DMW Daily, November 19, 2008

 Top Stories
Bellevue, Wash. - In the wake of Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang's announcement yesterday that he will step down, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said on Wednesday that his company is still no longer interested in acquiring Yahoo, but remains open to a search partnership, the Associated Press reported. [more..]
New York - Internet dating site eHarmony.com said on Wednesday that it has settled a discrimination lawsuit in New Jersey, and will begin accepting personal ads from gays and lesbians for the first time. [more..]
Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft on Wednesday launched its "New Xbox Experience" initiative, which will expand the range of HD and other content available via its broadband-connected Xbox 360 video game console. [more..]
Los Angeles - The Championship Gaming Series (CGS), a professional video gamers' league backed by international broadcasters DirecTV, BSkyB and Star, announced in a note on its website that it has shut down. [more..]
Novato, Calif. - Sonic Solutions, the developer of digital media software such as Roxio and AuthorScript, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired CinemaNow, an online video-on-demand service offering over 6,000 movie, TV show and music video titles. [more..]
New York - The global market for set-top boxes is projected to grow steadily over the next few years, before peaking at shipments of about 110 million in 2012 and beginning a gradual decline, according to a report from market research firm ABI Research. [more..]
San Mateo, Calif. - Apple's iPhone is now the top mobile device worldwide, in terms of mobile ads served, according to a report from mobile ad marketplace AdMob. [more..]
San Jose, Calif. - Global sales of semiconductors are expected to decline next year for the first time since 2001, according to a new forecast from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). [more..]
Shenzen, China - YETI Group (Easou), a developer of mobile search technology in China, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $12 million in its third round of venture capital financing. [more..]
San Bruno, Calif. - Apptera, a provider of mobile advertising services, announced on Wednesday that it has raised a new $10.5 million round of financing, led by return backers Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alloy Ventures and Walden International. [more..]
London - Co-inventor of the MP3 format Karheinz Brandenburg has invested an undisclosed amount in DJTunes, a European digital music store that stocks mainly electronic music, PaidContent reported. [more..]
 Opinion & Analysis
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The iPhone accounted for 5.8% of all mobile phone searches during October, and its popularity helped Apple achieve the accolade of being the most searched for consumer electronics brand in the UK last month, blogs Robin Goad. [more..]
 Briefly Noted
New York - Publisher Ziff Davis Media announced on Wednesday that its 27-year-old flagship title, PC Magazine, will go all digital next year. [more..]
San Francisco - INgrooves, a provider of digital distribution and marketing services for independent artists and record labels, on Wednesday announced a partnership with U.K. digital music store provider 7digital. [more..]
Stamford, Conn. - World Wrestling Entertainment on Wednesday announced the launch of WWE Universe, a new online social network that already counts over 200,000 members. [more..]
Milan, Italy - Nokia on Wednesday announced the launch of its Nokia Music Store in Italy, boasting a catalog of more than 4 million songs from all four major labels and many independents. [more..]
Kirkland, Wash. - 1Cast on Wednesday launched a private beta version of its consumer news service, intended to provide a range of licensed video news content to online and mobile users via an iPhone application. [more..]
New York - On the same day that rival Championship Gaming Series announced its demise, Major League Gaming said it has expanded its sponsorship deal with Dr Pepper. [more..]