iPads are selling! Virtual goods are selling! The Twilight manga is still selling! And now, we're going to sell you the news!

Economics/Geekonomics

Income/Spending About in Line With Expectations: Factors are in place for short-term economic growth, but the long-term picture isn't quite there yet.  

Japanese Consumer Showing Signs of Life: Some cautiously optimistic signs coming from one of the bedrocks of the world geekonomy.

What Does Greece Mean to You?: A simplified analysis of how the world's biggest financial crisis could affect the lives of everyday Americans. 

Publishing

The Reality of Digital Content: Why writers may have to develop an entrepreneurial spirit to survive in the post-print magazine and newspaper world. And, as an opposing opinion: Print is Dying, Really? People in the publishing industry really should take both sides of the coin into consideration, but also remember that the digital frontier is here whether traditional print periodicals hang around or not. 

Computers/Web Tech

One Company's Hard Lesson In the Freemium Business Model: The hard lesson is it's a spam magnet. Here's tips on how to protect you if your business goes in this direction (and, by the way, freemium is used by a variety of online businesses, not just gaming, though that's the industry it's most associated with).

Lexalytics' Big Move: The story on how one tech company snatched success from the jaws of failure while working in an unusual field: Text analysis, which can instantly tell you if an E-mail is full of praise or insults. (It might be worth noting that they're thriving in Boston, which is more of a tech area than you might think).

Semiconductor Revenue Fell More than 10% Last Year: And it's the first time profits in this sector declined for two years in a row. However, the report indicates that sales started gaining strength toward the end of the year, indicating this is yet another industry hit hard by the economic downturn that is starting to bounce back.

Silicon Valley Investors Unhappy About Restrictions: A proposed financial reform bill would make it harder for startups to obtain funding in a prompt fashion, and it's drawing ire from investors who say it aims to "destroy Silicon Valley." Definitely worth paying attention to by any entrepreneurs, not just tech ones. 

Netbooks/Tablets

Apple Sells Out First Week's Shipment of iPads: Anyone surprised? Buehler? Buehler? (This is all preorders, by the way, we're still a couple of weeks from the release date). But seriously, this is the tip of the tablet iceberg – things will get really interesting when the Android-powered Googleblets arrive on the market later this year, especially if they cost less than Apple's device. Meanwhile, Nintendo is releasing the DS XL a week before the iPad and apparently considers Apple a threat to its device. 

Anime/Manga

Twilight Tops Bestselling Manga List: See first sentence of iPad item above. The fact that Maximum Ride is also on that list (and that manga's been out awhile) says that the future of manga in America may include many more fusions and cross-marketing. (Harry Potter, the Manga: Don't be surprised.)

Comics

Comics For Women vs. Comics for Girls: An analysis of what it would take to reach both the adult and teen female markets with a single title. (Personally, I'm impressed just to see comics companies, other than manga publishers, taking any female audience seriously).

Smartphones

Verizon, Vodaphone May Combine: Vodaphone is an overseas communications giant and Verizon's partner in its widely successful Verizon Wireless network (aka the House of Droid). This could serve to make a strong brand even stronger, not to mention extending the Droid's reach on a global basis. Verizon may be the safest bet for mobile-company careers right now.

Video Games

Hardcore Gamers Accepting Virtual Goods in Games: About 88% of gamers said they have bought either DLC or digital movies and music, while 60% said they have paid for goods within games. Might be a skewed number, because that 88% figure may reflect music for your iPod more than true DLC add-ons, but it's a sign that paying for goods and services is finding acceptance outside the casual market thought to be the bedrock of freemium.

GameStop Distributing Freemium Game: The company had acquired online game designer Jolt Online Gaming last year, and the first offering under the new partnership is called Legends of Zork. Smart move by GameStop to protect itself as an increasing amount of the business goes over to online gaming (see above).

E-Publishing

Self-Published E-Books to Make it to the iPad at Almost No Cost: Apple has cut a deal with self-publishing company Smashwords, and others are sure to follow (like, for instance, Lulu?). Great news for authors looking for exposure – self-publishing and E-books seem to go together hand in glove. 

Social Media

Facebook May Automatically Share Data With 'Pre-Approved Partners': It's part of their new privacy policy, under which data may be shared when users visit various Web sites to provide a "more personalized experience." However, users may opt out – so consider this a heads-up to Facebook users to do so. 

Geek News of the Weird

Battlefield Earth Screnwriter Apologizes, 10 Years Later: Sometimes, when you screw up to that extent, it's best to just issue an apology and move on. No, nobody's apologized for Howard the Duck, though somebody should. And speaking of embarassing flops, it's also the 15th anniversary of Microsoft Bob!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are the DSXL and tablets actual competitors to each other, or are they appealing two two distinct markets?