Digital ET, Etc.

Adobe’s Flash

When Adobe Chief Executive Bruce Chizen picked up Flash developer Macromedia (nasdaq: MACR – news – people ) for $3.4 billion in stock last year, its latest version–Flash 8–was just launching. The update pledged much-higher-quality video than previous editions, thanks to a new movie-compression method from a small company called On2. What followed was a deluge of interest, pushing Flash ahead of video-streaming pioneers RealNetworks (nasdaq: RNWK – news – people ) and QuickTime-developer Apple Computer (nasdaq: AAPL – news – people ).

Does it mean Flash has a head start in the growing online video market, which is estimated to be a US $1.7 billion by 2010.  Forbesonline has more on Adobe’s new acquisition–Flash.

Etc., Internet

Ask.com

What really differentiates us is our focus on search. Other companies are partnering with content companies and launching wi-fi networks. But we’re not building a rocket ship. We’re building a better car. It’s not what people will want in five years. It’s what they want now.
   Jim Lanzone, Ask.com’s CEO

David Kirkpatrick, FORTUNE senior editor, has more on ask.com. According to him at ask.com users get content first and the rest next, inlcuding the revenue generating ads. And the content in search results is rich compared to Google. Check this claim with the keyword ‘Google’ in ask.com and ‘ask’ in Google.com. Hmm…you get his point right away:-)

Etc., Internet

Google:Fumble or an experiment?

Google’s novel combination of search and advertising has created a useful and wildly profitable business online. But so far, its attempts to translate its successfuly online model into the offline world has brought Google (GOOG) trouble.

Surprisingly Google admitted its failure in the recent investors’ conference. Is it a fumble or just a part of the cycle? Complete article at Businessweek online.

ET, IT…and the rest