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Blinkx Launching Speech Recognition Video Search

Video search startup blinkx today plans to launch an AdSense-like ad platform named blinkx AdHoc. Very much in its beta stage, the technology is designed to help advertisers target ads alongside or in Web videos based on speech-recognition technology. Advertisers can buy specific words and categories. More ...

Blinkx Beats Google With Speech-Based Video Ad Net

Google has been working on AdSense for video, but little is reported about its progress. That may be because it's original partner, Viacom, is now suing the company for $1 billion. Big G's legal problems have opened the door for smaller guys to create the much-needed networking products that could make online video advertising a force. London-based blinkx is readying such an ad platform. Called blinkx AdHoc, the new product will launch next Monday as way to target ads alongside or in Web videos based on speech-recognition technology. The program allows advertisers to buy specific words spoken in videos as well as categories created by analyzing its overall context. The ads--pre-roll, mid-roll or post-roll--will then be delivered to videos appearing on a publisher's site, selected from their own advertiser inventory, that of an ad network, or blinkx. More ...

Wake Up To Widgets: comScore Measures Appeal

More than 81 million consumers in North America--or a full 40.3%--were exposed in April to an emerging viable advertising channel, Web widgets, according to a new widget tracking service just launched by comScore. More ...

Podzinger Now Does EveryZing

Podzinger, known until now as a podcast search engine, is getting a new name and more ambitious mission. Rechristened EveryZing, the company now hopes to make searchable the multimedia libraries of the largest media companies around. More ...

Widgets: Advertising Will Never Be The Same

Widgets are on the verge of changing advertising as we know it. A spate of recent announcements by companies like Google and Facebook indicate that both see a big future in the development of third-party content for their Web sites. Widgets are mini pieces of software developed for Web sites, and in some cases, the desktop. They offer access to Web-based content and information without requiring that users visit a specific site. More ...

Yahoo Rolls Out Commercial API Program

The imminent departure of Yahoo CTO Farzad Nazem has not yet impacted the company's growth plans for its Panama advertising platform, as evidenced by the rollout of its Search Marketing Commercial API Program. More ...

Google Strikes Partnership with Salesforce.com

As expected, Google has joined forces with Salesforce.com in launching a new Web site that allows Salesforce to resell Google's AdWords through the company's core customer relationship management software. Called Salesforce Group Edition, the companies will jointly market the new product, which records sales leads generated through ads placed on Google.com and the company's AdSense network. When users click on the Salesforce client's ads, they're requested to fill out a form recording their name, which is then transmitted to a company's sales team as a potential sales lead. Salesforce Group Edition targets small to mid-size businesses and costs $1,200 per year for five users. A 30-day promotion is under way that offers the product for $600 for five users for the first year, which includes a $50-per-year Google AdWords credit. Salesforce receives all proceeds from the CRM product and will only share a small portion of AdWords sales, as part of the nonexclusive deal. More ...

New software can identify you from your online habits

IF YOU thought you could protect your privacy on the web by lying about your personal details, think again. In online communities at least, entering fake details such as a bogus name or age may no longer prevent others from working out exactly who you are. More ..

New semantic air travel prediction site emerges a step ahead

A next-generation travel site launched today, and this one’s so futuristic it doesn’t even sell tickets. Farecast, a Seattle-based startup, tracks airline ticket pricing and scheduling, and advises consumers on whether they should buy flight tickets immediately, or hold off for better deals. The service is currently offered for 75 U.S. airports and 2,000 flights. More ...

The Coming Virtual Web

In the future, the Internet is almost certain to look more realistic, interactive, and social—a lot like a virtual world. More ...