Facebook Credits: a shaky media platform 
Paul Sweeting- Friday, February 3, 2012
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There is a lot riding on Facebook Credits. But for established media companies, the mandatory use of the in-app Payments system could be less than appealing. Will the company be able to become a major distributor of paid premium content? It depends if it wants to. Subscribe now or sign in to view this Weekly Update »
Curated Links
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Social media share a history lesson
A 150 year old letter from an emancipated slave to his old master posted online last week became an unexpected phenomenon on social media sites.
Submitted by Paul Sweeting
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Apple vs. Google: The stakes are rising
Google is preparing to market a home entertainment device under its own name that can stream music stored in users' Google Music cloud locker around the house wirelessly. Video and other media content could follow.
Submitted by Paul Sweeting
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Don’t look now: a car that tweets
Yet another reason to stick to public transportation whenever possible: the guy in the car behind you may be reading Twitter feeds off the in-dash 17-inch screen.
Submitted by Paul Sweeting
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Who’s ready for the social networking patent wars?
Now that Facebook is going public, the patent claims against it can't be far behind. Liz Gannes at AllThingsD has the rundown of who owns what.
Submitted by Paul Sweeting
From The evolution of the digital music industry
41%Percent of music sales that were made up by digital downloads and subscription services in 2010
Connected Consumer is curated by Michael Wolf, a longtime analyst with deep knowledge and a fat rolodex of contacts to help you spot the important news and trends as they happen. It’s also your home for Research, Long Views and all thing gadgets, digital media and connectivity.
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Connected Consumer
Yes Virginia, there will be an iPad 3
Lots of Apple porn this morning. AllThingsD confirms speculation that Apple is getting ready to release a next-generation iPad, which will feature a much-faster CPU and souped-up graphics processor, along with a 2048X1536 Retina Display screen. Sources tell the blog that Apple will hold an event in the first week of March to announce the new iPad, with delivery likely to follow within a matter of weeks. Cult of Mac, meanwhile, goes the full Monty, with a photo spread of leaked images of various casings and components purported to be from the iPad 2. If the placement of volume controls and on/off buttons are your thing, there is plenty to gape at.
Connected Consumer Curator
No, not yet. The television network industry doesn't want a connected TV marketplace but is at least willing to dip their toes in the water so they don't end up like the newspaper or music business. But in general, I believe that non-TV network companies like NetFlix or OTT boxes like Roku or Boxee wholely underestimate the complexity, cost, and associated entrenchment to deliver quality content that last mile to the home. They got cheap rates early on cuz they were the new kids on the block - but their windows are expiring. That's why Jeff Bewkes can sit back and say about Netflix, "Nope, I don't think so. Not a threat." Netflix made their first foray into the big leagues with their $1B programming deal but that's just the tip of the iceberg. And that can't be sustained with their current net $8/mo business model. My prediction for 2011 is to look for Netflix to start looking more like a cable model: drive distribution with a low price, then start raising rates and adding pricier tiers for the most popular content to offset their programming costs. They need to either put the pedal to the metal and take that big leap to cross the chasm soon ... or crash and burn without enough momentum.
