XplanaZine

Here’s our take on news that matters for Wednesday, May 3. Today’s theme is are you real? , and here are a some links to headlines about technology that is changing the way we live and learn.

• Gaming — If the lines between reality and fantasy weren’t already blurred enough, you can now get real cash backed by online virtual dollars from the new Entropia Universe ATM cards. Now players can withdraw their hard-earned PEDs from the ATM machine down on the corner. In another example of this kind of blurring, USC will simulcast its public diplomacy competition both in real life and Second Life.
• Blogging, mediacasting, and online creations — Pete Cashmore has a nice review/comparison of Slide and FilmLoop, two slide-creation services. Slide is a particularly good example of combining multiple Web 2.0 services.
• Handhelds – Creative is just one of the many companies trudging along behind Apple’s iPod. Their recent losses? $114 million.
• Social Networks – Skype continues to try to put distance between itself and competitors. The company “is piloting a new community conference call service, which can support as many
  as 100 callers, and is also offering a beta version of its new Internet calling
  software designed for easier use.” Also, current theory is that MySpace played an important role in boosting box office numbers for the new Disney Movie “Stick It” last weekend.
• Technology Talks — It looks like Microsoft will dare to tread where Yahoo! already failed. This article from the NY Times discusses Microsoft’s partnership with Hollywood to offer Web-original broadcasting. We know people like watching user-made footage on popular video sharing sites. And we also know that folks will watch popular TV shows (old and new) via the Web. But, is it a suitable place to launch expensive productions and can it support them? That is the question?