Ajax Girl

OK, so sensationalistic headlines targeted at Second Life are so last week; from FBI related gambling bans to animal sex, we’ve seen a lot. Now there are allegations being printed by News Corp in Australia that suggest that the next major terrorist attack on a Western country could be being planned in Second Life, and yes, as can be seen in the picture to the right, 9/11 is being used as a reference point as well.

The report describes in detail various griefer operations as being terrorist attacks and goes on to say that:

On the darker side, there are also weapons armouries in SL where people can get access to guns, including automatic weapons and AK47s. Searches of the SL website show there are three jihadi terrorists registered and two elite jihadist terrorist groups.

The fear factor is so thick, it can’t be easily paraphrased

With the game taking such a sinister turn, terrorism experts are warning that SL attacks have ramifications for the real world. Just as September 11 terrorists practised flying planes on simulators in preparation for their deadly assault on US buildings, law enforcement agencies believe some of those behind the Second Life attacks are home-grown Australian jihadists who are rehearsing for strikes against real targets. Terrorist organisations al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah traditionally sent potential jihadists to train in military camps in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Southeast Asia. But due to increased surveillance and intelligence-gathering, they are swapping some military training to online camps to evade detection and avoid prosecution.

The terrorists must get broadband in their caves now.

Rohan Gunaratna, author of Inside al-Qaeda, says it is a new phenomena that, until now, has not been openly discussed outside the intelligence community….”They are rehearsing their operations in Second Life because they don’t have the opportunity to rehearse in the real world”

Be alert, but not alarmed

“Community representatives are relied on to report suspicious or inappropriate behaviour to the owners or the SL authorities, just as in the real world.”

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source: TechCrunch
Original Article: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/139031466/

You just know that this is going to end in a Hollywood movie.

Matt Marshall at Venture Beat has the scoop on what the Amp’d team were spending part of their $360 million in venture capital on: porn.

According to the asset list from the Apm’d fire sale, the company acquired at least 100 porn DVDs; least that’s the number listed for the auction (we’d presume additional DVD’s were probably taken home).

As Matt put it so well “We’re still wondering how venture investors such as Redpoint (which lost $25 million in this) and Highland (which lost $50 million) could have let this happen.”

Amp’d declared bankruptcy June 2 owing $100 million.

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source: TechCrunch
Original Article: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/139001268/

It’s very easy to divide and delegate your plans for the future into tiny, isolated pieces. Putting people to work on their own little niche, somewhat detached from the rest of the flow of improvements. And that’s usually a very efficient way of making progress on many fronts concurrently.

But every now and then it’s good to come together on a single project or feature for an all-men-in sprint. We like to call that The Swarm.

We go into Swarm Mode when we’re just days from launch. It’s a time where roles blend together and the sense of purpose and unity is heightened. We’re all in this launch together.

When you’re done, it’s a moment to bask in shared appreciation of the accomplishment. Good times.

Source: Signal vs. Noise
Original Article: http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/545-the-swarm-attacking-as-a-pack

YouTube has announced a new music competition that will be judged by leading artists 50 Cent, Common and Polow da Don.

YouTube OntheRise Rap Edition is a follow up to last year’s YouTube Underground contest and seeks to discover the best rap and hip-hop artists in the United States.

Unsigned talent who aspire to be professional artists have until August 17 to submit their videos. The final winner will be announced September 7.

The winner will be awarded a trip to New York City to professionally record a single for G-Unit/Interscope Records, a $10,000 gift card from Guitar Center, and their video will be featured on the homepage of YouTube.

Further contest information is available here.

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source: TechCrunch
Original Article: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/138958618/

Mobile applications developer Action Engine has raised $20 million in new round led by Baker Capital.

Previous investors Northwest Venture Associates and The Spangler Group also participated in the round.

The company develops mobile device software that allows media companies and mobile operators to provide music, video and other content on mobiles. Action Engine’s ODP platform incorporates intelligent mobile advertising, support for mass market handsets and broad management capabilities that are claimed to “increase profitability, lower cost of ownership and drive brand-awareness.” Existing clients include MSNBC, TiVo, Sprint and Verizon.

Action Engine’s total funding to date is now $65 million. The company plans to use the funds to accelerate its sales, marketing and distribution efforts.

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source: TechCrunch
Original Article: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/138944288/

What are you working on and why isn’t it done yet? You may have great reason, but it’s still a great question to ask from time to time. What’s holding things up?

Source: Signal vs. Noise
Original Article: http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/544-why-isnt-it-done-yet

Google has licensed Gmail to Japanese mobile operator KDDI Corp.

The email service will be branded by KDDI and work on the “auone.jp” domain. Google will provide the backend for the service and account holders will have the same functionality as provided by Gmail itself, including 2GB of storage.

The announcement continues a recent string of deals in Asia for Google as it attempts to build market share and presence in countries it does not dominate. More recently, Google has licensed search to a number of Chinese search portals.

KDDI is currently Japan’s second largest mobile operator behind NTT DoCoMo. Third ranked mobile operator Softbank owns Yahoo Japan, which according to Smart Money is not as strong in search, but leads Google in other services including email.

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Source: TechCrunch
Original Article: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/138925860/

Chinese ecommerce group Alibaba has confirmed preparations for an IPO of Alibaba.com.

Alibaba.com shares will be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the third quarter and the IPO is expected to raise HK $7.8 billion (US $1 billion). Alibaba has said that they would be using the additional capital to expand their international footprint.

The IPO will see the partial spin-off of Alibaba.com from the Alibaba Group, the China based holding company that owns sites including Alipay, Taabao.com and Yahoo China.

Yahoo Inc is currently the largest shareholder of the Alibaba Group, having acquired a 40% stake in 2005.

(via cs.com.cn)

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Source: TechCrunch
Original Article: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/138916572/

Web based instant messaging platform meebo has announced a new partnership with Live Nation and The Firm to promote “Family Values,” a series of live music events billed as “this summer’s biggest tour.”

The partnership includes concert promotion and concert presence. Music fans visiting meebo.com, the Family Values Tour website and featured band websites have a chance to win 2 free concert tickets and backstage access to every day of the tour.

At the live concerts, fans can share videos and pictures in the official Family Values “Circle Pit” meebo room and win prizes based on their submissions.

Meebo follows in the footsteps of Buzznet, who is promoting their service on the Vans Warped Tour. It would seem that live music events are becoming fertile ground for promoting startups and networking related sites.

The 2007 Family Values Tour is co-headlined by Korn and Evanescence.

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source: TechCrunch
Original Article: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/138906839/

Seattle based BuddyTV (Advanced Media Research Group Inc.) has taken $2.8 million in Series A funding in a round led by Gemstar-TV Guide International.

BuddyTV is a television focused content network with a team of dedicated entertainment writers producing content that is complimented by users. The service also provides broadcastings tools. See our previous coverage here on the space.

NASDAQ listed Gemstar- TV Guide is best known in the United States for its TV Guide publication. Their involvement in the round is significant due to Gemstar - TV Guide’s background; this is a serious long term player in the television industry investing in a new media TV related startup. The expertise and depth of knowledge BuddyTV will now have access to should bide them well in an increasingly competitive vertical.

(via PeHUB)

Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.

Source: TechCrunch
Original Article: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/138882516/