The XBIZ Weekly Tech Watch

This week's Tech Watch brings some bad news on the heels of the faltering economy, but there's also plenty of news about fun new toys to distract from hard times.

• The bubble for Web 2.0 startups may be starting to burst – if it hadn't burst already. Adult social media and networking website Zivity.com was able to raise $1 million in venture capital, but this week, the company laid off 13 staff members. Elsewhere around the web, music website Pandora.com laid off 14 percent of its staff, tagging website Fleck.com is up for sale, Microsoft has given up on MSN Groups, and AdBrite has laid off 40 percent of its staff. Meanwhite, eBay has hit a slump, although Skype is doing well.

• On that note, MyWonderfulLife.com helps users plan their own funerals.

• FriendFeed has built a handy new liveblogging tool.

• Webmasters may want to check out the recently launched polling engine PollDaddy.com.

Blip.fm pitches itself as a Twitter for music.

• The Karaoke Channel has launched an online portal.

• Just out of Japan are these new pedometers that also include a small role-playing game.

• Webmasters interested in direct advertising solutions may want to try FatTail.com.

XTranormal.com lets anyone build a 3D Flash movie.

• This futuristic new phone attaches the speaker and receiver to fingers to make for a more robotic experience.

• Adult moviemakers might find use in this new camera that delivers wall-eye effects instantly.

• Old iPhones can have GPS capability with this new gizmo that plugs right into it.

• Flock, a web browser that aggregates social-networking activity, has released its newest version.

• This bit of news is for super-geeks only, but scientists have discovered a way to write words built out of individual atoms.

• Heavy-duty – and rich – travelers may be interested in this fancy mobile home built out of an old garbage truck.

• Social-networking website BrightKite.com helps track people's locations.

• Food enthusiasts may be interested in this review of a home soda maker.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

TSBlondieNYC Launches Official Website Through PAYSITE

TSBlondieNYC has launched an official website through PAYSITE.

Teasr Launches Live Shopping Platform for Creators and Sexual Wellness Brands

Teasr has officially launched its live-selling and social-shopping platform for wellness brands, creators, educators, and artisans.

JulModels Launches Cross-Paysite Royalty Generation Feature for Performers and Creators

JulModels has introduced JulRoyalty, a feature that allows performers and creators to earn royalties from their existing scenes and clips.

FSC Hails Members, Allies in SCREEN Act Victory

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) released a statement today praising its members and allies after a successful lobbying effort to prevent the SCREEN Act, a nationwide age verification bill, from advancing out of the Commerce Committee for a full vote on the Senate floor.

SCREEN Act Stalls in Senate Committee Over Technicality

The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday voted to approve the SCREEN Act, which would mandate nationwide site-based age verification of users seeking to access adult content online, but a procedural issue blocked the bill from advancing to the full Senate.

DarkFans Adds Time-Limited Content Pricing

DarkFans has debuted its Configure Limits feature for automating content promotions.

Clips4Sale, Free Speech Coalition Partner for 'Creator Workflow' Webinar

Clips4Sale (C4S) and Free Speech Coalition (FSC) partnered for a webinar titled “Organization & Workflow: Simple Systems for Busy Creators.”

Pineapple Support, Streamate Partner for 'Self-Parenting' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group focused on self-care for performers, titled "Self-Parenting: Becoming Your Own Safe Space."

Nerds of Porn to Relaunch Site Through MyMember.site

Nerds of Porn is relaunching its membership site through MyMember.site on Aug. 14.

Show More