Technology

·         A collaboration between Ford and Microsoft has front-lined a new standard for staying connected on the road.  The Sync program will allow you to control almost all of your portable devices from a central computer via Bluetooth, and a USB for media devices, within the car – all voice activated.  Users will be able to play music from an iPod or other mp3 device by simply telling Sync which track to play.  Coming to the market in fall 2007, the Sync will debut on the 2008 models of the Ford Focus, Fusion, Five Hundred, Edge, Freestyle, Explorer and Sport Trac.

·        Fantasy league spin-offs have been popping up all over the Internet, bringing passionate, competitive gamers together and giving them a platform to flaunt their knowledge.  Fantasy Congress is a fantasy league in which players draft a team of real-life legislators from the U.S. Congress and score points based on the progress of each politician’s proposed legislation.  Fantasy Soap League is a fantasy league in which players score points depending on the specific actions of their chosen characters, with over-the-top moments like waking from a coma or coming back from the dead, generating major points.

• Last month, iVillage, the online community for women, began hosting a biweekly Girls Night Out in Second Life.  Every two weeks a different curator leads a group of iVillage members on a tour through Second Life, showing them interesting locations and letting them meet residents, attend music events, discussions and tutorials.  Tours start in iVillage's loft and are geared towards women, although all genders are welcome to participate.

Food & Beverage

·         The Coca-Cola Company is developing a vitamin and mineral-packed version of Diet Coke.  Diet Coke Plus, slated to hit shelves this spring, will be the first nutrient-enhanced carbonated soda offered by a major brand.

Fashion

·         Stay at home dads are becoming more and more common and the market for “dad friendly” gear—products that take men into consideration, rather than just expecting them to use traditionally more feminine looking baby gear—is growing.  Dadgear.com has designed a ‘diaper vest’ which looks like a normal outdoorsy vest but comes complete with enough pocket space for diapers, wet wipes and even baby bottles.   

     Media

·         Anheuser-Busch will join the online entertainment business next month, with the launch of “Bud.TV.”  The website, aimed at consumers between the ages of 21 and 27 who routinely visit sites like MySpace.com and YouTube, will have eight channels featuring comedy, reality and sports programming.  Bud.TV will feature original programming, with an emphasis on webisodes and humorous shorts that may include characters from previous ad campaigns. 

     Media Tidbits  

·         After only six months on newsstands in the U.S., Hachette announced that it will close Shock, effective February 2007.  The company will maintain the website ShockU.com and will work toward a redesign and relaunch of the Website in spring 2007.

·         When Rick Stengel was named Time's managing editor in May, he talked about hiring more "star writers" who would help push the magazine toward "a stronger point of view."  Making good on his promise: Michael Kinsley, the former editor of Slate, will write a biweekly column, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol will be a part-time columnist, and former Time managing editor Walter Isaacson will contribute essays on foreign affairs.  David Von Drehle, a longtime Washington Post reporter and editor, will be a political correspondent.

·         FHM announced in December, the closure of its US print publication.  The magazine will continue online.

·         Cosmopolitan and Men's Health are planning to swap editors for their May issues, giving Dave Zinczenko a special section of Cosmopolitan and Kate White a section of her own in Men's Health.  Each editor will have the chance to talk about the results of an unscientific poll focusing on readers' “perfect mates.”