NYConvergence - A digest of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut media and technology news

Gannett Acquires Ripple6

NYConvergence ORIGINAL

We spoke with Ripple6's Director of Marketing Chris Kieff this morning about the acquisition of the NYC-based social-media services provider following his post on Twitter about it.  The company will become a wholly-owned subisidiary of Gannett, much like PointRoll, the advertising network, which was acquired in March 2008.  Terms were not disclosed.

Ripple6 earlier built the MomsLikeMe.com network for Gannett, a network of 80 Web sites with more than 100,000 users in numerous local markets.  paidContent speculates that Gannett hopes to bring in revenue and expand relationships with Ripple6 clients like Procter & Gamble.

paidContent.org

Barnes and Noble Launches Social Network

New York-based retailer Barnes and Noble has started My B&N, a social network that allows users to connect to others about their favorite books, movies and music. The new feature, which is accessible through the current Barnes and Noble site, can be integrated with popular social networks like Facebook and Digg.

According to Crain's, My B&N already has tens of thousands of users.

Crain's New York Business (Subscription required)

Low Initial Costs Feed Silicon Alley's Success

Technology entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in New York City are not being phased as much by the meltdown on Wall Street because the lessons of the earlier dot com crash and advancements within technology are allowing companies to start up with significantly less funding. A decade ago, $3 - $4 million might have been needed to start an online business whereas now, just $400,000 - $800,000 might be enough to get your business off the ground.

Still, investors are urging business-owners to be wise with the money they receive and spend. According to the Dow Jones VentureSource, investment in 3Q of this year is down 7% from last year and is being distributed among 20% fewer companies.

TheDeal.com

Voters Plan to Stay Informed through Twitter

During tomorrow's election, long lines and machine glitches might be reported first by New Yorkers through the microblogging Web site Twitter, which launched the Twitter Vote Report initiative along with techPresident.com. The project aims to inform voters of wait times and other voting issues through the Internet and text messages. 

Metro NY

Kiwibox Partners with Burst Media

NYC-based teen social network and online magazine Kiwibox has partnered with Burst Media to launch the Kiwibox Teen Network, a teen-targeted ad network. Publishers within the network will be able to share content, ideas, tools, partnerships and marketing opportunities through the Internet and mobile.

MediaPost's Online Media Daily

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> Q&A: Lin Dai, Kiwibox

iTeach iLearn Brings Web 2.0 Skills to the Classroom

Twenty-four New York City public schools are taking part in the City's pilot program iTeach iLearn that promotes "Learning 2.0," which incorporates social networking, blogs and other technologies to teaching. Students in these schools are each equipped with a lap top and teachers are instructing on smart boards.

The New York City Department of Education is planning to take the initiative citywide. iLead, a training program for principals, currently has 300 members.

The Village Voice

Facebook Success Drives Developers' Businesses

Several New York-based developers' businesses have thrived from successful applications they have created for Facebook.

• Buddy Media: Social networking applications for brands like Reebok and FedEx allowed it to secure $8.5 million in funding from the likes of PayPal's Peter Thiel and grow to 30 employees.
• FamilyBuilder Inc.: Raised $1.5 million for family tree Facebook application in June '07 and has built enough momentum to launch its own Web site.
• Dank Apps: Developer of popular Facebook game The Lotto, is in the process of being sold for an undisclosed sum.
• Esgut: Developer of several Facebook games, was sold for over $1 million to Social Gaming Network.

Crain's New York Business (Subscription required)

Web 2.0 Expo Provides New Social Media Insights

The conference, currently taking place in NYC's Javits Center, has provided participants with a number of insights into social media.  profy blogger Svetlana Gladkova posted about five:

• Social media users are excessively friendly
• Technology is not what makes or breaks communities
• Money is not a guarantee that you will build a successful social media website
• Search is still the king
• Google is even more the king of search engines than expected

profy

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> Tech Enthusiasts, Entrepreneurs Mingle
> Shake Shack Tech Gathering
> Web 2.0 Expo Week Begins With Ignite NYC II

What Will the Magazine of the Future Look Like?

NYConvergence ORIGINAL

Last night's Mediabistro panel, moderated by Fast Company's recently appointed Director of Social Media Lynne D. Johnson, at Tribeca Cinemas Gallery attempted to answer that question.  The panel consisted of:

• Paul Fichtenbaum, managing director of SI.com
• Marvin Scott Jarrett, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Nylon
• Michael Silberman, the general manager of NYMag.com
• Lance Ulanoff, editor-in-chief and vice president of content for PC Magazine Network
• Mimi Valdes Ryan, editorial director of Latina Media Ventures
• Jay Woodruff, editor-in-chief of Maxim.com

The panel examined a couple of important issues, where print ends and digital begins, the importance of blogging, and the blurry line between advertising and editorial.

According to the majority of the panelists, significant division still exists between the print and online versions of their publicatons.  Fichtenbaum, for example, noted that Sports Illustrated's digital arm uses Macs while the print side uses PCs.  Ryan added that Latina's print and Web brands were just rebranded to give them a more unified appearance.  Jarrett sees Nylon as an innovator, citing their release of a recent music issue through MySpace.  Ulanoff argued that everyone that he hires should be able to do both and know SEO to improve the content's reach.

Related:

> Esquire's 75th Anniversary Gala, or, Bill Clinton Does Evita (FishBowl NY)

NYC-Based Edopter Banks on Social-Trendcasting

Two Manhattan-based entrepreneurs have created Edopter, a social networking site that allows users to forecast and follow trends in exchange for points, which eventually equate to iTunes gift cards and other rewards.

Eighty thousands dollars was secured in an initial round of funding. The pair presented their site at the recent NYC Tech Meetup.    

The Observer

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> Startups, Some Surprises at Sept. NYC Tech Meetup