This week in Digital – Top Stories: w/c 7th Dec

Apple buys LaLa, potential model shift for the digital Music retail giant.

LaLa’s model differs from Apple in the sense that purchased music was available to stream online in the ‘cloud’. Apple frequently purchases smaller tech companies, so its acquisition of LaLa for a reported $85m (although it’s rumoured that it’s more like $17m..) is not a surprise. Apple have now confirmed that iTunes will start to detach from a OS platform application model, giving way to online streaming in line with what’s become popular. Users will be able to purchase online, and stream music via devices and the web, making the iTunes program potentially redundant for a number of consumers. (Read full story…) via Mashable

Alicia Keys streams new album on Facebook (Exclusively)

Alicia is the first major artist to use Facebook to release her new album ‘The Element Of Freedom‘ exclusively on the platform. It makes sense for artists to shift attention towards Facebook as a central arena for high profile campaign elements like this.

Unless Myspace Music manages to spark traffic and interest back in to the site, using Facebook as the priority social network for exclusives just makes sense, especially with such a versatile API like Facebook Connect, and an excellent application and developer rig which enables enriched, interactive and intelligent engagement with users; just like the developer Involver did with this one. (Read full story…) via TechCrunch

Google Chrome launches on Mac, extensions released

If browsers were cars, Chrome would be a very sleek, very fast Lamborghini. Safari would be a pretty nice Audi, but not being able to add modifications, rims, paint and bodywork lets it down. Firefox is a bit like Ford Focus, it’ll get you where you need to go and you can go crazy with pimping it out. Internet Explorer isn’t even a car in Mac land, it’s this piece of crap which only exists in ‘Microsoft Land’ which breaks down every 10 minuets and is hated by everyone.

Anyway, what was i talking about before i tried to be clever? Yes – Chrome has finally come to Mac! (and Linux). It had been available in a developer pool for a while now, but the official Beta was released this week. I’ve given it a test drive, and speed wise its comparable to Safari, and feels just as stable. Chrome also boasted over 500 extentions this week, which will apparently roll out on the Mac version by the weekend.

Personally I haven’t made my mind up if to make the switch to Chrome, i really like my ‘Audi’ Safari, it’s robust, reliable, everything looks great on it, and unless the extension offerings tempt me over, i can’t see my self getting my Chrome on.

Download Google Chrome Here. (Read full story…) via ReadWriteWeb

Myspace and Twitter release new sets of APIs

Myspace and Twitter have both announced new APIs this week. Mike Jones (Myspace COO) announced at Le Web earlier in the week that there will be a set of APIs made available to developers, with the most interesting being the Real-Time stream API, which will pull live data in to various applications. Google, along with it’s RealTime search partner OneRiot will be using this API for inclusion in search results.

50,000 Apps currently live in the Twitter mansion, and Le Web staged another announcement with Twitter confirming they will be unleashing the Firehose stream as part of a new API for developers, opening up live Twitter streams for applications and platforms. A sign up API was also released and currently being implemented with City Search. To treat developers even more, a new Twitter site will be launching for developers shortly, along with a developer conference called Chirp for developers. (Read full story…)

Amazon to launch ‘Disc+’ for on demand streaming of movies.

A positive move from Amazon came this week in the announcement of ‘Disc+’, an online streaming option for consumers who purchase both standard and blu-ray titles from the site. This means that when you buy a film on the site, you’ll immediately be able to stream or download it online.

from Amazon: “When you purchase select DVD and Blu-ray titles from Amazon.com you will also receive an Amazon Video On Demand standard definition version as a gift with purchase. You’ll be able to instantly enjoy the video on demand version on your Mac, PC, compatible device or compatible TV when it is available.”

For me I’d rather Amazon just didn’t bother sending the disc, unless it’s something i want to watch over and over again. This shift is significant, although (not surprisingly) still not a full change to a purely on demand offering from a retail giant who still relies on physical distribution. The move is temporary for now, but will become a permanent feature if it proves success. (Read full story…) via Mashable

Google launches Real Time search

At long last, Google has rolled out its real time search, which I previously mentioned was partnered with OneRiot. This means search results will yield live data updated data pulled from around the Web. Specifically the system mainly incorporates Tweets from Twitter, Yahoo Answers, Friend Feed, Jaiku, Identi.ca and more recently announced; Myspace streams and information from Facebook public profiles.

Check out the video below, which worryingly carries a soundtrack similar to something you’d hear in a Disney film :/

This is strong move by Google, who in terms of real time search earlier in the year was trailing behind Twitter and even Bing, who had deals inked early on . This launch means Google has not only matched those criteria, but exceeded them from the deals with Facebook and Myspace.

The RT search isn’t available to everyone yet, but will slowly roll out to all users eventually; opening the gates to full live search on both publications and user sentiment. (Read full story…)

Facebook Priviacy changes

This week Facebook changed their privacy policy, to mostly fall in line with the Google RT search deal. Public profiles will now be ’searchable’, and there are now much more privacy options available to what content users want to display, such as user filters on status updates, individual profile elements (photos, videos, wall posts etc)

Yesterday all users were asked to update their Privicy options, which sparked off a lot of controversy with users having their content going public. This move and the addition of the Google deal is one to bring Facebook on the same green as Twitter when it comes to open availability of user content. (Read full story…)

Linkedin redesign

Last month Linkedin updated that they’ll be redesigning the site, and we are now seeing it go live. The business orientated social network has invested a lot in enhancing the platform’s capabilities this year, especially with Twitter integrations, opening Linkedin specific streams to programs like Tweetdeck.

This is so welcome! Linkedin (used to be) one of the ugliest social sites around, and although it is business and corporate central, that’s no reason to ignore intelligent design and user interface.

Other articles worth weekend reading:

• Media reading in the future – tablet displays. via Media Futurist
• Will Twitter face the same fate as Netscape? via Social Media.biz
• Brightcove teams up with Tubemogul to power analytics via TechCrunch
• ‘In Social Media its not just business, its business-to-business‘ via PR2.0
• Why Simple Still Wins via Chris Brogan
• So Who Killed Imeem anyway? Executives blame the Orchard… via Digital Music news
• The future of the Embargo via via PR 2.0