economics/Geekonomics

States Facing Major Budget Crises: If you're thinking of relocating, you definitely want to check this list. (And if you're not thinking of relocating, you may decide to if your state is one of the worst affected). 

Publishing

Newsweek Lays Off 12: That's actually not so bad, considering some of the huge numbers we've seen from other big-ticket publications in the past. These cuts may have something to do with the fact that the publication is reducing its U.S. circulation from 2.6 million to 1.5 million by next January.

Journalism Online founder says conventional newspapers will be around 15 more years: So that gives you journalism types a timeline to make sure your cyber skills are up to snuff. 

Amazon Expands AmazonEncore Lineup: The program was created to give new authors maximum exposure, and it involves an Amazon-branded reprinting of self-published books. A great program for all aspiring authors to keep an eye on.

Video Games

Facebook Integration Coming to PS3: Microsoft has something like this in beta already, so it's no surprise Sony is doing the same thing. It certainly suits Sony's concept of video game console as full lifestyle device.  

Modern Warfare 2 Breaks Single-Day Sales Record: That's the Xbox360 version, mind you, and it moved 4.7 million copies. Big news given that game sales in general have been in a slump lately - expect war games to be as big as, well, music games in the near future. 

Technology

AOL is estimating its restructuring costs at $200 million - the company has already announced 100 layoffs and has said there will be more coming in the future. AOL has been struggling to redefine itself even more than most early-Internet providers, and it's entirely possible they may not make it. Remember that even if you're the hot thing of the moment, you may find yourself adapting and catching up with the times later.

TV Search Engine Clicker Launches: It's a guide to finding legally-available television content online, and features premium content from Amazon and Netflix. This is something that has the potential to catch on very fast and expand, so it's one to keep an eye on.

A Microsoft manager has been smacked down for suggesting that Windows 7 was directly inspired by Mac OSX. (Never mind that they look very similar . . .) File this under "watch what you say in public, especially when you work for one of the big boys."  

Social Media 

Facebook programmer quits development of iPhone app: Joseph Hewitt says he did it because he's unhappy with Apple policies that require material be submitted to the company for approval before it can appear on the iPhone app store. Apple's review policy has proved controversial with many developers, and is something anyone planning to submit material to the House of Jobs should be aware of. 

Film

MGM Headed for Auction: It's been a brand name more than a viable movie company for some time, but it has a couple of major franchise products attached to it (Rocky, James Bond). This could lead to the company being split up entirely, with one big company getting the film library, another the MGM brand logo and a third MGM's sister company, United Artists. Might be worth keeping an eye on, if someone decides to return this studio to its glory days, it may provide opportunities for aspiring filmmakers (United Artists was once a distributor of indie films long before Miramax and Lions Gate were even thought of). 

Maximum Geekery

Watchmen creator Alan Moore is collaborating on a rock opera with the creators of Gorillaz. The topic? Journey to the West, the legend that was the basis of Dragon Ball and fangirl favorite Saiyuki. Folks, it doesn't get any geekier than this. 

- Bonnie