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In This Update:

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Google Launches Free Music Service in China
REUTERS
Google Inc has launched a music search service in China that will give users access to free downloads of licensed songs, while capturing advertising revenue for music providers in a market rife with piracy. The service poses a challenge to Baidu.com Inc, which dominates China’s Internet search market but has, along with other Chinese search providers, faced lawsuits charging that it facilitates copyright violations through downloads of unlicensed music.
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Comcast Interactive Media Acquires DailyCandy for $125 Million
PAIDCONTENT
E-mail service DailyCandy finally has been sold to Comcast Interactive Media for an undisclosed sum. SAI, which shares an investor with DailyCandy in Pilot Group, has a source that puts the figure at $125 million, also being reported by WSJ. Viacom was among those talking to Pilot but dropped out of the bidding weeks ago before the final round.
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Rocketboom Inks Seven-Figure Distribution Deal With Sony
TECHCRUNCH
Rocketboom , the daily video blog, is turning over its distribution and ad sales to Sony Pictures Television in return for a seven-figure guarantee plus a share of revenues. Rocketboom will be distributed on Sony’s Crackle video site, as well as across other Sony platforms such as the PS3, PSP, and Bravia I-Link TVs.
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Facebook Alters App Measurement System
WEBPRO NEWS
When trying to separate the good Facebook applications from the bad – or at least the popular apps from the ostracized ones – a statistic known as the “daily active user count” often came in handy. Facebook’s now trying to make it better by switching to a monthly perspective, and the social network is even recommending apps to some users. In regards to that first development: things can change a lot in a 24-hour period.
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Report: Web Video Driving Mobile Video
CENTER NETWORKS
Internet video is changing the definition of mobile video, says In-Stat. The researcher says user-generated and professionally produced web content is being increasingly viewed on mobile devices – especially those with big screens that can connect to wi-fi networks. In-Stat identified two potential models for mobile TV viewing: ‘waiting room’ and ‘leisure time’, each with different requirements.
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Indie Music Retailer CD Baby Sold To CD/DVD Manufacturer Disc Makers
SILICON ALLEY INSIDER
CD Baby, which describes itself as the world’s largest independent music retailer, has been sold to CD and DVD manufacturer Disc Makers. CD Baby will continue to operate as a separate company, focusing on its successful online CD sales and downloads. Since its launch in 1998, the Portland, Ore.-based company has become a popular way for independent artists to release their music. Artists reportedly receive $6-$12 for each CD sold through the service, a larger cut than they’d get from a typical label deal.
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Pioneer Tests 500GB Blue laser Disc
ELECTRONISTA
Pioneer today revealed that it has already developed a major improvement on optical technology it created just last month. Having already established a 400GB disc, the company now says it has produced a disc read by blue lasers made up of 20 25GB layers, fitting exactly half a terabyte of data on a single-sided disc. The size and technology are described as technically compatible with Blu-ray and could be used in a future reader able to recognize that amount of data.
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Intelligent Beauty Raises $43 Million
SOCIALTECH.COM
Intelligent Beauty, which is developing Internet marketing and e-commerce services focused on the beauty industry, has raised $43M in a venture round, the firm announced Wednesday. The funding came from Technology Crossover Ventures. According to the firm, the funding will go to assist with the company’s rapid growth. Intelligent Beauty now has 185 employees, up significantly from September of last year when it said it had 55 employed at the firm.
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Chinese Internet & Media Company Raises $25 Million
STARTUP MEME
The Koolanoo Group , a Chinese Internet and New Media company, raised $25 million in the third round of funding. The group’s financing comes from an Israel-based Giza Venture Capital.
Koolanoo Group are investors and operators of new media properties in China. Their recent string of investments have brought them in the mainstream.
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Six Degrees Games Raises $7 Million in Funding
SOCIALTECH.COM
Marina Del Rey-based Six Degrees Games, a startup developing virtual worlds focused on six to 14-year-olds, announced today that it has raised $7M in a Series A funding. The round came from Clearstone Venture Partners and Prism VentureWorks. According to Six Degree Games, the funding will go towards product development, launch, and distribution of a sports-themed, virtual world designed for six-to-14 year olds.
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CDN BitGravity Raises $2.5 Million Seed Round
PAIDCONTENT
BitGravity, the much-hyped content delivery network startup based in Burlingame, CA, has closed a $2.5 million “seed” round, from Allen & Co. and Sling founder and CEO Blake Krikorian. The company launched its service last year, and focuses on high resolution and live video delivery, and says it is at a lower cost than others. It powers video for Revision3 and Pump Audio, among others. It is in a heavily competitive space, from the likes of public companies like Akamai and Limelight, and startups like Panther Express, and others.
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